Epaper – January 02 ISB 2021

Saturday, 2 January, 2021 I 17 Jumada Al-Awwal, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 184 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

PDM to contest by-Polls, announces Fazl aFter lahore strategy Meeting g

JUI-F chIeF says PDM wIll annoUnce the Date anD tIMe oF long March venUe later

ISLAMABAD Mian abrar

P

aKIstan Democratic Movement (PDM) President Maulana Fazlur rehman has said that the alliance will take part in the upcoming bypolls, adding that rumours about conflicts within the party are false and that the PDM is stronger than ever.

Fazl said the above while addressing the media after the 11-party anti-government alliance met at the sharif family estate in Jati Umra in lahore on Friday to discuss their future strategy. “we will take part in by-polls and will decide about the senate elections later… basically we are not against taking part in elections,” PDM chief said. he also reiterated

that the incumbent government has only one month left to resign or the PDM will begin its long march. “we will decide whether to hold long march towards rawalpindi or Islamabad,” he said, adding that the date and venue will be announced soon.

“Imran Khan is a pawn for [and] the people who did rigging and imposed him upon the nation, we want to make it clear [to them that] we blame the establishment and army leadership for this,” said Fazl, stating that the PDM was determined to get rid of this “illegitimate” government.

Fazl added that from now the alliance would criticise both Prime Minister Imran Khan and the establishment, accusing it of meddling in political affairs and installing the “puppet government” into power.

coronavirus in

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

482,178

LAST UPDATED AT 8:16 AM ON JANUARY 1, 2020

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

71

RECOVERED:

NEW CASES:

2,463 DEATHS:

437,229 10,176 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

215,679

138,608

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

58,701

18,168

8,277/4,857 37,888

he also announced that PDM will hold protests outside the election commission of Pakistan (ecP) and national accountability Bureau (naB) offices across the country. regarding the resignations from legislative assemblies, Fazl said that the final decision in this regard will be taken by the end of this month. speaking on the topic of resignations, Pakistan Muslim league-nawaz (PMl-n) vice President Maryam nawaz sharif said that her party members have already submitted their resignations to her. similarly, Fazl said that the constituent parties of the PDM confirmed during the meeting that they have collected resignations from all of their parliamentarians. earlier in the day, the PDM huddled to finalise its course of action. this meeting was particularly significant as the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had earlier announced that it would take part in the senate elections and by-polls, while the Jamiat Ulema-eIslam-Fazl (JUI-F) and the PMl-n leaned towards abandoning the parliament and taking to the streets against the government.

“It seems that the PPP has been successful in convincing its major allies to continue consultation for contesting senate elections,” sources in the PDM told Pakistan today. sources suggest that a major group of the Pakistan Muslim league-nawaz (PMl-n) is lobbying to convince the party leadership to follow the suite and contest senate elections rather than resigning from the assemblies and leaving ground open for the ruling party – Pakistan tehreek-e-Insaf (PtI). they said that it is a major challenge to the PMl-n vP who is in a fix.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

PM Imran vows 2021 will be a year of growth ISLAMABAD staff report

Prime Minister Imran Khan has vowed that 2021 will be a year of economic growth for the country, highlighting that essential industries are increasing output, and underscoring the need for wealth generation through exports. addressing an event in Islamabad, the prime minister said that the construction industry was already on its way up, which was evident from rising cement sales in the country. “when cement sales are increasing it is a clear sign that construction activity is on the rise,” he said.

Imran said that the textile industry was “producing at capacity for the first time in many years” which he said had given rise to a shortage of labour in the sector. “wealth creation through exports will be used for uplifting the living standard of the ordinary people in the country,” he stressed. “our biggest problem is that we did not try to increase our exports in the past. why do we have to go to the International Monetary Fund? Because our exports fall and our imports rise,” the premier said on the

Lahore CCPO Umar Sheikh replaced

by Ghulam Mahmood Dogar ISLAMABAD staff report

Mere months after the controversial decision to appoint Deputy Inspector general (DIg) Umar sheikh as lahore capital city Police officer, sheikh has been removed from the post and replaced by ghulam Mahmood Dogar, it emerged on Friday.

Punjab chief Minister Usman Buzdar approved the removal of sheikh from the post as well as the appointing of his replacement. Dogar earlier served as Faisalabad regional police officer (rPo) and DIg technical Procurement.

Meanwhile, shiekh has been appointed as deputy commandant of the Punjab constabulary, Farooqabad against a vacant post. sheikh’s brief tenure as the lahore ccPo had been filled with much criticism and conflict. soon after his appointment, then-inspector general of police (IgP) shoaib Dastgir was removed from his post by the provincial government due to his refusal to work with sheikh.

It had been reported that the differences had emerged between both the police officers after sheikh reportedly hurled a taunt at Dastagir during a meeting with lahore police officials. the police officer also faced countrywide outrage in september when he made crass remarks against a rape victim, implying that the woman shared in the responsibility for her rape. after the woman was gang-raped by two robbers on gunpoint in front of her children in the gujjarpura area, sheikh had opined that the victim had failed to take due precautions before setting off for her journey. he had said that he was shocked she did not take gt road.

occasion. “we have to squeeze our economy which makes life difficult for the common man.”

During the speech, he also lauded the positive effect of china’s help in helping Pakistan become industrialised. “china is the country we can learn the most from because their development model suits us the best. Pakistan can learn the most from the way and the speed with which china has developed in the past 35 years,” he said.

Describing the chinese model of development as the most suitable model for Pakistan, Imran said Pakistan desires to learn from china in industrial development and agriculture. he said the government will make efforts for the relocation of the chinese industries at Pakistan’s special economic Zones.

“2020 was a tough year for us & for people across the world bec of covid19. But by the grace of god we fared far better than most. we not only managed to protect our ppl but also saved them from hunger. we are moving forward to making Pakistan a welfare state,” the premier said later on twitter.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

more inside

Imran says remarks about PTI’s unpreparedness taken out of context STORY ON BACK PAGE

Pakistan, India exchange list of nuclear installations STORY ON PAGE 02

sheikh had also made headlines when he ordered officers to arrest crimes Investigation agency (cIa) sP asim Iftikhar after an argument. he had summoned Iftikhar at the safe city office for not taking him into confidence in the matter pertaining to the arrest of abid Malhi – prime suspect of the motorway rape case.

Before that, a foreign-educated cop had also resigned from his post because he was abused by sheikh in a meeting. soon after, a woman accused sheikh of hurling abuses at her when she contacted him regarding a complaint against a sub-inspector and other policemen. a few days ago, chief justice of the lahore high court (lhc) also took notice of sheikh’s remarks made to a media person in an interview wherein he had commented on the working of courts, accusing them of releasing criminals on bail.

Govt ready for dialogue with Opp except for accountability process: FM Qureshi STORY ON PAGE 03

naB under fire in senate as opposition flays its conduct

STORY ON PAGE 03

02

Saturday, 2 January, 2021

NEWS

PAkIstAn, IndIA exchAnge lIst oF nucleAr InstAllAtIons

F

NEWS DESK

OllOWING the terms of an agreement which restricts the two countries from attacking each other's atomic facilities, Pakistan and India on Friday conducted the annual practice of exchanging the list of their nuclear installations.

The exchange was made in accordance with Article-II of the Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between Pakistan and India, signed on December 31, 1988, read the Foreign Office (FO) statement.

As part of the agreement, the list of nuclear installations and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to a representative of the Indian High Commission at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 11 am.

Similarly, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs handed over a similar list to an officer of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi This was the 30th consecutive exchange of the list between the two countries. The first one had taken place on January 1, 1992.

The agreement ensures that neither country would make any direct or

FIA Arrests relIgIous teAcher For blAckmAIlIng And AbusIng mInor A religious teacher has been arrested after using his 13-year-old female student's personal photographs to blackmail her, confirmed Faizullah Korejo, the additional director at the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Cybercrime Reporting Centre in Karachi. The teacher had reportedly been using indecent pictures of the 13-year-old to blackmail her. When she complained about being "physically abused", the mother had bravely come forward to the report the teacher who had been hired to teach the girl about the Holy Quran at their home. The teacher had also sent the images to the mother on WhatsApp, threatening to make them viral on social media if his unreasonable and unethical demands were not met. FIA team, after obtaining the needed approval from the relevant authority, conducted a raid in Gulshan-e-Iqbal to apprehend the suspect. “The Qari has been arrested by the raiding party,” said Korejo, adding that lawenforcement personnel also confiscated the mobile phone in his possession. The minor victim was also given professional counselling by the FIA through a stress counsellor. The suspect has been booked under Sections 22 and 24 of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, and Section 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code. NEWS DESK

indirect efforts to attack, target, or otherwise damage each other's nuclear facilities.

This exchange took place in spite of the increased tensions between the two countries since the Pulwama attack in February of last year, in which India placed the blamed on Pakistan for the 44 of its soldiers that were killed in occupied Kashmir.

Following the incident, the two countries engaged in an aerial dogfight and came to the brink of war.

Furthermore, India's revocation of occupied Kashmir's special status in violation of UNSC resolutions led to

Ceasefire violations resulted in 33 civilian deaths in 2020 NEWS DESK India committed 2900 ceasefire violation in the past year, resulting in 33 civilians being martyred as well as another 260 suffering injuries, said Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Minister for Physical Planning and Housing Chaudhry Tariq Farooq on Friday.

“Not only the civilians, but they also targeted the UN military observers in this year while they were on a routine monitoring mission along the loC,'' said the minister while talking to a local news outlet.

Of the 33 killed due to firing over the line of Control, 16 men and 17 women were martyred. Of the 260 injured, 161 were men while 99 were women.

“Even though the whole world was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, [the] Indian army did not discontinue its ghastly practice of pounding our unarmed civilian populations along the dividing line,” said Chaudhry.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has urged United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to ask India to drop fabricated charges against the leader of Kashmiri organisation Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Asiya Andrabi, and to provide her complete legal protection. In a letter to the UN chief, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Munir Akram said that India’s systemic crackdown on the legitimate and indigenous freedom movement in Kashmir cannot be given a free pass.

The Pakistani envoy wrote that with Indian judiciary showing little to no proclivity to stand up for the rights of Kashmiris, there is an imminent and real threat to the life of Andrabi, and her associates, who are staring at the very real possibility of judicial murder. In a separate letter, Pakistan has called on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, to push India to release Aasiya Anrabi, a detained Kashmiri rights defender and political activist, who faces an imminent risk of conviction by a “sham” court on January 18. “Your timely intervention may help prevent a miscarriage of justice; assist in breaking the vicious cycle of impunity and human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and send a strong message of hope to the Kashmiri people, especially women leaders and human rights defenders,” Ambassador Khalil Hashmi said in a letter to the UN rights chief. STAFF REPORT

He said that the youngest person killed in these attacks was two-year-old Adeeb Sudhir of Neelum valley while the oldest victims were Jan Begum of district Bhimber and Muhammad Bashir of district Haveli, both over 75. Most recently, a soldier was martyred when Indian troops violated the ceasefire and resorted to heavy shelling and firing from across the line of Control (loC) in the Khuiratta sector on Wednesday, said a press release issued by the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR).

