Epaper – February 16 ISB 2021

Tuesday, 16 February, 2021 I 3 Rajab, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 229 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

PTI’s GRowInG InTeRnAl bICkeRInG, deAdloCk wITh MQM-P foRCes PM To RevIew senATe TICkeTs g

New list likely to be unveiled in next 24 hours

iSLAMABAD MiAn AbRAR

I

NTERNAl bickering and criticism by the leaders of ruling Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) has forced Prime minister Imran khan to once again review the party tickets awarded for the upcoming Senate elections.

A meeting of the Parliamentary board of PTI was held under the chairmanship of the premier on monday.

Well-informed sources in the ruling party have told Pakistan Today that during the meeting, the party leaders conveyed to the prime minister reservations of the party’s lawmakers and the allied parties over wrong selection of the party’s candidates for march 3 elections.

The sources said that the board members of parliament have expressed reservations over the Senate ticket being given to Faisal Wawda from Sindh, Agha zahoor buledi from balochistan and others.

In this regard, Prime minister Imran during the meeting allegedly hinted at a change in the tickets given for the Senate elections. While it is predicted that a new

list may emerge in next 24 hours, sources have said that Pm Imran may attend the AmAN-21 exercise in karahi, and this would lead to a delay in the release of a new list as the federal cabinet meeting would be postponed.

DEADLOCK WITH MQM, INTERNAL RIFTS PERSIST: The sources said that Sindh Assembly can prove to be a major challenge for the PTI where Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leadership is luring PTI and other opposition parties’ lawmakers.

Chief minister Sindh Dr murad Ali Shah has openly claimed to give a ‘surprise’ to opponents on march 3 while other PPP leaders have promised to win at least 10 out of 11 seats – a claim that has sent waves across the opposition ranks.

The sources said that the PTI ranks are also disturbed by the development as a few members of National Assembly (mNA) from the party have already refused to vote for party candidates. moreover, talks have failed to reach a consensus with the muttahida Qaumi movement-Pakistan (mQm-P) leadership on technocrat and woman seats. On the other hand, PTI and Grand Democratic Al-

CoRonAvIRus In

PAkIsTAn

CONFIRMED CASES:

564,077

g

26

RECOVERED:

NEW CASES:

1,048 DEATHS:

525,997 12,333 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

253,762

164,268

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

69,990

18,942

9,487/4,940 42,688

THE SECOND PHASE, PER THE ROll-OuT PlAN, WIll FOCuS ExCluSIVEly ON CITIzENS OVER 65 iSLAMABAD

The inflow of workers’ remittances into the country witnessed 19pc increase in January 2021, as compared to the same month of the previous year, data released by the State bank of Pakistan (SbP) on monday showed.

Workers’ remittances were recorded at $2.3 billion in Jan 2021 as compared to the inflow of $1.907 billion in Jan 2020.

This was 8th straight month where remittances remained above $2 billion.

On a cumulative basis, remittances surged 24pc yoy to $16.476 billion in July-January Fy21, as compared to $13.28 billion in 7mFy20.

Country-wise details showed that the highest inflows in Jan 2021 came from Saudi Arabia, as Pakistan received $553 million during the month against $531.6 million in January 2020 and $624 million in December 2020.

From the uAE, the country re-

ceived $492.5 million in January 2021 against the inflows of $463.5 million in the same month of last year.

Overseas Pakistanis living in the uSA dispatched $203.2 million as compared to $148.8 million in January last year, whereas from the uk, workers’ remittances were recorded at $303 million against the $201 million.

Similarly, cash inflow from European union countries jumped from $142 million in January 2020 to $228.8 million in January 2021.

From other GCC countries, including bahrain, kuwait, Qatar and Oman, inflows increased to $271.2 million as compared to $260 million in January 2020.

From Australia, workers’ remittances jumped by about around 89pc, from $27.4 million to $51.9 million. likewise, workers’ remittances in the corresponding month from malaysia, Norway, Switzerland, Canada, and Japan stood at $14.9 million, $8.5 million, $4.3 million, $47.6 million, and

AGP to bring Russian Covid-19 vaccine to Pakistan

STAFF REPORT

The government began on monday Covid-19 vaccination of the country’s senior citizens aged over 65 years, minister for Planning and Development Asad umar announced.

“Pleased to announce that registration for getting [the] covid vaccine is now open for all citizens 65 and above. Just write down ur CNIC number and send [a] message on 1166,” umar said in a tweet.

“Inshallah vaccinations for this age group will start in march.”

On February 10, umar, who also heads the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), tweeted the government will begin the registration process for the vaccination of the elderly people next week.

“All Pakistanis above the age of 65 can start registration for COVID-19 vaccine starting today,” State minister for Health Dr Faisal Sultan tweeted.

The government launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on February 3, with more than 400,000 doctors and frontline healthcare workers, teachers and social workers being covered in the first phase because they run the highest risk of exposure to the contagious disease.

The second phase, per the roll-out plan, will focus exclusively on citizens over the age of 65, who generally face a higher mortality risk from the virus, and all remaining healthcare work-

WORkERS' REmITTANCES uP 19PC TO $2.3bN IN JAN 2021, AS COmPARED TO $1.9bN IN JAN 2020 KArACHi

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

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Remittances increase 24pc to $16.4bn in seven months STAFF REPORT

LAST UPDATED AT 08:08 AM ON FEBRUARY 15, 2021

liance (GDA) have agreed on a powersharing formula for the Senate elections.

The sources said that the talks held between the two parties two days ago were also fruitless and the candidates from both the parties had agreed to submit nomination papers and later resolve the issue.

Talks between the mQm and PTI on Senate seats are likely to be held soon.

PTI mNA from lyari Abdul Shakoor Shad has threatened to quit the party over awarding of a ticket to minister Faisal Vawda to contest Senate elections from Sindh. Shad told media that he will not cast his vote in the Senate elections.

Vawda is rumoured to be in a tight corner due to ongoing court hearing against him for dual nationality and he may be disqualified. It is speculated that Vawda is being given the Senate ticket as the Supreme Court (SC) upheld petitions in favour of dual nationals in the past. moreover, mNA Amir liaqat also announced not to vote for Hafeez Sheikh in the Senate elections. Talking to a private TV channel, Amir liaqat said that Hafeez Sheikh does not belong to the PTI and hence, he will not vote for a stranger. Amir liaqat also opposed the open ballot Senate election. Amir expressed differences with his party over the issue of open ballots in the Senate elections.

RESOLUTION BETWEEN KP CM AND ATIF KHAN: In a major development, Prime minister Imran has successfully reconciled khyber Pakhtunkhwa (kP) Chief minister mahmood khan with his bitter opponents, Governor Shah Farman and Atif khan.

Sources said that Imran khan has told Atif khan to return to the provincial cabinet. It merits mentioning that the kP Cm had accused Atif khan and Shahram Tarakai of conspiring against him, after which Atif khan and Shahram were de-notified as ministers on the directive of the prime minister.

Registration of elderly for Covid-19 vaccination begins

$6.2 million, respectively.

RECORD INCREASE meanwhile, Prime minister Imran khan earlier today lauded overseas Pakistanis for a record increase in remittances in 2021 as compared to last year.

“Remittances from overseas Pakistanis were $2.27 bn in Jan, up 19% over Jan 2020 – 8th consecutive month of remittances above $2b,” the premier said in a Twitter post.

“To date in this fiscal year they are up 24% compared to last year,” he informed. “This is a record for our country and I thank our overseas Pakistanis.” moreover, in a separate tweet, the premier noted that the industrial sector was witnessing a significant growth.

“Good news from industrial sector also, showing sustained growth,” he said. “large scale manufacturing saw another double digit growth month in December 2020 – 11.4% growth vs Dec 2019. The cumulative July to Dec growth [is] above 8% now.”

Profit The entire world has waited with bated breath for any signs of that elusive precaution against the raging global pandemic. And in 2021, a spate of countries, and companies, announced their versions of the vaccine. Here’s some good news on the Covid-19 front. In a notice issued to the Pakistan Stock Exchange on February 2, the pharmaceutical company AGP said that Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, also known as DRAP, has granted the emergency use of the GamCOVID-Vac, combined vector vaccine against the Covid-19, also known as SARS-CoV-2 virus. The vaccine is known as Sputnik V. ers, while the general public would be accommodated in the third phase. Pakistan received its first tranche of the Sinopharm jabs, given by China as a “gift”, earlier this month.

The shipment marked the first shots to be imported into the country where more than 564,077 cases of the disease have been reported since the outbreak in February last.

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MORE INSIDE

Soldier martyred in Balochistan security post attack STORY ON PAGE 03 Election commission must devise a polling scheme: CJP STORY ON PAGE 02

Maryam says she is speaking for rights of the province STORY ON BACK PAGE

Visa categories reduced to 11, health emergency visa rules introduced STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Tuesday, 16 February, 2021

ISLAMABAD

NEWS

eLection commission must devise a poLLing scheme: cjp

t

NEWS DESK

HE Supreme Court (SC) summoned the chief election commissioner (CEC) and other members of the election commission, wherein the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) pointed out that it is the responsibility of the commission to curb corrupt practices in the elections.

CJP Gulzar Ahmed, while presiding over a case regarding the presidential reference on the upcoming Senate elections along with a five-judge larger bench, asked the election commission to present a polling scheme to get rid of corrupt practices in the election of the upper house. He maintained that simply issuing the dates of the elections is not enough.

Referring to Article 218 (3) of the Constitution, Justice Ijazul Ahsan said that if there is credible evidence, then the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)

may look into ballot papers and further asked the counsel, Sajeel Swati, whether the commission had disqualified any lawmaker who was involved in corrupt practices.

“It is the responsibility of the election commission to ensure transparency in the election,” Justice Ahsan said.

Similarly, Justice Umar Ata Bandial asked whether the ECP is taking any action as now there is evidence of corrupt practices and a video has also surfaced.

“The mechanism to curb corruption exists in the election law,” the election commission’s lawyer said in reply. However, the chief justice pointed out that corrupt practices still exist.

Justice Yahya Afridi pointed out that the ECP monitors votes in general elections, and inquired why the same was not being done here.

“This vote has been given indemnity under Article 226,” the ECP lawyer argued.

“The election commission could itself

Logistics firm's staffer threatened to rape, kiLL: journaList ISLAMABAD: A journalist has accused a rider from a transport and logistics startup of threatening to rape and kill her. Responding to the message shortly after it was sent, the company said: "Hello Zebunnisa, we truly apologies for the inconvenience this may have caused you. Kindly share your registered number with us via DM along with the booking details." The journalist later shared an update, saying she had managed to get in touch with the company's complaint centre and added Bykea had permanently removed the man from their service. In a follow-up tweet sent Monday, Burki said: "The @bykeapk people (staff and management) have been very extremely helpful and have taken this as seriously as one would have wanted. Thank you to everyone who helped and messaged." The company is yet to issue a statement on the incident. MONITORING REPORT

earthquake shakes swat; no major damage SWAT: A 3.9 magnitude earthquake struck Swat on Monday and the tremors were also felt in Mingora and nearby areas, witnesses said. Many residents ran out of their homes, but no major damage was reported.

According to the seismic monitoring unit of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the earthquake was centred at Hindu Kush mountain range.

The earthquake came days after a strong 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck parts of the country. Jolts were felt in Islamabad, parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), the Met Office had said. It said the quake originated at 10:02 pm and its epicentre was Tajikistan. It struck at a depth of 80 kilometres, the Met Office had added. STAFF REPORT

pBc urges sc to review ruling over justice isa ISLAMABAD: Expressing grave concern over the top court’s recent ruling that one of its judges, Justice Qazi Faez Isa, should restrain himself from sitting in adjudications against Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) urged the court to review the matter.

Issuing a statement on Monday, PBC Vice Chairman Khush Dil Khan said: "The legal fraternity has expressed its serious concern on the unprecedented passage of an order by a five-member Bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court while hearing the case against the Prime Minister of Pakistan regarding the allocation of public funds to Parliamentarian, without consulting one of the members of the Bench, namely Hon’ble Mr Justice Qazi Faez Isa, and even without circulating the same to him for his views and signatures and subsequently, not making him part of any Bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court for hearing court cases and instead having confined him to do only Chamber work." Khush Dil Khan further said: “I, therefore, urge upon the Hon’ble Supreme Court for reviewing its action, as aforementioned, in the larger interest of smooth functioning of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and for safeguarding the independence of its Hon’ble Judges for discharging their constitutional duties to dispense justice."

While convening a meeting for deliberations in the matter, he said, “However, in view of the importance and significance of the matter, I am proposing convening of a meeting of the Pakistan Bar Council at an early date to consider the above-said matter.” TLTP

inquire into the matter,” Justice Ahsan replied.

The court summoned the CEC and members of the election commission tomorrow to present a scheme to curb corruption in the election.

A day earlier, Pakistan Democratice Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman made telephonic contact with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Therein, both the politicians had decided to cancel PDM’s rallies in Sargodha on February 23 in view of the country’s Senate election and the opposition’s long march.

Both the politicians had also decided to cancel the February 27 protest in Khuzdar, Balochistan, to focus on Senate polls.

Sources had said that Fazl later directed all parties to expedite preparations for the long march. He said that all parties should expedite the preparations for the Senate elections and the long march.

CPEC Authority to undertake more projects in Faisalabad: Bajwa FAISALABAD APP

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Chairman Lt Gen (r) Asim Saleem Bajwa on Monday said that the CPEC Authority would undertake more projects in Faisalabad after the successful launch of Allama Iqbal Industrial City Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

He was addressing a meeting during his visit to Allama Iqbal Industrial City. The meeting was also attended by Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development & Management Company (FIEDMC) Chairman Mian Kashif Ashfaq, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) President Engineer Hafiz Ihtasham Javed, and officers of various departments.

Bajwa said that Allama Iqbal Industrial City was a flagship project of CPEC Authority which would facilitate Chinese investors to shift their high tech industrial units under the second phase of CPEC. About industrial, commercial and business importance of Faisalabad, he said that it was quite suitable for local as well as foreign investment. He said the authority would try its best to improve basic infrastructure to facilitate investors.

Responding to a question from the FCCI president, he said that more projects would be launched under CPEC Authority in Faisalabad. In this connection, upgradation of Faisalabad International Airport was also under consideration while a technical institute to provide skilled manpower would also be established under CPEC Authority.

Efforts afoot to trace missing climbers ISLAMABAD TLTP

The government and other stakeholders are still employing their best efforts to find Muhammad Ali Sadpara and two other foreign climbers who went missing nearly 10 days ago during a K2 summit expedition.

Sadpara's management, which operates his official Twitter account, on Monday announced that a meeting of the apex committee regarding the missing climbers' search and rescue (SAR) operation will be held on Feb 17, 2021, in Gilgit.

"Please avoid any premature statements and keep

away from fake reports," the management said.

In another tweet, Sadpara's management apologised to the public for not providing frequent updates regarding the missing climbers on Sadpara's official social media accounts, adding that the management team was "too focused on SAR efforts to pay attention to anything else." The management expressed its gratitude to people for their love and support but stressed how fake reports regarding the missing climbers caused distress to everyone related to Sadpara.

According to a press release issued by K2 Virtual and Physical Base Camp, an important press conference was also held on Monday to provide more information about Ali Sadpara and other missing climbers.

He assured to visit FCCI next month to discuss issues and take final decision to launch new development projects.

He also visited M-3 Industrial City, Business Zone and Site office and expressed satisfaction over the facilities provided in this mega project. He stressed the need to further improve the infrastructure in order to facilitate the local as well as foreign investors.

FIEDMC Chairman Mian Kashif Ashfaq said that construction work of boundary wall, main gate and double carriage road had been completed in Allama Iqbal Industrial City while consultants were being hired for preparation of the master plan for this industrial city.

He maintained that special one-window cell was also operational in Allama Iqbal City which would provide facilities to Chinese investors.

