Epaper – April 16 ISB 2020

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Thursday, 16 April, 2020 I 22 Shaban, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol X No 288 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

Centre, Sindh Spar over loCkdown reStriCtionS aS infeCtionS Surge g

CM MurAd SAyS GovtS need to IMPoSe StrICt MeASureS, queStIonS oPenInG of ConStruCtIon SeCtor

g

fIrdouS SAyS SIndh CM CreAtInG feAr In PeoPle, ProvInCeS AuthorISed to tAke own deCISIonS reGArdInG loCkdown

HYDERABAD: People throng a roadside food stall here on Wednesday ignoring the government’s directive to practice safe distancing and take safety precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country. i n P

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD stAff REPoRt

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Indh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on wednesday refused to ease certain lockdown restrictions in the province, drawing ire of the federal government which accused the Sindh government led by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) of polarising the nation at a time when unity was required.

In a press conference on wednesday, CM Murad said in order to contain the pandemic, the governments needed to impose strict measures, questioning the opening of the construction sector by the federal government. the total number of infections in Pakistan crossed 6,200 amid 117 deaths and 1,446 recoveries.

Punjab accounts for the most CovId19 infections, reporting 3,016 cases as of wednesday evening. Sindh, balochistan, and khyber Pakhtunkhwa have so far reached 1,668, 281, and 912 cases, respectively. Islamabad has 140 cases,

Gilgit-baltistan has 234 cases whereas Azad kashmir has 46 cases so far.

“In light of recent numbers, there may be a need for stricter implementation of the lockdown in the coming days. we have told the federal government about imposing strict measures,” he said. “we cannot understand the need to open the construction sector at the moment,” Shah said, referring to Prime Minister Imran khan’s decision in this regard. “on the prime minister’s directives, the provincial governments will open construction sites after ensuring SoPs are being followed,” he said.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on wednesday refused to ease certain lockdown restrictions in the province, drawing ire of the federal government which accused the Sindh government led by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) of polarising the nation at a time when unity was required.

In a press conference on wednesday, CM Murad said in order to contain the pandemic, the governments needed to impose strict measures, questioning the

CoronaviruS in

pakiStan

ISLAMABAD

6,297

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

SINDH:

PUNJAB:

1,446 1,668

117

3,016

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

912 46/234

281 140

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Half of rural and urban Pakistanis unaware of COVID-19 facts, study reveals STORY ON PAGE 03

G20 announces one-year debt relief for poorest countries g

InItIAtIve wIll ‘ProvIde north of $20bn of IMMedIAte lIquIdIty’ for Poor CountrIeS to uSe for theIr heAlth SySteM And SuPPort theIr PeoPle NEW YORK AgEnciEs

the Group of 20 nations on wednesday announced a one-year debt relief for the world’s poorest nations as they struggle to financially cope with the coronavirus pandemic. the announcement comes as the global economy is plunged into the worst recession in a century. the G20, which brings together the world’s largest economies, also reiterated the pledge to deploy “all available policy tools” to deal with the health and economic crisis caused by CovId-19. with over two million cases and fatalities approaching 130,000 worldwide, many of the less developed countries are facing the heaviest burden since they do not have the spending power to deal with treatment and the economic fallout caused by widespread lockdowns of their economies imposed

Imran chides Mirza for not taking SC hearing seriously stAff REPoRt

CONFIRMED CASES:

opening of the construction sector by the federal government. the total number of infections in Pakistan crossed 6,200 amid 117 deaths and 1,446 recoveries.

Punjab accounts for the most CovId19 infections, reporting 3,016 cases as of wednesday evening. Sindh, balochistan, and khyber Pakhtunkhwa have so far reached 1,668, 281, and 912 cases, respectively. Islamabad has 140 cases, Gilgit-baltistan has 234 cases whereas Azad kashmir has 46 cases so far.

“In light of recent numbers, there may be a need for stricter implementation of the lockdown in the coming days. we have told the federal government about imposing strict measures,” he said. “we cannot understand the need to open the construction sector at the moment,” Shah said, referring to Prime Minister Imran khan’s decision in this regard. “on the prime minister’s directives, the provincial governments will open construction sites after ensuring SoPs are being followed,” he said. he said a stigma about the coronavirus is developing in the country, due to which at least 15 to 20 more people could have died of it, but we don’t have them on record because many families are burying their dead without informing the authorities.

Prime Minister Imran khan has chided his Special Assistant on health dr Zafar Mirza over exhibiting “non-serious behaviour” before the Supreme Court (SC). the premier’s reaction came after Mirza appeared before the top court that had taken a suo motu notice over the measures taken by the government to contain the coronavirus pandemic in the country. later, the premier took notice of the remarks given by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed and scolded dr Mirza in the federal cabinet meeting tuesday over not providing satisfactory answers to the top court. the PM said the federal government has always respected judiciary and honourable judges and no tolerance will be made over showing irresponsible attitude. reports said that PM khan said it was Mirza’s responsibility to present a comprehensive report before the top court regarding the measures adopted to fight coronavirus.

It is pertinent to mention here

that the apex court, while hearing a suo motu case on April 13 related to the situation arising out of the coronavirus crisis, had expressed displeasure over the performance of dr Zafar Mirza in dealing with coronavirus pandemic and ordered the government to remove him.

Meanwhile, a petition is likely to be filed in the Supreme Court under Article 184(3) on thursday that challenges the appointment of 19 special assistants to the prime minister. the federal government and all PM’s appointed advisors and special assistants have been made respondents in the case.

According to the draft petition quoted by a local media outlet, it argues that the appointments were against the constitution and that rule 4(6) of the rules of business, 1973 was against the constitution. “the federal government has no authority to appoint any unelected person as advisers and SAPMs [special advisers to the prime minister] with the status of federal Minister and Minister of State,” the petition maintains. the petitioners call for the apex court to declare that respondents no 6-24 were not en-

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titled to any financial benefits, including salaries, allowances, perks, and privileges. “the respondents no 6-24 may kindly be directed to surrender all the salaries and other perks and privileges obtained from the date of assuming of office till their removal,” the petition further maintains.

It also contends that under Article 1 of the constitution, affairs of the state are to be run in accordance with the provision of the Constitution of the Islamic republic of Pakistan. the petition cites Article 90, which states that “the cabinet under Article 91 consisting of PM as its head and the federal Minister and Ministers of State under Article 92 helped by the advisers under Article 93 having the Advice of Attorney General under Article 100 of the Constitution of Islamic republic of Pakistan for the exercise of the executive Authority of the federation under the rules of business 1973, made under Article 99 thereof and any other post or office or office unless provided under the Constitution or law etc is illegal, void ab initio, ultra vires the Constitution and corm non-judice.”

to contain the virus. the G20 finance ministers and central bankers endorsed “a timebound suspension of debt service payments for the poorest countries,” and in the communique following their virtual meeting, said “All bilateral official creditors will participate in this initiative.”

Saudi finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan, who currently chairs the group, said this means “poor countries don´t need to worry about repaying over the course of the next 12 months.” the initiative will “provide north of $20 billion of immediate liquidity” for poor countries to use “for their health system and support their people facing CovId-19,” he said in a press briefing. the G20 officials “put our money where our mouth is, and commit to further support the world as it faces this pandemic,” he said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

more inside

SC asks AGP to explain jurisdiction of Article 199 STORY ON PAGE 02

Provinces fail to submit wheat losses report to Centre STORY ON PAGE 05

Manufacturing sectors seek tax exemptions to avert corona crisis STORY ON PAGE 09

UN says ‘not the time’ as Trump suspends WHO funds over pandemic STORY ON BACK PAGE

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Thursday, 16 April, 2020

NEWS

SC ASkS AGP to ExPlAIn JuRISdICtIon oF ARtIClE 199 COURT SAYS LHC HAS TERMED PROCEDURE OF ARREST OF MISSING PERSONS’ LAWYER INAMUR RAHIM ‘INVALID’ AGP SAYS LHC DID NOT HAVE AUTHORITY TO HEAR RAHIM’S ARREST CASE, MISINTERPRETED THE LAW ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

HE Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday issued a notice to the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) seeking explanation for the jurisdiction of Article 199.

A two-member bench of the apex court comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Yahya Afridi heard the case against the release of Lieutenant Colonel (r) Inamur Rahim, a lawyer in several cases involving missing persons.

During the course of the proceedings, Justice Yahya Afridi said that the high court did not question the army’s arrest authority in the decision. The Lahore High Court (LHC) had termed the arrest procedure invalid, he added.

The deputy attorney general said that the high court was not authorised to hear the case against the arrest of Advocate Rahim and alleged that the LHC wrongly misinterpreted the law.

Justice Mushir Alam asked both the respondents to appear before the court on next date of hearing with proper prepara-

PM orders FIA action against ‘malicious’ social media campaign against CJP ISLAMABAD: Taking serious notice of the “malicious” social media campaign against Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed and members of the judiciary, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday directed Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Wajid Zia to probe into the matter and track down culprits involved. The hateful campaign was launched after the top judge came down hard on the federal government over its inability to contain the novel coronavirus at the borders, leading to an outbreak in the country.

Later, Justice Gulzar also raised questions over the size of the federal cabinet that included a large number of unelected advisers and special assistants. “Advisers have been given status of the federal ministers but despite this larger number of advisers, there is no betterment in the federal government performance to deal with the pandemic,” the chief justice remarked while heading a five-judge larger bench hearing a suo motu case on COVID-19. “What is the point of a 49-member cabinet?” he asked.

Without naming anyone, he noted that allegedly corrupt individuals have been inducted in the cabinet. the CJP wondered how despite having a number of advisers, the PM is ignorant about the issues related to subsidies. A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office stated that the premier has taken a very serious view of the recent campaign on social media in which “uncalled, immoderate and intemperate language” has been used against the superior judiciary of Pakistan, including the CJP. “The prime minister has been pleased to direct that the Federal Investigation Agency’s director general shall look into this malicious campaign and depute a team of suitable officers to track down the culprits involved,” it added. PM Imran also instructed the FIA chief to take necessary legal action against the offender as per the relevant laws. STAFF REPORT

tion on legal points.

Later, the hearing of the case was adjourned till date in office.

On March 4, the apex court, after resuming hearing on a petition filed by the Ministry of Defence against the LHC decision directing for the immediate release of Rahim, had wondered how a civilian/retired army official could be court-martialled. Earlier in January this year, a three-member bench, headed by Justice Mushir Alam and comprising Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Munib Akhtar, took up the petition against the LHC order which had declared Rahim’s detention “illegal”.

During the hearing on March, the SC had further asked the reasoning behind applying the Official Secrets Act, 1923, on a retired military officer. Additional Attorney General (AAG) Sajid Ilyas Bhatti had responded that the ex-military man had been released but was still under investigation.

Justice Alam had noted that the military had levelled serious allegations

against the retired officer before releasing him. “He was not released on court orders,” he added. To which, AAG Bhatti affirmed that there were “other” reasons behind the release.

He had also directed the AAG to come prepared to explain whether a civilian can be court-martialed in light of Section 549 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and Section 94 and 95 of the Pakistan Army Act 1952.

Lieutenant Colonel (r) Rahim, a petitioner in multiple cases of allegedly missing persons, was picked up from his residence by law enforcement officials in December last year. Subsequently, on Janurary 2, the Defence Ministry had informed the LHC that the retired officer was in the custody of its subordinate agency and that he was being probed for allegedly violating the Official Secrets Act, 1923 — the anti-espionage law.

Announcing its verdict on a petition on January 9, the LHC had termed his detention against the law and directed authorities to set him free. However, on January 11, the government had moved the apex court against the order, saying that the detainee is “part of a spy network”.

Subsequently, on January 22, the Defence Ministry had assured the apex court that Lieutenant Colonel (r) Rahim would be released when “certain conditions” are met.

SC reserves judgement on govt’s appeal against PMDC revival ISLAMABAD APP

The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday reserved the judgement on federation’s appeal against the restoration of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s (PMDC) Registrar.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed heard the case.

During the course of proceedings, the Attorney General said that Registrar PMDC broke locks and entered the building. Subsequently, the CJP barred

the registrar from entering the building until the final decision in the case.

The Attorney General said that Registrar PMDC was appointed under the 2019 Ordinance. Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan said that the high court had suspended the PMDC Ordinance. He asked how could the deployment under the law be restored if the law was repealed.

He said that at the request of the contempt of court, the high court could not issue such an order. The chief justice said that the high court restored Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) employees, not PMDCs.

Media monitoring body urges Pakistani TV channels to avoid politicising coronavirus NEWS DESK A media monitoring and research body on Wednesday urged Pakistani TV channels to stop politicising the coronavirus and be responsible in covering the impact of the pandemic in the country.

"Uks has monitored a new spate of war on the media and barring a few, most of the TV talk shows are busy in pitting a province against the other or Centre against a province," read a statement from the body. The Uks mentioned that it had noted how guests from various political parties are invited to talk shows and then, discussions on COVID-19 are 'tailored'.

"This is incredibly bad for outbreak control – it can drive our public away from acquiring information on prevention and updates to fall for who’s right and who’s wrong," it said, adding that the debate on social media had been mostly racist, sexist, ethnic and sectarian.

Keeping in mind the fact that talk shows are driven by politics, the Uks made three appeals to media practitioners, the public and advertisers. It urged media practitioners to refrain from taking up issues with a "premeditated agenda of political score setting" and avoid calling guests who will indulge in political arguments.

It called on advertisers to be more responsible and not support content that incites the public, hinges on hate speech and creates national and regional divisions. "Losing a little money is better than losing human lives," read the statement.

The Uks called on the public to ignore mundane political debates and instead, demand reports from professionals in infectious diseases. "Although the numbers are of interest to you, it’s also important for you to see the story behind the numbers, of success stories, of best practices," it said.

The remarks from the Uks came after coronavirus cases in Pakistan crossed the 6,000 mark and more than 100 deaths were reported in the country. Globally, more than 2 million people have been affected by the virus and an estimated 120,000 have died from the infection.

The Sindh government and centre have been trading barbs over the past couple of weeks on measures being undertaken across the country to tackle the novel coronavirus.

While the provincial government thinks the centre should take strict measures and has called for a complete lockdown across the country, the federal government insists on refraining from a complete lockdown so that the daily wage earners can survive during the pandemic.

SC prevents PHC from hearing WWB’s plea seeking larger bench constitution CJP SAYS HIGH COURT CANNOT HOLD HEARINGS IN CASE UNTIL SC DECIDES PENDING APPEALS ISLAMABAD APP

The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday restrained bench number one of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) from hearing a plea of Workers Welfare Board (WWB) seeking constitution of a larger bench. A three-member special bench of the apex court headed

by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed heard the case.

During the course of proceedings, the chief justice said that the high court could

Justice Ahsan said that the PMDC had the power to make decisions regarding registrar and employees.

The chief justice said that the registration process of thousands of doctors was pending. The Attorney General said that the court should appoint a former judge as president of the PMDC. By law, a retired judge could be the head of the council, he added.

He said it was the discretion of the apex court to re-appoint Justice Shakirullah Jan or another judge. The council would become active as soon as its head was appointed, he added.

not hold a hearing until a decision was made on the appeals pending in the apex court. The court also directed to fix all appeals pending in the SC. The chief justice said that the high court would take decisions based on the principles laid down by the SC. Apparently, PHC’s bench number one overlooked the apex court’s rulings, he added.

The attorney general said that appeals were pending in the SC against the high court’s decisions. Justice Ijazul Ahsan said that the high court was authorised to announce decisions keeping in view the recent decisions of the SC

under Article 189 of the Constitution.

CJP Gulzar said that the court had also issued notice to the PHC registrar at the previous hearing. aHe said that the registrar had submitted an unsatisfactory response. He added that the court was not satisfied with the reply of the PHC registrar.

He also said that when such arguments were made before the apex court regarding the high court, it was necessary to review them. He further said that the counsel for WWB had alleged that the PHC chief justice was not following the precedent set by the SC. Disregarding the apex court’s decisions was not a good thing and the SC does not want to make any observations, he added.

PHC Registrar Khawaja Wajihuddin submitted a three-page concise statement, wherein it was stated that in view of Article

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189 of the Constitution, the PHC was following the SC’s latest judgment on the matter and the high court had no cavil if the apex court ordered fixing another bench of the high court or a larger bench to hear the matter.

“The apex court, in its 2016 judgment, held that the rules of board are statutory in nature therefore writ petitions under Article 199 are maintainable,” the statement read.