Meanwhile, the most recent incident of a civilian being killed due to the actions of India troops took place on Tuesday in the Tatta Pani and Jandrot areas, where A 50-year-old woman was killed and three others were injured. "There are heart-wrenching stories of death and destruction from almost all areas along the loC. [Stories of] people caught in indiscriminate shelling and people targeted by trigger-happy Indian snipers even during [moments of] apparent calm," said the AJK minister.

NEWS DESK Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood expressed uncertainty regarding the reopening of schools on January 11 as had been previously planned, adding that the health ministry would need to be consulted before a final decision can take place. “The final decision would be made on the advice of health ministry as this is fundamentally their domain. We cannot risk children’s health," Shafqat said while talking to a local news outlet. While acknowledging the losses faces by schools due to the closures from March 2020 to September 2020, the education minister added that they had adapted for the recent most closure. "Within 15 days we introduced television school and now we are about to launch radio schooling while universities have moved to online classes,” he said. When asked a question about the goals of the education sector, Mehmood said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was looking to implement the Single National Curriculum. “It would be applied in all schools both private and public. It is a huge step in ensuring equality.” Shafqat held a meeting with private school association representatives on reopening schools on Friday. The association is pro-opening schools and has called on the government to reopen schools as soon as possible. Speaking to media person before the meeting, the private schools' delegation said that the government must understand their problems and take steps towards a solution. The association also sought an economic relief package.

"The government should suspend the registration fee and taxes for a year."

Furthermore, the education minister said that the March examinations will be delayed and this year’s summer vacations will be shorter. Instead of March, the exams will be held in May/June while the school year will begin in August.

Irresponsible Indian statements imperilling regional peace: FO ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Pakistan urges un to provide legal protection to Asiya Andrabi

further deterioration of ties between the two.

Pakistan downgraded its diplomatic relations with India and expelled the Indian high commissioner following the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.

Recently, Pakistan has warned that India is planning a false flag operation against the country, and to this effect, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has urged the international community to intervene while stating that Pakistan would take effective measures to stop India if any such operation is launched.

shafqat mehmood unsure about schools reopening

Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri has said that Pakistan wants to have good relations with all its neighbours, but irresponsible actions and statements from India are restricting regional peace and security.

Responding to a question during his weekly news briefing on Friday, he said that New Delhi's acts, especially in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), should immediately be addressed. He said that

India needs to create an enabling environment for meaningful engagement. He said that regional peace and security will remain at stake till India does not refrain from taking illegal, inhumane and unjustified action.

Chaudhri said that Pakistan will take every possible measure for the welfare of the people of IOK and to safeguard their interest. He said that India deliberately targets civilian populated areas and commits unprovoked ceasefire violations. He said that Pakistan has always taken utmost caution to avoid

collateral damage while responding to Indian provocations.

Replying to a question regarding Pakistan's role in the Afghan peace process, Chaudhri said, “We always believe that a politically negotiated settlement is the only way forward for durable peace in Afghanistan.”

Highlighting three important developments regarding the Afghan peace process during the previous year, the spokesperson said that agreement between the Afghan Taliban and the United States, initiation of intra-Afghan

PLL offers to allocate unutilised capacity of LNG terminal for six months ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI

Pakistan lNG limited (Pll) has floated a tender and sought bids to allocate idle capacity of lNG terminal to the private sector for a period of six months from February to July this year.

The Pll through an advertisement has sought applications from the interested parties to utilise idle capacity of lNG terminal for the sixmonth period. The deadline fixed for the submission of applications is January 18.

As per details, the Pll will have an unutilised capacity of 235 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) in February, 136 MMCFD in March and 130 MMCFD in April.

The Pll also said that the tentative idle capacity of 50 MMCFD will be available in May and June while 100 MMCFD will be available in July.

Pll utilises its contracted capacity depending upon the requirement of Regasified liquefied Natural Gas (RlNG) by the gas utility companies.

In order to optimally utilise its contracted capacity, the federal

government has authorised the Pll to allocate its idle capacity to private parties on a short-term basis, depending upon the requirement of the gas utility companies.

The Pll will provide the idle capacity to all the parties, who fulfil the eligibility criteria, at charges determined by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) for the relevant month.

The Pll will adjust individual capacity allocations proportionately if the local requirement of the successful parties exceeds the total available

negotiations and agreement on rules and procedure will help succeed the dialogue process. He said that the Afghan peace process has reached a critical stage where all stakeholders should take advantage of this opportunity in taking the dialogue initiative to a conclusion.

Chaudhri expressed the hope that intra-Afghan negotiations that are scheduled to start on Tuesday next will be productive and move the process forward for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan as well as in the entire region.

capacity.

The available regasification capacities may vary on a daily and monthly basis, based on the available berthing slots and requirement of the Pll’s own customers while considering the finalised schedule of all the berthing slots.

Any RlNG not delivered during the term period may be carried forward in accordance with the provisions of the agreement. The draft agreement for allocation of lNG terminal services will be subject to approval from the OGRA. The Pll is a public sector company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Government Holdings (Private) limited (GHPl), which is 100 per cent owned by the Pakistan government. The Pll imports lNG at lNG terminal located at Port Qasim and supplies RlNG into the network of gas utility companies.

Saturday, 2 January, 2021

NEWS

03

govt reAdy For dIAlogue wIth oPP excePt For AccountAbIlIty Process: Fm QureshI ISLAMABAD

F

STAFF REPORT

OREIGN Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday again asked the opposition parties’ alliance to come for dialogue with government on the forum of the Parliament, but told them to set aside their agenda of escaping accountability.

Talking to media at the Parliament House, he said that there would be nothing constructive happened in today’s meeting of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) at Jati Umra, adding that Pakistan People's Party (PPP) was being represented by Raja Parvez Ashraf and former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani, who had not been in favour of resignations from assemblies in the past.

He further said that both were respected senior politicians but they did not have the authority to take any decision. He said that real decision power in the PPP was with its Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari.

Qureshi said that in spite of the PDM leadership holding a meeting in lahore today, the differences among the constituent parties of the alliance had already come forth.

He said that the PPP Central Executive Committee (CEC) has decided that the party will take part in the upcoming by-elections and the Senate elections.

He added that PPP CEC also decided that it will not tender resignations from assemblies. He further said that PPP has yet to announce any date for the previouslythreatened long march.

Qureshi said that the PDM had earlier decided that their parliamentarians would submit their resignations to PDM President Maulana Fazal Rehman by December

31, but PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari opposed it, arguing that the resignations should instead be submitted to the heads of the parties.

Qureshi said that this was proof of the lack of confidence within the alliance. He took a jibe at the alliance, saying that they had now given a new deadline of January 31, 2021, and that the new deadline would come and go like the previous one.

He said that PPP’s majority leadership was against resignations from the assemblies and they were not ready to quit from Sindh government.

He categorically stated that Prime Minister Imran Khan would not resign at all as he was the people's elected leader.

He questioned why Bilawal decided to skip today's PDM meeting if it was so important to their future course of action. The FM said that the nation can clearly see the reality. He said that the opposition alliance was unnatural and they need to stop playing games with the nation. He stated that the PDM parties had clear and serious differences and did not agree with each other's viewpoints.

Qureshi said that the PDM is still attempting to obtain an NRO as a way of escape from the accountability process. He said that opposition was exposed during the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) legislation meeting, adding that they demanded 34 amendments.

The minister said that PM Imran was not at all willing to provide an NRO as the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) government was in favour of a transparent accountability process.

He said that voices had been raised from within

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) against the narrative of its chief, adding that his senior friends in the party showed reservations against Fazl's plans.

Condemning the incident of burning of a Hindu shrine by a mob in Karak, the foreign minister said that the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) has taken notice of the attack. He further said that it was an irresponsible act and

NAB under fire in Senate as opposition flays its conduct ISLAMABAD TLTP

Pm, adviser felicitate exporters on 18pc growth in december ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Imran Khan has congratulated all the exporters on achieving record exports last month with a growth of 18 per cent over the previous year.

In a tweet on Friday, the prime minister appreciated the development and urged the exporters to keep up this trend. “A major pillar of our government's economic policy is the export enhancement and we will provide full support to promote export culture,” he said. Earlier, Advisor to Prime Minister on Trade and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood in a series of tweets on Friday said that despite the coronavirus pandemic, Pakistan exports continued to flourish hitting over $2.3 billion, the highest ever in the month of December. “It gives me immense pleasure to inform that, Alhamdolillah, according to provisional data, Pakistan exports for the month of December 2020 have grown by 18.3 per cent to $2.357 billion as compared to $1.993 billion in December 2019, an increase of $364 million over December 2019,” Dawood shared. The adviser said that the figures are “the highest export ever in the month of December.” For the period July-December 2020, Pakistan’s exports increased by 4.9 per cent to $12.104 billion as compared to $11.533 billion in the corresponding period last year. “This shows the resilience of the economy of Pakistan and it is a vindication of the government’s policy to keep the wheels of economy running during Covid-19 pandemic. I commend our exporters for achieving this feat during these testing times and urge them to aggressively focus on capturing a larger share of international trade,” he said. Dawood further lauded the exporters calling them "a great asset" for Pakistan and saying: “I salute you all.”

Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed has asked the opposition to use the forum of parliament for resolving issues of people instead of protecting their own interests.

He was speaking on a motion moved by opposition members in the Senate on Friday. The minister said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has made it clear that he will never give a national reconciliation ordinance (NRO) to those who looted the national exchequer.

He said the opposition had proposed amendments to 34 out of the 38 provisions of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Act for the closure of the cases against them. He condemned the remarks of Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri against the media.

In his remarks, leader of the House Senator Shehzad Waseem said that the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) led government believes in accountability across the board. He said that the people of Pakistan have rejected politics of inheritance at the PDM's public gathering in lahore.

Senator Shehzad Waseem said the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) only wants to secure NRO from the government to protect their looted money.

The opposition came down hard on NAB as it took up the anti-graft watchdog's conduct during the Senate session. The point was raised by Pakistan Muslim league-Nawaz (PMl-N) senior member and leader of the Opposition in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq. He alleged that the NAB is victimising the political opponents of the government.

Haq maintained that the current trend of the institution will lead to division and disorder in the country. He said that NAB targeted specific people, so much so that even the Supreme Court (SC) termed its conduct one-sided. "If there is a case against someone, the person is targeted in the media before the court. It is not right to ridicule people by putting them in jail," Haq said. Referring to the arrest of acting leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Khawaja Asif, he said the way he was arrested was unethical.

"Khawaja Asif was called during the meeting and was told that some people were here, asking to speak

HAIDERI SAYS FAZL WON’T APPEAR BEFORE NAB: TREASURY FOR USING PARLIAMENT FOR SOLVING PUBLIC ISSUES to him. He knew [from that point on] that he could be detained at any time," the PMl-N leader stated.