It had been reported that Sadpara and his team had successfully summited the 8,611-metre K2 — the world's second-highest mountain — on Feb 5, a month after their first attempt failed. However, their support teams have since then cautioned that the climbers' status is still unclear and there has been no communication from their end.

The K2 Virtual and Physical Base Camp team said that an "extraordinary search operation in the history of mountaineering" is underway on K2. They said that possible locations have been identified through satellite images. Information was also obtained through synthetic aperture radar technology, which has been used to identify sleeping bags and tents of the mountaineers. "Please give these families time, space, compassion to the family of the missing climbers. Share your stories about them so they will be remembered," read the press release.

Justice Minallah for tougher punishments for rioters involved in IHC rampage ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Monday sought exemplary punishment for lawyers involved in a mob attack on the court building last week.

On February 8, scores of lawyers protesting against the demolition of their chambers by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) during an antiencroachment drive the previous night wreaked havoc on the high court's building.

The mob stormed the Chief Justice Block and held Justice Minallah and other judges hostage for hours.

During the hearing into the contempt of court case, IHC Bar Association (IHCBA) secretary Sohail Akbar Chaudhry sought the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the incident.

However, Justice Minallah said that the bar members "knew well who did all this [ransacking] the case doesn't need a commission."

"The bar should turn in those who were involved in the attack so that no one else is harassed," he added.

Last Tuesday, the high court issued contempt of court notices to 17 lawyers including Islamabad Bar Council member Naseer Kayani and candidates vying for the top position of the IHCBA election on February 27. Separately, the police registered an FIR against 21 lawyers under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and Anti Terrorism Act (ATA).

The judge further said that all those involved in the attack were members of the bar, adding he recognised "half of them".

Justice Minallah observed those who kept the judges hostage for hours have committed a grave crime.

"It is a serious incident and those involved should be

punished," he remarked.

He further said that he had received a call from Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed as well, who asked what action was being taken against the lawyers.

"However, I told him that I don't want to create a scene at the high court by taking action," Justice Minallah said.

"The joint investigation team (JIT) has reported that the lawyers and the bar are not cooperating in resolving the case," he further said.

The judge also expressed concerns over the assault inflicted on media workers and got the footage of the rampage deleted from their cameras.

He said such rowdy behaviour will not be tolerated at any cost.

"The attackers had planned to go on a rampage and they got the videos of the incident deleted," he noted.

Tuesday, 16 February, 2021

ISLAMABAD

pakiStan ready to promote Blue economy to BeneFit humanity: Fm KARACHI

F

TLTP

OREIgN Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan is ready to cooperate and collaborate with other friendly nations and partners around the world to promote a blue economy for the mutual benefit of humanity.

The foreign minister said this on Monday while addressing the international maritime conference titled ‘Development of Blue Economy under a Secure and Sustainable Environment’.

He said that Pakistan recognises the importance of the world's oceans as a global public commodity and is committed to promoting the prudent use of marine resources for socio-economic development while ensuring environmental sustainability.

The foreign minister maintained that to bring the blue economy to the centre of national economic development paradigm, there is a need to create awareness among all stakeholders about its potential economic, social and environmental benefits, and to provide

an enabling ecosystem to attract investments in related sectors.

He stressed the need for concerted efforts to strengthen partnerships and collaboration among businesses, academia, research institutions, and social and environmental organisations to unlock new opportunities.

The FM added the idea of blue economy recognises the seas and oceans as drivers of socio-economic development and encompasses diverse fields from renewable energy to fisheries, coastal tourism, waste management, maritime transport, ocean engineering and climate change.

He termed the sustainable blue economy as critical for reaping the socioeconomic benefits for current and future generations with its global value estimated to be over $24 trillion.

Qureshi said that the Indian Ocean is the world’s third-largest water body while retaining its significance for global security, it represented an increasingly important avenue for global trade. He said that the Indian Ocean hosts international maritime traffic that includes half of the world’s containerized

cargo, one-third of its bulk cargo, and two-thirds of its oil shipments.

Qureshi said that Pakistan is an important stakeholder in the Indian Ocean security framework, which includes counter-piracy as well as human trafficking and narcotics smuggling.

He added that Pakistan Navy continues to maintain a robust security posture along Pakistan’s coast and in the regional seas, in order to prevent nefarious elements from illicit activities in the maritime domain.

Qureshi said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and development of the gwadar Port are game-changing projects that have further enhanced the geo-economic significance of Pakistan. The gwadar Port has the potential to develop into a full-fledged regional hub and a transhipment port. He said, “We have taken a number of initiatives to transform Pakistan’s ports into regional transhipment hubs, including by up-gradation of port infrastructure.”

He also said that the Indian Ocean offers promising potential for mutual cooperation and collaboration; however,

he pointed out that geostrategic competition and the pursuit of military dominance by some states has gravely jeopardised that potential. “In particular, India’s belligerent and aggressive policies – currently driven by an extremist Hindutva ideology – pose an immediate and pervasive threat to international and regional peace and security,” he added.

Qureshi stressed that India has nuclearised the Indian Ocean and continues to induct advanced weapons systems and naval delivery platforms in pursuit of its hegemonic designs. He said that in the light of these developments, Pakistan will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure its security and to maintain credible minimum deterrence.

Qureshi underscored India’s belligerent and aggressive policies pose an immediate and pervasive threat to international and regional peace and security. He said that the international community needs to be cognizant of the fact that any military conflict in South Asia could endanger stability in a region that is critical for global trade flows and security.

SC directs for administering Katas Raj temple in two weeks ISLAMABAD TLTP

While issuing directives to the federation to administer Katas Raj Temple after taking its management from Punjab government and handing over to Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) in two weeks the Supreme Court (SC) asked the chairman of the board to appear before the court in person with a comprehensive report about the income of all the Samadhis, gurdwaras and temples.

Taking up a matter relating to minorities’ right in the country on Monday, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) gulzar Ahmed expressed dismay over the absence of chief secretary of Punjab, observing he neither appeared before the court nor has he implemented the court orders.

When the court was apprised that the chief secretary was not able to appear before the court due to another official meeting, a member of the bench, Syed Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi, inquired why officials always schedule meetings on the day of these court hearings

when they are supposed to appear.

During the course of proceedings, the Chief Justice gulzar observed there was no progress in Prahlad Temple, Multan, adding that the chief secretary has done nothing except for writing a letter on the Prahlad Temple issue.

He observed that clerks were to write letters instead of chief secretaries, adding that he issued directives to the Punjab government to take tangible measures to provide security to the temple so people can celebrate the festival of Holi.

Punjab Additional Advocate general Faisal Chaudhry apprised the bench that the Hindus will celebrate Holi on March 26, stating that the opposition parties will hold their long march on the same day.

As such, he said, it would become difficult for the authorities to provide security to the temple.

Chaudhry further said that the temple’s walls are weak. He submitted that the government feared the walls may collapse anytime and sought time to reconstruct the walls.

The CJP asked the KP law officer whether money has been recovered from the men who vandalised the Krishna Dwara Temple in Karak’s Teri union council on December 30, 2020. KP additional advocate general replied that the government was deciding on the amount people would have to pay, adding the suspects will be issued notices after that.

During the course of hearing, the bench expressed dissatisfaction over a submitted report relating to Single Nation Curriculum (SNC) across the country, the court returned the report with directives to the federal education secretary to appear in person with a comprehensive report with his signature during the next hearing. When Ramaish Kumar, a minority leader, apprised that the ETPB failed to reimburse Rs38 million in pursuance of the court orders which were spent over Samadhi in Karak before burning down the Samadhi, the top judge asked Kumar to submit details of the expenses to the court as well as to the board.

Later, the bench adjourned the hearing of the case for two weeks.

Govt imposes advance tax on vehicles to discourage profiteering ISLAMABAD SHAHZAD PARACHA

The federal government has imposed advance tax ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs200,000 on vehicles to discourage ‘on money’ culture in Pakistan.

In this regard, the president has promulgated the Tax Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, in which the government has not only imposed but also exempted taxes on different categories, including electric vehicles.

Documents state that every motor vehicle registering authority of the Excise and Taxation Department is required to collect advance tax, in addition to the above, from buyers of locally manufactured motor vehicles who subsequently sell it within 90 days of delivery whether prior to or after registration at the below-mentioned rates.

According to details, there is Rs50,000 tax on up to a 1000cc vehicle, and Rs100,000 from 1000cc to 2000cc and Rs200,000 from 2000cc and above engine capacity vehicles; the tax is adjustable and applicable till June 30, 2021, only.

ArtICLe CoNtINueS After tHIS ADvertISeMeNt: According to sources privy to the matter, the tax has been introduced to discourage the ‘on-money’ culture, which considers a major factor in

car price hikes over the past years.

PAyMeNt to NoN-reSIDeNt: Under the ordinance, every banking company maintaining a Foreign Currency Value Account (FCVA) or a nonresident Pakistani Rupee Value Account (NRVA) of a non-resident individual holding Pakistan Origin Card (POC) or NIC for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) or computerised NIC shall deduct tax at 10 per cent on capital gain arising on the disposal of debt instruments and government securities and certificates, including Shariah-compliant variant invested through FCVA and NRVA, and this shall be a final tax liability for such non-resident persons.

ADvANCe tAx oN DALe or trANSfer of IMMovABLe ProPerty: The government has also imposed an advance tax on sale or transfer of immovable property Under the tax law, ordinance.

“If the seller or transferor is a non-resident individual holding POC, NICOP or NIC, who had acquired the immovable property through an FCVA or an NRVA maintained with authorised banks in Pakistan shall be final tax in lieu of capital gains earned by the seller or transferor from the property so disposed of”.

According to Section 236C, if the buyer or transferee is a non-resident individual holding POC or NICOP or computerised NIC who acquires the

immovable property through an FCVA or NRVA maintained with authorised banks in Pakistan, the tax shall be the final tax for such buyer.

SuPer tAx oN BANkINg CoMPANIeS: The government has also extended the super tax for an indefinite period in tax laws ordinance. It is pertinent to mention here that Section 4B was inserted vide FA 2015, for the rehabilitation of temporarily displaced persons to be paid by prescribed persons at the rate prescribed under Division IIA of Part I of the First Schedule. From Tax Year 2020 onwards the tax was only applicable to Banking companies @4pc till the Tax year 2021. Now, this tax has been extended for an indefinite period.

ADvANCe tAx oN IMPortS: The government has also prescribed 1 per cent advance tax for importers of CKD kits of electric vehicles for small cars or SUVs with 50kwh battery or below and LCVs with 150 kwh battery or below.

ADvANCe tAx oN SALe to DIStrIButorS, DeALerS or wHoLeSALerS: The government has given an incentive in the form of reduced rate to support voluntary registration to the manufacturer or commercial importer of electronics, sugar, cement, iron and steel products, fertilizer, motorcycles, pesticides, cigarettes, glass, textile, beverages, paint or foam.

NEWS

03

Soldier martyred in BalochiStan Security poSt attack ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Army soldier embraced martyrdom when terrorists opened fire on a security post in Balochistan's Kech district late Sunday night, the military's media wing said. The soldier was later identified as Sepoy Asad Mehdi. The checkpoint was installed to secure the N-85 National Highway near Hoshab, Kech. The locality has been cordoned off and escape routes have been closed, the army said in a statement. STAFF REPORT

First polio case of 2021 confirmed in Qilla abdullah CHAMAN: With Pakistan struggling to eradicate the crippling disease, the first polio case of the year 2021 was confirmed in Balochistan’s Qilla Abdullah district on Monday. Health officials confirmed a 28-month-old boy was found to be afflicted with the crippling disease in Qilla Abdullah UC-1. It is pertinent to mention here that the first anti-polio drive of 2021 achieved 98 per cent of its set target across Pakistan.

According to a report compiled by the Anti-Polio Task Force, the drive received an overwhelming response and with the cooperation of the parents 98 per cent target of the drive was achieved. Over 40 million children under the age of five were administered anti-polio drops by the vaccinators.

99 per cent of the target of vaccinating the children against the crippling disease was achieved in Punjab and Sindh provinces, while 96 per cent and 95 per cent targets were achieved in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) respectively. TLTP

mazari calls for protection of human rights ISLAMABAD: Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari said on Monday the government is focusing on enforcement of the laws pertaining to the protection of human rights. Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, she said that child labour has been proscribed through legislation. She also said that the provincial governments will also be requested to follow the suit. Mazari said that Pakistan has one of the most progressive laws protecting the rights of transgenders and added progress has been made to implement it. “A transgender center is being established to extend help to this community,” she said. The minister said that under Juvenile Justice System Act, 2018, juvenile courts have been established in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab. Other laws such as those relating to senior citizens, journalists, persons with disabilities and minorities are also on the cards, she disclosed.

Mazari said that campaigns have been launched to create awareness amongst the people about child abuse and women inheritance rights. INP

anp senator seeking rerun resigns from house ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on Monday accepted the resignation of Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Sitara Ayaz. Ayaz had sent her resignation to Sanjrani on Sunday to again submit her nomination papers -- this time from Balochistan and on the ticket of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).

Hailing from Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Sitara was elected to the upper house in 2015 was due to retire in March. She has also served as a minister in the KP cabinet between 2008 and 2013.

However, the ANP had expelled Sitara in October 2019 after terminating her basic membership on charges of violating the party constitution.

Meanwhile, Senate Secretariat apprised the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding her resignation. The commission was informed that her seat should be declared vacant after the approval of her resignation by Sanjrani. INP

BoP CEO, Karachi plane crash survivor, to promote travel safety through foundation LAHORE WEB DESK

Bank of Punjab (BoP) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Zafar Masood, one of the two survivors of the 2020 Karachi plane crash, has announced the launch of a foundation to promote flight awareness and passenger safety.

Speaking to journalist Sohail Warraich, Masood said

the foundation will inform the people about travel rights "from [the] road to all the way to air which is considered to the safest mode of travelling."

"My desire, and aim, for the foundation is [...] for it to be able to stand on its feet in my life," he said. "I want it to have enough resources [...] to run on endowment [fund, without my assistance]."

Masood was aboard PK-8303, the Pakistan

International Airlines (PIA) jet with 99 people, that crashed into a crowded residential district of Karachi in May, killing all but two.

He suffered fractures but was conscious and responded well, the bank had said at the time.

The other survivor, Muhammad Zubair, told a private news channel the pilot came down for one landing, briefly touched down, then took off again.

After around 10 more minutes of flying, the pilot announced to passengers he was going to make a second attempt, then crashed as he approached the runway, he had recalled.

In September, Masood travelled from Karachi to Lahore through a PIA plane again and, on his request, was allotted the same seat that he had been travelling in on the day of the crash.

04

Tuesday, 16 February, 2021

ISLAMABAD

NEWS

PM For SwiFT FinAliSATion oF EduCATion PoliCy wiTh TiMElinES, TArGETS ISLAMABAD

P

STAFF REPORT

RIME Minister Imran Khan Monday directed the authorities concerned to ensure early finalisation of the proposed Pakistan Education Policy 2021 along with formulation of a comprehensive roadmap, besides delineated timelines and targets.

Chairing a meeting on use of technology in promotion of skilled education here, the prime minister said that the education policy should be finalized in consultation with the provincial governments and other

stakeholders that should cater to the priorities for implementing modern education system in the country.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Federal Education Shafqat Mehmood, Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rehman, secretaries of education, foreign affairs and information technology divisions, National Information Technology Board (NITB) chairman, National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) chairman and experts from the private sector, a PM Office press release said.

The prime minister observed that education was not accorded due priority in the past. As majority of the population

comprised youth, their capabilities could only be utilised if they were educated and equipped with the latest knowledge and technology, he added.

The minister for federal education apprised the meeting about education reforms, online education during Covid19, pilot projects for information technology (IT), countrywide “skills for all” projects and measures taken for promotion of knowledge economy.

He also updated the meeting on the measures taken to increase school enrollment particularly for girls’ education, artificial intelligence and internet of things training for 50,000 youth under the Hu-

narmand Pakistan Programme, establishment of Skills’ Accreditation Council and partnerships with international organizations.