“After this judgment, there is not even a single judgment wherein this judgment has been overruled. Indeed, there are 2/3 judgments of the apex court wherein without discussing this aspect of case, had held that contractual employees of statutory body even cannot ask for regularisation or reinstatement after the termination of contractual obligations,” the statement added. The statement further read that the SC had ruled that the right to regularisation of the services of employees was held maintainable before the high court.

“Larger benches are constituted when there is difference of opinion on any question of law between two benches of that court. The latest SC judgment on same subject is binding in view of Article 189 of the

PEMRA bars live audience, display of gifts during Ramzan transmissions ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Wednesday barred the presence of live audience during Ramzan transmissions amid the coronavirus outbreak. The PEMRA notification issued directives to ensure protection against the spread of the virus, as the number of confirmed cases crossed 6,100. PEMRA also stated that there should be no display of gifts – including bikes, cars, electronics and other items. It stated that if more than one person is hosting a show, then the distance between both persons should not be less than one metre. In addition, only one guest can be present on set. Moreover, the staff involved in Ramzan transmissions must be provided with proper safety kits and must maintain a distance of at least one to two metres. Furthermore, arrangements for handwashing and sanitising must be made at entrances and inside studios. Any violation obtained shall entail legal action, as per the directives of the federal government, the statement added. The notification mentioned that content against Islam must not be aired, as well as derogatory remarks against any other religion, sect or community. STAFF REPORT

Ahmad Sukhera posted as cabinet secretary ISLAMABAD: Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera, a BS-22 officer of Pakistan Administrative Service, has been posted as Cabinet secretary with an additional charge of the Ministry of Commerce secretary. He is an officer of 1985 batch of CSS and has earlier served on many key assignments as Federal Secretary for the last six years at Ministry of Commerce, Information and Broadcasting, Privatisation, & Board of Investment.

He served in Punjab before that and remained posted as Principal Secretary to Governor, Secretary (Implementation & Coordination, Deputy Commissioner Faisalabad, and Sheikhupura districts. He is an Aitchisonian, who did his graduate degrees at Harvard University and Williams College, and his Bachelors degree from the London School of Economics.

He is the longest-serving and senior-most Secretary in the federal government. STAFF REPORT

Govt extends validity of passports until June 30 ISLAMABAD: The federal government has extended validity of Pakistani passports until June 30, 2020 in view of the coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Interior said Wednesday.

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and passport offices were not issuing CNICs and passports in order to prevent the coronavirus spread, the ministry said in a notification. It directed all passport offices in the country and abroad to manually extend passport validity for Rs1,000. The fee will be Rs800 for infants. Foreign missions would be allowed to extend validity of overseas Pakistanis’ passports in case they do not get fresh ones despite applying online. STAFF REPORT Constitution,” it added.

The PHC registrar contended that the counsel for the petitioner had misguided the SC that there were different judgments on the point of regularisation and termination of contractual obligations of WWB employees, adding that the case was entirely different in nature. Regarding the claim that there had been consistent violation of Article 189 of the Constitution especially by PHC bench number one headed by the high court’s chief justice, the registrar submitted that Justice Seth in his February 17 order had made it very clear that the decision to turn down the request to form a larger bench was made in view of the latest SC judgment.

“However, the main judgment in the matter before PHC is yet to be delivered in view of Article 189 of the Constitution,” the statement read.

“Having laid down our earnest submissions, this court will stop at nothing to honor and implement every judgment and order of the apex court and have no cojals and cavil, if the apex court fixes the matter for decision before any other bench of the PHC or for that matter even before the larger bench,” it added. Later, hearing of the case was adjourned till date in office.

Thursday, 16 April, 2020

DeCIsIons beIng maDe on basIs of grounD realITy: asaD umar ISLAMABAD

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APP

EDERAL Minister for Planning Asad Umar on Wednesday said that the government is taking decisions while keeping in view all ground realities to steer the country out of the prevailing coronavirus situation. Addressing a press conference along with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security Division Moeed Yusuf, he said that the government is fighting a war at different fronts, including poverty,

hunger and weak economy.

The minister said that public health is the top priority of the incumbent government but the government has to take care of poor deserving families as well.

He added that so Rs35 billion have been distributed among 28,68,000 poor deserving families under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mirza said that the total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan had soared to 5,988 with 2,945in Punjab, 1,518 in Sindh, 865 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 240 in Balochistan, 140 in Islamabad, 46 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and

CII chairman advises people to offer Taraweeh prayers at home ISLAMABAD: Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz on Wednesday advised the people to offer Taraweeh prayers at home during the holy month of Ramzan to avoid coronavirus infection. Religious decrees had already been issued by leading scholars of all schools of thought that the obligatory Friday prayers should not be offered at mosques amid the coronavirus pandemic while the Taraweeh prayers were not obligatory, and could be offered at home, he said while talking to APP. He said that when Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) has prohibited people from offering prayers at the mosque after eating onion and garlic until the odor vanishes from their mouth, as it might disturb other worshippers, then how could one who is infected with coronavirus or is at the risk of contracting the virus offer his prayers at the mosque. Offering prayers at home in the current circumstances had become all the more important as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of pandemic, he said, adding that it would not be a sin as the unanimous decrees have been issued by the scholars of all schools of thought in this regard. He said that the CII meeting on April 2 had unanimously declared that only mosque staff should offer congregational prayers with strict precautionary measures. He rejected the arguments of some religious scholars justifying congregational prayers at mosques on the pretext of shopping activities being carried out at departmental stores. He added that such arguments do not carry weight as protecting human life is more important. The CII chief said that the religious scholars and prayer leaders should first pledge that social distancing would be maintained at their mosques, besides other precautionary measures, before offering congregational prayers there. The mosques were not being targeted as all the educational institutions across the country had also been closed, he added. APP

Clerics to be consulted before decision on congregational prayers: Qadri ISLAMABAD: Minister for Religious Affairs Dr Noorul Haq Qadri on Wednesday said that a decision regarding congregational prayers including, Friday prayers and Taraweeh, will be made after consultation with religious leaders.

He stated that prominent religious leaders from all sects will be taken into confidence during a meeting on Saturday, which will be chaired by President Dr Arif Alvi. The statement comes a day after a meeting of clerics from across the country announced to hold congregational prayers in mosques “from now”, adding, however, precautionary measures advised by the government will be implemented. APP

234 in Gilgit Baltistan (GB).

He said that so far 1,500 patients have recovered, 44 people are in critical condition, while 107 patients have died so far. Dr Zafar Mirza said that during the last 24 hours, 3,280 tests were conducted, out of which 272 cases were found positive, while 11 deaths were reported from various parts of the country.

He said that although the government has decided to operationalise the construction industry, the labourers and workers would still need to exercise utmost care while working in industries.

In his remarks, Yusuf said that repatriation of Pakistani prisoners and

labourers stranded in different countries is a key priority of the government and six airports have been made operational in this regard.

He said that 2,000 passengers stranded in different countries, including United Arab Emirates (UAE), Japan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Oman, will be brought back to their homeland till Saturday.

He further informed that 41 Pakistanis will be brought back from India through Wagah border on Thursday. He added that the government is also making a comprehensive strategy to bring back Pakistanis stranded in Afghanistan.

Sanaullah says govt’s ‘half-baked lockdown’ ineffective PML-N LEADER SAYS GOVT WASTED IMPORTANT TIME DUE TO ITS ‘INCOMPETENCE AND INDECISIVENESS’ LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab President Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government could not achieve anything from the lockdown period due to its “incompetence, lack of vision, inaction and now the people are no longer willing to abide by the government’s meaningless half-baked lockdown”.

The former Punjab law minister said that the government announced the lockdown without any planning, strategy or preparation. “The government remained confused and indecisive regarding the lockdown and made a mess of it, failing miserably to implement it,” he said.

He also said that Sindh government was imposing a lockdown while the federal government was delivering speeches against the measure and then, in its traditional manner, the PTI took a “U-turn” and announced the lockdown out of nowhere.

Sanaullah said that the government could do even the basics of a lockdown right which included in-

creasing testing to massive levels. He said that the government should have conducted at least 25,000 tests everyday while imposing an airtight lockdown. “They should have used this valuable time to identify, quarantine and separate, infected and suspect individuals from the healthy ones, decreased the load on the overwhelmed healthcare system. After achieving this separation over a lockdown of two to three weeks, a stage-wise resumption of businesses should have followed,” he added.

But now, he said, it is too late because the temperament of the financially-crippled and frustrated people has changed and they would not sit at home any longer. There is a significant chance that people would violate the partial lockdown by the government and small businesses and shopkeepers would resume work with or without government approval, he added. He further said that it is also feared that spontaneous protests might break out against government policies.

Sanaullah suspected that people would not abide by the restrictions for more than a couple of weeks at max

because the fear of starving their children to death has taken over their fear of death by coronavirus.

“The government has only wasted time due to its incompetence and inaction. This is what PML-N had been warning Prime Minister Imran Khan about over and over again. Had he created an environment of national unity, had announced the lockdown with the opposition by his side, the results would have been 100 per cent in Pakistan’s favour,” he added.

The PML-N leader said that the government also totally failed to reach those worst hit by the economic fallout of the lockdown and failed to deliver food and essential items to them. “Around 55 per cent of the country’s workforce comprises dailywagers and only 2 to 6 per cent can survive a 6-month stay-at-home restriction,” he added.

Half of rural and urban Pakistanis unaware of COVID-19 facts, study reveals NEWS DESK Diabetics, smokers and asthmatics are at a higher risk of falling severely ill from COVID-19 but only half of the rural and urban population is aware of this, suggests a new study by the Aga Khan University (AKU).

Researchers surveyed 738 men and women across Pakistan to assess their knowledge about COVID-19 symptoms, its mode of transmission and ways to protect oneself from the disease. Participants included 403 people across Pakistan who completed an online survey, 198 respondents in urban Karachi who were interviewed by telephone and 137 individuals who took part in door-todoor surveys in rural Thatta.

While over 90% of those surveyed knew that the elderly were at a relatively higher risk of complications from the disease, nearly half of the respondents were unaware of other risk factors such as diabetes, smoking and asthma.

“Accurate information represents the first step in effectively protecting oneself and one’s loved ones from the disease,” Professor Zafar Fatmi of AKU’s community health sciences department said. “This is especially critical

for those living with at-risk groups as it will enable them to take the necessary precautions.”

Less than one in 10 rural residents correctly identified being in crowded areas as a risk factor. Most rural residents (74%) also incorrectly believed mosquito bites to be a cause of COVID-19.

There was inadequate knowledge about the symptoms of the disease. While the majority of respondents correctly recognised fever, coughing and shortness of breath as signs of coronavirus, less than one in three respondents were aware of joint or muscle pain being a symptom.

Similarly, fewer than one in four of those surveyed knew that a person could be carrying the virus without showing any signs or symptoms.

Respondents who could accurately identify more than five of the ten symptoms of the disease listed by the World Health Organisation were considered to have adequate knowledge; just 8% of those surveyed through the study were able to meet or exceed this benchmark.

Researchers also found a widespread belief in the myth that the novel coronavirus could be treated with existing medications. Even though there is no cure for

NEWS

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Pm assures merit, transparency in ehsaas programme ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday that the provision of funds under Ehsaas Programme is purely made on the basis of merit and transparency is ensured throughout the process. The premier made the remark during a meeting conducted to discuss the coronavirus situation with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Parliamentary Leader in Sindh Assembly, Halim Adil Shaikh. Shaikh informed the prime minister about the overall situation of coronavirus in Sindh and explained him about the problems faced by the people while battling out the pandemic in the province. “We are thankful for the funds allocated by the federal government for Sindh under Ehsaas programme,” he said. The provincial lawmaker also notified that youth around the province is excited to become a part of ‘Tiger Relief Force’ and would ensure active participation in collecting relief funds for the programme. In response, PM Imran said that the efforts of youth in tackling the current situation posed by the coronavirus is praiseworthy, however, with grave public crisis, the country is also fighting with poverty and other economic setbacks. “Political leadership should play a role in stimulating donations and reaching consensus,” the premier said, adding that the incumbent government is formulating policies to mitigate the adverse effects of coronavirus, especially for the disadvantaged segment of the society who is suffering the most due to the extended lockdowns. According to Dr Sania Nishtar, who is incharge of the programme, 1.2 million families will get Rs12,000. “Funds distribution will be done on the basis of biometric verification,” she said, explaining that this way no one will be able take advantage of funds allocated for someone else, such as if there had been a card system. An SMS can be sent to 8171 containing the 13-digit National Identity Card number, said Dr Nishtar. This will let a family know if they are eligible for the payment. APP

nCoC lauds timely Chinese assistance amid pandemic ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) Wednesday commended the timely assistance provided by China to Pakistan to cope with the coronavirus challenge. According to a statement released by the National Command and Operation Center, a Chinese medical team visited Pakistan and held meetings in different cities with health professionals and others to help Pakistan cope with the situation. The command center noted that the Chinese side provided Pakistan with important medical equipment and medicines on war footing. It immediately provided five hundred, twenty nine thousand and nine hundred and twenty four N-95 masks. The Chinese assistance also included thirty three thousand, seven hundred and forty four protective equipment and ten thousand testing kits. Over 1.5 million medical masks, thirty six ventilators, 180 thermometer, 100 thermal scanners, 24900 gloves and 59,376 protective goggles are also part of the Chinese assistance. APP the virus and only its symptoms can be treated, up to 60% of urban Pakistanis believed that pneumonia vaccines could protect them. Eighty-three percent of rural respondents thought that existing medicines can effectively treat the disease. Data from the study also highlights the need for more awareness of isolation practices. While nearly all respondents were aware that symptoms of COVID-19 last up to two weeks, only between 37% and 64% of those surveyed knew that being in contact with someone with COVID-19 should lead to a quarantine of up to 14 days.

On a more positive note, there was widespread awareness of the importance of hand washing, coughing into one’s elbow and of maintaining distance from those who are coughing or sneezing. The study also collected data on the most used sources of information. Most urban respondents received their data from newspapers, television, radio and social media. In contrast, most rural residents relied on colleagues for information.

“We are working with partners to develop informative health awareness material on the virus that will be communicated through the sources that people trust,” Dr Fatmi said. The study was funded by grants from AKU’s Medical College and the University’s Research Council.

Dr Shafaq Mahmood, Dr Ibtisam Qazi, Dr Muneebullah Siddiqui, Dr Anny Dhanwani, Dr Babar Shahid, Dr Hasan Nawaz, Waqas Hameed and Dr Sameen Siddiqi from the university’s community health sciences department also contributed to the study.

04 ISLAMABAD

Thursday, 16 April, 2020

WEATHER UPDATES THURSDAY

290C

190C

FRIDAY

3C

2 0

170C

SATURDAY

260C

160C

Coronavirus loCkdown: seCtion 144 extended till april 30 in islamabad ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Islamabad administration on Wednesday extended Section 144 for two more weeks following the countrywide extension in lockdown till April 30.

According to a notification, there will be a complete ban on public gatherings and public transport across the capital city.

Restrictions on social distance and businesses that previously exempted will

remain in place, the notification reads.

The total number of COVID-19 cases reached 5,988 in Pakistan after the emergence of 151 cases during the last 24 hours, according to the latest statistics released by the National Command and Operation Centre.

According to the national dashboard, the medical facilities have conducted 3,280 tests during last 24 hours while the total number of COVID-19 tests stands at 69,928.

At least 11 deaths were reported till Wednesday morning, taking the toll to 107 and the number of recovered patients is 1,466.

Punjab has the highest figure of coronavirus cases up to 2,945 followed by Sindh with 1,518 cases.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has 865 patients, 234 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), 240 in Balochistan, 140 in Islamabad and 43 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

It must be noted that Prime Minister

Imran Khan on Tuesday announced to extend the ongoing country-wide lockdown for another two weeks.

Addressing a joint press conference following the National Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting, PM Imran Khan said that all the public places and educational institutions will remain closed during the lockdown. He urged the people to follow the safety instruction issued by the government to protect themselves from COVID-19.

PRAyER TimingS FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

4:11

12:09

3:47

5:38

6:39

8:07

iHC issues written order in private schools' petition ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday issued a written judgment in a petition moved by private schools’ association (PSA) against the decision of 20 per cent reduction in students’ fee during two month vocations in wake coronavirus outbreak. Justice Aamer Farooq of IHC issued the twopage judgment in which the court ordered to send the matter to Private Education Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) and rejected the request of private schools to suspend the fee reduction notification. The order directed the PEIRA to decide the matter related to a fee of April and May after hearing the stance of private schools. The decision said that the petitioner’s lawyer had expressed satisfaction if the matter was sent to PEIRA to hear the private schools. The IHC had issued directives to its registrar office to refer the matter to PEIRA. It may be mentioned that private schools had adopted the stance in their plea that the PEIRA had issued fee reduction notification without hearing them and prayed the court to declare the decision as void. APP

no new Covid-19 case in aJk

PESHAWAR: A disinfecting tunnel has been installed at the cattle market as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19 here. PPi

Residents concerned over tree-felling at Eidgah graveyard RAWALPINDI APP

The residents of the garrison city have raised concerns on suspicious removing over a hundred trees in the lush green Eidgah graveyard whereas the Municipal Corporation (MCR) passed bucks over inadequate laws to take the violators to task.