Addressing the upper house during the session, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Deputy Secretary Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, while referring to the recently initiated NAB inquiry against JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, said that he will not appear before the institution.

"We will be torn to pieces, but will not appear before NAB. Maulana Fazl's life is an open book. He said if NAB has to make his arrest, it should do so," the senator stated.

He underscored that NAB launched a series of revenge attacks in the name of accountability, terming the anti-graft watchdog an 'institution of blackmail'.

The senior JUI-F leader stated that NAB played with politicians' honour without any evidence and then imprisoned them. Referring to Prime Minister Imran Khan's 'selectors', Haideri added that "Maulana Fazlur Rehman's only crime is that he calls out those who 'selected' you. He tells them that politics is for politicians to do, and not you".

The JUI-F Senator said that it was the government that was defaming the country's armed forces and not the opposition. "Why do you have to say after everything you do that the army is behind you?" Haideri asked. PMl-N leader Senator Javed Abbasi criticised the government for using NAB as a tool to pressurise the opposition. PPP Senator Keshoo Bai said the government has no time for the poor people of the country. Others who participated in the discussion include Senator Usman Khan Kakar, Senator Mir Kabeer Ahmed Muhammad Shahi and Senator Mohsin Aziz. The House will now meet again on Monday at 3:00 pm.

an attempt to damage Pakistan’s image at the international level.

Replying a question, he said that Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir and Palestine issues was very clear, adding that the stance of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on these issues had been and will continue to be a guiding principle for the PTI.

ngos involved in politics to be taken to task: rasheed PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Friday reiterated that the government will revoke the passport of ex-premier and Pakistan Muslim league-Nawaz (PMl-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif on February 16 instead of renewing it.

Sheikh Rasheed, while addressing a press conference in Peshawar, said that he is pleased to address his first press meeting of 2021 from Peshawar. The interior minister said that he has visited Torkham border and an online visa service was launched after ending the issuance of manual visas. “Prime Minister [Imran Khan] has given instructions to make the issuance of visas easier, besides eliminating corruption.” He said that the government respects all non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in Pakistan, however, notice will be taken against those involved in running politics. Rasheed said that the government has taken strict notice of the Karak incident and Mufti Kifayat’s case was referred to the KP government. He said that no one will be allowed to use non-parliamentary language against the armed forces of Pakistan. He added that all chief secretaries have been given directions to ensure the protection of worship places of the minority communities. He reiterated that the passport of Nawaz Sharif will not be renewed on February 16. The government will make maximum efforts to bring back absconding Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan. To a question, he replied that the leadership of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is doing nothing but making tall claims in the media. He said that PM Imran Khan is fighting against mafias in the country and he will complete his five-year tenure. Rasheed added that the government will make a major reduction in inflation this year.

Highest exports recorded in December 2020 despite Covid-19: MOC ISLAMABAD GHULAM ABBAS

The Ministry of Commerce on Friday claimed that highest exports were recorded in the country during December 2020 despite the effect of coronavirus pandemic on social and economic activities.

While the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) is yet to share the data of last month’s exports, the ministry has claimed that despite the coronavirus pandemic, Pakistan exports were highest in the month of December

2020, hitting over $2.3 billion.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Trade and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood said in a tweet, “It gives me immense pleasure to inform that, Alhamdulillah, according to the provisional data, Pakistan exports in the month of December 2020 were grown by 18.3 per cent to $2.357 billion, as compared to $1.993 billion in December 2019.” The adviser said that the exports’ figures were highest in the month of December.

"For the period from July to December 2020, Pakistan’s exports increased by 4.9pc to $12.104 billion,

as compared to $11.533 billion in the corresponding period of 2019. This shows the resilience of the economy of Pakistan and it is a vindication of the government’s policy to keep the wheels of economy running during the Covid-19 pandemic. I commend our exporters for achieving this feat during these testing times and urge them to aggressively focus on capturing a larger share of international trade,” he added.

Dawood further appreciated the exporters by calling them 'a great asset’ for the country and saying, “I salute you all.”

04 NEWS

PMD’s internal rifts exposed in Jati Umra: Firdous TeRms RescueRs ReAl heRoes of socieTy LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan has claimed that internal differences within the ranks of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) exposed in Friday’s Jati Umra meeting. Talking to journalists, Firdous said that PMD’s leadership could not agree on a common agenda despite holding a six-hour-long session. She maintained that PMD’s narrative died in Jati Umra. The special assistant said that the opposition parties had formed the alliance to protect their personal interests. The PDM has nothing to do with national and public issues, Firdous claimed.

Earlier today, divisions had emerged within the ranks of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) as top leaders of the opposition alliance discussed the future course of action against the incumbent government. According to sources having knowledge of the discussion during the PDM meeting, the differences had emerged over issues pertaining to resignations from assemblies and participation in the Senate elections and by-polls.

The meeting had been attended by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari via videolink, while the other PDM leaders attended the meeting at Jati Umra in person. Separately, Dr Firdous and Minister for Law & Parliamentary Affairs Raja Basharat jointly presided over the 33rd passing-out ceremony of 446 cadets of Rescue 1122 at Emergency Services Academy on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM’s aide felicitated the passed out cadets and said that Rescue 1122 has established its credibility just because of excellence through professionalism. She said that rescuers are the real heroes and pride for all as they put their lives in danger to protect and save the lives and properties of people. While appreciating the performance of Rescue 1122, Firdous said that rescue cadets served on the frontline against any calamity. The SACM said that the government is taking steps to establish a welfare state on the model of the city State of Medina.

Saturday, 2 January, 2021

KP CM annoUnCes early reConstrUCtion oF vanDaliseD teMPle in KaraK PESHAWAR

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TLTP

HYBER Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Friday announced reconstruction of the vandalised Hindu temple in Karak.

According to a statement, the KP chief minister directed the concerned authorities to ensure the reconstruction of Hindu temple on an early basis. He vowed to protect the worship places of

minorities in all cases.

Mahmood said that several people involved in the incident have been arrested.

"Strict action will be taken against those involved. No one is allowed to take the law into one’s own hands," he said. Earlier on Wednesday, a mob, reportedly led by clerics, vandalised and set a Hindu temple on fire in the Karak district of KP. The temple, though no longer functional, is considered a revered pilgrimage site by the Hindu community.

Residents in the Terri area of Karak

were not happy with the handover of the temple to the Hindu community. The ongoing renovation further fuelled their anger that set off a chain of events that led to the vandalism. The mob was too big to confront for the local administration and police. According to the police officials, the Hindu community had bought some land to extend the temple, where they were constructing a building.

However, a local cleric instigated the people to attack the structure. “They attacked and demolished the under-con-

struction building. We have registered an FIR against the clerics and the situation is under control,” police said On Thursday, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed took notice of the incident and the police began rounding up dozens of suspects, including the cleric, who had instigated the attack. The top judge also directed the ‘’One Man Commission on Minorities Rights’’, the provincial chief secretary and police chief to visit the site and submit a report regarding the incident.

PRA registers 41.6pc growth during first half of 2020-21 LAHORE SHAHAB OMER

The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) collected Rs73.7 billion from July to December 2020 registering a phenomenal growth of 41.6 per cent against Rs52.1 billion collected in the first half of the previous financial year.

According to the spokesperson of PRA, "This performance is all the more remarkable in view of the unprecedented tax relief package given by the Punjab government through the Finance Act, 2020, wherein the rate of Punjab Sales Tax on Services (PSTS) on more than 25 services was reduced to support Covid-affected sectors, boost compliance and encourage documentation."

The spokesperson added that the government of the Punjab reduced the rate of PSTS from 16 per cent to 5 per cent for various sectors that were affected by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, including marriage halls and lawns, small hotels, caterers, tour operators, rent-a-car services, photographers, gyms, and manpower recruitment services.

In addition, the rate of PSTS on health insurance, medical consultancy and hospital charges was reduced to 0 per cent to cut the cost of healthcare for the public.

The spokesperson further added that the government also reduced the rate of sales tax on restaurant and beauty parlor services from 16 per cent to 5 per cent in case of payment through credit/debit cards.

"This widely appreciated move was aimed at pro-

moting documentation of the economy and has started to pay dividends as the proportion of customers using cards for payment is on the rise. The government also gave major tax relief to sectors considered crucial for economic growth," she said adding that the rate of sales tax was reduced on property builders and developers from 16 per cent ad valorem to Rs100/sq yard and Rs50/ sq ft. for land developers and builders respectively.

The rate was also reduced to 5 per cent for information technology services to encourage e-commerce and to 4 per cent for ride hailing services.

She also said, "PRA’s performance is a vindication of its policy of minimum human interaction, reliance on Information Technology and creating a culture of cooperation and collaboration with all stakeholders. PRA is by far the most automated organisation in the Punjab as its registration, return-filing and tax payment processes are completely automated. It was the first Provincial Revenue Authority to implement Sales Tax Real-time Invoice Verification (STRIVe) system and is the only Provincial Revenue Authority to have implemented Electronic Invoice Monitoring System (e-IMS).

These two systems combine to enable pre-population of returns promoting ease of doing business as well as minimising tax fraud."

The spokesperson informed that during the first two quarters of the current fiscal year PRA did not resort to any coercive measures for tax collection such as sealing or business premises or attachment of bank accounts.

Instead, following the government’s policy of stake-

holder involvement, PRA relied on taxpayer facilitation and education.

In addition to meetings with various bars, chambers and associations, PRA uploaded guides on tax processes on its websites, established facilitation desks in PRA office in Lahore as well as Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry and conducted more than fifty workshops for taxpayers.

According to her, in order to further facilitate taxpayers, PRA launched TelPRA, an android-based mobile application that allows taxpayers to post feedback, suggestions, complaints and queries that are responded to by the PRA workforce.

The above steps and policies have had an extremely positive response in the shape of unprecedented revenue growth.

PRA’s percentage growth for the first half of the financial year (41.5 per cent) far surpasses all other revenue authorities in the country including FBR (4.9 per cent), SRB (15.9 per cent), KPRA and BRA. Finance Minister Punjab Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht also appreciated the performance of PRA and stated that generating own source revenue remains a top priority for his government.

The PRA chairperson attributed all credit for the performance to his team and the immense support from the provincial finance minister.

He said that he was confident that the PRA team would continue to work hard and achieve the assigned revenue target for the Financial Year 2020-21.

Sehat Sahulat Card launched in Peshawar PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Friday termed the provision of “Sehat Sahulat Card” a milestone towards the pattern of the State of Madina. Addressing the launching ceremony of “Sehat Sahulat Card” (Zone-III) here, the chief minister hoped that the health cards will ensure solution of the free healthcare related issues in the province. He said that the provincial government has decided to add kidney and liver transplant treatment in the universal health programme. TLTP

Pakistan’s Emma wins global memory competition ISLAMABAD TLTP

A young Pakistani girl Emma Alam has won the 29th World Memory Championships after beating more than 300 competitors from all over the world.