The meeting was informed that after a lapse of 11 years, the present government was formulating the Pakistan Education Policy 2021 for unified curriculum. Special emphasis was being laid on technical and advanced education.

Dr Rehman informed the meeting that partnership with international organizations was underway for accreditation, capacity building of teachers, enhanced use of artificial intelligence and biotechnology.

Punjab to allocate apartments to journalists, lawyers LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Buzdar invites Emirati investors to invest in SEZs LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that there were huge investment opportunities for UAE investors in Pakistan and they need to avail these opportunities. He was talking to Ambassador of UAE to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zabi who called on him at his office on Monday and discussed matters of mutual interest, including promotion of bilateral relations.

The UAE envoy expressed interest in investment in health and construction sectors while the CM pointed out that Pakistan and UAE enjoy historically important brotherly relations.

Babar Ali Foundation donates 5 scholarships to the Government College Endowment Trust PRESS RELEASE GC University Endowment Trust President Iqbal Z Ahmed and GC University Lahore Executive Committee of Endowment Fund Trust Convener Finance Mian Misbahur Rehman have gratefully appreciated a donation from the Babar Ali Foundation of Rs5 million for five scholarships for students at GC University, Lahore. The scholarships are under the names of the great educationists and literary figures, like the former post-partition principal of Government College Dr Nazir Ahmad, diplomat and humorist Syed Ahmed Shah (commonly known as Patras Bokhari), eminent poet Sufi Ghulam Tabassum and another formal principal of Government College G D Sondhi, that the GC University has been proudly associated with. Both trustees, Ahmed and Rehman, expressed their deep appreciation and thanks to the iconic old Ravian Syed Babar Ali, chairman of the Packages Group, for his generous donation from the Babar Ali Foundation. They also appreciated the untiring efforts of Executive Committee of the Endowment Trust, GC University Secretary Prof Khalid Manzoor Butt for his sincere and diligent efforts in raising funds. The members of the committee also reviewed the audit report for the year 2019-20 and found it satisfactory as an amount of over Rs12 million was raised during this year despite the ongoing pandemic. Ahmed and Rehman expressed their thanks to the members of the GCU syndicate who had greatly appreciated the efforts made by the Executive Committee in making the GC Endowment Trust a role model body for other public institutions in Pakistan.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar chaired the 41st meeting of the provincial cabinet at his office on Monday and approved the procedure of flats' allotment in Lahore Development Authority (LDA) City Naya Pakistan Apartments under Section 19 of management and transfer of properties of Development Authorities Act, 2014.

The meeting authorized the LDA to enter into an agreement with Bank of Punjab for the project as 4000 apartments will be constructed in the first phase, said a handout. A flat would cost around Rs2.75 million per cent quota will be reserved for the general public while 20 per cent share will be held for provincial government employees, 10 per cent for federal government employees and another 20 per cent quota will be allocated to LDA officials. The CM directed to reserve special quota for journalists and lawyers as well.

The meeting approved to upgrade low-grade employees of the civil secretariat and decided to promote drivers, auto-electricians, mechanics and dispatch-riders in next grade. This will facilitate more than 11 thousand lowgrade employees.

Approval of the 200-bed mother & child hospital at the venue of old grain market warehouse in Multan was accorded along with the release of Rs 500 million. The meeting approved to establish two new cement plants in DG Khan and Mianwali and the CM directed to further expedite the issuance of NOCs to pending applications.

Meanwhile, it was decided to give health professional and special healthcare allowance to the doctors of the Population Welfare Department. The participants decided to constitute a high-level committee to reconsider the regularisation scheme of Katchi Abadis with the direction to submit comprehensive recommendations. The law department was directed to review matters pertaining to Punjab Consolidation of Holdings Ordinance

1960 to submit recommendations for early completion of the consolidation process.

The cabinet also approved the establishment of the provincial drug monitoring team and draft Punjab Hepatitis Rules. Amendments in Pakistan Travel Agency Act 1976 and draft of Punjab Museum Act 2021 were also approved along with the approval of terms and conditions for the posts of registrar and controller of examinations of government universities. Alongside, approval to amend the Punjab Police Department (Ministerial Posts) Rules 2017 was given for the change in eligibility criterion of stenographers.

The meeting decided to enhance the registration and renewal fee of private wildlife breeding farms and approved an amendment in the Forest Act and Punjab Urban and Peri-urban Forest Policy 2020. Similarly, the cabinet authorized Infrastructure Development Authority Punjab to work on development projects in Islamabad on a fast-track basis.

It was further approved to implement MIT Act in Mayo Hospital and King Edward Medical College along with the approval of amendment in the Punjab Medical Teaching Institutions (Reforms) Amendment Act 2020.

The cabinet constituted a committee to review and submit its recommendations relating to the leasing out of state land to Multan Gymkhana. The meeting was also briefed about the agriculture department's performance and a ministerial committee was constituted for facilitating the farmers. This committee, comprising agriculture experts, will submit its final recommendations to the cabinet.

Meanwhile, the proceedings of 40th cabinet meeting was endorsed along with the endorsement of 48th, 49th, 50th meetings of cabinet standing committee for finance and development as well as 44th, 45th, 46th and 47th meetings of cabinet standing committee for legislation.

The cabinet meeting which lasted for more than three hours also offered Fateha for the departed soul of the father of provincial minister Nauman Langrial.

Finance Minister terms OLMT a white elephant LAHORE SHAHAB OMER

Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht termed Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) as a white elephant saying that the debt of OLMT was very high and it has to bear Rs10 billion annually.

A pre-budget advisory workshop for the fiscal

year 2021-22 was organised by the Punjab Finance Department in collaboration with the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office UK at a local hotel on Monday.

Addressing the participants of the workshop, the provincial minister explained that the funds received for Covid-19 would be spent on the people and the government was reforming the pay, retirement and pension sys-

ihC attack: 2 lawyers freed, one jailed on judicial remand; JiT notified ISLAMABAD TLTP

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday issued orders to release two lawyers, Zafar Ali Waraich and Shoaib Shaikh, in Islamabad High Court (IHC) attack case. The ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan ordered the release of the lawyers on the basis of a report presented by the police department. The police department submitted a report which sought dissolution of the case against the lawyers. Police said that no evidence was found against Zafar Ali Waraich and Advocate Shoaib Shaikh. Earlier in the day, an anti-terrorism court heard the case regarding lawyers attack on Islamabad High Court (IHC). The police produced Shoaib Gujjar Advocate, an accused of the attack on the high court, before the ATC. The court sent the accused on seven days’ judicial remand to Adiala Jail. ATC Judge deferred hearing on bail petitions of three other accused Liaquat Manzoor Kamboh, Khalid Mehmood and Muhammad Umar until Tuesday. “Accused Khalid Mehmood was not present during the incident,” defence counsel argued before the court. The court sought details of the case against the accused.

The judge also directed the lawyers to present their arguments on the bail petitions on Tuesday. In another development in the day, a notification was issued by the chief commissioner of Islamabad regarding the constitution of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe into IHC attack case. Representatives from ISI, IB, MI and police are included in the JIT. The JIT is directed to seek the assistance of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association and District Bar Association during the course of the investigation as and when required. According to the notification, senior superintendent of police (investigation) has been made as chairman of the JIT, while senior superintendent of police, CTD Islamabad, superintendent of police, Sadar Zone Islamabad, SDPO, SHO, police station Margalla, Islamabad, representative of ISI, representative of MI and a representative of IB are the members of the JIT. The protesting lawyers, who were furious over the demolition of illegal chambers in district and sessions court in Islamabad, on February 8, stormed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) building and manhandled police officials, staff and journalists. A large number of protesting lawyers outside the building had hurled stones while raising slogans against the district administration and IHC chief justice. The lawyers had also tortured media persons to stop the coverage of the incident.

The outrageous crowd had also tortured the deputy registrar of the high court after entering into his chamber by breaking the door.

They also managed to enter into the IHC chief justice’s chamber.

tems. “Health is the PTI government's priority. The Punjab government believes in economic stability through the development of the social sector with the participation of all sections. Reforms in education and health will set the right direction for economic growth. The last two years have shown that prudent use of current expenditures has not affected the delivery of services,” he said.

The minister assured that the rationality of the development budget in the next financial year will also be ensured. “The Punjab government is introducing different philosophies for the provision of health services.

Instructional videos to create awareness for new enrollees in Ehsaas Kafaalat released ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar Monday released a series of 40 beneficiaries centered instructional videos on twitter to provide guidance to the public about Ehsaas Kafaalat Programme.

The payments to new Ehsaas Kafaalat beneficiaries who are being enrolled through the ongoing Ehsaas survey commenced last week.

These instructional videos will provide information and guidance to the public, facilitating them to participate in Ehsaas.

In the talking head videos, Dr Sania has answered frequently asked questions (FAQs) in simple language.

The videos, in particular, describe the

FAQs of public, including details of new Ehsaas survey and outline process of enrolments and payments to new Kafaalat recipients. The video release is available on the official twitter handle of Dr Sania; @SaniaNishtar.

“Through a set of instructional videos, I have responded to important queries and problems of disadvantaged populations who interact with me frequently on radio and social media,” she said.

“If the deserving can gain from this awareness content and are able to easily navigate the Ehsaas’ digital registration and payment system, then that is worth it.

In this regard, I would like to make an appeal to people and stakeholders, help us reach out to wider audience by rigorously disseminating and resharing this video compilation.”

The videos mainly highlight the fully

computerized, apolitical, voluntary and cost-free nature of Ehsaas survey. New enrolment is linked to the readiness of the survey in each district.

The beneficiaries were being registered phase-wise via ongoing Ehsaas survey which is currently 70 per cent complete countrywide and will be concluded by coming June.

The enumerators go at the doorstep to collect the data of households through an android tablet. Households can participate in the survey by sharing their CNICs and socio-economic information.

Once the survey is finalized in each district, registration desks are opened at Tehsil level to help the missed households in their self-registration under survey.

Beneficiaries being identified for enrolment through the new survey are given Rs2,000 a month on an ongoing basis under

Kafaalat. Cumulatively, seven million deserving households will be included in Ehsaas Kafaalat.

They will be paid a first installment of Rs12,000 for the period Jan - Jun 2021.

Afterwards, beneficiaries will get quarterly payment of Rs6,000 on continuing basis. Ehsaas is also sending out an SMS to all new beneficiaries from 8171 confirming that they have been registered in Ehsaas and should digitally withdraw their payment after biometric verification. Subsequently, the official letter is also despatched.

In Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Islamabad, beneficiaries can collect payment through biometric ATMs, designated retail shops and campsites of Habib Bank; and through Bank Alfalah across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Ehsaas Kafaalat is the government’s flagship social protection programme through which it provides monthly cash stipends of Rs2,000 and saving bank accounts to the poorest and marginalized women across the country.

Tuesday, 16 February, 2021

ISLAMABAD

NEWS

PM rejecTS OGrA’S PrOPOSAl fOr hIke In PeTrOleuM PrIceS

PBS directed to rank districts based on price control

ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) on Monday directed the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) to work out a ranking of districts with reference to price control so that provincial governments could take necessary actions accordingly. The NPMC meeting was held under the chair of Finance and Revenue Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh at the Finance Division. The committee reviewed the price trend of essential commodities, especially wheat flour, eggs, chicken, sugar and edible oil, during the week. The finance secretary briefed the committee about weekly SPI, which recorded a slight increase of 0.81pc. Meanwhile, the food secretary updated NPMC about the availability of sufficient stock of wheat across the country. He expressed satisfaction over the average per day releases by the provinces which remained stable throughout the country. Balochistan secretary food on the occasion apprised the committee of arrangements being made for the immediate lifting of 20,000MT wheat from PASSCO. The Ministry of Industries and Production briefed the committee that almost 80pc crushing of sugarcane has been completed during the current season. The carryover stocks plus the latest crushing would ensure sufficient availability of sugar in the coming months, it added. The ministry requested the respective provincial governments to provide projections regarding the future sugar requirement for effective planning during the year. Industries and Production Minister Hammad Azhar lauded the Utility Stores Corporations (USCs) for covering more than 5pc of the consumer demand for essential items at subsidized rates across the country. Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh urged the provincial governments and departments concerned to take necessary administrative measures to ensure uninterrupted supply of regulated wheat flour throughout the country. He further directed provincial and district administrations to proactively monitor the prices of essential commodities so as to avoid hoarding and black marketing effectively. Adviser to the PM on Commerce Razak Dawood and SAPM on Revenue Dr Waqar Masood were also present on the occasion.

PTI’s growing internal bickering, deadlock with MQM-P forces PM to review Senate tickets ContInueD froM pAge 01 Later, Shahram Tarakai returned to the cabinet but Atif Khan was kept at bay. BALOCHISTAN ISSUE STILL UNRESOLVED: The issue of PTI Senate ticket from Balochistan has become more complicated as the PTI Balochistan President Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind has refused to budge on the matter of the party having awarded the ticket to Syed Zahoor Agha. Seven PTI lawmakers stand divided over the Senate nomination. Rind – who has fielded his own son, Sardar Khan Rind, for Senate seat – now has support from five lawmakers while Zahoor Agha has the support of only two. Rind has support of two independent lawmakers, Umar Jamali and Naimatullah Zehri, who had joined the PTI due to his influence, and the party’s Yar Mohammad Rind himself and Farida Bibi would also vote for Sardar Rind. Zahoor Agha, whose own party membership has turned out to be suspended due to protest outside Banigala residence of Prime Minister Imran, has only two MPAs supporting him; namely, Naseebullah Marri and Mubin Khilji.

Syed Zahoor Agha was given a show-cause at a sitin in Bani Gala in 2017.

APP

I

N a bid to provide relief to the masses, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday rejected an Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) summary proposing an increase of Rs14.07 in petrol price. OGRA had proposed an increase of Rs14.07 in petrol price, Rs13.61 in price of highspeed diesel, Rs10.79 in kerosene oil and Rs7.43 in light diesel’s price.

The hike was suggested in view of the global rise in the prices of petroleum products.

The prime minister rejected the regulator’s summary, keeping in view the public relief, the PM Office said in a statement.

The PM assured the people that the government would go to any extent to provide relief to them.

HBL joins forces with PSDF to create employment opportunities in Pakistan KArACHI PRESS RELEASE

Habib Bank Limited (HBL), Pakistan’s largest commercial bank has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Punjab Skill Development Fund (PSDF), the largest skills development fund in Pakistan.

The MoU was signed by Aamir Kureshi – Head Consumer, Rural & SME Banking, HBL and Jawad Zahoor Khan, CEO, PSDF.

Present at the ceremony were Muhammad Aurangzeb - President & CEO, HBL and other senior executives from both organizations.

In line with the Government of Pakistan’s vision of creating 10 million jobs, the Prime Minister’s Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme has been developed under the banner of “Kamyab Jawan”. The purpose of the scheme is to shape the future and well-being of Pakistani youth by giving them access to skills training so they can find sus-

tainable employment and income-generating opportunities.

Commenting on the signing, Aamir Kureshi, Head Consumer, Rural & SME Banking, HBL said, “HBL has always supported the national agenda vis-à-vis Pakistan’s economic growth and social uplift. Through this partnership, HBL will provide loans to capable young men and women under the “Kamyab Jawan” scheme which will enable them to run their businesses and create further employment opportuni-

Registration of elderly for Covid-19 vaccination begins ContInueD froM pAge 01 In addition, the government is due to receive a further 1.1 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine by the end of this month, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had announced in January.

It emerged Sunday that Chughtai Lab, a private Lahore-based laboratory, will soon receive Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine for commercial sale, making Pakistan one of the first countries to market shots privately.

In January, Russia’s Sputnik V became the third, and latest, coronavirus vaccine to receive EUA (emergency use authorisation) after China’s Sinopharm and the one developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

Despite concerns over fairness and higher prices, the government last week agreed to allow the commercial import and sale of vaccines without price caps, in contrast to most countries, which are importing and administering vaccines through government channels.