Muhammad Waqas, a local area resident told APP that unknown persons

started chopping off the trees a month ago where the individuals used to cut trees with electric saw in the morning and evening hours and kept loading the wood logs on their vehicles for many days.

He said no body from the graveyard committee bothered to stop them rather the wood cutters were placing the logs near their office and at the walkways of the graveyard. "The city is already ripped off from its scenic green cover since partition and these small areas having trees

are the only source of relief to breath clean air and preserve the diminished bird life. Local specie of sparrows and exotic doves can be spotted hovering on the graveyard trees. But the trees removed are mostly old ones with a very large size which has also destroyed the nests of many birds," he regretted. He urged the quarters concerned to initiate prompt action against the violators to help restore the obliterated green area of the graveyard.

An official of the Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi (MCR) said there were no clear provisions in MCR law to charge any individual on the offence of cutting trees and had approached the Rawalpindi Police to assist in the matter.

The graveyard had an administrative

committee having public representatives and local people its members."General Secretary of the committee Khalid Mehmood claims that it is the unanimous decision of our committee to remove the trees as they are Paper Mulberry trees causing allergy and health complications," he said. The MCR official added that the enforcement team of the corporation tried to halt the tree cutting but the committee resisted and termed it a personal matter.

When approached for a first information report the Banni Police Station investigation officer refused to consider the report and argued that MCR had no claim on the possession of the graveyard and its trees. "MCR has to prove its claim on the trees and could establish a legal stance against the culprits," he added.

MIRPUR: No new case of the coronavirus emerged in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) during last 24 hours, it was officially announced on Wednesday. At the same time, five patients in the area were cured and 95 suspects tested negative and were discharged from various quarantine centres in the state during the last 24 hours, AJK Health Authorities said in its special bulletin released to the media.

Since no new suspect of the pandemic emerged during the last 24 hours across AJK, the number of COVID-19 infected persons tested positive in the state tally remained at 46 on Wednesday, the health authorities said. Nine coronavirus patients in AJK have so far been discharged. Those discharged included three from DHQ Hospital Mirpur, one patient who was discharged from CMH Rawlakot and five from DHQ Hospital Bhimbher following complete recoveries. Currently, a total of 37 suspects who had tested positive are under treatment at various AJK hospitals and are moving towards recovery, the State health authorities added. Updating on the overall current COVID-19 situation in AJK, the health authorities said that a total of 1,081 suspected cases were sent for tests, out of which, the result of 1,039 had been received so far. The results of the remaining 42 suspects are expected to reach in a day or two.

It may be noted here that the AJK government has established 60 quarantine centres at various locations for dispensation of treatment to the pandemic affectees. APP

islamabad shopkeeper injured while resisting robbery attempt ISLAMABAD: A man in Islamabad was injured after a suspect shot him during a robbery bid Wednesday.

The man runs a bakery in Jhang Sayedan. He was sitting at his shop when a man entered and tried to rob the bakery owner with a gun. The owner resisted the attempt after which the suspect shot him. The owner has been shifted to PIMS Hospital. The police have arrested the suspect and a case has been registered against him. STAFF REPORT

Speakers call for ensuring use of masks, gloves to contain COVID-19 ISLAMABAD APP

Participants of the "Online Conference" on Wednesday called for ensuring the use of masks and gloves mandatory for the general public to contain the novel coronavirus. They said the government must opt for mass production of safety gears including masks, gloves and sanitizers and be distributed among the people.

The conference was organized by the Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS) on “Suggestive Measures for Lifting the Lockdown: What can be the Phases”. The conference was chaired by

Vice Chancellor, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) Nadeem ul Haq, a press release said. Air Marshal (r) Saeed Khan said, "We need long-term and mid-term policy while prioritizing our health sector. Innovation is required that can be achieved through specialists."

Lieutenant General (Retd) Masood Aslam, Member Advisory Board CGSS stated that an unnecessary movement must be controlled while ensuring strict official status.

Other speakers said it is about time that civil society must push for occupational health and safety standards in the factories.

There is a lack of public obedience in our society, hence Government must strictly en-

ADB pledges $8.32mn for water resource management projects in Punjab

PID (I) 5705/19

LAHORE: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an agreement on Wednesday to provide $8.32 million in financing to the government of Pakistan to enable vital preparatory work ahead of a series of major projects to enhance water availability and increase agricultural productivity in Punjab. Disbursed as a project readiness financing facility for the Punjab Water Resources Management projects, the loan will finance the preparation of detailed designs and safeguard documents, feasibility studies, and other due diligence work ahead of the implementation of five priority irrigation infrastructure projects identified by the provincial government, said a press release by the ADB. “APP

sure the writ of the state.

They said, "We need to mobilize our production and reduce our exports, adding we have to mechanize our supply chain and wheels of the internal market must keep spinning in a controlled manner.

The online Interactive session was attended by 30 participants. The panelists included experts from different fields: Major General (r) Syed Khalid Amir Jaffery HI(M), President CGSS, Major General (r) Farooq Ahmad Khan, Former DG NDMA, Brigadier (r) Mansoor Saeed, Senior Member Advisory Board CGSS, Lieutenant General (r) Asad Durrani HJ, HI(M), Senior Analyst Amir Zafar Durrani, President Reenergia, Brigadier (r) Akhtar Nawaz Janjua, Senior Member Advisory Board CGSS, Dr Basharat Hassan Bashir, Specialist, Public Health Engineering & Member Advisory Board CGSS Lieutenant Colonel Ather Sultan (r).

Thursday, 16 April, 2020

ProvinCeS fAil to SuBmit wheAt loSSeS rePort to Centre iSLamaBaD

t

SHAHZAD PARACHA

HE provinces have failed to submit a report to the federal government about wheat losses in the current fiscal year, it emerged on Wednesday.

Sources said all provinces usually submit the wheat losses report to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MoNFSC) every year on March 31, however, no one has submitted the report so farthis year.

Sources further said the federal government could not determine the wheat production target due to non-availability of statistics from the provinces.

The wheat crop during FY20 remained under the locusts’ attack in three provincesSindh, Punjab and to some extent in

Balochistan. In addition, the damages have also been reported to the wheat crop in Punjab owing to heavy rains in the last few months. However the federal ministry has not yet got data of damages.

G20 announces one-year debt relief for poorest countries CoNtiNuED from pagE 01 POWERFUL RESPONSE: The International Monetary Fund and World Bank had been calling on the governments to provide debt relief to the countries most in need, and finance ministers from the Group of Seven advanced economies agreed to do so on Tuesday providing the G20, which includes China and Russia, was in favor. The leaders of the IMF and World Bank hailed the announcement, calling it “a powerful, fast-acting initiative that will do much to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of millions of the most vulnerable people.”

The Washington-based lenders have rushed to roll out emergency financing and have received requests for aid from 100 countries. The G20 called on private creditors, working through the Institute of International Finance, to participate in the initiative which extends to the world’s 76 poorest countries. The IMF has called the economic crisis the “Great Lockdown,” warning it will slash $9 trillion off of global growth as the world economy contracts by three percent this year, the most severe downturn since the Great Depression in the 1930s.

The situation could get much worse if the pandemic lingers into the second half of the year or resurges. The G20 officials also reiterated their commitment to deploy “available tools” to deal with the health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19.

“Our efforts must continue and be amplified,” the communique said.

The IMF estimates the 20 governments already has committed about $7 trillion towards combating the virus and providing economic lifelines to households and companies struggling to weather the crisis.

But more will be needed to restart the global economies once the pandemic has passed.

The federal government had also imposed an emergency with regard to preventing the locusts’ attacks, sources said, adding Chinese are assisting the government on this matter.

They said the ministry has conveyed to a meeting to determine wheat crop losses on coming Monday and provinces have been asked to share the production as well as cultivation report.

Sources said wheat harvest has begun in the country, apart from this and Punjab has stated the procurement from the last three days. It is feared that the government couldn’t fulfil the procurement targets of wheat.

The federal government has set 82 million metric tonnes of wheat procurement target in which Punjab’s share is 45 million metric tonnes, Sindh 14million metric tonnes, Balochistan 1million metric tonnesand PASSCO 18 million metric tonnes.

Earlier, the Sindh government and PASSCO were procuring wheat from farmers who had harvested the crop, but due to the lockdown, the procurement stopped.

Punjab govt reshuffles bureaucracy LaHorE

partment secretary, vice Muhammad Aamir Jan (PAS/BS-20), transferred.

Labour & Human Resource Department secretary Sarah Aslam (PAS/BS20) has been transferred with immediate effect and posted as Schools Education Department secretary, vice Mohammad Sheheryar Sultan (PAS/BS-20), transferred.

Population Welfare Department secretary Muhammad Aamir Jan (PAS/BS-20) has been transferred with immediate effect and posted as Labour & Human Resource Department secretary, vice Sarah Aslam (PAS/BS-20), transferred and Youth Affairs, Sports, Archaeology & Tourism Department secretary Ehsan Bhutta (PAS/BS-20) has been transferred with immediate effect and posted as Tourism Department secretary against a newly created post and he shall also hold the additional charge of the post of Youth Affairs and Sports Department secretary in addition

STAFF REPORT

The Punjab government has reshuffled bureaucrats in important departments on the direction of governor and chief secretary.

According to a notification issued by the Services & General Administration Department (S&GAD) on Wednesday, Zafar Nasrullah Khan (PAS/BS-21), officer on special duty (OSD), S&GAD, has been posted as additional chief secretary (services economy) with immediate effect, against a vacant post.

Schools Education Department secretary Mohammad Sheheryar Sultan (PAS/BS-20) has been transferred with immediate effect and posted as S&GAD secretary (services) against a vacant post.

Ali Bahadur Qazi (PAS/BS-20), who was awaiting posting in S&GAD, has also been posted as Population Welfare De-

to his own duties and till the posting of a regular incumbent.

Zulfiqar Ahmad Ghuman (PMS (exPCS)/BS-20), OSD, S&GAD has been posted as Higher Education Department secretary with immediate effect in his own pay and scale against a vacant post, relieving Sarah Aslam (PAS/BS-20) of additional charge of the post.

Directorate of Excise & Taxation (ET&NC), Punjab, Lahore director general Muhammad Suhail Shahzad (PMS (ex-PSS)/BS-19) has been transferred with immediate effect and posted as Higher Education Department special secretary in his own pay and scale against a vacant post. Director General (Narcotics Control), Punjab, Lahore Masoodul Haq (BS-20) has been transferred with immediate effect and posted as the director general of ET&NC, Punjab, Lahore, vice Muhammad Suhail Shahzad (PMS (exPSS)/BS-19), transferred.

NEWS

Steel producers seek lockdown exemption to meet construction demand ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers (PALSP) has shown its surprise over the fact that the federal government has opted not to open the steel sector despite opening the construction sector. It also fear unhealthy competition in the coming days since the industry is opened in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while it remains closed in the rest of the country. In a statement issued on Wednesday, PALSP said steel is an integrated part of the construction sector, with many steel units having their own labour colonies. The association urged the government to immediately open the steel industry under the prescribed coronavirus SOPs. "Without the availability and consumption of steel, there is no way that the construction sector could start its activities," the statement read. "Any delay in the opening of the steel sector will result in shortage of steel which will create difficulties as well as massive suffering for the consumers who will need steel to start construction work." PALSP said it considered the government’s decision of opening the construction sector as 'historic', as this was important to create job opportunities.

Since the government has opened up the construction sector in a big way, there is going to be an abrupt increase in the demand of steel, the association noted. STAFF REPORT

Coronavirus: Amazon boss Jeff Bezos adds $24bn to fortune NEWS DESK The founder and boss of Amazon has seen his wealth swell by $24bn (£19bn) after soaring demand for online shopping sent the firm’s share price to a new high. Jeff Bezos now has a fortune of $138bn, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, cementing his position as the world’s richest man. Amazon has benefited from surging internet shopping by people forced to stay home during the Covid-19 outbreak. The firm has been recruiting thousands of workers to cope with demand. However, Amazon has also been criticised by employees in the US over workplace protection against the coronavirus.

Mr Bezos owns an 11pc stake in Amazon and on Tuesday, the firm’s shares rose by 5.3pc.

Centre, Sindh spar over lockdown restrictions as infections surge CoNtiNuED from pagE 01 About comments of top clerics regarding holding congregational prayers in mosques during Ramzan, he said the provincial government will address their reservations and the PM will talk to them as well.

He said the medical experts with whom he has been meeting since the first case was reported in Sindh expected the country-wide death toll to reach 190 to 200. The chief minister promised that he’s all ears to the reservations of every business sector and seeks their coordination in these difficult times.

‘POLARISING THE NATION’: The presser didn’t go down well with the fed-

eral government, which questioned the strict lockdown policy of Sindh and the increasing number of mortalities.

PM’s Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan said Murad was fully empowered under the constitution, but as the chief executive of the province, he was also responsible to save the vulnerable segments from starvation.

Addressing a joint press conference along with PTI Central Vice President Haleem Adil Sheikh, she said during the National Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting, the prime minister had authorized the provinces to take their own decisions regarding lockdown and opening of lowrisk industries. The special assistant said

05

the PM was fully cognizant of his responsibilities and was taking along all the federating units to successfully surmount the challenge. She said the federal and provincial governments must work together to cope with the coronavirus challenge.

She said all other provinces accepted the decisions made in the NCC meeting but unfortunately Sindh government spokesman, also a provincial minister made a controversial tweet which was an effort to divide the nation at this critical juncture. She said time and again the Sindh government was informed during the meetings of NCC that the provinces were free to take decisions in the larger interest of the people of their respective provinces keeping in view ground situation.

She said the rulers should give hope to the people but Murad’s presser was “pessimistic which might create fear and panic among the people of Sindh”. She reminded the Sindh CM that he had the powers to impose curfew in the province under the constitution but at the same time he had responsibilities to protect the rights of the people of the province. She said if the Sindh government failed to provide ration to the poor segments of the society, it would mean that the lockdown was imposed to protect the rights of the upper class and to promote his image of ‘good boy’ in the media.

She assured that the federal government was ready to cooperate with the provincial government in the process of providing relief to the poor segments of the society and Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme was its manifestation. She said the federal government announced Rs1200bn relief package after the spread of coronavirus, whereas the Sindh government had not announced any relief package for vulnerable segments of the society.

SBP meets EFP for suggestions on workers’ wages refinance scheme KaraCHi MEIRYUM ALI

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Reza Baqir met with the directors of the Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) to discuss the new SBP refinance scheme for wages and salaries, according to a statement released by EFP on Wednesday.

The 75-minute video conference was held by the EFP to provide suggestions and seek clarification from the SBP on the scheme.

On April 10, the SBP introduced a temporary scheme for businesses to get loans from banks, to incentivise them to not layoff their workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme will provide financing for wages and salaries expenses for three months from April to June 2020, for those businesses which do not layoff their employees for those three months

"SBP is constantly engaged with bankers to ensure that the initiatives undertaken by SBP are implemented on fast track basis in order to achieve the objectives,” said Baqir.

Present at the talk were EFP President Majyd Aziz, Vice President Zaki Ahmed Khan and EFP Economic Council Chairman Ismail Suttar. Baqir was assisted by Deputy Governor Jameel Ahmed and Executive Directors Syed Samar Hasnain and Inayat Hussain.

The SBP stated that suitable safeguards have been incorporated in the scheme to avoid its misuse. These include direct deposit of wages and salaries into worker’s accounts, payment through employers to workers (if the employers provide complete information to the lending banks), and priority to those employers whose payroll amount is up to Rs200 million for three months. Active taxpayers would get a discount of 1pc in the mark-up rates as an incentive.

On EFP’s proposal of having a 2pc discount rate for active taxpayers, the SBP said rates under the scheme are already very low.

However, on the issue of a further differentiated rate for the tax payers, they did not rule out the possibility of this being discussed in SBP. The SBP governor also informed that a one-year deferment on payment of principal has already been provided to borrowers. Over 70,000 have availed this benefit and the corresponding principal amount is in excess of Rs5 billion.