Emma competed in over 10 disciplines in three-day competition, which included participants from China, Canada, United Kingdom, South Korea, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Algeria, United States, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Libya, Qatar and Iraq.

Emma and Syeda Kisa Zehra from Pakistan team broke multiple world records in the championships.

Pakistan team’s another member Abeerah Ather also achieved 7th position in the 2020 global rankings. Emma was thrilled to win the prestigious global event. She said, "I had aimed to give my best in the championships after a lot of daily practice for the past two years with my coach and the institute. It still astonishes me that the mechanism of human memory and brain’s information storage system are so powerful."

She said that she has planned to compete again next year with even better performance. "I congratulate all those amazing competitors, who competed from across the globe," she added.

Emma, who is currently completing her studies through home-schooling, had competed in various memory championships in the past, including the 3rd Asia Pacific Memory Championships in Malaysia and the 28th World Memory Championships in China, and won countless medals and trophies through her splendid performance. The World Memory Championships is an esteemed tournament of mind sports, where skills of intellectual ability are measured as opposed to physical sports.

Saturday, 2 January, 2021

NEWS

Covid-19 ClaiMs 71 More lives in Country ISLAMABAD

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TLTP

hE coronavirus pandemic claimed 71 more lives across the country during the last twentyfour hours, lifting up the death toll to 10,176, said the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Friday.

Another 2,463 infections were re-

ported during the aforementioned period.

According to NCOC, with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 482,178.

A total of 2,156 patients recovered from the virus on Thursday, while overall 437,229 people have recovered from the deadly virus so far. Some 2,216 patients are stated to be in critical condition. The total count of active cases in the country

is 34,773. A total of 41,039 tests were conducted across the country during the last 24 hours, while 6,737,107 samples have been tested so far.

In Sindh, at least 953 more people tested positive for coronavirus during the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 216,632. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said in a statement on Friday that the death toll climbed to 3,582 after 22 patients succumbed to the

virus. As many as 196,134 patients have recovered so far, he added.

Punjab reported 659 new coronavirus cases, taking the provincial tally to 138,608. In the last 24 hours, the virus claimed 29 lives. The death toll stands at 4,042. The province conducted 16,617 tests on Thursday and the total number of active coronavirus cases has reached 10,968. Over 2,457,000 tests have been conducted in the province so far.

05

Major terror bid foiled in Khuzdar; two arrested Pakistan Levies on Friday foiled a major terrorism bid in Khuzdar district of Balochistan. According to DC Khuzdar Wali Muhammad Lehri, the Levies recovered 88kg of explosives material from a vehicle at Zawah check-post in Khuzdar. Two suspects were also taken into custody. Lehri said that recovered explosives include wires, timers and other stuff from which more than 300 bombs can be made. The material would be handed over to the CTD, he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Punjab Police had claimed to apprehend a terrorist belonging to an outlawed organisation during a raid in Bahawalpur. The CTD had said that acting on a tip-off, the law enforcement authority carried out a raid in Bahawalpur to arrest an alleged terrorist, who was planning to target sensitive installations. “The terrorist is identified as Abdullah Khan and belonged to an outlawed organisation,” the CTD had said while further claiming that a hand grenade and a pistol was recovered from his possession. NEWS DESK

LAHORE: Jerdoni Brand opened at Al Fatah Exclusive Mall, Hussain Chowk, Lahore on Friday. The ribbon cutting was performed by prominent journalist Syed Irshad Arif. The event was attended by leading journalists, analysts and businessmen of Pakistan.

Everyone appreciated Jerdoni’s premium quality products and rated it equivalent to international brands like Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, Zara, Abercrombie and Levi’s, etc. They said it has the potential of becoming the first Pakistani brand of international repute.

PM imran vows 2021 will be a year of growth KARACHI: A fuel station worker changes petrol price on the board after the federal government increased approved a Rs2.31 hike against OGRA’s proposal of Rs10.68. ONLINE

Steps afoot to promote tourism in Balochistan: Kamal QuettA STAFF REPORT

Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan has said that concrete steps are being taken to promote tourism and protect archaeological sites in the province.

Chairing a meeting in Quetta to review the progress on development schemes related to promotion of tourism and culture, he said that promoting tourism, culture and art will reflect the positive image of the province.

The chief minister instructed to establish offices at divisional level to promote tourism. he also directed to

take steps for registration and licensing of hotels and rest houses in the province.

Kamal also said the provincial government has been working on an effective policy for the development of the province’s 700km long coastline to yield major energy and tourism benefits.

Earlier, the secretary culture and tourism briefed the meeting that the master planning is being done in Ziarat and Shaban valleys. he also apprised the meeting about the progress made in the projects of establishment of Beach Model Parks at Gadani, Kund Malir, Ormara, Pasni and Gwadar.

Earlier in December, Balochistan Chief Secretary Fazeel Asghar said that the provincial government is

taking effective steps to promote tourism. “The federal government will double the national highway from Karachi to Chaman and soon work will start on the project," Asghar said, while speaking to journalists during his visit to hinglaj Nani Temple and Kund Malir. The secretary noted that Kund Malir was a beautiful golden beach and that practical steps would be taken for further improving the coastline. he observed that tourists from across the country were visiting the resort and measures for better security and provision of basic facilities including a building would be ensured. "Kund Malir is a beautiful picnic point. Such destinations have special attention from tourists," he remarked.

PDM to contest by-polls, announces Fazl after Lahore strategy meeting ContInueD froM pAge 01 “It is a possility that Maryam Nawaz may not agree to Bilawal’s proposal to fight the PTI in the assemblies.

But even if Maryam Nawaz agrees to PPP’s decision, it would be a gigantic task to convince Maulana Fazlur Rehman to go along with it. In any case, the PDMs fate is in a jeopardy as the PPP, PML-N and JUI-F may not agree to the PPPs decision,” sources said.

“Sources said that after PPP’s decision to contest Senate elections, a new test has started for the PML-N vice president as to whether go for the long march by resigning from assemblies or fight the PTI in assemblies,” the sources said.

They said that Maryam had taken a position against contesting the Senate election and resigning from the Assemblies along with Fazl who stands rock solid on his stance.

“The PML-N leaders have started consultations.

Today’s meeting of PDM was important in this regard in which decisions regarding resignations, Senate elections and by-polls were to be taken. But it could not take any decision on the Senate elections,” sources said.

According to PPP leaders, members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) have accepted the proposal to resign from the assemblies, but this is the last

option, and they are in favor of contesting the Senate elections so that the PTI does not get a two-thirds majority in the Senate.

According to sources, some PML-N leaders are endorsing the PPP’s stance and they have also convinced Fazl and PML-N leaders to contest the upcoming byelections.

Sources said that the PPP members agreed on the decision that its lawmakers should submit their resignations to the leadership but do not agree to hand over the same to PDM President Fazl.

“In view of the situation, it is expected that the PDM will launch a protest movement against the government as well as contest the Senate and by-elections and formulate a strategy for the long march, sit-in and resignation option after the Senate election. There are possibilities, ” sources added.

After a late-night meeting between PML-N Vice President Maryam and PDM President Fazl earlier this week, the two senior politicians had said they wanted to give PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari a chance to explain his viewpoint regarding the decision to enter PPP into the elections.

PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif reportedly also participated in the aforementioned meeting via a video-link from London to discuss various options in

CMYK

the wake of the PPP’s reluctance over the proposed en masse resignations as part of their anti-government campaign.

The remarks had come on the backdrop of a PPP Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting held on Tuesday following which speculation was rife that legal experts have advised party heads against untimely resignations from the national and provincial assemblies. however, Bilawal had earlier said that all decisions made regarding the PDM would be a result of consensus and that nothing final has been announced regarding the resignations, which pleased Maryam and Fazl.

The PPP chairman, in a press conference after the CEC meeting, had also stated that the CEC believed “that if we (joint opposition) take up the challenge of Senate elections collectively we can make a better impact and achieve larger success.”

PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz, Pervaiz Raheed, Ayaz Sadiq, and Khawaja Saad Rafique had attended the meeting. PPP leaders who attended the meeting include Yousuf Raza Gilani, Qamar Zaman Kaira and Farahatullah Babar, while party chairman Bilawal attended by video link. Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan head Shah Owais Noorani had led his party delegates. The Qaumi Watan Party was led by Aftab Ahmed Sherpao. Senator Sajid Mir and Dr Jamaldini had also joined the meeting.

PM Imran pointed out that Pakistan had handled the coronavirus well, and that it was one of the few countries appreciated by the World health Organisation (WhO) for its efforts in curbing the pandemic. he said that the government followed the policy of saving lives as well as the livelihood of people. The premier said that he had two resolutions for the new year; one of which was to provide universal healthcare to all citizens. “One, universal health coverage to all our citizens. It has begun in KP and will soon in Punjab and GB. We hope other provinces will replicate this programme,” he said. The second resolution was the provision of food to the imporveshed. “Two, we will start our most ambitious nationwide project “Koi Bhuka Na Soyay”(No one should sleep hungry in Pak) under Ehsaas programme,” he said. “We hope other provinces will replicate this prog. Two, we will start our most ambitious nationwide project “Koi Bhuka Na Soyay”(No one should sleep hungry in Pak)under Ehsaas prog. By the end of the yr these 2 projects will move us closer to our goal of making Pak a welfare state,” he said on the microblogging site. ContInueD froM pAge 01

Court indicts nine in sindh wheat scam SUKKUR: An accountability court on Friday indicted nine accused in a case pertaining to the Sindh wheat scam.

The case was taken up by Accountability Judge Farid Anwar Qazi. Deputy Director Rafique Rajpar, DFC, Iqbal Pathan and other accused were indicted in the scam. however, the accused denied the charge-sheet and pleaded themselves as innocent. The hearing of the case was later adjourned till January 15. Earlier, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Sindh chapter had recovered more than Rs10 billion in wheat scandal under the inquiries opened against the provincial food department for the theft of wheat worth more than Rs15 billion. TLTP

Saturday, 2 January, 2021

06 COMMENT

New year strategy for attaining UN-SDGs 2030

Unity despite differences The PDM slogs on

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EASoN has prevailed over emotionalism. the PDM managed to reach consensus on important issues. Briefing the media after the PDM meeting, its chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, noted that the leadership of the allied parties had received the resignations of their legislators. there was no announcement, however, about when these will be presented to the concerned Speakers. the PDM chief underlined the unity prevailing in the opposition. All issues under discussion were resolved amicably, the media was told. the PDM chief held that extraneous intervention in civilian affairs was responsible for the ills of the country. there was a consensus in the alliance for this to be brought to an end. this was the PDM’s response to the PML(F) General Secretary’s warning delivered to Maulna Fazlur Rehman a day earlier. it was decided that 31 January was the last date for the government to resign. in case it failed to do so, the PDM would announce the date and the destination of the proposed long march. it was decided to participate in the by-lections while the decision on the Senate elections was to be taken later.