Provincial authorities have designated 189 healthcare facilities in Punjab, 14 in Sindh, 280 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 44 in Balochistan, 14 in Islamabad, 25 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K), and 16 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) to administer vaccines.

HOW TO GET VACCINATED: A step-by-step guide of NCOC’s plan to get the coronavirus vaccine is given below: In the first step, at-risk citizens will send

their Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) numbers to 1166 through SMS or use National Immunisation Management System (NIMS) website for registration.

After necessary verification, designated AVC (Adult Vaccine Centre) (based on “Present Address” and PIN Code will be sent to the citizen through SMS).

If the designated AVC is outside the current tehsil of the citizen, he/she can change the designated health facility by visiting NIMS web portal or by calling the 1166 helpline within 5 days of receipt of the first SMS. Upon availability of vaccine at the designated vaccination centre, SMS will be sent to the citizen to obtain an appointment date for vaccine administration.

After successful registration, the citizen will visit AVC on the date of appointment along with the original CNIC and received PIB Code. The vaccination staff will verify the CNIC and PIN code.

After successful verification, the citizen will be vaccinated. Upon vaccine administration, vaccination staff will enter the details in NIMS and a confirmation message will be sent to the citizen through SMS. The citizen will stay in AVC for 30 minutes for the post-inoculation monitoring.

In the last step, a real-time dashboard for the federal, provincial and district health departments will be generated automatically. In this regard, Dr Faisal said that so far 400,000 health workers have been registered for vaccination.

Virtual TEXPO 2021 recently conducted Virtual Workshops with fashion giants of Pakistan to deliver a learning experience that has been integral to the prestigious platform.

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) inaugurated the 1st International Virtual Exhibition, TEXPO 2021, on the 1st of February, held via a digital portal

and was live 24/7 for 5 days.

In previous editions of TEXPO, TDAP has offered a wholesome experience of Pakistan’s fashion and textile industries with live sessions and panel discussions. TDAP adapted its learning experience into elaborate training sessions aimed at educating the audience about the labor behind bringing textile and fabric arts to life. Virtual Workshops with Maestros was conceptualized and

executed by Take II PR. Tamgha-e-Imtiaz winner Rizwan Beyg took the platform to speak about Embroidery and Embellishments, capturing past, present and the future of these handcrafts. The maestro expands on the subject with the evolution of fashion, the invention of its many tools and the practice of handcrafts.

Jewelry and Fashion designer Asim Jofa shared from his wealth of knowledge about

ties within the country.”

Jawad Zahoor, CEO, PSDF stated, “PSDF is the largest skill development fund in Pakistan and has a solid track record of skilling youth and linking them to income generation opportunities.

Though our partnership with HBL, PSDF will ensure that the youth is well trained in the technical and entrepreneurial skills to enhance their ability to secure loans under “Kamyab Jawan” and utilize them effectively to run successful businesses.”

Visa to add cryptocurrencies to payment network ISLAMABAD TLTP

International payment system Visa is moving towards allowing its cardholders to buy and sell cryptocurrencies in countries where it does not contradict the local legislation. “The cryptocurrency market can be roughly divided into two segments,” the payment giant said. It has explained that the first segment includes fiat-backed digital currencies, including stablecoins, and central bank digital currencies. The second segment includes traditional cryptocurrencies, which, in essence, are assets and are used as an investment tool. “Our strategy here is to interact with crypto wallets and crypto exchanges to enable users to purchase these currencies using their Visa credentials in countries where it is not contrary to local laws,” Visa said. According to the company, it has partnered with the First Boulevard Neobank in the United States, which would allow Visa clients to buy, store and sell digital assets via the Anchorage cryptocurrency bank. As for the first types of digital currencies, Visa said, they have the innovative potential to be used as a means of payment along with ordinary money.

“We interact with issuers of such digital currencies, bringing our expertise in the field of cashless payments, ensuring their security and accessibility for consumers,” it added. Visa’s announcement follows rival credit card major Mastercard, which announced last week it will begin allowing clients to make payments in certain cryptocurrencies on its network this year. Visa CEO Al Kelly said recently that “it goes without saying, to the extent a specific digital currency becomes a recognized means of exchange, there’s no reason why we cannot add it to our network, which already supports over 160 currencies today.”

Virtual TEXPO 2021 holds training sessions with fashion maestros on board neWS DeSK

05

Pakistan’s favorite textile commodity, Lawn.

Jofa talks about the versatility of lawn and how this breezy summer fabric rose to unprecedented heights and transformed into luxury collections that are now catered to the world over. Fashion designers Adnan Pardesy and Shamaeel Ansari offer a profound learning experience for budding designers who intend to explore opportunities in the international markets. The designers

share what it takes to penetrate the foreign markets, insights of what kinds of products do well in exports and how local crafts can be adapted to cater to non-Pakistani markets.

Fashion designers Farida Qureshi and Wardah Saleem share their expertise of block and screen printing. Saleem discusses the extensive and elaborate process of block printing by reflecting on its history and how the practice has evolved. Saleem also divulges into Ajrak printing and its process with a peek at how the traditional art is printed onto fabric.

Designer Farida Qureshi also expands on the subject of block and screen printing, offering a look at blocks with antique art, Mughal inspired prints and various other carvings that are used in her practice.

Tuesday, 16 February, 2021

06 COMMENT

The most enduring myth of all

Punjab bureaucracy under fire again Pressures increase as Senate election approaches

And reasons behind its longevity

T

HE PTI leadership’s claims about being the guardian of merit, good governance and transparency started unraveling within months of its coming to power.

Long before 2018 elections, Imran khan’s aides had succeeded in persuading him that elections could not be won without the support of electables. The political heavyweights inducted in the party subsequently or brought into the ruling alliance as coalition partners depended on patronage politics at the constituency level requiring support from a pliant bureaucracy. This led to demands for the removal of deputy commissioners and DPOs who insisted on working according to the book. Those who resisted unlawful demands were accused of being PML(N) loyalists and replaced by officers considered to be malleable. soon, these too got scared because of the treatment meted out by NAB to some of the top bureaucrats close to the previous government. The newcomers hesitated in taking decisions or demanded written orders from the ministers concerned. An incompetent Chief Minister got bureaucrats transferred by droves but failed to make government servants pass required orders at the speed desired by the party legislators and allies.

With the senate elections approaching there are stories in the media about unrest among the ruling coalition lawmakers. The government tried to placate them by announcing a hefty Rs 500 million development grant to each one of the lot. But as the sC threw a spanner in the works by calling it a political bribe, the government was forced to go back on the grant. The only way left to placate the dissenting legislators is to give them a free hand in the appointment and transfers of bureaucrats in their constituencies so that they can oblige supporters and punish political opponents with the help of the state machinery.

This explains the warning issued to 263 officers for failing to resolve public complaints (read ‘MPAs/’MNAs’ complaints). secretaries of information, agriculture, excise and irrigation departments who have special importance for lawmakers have been asked to ‘improve’ their performance.

Letters seeking explanation have been written to 20 deputy commissioners and show-cause notices served on 43 assistant commissioners.

The message conveyed to bureaucracy is plain and simple: do whatever is demanded by the party malcontents, merit or no merit.

HASAN AFTAB SAEED

A

sk any rationalist about the history of religion and chances are that he will tell you, as if it were a fact, that it all started with polytheism which over the millennia gave way to monotheism as human culture took on more sophisticated forms. This idea can be traced back to David Hume. That somebody as influential as Rousseau immediately came forward in support of Hume’s theory explains how it must have initially gained currency among certain sections of society. To our day, the myth has not only endured but keeps doing the rounds as ‘established fact’ when it is nothing of the sort.

The theory was originally based on another piece of fiction, one that all subsequent generations (laymen and anthropologists alike) found too brilliant – or too etched in stone – to dispute. According to this narrative the primitive man, being ignorant of the physics behind hurricanes, fire, thunder, rain, floods, and the like, was understandably terrified of all these things thought it prudent to appease them and ask their favours, essentially making them his gods. The resulting polytheism was the starting point of religion. With time, these societies grew in their understanding of the laws of the universe, in the process dispensing with one god after the other until they were left with the one deity. Monotheism therefore took time to emerge on the scene. Or so the familiar story goes.

Trump’s acquittal

F

ORMER Us President Donald Trump now holds the dishonorable distinction of being twice impeached by the House of Representatives and both times securing an acquittal in the senate. For Trump to incite an insurrection, leading to the siege on Capitol Hill that resulted in the deaths of four rioters and one police officer that could have also easily claimed the lives of multiple members of Congress, is deplorable even by his own standards. That only seven Republican senators voted to convict Trump goes to show how miniscule the principled wing of the GOP really is.

The 57-43 vote that fell well short of the required two-thirds majority to convict a President of impeachment, is a clear depiction of how split the United states has become.

Although far off, Trump will be eyeing a second term in 2024 and until then he will make every effort to avoid a conviction in other pending cases against him that will be more easily pursued by various states where he has committed offences, now that he does not enjoy presidential immunity.

Throughout its four years in office, the Trump administration, with the help of many GOP senators, built a post-truth America where facts are cherry-picked to support a particular narrative and there is no space for bipartisanship. This systematic dismantling of objective reality has produced some disastrous outcomes. The Us would not have been so badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic if President Trump hadn’t played down the threat posed by the virus and listened to his medical advisors instead of mocking them.

On his way out, he convinced half the country that the election had been stolen from him despite there being absolutely no proof of any large-scale fraud. What his rhetoric eventually led to is a perfect example of how even a mature and relatively stable democracy can implode from within if a sufficient portion of the population is convinced that the other half is the enemy and has to be taken out, if not through the ballot then through force.

Pakistan and many other democracies around the world face a similar type of polarization. One of the key tools that have enabled political leaders to convince their base of an alternate reality is social media. In the absence of any meaningful regulation, fake news is able to spread much faster than factual news, allowing more Trumps to secure positions of power across the world. The democratic system may be a fragile one but it is still the best one we have. World leaders committed to its preservation and progression have a duty to protect it from the many threats it faces.

Out of control lawyers making a mockery of the judiciary

SAlmAN muNir

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was on vacation in Lahore at my parents’ house. It was 9 March 2007 and on TV a great drama was unfolding. President Pervez Musharraf along with two or three others (all in full army uniform) and perhaps Prime Minister shaukat Aziz also present in the room had called over the 20th Chief Justice of the supreme Court to the Army House. The purpose of the meeting was to read a list of charges and ask Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to resign. This show of power was handled with callous over confidence, not dissimilar to the callousness shown by Prime Minister Nawaz sharif in the airborne firing of General Pervez Musharraf. They say history repeats itself and this was a moment that sort of confirmed this hypothesis.

Well the Chief Justice, just like General Pervez Musharraf defied the order and refused to resign. This was one of the greatest moments in our otherwise rather compliant judicial history. President Musharraf was unprepared for such response and left the room in anger and utter frustration.

The Chief Justice was made non-functional and this started a nation-wide lawyers’ movement that lasted for almost two years. Over period, this movement turned into a mass support movement resulting in a historic long march towards Islamabad. This movement gave lawyers a strength and prominence in Pakistani politics that they had not experienced before.

They knew now they had a street power comparable to that of the students and unions the country had ex-

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which originated in monotheism.

But what is the significance of this debate? After all, the proponents of the polytheism-first narrative (as a rule, atheists) are not particularly enthusiastic about polytheism either. Certainly, they do not particularly rate one brand of theism over another, but they know that they can make polytheism look silly rather easily, which is not the case with monotheism. so ‘proving’ the revealed texts as factually wrong, is a major motivation for them.

To somehow ‘demonstrate’ that monotheism is an acquired concept, not something inherent in human nature is therefore extremely gratifying. As for evidence, who needs any when the conclusion is so satisfying?

After the application of the various theories of evolution over the decades to the philosophy of history, politics, and ethics, it was only a matter of time before it was applied to religion. Those who maintain that God is only an idea in the minds of men are always very eager to explain religion away as a remnant of the evolutionary needs of an unsophisticated, bygone age – something that is bound to be completely replaced by more cultivated philosophies of life as human thought become more and more advanced. Many of them like to think that having rid themselves of the concept of God altogether, they have successfully climbed another inevitable rung on the evolution ladder – what better icing on the cake than this? Of course, not every atheist is the scheming sort. There would be untold numbers of naïve subscribers of such sweeping narratives who happen to think that everything uttered by the ‘experts’ must be true.

But what is the significance of this debate? After all, the proponents of the polytheism-first narrative (as a rule, atheists) are not particularly enthusiastic about polytheism either.

Certainly, they do not particularly rate one brand of theism over another, but they know that they can make polytheism look silly rather easily, which is not the case with monotheism.

Full circle

The fragility of modern day democracy

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Hume and Rousseau had based their ideas on ethnographical data, notably that pertaining to the religion of savage tribes – hardly the best choice of source to arrive at sweeping philosophical conclusions. Things were about to get much worse though.

For the archaeologists immediately decided that it was their cue to discover all sorts of artefacts from one ancient site or the other to support the polytheism-first theory. The argument has continued to our time. Characteristically, it is made with great ‘scientific’ splendour.

Artefacts are presented and it is stated that the oldest discovered specimens point conclusively to polytheism.

What is conveniently forgotten (or deliberately kept in the background) is the fact that monotheism is an abstract idea in that the God that is worshipped is not a tangible object like an elephant, snake, or what have you. Furthermore, all idols and images are also prohibited. so, monotheism, even if it had predated polytheism, would hardly have left artefacts to be found at the archaeological sites. The objection is seldom raised, and still more rarely addressed. so much for ‘conclusive’ evidence!

The opposing view, of course, is the one put forward in the revealed texts, namely, it all started with monotheism. That though the concept is known to get distorted over time, each man is a monotheist by birth, and that is how humankind started. That it was only later that societies started associating physical objects with the one transcendent God. Each side has its passionate adherents, but only one side pretends to have the aid of scientific enquiry, when there is no science there to speak of. Interestingly, Voltaire – the famous rationalist and unbeliever – is the darling of the rationalist when he taunts religion in his works, except in this one instance where he agrees with the revealed texts that polytheism is a degenerated form of religion

perienced in the 60s and 70s. The movement undoubtedly showed them their power but forgot to instill that with great power comes greater responsibility.

During the lawyers’ movement some lawyers rose to prominence because of their leadership, speeches and spearheading that movement. One of the lawyers’ leaders was Mr. Athar Minallah, advocate, who is now the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court. On Monday February 8, 2021, lawyers attacked the Islamabad High Court, because their chambers had been demolished by the Capital Development Authority over the weekend. An English daily on 9 February reported, “The violent lawyers laid siege to the courtroom and the chamber of IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah virtually keeping him hostage for about three hours. They barged into the offices of the secretary of IHC Chief Justice and his auxiliary staff, broke windows and even doors of the chief justice block.”

This attack on the Chief Justice’s chambers reminded me of shakespeare’s king Lear in which he talks about the wheel completing the full circle. It is a sad commentary on the noblest of professions and even sadder is that there seems no end to the lawyers’ aggression, mischief and self-righteousness. If there is ever a downfall of their profession it will entirely be of their own making. Benjamin Austin while making Observations on the Pernicious Practice of the Law in 1786 stated “There is a danger of lawyers becoming powerful as a combined body. The people should be guarded against it as it might subvert every principle of law and establish a perfect aristocracy… This order of men should be annihilated.”

I am sure that all lawyers are not like that. Most of the lawyers are like other people concerned about making ends meet. Earning a living and upholding the law. There are some lawyers, however, who play music to a different bandmaster, were trained differently by the mushrooming below average law

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

Hasan Aftab Saeed is a connoisseur of music, literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be reached at hasanas@live.jp.

schools. such law schools are spread all around the country due to the short sightedness of our policy makers in the field of education. History is again repeating itself in the new education policy where precious money, already at a premium in the country, will be spent on learning Arabic starting from our Capital’s schools. Instead, that money should be spent on learning science and civics. Civics is something that makes citizens responsible, leaders honest, and nations great. science is something that makes nations progressive, innovative and great. Who knows if we spend that money wisely we may produce another Nobel Laureate in the sciences.