Employers could obtain loans through both conventional banks or through Islamic banks, as the scheme is available to both types of banks, according to Deputy Governor Jameel Ahmed and Executive Directors Syed Samar Hasnain and Dr Inayat Hussain.

The condition of collateral would vary from bank to bank and their relationship with the borrowers, which has been left for the banks

to decide in each case on its own merit.

The team also said that the SBP is determined to minimising the cost of borrowing in the larger interest of the borrowers, and if needed, would enhance bank limits. They reiterated that SBP has declared a deferral of loan payments for one year. Under the scheme, financial sector institutions have been specifically excluded, as the emphasis is to provide loans to labour intensive industries.

The EFP suggested a proposal for some kind of credit guarantee, by a third party, such as the government. The SBP said it could be discussed with banks as well as with the government as this would go a long way in facilitating SMEs. The EFP also suggested a Non-Disclosure Agreement by banks that the workers’ data would not be shared by banks with third party private or government institutions, in order to maintain confidentiality.

The SBP said it would discuss the issue of

non-disclosure of data with banks.

The EFP asked about the collateral for loans, especially if the employer is unable to provide further collateral. In response, the SBP said there is already a provision in place in SMEs Prudential Regulations that small enterprises could obtain loans up to Rs5 million without collateral. The central bank also said that principal employers could provide corporate guarantee for their vendors in case the vendors have difficulty in getting loans under the Scheme.

The federation also asked the lending banks to directly route the wages payments through mobile wallets to workers, if the employers could provide names and CNIC numbers to the bank. The SBP agreed with this suggestion, as it would be a workable alternative as it would ensure direct payment to workers and would also be transparent and not misused.

Thursday, 16 April, 2020

06 COMMENT

In the age of corona

A third wave of coronavirus?

State must not become hostage to interest groups

t

HE first wave of coronavirus came from taftan. the second from the talblighi Jamaat gathering in Raiwind. If the clerics are allowed to persuade the public that the best way to get rid of the coronavirus is to throng the mosques and continue doing so throughout the Ramazan, not even the richest countries of the world, with the best health facilities would be able to cope with the horrendous consequences.

On Monday, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) assigned the Interior Ministry the task of formulating guidelines for Ramzan in consultation with the ulema. the next day, without listening to the government’s views two groups of ulema, one in Islamabad and the other in Karachi, announced their Ramzan policy. At the first meeting they decided that apart from the five daily prayers, Friday and taraweeh congregations will also continue uninterrupted. One of the participants warned that any closure of the mosques, or shutting down of Friday oe taraweeh prayers would be unacceptable. Similar views were expressed at the ulema’s gathering in Karachi . the ulema advised the sick and elderly persons to offer prayers at home and handed over the task of implementing social distancing in tens of thousands of mosques to the government Pakistan came into existence due the efforts of the AllIndia Muslim League led by the Quaid-e-Azam. Both the party and its leader were moderate Muslims. the demand for a separate country was vehemently opposed by some of the best known ulema and their allies, the Ahrar. In his speech before the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on 11 August 1947, the father of the nation put the clerics in their place by telling the people “You may belong to any religion or caste or creed, that has nothing to do with the business of the State.”

It is the business of the state to save millions of Pakistanis from the onslaught of the coronavirus. Saudi Arabia and Jordan have already disallowed joint public prayers during Ramzan. Pakistan too needs to follow suit to safeguard the lives of millions of its citizens.

Living through a tough time

Dr zEEshan Khan

I

N recent times life has changed dramatically, but whenever a person faces tough times in his life, there are always two ways to confront a situation: either you face it with resilience or accept your failure. But, being a medical professional and especially in these grim times, the first way is ultimately the one to follow. However, in this time of crisis responsibility also lies on the masses to follow precautions. the message is very simple and that is, to stay at home. Social responsibility is foremost. When things are not under control, then wise and careful measures are needed. In this early phase of the coronavirus pandemic, with undetected cases accelerating transmission even as testing ramps up, that is critical.

Most obviously, we need health-care workers to care for the sick, even though their jobs carry the greatest risk of exposure and they are doing it in the best way but their safety is also very important.

In the index outbreak in Wuhan, 1300 health-care workers became infected; their likelihood of infection was more than three times higher than the general population. But the methods which were established there, were very hard and cannot be implemented in countries like Pakistan. Yet there are lessons to be

WHO Funding Wrong decision at the wrong time

U

S President Donald trump has long been averse to the United Nations, mainly because it does not do what the USA wants it to do. It does not operate as an organ of US foreign policy, as he feels it should. However, though the WHO is a UN agency, its functioning has been non-political, and is best exemplified by the role it has been playing in the coronavirus pandemic, in which it has collected information from all over the world, and has disseminated the best practices in tackling this problem. At a time when the WHO has asked for donations of $1 billion, President trump is stopping even normal US funding, which was $400 million in 2019, or 15 percent of its total funding.

As has become all too familiar, President trump has chosen to pull the plug for reasons of domestic politics, because he wishes to deflect criticism of how he has handled the pandemic in the USA from his own omissions to China, which he blamed for concealing vital information at the time the disease broke out, and in which he alleges that the WHO connived. the move has been condemned by UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres, as well as by the EU foreign policy chief, the German and Russian Foreign Minister, and the New Zealand Prime Minister, among others.

However, it can only be hoped that President trump will make a break with tradition and yield to good sense. Just because Dr Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House’s task Force on Covid-19, said that President trump’s delayed reaction made the effect on the USA worse than it could have been, does not mean he has any right to blame the WHO. As one reaction had it, he should blame China directly.

President trump has been caught in a bind. the way the pandemic hit the USA, which by thursday evening, had suffered over 600,000 cases and 26,000 deaths, it had to go into a lockdown much earlier than the country did.

Early action would have stopped trump from staging campaign events, and led to a tanking of the economy, and thus the prospect that he might lose the November election and end up a one-term President. However, his political prospects should not let him endanger the world’s health.

How to outlast the lockdown

Dania EhtEsham zahiD

I

t started out like a case of pneumonia, which with its rapid spread followed by research and investigation turned out to be a new strain of virus. the Covid-19. Sooner than later it went from being an epidemic to a pandemic.

Schools closed their gates, shops pulled their shutters down, and lights in the malls went out. Humans, once called the social animals, locked their doors. Social isolation became the new trend.

Welcome 2020 It’s as if Mother Earth had enough of us and called a ‘timeout’. But being the undisciplined, unchecked children that we are, it is hard to sit in our naughty chair.

I won’t be discussing the affects this tiny virus has had rather. I want to talk about our ‘time out’.

One major thing these social distancing and lockdowns have brought with them is uncertainty. People don’t know what will happen next; to their jobs, their businesses, their future. Not knowing what’s ahead makes one feel less in control. No one likes to not be in control of their lives. the uncomfortable inability to plan ahead and lack of control is bringing up all kinds of fears and emotions in people.

While we take that in and deal with the uncertainty of what’s next; one of the most important questions that comes up is how are we showing up as persons?

Are we reactive? Is grief taking over? Distant learning is taking its toll? Work from home feels like never ending work? Is frustration taking over?

When everything seems to be out of control, a

Arif Nizami Editor Umar Aziz

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Dr Zeeshan Khan can e reached at dr.zeeshan.alias.ghazikhan@gmail.com and tweets at @DrZeeshanKhanA1

Time out: Life with Covid-19

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

learned from two places that saw the new coronavirus before we did and that have had success in controlling its spread. Hong Kong and Singapore both detected their first cases in late January, and the number of cases escalated rapidly.

Officials banned large gatherings, directed people to work from home, and encouraged social distancing. testing was ramped up as quickly as possible.

But even these measures were never going to be enough if the virus kept propagating among healthcare workers and facilities. Primary-care clinics and hospitals in the two countries, like in the USA, didn’t have enough gowns and N95 masks, and, at first, tests weren’t widely available. After six weeks, though, they had a handle on the outbreak. Hospitals weren’t overrun with patients.

All health-care workers are expected to wear regular surgical masks for all patient interactions, to use gloves and practice proper hand hygiene, and to disinfect all surfaces between patient consults. Patients with suspicious symptoms (a low-grade fever coupled with a cough, respiratory complaints, fatigue, or muscle aches) or exposures (travel to places with viral spread or contact with someone who tested positive) are separated from the rest of the patient population, and treated— wherever possible— in separate respiratory wards and clinics, in separate locations, with separate teams. Social distancing is practiced within clinics and hospitals: waiting-room chairs are placed six feet apart; direct interactions among staff members are conducted at a distance; doctors and patients stay six feet apart except during examinations.

Equally interesting is what they don’t do. the use of N95 masks, face-protectors, goggles, and gowns are reserved for procedures where respiratory secretions can be aerosolized (for example, intubating a patient for anesthesia) and for known or suspected cases of covid-19. that these measures have succeeded in flattening the covid-19 curve carries some hopeful implications. But we now seem to be moving in the right direction, and the experience in Asia suggests that extraordinary precautions don’t seem to be required to stop it. the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in the face of limited information, recommended stricter precautions than have been employed in Asia. the WHO also recommends testing, testing and only testing to tackle the pandemic.

In South Korea, the success of mass testing in

containing the spread of the disease has raised the possibility that asymptomatic carriers were causing outbreak.

According to the IMF, more than $83 billion has flown out of third World countries since the beginning of the pandemic. It is “recorded as the largest capital outflow ever” and Bloomberg Economics says, it is more than $2.7 trillion across the world. the Imperial College London reports that there is a danger of 40 million deaths due to this crisis.

According to the White House task Force on CoronaVirus, 100,000 to 200,000 Americans can die from covid-19.

When you have no choice but to leave home and go to work while the case counts rise around you, it is hard not to panic. It is high time for whole world to focus on health and education rather than weapons.

Climate change and Wet markets are pondering points. the pandemic is global; its lessons are, too. the coronavirus is likely to spread for more than a year before a vaccine could be widely available. the most severe situation can be turned around, and the experience of cities and countries that have pushed back this virus give hope and courage to the rest of the world. During this difficult time, it’s important to continue looking after your physical and mental health. this will not only help you now, but in the long term. Firstly, eat a healthy and nutritious diet, which helps your immune system to function properly. Secondly, limit meat consumption and sugary diets. thirdly, don’t smoke, smoking can increase your risk of developing severe disease if you become infected with covid-19. Fourthly, exercise. WHO recommends 30 minutes of physical activity a day for adults, and one hour a day for children. You can walk, run, ride, do some yoga or walk up and down the stairs in your home or at an empty place near your home, observing social distancing. If you are working at home, make sure you don’t sit in the same position for long periods. Get up and take a three-minute break every 30 minutes. Fifth, look after your mental health. It’s normal to feel stressed, confused and scared during a crisis. talking to people you know and trust can help. Supporting other people in your community can help you as much as it does them.

Check on neighbors, family and friends. Read your favorite book or watch a movie. Be hopeful, things will be good soon.

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normal reaction would be to try and control something which you actually can, and that is yourself. this self-control might feel suffocating at times and may at times lead to actually feel like breaking down.

A better way would be to focus on self-management instead of self-control.

A few days back I was discussing “self-control” with my instructor and coach (yes even coaches need coaching), she pointed out to me, that self-control makes one feel as if we have a switch somewhere which can be switched on or off anytime and “selfmanagement” would be a better word to use instead.

It struck me then that just by switching a word from one to the other suddenly a space opens up for personal growth. We are not robots. We have a range of emotions and experience them in varying degrees.

No wonder the word “anger” has so many synonyms: “furious, mad, rage, annoy, irritated”. All these words describe one emotion so to say but also depict the varying degrees of it.

We more or less behave like waves having crests and troughs, hence like a surfer we need to learn to ride these waves rather than be drowned by them.

Managing our state of being with regards to the corona situation will involve a lot of courage on our part. this, we all have in ourselves; all we need to do is look inside us. Maybe a little deeper or longer but you’ll find it there. Here are some useful tips to think about and assimilate with yourself to make it easy for you and for those around you.

Step Outside─ not the house but yourself: Every time you feel like you’re getting angry or frustrated, take a deep breath and step out of yourself. try to look at yourself with the eyes of an outsider. It might not stop you from releasing that anger the first time you do this, but it will start giving you a perspective which will slowly start helping you in managing your state of anger in a way which does the least damage according to the situation of course. Remember there are times when even anger is a useful tool to use.

Wear the shoes of another: When you find yourself being irritated by another, try for a minute to step into their shoes. You can do it literally if you want. but if not do it in your head and ask yourself what would

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they be feeling right now? What difficulty might they be facing today for them to act this way? More times than not you will realize your anger or irritation was misguided and it will help you create a happy place not just for you, but for the other as well.

Keep a pair of Rose-coloured glasses at hand: A trait of an optimist for sure but good to keep at hand for anyone trying to look out the window. You can don this pair of glasses almost every day right after your morning routine. Whatever your mind perceives; it deems a reality. Analyze your situation and take out the best lesson that you can learn from it. How best can you use it to your benefit? Keep in mind no matter what happens, you are responsible for your life and are in charge of making the best possible decisions for yourself. Yes, even in a lockdown!

Thank you is a magic word: Young kids are always taught that “thank you” and “please” are magic words and indeed they are. Practise saying thank you at the end of the day about all things that went well or you have. For this you can make a Gratitude jar or keep a gratitude journal. Every day write down three to things which you are grateful for. You can even make this a family ritual. It could be as simple as eating a bar of chocolate. As you keep doing this every day you will start forming a positive attitude and your focus will shift from what you don’t have to what you have. these are a few ways which can be easily implemented in your daily routine yet they will bring about a huge change in your lives. Every minute that we show up we are choosing our attitude, our thoughts and emotions and are projecting them.

A very famous man once said: “Everything can be taken from man but one thing. The last of human freedoms- to choose ones attitude in any given set of circumstances.”

Viktor Frankl.

So no matter how severe the lockdown no one can take away our freedom to choose our attitude. think about this for a moment; can you feel your power?

Dania Ehtesham Zahid can be reached at boundariesredefined@hotmail.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Thursday, 16 April, 2020

COMMENT 07 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

Rebuilding World after COVID19

The limits of the calamity The coming hot weather will help lipid membrane. These spikes contain glycopro- direct transmission and surface transmission. Ditein markers which help in the attachment and rect transmission occurs when an affected perentry of covid-19 into the cells. actually it has son sneezes and transfers the virus to the body a duplicate key very similar to the original key of a healthy person directly. here temperature and humidity are haT are the limits of Covid-19 which open the helpless to do anyand when will it be wiped out? It locks of our cells. thing. is a one-hundred-million-dollar The cells rather In the case of question still to be answered. take covid-19 as a I thus request the people of Pakistan surface transmisSpeculations are everywhere but guest and welcome sion, the virus falls no-one is in a position to answer it exactly. The it with pomp and not use airconditioners in the on the surface of without temperature was the only hope which was keep- show, some objects. If ing people little bit satisfied but it too is losing knowing what it is coming warm weather.

Let the somebody touches its ground. Most of the International doctors, sci- going to do with temperature take this opportunity of such a surface, the entists and virologists are of the opinion that them. The cells virus is attached to Covid-19 is not going to die out with the in- give it full protecfinishing the viruses on different that person and crease of temperature in the summer season. tion from environmakes its way into Even the team of Chinese doctorswho visited mental effects like surfaces. It is a reasonable hope that the respiratory tract Pakistan recently had categorically dispelled the temperature, and so of that host. This impression formed here, and were emphatic that on. Once the coronthe covid-19 infection will be surface transmistemperature has nothing to do with the spread of avirus makes its reduced dramatically in the coming sion is the actually covid-19 infection. The lockdown has failed to way into a cell it the checkpoint its true bear fruit here thanks to our halfhearted ap- show warm days.

There is another silver which nature has proach. The vaccine against Covid-19 seems to colours. It takes the be off the horizon so far, due to a higher muta- control of cells and lining in the dark clouds. It has been provided to us. high temperature tion rate in the virus. Then how will we be able uses the cell comfound that the covid-19 undergoes increases the fluidto get rid of this calamity which is wreaking so ponents to reproof the lipid duce itself. This much havoc on humanity. mutation rapidly, which has been an ity membrane outside I tried to go through this issue in depth and observation shows the membrane, I come to one conclusion that nature has not pro- that it does not obstacle in developing a vaccine. It which potentially duced anything eternally. If there is beginning, forcefully enter the breaks the memis hoped that some mutation will there is an end. Fast growing creatures die out cell like the flu brane and some of much faster than others. Nature always keeps virus, rather it enautomatically occur in it which will its spikes. Without some check points in the ecological system ters as a friend. You this membrane, the which ultimately checks the population growth can kill your enemy make it less lethal or harmless. virus will lose its of a creature. I am reasoned to believe that these as you know he is virulence and if it check points exist for the covid-19. When exper- your enemy and Though the coronavirus is not like enters the body, our iments and research fails, logic comes forth to you are well prethe cold or the flu, that is how a lot cells would not answer the question. Let me paint a rosy picture pared against him. allow it to enter into But if your friend out of my logic. of once-fatal viruses are now liable them.