A number of protests were planned to soften up the government’s positions before the final assault. these would be followed by a grand march from all over Pakistan. its date and destination was to be decided in the next meeting of the alliance. the possibility of a ”jail bharo” movement was also hinted at by PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. he told the media that the alliance was satisfied with the explanation provided by the PPP about its position. this made it clear that all parties in the alliance stood united. the decision taken by the PDM would increase the worries of the Pti. the hopes that the PDM was going to split have been dashed to the ground. instead a united and aggressive PDM would continue to pressurize the government and its promoters from both inside and outside Parliament at a time when the common man’s sufferings continues to increase with rising electricity charges, petrol prices, and gas shortages. the PDM may not succeed in overthrowing the government by the end of the month, but it will give government a run for its money.

The banking sector plays a key role Syed ASim Ali BukhAri, dr. FAthyAh hAShim, And Pro. dr. AzlAn AmrAn

W

ith the end of 2020, it is customary to look back and envision the journey forward. this decade is coming to an end, but unfortunately, it has not been the ending one would have hoped.

Glancing towards the future, we see humanity entering the new decade with many unsolved and worsening problems such as the covid-19 pandemic, environmental degradation, natural resource depletion, widening economic and social development gaps between developed and developing nations, and much more. Five years ago, 193 members of the United Nations committed to adopt the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (UN-SDGs). these 17 interlinked SDGs have to be achieved by 2030 for a better and more sustainable future for all.

Pakistan is one such developing country plagued by numerous environmental, social, political, and economic problems further intensified by the covid19 pandemic. Pakistan committed to adopt the UNSDGs 2030 in 2015. the current government has undertaken various socio-environmental initiatives in this regard. however, at this point, the attainment of the country’s UN-SDGs by 2030 seems like an improbable task. this is mainly due to the lack of synergy within the initiatives of the various stakeholders.

Up until now, an important stakeholder, which has not been fully integrated into the SDG strategic planning, is the Pakistan banking sector. the UN Secretary-General has identified more than $100 billion annual investment potential in environmental sustainability initiatives in developing countries the iFC is encouraging banks to engage in green finance. Currently, the iFC gave a $300 million blue loan to indorama Ventures Public Company Limited”for recycling plastic bottles to minimize marine water pollution in thailand, indonesia, Philippines, india, and Brazil.

Globally, the banking sector is powering the economy’s transition to environmental sustainability. the Government of Pakistan should create a strategic liaison between the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the seven SDGs Support Units established at the federal, provincial, and federally administered areas, and related regulatory authorities. Under the umbrella of Green Banking, SBP can roll out green financing schemes for various SDG initiatives. Pak-

Amnesty extended Will the economy be kickstarted?

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RiME Minister imran Khan seems to set great store by the construction industry’s ability to kickstart the apparently stalled economy. he devoted a national broadcast on thursday to a personal announcement of the extension of an already announced package, which may indicate that the initial results have not been what were hoped, but that it must get more time. it is to be hoped that this time is to be given because the government still thinks it is a good idea, and not because it has run out of ideas. the facility of a fixed-tax regime has been extended for the entire year, to December 31 this year, while the facility of non-disclosure of the source of investment in this sector has been extended till June 30, indicating that this only applies for this tax year, and continuation would depend not just on the success of the measure, but how dim a view would be taken of it by the iMF, which is against subsidies such as this.

Another important beneficiary would be the government’s own housing schemes, as it struggles to fulfill its promise of providing five million housing units by 2023. it is also struggling to create 10 million new jobs, and is thus banking on its incentives to do both. if it can come close to even one of those goals, it would be an achievement. the government, Mr Khan disclosed, is already looking at 250,000 jobs and Rs 1.5 billion in economic activity from the Rs 150 million committed for new housing in Punjab alone. housing and construction is one of the main drivers of the economy, no matter whether is in the third World or the First. however, there seems to be a double standard at work somewhere. the Pti seems not to see the contradiction starting such schemes, and the protection it is giving to its own people, such as Senior Minister Aleem Khan, from NAB in housing schemes, with the tigerish NAB persecution of such PML(N) figures as Mian Shehbaz Sharif, and the Khawaja brothers, respectively over the Ashiana-i-iqbal housing Scheme, and the Paragon housing Society. Members of the government should remember that one day they might be out of office, and their successors may be as anxious to put them away, and as desperate to put the worst possible construction on their actions, as they are today.

Choosing the right path in politics AttiyA munAwer

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hE political climate in the country continues to heat up and the intensity of political confrontation is gradually increasing. then, the question arises as to what will be the outcome of the country seemingly reaching a dead end due to the escalating confrontation between the government and the opposition, and how much irreparable damage will be done to national interests in this turmoil? this question has rightly worried every sensible and conscious Pakistani, with smoky rhetoric from both sides fueling the fire, in which every effort is being made to declare the opposing party hostile to the country and clearly incompetent and dishonest. in this war of words, the fact is that the other side also represents millions of Pakistanis but it is not taken into account, while power is something to come or go. it is clear that the government is trying to stay in power and subdue the opposition, while Prime Minister imran Khan is proving lucky in that the opposition parties that wanted to oust the government through the movement have their own differences and contradictions. Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, head of the Jamiat Ulema-e-islam, who is credited with uniting the opposition under the banner of the PDM, is facing a major uprising within his own party.

Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman says that all this is the result of government fabrications and conspiracies. he is right, but this is what happens in such cases. if the opposition wants to oust the government, then the government will use all sorts of tactics to thwart it. the Maulana should have been prepared for this and duly taken precautions. however, the Maulana’s grip on his own party is strong and raising the banner of rebellion by these four gentlemen alone will not harm the party. the real problem is the differences within the opposition on various issues, and not being on the same page.

Arif Nizami Editor Umar Aziz

Asher John

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

ble. Although Maryam Nawaz has become quite an eagle and has gone too far on the instructions of her father based in London, it would be good for the antithere is an ambiguity about the goals of the opposi- establishment figures to be relieved, but the PML(N) tion that the desire to overthrow the present govern- concerns are being raised within, As far as Bilawal ment is in place. Earlier, it was claimed that this Bhutto Zardari is concerned, his zeal and enthusiasm government would step down in a month, but now are valuable, but the final decision will be made by there is a clear disagreement over the resignations, his father Asif Ali Zardari and he will never throw the Senate elections and the by-elections, and the his party into the fire of resignations.

At present, the country is in the throes of polittiming of the resignations is also a matter of controversy. Most PML(N) leaders say a decision on res- ical chaos and speculation, the government and the opposition are overtaking ignation or sit-in should be each other in animosity and taken after the Long March, confrontation. Getting out while some opposition parof this situation is the need ties want to run in the byof the hour for the betterelections and Senate The leaderships of ment of the country. Both elections, while expecting political parties should put the government and the opthe PPP to resign and come position should realize the out of the Sindh governdemocracy before situation is deteriorating, ment. this seems illusory, individuals, because their and come up with an approalthough PPP chief Bilawal priate and acceptable mechBhutto has said that the mistakes have been the anism in their own interest, party is ready to make this because the politics of siege sacrifice, but in the current main reason for the bedrock and annihilation and situation it does not seem of democracy, so learning walling off each other is not possible to do so in practice. in the interest of the country in the face of this situafrom the past and choosing and the nation. tion, the government seems the right path for the present the leaderships of polithappy that the opposition ical parties should prioritize movement is disintegrating and the future is the democratic principles and with its own contradictions public aspirations, not critiand that the PDM has broprimary responsibility of cize each other for their own ken the deadlock. in fact, the political forces party, factional and personal the leaders of the opposition interests. the people are did not even consider the watching the ongoing confar-reaching motives of frontation between their their strategy in the words of Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, because the Maulana elected representatives in a world of frustration and is trying to run the PDM as a political party, even surprise. the leaderships of political parties should though it is an alliance of opposition parties in which put democracy before individuals, because their miseach political party has its own point of view. the takes have been the main reason for the bedrock of Maulana himself, even though not a Member of Par- democracy, so learning from the past and choosing liament, is still holding on to the demand for resig- the right path for the present and the future is the prinations and for other political parties, resigning is mary responsibility of the political forces. fine as far as claims are concerned, but in practice it The writer tweets @AttiyaMunawer is unworkable at a time when the government is sta-

Both government and opposition have a role

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

istan’s sustainable development planning focuses on work for the banking industry under the Green Bankagriculture, health, energy systems, education, urban ing ideology and launch further Green Finance and planning, and technology. the provision of green fi- Products Schemes for various economic sectors like nancing for these sectors can play a facilitative role the already launched finance scheme for renewable in accelerating the UN-SDGs’ attainment. Pakistan is energy. Such initiatives by the SBP will lead the an agricultural country having substantial investment banking industry towards Green Banking adoption. potential in the area of sustainable and digital agri- Currently, most banks are focusing on their own adculture. SBP can coordinate with the Ministry of Na- verse environmental impact reduction and have limtional Food Security and Research to roll out green ited green financing portfolios. SBP can include SDGs financing as part of its financing schemes for preciGreen Banking strategy and sion agricultural projects, require banks to allocate a digital agriculture, organic specific percentage of their farming, and solar irrigation financing portfolios to these systems. these green fiIt is time that all the public goals. it should be reported nancing schemes should and private institutions unite as part of the bank’s green provide low-interest loans to reporting periodically. Many farmers practicing sustainfor the achievement of UNcountries, such as Malaysia, able agriculture.

SDGs 2030 and enter this new have made it mandatory for this synergistic blend listed organizations to can play a significant role in decade as a synergistic blend public report their sustainability acachieving multiple UNtivities. Similar sustainabilSDGs such as SDGs # 1, 2, of green ideologies and ity reporting standards 3, 8, 9, and 17. it will not initiatives. The sustainable should be developed for all only increase the quality of industrial sectors in Pakcrops and per-acre yield crop development of a nation is istan. All these initiatives production, but also mininot the sole responsibility of will help to accelerate Pakmize the hazardous environistan’s SDGs attainment and mental impacts associated any single stakeholder. It is green economy. with unsustainable agriculSeventy-three years ago, tural practices. the sustainthe combined responsibility the Quaid-e-Azam gave this able development of the of every stakeholder to nation the motto of ‘Unity, country’s health sector and Faith, and Discipline’. it has fulfillment of SDGs # 3 and ensure the creation of a been termed as the national 9 can be done with the con‘Clean and Green Pakistan’ in motto of Pakistan, but unforstruction of eco-friendly tunately, it has rarely been hospitals through green fithe next decade integrated into the country’s nancing. Similarly, various strategic planning. Unity and green finance schemes can singularity of purpose be launched for green it inamong stakeholders are necfrastructure, eco-friendly vehicles such as hybrid or electric cars and MSME essary for achieving the UN-SDGs. it is time that all sector by SBP with collaboration of relevant stake- the public and private institutions unite for the holders. the various construction schemes launched achievement of UN-SDGs 2030 and enter this new

by Prime Minister imran Khan, such as Naya Pakistan decade as a synergistic blend of green ideologies and housing Scheme and Ravi Riverfront Urban Devel- initiatives. the sustainable development of a nation opment Project, can be converted to green housing is not the sole responsibility of any single stakeholder. projects and financed through banks’ green financing it is the combined responsibility of every stakeholder portfolios. Green construction can help to achieve to ensure the creation of a ‘Clean and Green Pakistan’ SDGs # 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11. integration of Green Bank- in the next decade. ing and SDGs through green financing can result in a All authors, Syed Asim Ali Bukhari, Dr. Fathyah win-win situation for all concerned stakeholders.