Now a JIT has been formed by Islamabad High Court to probe the February 8 attack on its chief justice block. Already bar councils across the country are demanding release of the lawyers arrested by the police during and after this attack. The lawyers that attacked the doctors and the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore in December 2019 went free like a bird soon thereafter. And no one cared about the patients dying due to the melee.

There have been other incidents in court rooms where instead of great arguments; scuffles have taken place among the lawyers and even the judges of the lesser courts. Female judges of the lower judiciary have been harassed by the lawyers and the provincial High Courts, instead of addressing these cases of harassment chose to look the other way. These incidents are now happening with greater frequency and raising the bar to the higher courts. The courts working with bar councils will have to come to their own rescue instead of ignoring the problem. Now the problem has become so big that action seems the only way out. But with another battle brewing in the supreme Court and this time among the justices themselves any chance of rooting out this problem of high-handedness seems remote.

Thomas Paine, the great American political activist and revolutionary said, “The times have found us.” Our courts must ensure that times have found us too, respect each other, respect the law, and respect the differences.

There are some lawyers, however, who play music to a different bandmaster, were trained differently by the mushrooming below average law schools. Such law schools are spread all around the country due to the short sightedness of our policy makers in the field of education.

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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The writer is a management consultant and innocence lawyer. He can be reached at as1236m@gmail.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Tuesday, 16 February, 2021

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

Foreign policy sans religious fanaticism PM Imran khan’s statement that the government would place TLP’s demands for severing relations with France before parliament is cause for concern. Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan has neither any representative nor constitutional status that such weird demands should merit any consideration. There is no place in Jinnah’s concept of a modern democratic welfare state, where Foreign Policy issues should merit consideration from Parliamentary Committees with inputs from trade, national security, mutual economic benefits and long-term regional cooperation. We have, for too long, pursued a policy of relationship with other states based on transactional short-term benefits for few, rather than on trade and foreign investment etc.

Pakistan is still licking the wounds of the legacy left behind by a tin-pot dictator Zia and another self-assumed champion of enlightened moderation who submitted to one phone call and allowed our sovereignty to be compromised at the altar of their greed to retain power, in violation of their oath to uphold and protect the constitution. As a country, with a majority Muslim population, we can and should embark on boycott of imports, with exception of scientific and security items, from any country where the state itself is involved in blasphemous acts. such boycotts can only be effective if adopted by all Islamic countries and not just Pakistan. However, we must understand that the state of Pakistan must be seen conforming to Islamic ethics and concept of justice, rule of laws and transparency and achieve economic self-reliance through acquiring knowledge in science and technology, rather than giving lip service and exploitation of religion for ulterior political objectives. Violations of oaths pledged on Holy Book by the paid public office holders are more blasphemous acts than those committed by non-believers. The elected and paid elite must lead by example.

Malik ali lahorE

Spreading disinformation about CPEC A crucial project for Pakistan viewed as a threat by its enemies

SAjjAD SHAukAT

W

HEN during the regime of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan initiated the construction of Gwadar deep-seaport in Balochistan province in March 2002 with Chinese assistance, sirens went off in the capitals of some European countries, especially the Us, India and Israel which took it as a threat to their global and regional plans.

In this respect, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is part of China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) or China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is rapidly developing.

CPEC will prove to be a gateway to prosperity for both countries as well as the region. Under the project, China is investing as much as $62 billion in various sectors in Pakistan in a phased manner.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on August 5, last year approved the up-gradation of existing Mainline-1 (ML-1), the 1,872 kilometer railway project from Peshawar to karachi.

Under the project, the existing 2,655 kilometer track would be upgraded, while the speed of passenger trains would increase. The project would be completed by June 2023.

Besides, under CPEC, energy projects have already made progress.

In fact, CPEC will open new doors of development relating to various fields, as the national economy of the country will grow fast, leading to creation of new job opportunities, poverty reduction, and development of transportation sector—boost agricultural and industrial growth, including exports.

The establishment of CPEC between deep Gwadar seaport of Balochistan and the historic silk Road city in Western regions-Xinjiang of China will connect Gilgit-Baltistan through khunjerab Pass, while the roads infrastructure in Gwadar would link the communication network of rest of the country to facilitate trans-

portation of goods.

When Gwadar seaport becomes fully operational, it would connect the landlocked Central Asian states with rest of the world. Being the commercial hub, the port is likely to increase volume of trade, bringing multiple economic and financial benefits to Pakistan. It will enable high-volume cargo vessels to move in the major oceans, giving China’s short and easy access to the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.

Notably, India was openly opposing the CPEC and China’s OBOR or BRI; the Us also joined New Delhi. In this regard, on October 3, 2017, the then Us Defence secretary James Mattis told the Lawmakers, “The United states has reiterated its support for India’s opposition to China’s One Belt, One Road initiative…the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a part of which traverses Pakistan-kashmir.”

Both Islamabad and Beijing rejected Mattis’ statement and reminded that Washington had also participated in an OBOR summit—the OBOR plan which was also backed by the United Nations—CPEC was an economic cooperation initiative.

In May, 2020, the outgoing Us Principal Deputy Assistant secretary of state for south and Central Asia, Alice Wells, who tried to spoil China-Pakistan relations, had once again criticized BRI and CPEC by saying that the Us was concerned about CPEC projects due to the unfair rates of profits that are guaranteed to Chinese firms. The Chinese Embassy called her statement totally baseless by stating: “We take Pakistan as an equal partner and never asked Pakistan to do more.”

Following American anti-China and antiPakistan approach, India and some Western countries and their media have started spreading disinformation about the CPEC. They are also utilizing some social media platforms-fake websites for this purpose.

For instance, in a recent blog on a website, the writer distorted the facts and wrote: “China halted CPEC projects…due to political fragility, increased interference of security agencies and the army establishment.”

Taking cognizance of foreign entities’ hostile propaganda, the Chairman of the CPEC authority Lt. Gen. (R) Asim saleem Bajwa on August 23, last year, appealed the general public

to ignore disinformation of all fake news and stories regarding the CPEC. The Chinese Consul General in karachi, Li Bijian also stated: “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will continue to grow and expand despite the negative propaganda by certain countries as it is flagship project of “One Belt and One Road Initiative” of China.”

Nonetheless, the Chinese government has, repeatedly, dismissed the criticism as a Western propaganda and insisted that the CPEC will equally benefit Pakistan.

While, Gwadar seaport project which is backbone of the CPEC will uplift the impoverished people of Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, including developments in other backward areas by redressing their grievances, which the hostile elements, supported by the Us, India and Israeli do not want.

Moreover, malicious propaganda against the CPEC coincides with the terror attacks in various regions of Pakistan, particularly in the Balochistan.

In the recent past, blasts in Balochistan and the country’s other areas show that the Us-led India, Afghanistan and Israel have again started acts of sabotage to destabilise Pakistan and to damage the CPEC through their intelligence agencies such as CIA, RAW, Mossad and Afghan NDs which are also supporting Balochistan’s separatist elements.

In this connection, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Munir Akram handed over to the UN secretary General Antonio Guterres a dossier on India’s campaign to promote terrorism in Pakistan.

Earlier, at a joint press conference Director General of Inter-services Public Relations (IsPR) Major-General Babar Iftikhar and Foreign Minister shah Mahmood Qureshi unveiled the dossier containing “irrefutable evidence” of India’s sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan— also targeting the CPEC. In a report on Tuesday, UNO verified Pakistan’s dossier.

At this juncture, the media of China and Pakistan must continue countering the disinformation about the CPEC.

In May, 2020, the outgoing US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Alice Wells, who tried to spoil China-Pakistan relations, had once again criticized BRI and CPEC by saying that the US was concerned about CPEC projects due to the unfair rates of profits that are guaranteed to Chinese firms.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

K-2 climbers THE successful climbers of k2 have greatly attempted to be successful.

But very sadly the three mountaineers are missing. However, Pakistan’s Muhammad Ali sadpara, John snorii from Iceland and Jp Mohr Prieto from Chile. And one climber from Bulgarian lost his life while descending camp 3. These successful climbers have tried hard to get the highest peak.

But due to extreme coolness and harsh ways they are still not found.

According to some experts, life is unbearable for many days. But we are optimistic and we wholeheartedly pray for our mountaineers who are great researchers. However, Pakistan’s Muhammad Ali sadpara, John snorii from Iceland and Jp Mohr Prieto from Chile. And one climber from Bulgarian lost his life while descending camp 3. These successful climbers have tried hard to get the highest peak. But due to extreme coolness and harsh ways they are still not found. According to some experts, life is unbearable for many days.

Barkatullah turBat

Free from the gag As difficult as it would seem, the world media houses have been facing unnecessary and undue gag order tactics from the powers that be. such trends have been more so especially against the backdrop of the evolving electronic communication era. The latest war of attrition between the British administration and China over their respective telecast licence issues is so sad and yet could have been avoided. Caught in the middle of the ongoing fight, the BBC World News Channel has been banned from the fulsome airwaves in China. Although there have been differences of opinion between them, both China and BBC should try to understand their respective points of view without fear or favour, meaning an impartial probe into the whole controversy over certain BBC reports. At the world stage, the media outlets have been the pillars of strength, having been fighting for the good causes and justice in society even before most countries had attained their Independence status. Thus, the footprints left behind by the media have always been memorable in terms of their coverage of the past historic and beautiful events. Having been a voracious media backer, I have been maintaining and keeping oodles and oodles of books, newspapers and magazines as memorable pieces - all those Tamil and English newspapers and magazines have been purchased in my native areas like Tiruchendur, korkai, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Marthandam and kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and also from my workstations like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Thane, Coimbatore and Mumbai. True to form, I have been only waiting to do so more in the days to come through the support of my family and peers.

That apart, the big Internet players like Google and computer giants such as Microsoft should come to the rescue and aid of the media houses in need through some quick propaganda and other technological advances available out there on the Internet. Besides this, such players as Google must come forward to think of innovative strategies in support of the print and TV media by means of more epaper options and “Live TV Apps” facilities.

P SEnthil Saravana Durai MuMBai

Industrial pollution Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper I wish to draw the attention of our industrialists in general and our government in particular about the menace of industrial pollution of Hub city. All kinds of industries are being established in this heavily crowded, congested city, specially the chemical factories which emit tonnes of poisonous gases to pollute the air and they are throwing chemical wastages (liquids and solids) in the sewerage water which is drained to the Arbian sea polluting the sea water. Thus the entire air and water of our city area is under the grib of a permanent threat of becoming dangerous to human life. In fact all focteries should be installed away from the city in the far off suburbs so that their waste gases and toxic waste do not mingle with the fresh water and be added to sea water. The toxic liquid and solid wastes should be buried digging deep disposal pits for them.

Unless such action is taken promptly there will be a problem of health for the hub citizens in near future. “A stitch in time can save nine”. Our government should take prompt and suitable action in this connection, sooner the better. hani Zahir Panjgoor

Tuesday, 16 February, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

The CIA unveIls A new look for An erA of dIversITy, spIes And more brAnd-sAvvy reCruITs LET’S SEE IF ITS REBRANDING CAN IMPRESS & WOO MILLENNIALS

BloomBerG

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BEN SCHott

few days before insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol, the Central Intelligence Agency — “the Nation’s first line of defense” — unveiled a rebrand. The government-issue website was replaced with a bold and dramatic “dark mode” look. And the patriotic seal (eagle, compass, scroll) morphed into a strikingly contemporary design. This edgy new identity is a departure not only from the visual tradition of U.S. intelligence agencies … it is a departure from the conventional crests and seals of most competing foreign services, allied and hostile: In keeping with all rebrands in the social-media age, the CIA’s new look launched a thousand quips: And technical critiques: And for a giddy 36 hours, the “art prankster” ryder ripps — apparently a collaborator with Kayne, Grimes, Soylent and Pornhub — took credit for the work, before the CIA squelched his fun with a blunt rebuttal. Amusingly, a parallel rebuttal was issued by Grilli Type, the Swiss foundry behind two typefaces selected by the CIA: Sectra and America.

WHY REBRAND THE CIA: In his 1974 spy classic, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” John le Carré wrote: “haydon also took it for granted that secret services were the only real measure of a nation’s political health, the only real expression of its subconscious.”

What, then, are we to make of agencies like the CIA rebranding? Or indeed the various forces propelling their publicity: the need for civilian vigilance and tip-offs; a sense of piqued amour-propre after decades of fictional (mis)portrayal; the increasing impossibility of total anonymity, even for spies; and the race for the finest talent.

For all the design-world derision, the CIA’s motives are clear: the creation of a brave new brand for bold new generation of brand-savvy recruits. As the agency’s thendirector, Gina haspel, said: “We’ve come a long way since I applied by simply mailing a letter marked ‘CIA, Washington, D.C.’ …

I’m proud to share our new website and hope it piques the interest of talented Americans, giving them a sense of the dynamic environment that awaits them here.”

HOW INTELLIGENCE RECRUITMENT WORKS: Domestic intelligence recruitment has two main aims: attracting the finest home-team talent, while repelling foreign approaches. For decades these aims were pursued alongside a strict adherence to social conformity and cloak-and-dagger secrecy. espionage was, by and large, pale and patriarchal — rejecting swathes of the population out of hand, and hiding in plain sight as a matter of course.

The British government only officially acknowledged the existence of its domestic security service, MI5, in 1989 — 80 years after it was established. And the existence of the foreign secret intelligence service, MI6, was only formally admitted in 1994, in time for the Queen to open its improbably flamboyant London headquarters.

For generations of spies such social conformity and “strategic ambiguity” was axiomatic and, presumably, useful. But given the rapidly shifting geography of human intelligence (hUMINT), and the technical complexity of signals intelligence (SIGINT), the demand for highly specific linguistic, computing and analytical skills outweighs much of the generational deference to whitebread social profiles or the old school tie.

Moreover, in the cut-throat market for cutting-edge talent, lumbering, budgeted and opaque government agencies suddenly find themselves competing with the nimble footwork, deep pockets and brand equity of Big Tech.

As a result, intelligence agencies have been obliged to embrace diversity and extend olive branches to groups they painstakingly excluded — and targeted.

According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, in the 2019 fiscal year only 39% of U.S. intelligence professional were women, and just 27% were from minority groups (compared with 37% in the federal and civilian workforces). It’s surely no coincidence, then, that the CIA’s new website spotlights non-male, non-white portraits: Nor is it an accident that the British security services tout their support of disability inclusion, women’s suffrage, pay equality, racial diversity and Black Lives Matter.

In 2017, Justin Trudeau apologized to Canada’s LGBT community for the historic persecution of federal and military employees, including those subjected to the “fruit machine” — a bizarre contraption that purported to measure homosexual arousal. Similarly, in 2020, MI5 expressed “regret and shame” for excluding LGBT individuals from its ranks until 1991, and for decades of surveillance and persecution.

Not everyone is likely to be convinced by such Damascene conversions. As elly Belle wrote of the CIA’s new “millennial start-up” look: “The truth is that this rebrand is not only about promoting the “dynamic environment” at the agency. By using trendy aesthetics, [the CIA] can veil what they truly operate and exist to do, which is not simply to be “the Nation’s first line of defense” but to impose violence on both Americans and people in other countries — largely Black people and people of color.”

SPYING ON LINKEDIN: A betterbranded approach to spying may also be catalyzed by the “industrial scale” of cyber-espionage aimed at individuals unaware of their intelligence potential. As the world becomes ever more reliant on complex technical systems and widely distributed networks, so grows the asset value of anyone with access to sensitive data or intellectual property, including an army of “civilian” scientists, academics, technicians and

Guardian

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Editorial

here is something uncannily familiar about the courageous protests against the army’s coup in Myanmar. They echo the country’s previous expressions of anti-military defiance.