Similarly, One thing that we have to keep in mind is attacks you, you are low humidity that Covi-19 does not spread like the common not prepared for to cause only mild illness. makes the environcold or common flu. Colds and flus spread this attack and ment much drier. a when seasonal changes occur and when our hence you are at membrane cannot body is trying to adjust to the arrival of the new disadvantage. That remain intact in a season. The mucous membranes of the cells be- is the case with come vulnerable at that time to the attack of covid-19. Keep in mind how temperature can- dry environment, and thus it gets damaged, these viruses during this period. Cold and flu not kill the covid-19 virus when your own body along with its spikes, producing the same result as a high temperature. capitalize on this time and easily enter the res- is protecting it.

This logic says that covid-19 will lose its But the virus is at an advantage everywhere piratory tract and damage its components, and cause cold or flu. hence these diseases are sea- inside. Outside the body the virus is at disadvan- virulence outside the body at a high temperature sonal and die out with the passage of season. tage. It is a non-living particle outside the body and in low humidity. It will reduce the chances and its RNa and of transmission through surface. We can save Some people also protein coat are ourselves from direct transmission by social diserroneously take wrapped over by a tancing, which is not that much difficult. But the covid-19 attack as lipid membrane. most dangerous transmission is surface transseasonal, owing to Spikes of glycopro- mission which is hidden. here the temperature the similarity in One thing that we have to keep in tein are attacked to will come to rescue us in the coming warm days. symptoms of all I thus request the people of Pakistan not use mind is that Covi-19 does not spread the lipid membrane these infections. covering. These are airconditioners in the coming warm weather. Let But covid-19 infeclike the common cold or common same spikes which the temperature take this opportunity of finishtion is in no way a act as a key to open ing the viruses on different surfaces. It is a reaseasonal disease. flu. Colds and flus spread when the doors of our sonable hope that the covid-19 infection will be The coronavirus cells. Outside the reduced dramatically in the coming warm days. does not wait for seasonal changes occur and when human body, the There is another silver lining in the dark clouds. the mucous memour body is trying to adjust to the virus is much more It has been found that the covid-19 undergoes brane of cells to bevulnerable.

Two mutation rapidly, which has been an obstacle in come vulnerable to arrival of the new season. factors can destroy developing a vaccine. It is hoped that some mube attacked. the virulence of the tation will automatically occur in it which will Rather, it uses virus. These are make it less lethal or harmless. Though the coroan entirely differtemperature and hu- navirus is not like the cold or the flu, that is how ent mechanism to enter the cell. The virus causing covid-19 is midity. Low temperature and high humidity pro- a lot of once-fatal viruses are now liable to cause composed of RNa (Ribonucleic acid) and pro- long the life of the virus outside the body. only mild illness. tein, which are covered by a lipid membrane. Everyone knew (or should know by now) that The writer can be reached at ramay11 Some spikes are attached on the surface of the there are two means of transmission of the virus,

Dr riaz ul Haq ramay

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ThE hazardous Plague COVID 19 has not only cause massive genocide across the globe but has also put the world economy on vent. according to the World Bank report after 1952 for the first time Pakistan’s GDP will face decline. Pakistan is an underdevloping country and enjoys the reputation of financially fragile country one can straightforwardly expect this kind of graphic figure from our country after competing with such deadly pandemic.

But here those countries who dreamed and desired to rule the world on the touchstone of their potent economy are facing challenge to overcome the mutilation caused by this ongoing syndrome. The world mainly those countries who are part of “power game” are not new to these set of circumstances, they have caused, faced and convalesced from tragedies in past also. america since its independence has anticipated to rule the world and in order to meet that desire it has done many misadventures to the world. Invention of nuclear bomb and instigating massive desolation through it in hiroshima and Nagasaki, Massacre in afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan in the name of war against terrorism, War against Vietnam and wreckage of USSR are few ruthless attempts made by america on its way to rule the world.

By means of 1952 peace treaty the occupation over japan ended, after that japan began to heal the wounds of World War II and after a passage of time emerged as an progressive and economically stable country. Despite of wreckage Russia managed to uphold its distinct status among the comity of nations and made its way to Security Council with the authority to “VETO” the decisions of Security councils.

Progress of countries emerging on the map of the world as a result USSR’s wreckage is also archetypal. On the other hand countries like Italy, France, Germany and Spain were in the race to lead the European Union after the backtracking of Great Britain has also sustained irreparable loss as a result of COVID19 outbreak. america’s stance to opt the path of negotiations with afghan Taliban shows that their ballistic mindset has changed now. Stalwart politician and ideologist henry Kissinger has suggested trump to come out and play a positive role for steering world out of this quagmire. around 200 countries are under the onslaught of this plague and has adversely affected the resources of those countries. It is high time for the countries of the world to combat collectively and recover collectively.

Kamran KhamiSo KhowaJa Sujawal

Underage driving UNDERaGE driving, nowadays, is one of the major causes of accidents.

Young teenagers lose their lives because of this lethal pastime activity.

Rich parents submit to the wishes of their children without thinking about the vices of such wishes, and without giving a thought to what might happen. If not lose their lives, they often injure themselves so severely that in many cases they are not able to walk or move freely, their whole lives.

Parents as well as government authority must eradicate this evil by formulating and implementing some rules and regulations in order to stop or at least lessen the loss on the part of young individuals, parents, and the state. This act is a violation of state laws as driving is not legal without license. Parents must take care of their children and not allow them to drive under their age.

ZariSh SaJid islamabad

LoC firing EVEN while covid-19 sweeps through the world and kills thousands, the LOC between India and Pakistan continues to remain tense. Everyday situations are terrific and tough to handle. On Sunday, at least four civilians were killed on both sides of the border. Miserable Kashmiris who already face the risk of disease along with the brutality of Indian forces. according to reports, this year in the month of March the number of such incidents across the international boundary has doubled as compared to March last year. It is really a symbol of astounding and atrocious that in this tough situation when a globe pandemic seized both countries badly but brutal acts of Indian forces still continued on a daily basis.

This constant practice of Indians in LOC is damaging the relation with neighboring Pakistan which is already under ebb. Indian forces must leave the hunger revenge of the last 3 wars with Pakistan. This is a time for Unity because both countries are on their knees in front of covid-19.

Moreover, the socio-economic conditions in Pakistan and India are very similar, so it is the situation of public sector healthcare, with Limited facilities for those unable to afford private care and we need to work to save lives rather than taking more.

SamEEr Umrani Karachi

Online classes issue TODaY I want to draw your attention towards the issue of online classes which all students are facing in Pakistan. With no common standards for that learning, however, the results have varied wildly. Teachers have experimented with apps and formats — live streams, pre recorded lessons or a mix. Many teachers are holding web classes now but plan to go over the same material a second time when normal classes restart.

“It’s a big mess, that’s all I can say,” For students the disruption has been profound. Students are facing a lot of problems , even the students who belong to backward areas. It’s not possible for them to take their lectures online because they are facing internet issues. Overall this is the problem of all departments but especially the students who belong to the department of math’s , physics, engineering and computer sciences , it is not possible for them to understand lectures. and those students who belong to backward areas, how can they take their lectures? how can they meet up with their classmates who are taking online lectures?

It is humbly requested by the government to sort out this issue soon because this is not the way to provide valuable knowledge to the students. hope so our government will take a positive step against it.

ZariSh SaJid islamabad

Thursday, 16 April, 2020

08 WORLD VIEW

A better soCIety CAn eMerge Coronavirus in India: Migrants running away from quarantine froM the loCkdowns SOME SAID THEY WERE NOT GIVEN HISTORY SHOWS SOME CRISES LEAD TO IMPROVED EQUALITY AND ACCESS TO FOOD AND HEALTHCARE

FInanCIal tImes aMaRtya sen

“w

E will meet again,” Queen Elizabeth said recently, invoking a 1939 song. It was an inspiring thought and exactly what we needed. But what kind of a world can we expect after the pandemic? Will we gain something from the experience of jointly resisting the crisis?

The world was full of serious problems before coronavirus. Inequality was rampant, both between countries and within them. In the US, the world’s richest country, millions of people lacked medical coverage, contributing to unnecessary illness. Ill-calculated austerity had weakened the EU’s ability to provide public support to vulnerable people. Anti-democratic politics was on the rise, from Brazil and Bolivia to Poland and Hungary. Is it possible that shared experience of the pandemic will help alleviate such pre-existing problems?

The need to act together can certainly generate an appreciation of the constructive role of public action. The second world war, for example, made people better realise the importance of international co-operation. The United Nations, the IMF and the World Bank were born in 19445, not long after Vera Lynn sang about meeting again. However, was there any long-term improvement within a country from the experience of crisis? We did see some.

There was a sharp reduction of the incidence of undernourishment in Britain in the difficult years of food shortages during the second world war. Facing a big

reduction of total food availability, Britain arranged more equal food sharing, through rationing and social support. The chronically undernourished were much better fed than ever before. A similar thing happened with bettershared medical attention.

The results were astounding.

During the war decade of the 1940s, life expectancy at birth in England and Wales went up by 6.5 years for men, compared with 1.2 years in the preceding decade, and for women it rose 7 years, far exceeding the 1.5 year gain of the decade before. The positive lessons from pursuing equity and paying greater attention to the disadvantaged helped in the emergence of what came to be known as the welfare state. Aneurin Bevan, an advocate of greater equity during and after the war, inaugurated the first National Health Service hospital in Britain — the Park Hospital in Manchester — in 1948.

Can something similarly positive happen due to the experience of the present crisis? The lessons to emerge from a crisis surely depend on how it is dealt with, and what concerns come to the fore.

Politics is important here, including the relation between rulers and governed. During the war years, in contrast with the better sharing of food and healthcare by the British public, the terrible 1943 Bengal famine occurred in British India, killing nearly 3m, which the Raj did little to prevent.

In the policies against the present pandemic, equity has not been a particularly noticeable priority. In the US, African Americans are dying at an enormously higher rate from Covid-19 than white people. In Chicago, more than 70 per cent of pandemic deaths have been of African Americans who constitute only a third of the resident population.

Internal disparities in suffering seem to have been no less in many other countries, from Brazil and Hungary to India.

India is a particularly striking

case. Inequalities remain very large. Famines have not occurred since the establishment of democracy in independent India. Yet open public discussion — which makes the predicament of the deprived heard, politically significant and protects the endangered — faces increasing governmental restriction, including reduction of media freedom through direct and indirect means.

Marked by the contrast between reasonable medical facilities for the affluent, and not even decent primary healthcare for most of the poor, and weighed down by the brutal asymmetries of modernised caste inequalities, India could have benefited greatly from equitable pandemic management. Yet there is little evidence of egalitarian concerns. Instead, the focus has been on drastic control and sudden lockdowns (including of trains and buses) with little attention paid to labourers who lose their jobs or the many migrant workers, the poorest of the poor, who are kept hundreds of miles from their homes.

Sure, social distancing restricts the virus’ spread (this important benefit is not in dispute).

But it has to be combined with compensatory arrangements — for income, food, access and medical attention — for people devastated by the lockdown. India, like many countries, needs something like an NHS. But no lesson in that direction will probably emerge from the pandemic response, given its huge inequities.

Sadly, it is quite possible that when we meet again we will be no better placed to face the unequal world in which we live. Yet it need not go that way. A concern with equity in crisis management would lessen suffering in many countries now, and offer new ideas to inspire us to build a less unequal world in the future. Since we are less than half way into the crisis, dare we hope this can still happen?

The writer, a Nobel laureate, is Thomas W Lamont University Professor at Harvard.

ANY FOOD, OTHERS SAID THERE WAS NO SOAP OR SANITISER, WHILE SOME OTHERS COMPLAINED ABOUT FILTHY TOILETS OR TOO MANY MOSQUITOES

BBC Geeta Pandey

Thousands of Indians who fled cities to return to their villages after the government imposed a coronavirus lockdown have been running away from quarantine centres. In government schools and village council buildings thousands of shelters have been set up in the northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. But many of them lack basic facilities.

In some shelters in Bihar, people have been slipping out at night but returning during the day for free food.

Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are among India's most populous states and have a combined population of more than 350 million. An outbreak in these densely populated regions could result in a catastrophe.

WHY DID PEOPLE FLEE TO VILLAGES? Millions of people in these states - among India's poorest - migrate to big cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata in search of livelihoods. Many also go to work in the textile and diamond industries of Gujarat.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the lockdown on 24 March to halt the spread of Covid-19, hundreds of thousands of them - forced out of jobs and with no means of earning a living - began fleeing the cities.

As thousands began their journey back home, the governments in the two states ordered a 14-day mandatory quarantine for the returnees. Council buildings and schools were identified as places where the migrants could be housed, but most were allowed to go home after they were checked for Covid-19 symptoms.

WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE CENTRES? Reports say most of those who went to quarantine facilities in and around their villages either left or have been slipping in and out to visit their villages and homes.

In Uttar Pradesh, reports of violations have come in from a number of districts, and the local journalists and residents I spoke to had similar stories.

One local journalist in Pratapgarh, Amitendra Srivastava, said five people who had returned to his village Babu Patti did not go to the quarantine centre set up in the school building.

He said no-one responded when villagers called the police and the control room, so he used his influence as a journalist and called the top administration and health officials. "A team of doctors visited the village 30 hours later to check the returnees, but they were allowed to stay at home," he says.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THEM THERE? The village chiefs who have been given the respon-

sibility to ensure that those put in quarantine remain there have not been able to do so because they do not have police or security personnel to stop people from leaving, BBC Hindi's Samiratmaj Mishra in Noida told me. Also, he says, the village council elections are due later in the year in Uttar Pradesh and no village head can afford to antagonise people at such a time.

Last week, after several reports of people running away from quarantine, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that if anyone was found missing from a facility, top police and administration officials would be held responsible. So, in the past few days, police have been hunting those who are running away and registering cases against them. But the problem continues.

In neighbouring Bihar, authorities say 180,000 people have returned since the lockdown began and that more than 27,000 have been kept in quarantine. But, reports say, corona suspects have been frequently running away, raising the fear of spreading the virus in the community. Many village heads say the migrants quietly slip away at night to join their families, but return to the centre in the daytime for free food.

WHY ARE PEOPLE RUNNING AWAY? Two days ago, 16 people broke the window of their shelter in Bulandshahar district in Uttar Pradesh and escaped. The group, which included women and toddlers, had made a video complaining that they had not been given any food. Hours later, they were caught and requarantined, police said.

Many who left the centres have complained of overcrowding and poor facilities - some said they were not given any food, others said there was no soap or sanitiser, while some others complained about filthy toilets or too many mosquitoes.

In Bihar, journalist Amarnath Tewary, who spoke to several villagers for his story in The Hindu newspaper, told me that shelters in the state lacked even basics like electricity, toilets and beds and some didn't even have doors or windows. At dusk, swarms of mosquitoes overrun these centres, making it impossible to live there, he said. Even some village chiefs say they can't force people to remain in such squalid conditions, he said. But reports of the migrants, who could be carrying the deadly coronavirus, being on the loose are causing concern to people.

"In my village, lots of migrant workers have returned from Gujarat and Delhi. They never went to any quarantine centre and they have been roaming around freely in the markets here," Manoj Kumar, who lives on the outskirts of the state capital, Patna, told me over the phone. "No-one maintains social distancing here, the local bank is overcrowded and at the vegetable market, it's a mad scramble with so many people around," he said, adding that the authorities had failed to control the situation. "If we are alive, it's not thanks to the government. We are alive because of our efforts," he said.

The coronavirus is empowering Islamophobes — but exposing the idiocy of Islamophobia

InterCept Mehdi hasan

If anti-Semitism is the world’s oldest hatred, perhaps Islamophobia is the world’s weirdest. How else to explain the fact that a pandemic of global and historic proportions, a novel coronavirus that is infecting people in almost every country and territory on Earth, has been weaponized by the far right to attack … Islam and Muslims?

Take India, where the spread of the virus has been dubbed a “corona jihad” by supporters of the far-right BJP government; they claim the pandemic is a conspiracy by Muslims to infect and poison Hindus. The government itself has blamed around a third of India’s confirmed Covid-19 cases on a gathering held in Delhi by a conservative Muslim missionary group called the Tablighi Jamaat; one BJP minister called it a “Talibani crime.”