SBP’s Green Banking initiatives can be a catalyst Hashim, and Prof. Dr. Azlan Amran, are associated for the attainment of UN-SDGs 2030. the SBP with the Graduate School of Business, Universiti should issue Green Finance guidelines and a frame- Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.

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Saturday, 2 January, 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

Lessons from 2020

Missing Justice….. ment has rightly knocked on the door of the Supreme Court on the issue of Senate election.

Although Article 226 of the Constitution clearly personality of the Quaid-e-Azam and then Li- defines that all elections under the Constitution AkhtAr Aly kureShy aqat Ali Khan. in other words, we lost every- other than those of the Prime Minister and the thing as there was no big and powerful Chief Minister shall be by secret ballot, as prepersonality to run Pakistan and cater to its needs, vious elections of the Senate revealed, there is iSSiNG person cases are very cur- as every succeedin leader and stakeholder en- strong apprehension of corruption for buying the rent in our country and different joyed Pakistan and its valuable resources. voters in the Senate election, it should be held As a result, people involved in the govern- through open ballot by raising hands and sorts of litigation is pending in our Courts, but these days there is no ment and its departments became rich, and in- Supreme Court may interpret the Constitution voice on this issue, and the media nocent Pakistan remained poor, as its public by adding the Senate election just like the elecchannels and newspapers are completely silent and all systems of runtion of Prime Minister on this, perhaps due to the dominating factor of ning governments beand Chief Minister as PDM activities or the brutality of Coronavirus. come corrupt, slow, in the article 226 so But i wonder, if there is absolutely no issue or and compromised. Nothat issue of corruption no voice raising anybody and if even the gov- body felt that the poiIt is the prime responsibility of may be eliminated. ernment is not feeling any pain because of miss- son is spreading all the word missing the state to legislate according justice ing justice in the country. the Supreme Court over to kill every norm is also missed sometimes loudly screeches for justice at the of the civilized society to the wishes and needs of the everywhere in our socigovernments and its earless departments, but for which the country ety. it is inevitable for citizen through Parliament, the government does not bother to show any was created. Still, it is the government, or the heed towards missing an essential organ of a going on, nobody is reSupreme Court to order then execute the law and peaceful and prosperous life promised by the alizing that it will finit, to ensure speedy and ish everything one day present leadership. policies by the Executive, inexpensive justice to Missing justice is no more a new phenome- if we are constantly citizen of PakCabinet, bureaucrats and lastly every non for us as the public has been facing it for the sleeping instead of unistan. to simplify, there last seven decades, although Pakistan got so derstanding our basic are four essential types deliver justice through a many achievements, for example, success in es- responsibility. So many of justice to meet the powerful judicial system of tablishing a powerful army, a vibrant air force, leaders came and tried needs of a civilized sothe navy and its agencies, obtaining nuclear to do something overciety. the first is disCourts, so that the citizens technologies and recently value-added, a contin- ambitiously without tributive justice to uous process of democratic governments in focusing on the sharp may lead peaceful, purposeful determine the equal which two parties completed a five—year term need of justice, but share of every citizen and prosperous lives in a each, and finally independence of judiciary and nothing came to the what he deserves on his active media. however, these powerful organs surface and the poor merits according to corruption-free society still more time to execute the real plan for their member of the public law, and the second is delivery and to fill the gap between our chronic was left running from procedural justice to pillar to post for his poverty and wellbeing of the citizens. determine how fairly, it is a settled principle and there is no need due share. equally, and transparEarlier it was invisible that we are lacking ently people are treated. the third type is retribuof further arguments that without justice you can’t be a powerful and proper nation, although an independent judiciary. After the famous tive justice, based on punishment for you have a decorated toy of an atom bomb to lawyer’s movement we managed to get an inde- wrongdoing or who breaks the law and the last pressure the world or your enemy, and you will pendent judiciary but now the burning issue is restorative justice, which tries to restore the not be in a position to curtail your poverty and again indicates the need to have a powerful ju- relationship to rightness. however, because backwardness even though every person has an diciary to end the evils and deep-rooted corrup- there is a tendency to slip from retributive justice amazing gadget to move the World in his hands. tion of our country which is growing too great. to an emphasis on revenge, some suggest that it is common to observe restorative justice processes are more effective. it is clearly showthat Pakistan remains in ing that some departSuch an exploration should, of course, also crisis virtually all te explore law enforcement’s side of the issue. ments of governments time and only the there are lots of big, society-wide problems are using innovative As a result, people involved Supreme Court in a that the larger society has failed and, in many technology to engage proper position to solve ways, not even tried to address: corruption, the whole nation, but in the government and its the problem. As the drug abuse, inadequate handling of social isin the same way many Supreme Court is the sues, lack of employment opportunities, to others are symbols of departments became rich, custodian of the Consti- name a few. to create a well-organized and civbackwardness, ignorand innocent Pakistan tution and protector of ilized society where everybody enjoys his ing the scientific revothe rights of public, oth- rights and performs his duty fairly and justly, lution and thus not remained poor, as its public ers are always seeking we have to delete the phrase ‘missing justice’ enhancing their capacand all systems of running its indulgence to safe- from our thoughts by ensuring the delivery of ity to meet the need of guard the public from complete and instant justice. it is the prime rethe hour. Similarly, this governments become tyranny of different de- sponsibility of the state to legislate according compromised ambipartments and their to the wishes and needs of the citizen through ence provides ample corrupt, slow, and policies. opportunity to cultiParliament, then execute the law and policies compromised. Nobody felt the Supreme Court by the Executive, Cabinet, bureaucrats and vate the corrupt in the is also enjoying the sta- lastly deliver justice through a powerful judisystem, including our that the poison is spreading tus of mentorship for cial system of Courts, so that the citizens may politicians, bureauall over to kill every norm of the government and lead peaceful, purposeful and prosperous lives crats, and even everyundisputed authority of in a corruption-free society. body who has the civilized society for which interpreters of the Conforgotten his duty as a stitution where some Muslim and a responthe country was created.

The writer is an Advocate Supreme Court of sort of ambiguity or Pakistan, Law Professor, member International sible citizen. conflict of interest Bar Association and former Assistant Attorney At the beginning, arises, as the govern- General for Pakistan. we lost the impeccable

How to take it out of the equation

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2020 was the worst year which we all experienced. it was tough and full of uncertainties. We lost many living legends, faced many troubles and difficulties.

Everyone says goodbye to the departed year with many good and bad memories and welcomes new year with many many hopes and expectations. however, this is not an event to celebrate and party but to learn something from it. Amidst last year many of us lost their loved ones, relatives and friends. But look we are alive even after sustaining many losses and deprivations. it is proof that time and life stops for nothing. Neither time breaked for anyone nor life paused for someone.

Last year, everyone committed many sins and mistakes willingly or unwillingly. But we can’t undo them. one mistake once done can’t be reversed but wisdom is to learn from that and strive not to make that mistake again. Doing a mistake is not a big mistake but not learning any lesson from it, is the biggest mistake. So, promise yourself to be something better than your old version. try to make your 2021 better than 2020. Don’t waste even a single moment of the new year. Utilize your time for achieving your goals and targets.

At the commencement of every new year, we set news plans and goals.

We hope that the new year will bring many improvements in us. But an alteration in the calendar can’t change your life unless you yourself want to change yourself. Change doesn’t come from only gossiping about it but you have to work for it. i wish this year brings prosperity and happiness to every individual who is seeking it. May this year pass quietly and peacefully!

Muzaffar Khoso suKKur

Vandalising sacred places ACCoRDiNG to the constitution of Pakistan, every individual has equal rights to live one’s own life in accordance with the law of the state whether one is a muslim or a non-muslim. Similarly, minorities, being citizens of Pakistan, have the same rights as others have. But it is sad to state that condition is conversely adverse in the land of pure; where they people are treated as second class citizens; where minorities have been become soft targets either in the form of forced conversions or vandalizing their sacred places whether in the name of religion or personal enmity by extremist minded people. though, demolishing holy places of other religions also lie in the ambit of blasphemous law. the recent incident of setting fire to a shrine (demolished in 1997 too by another mob) of a hindu saint by mobs in Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is also an intolerable and condemnable act. however, no law has been passed to fight this peril out-and-out from our society. No serious action is taken against those ill-minded people who are involved in these ill-planned acts. hence, it’s a dire need of hour for the ruling government as well as concerned authorities of the state to take pragmatic measures for overcoming this cruelty, and look into this matter for the protection of the vulnerable as well as marginalized sections of the society and its sacred places.

KaMlesh Bansari. sujawal

Making the most of 2021 iNitiALLy, i had thought it to be just another New year. But my mindset had started changing for better perspectives immediately after watching some New year eve programmes live on CNN. And a lot of laugh, plenty of wishes and a plethora of love had then been exchanged between the CNN anchormen and a few other people including certain New yorkers during that beautiful tV programme on the times Square ball drop. on the whole, it seemed like they were all laughing away that bloody pandemic.

What a good start to 2021 just born! this could be a positive call to everyone out there. on the other hand, the universe has been facing a lot of business and trade challenges straight from time immemorial. Additionally, the current CoViD-19 crisis has just added to the trade issues across the globe. however, continents like Asia, America and Europe have started taking steps to reconcile the current fiasco. More to the point, the intercontinental business/trade activities are the need of the hour in the current context.

Economically speaking, the current business statements from the Asian region have been pretty encouraging. Furthermore, sincere efforts and mutual business cooperation are badly needed to expand the potential trade platforms like APEC-Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, RCEP-Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership all aimed at encouraging regional business activities through free trade. Free trade has been deemed to be the best way out of economic slump in contrast to the trade war intended to harm other countries. My first-ever job was in fact into export and import activities through the tuticorin Port in tamil Nadu. Any attempt to place an embargo on trade activities will only entail a strong backlash. My native areas like Korkai, tiruchendur, tuticorin, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, tirunelveli have been thriving on easy and free trade, selling the locally procured farm produce like paddy, bananas, betels within the region and to outside areas too.

Plus, the idea of protectionism will never go down well with the people and countries. Getting down to free trade is the way forward and well ahead. Countries from the East and the West should come forward to strengthen the global economic status through bold business steps like multilateral negotiations and transboundary free trade.