But they also evoke other scenes that played out more than 1,000 miles away. The helmets worn by those on the frontline, the walls bedecked with scrawled slogans on colourful sticky notes, and the flashmob-style demonstrations are all straight from the playbook of activists in hong Kong in 2019 – literally.

A manual of tactics, translated into Burmese, was shared thousands of times on social media.

In Thailand too – where pro-democracy protesters have demanded reforms to the monarchy and the removal of the prime minister, who originally took power in a coup – hong Kong’s influence was evident, with the use of hand signals on the streets and votes on whether to take particular actions. It is not just an Asian phenomenon. Demonstrators in Belarus also held up umbrellas as security forces fired teargas. In Lebanon, they too used tennis rackets to hit back teargas canisters.

The crackdown has silenced the streets of hong Kong, with last year’s imposition of a draconian national se-

businesspeople.

As a consequence, intelligence agencies need to repel hostile foreign approaches with as much tenacity and imagination as they recruit domestic talent — a poacher/gamekeeper duality encapsulated in the pleasingly blunt motto of the Australian Signals Directorate: “reveal their signals; protect our own.”

Last November, for instance, members of the Five eyes intelligence alliance (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S.) launched a glossy “Think Before You Link” campaign to alert anyone with access to sensitive information to the risks of “malicious actors using online platforms, apps, websites or emails to approach individuals.” Of these approach paths, one stands out: LinkedIn. In 2017, Germany’s domestic intelligence service (BfV) reported that, between January and September that year, the Chinese government attempted more than 10,000 hostile contacts on LinkedIn, posing as headhunters, consultants, scientists and academics.

And, according to LinkedIn’s own data, between January and June 2019, the company took action against 21.6 million fake accounts — some 5,000 per hour — 19.5 million of which were rejected during registration.

The mind-boggling scale of these Potemkin profiles indicates the hazards now facing experts in every field. As Clint Watts, a former FBI special agent and senior fellow at the Center for Cyber and homeland Security, told CNBC: “If you’re a foreign intelligence agency, LinkedIn is a gold mine, because you can get friends, followers, family — and people’s rank inside companies. … There are more secrets in Silicon Valley than there are in Washington, D.C.” Of course, LinkedIn is but one star in a firmament of risk. Google’s “Threat Analysis Group” recently posted details of a campaign attributed to a “government-backed entity based in North Korea” which exploited Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, Discord, Keybase, YouTube, blogs and email to target security researchers and attempt the installation of malware.

The threat of cyber-espionage is clear, present, and ever evolving. Last year Western spy agencies warned that russian hackers were targeting civilian scientists working on Covid-19 vaccines; and officials warned that China and russia may be trying to sabotage America’s vaccine supply chain. Only a few days ago, The Times reported that almost 200 British academics are being investigated by the security services for “unwittingly” “transferring world-leading research in advanced military technology such as aircraft, missile designs and cyberweapons to China.” The maximum penalty for this offense is 10 years in prison.

It’s no surprise, then, that some are rethinking spycraft’s age-old shibboleths of secrecy and ambiguity in favor of a bolder, brand-forward approach.

RISKS OF TECHNOLOGY: The blurring of the boundaries between state and civilian, government and corporate, covert and overt is largely due to the all-pervasive presence of technology — which represents a Pan-

dora’s box of intelligence opportunity and risk. In November 2017, the-fitness tracking app Strava (“the social network for athletes”) published a highly detailed global heatmap of exercise routes: Awkwardly, internet sleuths quickly discovered that — because soldiers and spies like nothing more than jogging round a perimeter — Strava’s heatmap unintentionally identified the location of numerous sensitive military and intelligence sites, including: U.S. forward operating bases in helmand, Afghanistan; an embassy compound in Pyongyang, North Korea; and an alleged U.S. “black site” in Djibouti.

Worse still, Strava’s dataset could reportedly be scraped to disclose the identity and daily routines of individual military and intelligence officers.

Jogging is not the only danger. In 2018, it emerged that one of the russian spies implicated in cyber-attacks against the West had uploaded to his mylove.ru dating profile a selfie taken yards from the headquarters of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GrU). And in 2019, it was reported that russia may have used the Ukrainian elections as a test-bed to “weaponize” Tinder as a tool of “kompromat.”

Naturally, fitness and dating apps represent just a few clicks among thousands of open (or hackable) online sources, including digital mapping, satellite imagery, flight tracking, vessel tracking, air-traffic control, cross-walk cameras, web archiving, web crawling, the dark web, the internet of things, aliases, usernames, imaging archives, planning applications, architectural plans, travel itineraries, even Microsoft Flight Simulator — to say nothing of the tsunami of intimate (and incriminating) posts, photos and videos voluntarily uploaded to social media every minute, each bristling with timestamped and geolocated metadata.

Whereas haystacks historically offered anonymity, the proliferation of accessible data is coterminous with the development of sophisticated analytical tools, including image recognition, facial recognition, reverse image search, geolocation, chronolocation, metadata analysis, virtual reality and digital modelling. Such tools become exponentially more powerful when combined with grassroot crowd sourcing techniques reminiscent of massively multiplayer online games.

The democratization (and quasi-gamification) of open-source intelligence (OSINT) has revolutionized opportunities for armchair espionage, giving amateur analysts surveillance capabilities hitherto available only to wealthy nation-states. The results can be remarkable.

By combining publicly accessible data with untold analytical man-hours, the “independent international collective of researchers, investigators and citizen journalists” Bellingcat has unearthed disturbing intelligence on state and non-state actions, including: the downing of Flight Mh17; the Salisbury poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal; the polluting of Iraq’s Shatt Al-Arab river; and the nerve-agent poisoning of Alexey Navalny.

Forensic Architecture, a research agency based at Goldsmiths, University of London, has used similar methods to investigate al-

GLOBAL PROTESTS: PASSING IT ON FROM HONG KONG TO MYANMAR AND BELARUS, THE TACTICS AND ETHOS OF ACTIVISTS ARE TRANSMITTED AT LIGHTNING SPEED curity law followed by sweeping arrests. Yet the movement that swept through the city almost two years ago has found a strange afterlife, with activists around the world drawing not only upon specific tactics but above all upon its “be water” ethos of fluid, fast-shifting methods of protest and informal organisation.

The hong Kong protesters themselves looked closely at Taiwan’s youthful “sunflower movement” of 2014 and Ukraine’s Maidan protests, seeing parallels in the David and Goliath story. There is nothing remotely new about uprisings drawing inspiration from each other, even across vast distances – as when the American revolution fuelled France’s. The difference is the sheer speed with which ideas can now spread.

Long boat or train journeys to meet the like-minded have been replaced by exchange online. This month, a

tweet by the pop singer rihanna drew instant global attention to the cause of India’s protesting farmers.

The Arab spring began in Tunisia, but it reverberated much further away; people in Myanmar took immediate note when military rule was toppled in egypt.

This time, activists from hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand quickly invited those in Myanmar to join their “Milk Tea Alliance”. They have also spread footage and shared the message globally, as they did with protests in Belarus.

Yet if protesters have secure messaging apps like Telegram, the authorities they confront have well-developed surveillance networks as well as large security forces, and vast coffers to fund the purchase of tools and technologies. What they lack in agility, they more than make up for in the sheer amount of power and resources

leged police brutality during Black Lives Matter protests; “herbicidal warfare” in Gaza; chemical attacks in Douma; the Grenfell Tower fire; and the Beirut port explosion, among many others.

And the internet is currently ablaze with volunteers scrutinizing press photos, television feeds and social media uploads to identify those involved in the U.S. Capitol riots — vigilante “analysts” doxing vigilante “patriots”: Yet the many who have applauded such seemingly benevolent “digilantism” should remember that just as crowds are never neutral and sources rarely perfect, so motives are seldom pure. In other words: White-hats make mistakes, and black-hats have access to the same OSINT tools. The impact of digilantism on formal government recruitment is not easy to predict. Will “citizen journalists” guard jealously their freedom to investigate whom and what they wish? Or will some seamlessly segue into serving state agencies? This assumes, of course, that digilante groups are indeed independent and have not (yet) been infiltrated by government forces, friendly or hostile.

THE MILLENNIAL APPROACH: Notwithstanding the mockery of the CIA’s new identity, it’s likely not to be the last millennial rebrand in international intelligence.

In an era of technical complexity, competitive recruitment and amateur espionage, mailing a blind letter to the CIA, or hoping to be tapped by a tweedy Oxbridge “talent spotter” feel as outdated as the “cuddly uncle” outreach of quiz books, cryptography challenges, online puzzles and micro-sites for the kids.

Indeed, the CIA is not the first agency to break away from stately crests and corporate seals to embrace a commercial brand.

Australia’s Signals Directorate has a similarly dynamic red-accented monochrome look: The Finnish security and intelligence service SUPO has an appropriately “fin-tech” feel: And in 2015, Britain’s century-old surveillance agency GChQ stepped onto the streets with “hipster” recruitment adverts pressure-washed out of the grime on British inner-city pavements — a dubiously legal piece of “reverse graffiti” guerrilla marketing not usually sanctioned by the state.

While many agencies are torn between recognizing that James Bondian clichés of action and adventure are a useful “recruiting sergeant” and realizing they paint an unrealistic picture of espionage, Israel has fewer qualms. When Mossad launched its first recruitment website in 2014, it unveiled an action-packed and female-led promotional video (featuring scenes remarkably similar to the 2020 TV spy-series Tehran).

Such melodrama may well become mainstream. For, regardless of spying’s mundane realities, which espionage archetype is likely to lure recruits from the buzz of citizen journalism or the FAANGs of Big Tech: the diligence of George Smiley or the chaos of Carrie Mathison? Just be careful which LinkedIn invites you accept.

on their side. And they too learn from and support each other – studying what tactics have worked against uprisings elsewhere, offering diplomatic cover at the United Nations, and trading coercive software and weapons.

(Too often, they also benefit from democratic countries selling them the tools to suppress grassroots movements.)

The glaring difference between this wave of protest and that seen a decade ago is that, for the most part, activists are not seeking greater freedom but trying to defend what space they have against increasing encroachment as the authoritarian tide has risen around the world. Ten years on, almost all the Arab spring’s uprisings have ended in war or even more punitive and ruthless rule. Unscrupulous governments have exploited the pandemic to tighten controls further.

Where once campaigners sought a new realm of liberty after decades of autocracy, many of them would now be elated if they could restore what they had relatively recently. They protest less in hope than from a sense that they have little other option. When they hand on their ideas and techniques, they are not only recognising a common cause, but giving meaning and life to their own struggles even as they are crushed. In keeping the flame of resistance alive, they hope that somewhere, sometime, it will light the way to new political possibilities worldwide.

Tuesday, 16 February, 2021

BUSINESS 09

ISLAMABAD CORPORATE CORNER

SBP AllowS hoUSinG loAn on PErSonAl GUArAnTEE KARACHI

KARACHI: President Dr Arif Alvi poses for group photo after addressing a ceremony on ‘Screening of Docudrama -2021 Paani Ke Pankh’, which was about Mohmand Dam, at Sindh’s Governor House.

KARACHI: Shan Foods Private Limited (SFPL) has been conferred with an AA rating for its stringent quality control and food safety practices by the British Retail Consortium.

KARACHI: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), in collaboration with Huawei Technologies Pakistan Pvt Ltd, has launched Smart Cloud Campus Solution for enterprise customers. This solution includes the services of AI-Enabled WIFI-6 Campus, Software Defined LAN and Software defined WAN (SD-WAN) as a service.

STAFF REPORT

i

N a bid to facilitate the applicants, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday eased housing loan conditions by allowing personal guarantee. The SBP noted that applicants were currently facing difficulties in obtaining housing finance, especially for low cost housing, as banks were reluctant to take any risk in this regard (house not being completed on time or incomplete documentation).

"With an aim to facilitate the banks in extend-

Imran Khan seeks 'out of box solutions' to cut indirect taxes ISLAMABAD APP

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday directed the government’s economic team to come up with ‘out-of-box solutions’ to reduce the burden of indirect taxes while ensuring balance between state revenue and expenditure.

He also directed the finance minister to minutely look into wheat procurement process and other administrative costs that were causing a hike in the price of wheat.

The PM was presiding over a

meeting to discuss steps to bring down the prices of essential commodities, according to press statement issued by the PM’s media wing. The meeting was attended by federal ministers, PM’s advisers, special assistants and senior government officials.

Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh informed the PM that a comprehensive and efficient plan was being prepared to procure wheat and rationalise administrative costs involved in the process.

SAPM Dr Waqar Masood briefed the prime minister about

duty structure on imported edible oil and pulses etc. He also presented a comparative analysis with other regional countries.

The PM said his foremost priority was to provide maximum relief to the poor segments of society, adding that all efforts should be made to lessen the burden of indirect taxes and provide relief to the people.

Discussing wheat and flour prices, the prime minister directed that every single penny, being spent on unnecessary administrative expenditures, must be saved.

Relief for construction sector as prices of steel bars drop ISLAMABAD GHULAM ABBAS

LAHORE: A delegation of PAF Air War College photographed with WAPDA Secretary Fakharuz Zaman Ali Cheema during their visit to WAPDA House on Monday.

ing low cost housing finance, SBP has allowed them to accept personal guarantee of third party until the housing unit is completed and the mortgage is perfected," the SBP said in a statement.

"The guarantee will remain valid for a maximum period of one year."

According to SBP, this step would help promote home ownership of potential borrowers wishing to avail housing finance under Government Markup Subsidy Scheme issued by the central bank on October 12, 2020.

"Third party guarantee will cover the period from the disbursement of loan to the time

In a positive development for the construction industry, the prices of steel rebars have started declining in the local market after hitting a peak of Rs140,500 per tonne during the past few months.

The office bearers of Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) had earlier expressed concerns on the rising prices of steel and cement in the country, with steel manufacturers citing hike in prices of international iron and steel scrap as one of the main reasons behind soaring rates of steel bars in the country.

According to sources, after a drastic increase in the prices of rebars in recent months due to a surge in the cost of raw material internationally, the local market has started witnessing a decline in the prices of rebars, which were now being traded at Rs130,500 per tonne.

Sources informed that the prices of bars shot up from $350 in October 2020 to over $500 in early 2021.

This was mainly due to severe cold weather as well as Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in low volumes of scrap collection internationally. The prices of rebars were expected to shrink further in the coming months,

sources said, adding that this declining trend was bringing hope to the country's construction industry.

Talking to this scribe, an office bearer of Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers (PALSP) said that the local steel industry was in deep crisis for the last two to three years, with most of the documented steel sector declaring heavy losses. However, he maintained, the steel sector refrained from passing on the impact of increase in international prices to the masses.

"Some of the factors that contributed to this situation were devaluation of PKR, increase in the interest rates

by SBP, and measures taken by FBR in 2019 especially as a result of change of regime from Special Regime to the Normal GST regime (ad valorem) which resulted in drastic increase in the GST amount. During these years, the cost of all kinds of inputs went up significantly, including the cost of electricity," Wajid Bukhari, General Secretary PALSP, claimed.

He noted that the price of steel bars used in reinforced concrete construction peaked almost 20pc to 25pc in the last three months. However, this sudden rise was noticed not only in steel rebar prices but also in the other construction items like cement, pipe fittings, bricks and tiles etc.

Faysal Islami launches Shariah-compliant ‘Noor’ Card PESHAWAR: Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd Ali J. Hamdani visits Karak and Peshawar, directs employees to consider customer services as top priority.

Paiman partners with Scentsation to launch exclusive organic product range KARACHI: Paiman has collaborated with Scentsation to launch an exclusive line to celebrate its first anniversary. With all the chemically-altered products floating in the market, Paiman feared that the tradition of using pure, organic, hand-pressed herbs and oils has been lost. In a journey to reclaim that tradition, Paiman rediscovered some of that lost magic and wants to share that enchantment with everyone.