As The Guardian reports, “Muslims have now seen their businesses across India boycotted,

volunteers distributing rations called ‘coronavirus terrorists’, and others accused of spitting in food and infecting water supplies with the virus. Posters have appeared barring Muslims from entering certain neighbourhoods in states as far apart as Delhi, Karnataka, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh.” There have even been reports of Indian Muslims being attacked, beaten, and lynched.

Did members of the Tablighi Jamaat behave recklessly? Yes. Do all of India’s 200 million Muslims bear responsibility for their behavior? No. “Virtually overnight,” wrote investigative journalist Rana Ayyub in the Washington Post, “Muslims became the sole culprits responsible for the spread of the coronavirus in India.”

But it isn’t just Hindu nationalist politicians or mobs. The country’s respectable press have joined in too. The left-leaning newspaper The Hindu published a cartoon showing the world being held hostage by the coronavirus — with the virus itself depicted wearing clothing associated with Muslims.

(The paper later apologized for its “completely unintentional” decision to link the crisis to Muslim terrorists, and replaced it with a more neutral image.)

The 24-hour news channel India Today ran an undercover investigation into so-called madrasa hot spots where the virus is allegedly being spread, and also posted a graphic on the number of Tablighi Jamaat-linked cases over an image of a Muslim prayer cap. “This is not journalism, this is hatemongering,” responded left-wing activist Kavita Krishnan, in a viral video. “History will remember you, history will judge you.”

She’s right. Over in my home country, the U.K., counterterrorism police have been “investigating far-right groups accused of trying to use the coronavirus crisis to stoke antiMuslim sentiment,” according to a recent report in The Guardian. These groups have been assisted by prominent far-right personalities, such as former radio shock jock Katie Hopkins, who suggested that U.K. police should physically assault any Muslims found praying in public, and English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson, who shared a video allegedly showing British Muslims attending prayers at a “secret mosque” — a video later debunked and dismissed by local law enforcement officials.

Tell Mama, an organization that monitors anti-Muslim hate crimes in the U.K., has documented numerous examples of British Muslims being harassed in recent weeks, including a hijab-wearing Muslim woman in south London who said she was approached by a man who “got in her face” to cough at her and claimed he had the coronavirus, while also hurling racial abuse at her.

Again, as in India, it isn’t only far-right figures using the pandemic to fan the flames of anti-Muslim bigotry but also mainstream media outlets. In a tweet on March 23, The Economist promoted a story on the Maldives by declaring that “the arrival of covid19 was expected. The spread of radical Islam has been more of a surprise.” The magazine has since taken down the tweet — but not the story itself.

Meanwhile, high-profile journalists in the U.K. and France have tried to use the forthcoming month of Ramadan to fearmonger

about Muslims in the West breaking social distancing guidelines and spreading the virus.

There is zero evidence, however, that Muslims in the U.K. or France are in favor of relaxing the guidelines or planning on reopening mosques in defiance of them. (And for the record, it was a Christian, not a Muslim, woman who told CNN she would be defying social distancing guidelines and attempting to attend a religious gathering because she was protected by holy blood!)

Here in the United States, too, the far right is mobilizing and trying to exploit the coronavirus to spread hate and violence. In March, the FBI fatally injured Timothy Wilson, an anti-government extremist, who was planning to bomb a Kansas hospital “that was providing critical care during the current coronavirus pandemic.” He had previously planned to attack, among other targets, “Islamic centers.”

He was no “lone wolf.” Homeland Security officials in New Jersey say neo-Nazi groups have been encouraging their supporters “to incite panic while people are practicing social isolation during the Covid-19 outbreak, which includes discharging firearms in cities and putting bullet-sized holes into car windows.”

As in the U.K. and India, such groups can take aid and comfort from well-known conservative media figures. “You think Covid-19 is bad?” wrote author and radio host Neal Boortz to his 200,000-plus followers on Twitter. “Give me a break. Wait until Muslims hit critical mass in America. You’ll look back on these times fondly.”

Los Angeles Times reporter Johana

Bhuiyan, however, had a perfect response to the boorish Boortz: Sweetie everyone’s already washing their hands five+ times a day, covering their face, not shaking hands + avoiding bars. Not only are we already here, you’re all Muslim. Salam brother.

Here is the great irony: While anti-Muslim bigots have tried to use the coronavirus to smear and demonize Muslims, the pandemic itself has exposed the ridiculousness of anti-Muslim bigotry.

The French and Austrian governments passed bans on face masks, in 2011 and 2017 respectively, as a way of targeting, and criminalizing, the wearing of the Muslim face veil, the niqab. Today, France’s National Academy of Medicine is calling for masks to be made obligatory for anyone leaving their homes during the lockdown, while the Austrian government has made wearing face masks compulsory for anyone entering a supermarket or grocery store.

In 2018, the Danish government insisted on making new citizens shake hands at their naturalization ceremonies — a move which, as the New York Times noted at the time, was “aimed at Muslims who refuse on religious grounds to touch members of the opposite sex.”

So you might assume the Danes had dropped that mandatory handshake now, right? Wrong. According to the Times, “the government in Denmark has asked mayors to suspend naturalization ceremonies … with no exception to the handshake for those who want to become citizens.”

We may defeat the Covid-19 virus in the months ahead, but it will take much longer to defeat the disease that is Islamophobia.

Thursday, 16 April, 2020

BUSINESS 09

CORPORATE CORNER Sanofi, GSK join hands to fight coronavirus PARIS: Sanofi and GSK have signed a letter of intent to develop an adjuvanted vaccine for COVID-19, using innovative technology from both companies to help address the ongoing pandemic. Sanofi will contribute its S-protein COVID-19 antigen, which is based on recombinant DNA technology. This technology has produced an exact genetic match to proteins found on the surface of the virus, and the DNA sequence encoding this antigen has been combined into the DNA of the baculovirus expression platform, the basis of Sanofi’s licensed recombinant influenza product in the US. GSK will contribute its proven pandemic adjuvant technology.

The use of an adjuvant can be of particular importance in a pandemic situation since it may reduce the amount of vaccine protein required per dose, allowing more vaccine doses to be produced and therefore contributing to protect more people. PRESS RElEASE

NDMA to procure anti-corona protective gear from local market: chairman ISLAMABAD PPI

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal on Wednesday announced that from now onward the entire personal protection equipment (PPEs) for safety against the spread of the Covid-19 would preferably be procured from the local market. “The decision has been taken to support local businesses and the manufacturing industry,” Afzal said and directed the procurement committee to do maximum purchase from local markets through local vendors except where product of required quality and quantity is not available. The NDMA chairman was informed that except N-95 the PPEs was now locally manufactured and available in Pakistani markets.

Afzal said the manufacturers who intended to produce N-95 would also be supported and informed that local production of N-95 masks up to Rs100,000 would start by the end of ongoing month. He, however, made it clear to supply the PPEs especially to doctors and paramedical staff for their safety against infectious virus was of acute importance, therefore, quality and quantity of PPEs would not be compromised at any cost. Only products not available in local market according to required standards and quantities would be imported, the NDMA chairman maintained.

Govt to seal industries not following coronavirus SOPs

CDWP DEfErS PC-I Of MAIN LINE-I PrOjECt fOr furthEr EvALuAtIONS ISLAMABAD

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GHUlAM ABBAS

HE Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has deferred till its next meeting the PC-I of the $9.2-billion Karachi-Peshawar Main Line (ML-I) Project, raising various objections on the plan submitted by the Ministry of Railways.

As the government wants a breakthrough on this much delayed project before the expected visit of Chinese president in May or June 2020, the CDWP on Wednesday held an extensive to deliberate all aspects the PC-I of the mega CPEC project.

Although the PC-I & II of the ML-I Project were submitted to the CDWP during the tenure of the previous government, they were related to different phases of the project. The PTI government had last year decided to prepare an umbrella PC-I of the entire project through a sponsoring agency, with total cost of the project indicating all priorities packages with realistic phasing on the basis of 'cost & preliminary' design.

As per the documents, the Planning Commission has raised various objections regarding the freshly submitted PC-I of the project. The commission noted that the source of financing of the project has been indicated as Chinese loan amounting to $8.255 billion (90pc) while Pakistan’s share was $717.237 million (10pc).

It was stated in the PC-I that an interest rate of 2.3pc with commitment and management fee charges of 0.2pc each has been assumed for calculation of net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR).

However, results of NPV have been indicated by

using a discount rate of 12pc.

According to the Planning Commission, "A proper weighted average cost of capital (WACC) needs to be applied in the financial analysis.”

As per the PC-I, in the absence of clear terms and conditions of Chinese loan for the project, the terms and conditions of the loan taken by NHA for the Multan–Sukkur Motorway have been assumed to complete the financial and economic analysis of the ML-I project. Sponsors, however, not provided above mentioned details in monetary terms to carry out the economic analysis. According to the Planning Commission, the results of financial and economic analysis provided in the PC-I based on total cash flow are misleading. Sponsors need to provide fresh analyses under ‘with’ and ‘without’ project conditions and provide all the required details of incremental economic and financial costs and benefits to carry out the analyses and rationally determine the financial and economic viability of the project.

Regarding the terms of Chinese loan, the commission stated that the sponsoring agency should clarify as to whether any firm commitment has been conveyed by the Chinese government through EAD for financing the instant project under CPEC based on the above sharing ratio.

It is in the national interest that before granting approval of such a project having a huge cost of $9.172 billion, the terms & conditions of the loan should be finalized to evaluate impact on the country’s debt in future, the commission said.

As per the commission, the implementation of this project depends largely on what terms & condi-

Small factory owners in KP demand interest-free loans PESHAWAR AZIZ BUNERI

As partial lockdown continuous to prevail in the provincial capital at the cost of suspended trade and commercial activities, small factory owners and manufacturers have demanded interest-free loans on easy terms, and deferment of electricity and gas bills for next three months.

They also asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to devise a procedure for the registration of factory workers and daily wage labourers with the provincial labour department.

The demands came through a unanimous resolution during a meeting of All Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Small Industrial Es-

tate Associations chaired by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Engr Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz at the chamber house on Wednesday.

The meeting participants, in their resolution, demanded the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) to avoid meter disconnections due to delay in timely payment of bills, besides waiving additional surcharges from industrial and commercial consumers.

The government was also sought ban on import of marble and granite to give boost to indigenous industries.

Speaking on the occasion, Pervaiz said small and medium enterprises and businesses were adversely affected due to spread

of the novel coronavirus pandemic in KP. He urged the federal and provincial governments to announce comprehensive relief package for small industries of the province.

The SCCI chief urged to defer electricity and gas bills of small and medium scale industries for the months of March, April and May besides rescheduling loans of small factories.

He further asked to exempt small manufacturing units from all federal and provincial taxes for at least one year.

Pervaiz called to bring down the markup rate to the single digit in upcoming fiscal budget for 2020-21 in the larger interests of trade, industry and economy.

ISLAMABAD INP

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar said on Wednesday the industries that failed to adopt standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding the coronavirus and prevailing lockdown would be sealed across the country. Dar was speaking to a business delegation, who called on him to discuss situation arising from the lockdown. The SAPM said Prime Minister Imran Khan is taking decisions by keeping the welfare of poor in the mind. He said the coronavirus pandemic has badly affected economic activities across the globe including Pakistan, but export industries have been exempted from the lockdown to minimise losses. Dar warned the industrial units to strictly adopt SOPs set by the government to halt the spread of the deadly virus.

Pakistan’s exports to fall $3bn owing to coronavirus: Dawood ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood has said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has called for deferring debt payments to one year, but commercial banks are not cooperating with the business community in this regard.

“Commercial banks want more guarantees on the matter,” the Adviser said while briefing the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Commerce on Wednesday.

The government was in contact with the central bank in this regard, he added.

Dawood said the Bangladesh government has approved loans for businesses on two per cent interest rate. “We are also mulling over recommendations

in this regard,” he said.

He said the textile sector was seeking permission to export masks but it would only be allowed after approval from the health ministry. “Currently we have banned the export of surgical or N-95 masks as it could create shortage within the country,” he said.

He said they (the ministry) have devised an export policy after consultation with the prime minister and that the Trade and Development Authority Pakistan (TDAP) has been made responsible to pursue it.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Dawood said as predicted by the IMF and the WB, the coronavirus could bring the country’s exports down by $3 billion. INP

tions of loan are offered by the Chinese government keeping in view the cash flows of the instant project become positive after 14 years and moreover, the constraint fiscal space available to fund local component i.e. GoP share.

One of the most critical decisions for the GoP is whether the loan will be a central loan (GoP) or Sovereign Guarantee loan (M/o Railways). The sponsoring agency should confirm whether all the above aspects have been considered and finalized by concerned agencies of the Pakistan government.

According to the Planning Commission, since CPEC basis is generation of economic activity through SEZs development, which are all at planning stage, the basis of taking up the ML-I project under CPEC needs to be explained by the Sponsoring agency using factual data.

Interestingly, it was also noted that the instant PCI proposes huge investment of $9.17 billion on ML-I of Pakistan Railways. “But the PC-I of the project has not been signed by any officer of Pakistan Railways (PR) and Ministry of Railways (MoR) except the MoR secretary, senior general manager and contract based employees of PIU.” The PC-I should be signed by G.M (Operations), Member (Finance) and DG (Planning) of MoR/PR, the commission stated.

It has been suggested that the sponsoring agency should confirm whether the instant PC-I has been cleared by the Railway Board or not. “If not, then in the absence of such clearance, why the project was submitted for processing through CDWP/ECNEC?,” the commission asked.

MARKET DAILY KSE-100 fails to sustain gains, closes flat KARACHI: Investors at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed yet another volatile session on Wednesday, as the indices oscillated in both directions before closing flat. “The market opened on a positive note primarily in reaction to the partial opening of various industries and sectors by the federal and provincial governments,” said an analyst at Arif Habib Limited. “However, as WTI Crude Oil price dropped over 4.5pc to 18year low at $19.20 per barrel, exploration & production and oil & gas marketing companies crumbled from levels maintained earlier in the day.” Among other developments that dented investors' confidence, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted that Pakistan's real GDP will fall to 1.5pc in 2020 before recovering to 2pc next year. The Fund projected consumer price inflation to remain at 11.1pc in 2020, while unemployment rate is expected to rise to 5.10pc. The global economy is also projected to contract sharply by 3pc in the current year due to COVID-19. Meanwhile, the State Bank of Pakistan (PSX) has also revised down its projection for economic growth by half a percentage point to 3pc for the current year after infection cases started rising slowly in the second half of March. The benchmark KSE-100 Index recorded its intraday high at 31,795.18 after gaining 572.44 points. However, failing to hold sustain gains, the index slipped to its intraday low at 31,181.76 (-40.98 points). It finally closed flat (+19.45 points) at 31,242.19. Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index gained 65.54 points to settle at 49,187.04, while the KSE All Share Index ended lower by 10.59 points at 22,188.27. Of the total traded shares, 187 advanced and 120 declined. The overall trading volumes improved from 130.19 million in the last session to 185.45 million, with Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCF +0.13pc), Hascol Petroleum Limited (HASCOL 2.03pc) and Fauji Cement Company Limited (FCCL +2.19pc) topping the volume chart. The scrips had exchanged 22.51 million, 10.92 million and 9.56 million shares, respectively. STAFF REPORT

Manufacturing sectors seek tax exemptions to avert corona crisis LAHORE HASSAN NAQVI

The country's manufacturing sectors have demanded the government to defer the imposition of taxes, suggesting that instead of giving subsidies, taxes should be charged them on a 'Pay As You Earn' basis.

According to industry sources, the rationale behind this approach is to attract investment, create economic activity and generate demand in the country.

"In contrast to the policy of 'reducing liquidity of manufacturers in advance', and in

order to generate sales and profits, the policy of Pay As You Earn would greatly benefit Pakistan," said an insider. "This is not a new proposal; Dubai and Singapore have flourished by declaring themselves duty-free."

Sources said in line with the rest of the country, duties and taxes should also be to put under lockdown until the economy recovers from corona crisis.

They maintained that Pakistan's manufacturing sector, which was already in turmoil, would deteriorate further amid the outbreak of COVID-19. As this sector caters a large portion of employment, it requires

special relief, sources added.

"This gaping hole can be plugged only by deferring the taxes at import stage till the start of sales and generation of profits. This is a much better approach than giving subsidies, especially for a country facing a huge budget deficit," said a manufacturer on the condition of anonymity.

It may be noted that the country's manufacturers have to pay three federal taxes (sales tax, custom duty, advance income tax) and one provincial levy (infrastructure development cess) at the time of import (arrival) of machinery and raw material.