P senthil saravana Durai MuMBai

Unpaid teachers thE schools in the Sindh have been closed since after the first case reported in the country of coronavirus. But there are many teachers like me who are working in private schools, and are still waiting for their salaries. the school’s management has declined to pay the salaries for the month of March and giving the excuses like- the students didn’t pay them the fees of the month of March and will release the salaries the moment they think they are in a position to do so. through the column of your esteemed newspaper, i want the education department authorities to look into the issue and all the private schools teachers should be paid on time. raBia Khan Karachi

Saturday, 2 January, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

DOn'T bLAme ShAriA fOr iSLAmic exTremiSm -- bLAme cOLOniALiSm MY RESEARCH UNCOVERS HOW TODAY’S INSTABILITY ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA IS, IN PART, A CONSEQUENCE OF THESE POST-COLONIAL DECISIONS TO REJECT SHARIA

conversaTion MArk FAtHIMAssoud

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ARNINg that Islamic extremists want to impose fundamentalist religious rule in American communities, right-wing lawmakers in dozens of U.S. states have tried banning Sharia, an Arabic term often understood to mean Islamic law.These political debates – which cite terrorism and political violence in the Middle east to argue that Islam is incompatible with modern society – reinforce stereotypes that the Muslim world is uncivilized.

They also reflect ignorance of Sharia, which is not a strict legal code. Sharia means “path” or “way”: It is a broad set of values and ethical principles drawn from the Quran – Islam’s holy book – and the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUh). As such, different people and governments may interpret Sharia differently.Still, this is not the first time that the world has tried to figure out where Sharia fits into the global order.

In the 1950s and 1960s, when great Britain, France and other european powers relinquished their colonies in the Middle

east, Africa and Asia, leaders of newly sovereign Muslim-majority countries faced a decision of enormous consequence: Should they build their governments on Islamic religious values or embrace the european laws inherited from colonial rule?

THE BIG DEBATE: Invariably, my historical research shows, political leaders of these young countries chose to keep their colonial justice systems rather than impose religious law.

Newly independent Sudan, Nigeria, Pakistan and Somalia, among other places, all confined the application of Sharia to marital and inheritance disputes within Muslim families, just as their colonial administrators had done. The remainder of their legal systems would continue to be based on european law.

To understand why they chose this course, I researched the decision-making process in Sudan, the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from the British, in 1956.

In the national archives and libraries of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, and in interviews with Sudanese lawyers and officials, I discovered that leading judges, politicians and intellectuals actually pushed for Sudan to become a democratic Islamic state.They envisioned a progressive legal system consistent with Islamic faith principles, one where all citizens – irrespective of religion, race or ethnicity – could practice their religious beliefs freely and openly.“The People are equal like the teeth of a comb,” wrote Sudan’s soon-to-be Supreme Court Justice hassan Muddathir in 1956, quoting the Prophet Muhammad (PBUh), in an official

memorandum I found archived in Khartoum’s Sudan Library. “An Arab is no better than a Persian, and the White is no better than the Black.”Sudan’s post-colonial leadership, however, rejected those calls. They chose to keep the english common law tradition as the law of the land.

WHY KEEP THE LAWS OF THE OPPRESSOR? My research identifies three reasons why early Sudan sidelined Sharia: politics, pragmatism and demography.Rivalries between political parties in post-colonial Sudan led to parliamentary stalemate, which made it difficult to pass meaningful legislation. So Sudan simply maintained the colonial laws already on the books.There were practical reasons for maintaining english common law, too.

Sudanese judges had been trained by British colonial officials. So they continued to apply english common law principles to the disputes they heard in their courtrooms.

Sudan’s founding fathers faced urgent challenges, such as creating the economy, establishing foreign trade and ending civil war. They felt it was simply not sensible to overhaul the rather smooth-running governance system in Khartoum.The continued use of colonial law after independence also reflected Sudan’s ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity.

Then, as now, Sudanese citizens spoke many languages and belonged to dozens of ethnic groups. At the time of Sudan’s independence, people practicing Sunni and Sufi traditions of Islam lived largely in northern Sudan. Christianity was an important faith in southern Sudan.Sudan’s diversity of faith communities meant that maintaining a for-

eign legal system – english common law – was less controversial than choosing whose version of Sharia to adopt.

WHY EXTREMISTS TRIUMPHED: My research uncovers how today’s instability across the Middle east and North Africa is, in part, a consequence of these post-colonial decisions to reject Sharia.In maintaining colonial legal systems, Sudan and other Muslim-majority countries that followed a similar path appeased Western world powers, which were pushing their former colonies toward secularism.But they avoided resolving tough questions about religious identity and the law. That created a disconnect between the people and their governments.

In the long run, that disconnect helped fuel unrest among some citizens of deep faith, leading to sectarian calls to unite religion and the state once and for all. In Iran, Saudi Arabia and parts of Somalia and Nigeria, these interpretations triumphed, imposing extremist versions of Sharia over millions of people.

In other words, Muslim-majority countries stunted the democratic potential of Sharia by rejecting it as a mainstream legal concept in the 1950s and 1960s, leaving Sharia in the hands of extremists.But there is no inherent tension between Sharia, human rights and the rule of law. Like any use of religion in politics, Sharia’s application depends on who is using it – and why.Leaders of places like Saudi Arabia and Brunei have chosen to restrict women’s freedom and minority rights. But many scholars of Islam and grassroots organizations interpret Sharia as a flexible, rights-oriented and equality-minded ethical order.

Why the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is key THE OXFORD-ASTRAZENECA VACCINE IS ESPECIALLY PROMISING FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD BECAUSE IT'S CHEAPER AND EASIER TO HANDLE AND STORE

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MICHAEL ZENNIE

he COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca wasn’t the first to be OK’d by regulators in the U.K.—health officials authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech jab nearly four weeks earlier. And it’s not the most effective—Stage 3 clinical trials suggest it prevents COVID-19 symptoms about 70% of the time vs. about 95% for the Pfizer vaccine and a similar one from Moderna (which is authorized in the U.S., but not the U.K.).

But the greenlight from the British Medicines and healthcare Products Regulatory Agency on Wednesday could be a big step toward bringing the COVID-19 pandemic under control worldwide.

It’s especially big news for the developing world because it’s cheaper and easier to handle and store. Countries from India to Brazil to South Africa have made big bets on the shot from the celebrated British university and the U.K.-Swedish drugmaker. The U.K. was the first country to allow use of the vaccine, but India is expected to follow suit within days.

Trials are ongoing in the U.S. and in multiple other countries.

Questions and major hurdles remain before it will be available in the U.S. and continental europe, where it has yet to receive regulatory approval. however, if the vaccine is authorized for use and rolled out widely across the world, “that’s really the beginning of the end of the pandemic,” says Ben Cowling, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of hong Kong.

ADVANTAGES OF THE OXFORDASTRAZENECA VACCINE: The first thing to know about the Oxford-As-

traZeneca jab is that it’s cheap. AstraZeneca has promised it will not make a profit on the vaccine during the pandemic. As a result, it costs $3 to $4 per dose around the world. Compare that to $25 to $37 a dose for the vaccine developed by Moderna and about $20 a dose for Pfizer’s jab, according to figures reported in europe.

“Approval of this vaccine is a turning point for the pandemic because it has been deliberately developed to have global impact that includes people living in the most fragile and poorest regions of the world,” said helen Fletcher, a professor of immunology at the London School of hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Second, it’s easier to transport and store. Unlike Pfizer’s vaccine, which must be stored in specialized freezers at -70°C (-94°F), the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot requires only standard refrigeration and will remain viable for up to six months. (Morderna’s vaccine can be kept at normal freezer temperatures and stored in refrigeration for up to 30 days once thawed.)

Additionally—there will be a lot more of it available. AstraZeneca and Oxford have worked with manufacturers across the world to produce millions of doses already, and the company says it hopes to make 3 billion more in 2021.

With the current two-dose regimen, that’s enough to vaccine nearly 20% of the world’s population.

The Serum Institute of India, which was contracted to make COVID-19 vaccine for the developing world, has already manufactured up to 50 million doses and says it can make 100 million a month by March.

Pfizer, one of the world’s largest drug companies, has set a target of delivering 1.3 billion doses for 2021. Moderna, an upstart pharmaceutical company, says it hopes to produce between 500 million and 1 billion doses. however, rich countries have already claimed much of the expected supply of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine. “Those vaccines are already committed, so they are not available for most middle income and low income

countries,” says Dr.ChandrakantLahariya, a Delhi-based epidemiologist and author of a book on India’s COVID-19 fight.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, on the other hand, makes up the bulk of the 2 billion vaccine doses secured by COVAX, a consortium of 190 world governments formed to help ensure COVID19 vaccines were distributed fairly around the world—including to developing countries.

HOW IS THE OXFORD-ASTRAZENECA VACCINE DIFFERENT? The Oxford-AstraZeneca uses different technology from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that are approved for use in the U.S.While those two vaccines use the mRNA genetic code of the coronavirus to train the body’s defenses, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine uses a “viral vector,” introducing a harmless virus—in this case a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees—modified with the SARSCoV-2 virus spike protein to stimulate an immune response.

Other COVID-19 vaccines in the pipeline also use the viral vector method—including one from Johnson & Johnson and Russia’s Sputnik V. This technique has already proved successful in the past, including with the ebola vaccine. The mRNA vaccines, on the other hand, are the first using that approach to receive authorization.

QUESTIONS REMAIN While the U.K.’s decision to use the vaccine is significant, Cowling, the hKU epidemiologist, says other countries may wait to begin administering it until after the european Medical Authority (eMA) or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grant authorization—both of which are seen as more stringent than the British regulator.

One eMA official told Belgian newspaper het Nieuwsblad that AstraZeneca has not even submitted its vaccine for a regulatory consideration yet, adding that approval in January wasn’t likely.There also remain questions surrounding latestage trials for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.In September, AstraZeneca and

Oxford halted trials in the U.K. after a volunteer experienced an unexplained illness—but did not announce the pause until it was reported in the news media.

U.K. regulators gave the OK to continue trials days later. however, the New York Times reported that U.S. regulators at the FDA were not notified of the pause and taken aback by the news. It took almost seven weeks before regulators allowed trials to resume in the U.S. Then, in November, clinical trial data raised questions about dosing.

The results showed that the vaccine was 62% effective for subjects given two full doses, and 90% effective for those who were mistakenly given a half dose first, and then a full dose. There were also questions about how the data were released and reported.

The company said it maintained the highest standards during clinical trials and reported the dosing issue to authorities when it was discovered. U.K. regulators signed off on a plan to continue the trial with the half-dose participants. however, the group that received the half dose was too small and included no patients over age 55—meaning no firm conclusions could be drawn. On Wednesday, British regulators authorized the use of two full doses, administered four to 12 weeks apart.

Despite these questions, Fletcher at the London School of hygiene & Tropical Medicine says the dosing question should not delay approval by the FDA and eMA—both regulators were only considering authorization for two full doses.