Scentsation prides itself as the leading high-end luxury retailer in the fragrance industry, providing latest and top-of-the-line world-class fragrances, cosmetics and skincare at its 11 concept stores nationwide. The fragrances are directly procured from the producers and are sold with receipt jackets that carry a seal of originality. PR

KARACHI: Faysal Bank Limited has launched “Noor” Card – a Shariah compliant alternative to conventional credit cards, facilitating its Islamic banking consumers with a range of benefits and Halal offers across various categories of spend – powered by Mastercard. Commenting on the occasion, Tahir Yaqoob Bhatti, Faysal Bank’s Head of Retail Banking, said, “The launch of ‘Noor’ sets

sail to a trailblazing initiative to the bank’s credit, transforming the experience of Islamic banking customers. Now, Noor Card customers can use this Shariah compliant card with complete satisfaction and peace of mind, availing a range of distinct reward systems and premium benefits within the strict umbrella of Shariah compliant banking practices and principles.” PR

when construction is completed and risk coverage becomes available by Pakistan Mortgage Refinance Company," the ventral bank explained. "Acceptance of third party personal guarantee will provide additional comfort to banks to extend low cost housing finance, an area in which banks have keen interest for its business potential."

It is expected that with this move, banks would increase their efforts to ensure that the benefits of the mark-up subsidy scheme reached marginalised segments of the society, the statement read.

Babar Ali Foundation donates five Golden Scholarships to GC Endowment Trust LAHORE: Government College University Endowment Trust (GCUET) President Iqbal Z Ahmed and GCUET convener finance Mian Misbahur Rehman have gratefully appreciated a donation of Rs5 million from the Babar Ali Foundation for five scholarships to students at GC University, Lahore. The scholarships are under the names of the great educationists and literary figures, including former post-partition principal of Government College Dr Nazir Ahmad, diplomat and humorist Syed Ahmed Shah (commonly known as Patras Bokhari), eminent poet Sufi Ghulam Tabassum, writer and a government officer Syed Abid Ali, and another formal principal of Government College G.D.Sondhi, who the GC University has been proudly associated with. PR

Engro Fertilizers, BASF enter strategic partnership to protect crops, increase yields KARACHI: Engro Fertilizers and BASF have entered a strategic partnership to launch Sefina TM insecticide by BASF in Pakistan, to help the country’s farmers better protect their crops from pests and improve crop yields. “We are very excited about partnering with a global player like BASF, who shares our vision of transforming the country’s agricultural landscape and helping farmers grow,” said Nadir Salar Qureshi, CEO, Engro Fertilizers Limited. “In Pakistan, farm pests pose a serious threat to cotton and other vegetable crops, distressing agricultural productivity and national food security. PR

Ufone revises down data roaming charges for customers LAHORE: Ufone has introduced revised data roaming charges for its valued customers across different countries of Europe, Africa and Asia.

With the aim to make all communication easier and trips more exciting, Ufone now has a one of the lowest one rate roaming charges for all its services. Customers can roam around the world and still enjoy the perks of being at home. Subscribers for post pay can avail all Ufone services – incoming or outgoing calls, SMS and data – for as low as $0.19. Post activation these charges will apply for Albania, Australia, Czech Republic, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Turkey and the UK.PR

MARKET DAILY

Bulls stage comeback as index gains 567 points KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Losing spree at the Pakistan Stock Exchange came to a halt on Monday after the benchmark index staged a spectacular rally of over 550 points amid improved investor sentiment.

Global equity markets also showed a positive trend, whereas crude oil prices moved north from the previous close; WTI crude price rising 1.92pc to $60.61 while Brent crude price appreciating 1.35pc to $63.27 (as at 3:53pm PST).

"The market reacted positively to reports on foreign remittances as well

as expectation of better quarterly results in the corporate sector. Cement sector continued with the uptrend on prospects of better results, whereas E&P sector benefited from an increase in international crude oil prices. Selling pressure witnessed last week from institutional and foreign investors subsided in banks and fertilizer sectors, resulting in improved performance across the board," a report issued by Arif Habib Ltd read.

MARKET SUMMARY: The benchmark KSE-100 Index remained in the green throughout the day, registering its intraday high at 46,507.42 after gaining 699.06 points. It settled higher by

567.23 points at 46,375.59.

Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index surged 1,222.85 points to close at 76,693.62, while the KSE All Share Index added 339.11 points, ending at 31,891.80. The overall market volumes inched up from 442.55 million shares on Friday to 486.23 million shares (+10pc). Average traded value also increased by 19pc, from $131.2 million to $155.9 million. Worldcall Telecom (WTL +10.07pc), Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd (MLCF +4.18pc) and Telecard Ltd (TELE +17.76pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 40.30 million, 35.65 million and 28.70 million shares,

respectively.

Sectors that painted the benchmark index green included oil & gas exploration (+117.19 points), technology & communication (+77.08 points) and cement (+66.93 points). Among the companies, Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd (OGDC +52.97 points), TRG Pakistan Ltd (TRG +44.66 points) and Systems Ltd (+34.13 pts) contributed the most.

Adding 2.46pc to its total market capitalization, the oil & gas exploration sector ended the session's top performer, with OGDC (+3.40pc), Pakistan Oilfields Ltd (POL +2.15pc), Pak Petroleum Ltd (PPL +2.17pc) and Mari Petroleum Company Ltd (MARI +0.80pc) posting decent gains.

Tuesday, 16 February, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

ISLAMABAD

smaller protests In myanmar as junta deploys more soldIers, armoured vehIcles

p

AGENCIES

ROTESTERS in Myanmar kept up demands on Monday for the release of ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and an end to military rule, though crowds were smaller after the junta deployed armoured vehicles and more soldiers on the streets.

Suu Kyi, detained since a Feb. 1 coup against her elected government, had been expected to face a court on Monday in connection with charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios, but a judge said her remand lasted until Wednesday, her lawyer, Khin Maung Zaw, said.

The coup and arrest of Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi and others have sparked the biggest protests in Myanmar in more than a decade, with hundreds of thousands coming on to the streets to denounce the military’s derailment of a tentative transition to democracy.

“This is a fight for our future, the future of our country,” youth activist Esther Ze Naw said at a protest in the main city of Yangon. “We don’t want to live under a military dictatorship. We want to establish a real federal union where all citizens, all ethnicities are treated equally.”

The unrest has revived memories in the Southeast Asian nation of bloody outbreaks of opposition to almost half a century of direct army rule that had ended in 2011, when the military began a process of withdrawing from civilian politics.

Violence this time has been limited, although police have opened fire on several occasions to disperse protesters. One woman who was hit by police fire in the capital Naypyitaw last week is not expected to survive.

On Monday, security forces used rubber bullets and catapults in the city of Mandalay, wounding two people lightly, media and residents said.

The government and army could not be

Iran says It wIll end snap Iaea InspectIons If nuclear deal terms not met DUBAI: Iran said on Monday it will block snap inspections by the U.N. nuclear watchdog from next week if other parties to the 2015 nuclear deal do not fulfil their obligations, a challenge to U.S. President Joe Biden’s hope of reviving the accord. “If others do not fulfil their obligations by Feb. 21, the government is obliged to suspend the voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said. “It does not mean ending all inspections by the U.N. nuclear watchdog...All these steps are reversible if the other party changes its path and honours its obligations,” he said, alluding to the United States.

The Biden administration aims to return the United States to the nuclear deal, which his predecessor Donald Trump abandoned in 2018. Under the deal, Iran agreed to curbs on its uranium enrichment programme in return for the lifting of sanctions. After Trump quit and reimposed sanctions, Iran began violating some limits in the deal. Washington and Tehran now disagree over how best to restore the accord, with both sides demanding the other side act first to return to compliance. Despite Iran’s public hard line that Washington must take the first step, several Iranian officials told Reuters last week that the mounting economic pain of U.S. sanctions may push Tehran to be flexible on terms for restoring the nuclear deal. Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said last week Doha was in consultations to help salvage the deal, and Iranian state media said he would meet Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran on Monday. “We welcome efforts by friendly countries like Qatar ... There have been consultations between Tehran and Doha at various levels,” Khatibzadeh said. The nuclear deal granted wideranging access to the International Atomic Energy Agency to gather information on Iran’s nuclear activities. But under a law enacted last year, Iran’s government is obliged to revoke that access on Feb. 21 if other parties are not complying with the nuclear deal.

Iran has long denied striving to develop nuclear weapons through uranium enrichment, though its intelligence minister said last week persistent Western pressure could push Tehran to fight back like a “cornered cat” and seek nuclear weapons. But Khatibzadeh rejected this, citing a religious decree issued in the early 2000s by the Islamic Republic’s top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, banning the pursuit of nuclear arms. AGENCIES

erdogan says us supports militants who executed turkish forces in Iraq ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused the United States on Monday of supporting Kurdish militants who Ankara says executed 13 kidnapped Turks in northern Iraq, adding that a U.S. statement of condemnation was a “a joke”. Turkey said on Sunday militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) executed the 13 Turks, including military and police personnel, amid a military operation against the group. Washington said it condemned the killings if reports that the PKK was responsible were confirmed. Erdogan told supporters of his AK Party that the U.S. statement showed it supported the PKK and the Syrian Kurdish YPG force, which Ankara considers an offshoot of the PKK. AGENCIES

reached for comment.

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE: As well as the demonstrations in towns and cities, the military is facing a strike by government workers, part of a civil disobedience movement that is crippling many functions of government.

Armoured vehicles were deployed on Sunday in Yangon, the northern town of Myitkyina and Sittwe in the west, the first largescale use of such vehicles since the coup.

More soldiers have also been spotted on the streets to help police who have been largely overseeing crowd control, including members of the 77th Light Infantry Division, a mobile force accused of brutality in campaigns against ethnic minority insurgents and protests in the past.

Crowds were smaller, though it was unclear if people were intimidated by the soldiers or fatigue was setting in after 12 days of demonstrations.

“We can’t join the protests every day,” said a laid-off travel officer worker in Yan-

gon who declined to be identified. “But we won’t back down.”

Earlier, more than a dozen police trucks with water cannon vehicles were deployed near the Sule Pagoda in Yangon, one of the city’s main demonstration sites.

Protesters also gathered outside the central bank, where they held signs calling for support for the civil disobedience movement. An armoured vehicle and several trucks carrying soldiers were parked nearby.

Later, police sealed off the headquarters of Suu Kyi’s party in Yangon shortly before protesters arrived and chanted slogans, a witness said.

‘OUR LEADER’: Police in Naypyitaw detained about 20 school students protesting by a road. Images posted on social media by one of the students showed them chanting slogans as they were taken away in a police bus.

Protesters then gathered outside the police station where they were being held, media reported. They were later released.

Media earlier showed ranks of protesters marching in Naypyitaw with pictures of Suu Kyi with the message: “we want our leader.”

Suu Kyi, 75, spent nearly 15 years under house arrest for her efforts to end military rule. The army has been carrying out nightly arrests and has given itself search and detention powers. At least 400 people have been detained, the group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said.

On Sunday, the military published penal code amendments aimed at stifling dissent and residents reported an internet outage after midnight on Sunday that lasted until about 9 a.m.

“It’s as if the generals have declared war on the people,” U.N. Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews said on Twitter.

Suu Kyi’s party won a 2015 election and another on Nov. 8, but the military said the vote was fraudulent and used that complaint to justify the coup. The electoral commission has dismissed accusations of fraud.

Global shares hit peak, oil up on Middle East tensions LONDON AGENCIES

Global shares rose for the 11th day in a row to reach a peak on optimism about the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines and new fiscal aid from Washington, while tensions in the Middle East drove oil to a 13-month high.

As more people are vaccinated across key markets such as the United States, and with U.S. President Joe Biden looking to pump an extra $1.9 trillion in stimulus into the economy, the so-called reflation trade has gathered steam in recent days.

On Friday, The Cboe Volatility Index, known as Wall Street’s “fear gauge”, ended at its lowest level for nearly a year, helping drive a 0.3% gain for MSCI’s broadest measure of world stocks on Monday.

Taking its cue from a stronger, albeit holidaythinned, Asian session, Europe’s major indexes were a sea of green in early deals, with Britain’s FTSE 100 up 1.3%.

With China and Hong Kong markets closed for

the Lunar New Year holiday, Japan’s Nikkei led the way, climbing 1.9% to reclaim the 30,000-point level for the first time in more than three decades.

E-mini futures for the S&P 500 were also higher, up 0.4%, although U.S. stock markets will be closed on Monday for the Presidents Day holiday.

Later in the week, all eyes will be on the release of minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve’s January meeting, where policymakers decided to leave rates unchanged, for hints to the likely direction of monetary policy.

Those concerned about the impact of market exuberance on the outlook for inflation will also have fresh data to parse, with Britain, Canada and Japan all due to report. Friday will also see major economies, including the United States, release preliminary February purchasing managers’ indexes (PMI).

“We believe investors should prepare for bouts of volatility ahead, but regard them as opportunities rather than threats,” said Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management.

“We recommend investors stick to their long-term financial plans, and continue to put excess cash to work.”

Oil joined equity markets in pushing higher, reaching its highest level since January 2020 on hopes U.S. stimulus will boost the economy and fuel demand and after a Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said it intercepted an explosive-laden drone fired by the Houthi group. [O/R] Brent crude rose 1.3% to $63.24 a barrel. U.S. crude oil gained 1.9% to $60.58, just off earlier highs.

With risk assets in favour, safe havens dipped, with gold down 0.3% to $1,817 an ounce.

Ten-year German bond yields also rose to their highest since September, up 4 basis points at 0.387%.

The dollar remained near two-week lows as traders took a more cautious view of the pace of the U.S. economy’s rebound. Against a basket of currencies it was last down around 0.1%.

Bitcoin, meanwhile, recovered some of its overnight weakness to trade down 2.3% at $47,550.76, below a record high of $49,714.66.

Bitcoin rally falters just short of $50,000 as investors take profit SINGAPORE AGENCIES

Bitcoin stalled just short of the $50,000 mark on Monday and other cryptocurrencies slipped, as investors took profit from a record-breaking rally that is being driven by a worldwide shift in investor and public attitudes towards digital assets.

Bitcoin fell as much as 5.6% to $45,914 in Asian trading hours, after having posting a record high of $49,714.66 on Sunday. Rival crypto ethereum slid more than 8%, though both later pared some of those losses.

The dip, for now, taps the brakes on a surge that has vaulted the cryptocurrency from the fringes of finance to Wall Street, as big investors and large companies have begun to take the digital asset seriously and started to buy a lot of it.

Bitcoin is up about 20% in the week since electric carmaker Tesla Inc announced it had $1.5 billion in bitcoin and would accept the currency as payment. It has gained more than 60% for the year to date and more than 1,100% since last March.

“There’s this unadulterated wave of big players (buying) that has continued to push the price higher,” said Chris Weston, head of research at Melbourne brokerage Pepperstone. “We might be seeing one or two big funds just cashing out,” he said.

“The big question is: OK, you want to buy the pullback, but how big is the pullback that we are talking about?”

Lunar New Year holidays in Hong

Kong and China also kept a lid on moves in Asia, while a tweet from Tesla boss and crypto advocate Elon Musk appeared to weigh on the price of dogecoin, which he had previously promoted. “If major dogecoin holders sell most of their coins, it will get my full support,” he tweeted.

Dogecoin, a dog-themed currency created as a joke has been volatile in recent weeks owing to a number of

Musk tweets referring to it.

It has dropped 18.3% to $0.0536 in the past 24 hours according to CoinDesk. Ethereum last sat at $1,740, about 7% below last week’s record high of $1,879.

GO WEST: Bitcoin’s rise has a cryptocurrency that is still hardly used for transactions on the verge of $50,000 a far cry from software developer Laszlo Hanyecz’s 2010 purchase of two

pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins.