In the past, there have been instances where the government had deferred the payment of sales tax, liable at the arrival of the machinery stage, till the start of sales. In few other cases, the government had also deferred the payment of advance income tax, besides waiving customs duty.

Sources said that in an effort to revive the economy, especially after the coronavirus pandemic, it is recommend that advance recoveries should be exempted for all importers of plant and machinery, while advance taxes (be it sales tax or income tax), on import or local supplies, should deferred

till the generation of profits.

Custom duty should be rationalised for the time being at the import stage to give necessary impetus to the demand, they said.

According to sources, this difference of timing in the payment will create sufficient cash flows for the manufacturer to bring the unit in operation.

In these troubled times when banks are reluctant to take exposures for new ventures, this would be a great support for manufacturers who are still setting up production facilities despite the uncertainties prevailing after the virus outbreak, they added.

Thursday, 16 April, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

US recordS higheSt death toll in a Single day, confirmed caSeS riSe to 600,000 NEW YORK CITY

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AGENCIES

HE United States recorded the most coronavirus deaths in a single day with more than 2,200 fatalities reported on Tuesday. It brings the total number of deaths in the country to nearly 25,757, according to a John Hopkins tally.

New York City, the hardest hit US city in the coronavirus pandemic, revised its official COVID-19 death toll sharply higher to more than 10,000 on Tuesday, to include victims presumed to have perished from the lung disease but never tested.

The new cumulative figure for “confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths” released by the New York City Health Department marked a staggering increase of over 3,700 deaths formally attributed to the highly contagious illness since March 11.

The 60% spike in reported deaths underscored the enormous losses endured in the nation’s most populous city, where the sounds of wailing sirens have echoed almost non-stop

chinese economy contracts for first time in decades BEIJING: China’s economy contracted for the first time in around three decades in the first quarter as the coronavirus crisis brought the country to a standstill, according to an AFP poll of economists. The world’s second-largest economy tanked in the first three months of the year as factories closed, consumers were compelled to stay home and the virus spread to other countries. Analysts from 14 institutions expect China’s economy to have shrunk 8.2 percent from a year ago in the first quarter — the first contraction since quarterly data started to be reported in the early 1990s.

They also forecast that full-year gross domestic product (GDP) growth will come in at 1.7 percent, a dramatic drop from the 6.1 percent expansion logged last year and well below the pre-coronavirus prediction. If the forecast is accurate, it would represent the worst annual growth since 1976, the year Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong died. The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday gave an even more dire estimate of 1.2 percent growth in 2020. While many businesses in China have resumed work, the coronavirus pandemic has brought other economies to their knees around the world with many key trading partners under lockdown. The IMF said the pandemic will cut world output by three percent this year.

Economists differed on the impact of the coronavirus on China’s economy, with firstquarter contraction estimates ranging from 4.6 percent to 15 percent. AGENCIES

through largely empty streets for weeks.

The city’s revised count, 10,367 in all, raised the number of coronavirus deaths nationwide to more than 28,300 — New York accounting for the biggest share of deaths.

With only a tiny fraction of the US population tested for coronavirus, the number of known infections climbed to more than 600,000 as of Tuesday, according to a running Reuters tally.

US public health authorities have generally only attributed deaths to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, when patients tested positive for the virus.

New York City’s Health Department said it will now also count any fatality deemed a “probable” coronavirus death, defined as a victim whose “death certificate lists as a cause of death ‘COVID-19’ or an equivalent.”

March 11 was used as the starting point because that was the date of the first confirmed coronavirus death, the city said.

The new approach in New York City could pave the way for similar policies elsewhere across the country, possibly leading to

a surge in reported US coronavirus mortality.

Even before Tuesday’s revision in New York City, the number of new US deaths on Tuesday had reached at least 2,228, the highest toll yet in a single 24-hour period. mutINy oN thE BouNty: Trump, a Republican who before the outbreak touted a vibrant economy as a pillar of his Nov. 3 re-election bid, earlier lashed out at Democratic state governors, after Cuomo said he would refuse any presidential order to reopen the economy too soon.

“Tell the Democrat Governors that ‘Mutiny On The Bounty’ was one of my all time favorite movies,” Trump wrote on Twitter on Tuesday, referring to a classic film about an 18th-century rebellion against the commanding officer of a British naval vessel. But Trump toned down his remarks at the White House briefing saying he would “authorise” governors — despite doubts from some experts that the presidency has such powers — to implement plans in their states at the appropriate time.

Cuomo, a Democrat, and governors of

US may need to extend Social diStancing for virUS Until 2022, SayS StUdy WASHINGTON: The United States may need to endure social distancing measures adopted during the coronavirus outbreak until 2022, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health. The study comes as more than 2,200 people died in the United States from the outbreak on Tuesday, a record, according to a Reuters tally, even as the country debated how to reopen its economy. The overall death toll in the US from the virus stands at more than 28,300 as of Tuesday. “Intermittent distancing may be required into 2022 unless critical care capacity is increased substantially or a treatment or vaccine becomes available”, the Harvard researchers said in findings published Tuesday in the Journal Science. Giving examples of South Korea and Singapore, the researchers wrote that effective distancing could reduce the strain on healthcare systems and enable contact tracing and quarantine to be feasible. The study acknowledged that prolonged distancing would most likely have profoundly negative economic, social, and educational consequences. The study added that even in the case of “apparent elimination”, Covid-19 surveillance should still be maintained, as a resurgence in contagion may be possible as late as 2024.

The World Health Organisation has warned that infections had “certainly” not yet peaked. Nearly 2 million people globally have been infected and more than 124,000 have died in the most serious pandemic in a century. The epicentre has shifted from China, where the virus emerged in December, to the United States, which has now recorded the most deaths. AGENCIES

six other northeastern states have announced they are coordinating on a regional plan to gradually lift restrictions. The governors of California, Oregon and Washington formed a similar West Coast regional pact.

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Oregon Governor Kate Brown, both Democ-

Danish schools begin reopening after month-long closure

rats, on Tuesday offered frameworks for eventually restarting public life and business in their states.

Some Republicans, including the governors of Ohio, Maryland and New Hampshire, also said states have the right to decide when and how to reopen.

South Koreans back moon in pandemic poll SEOUL AGENCIES

COPENHAGEN AGENCIES

Denmark began reopening schools on Wednesday after a month-long closure over the novel coronavirus, becoming the first country in Europe to do so. Nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools were reopening, according to an AFP correspondent, after they were closed on March 12 in an effort to curb the COVID-19 epidemic. However, classes are only resuming in about half of Denmark’s municipalities and in about 35 per cent of Copenhagen’s schools, as others have requested more time to adjust to health protocols still in place.

All are expected to reopen by April 20. In early April the country’s centre-left government announced that schools would be reopened “on the condition that everyone keeps their distance and washes their hands.” Schools are required to ensure that a distance of two metres (about six feet) is maintained

between desks in classrooms and recesses must be organised for small groups. To adhere to guidelines, many schools favour outdoor classes, presenting a challenge for schools in urban areas. Some parents have opposed the reopening of schools, citing health concerns. A petition dubbed “My child is not a guinea pig” has garnered some 18,000 signatures.

Henrik Wilhelmsen, principal of a school in the Norrebro district said that they “expect quite a lot of children to be kept at home.” Middle and high school students, will continue remote classes and are only expected to return to classrooms on May 10. Before Denmark, Austria was the first European country to unveil its roadmap for a return to a “new normal”. On Tuesday, it allowed small non-food shops to open up, while maintaining social distancing rules and requiring masks to be worn in shops and on public transport. Austria plans to keep schools, cafes and restaurants closed until at least mid-May.

South Korean voters turned out in force Wednesday to back President Moon Jae-in’s handling of the coronavirus epidemic, putting on compulsory face masks and gloves to give his Democratic party a parliamentary majority according to exit polls. South Korea was among the first countries with a major virus outbreak to hold a national election since the global pandemic began, and a raft of safety measures were in place around the vote.

Turnout was the highest for a generation, and an exit poll by national broadcaster KBS projected the ruling Democratic party and a sister organisation would take between 155 and 178 places in the 300-seat National Assembly. It predicted the main opposition United Front Party (UFP) and its sister grouping would take between 107 and 130 seats. Voters in obligatory masks lined up at least one metre (three feet) apart outside polling stations and had their temperatures checked before being allowed in. All had to clean their hands with sanitiser and don plastic gloves, while those with fevers cast their ballots in separate booths that were disinfected after each use. “It is done very well,” said 80-year-old voter Kim Gwang-woo. “Because of the coronavirus, people are keeping their distance and everyone is wearing gloves.” For a time, South Korea had the world’s second-largest outbreak, before it was largely brought under control through widespread testing and a contacttracing drive, along with widely observed social distancing. A survey conducted by Gallup Korea last week showed that 27 percent of respondents were reluctant to vote due to the epidemic. But in the event turnout reached at least 63.8 percent, the highest in a parliamentary poll since at least 2000.

How world leaders, organisations are reacting to Trump’s withdrawal of WHO funding WASHINGTON AGENCIES

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced his administration would be temporarily halt funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump said the WHO “failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable.” He said it promoted China’s “disinformation” about the virus that likely led to a wider outbreak. The United States is the biggest overall donor to the Geneva-based WHO, contributing more than $400 million in 2019, roughly 15% of its budget.

Here is how organisations in the United States and world leaders have reacted to the announcement by the US president.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern “At a time like this when we need to be sharing information and we need to have advice we can rely on, the WHO has provided that. We will continue to support it and continue to make our contributions,” she said.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Morrison said he sympathised with Trump’s criticisms of the WHO, especially its support of re-opening China’s “wet mar-

kets”, where freshly slaughtered animals are sold and where the outbreak first appeared in the city of Wuhan late last year.

“But that said, the WHO also as an organisation does a lot of important work including here in our region in the Pacific and we work closely with them,” Morrison said.

“We are not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater here, but they are also not immune from criticism and immune from doing things better.”

ChINa : China urged the United States to fulfil its obligations to WHO. Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the pandemic was at a critical stage and that Washington’s decision would affect the whole world.

FormEr mI6 hEad: John Sawers, the former head of Britain’s MI6 foreign intelligence service, said China concealed crucial information about the outbreak from the rest of the world and that it would be better to hold China responsible rather than the WHO. russIa says movE ‘sElFIsh’: Russia condemned Trump for cutting funding to the World Health Organisation, saying his decision was selfish and hurt a body that many countries were looking to for leadership amid the coronavirus crisis.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the US announcement was “very alarming”.

“This is an example of a very selfish approach by the US authorities to what is happening in the world as regards the pandemic,” Ryabkov was quoted by the TASS news agency as saying.

“Such a blow to this organisation at a time when the eyes of the world community are in many ways looking precisely to it is a step worthy of condemnation and censure,” he said.

GErmaNy says Who Is oNE oF BEst INvEstmENts: Strengthening the World Health Organization is one of the best investments, Germany’s foreign minister said after Trump halted funding to the Geneva-based organisation.

“Apportioning blame doesn’t help. The virus knows no borders,” Heiko Maas said on Twitter. “We have to work closely together against #COVID19. One of the best investments is to strengthen the @UN, especially the under-funded @WHO, for example for developing and distributing tests and vaccines.”

American Medical Association president Dr Patrice Harris called it “a dangerous step in the wrong direction that will not make defeating COVID-19 easier” and

CMYK

urged Trump to reconsider. uNItEd NatIoNs sECrEtary GENEral aNtoNIo GutErrEs: “Not the time” to reduce resources for WHO operations. “Now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences,” he said.

JohN hopkINs uNIvErsIty CENtrE For hEalth sECurIty: “The move sends the wrong message during the

middle of a pandemic, said Dr Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the center.

Adalja said the WHO does make mistakes, as it did in delaying the response to the Ebola outbreak in 2013 and 2014 in West Africa. He said reforms may be needed, but that work needs to take place after the pandemic has passed.

“It’s not the middle of a pandemic that you do this type of thing,” he said.

Thursday, 16 April, 2020

MuMBai Agencies

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HE Indian Premier League, the world’s richest cricket tournament, has been indefinitely postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, a team official told AFP Wednesday.

Though India’s cricket board made no official announcement, the further delay of the Twenty20 tournament, which draws top players from around the world, was inevitable after the government extended a three-week lockdown until at least May 3.

In line with other sports events worldwide, the IPL had already been pushed back from its original start date of March 29 to April 15. “Yes, they have informed us that the IPL stands suspended for the moment,” a team official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

“However it is said that they will find a window in the later end of the year to do it.” Media reports said all eight IPL teams were told Wednesday of the new postponement. The reports said the BCCI may aim for a tournament in September-October.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly earlier sought to dampen hopes of a quick resumption of sport. “Practically speaking, when life has come to a standstill everywhere in the world, where does sport have a future in this?” he said at the weekend.

IPL ‘PoStPoned IndefInIteLy’ AS IndIA extendS LoCkdown

With the global shutdown preventing players from travelling and Indian restrictions ruling out new visas, the tournament cannot be held in coming weeks.

Former India star VVS Laxman said

Sane move to Bayern still possible, says new agent

the IPL should be played before the Twenty20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Australia in October and November. “I think some of the cricket boards will be encouraging the fact that IPL is a

big tournament, and everyone acknowledges that,” Laxman, an advisor to the Sunrisers Hyderabad team, told Indian broadcaster Star Sports.

“And just before the World Cup it will set the tone for a hectic cricket season. But I just hope that everything is normal, and no one is in danger. And once that happens, I am sure the IPL should kick off the cricket calendar.” Cricketers turned pundits, including England’s Kevin Pietersen, have suggested the glitzy tournament be shortened from its normal eight-week duration and played behind closed doors.

The league is a huge revenue-earner for the BCCI and is estimated to generate more than $11 billion a year for the Indian economy. The participation of the world’s top cricketers has attracted big money, such as Chinese mobile phone maker Vivo putting up $330 million to be the league’s top sponsor for 2018-2022. Australian pace bowler Pat Cummins was to be the most expensive overseas star this year with Kolkata Knight Riders agreeing a $2.17 million fee for his services in December.

Asian football tournaments to go ahead this year, official says

Manchester: Leroy Sane’s new agent says the Manchester City winger is still in the running for a transfer to Bayern Munich, after a potential switch was put on hold due to a serious knee injury. “FC Bayern is the only club in Germany that Leroy can see as the next step in his career,” Sane’s agent Damir Smoljan told magazine Sport Bild on Wednesday. “He believes the conditions are right there for him to achieve his ultimate goal: winning the Champions League.” The 24-yearold Sane is viewed as one of Germany’s brightest talents and has scored five goals in 21 appearances for his country. He won the Premier League title with City in 2017/18 and 2018/19. He seemed to be on the verge of joining Bayern last August before he tore his cruciate knee ligament during the Community Shield match against Liverpool at Wembley, holding up a possible move. Last month, Sane admitted the devastating injury was the “longest and hardest” of his career, describing the road to recovery as both mentally and physically gruelling. Sane returned to training and played a game for City’s reserves in March before the Premier League fixtures were halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Before injury struck, Sane’s rumoured switch to Munich had involved a reported transfer fee in excess of 100 million euros ($109 million).

Bayern want Sane after wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery both retired at the end of last season. “The interest of FC Bayern is no secret, but other very big European teams have already contacted us about Leroy,” Smoljan added, with Barcelona and Real Madrid also said to be interested. In this season’s Champions League last 16 ties, Bayern beat Chelsea 3-0 in London while City ran out 2-1 winners over Real Madrid in Spain before both second legs were postponed due to the coronavirus. Agencies

Beijing Agencies

Asia’s top football competitions will go ahead this year despite the coronavirus pandemic, a senior official told AFP, although games may have to be played behind closed doors.

Windsor John, general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), said he was confident that the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup would both be completed.

Both tournaments, featuring teams from throughout Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East, are on hold until at least the end of June after COVID-19 shuttered professional sport worldwide.

“Both will be played this year. We still have time,” John told AFP, adding that new dates for the competitions may be known by the end of April.

However, John did not rule out matches being played without fans “if that’s what the health authorities need”.

The AFC is determined for both tournaments to go ahead “for sporting reasons and to fulfil commercial obligations”, he said.

His comments came after the AFC on Tuesday announced the indefinite postponement of all matches scheduled for May and June due to the virus.

The Champions League, the region’s premier club competition, and the second-tier AFC Cup were both halted in March as the pandemic’s spread forced governments to impose strict travel restrictions.