But in contrast to previous speculative bitcoin rallies, driven by traders mostly in Asia, gains in the past few months have been driven by a seismic shift in U.S. investors’ attitude.

Tesla’s investment followed multimillion-dollar bitcoin purchases by business software firm MicroStrategy and a number of Wall Street fund managers, such as billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller, sounding positive on the asset. Bloomberg reported on Saturday that Morgan Stanley’s investment arm is also weighing a bet on bitcoin.

Meanwhile, bitcoin has made strides toward being a medium of exchange, with PayPal allowing customers to use bitcoin at its merchants and Mastercard preparing to permit cryptocurrency use across its vast network.

Bank of NY Mellon last week said it formed a new unit to help clients own and trade digital assets and Japanese financial conglomerate SBI Holdings is in talks with foreign firms for its own crypto joint venture.

“In the crypto space, these institutions coming to the party are seen as steps towards acceptable and possible usage,” said Michael McCarthy, chief strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney.

Bitcoin has been the most prominent beneficiary, he said, but price moves in other cryptocurrencies - such as EOS, which has more than doubled since late December according to CoinDesk - show that the door remains open to rivals. “The race is on amongst those candidates,” he said.

Tuesday, 16 February, 2021

SPORTS 11

ISLAMABAD

NAdAl gAThErs sTrENgTh As INjurIEs sTrIkE rIvAls MELBOURNE

F

AGENCIES

oR a player who was all doom and gloom about his fitness on the eve of the Australian open, Rafa Nadal emerged as an unlikely pillar of strength on day eight as injuries cut a swathe through the men’s draw on Monday.

Nadal’s bid for a record 21st Grand Slam crown gathered pace with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 demolition of Fabio Fognini that pushed the Spaniard into his 13th quarter-final at Melbourne Park.

The lower back strain that forced Nadal to miss the ATP Cup is now disappearing in the rear-view mirror and he heads into his next clash against fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas without having dropped a set.

“The first set without a doubt has been my best level in the tournament,” Nadal told reporters after routing 16th seed Fognini on a sun-bathed afternoon at Rod Laver Arena.

“It’s normal, too, because I was able to practise for two days in a row.

“I’m excited about playing that quarterfinals match. “If we compare how I was five days ago and how I am today’s situation, it’s different, and my perspective and excitement is completely different, too.”

While Nadal booked his 43rd Grand Slam quarter-final with two hours and 16 minutes of work against Fognini, Tsitsipas did not lift a racket against ninth seed Matteo Berrettini, who pulled out with an abdominal strain. Norwegian Casper Ruud’s hopes of a maiden Grand Slam quarter-final were also undone by an abdominal injury as he retired

Ashwin hits century as India set England 482-run target to win second Test ENGLAND 134 AND 53 FOR 3 (LAWRENCE 19*, ROOT 2*) NEED 429 MORE RUNS TO BEAT INDIA 329 AND 286 (ASHWIN 106, KOHLI 62, MOEEN 4-98, LEACH 4-100) Chennai: As India flexed their muscle on day three, moving inexorably towards a series-levelling triumph over England, the second Chennai Test began to take on a carnival feel. Already well ahead in the game and with time to indulge, they served up an exhibition for a grateful Chepauk crowd. R Ashwin, the local hero, proved himself worthy of such billing with a fifth Test hundred and England were hanging on by stumps as the ball fizzed and the close catchers circled. After the subcontinental batting masterclass, followed closely by a trial against spin, now was the moment for England to contend with an Indian wall of sound. Despite scrapping hard to take five wickets during the morning session, they were steadily enveloped by the hoots, whistles and cheers from the stands, as first Virat Kohli and then Ashwin steadied India's second innings, before the home spinners returned to their task with relish. Notionally, England needed 482 to win or two-and-a-bit days of rearguard resistance. Practically, they were merely searching for scraps of encouragement to accompany them on the road to Ahmedabad. There could be no more appropriate thala in India's efforts to drive home their advantage than Ashwin. He came into this game having not passed 50 in a Test since 2017, but after taking an aggressive approach from the outset, he eventually reached a raucously received hundred during the evening session - achieving the double of a century and a five-wicket haul in the same match for the third time. Just imagine the decibel level if Chepauk had been at more than 50% capacity. His route to three figures had featured numerous sweeps, a few hearty biffs and no little drama. When India resumed after tea, Ashwin was on 68 and had only the last two batsmen to keep him company; he might have been stumped almost straight away, but the ball eluded Ben Foakes - the brilliance of whose keeping had kept up English spirits earlier in the day - and he was still 23 short when Mohammed Siraj walked out at the fall of the ninth wicket. But with the crowd cheering every dot ball that Siraj negotiated, Ashwin raised the tempo and the volume. England took the new ball but Ashwin carved Jack Leach away to move into the 90s, then took on Moeen Ali, striking a clean six into the stands before charging down to slice four more to third man and bring team-mates, family and spectators to their feet. No one celebrated more gleefully than Siraj, who having upheld his part of the bargain swung a couple over the ropes himself as India's last-wicket pair added 49 to give England one final kick, as well as silence any lingering discontent about the state of the pitch. The issue on a turning surface has simply been one of skill, and despite a more proactive batting effort England were soon in trouble once again.

For the seventh time in eight attempts, England's openers failed to take the scoreboard past 17, as Dom Sibley was pinned by an Axar Patel arm ball.

two sets in against Russian Andrey Rublev.

Players’ fitness at the Grand Slam has been under the microscope after they spent two weeks in mandatory hotel quarantine, with some blaming their exits on limited preparations.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic, who said he had torn an abdominal muscle against Taylor Fritz, has soldiered on and was able to despatch Milos Raonic on Sunday to book a quarter-final against Alexander Zverev. Djokovic was cagey about his injury

when probed about it after the Raonic match, saying he did not want to “speculate” and that it was a “gamble” to play on.

Having had his fair share of injuries over the years, Nadal felt there was little point in trying to conceal their true nature. “Well, it’s difficult to hide things,” he said.

“I think it’s not healthy to hide a lot of things because it’s difficult.

“Even if you want to hide, at some point you’re going to have questions to answer. “I don’t want to play that game, honestly.”

Although speculation over Djokovic’s fitness will continue to fill the vacuum, Nadal was adamant that no player could grit their teeth and win a Grand Slam if properly injured.

“If you really have physical problems, you will not win,” said the 34-year-old.

“If you have some pain and it’s not putting you in a situation that limits you, the movements, maybe you can find a way. “But when you really, really have an injury, it’s impossible to win a tournament like this.”

Mohammad Rizwan replaces Shan Masood as Multan Sultans captain for PSL 2021 LAHORE AGENCIES

The Multan Sultans have named wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan as their captain for the upcoming Pakistan Super League season. He will replace Shan Masood, who led the franchise to the playoffs last year.

Rizwan was previously part of the Karachi Kings, the defending PSL champions, but was picked up by the Multan team in the PSL 2021 draft.

“I look forward to leading the Multan Sultans team for the upcoming season,” Rizwan said in a team press release. “I have understood the innovative approach the franchise applied last season and am looking forward to playing my part this season. Multan Sultans had a successful HBL PSL 5 and we will aspire to go even better this time around especially with senior Pakistani players like Shahid Afridi, Shan Masood and Sohail Tanvir.”

While revealing the team’s new captain, team owner Alamgir Khan Tareen said: “Rizwan has shown exemplary leadership qualities with the Pakistan team as well as with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in domestic tournaments.

We are grateful to Shan Masood for

RIZWAN WAS RECENTLY NAMED PLAYER OF THE SERIES IN THE T20IS AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA

leading the franchise exceptionally well last season and for instilling a winning mentality in the team.”

In the PSL draft last month, Rizwan was, at first, not picked in his original category (diamond) until the Sultans snapped him up in a lower category (silver). He had parted ways with the Kings after an unsuccessful stint when he

spent most of his time on the sidelines and hardly got a suitable batting number. He was played as a second-choice wicketkeeper-batsman and batted only 12 times, slotted between Nos. 6 and 8.

Last season, he featured in only two matches and got to face just one ball, although his side went on to win the title.

Rizwan had failed to reach promi-

nence while Sarfaraz Ahmed was Pakistan’s all-format captain. His career made a remarkable turnaround when he announced himself in England last year to win a Player of the Series award in the Test series. His stocks were further elevated after the New Zealand tour where he stood out although Pakistan lost both games.

Before the New Zealand tour, Rizwan had impressed in domestic cricket, in the National T20 tournament.

He scored four fifties, including an unbeaten 99 against Central Punjab, which helped him finish as the highest runscorer, while he also impressed behind the stumps. His diving catch against Sindh, in particular, was a major talking point in the tournament. His tournament tally of 389 runs at 38.90 - and a strike rate of 127.96 - led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the 2020 title. Most recently, Rizwan scored his maiden Test hundred against South Africa. In the T20I series that followed, he played all three games as an opener and struck his maiden T20I century in the first match.

He finished as the highest run-scorer while also collecting the Player of the Series award for the T20Is. In the PSL, though, he has batted only 24 times - in 35 matches - with a high score of 50 at a strike rate of 115.94.

‘We’re not settling for second,’ say defiant Manchester United DRAW AT WEST BROM LEAVES RED DEVILS SECOND ON 46 POINTS AFTER PLAYING ONE MORE GAME THAN CITY WITH 14 MATCHES LEFT BIRMINGHAM AGENCIES

Manchester United manager ole Gunnar Solskjaer and captain Harry Maguire vowed on Sunday that the title race was not over despite another disappointing result that left them seven points behind neighbours and Premier League leaders Manchester City.

United, who had topped the table earlier in the season, could only draw 1-1 away at second-bottom West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, leaving them second on 46 points after playing one more game than City and with 14 matches left. “No, I don’t think so,” Manchester United manager ole Gunnar Solskjaer told reporters when asked if the title race was over.

“I think no one will give it away this early. of course, no one knows this season, it’s so unpredictable.

Life is so unpredictable. Anything can happen. of course we’re not going to settle for second.”

CMYK

Maguire, who nearly won the game with a lastminute header, agreed when asked if United were still thinking they could win the league: “of course we are.

We’ve got to look after ourselves and go again and win the next one and win the next one.”

Solskjaer, whose team let in a last-minute equaliser against Everton last weekend to lose further ground, rued the lack of clear-cut chances against West Brom.

“We didn’t create enough big moments to create goals, even though the ball was in their last third all the time ... We just lacked that little bit of ruthlessness, clinicalness in finishing,” he said. Still, the United Boss praised Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes, for “fantastic technique” in his volleyed equaliser. ‘aSLeeP in VaR OFFiCe’: Maguire was convinced he should have had a penalty in the second half when he was manhandled and clipped in the box, but Solskjaer said he was offside anyway and had a dig at the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for bothering to

check the foul.

“It’s a clear foul if you only look at the clash ...

But from what I see, I can see Harry being in an offside position,” he said. “So someone must have been asleep in that VAR office, Stockley Park, or wherever they are. Someone needs to brew some coffee because it could have easily been avoided by saying ‘he’s offside, let’s move on.’” West Brom have turned to the experienced Sam Allardyce, who has built a reputation on rescuing teams from relegation. But his team has only notched six points in 11 games since he took over and remain deep in trouble, 12 points from safety.

Asked if he could pull off another great escape, Allardyce was non-committal but praised his players for matching United. “I can’t knock any players’ application and effort ... Excellent in terms of how we limited Manchester United to very few opportunities. And then the other way, really, really pleased about how many chances we created,” he said.

“But unfortunately disappointed we didn’t convert more of them, because then we would have won this game ... To say I’m slightly disappointed in the result is a big thing to say when your team is struggling and you are against a team that is top of the league like Manchester United.”

Tuesday, 16 February, 2021

Prayer Timings

NEWS

FAJR SUNRISE 5:28 6:51

maryam says she is speaking for rights of the proVince

p

News Desk

AKISTAN Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz arrived in Wazirabad to address a rally as part of the election campaign for PP-51, where she denied that she was playing the “Punjab card” by speaking in the provincial tongue, and instead insisted that she was speaking for the rights of the people in the region.

“I am daughter of Punjab and will continue to speak for the rights of the people of this province,” said Maryam while addressing the rally and asserted that she was not engaging in regional politics.

Moreover, she claimed that Punjab had become lost without Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif. She said: “I am not here to ask for votes, I have come to remind you of the days of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif.”

While blaming the incumbent government for issues such as bad governance, inflation, and unemployment, she maintained that her father and party supreme leader Nawaz Sharif would be

PML-N VP EXPRESSES HOPES THAT THE PDM WOULD STAY INTACT EVEN FTER THE PTI HAS BEEN REMOVED able to fix all the issues of the people.

Maryam asked the crowd not to vote for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate in the upcoming byelection, saying “If they [PTI leaders] ask you [people] to vote for them show them your electricity and gas bills.”

“The country has been worn out but my dear selectors, don’t do this with Pakistan again,” she said, referring to the PTI coming into power. “Do your own work that the Constitution has assigned to you, don’t interfere with people’s work.”

Maryam claimed the “actual reason” why Prime Minister Imran Khan had been pursuing an open ballot for next month’s Senate elections was that his own MNAs and MPAs “are escaping from his grasp”.

Maryam said that today everyone including traders, farmers and labourers are being humiliated. People have no money for bread, milk, flour and sugar.

She told workers that Nawaz Sharif will come and everything will be fine.

The PML-N VP alleged that Rs500 billion worth of medicines were stolen, Rs15,000 billion was borrowed and not a single brick was laid. She said that when it comes to snatching flour and sugar from Punjab, she will always stand by the Punjabis.

Maryam arrived at Zafar Ali Khan Chowk and then headed towards Allahwala Chowk of the city in the early evening. She addressed PML-N workers at Kutchery Chowk and then delivered an address at Sohdra Chowk as well.

“I say to Wazirabad police and administration […] I know that you yourself are frustrated [but] the nation is looking at you; if you instead of serving the country and the people try to serve anyone else, try to steal the vote and make a lost person win, then remember, Imran Khan came once but now at least Punjab won’t let him come [to power] again.”

Earlier today, she took shots against Prime Minister Imran, stating that the premier after “22 years of struggle” could not find the right people within his own party to award Senate tickets to.

While speaking to the media, Maryam lashed out at the selection of the PTI and said that Imran was always criticising other political parties but had himself issued tickets to “millionaires and billionaires”.

Questioning the move, she said the PTI wanted such individuals “who have no connection or service to the party” to buy votes through their resources and enter the Senate. “It is very important to block the path of such people.”

“People from every province in Pakistan have stood up to the ruling party,” she said, referring to the protests registered by PTI leaders in Sindh and Balochistan over the award of Senate tickets to Faisal Vawda and a few others.

ZUHR 12:22

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA 4:14 5:53 7:17

Visa categories reduced to 11, health emergency visa rules introduced News Desk The federal cabinet has approved changes to the visa rules which introduce new policies regarding the need for visas for work and health emergencies, as well as the reduction of the total number of categories from 18 to 11, it emerged on Monday. A letter shared by the Ministry of Interior to the director-general (DG) of Immigration and Passports shows that the cabinet approved the aforementioned changes on Feburary 2. Based on the merging of the previous categories, the new types of visas are tourist/visit visa, visa in your inbox for tourism or business purposes, family visit visa, business visa, work visa, study visa, religious tourism visa, official visa, NGO/INGO visa, medical visa and other. Visa in your inbox can be applied for online and the confirmation would be given in the candidate’s email. While the letter itself did not explicitly state there was a medical visa, interior ministry spokesperson Zafaryab Khan confirmed the category to a local news station. Elaborating on the details, security clearance would not be required for those seeking a short-term medical visa or an individual work visa. However, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) would be intimated. These short-term medical visas would be approved or denied within a 48 hour period and would allow a single-entry within a 3-month time frame.

Moreover, the visa holder would only be allowed to go to certain hospitals, and other security checks would be put into place. An extended medical visa of up to one year, meanwhile, would be issued within a month after clearance from agencies.

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