Both tournaments are on an increasingly tight schedule, with the 32-team

SPORTS 11

Clarke slammed for suggesting Aussies ‘suck up’ to India Melbourne: Michael Clarke’s claims that Australian players “sucked up” to India and Virat Kohli to secure lucrative deals in the country’s premier league are ridiculous, say former top Indian cricketers. Clarke said last week that Australians were “too scared to sledge” skipper Kohli or other Indian players because of the influence of the world’s wealthiest Twenty20 tournament. This year’s Indian Premier League has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic and may not be held at all. “Just by being nice to someone doesn’t get you a place in IPL,” VVS Laxman, an advisor to the Sunrisers Hyderabad team, told Indian broadcaster Star Sports.

Teams look at a “player’s calibre and value” to win matches, he said. Krishnamachari Srikkanth, a former India captain and chief selector, said “you do not win matches just by sledging”, referring to the on-field banter between players. “His statement was ridiculous I would say,” he added. “If you ask Nasser Hussain or Sir Vivian Richards — who are experienced players — you can never score runs or get wickets through sledging.”

Australia captain Tim Paine has also rejected his predecessor’s assertion that some Australians went soft on Kohli during their 2018-19 encounters. “I certainly didn’t notice too many people being that nice to Virat or not trying to get him out or anything like that,” Paine told ESPNcricinfo. Agencies

Hammers boss Moyes fears injury pile-up if Premier League resumes

Champions League needing to complete four rounds of group-stage matches in July before the postponed knock-out phase begins in August.

The group phase of the AFC Cup will also have to be completed in a rush once matches resume. The finals for both tournaments — which traditionally take a break in July, to avoid the worst of the Asian summer heat — are scheduled to take place in November.

Domestic leagues remain on hold around the world, including in China where the virus first emerged, but where football shows no sign of returning despite optimism the outbreak is

under control.

Asia’s extended shutdown, announced on Tuesday, also affects the two-legged women’s Olympic qualifying play-off between China and South Korea, which had already been moved to June 1 and 9.

June qualifiers for the men’s 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup had been postponed before the AFC’s announcement on Tuesday.

Asian football was an early sporting casualty of the coronavirus pandemic, before competitions in Europe — including Euro 2020 — and the rest of the world were also affected.

london: West Ham manager David Moyes fears a rash of injuries to players should there be a desperate rush to complete the Premier League season if the coronavirus relents sufficiently to allow the resumption of football.

The Premier League has now ditched plans to get back underway at the start of May and a further complication is that a number of players will be out of contract in June. It has been suggested that clubs may need to play up to three games a week in order to finish this season before the 2020/21 campaign gets going.

Moyes would prefer a four-week build-up on the training ground before the current Premier League season resumes, should lockdown restrictions be relaxed and the Hammers boss fears the consequences if, as seems likely, clubs have less preparation time. “I think that four weeks would be ideal. But I think three weeks will be the maximum we get,” Moyes told beIN Sports on Tuesday. “Everybody’s now talking about the injuries we’re liable to pick up either during the three-week preparation time or during the period where it looks like we’ll have to play an awful lot of games in a short period of time.” West Ham are only above the relegation zone on goal difference but Moyes, in his second spell in charge of the east London club, was optimistic about their long-term prospects. Agencies

World Wars, doping scandals: The Tour de France has survived hard times before Paris Agencies

The coronavirus pandemic has thrown this summer’s Tour de France into a state of frantic reorganisation, but the cycling epic has had to contend with testing situations over its 116-year history.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement on Monday outlawing mass gatherings until mid-July has left organisers scrambling to find a new start date for the 2020 edition originally scheduled to get underway in Nice on June 27.

Here AFP takes a brief look at some previous hurdles the Tour has had to negotiate in its more than a century long history: shots and sKulduGGerY: In the Saint-Etienne region during the second edition of the race in 1904 supporters of local favourite Alfred Faure physically assaulted his rivals. Shots were fired to restore order in riotous circumstances. There was so much skulduggery going on the top four finishers were

all disqualified. Henri Desgrange, the founder of the Tour, said at the time: “The Tour has been killed by the passions it has aroused”.

World at War: The day the 1914 Tour de France began, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated in Sarajevo. The Tour would make it to Paris on July 26 just two days before the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia, setting the stage for the outbreak of the first World War. For the record Belgian Philippe Thys won the Tour that year, the last time it was held until 1919.

The 1939 Tour embarked without the German, Italian or Spanish riders and avoided the north and the west regions altogether. It ended less than five weeks short of the declaration of war made by France and England on Nazi Germany. The Tour was not raced again until 1947. road blocK: In 1982, some 300 steelworkers striking over job losses in the northern French town of Denain blocked the road for the team time-trial, causing

the stage’s cancellation. The Tour has been targeted many times by strikers but had never lost a stage before or since. However, in 1978 the first of a two-part stage was annulled when the riders themselves put their foot down and refused to continue over a lack of rest time, stopping just short of the finish line. doPInG: While France was celebrating winning the World Cup in 1998 cycling was struck in the heart by the so-called Festina doping affair when customs officials stopped a vehicle laden with doping products. There was a media storm as police raids and arrests led to the Festina team being thrown off the race as the peloton staggered into Paris on a Tour that ended under a cloud and at one time looked unlikely to finish.

ParIah: The world’s love affair with the Tour was sorely tested in the ensuing years when cycling fell under the spell of US Postal’s Texan rider Lance Armstrong, who won from 1999-2005. Armstrong was eventually stripped of his seven Tour de France

CMYK

titles after admitting to doping. The American is seen widely as a pariah not only because of the doping but also because of how

he used his power and influence at the top of the sport to intimidate others whilst trying to keep a lid on the matter.

Thursday, 16 April, 2020

NEWS

UN says ‘Not the tiMe’ as tRUMP sUsPeNds Who fUNds oveR PaNdeMiC

China reports fewer coronavirus cases but local infections rise near Russian border BEIJING AGENCIES

WHO DG SAYS ‘REGRETS’ US DECISION TO HALT FUNDING WASHINGTON DC

U

AGENCIES

S President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he had instructed his administration to suspend funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, in a move that drew immediate condemnation. Trump, at a White House news conference, claimed the WHO had “failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable”.

He accused the group of promoting China’s “disinformation” about the virus that likely led to a wider outbreak of the virus than otherwise would have occurred.

Trump said the US would continue to engage with the WHO in pursuit of what he calls meaningful reforms. He added that the “hold” on funding would continue while the US reviews the organisation’s warnings about the coronavirus and China.

Reacting to the announcement, WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom on Wednesday said that the world health body “regretted” US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw funding from it.

Speaking at a news conference, the WHO chief said that the body did not discriminate and stressed that it is a “time for all of us to be united in our common struggle against a common threat”.

He assured critics that the UN’s health body was “committed to serving the world’s people, and to accountability for the resources with which we are entrusted”.

Talking about the accountability process, Adhanom said: “In due course, WHO’s performance in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic will be reviewed by WHO’s member states and the independent bodies that are in place to ensure transparency and accountability. This is part of the usual process put in place by our member states.”

Expressing gratitude to the nations, organisations and individuals who had provided financial support to the WHO, he said the body was “reviewing the impact on its work from the withdrawal of US funding” and would work with its partners to fill the gaps left by the defunding to ensure that its work continued uninterrupted.

There has been strong criticism of Trump’s decision, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres saying it is

New Zealand PM takes pay cut as virus hits economy AUCKLAND: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Wednesday she will take a 20 percent pay cut in a symbolic act of solidarity with people struggling financially during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ardern said her personal salary, those of her fellow ministers and of top public servants would be slashed by a fifth for six months. The move will see Ardern’s annual pay fall from around NZ$470,000 (US$285,000) to NZ$376,000, costing her about NZ$47,000 over the six-month period. “While it in itself won’t shift the government’s overall fiscal position, it is about leadership,” she told reporters. “This was always just going to be an acknowledgment of the hit that many New Zealanders will be taking at the moment.” The centreleft leader said the cut would not be implemented across the public service. “Many people in our public sector are frontline essential workers — nurses, police, healthcare professionals,” Ardern said. “We are not suggesting pay cuts here, nor would New Zealanders find that appropriate.” New Zealand is in the midst of a four-week COVID-19 lockdown that has paralysed the economy, with thousands of jobs losses already announced. Economic modelling released by the Treasury department this week predicted unemployment — currently about 4.0 percent — could soar to almost 26 percent in a worst-case scenario. Ardern said her wage cut was a small contribution to easing pay inequalities in society. “If ever there was a time to close the gap between different positions, it’s now,” she said. “This is where we can take action which is why we have.” Opposition leader Simon Bridges said that he would also take a 20 percent pay cut. AGENCIES

“not the time” to reduce resources for WHO’s operations.

“Now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences,” he added.

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it was “not the time” to be reducing funds to the WHO or any other organisation fighting the pandemic.

“Now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences,” Guterres said in a statement.

Writing on social media, Dr Nahid Bhadelia, an infectious diseases specialist and the medical director of the Special Pathogens Unit at Boston University, said withdrawing funding would be a disaster.

“Cutting 15 percent (US contribution) of WHO budget during the biggest projected pandemic of the last century is an absolute disaster,” she wrote on Twitter.

“WHO is a global technical partner, the platform through which sovereign countries share data/technol-

ogy, our eyes on the global scope of this pandemic.”

BLAME GAME: The US president, himself under pressure over his handling of the outbreak, has been feuding with the UN agency as he seeks to apportion blame for the gravity of the crisis.

The US has now reported more than 600,000 cases of coronavirus, the highest in the world.

Reacting to Trump’s previous threats, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week that it was not the time for such rhetoric.

“The focus of all political parties should be to save their people. Please don’t politicise this virus,” Tedros said at a press briefing in Geneva last week.

“If you want to have many more body bags, then you do it. If you don’t want many more body bags, then you refrain from politicising it … We will have many body bags in front of us if we don’t behave.”

Tedros, a former foreign minister of Ethiopia, also rejected Trump’s suggestion that the WHO was “Chinacentric”, saying: “We are close to every nation, we are colour-blind.”

IEA predicts ‘worst year in the history’ of oil sector BRUSSELS AGENCIES

The coronavirus outbreak will slash global oil demand in 2020 to erase a decade of growth and set up “the worst year in the history” of the sector, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Wednesday.

Demand is projected to plummet by a record 9.3 million barrels per day (mbd) for the year as a whole, with 29 mbd in the month of April, and 26 mbd in May — “staggering numbers”, according to the agency’s executive director Fatih Birol. “I believe in a few years’ time, when you look at 2020 we may well see that it was the worst year in the history of global oil markets,” he told reporters on a teleconference.

“During this terrible year, the second quarter may very well be the worst of the lot and… April may very well be the worst month.”

The projected figures for this month were last seen in 1995, said Birol, describing this as

“Black April in the history of the oil industry.”

The global economy has been hard hit by the coronavirus outbreak, with many industries brought to their knees and air, rail and road traffic slashed as non-essential businesses were closed and hundreds of millions of people around the world placed in lockdown.

The epidemic has killed more than 123,000 people since it first emerged in China in December.

The IEA said measures taken by the OPEC+ group and other oil

producing nations to cut output should allow demand to start exceeding supply again by the second half of 2020, assuming population lockdowns to curb virus spread are lifted.

“Once the declines in oil demand start to reduce and once the impact of the production cuts from the OPEC+ agreement and non-OPEC producers start to bite, we start to see a recovery in the second half of the year,” Neil Atkinson, head of the agency’s oil division, told the briefing.

China reported a decline in new confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the mainland on Wednesday, but there was an increasing number of local transmissions in its far northeast bordering Russia. China had 46 new confirmed cases on Tuesday compared with 89 a day earlier, according to the National Health Commission. Of the new cases, 36 involved travellers arriving from overseas, compared with 86 a day earlier.

The 10 remaining cases were new locally transmitted infections, with the northeastern Heilongjiang province accounting for eight and the southern Guangdong province two. Having largely succeeded in stamping out the local transmission of the virus, Chinese authorities on guard against a second wave of contagion fear imported cases now pose the greatest danger. In Beijing, where prevention measures remain stringent, an imported case from the United States was also reported on Tuesday, state television said. The patient started to show symptoms two days after arrival, despite testing negative initially. Heilongjiang has become a front line in China’s fight to keep out imported cases as infected Chinese nationals return overland from Russia. China has closed the border with Russia at the Heilongjiang city of Suifenhe. New infections involving travellers arriving from Russia have also hit other parts of China such as Inner Mongolia and the financial hub of Shanghai. As of Tuesday, the total number of confirmed cases in mainland China had reached 82,295. Authorities said 3,342 people have died from the virus in China. While China appears to have flattened the trend line for new infections, U.S. President Donald Trump has accused the World Health Organisation (WHO) of promoting “disinformation” fed by Beijing when the outbreak first occurred, which probably resulted in the contagion spreading more widely. Trump halted funding to the WHO on Tuesday, prompting China to urge the United States to fulfil its obligations to the WHO. Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday the pandemic, which has infected nearly 2 million people globally, was at a critical stage and that Washington’s decision would affect all countries.

HUBEI RECOVERS: The vice mayor of Wuhan, the capital of the central province of Hubei and the origin of the coronavirus outbreak in China, said on Wednesday the city aimed to fully resume rail, flight and freight operations by the end of this month after a more than two-month lockdown was lifted on April 8. Liu Ziqing also told a press conference that taxi services would restart in an orderly manner, work on major transport projects would be accelerated and that operations at ports in the city, which lies at the confluence of the Han and Yangtze rivers, would be restored by the end of this month. Reflecting the shift in priorities to the northeast, three planes loaded with medical equipment and protective gear donated by Hubei province flew from Wuhan to Heilongjiang on Wednesday, and another flight was planned for Thursday, the National Development and Reform Commission said. On the other hand, deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy rose by 578 on Wednesday, down from 602 the day before, while the number of new cases slowed to 2,667 from a previous 2,972, continuing the recent downward trend. The number of new cases was the lowest since March 13 but the daily tally of deaths remains stubbornly high. It has hovered between 525 and 636 for the last 11 days, except for a steep drop to 431 on Easter Sunday, which was immediately reversed the following day. The total death toll since the outbreak came to light on Feb. 21 rose to 21,645 the Civil Protection Agency said, the second highest in the world after that of the United States. The number of officially confirmed cases climbed to 165,155, the third highest global tally behind those of the United States and Spain. There were 3,079 people in intensive care on Wednesday against 3,186 on Tuesday — a 12th consecutive daily decline. Of those originally infected, 38,092 were declared recovered against 37,130 a day earlier.

Top UN diplomat appeals for restraint amidst ceasefire violations along LoC NEWS DESK With continuous ceasefire violations by Indian security forces along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary in the backdrop, a top UN diplomat has urged both New Delhi and Islamabad to show restraint, saying the world has to collectively focus its attention on the devastating coronavirus pandemic.

The comment from Jose Singer, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic and current President of the UN Security Council, came after several residents of Azad Kashmir were

injured as a result of unprovoked Indian targeting of civilians. “We urge both sides, India and Pakistan, to refrain from any hostilities, now more than ever, and in line with the appeal by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres for a global ceasefire in the wake of the pandemic,” Singer said in a written response to Indian newspaper The Hindu.

Singer said he was commenting in his capacity as the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic at the Security Council, as the UN body is yet to discuss the latest round of tensions.

Pakistan had on Monday summoned an

Indian official to protest cross-border shelling from its eastern neighbour that had killed a child and wounded four civilians.

“This year, India has so far committed 749 ceasefire violations to date,” the ministry had noted as it condemned the targeting of innocent civilians. The Pakistan Army had on Tuesday refuted India's allegations of ceasefire violations (CFVs) and "infiltrating COVIDaffected individuals" in occupied Kashmir, terming them as "baseless" and "delusional".

In a statement, Director-General of InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen

Babar Iftikhar had referred to the Indian 15 Corps Commander's interview with the BBC and said: "Indian insinuations about infiltration and CFVs by Pakistan are not only baseless but are also patently designed to divert global and domestic attention from the unending fiasco post Aug 5, 2019."

The military's media wing spokesperson also rejected India's accusations that Pakistan was "infiltrating COVID-affected individuals into IOJK", saying Islamabad had always offered the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UN-

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

MOGIP) unhindered access to sites where ceasefire violations had occurred.

"No less delusional are the allegations about Pakistan infiltrating COVID-affected individuals into IOJK. Pakistan has always extended unhindered UNMOGIP access to CFV sites. "We will continue to do that most transparently," the ISPR warned.

"Indian leadership will be well advised to focus on addressing the internal mess, created not only by COVID-19 mishandling but also by the tragedy unfolding in IOJK for years on end," it added.