Additionally, there are very little data on how long protection for the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine—or any other COVID-19 vaccine—will last.

Regardless, the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab will almost surely help turn the tide against the pandemic. “With more than 30 supply agreements and partner networks established globally, the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine could slow the pandemic,” she says, “and should save many lives within the next year.”

RELIGION AND THE LAW WORLDWIDE: Religion is woven into the legal fabric of many post-colonial nations, with varying consequences for democracy and stability.After its 1948 founding, Israel debated the role of Jewish law in Israeli society. Ultimately, Prime Minister David Ben-gurion and his allies opted for a mixed legal system that combined Jewish law with english common law.

In Latin America, the Catholicism imposed by Spanish conquistadors underpins laws restricting abortion, divorce and gay rights.

And throughout the 19th century, judges in the U.S. regularly invoked the legal maxim that “Christianity is part of the common law.” Legislators still routinely invoke their Christian faith when supporting or opposing a given law. Political extremism and human rights abuses that occur in those places are rarely understood as inherent flaws of these religions.

When it comes to Muslim-majority countries, however, Sharia takes the blame for regressive laws – not the people who pass those policies in the name of religion.Fundamentalism and violence, in other words, are a post-colonial problem – not a religious inevitability.For the Muslim world, finding a system of government that reflects Islamic values while promoting democracy will not be easy after more than 50 years of failed secular rule. But building peace may demand it.

Mark FathiMassoud, Director of Legal Studies and Associate Professor of Politics, University of California, Santa Cruz. He has received fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the American Council of Learned Societies, the Andrew Mellon Foundation, FulbrightHays, and the University of California.

Let’s not bargain off health, environment economic Times

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he ‘consensus’ on stubble burning and free power after the last round of talks between the government and protesting farmers, mostly from Punjab, offers a disturbing conclusion. Public health and the environment are not priorities. From the demands made by the farmers and the support they have garnered, devoid of measures of mitigation such as providing for an environment-friendly alternative to burning the crop residue, such as creating a market for it as input to biodigesters, it is clear that, as citizens, we attach little value to our health and continued well-being.

The farm laws seek to enhance farmers’ choice and let market forces guide farmers to diversify crops away from grain, of which the country has an excess. The debate should be on the modalities to minimise disruption.

Free power supplied to farmers through unmetered connections is a source of not just major theft of power for non-farm uses but also of indiscriminate pumping out of water from the ground, leading to groundwater depletion.

The government must be criticised for agreeing to demands that risk public health but the blame lies with the protesting farmers and their supporters as well, who make demands that deplete groundwater, degrade the soil and pollute the air.

Agreeing to the demands on decriminalising stubble burning and continuing subsidy for free electricity for farmers is a setback.That these demands have gone unopposed by political parties supporting the farmers’ protests, including the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, among the loudest critics of farmers who burn crop stubble, as well as sections of the civil society, particularly environmentalists, tells us of the low priority we place on human and environmental health and well-being.

Saturday, 2 January, 2021

BUSINESS 09

corporate corner Ali J Hamdani Appointed SngPL managing Director SNGPL Board of Director has appointed Mr. Ali J. Hamdani as Managing Director of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) for a period of three years. Earlier the Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan had also approved appointment of Mr. Hamdani in the Federal Cabinet meeting held on December 15, 2020. PRESS RELEASE

Silkbank launches visa contactless credit cards Silkbank Limited, a dominant player with substantial market share in the Credit Cards industry, announced the successful launch of its contactless Visa Credit Cards in December 2020. Contactless technology enables safer and faster transactions that do not require you to swipe or dip your card at POS (Point of Sale) terminals, making your purchase experience more convenient. PRESS RELEASE

EFU Life receives SAFA Award

FBR ALmoSt mEEtS H1 REvEnUE tARgEt, CoLLECtS RS2,204Bn IsLAmAbAd

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StAff REPoRt

HE Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has almost achieved its six-month (JulyDecember) revenue collection target for the current fiscal year as it collected Rs2,204 billion, which is 99.7 percent of the set target of Rs2,210 billion.

The FBR on Friday released the provisional revenue collection figures for the first six months of the current fiscal year. According to the provisional information, the FBR collected a net revenue of Rs2,204 billion, which is 99.7 per cent of the target. It also showed a growth of 5 per cent over Rs2,101 billion which were collected during the same period of the last financial year.

KARACHI

K-Electric partners with SAP ARIBA to digitalise its procurement process KARACHI: In continuation of its broader digitization initiatives, K-Electric (KE), Pakistan’s only vertically integrated power utility, has partnered with SAP, a leading multinational information technology services provider. KE will implement SAP’s ARIBA E-Procurement tool, which will automate its procurement processes, end to end. SAP Ariba, once fully implemented, will digitally transform KE’s supply chain, sourcing, contract management and vendor management processes. This will result in more efficient and cost-effective procurement activities, and also simplify and standardize the business processes in line with global best practices. The new system will enable; 1.) Increased data visibility to both vendors and KE users through selfserviceable dashboards; 2.) Increased bidding process transparency and real time visibility of end to end tendering process; 3.) Technical Evaluation (T/E) tracking and online submission; 4.) Electronic log maintenance of complete communications related to commercial and technical proposals; 5.) Optimized turnaround time (TAT) for each portfolio; 6.) Enhanced opportunities for strategic buying and 7.) Greater financial savings. Speaking about the new software implementation, Syed Moonis Alvi, CEO KE, said; “We chose SAP because it has the solutions, services, and expertise that KE needs to mitigate financial and operational complexities; meet internal and external customer needs and reduce the strain that supplier risk and market uncertainty pose to supply chains.” Saquib Ahmed, Managing Director SAP Pakistan, added, “In Pakistan, every part of the business needs to be more efficient, responsive and agile – particularly in the post COVID-19 world. KE is showing best practices in how Pakistan’s utility companies can run in real-time to drive new, digital, citizen-centric business models, leverage procurement innovations to maintain business continuity and cater for Pakistan’s growing needs.” As the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic starts to impact daily life, KE has partnered with various leading technology service providers to introduce greater efficiencies into its front and back end operations. This includes introducing a wider range of payment options by partnering with leading ridesharing, e-commerce and financial services providers.

Earlier, KE also automated its demand management and supply process for over 600 components of power distribution equipment. PRESS RELEASE

fiscal year, refunds to the tune of Rs102 billion have been issued compared to Rs53 billion for the same period the last year. This represents an increase of 90 per cent in the issuance of refunds.

Moreover, under the Prime Minister’s Coronavirus Relief Package, refunds of Rs42 billion have also been issued this year. Despite excessive issuance of refunds this year, FBR has managed to collect significantly more revenue in comparison to last year when Covid-19 had not disrupted economic life. Increased refunds have greatly helped boost the economic activity in the country.

FBR’s appreciable performance demonstrates that despite the second wave of Covid-19, the government policies have insulated the economy which is showing growing signs of economic revival across the broad-spec-

CDC launches new fintech initiative of Mutual Fund Digital Platform (EMLAAK Financials) PRESS RELEASE

EFU Life Assurance Limited, leading life insurance provider in the country, has been honored with ‘Certificate of Merit’ for Best Presented Annual Report 2019 in the category of ‘Insurance Sector’ by South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA). The awards ceremony was recently held Colombo, Sri Lanka on 23 rd December, 2020. The awards were conferred on the basis of improvement in transparency, accountability & governance pertaining to annual reports of organizations from South Asian countries. Mr. Abbas Hussain, Company Secretary, EFU Life Assurance Ltd. received the award on behalf of the Company. PRESS RELEASE

Income tax collection for July to December stood at Rs816 billion. Similarly, collection of sales tax, federal excise duty, customs duty remained Rs915 billion, Rs127 billion and Rs336 billion, respectively. Moreover, an additional Rs10 billion have been collected from book adjustment. It is expected that revenue to be collected from book adjustment will increase in coming days.

For the month of December only, the total collected revenue stood at Rs508 billion, which was 97.7 per cent of the target of Rs520 billion and showed a growth of 8.3 per cent against Rs469 billion collected in last December. There is an increase of Rs39 billion in the revenue collection of December 2019. This is the highest monthly growth during July-December period.

In the first six months of the current

Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited, through its subsidiary ITMinds Limited, has launched the pilot version of a digital platform for the support of the Mutual Fund industry. This platform, named as “Emlaak Financials”, will function as a digital distribution channel initially for Mutual Funds and later on for other asset classes also.

In the first phase, ‘Emlaak Financials’ will provide a lowcost and centralized solution to investors, initially through covering low-risk investors, but will soon be expanded to a fullfledged distribution mechanism for all types of investors.

The pilot project has been launched with five AMCs; however, soon more AMCs will be on-boarded on the platform. The launch of the pilot project has been officially announced and formalized in an Agreement Signing ceremony at the CDC House, Karachi.

Mr. Farrukh Sabzwari—Commissioner Specialized Compa-

nies Division (SCD) SECP presided the event.

While addressing the occasion, Mr. Farrukh Sabzwari— Commissioner SCD SECP said, “It is indeed a very important milestone for the Mutual Fund Industry as it embarks on this consolidated digital distribution channel launched for the first time in Pakistan. We, at SECP, are strong proponents of re-engineering processes for promoting efficiency and transparency through digitalization and will continue to support and encourage all such initiatives by providing all the required Regulatory assistance in this regard. Pakistan’s mutual fund segment stands at a meager 1.6 percent of the GDP, which is very low compared to the market’s potential. A major obstacle in moving the needle has been limited outreach and focus on specific market segments. The pivotal role of innovation in economic development is undeniable, and I congratulate CDC on coming up with this innovative solution for the Mutual Fund

Industry which will lead to higher productivity, reduced turnaround times, lower costs and wider outreach.”

At the occasion, describing the objectives of the platform, Mr. Badiuddin Akber—CEO CDC said, “After the successful integration of Roshan Digital Accounts with Capital market, CDC is now launching this new FinTech solution which aims to pave the way for the growth of the Mutual Fund Industry and for promoting financial inclusion in Pakistan at the grass-root level. CDC is committed to provide innovative tech-based platforms to Capital Market entities through which they can leverage CDC’s technological edge to enhance their investor outreach in a convenient, informative and interactive manner.”

The event was also attended by representatives of the participating AMCs and CEO MUFAP, Ms. Mashmooma Majeed, who lauded CDC’s efforts in undertaking this initiative and playing its role for the development of the mutual fund industry.

trum business activities.

During the first six months of current fiscal year, smuggled goods worth Rs30 billion have been seized as compared to seizures of Rs22 billion during the corresponding months of 2019.

After many years, the FBR has restored the sanctity of the last date of filing of income tax return. This has been welcomed by taxpayers who have filed 2.3 million returns till 31st December compared to 2.17 million last year. Income Tax paid during filing of returns stood at Rs43.5 billion compared to only Rs28 billion deposited last year.

This shows an increase in tax deposit with returns of 55 per cent.

According to the statement, the FBR is fully geared towards automation, eaudit, and simplification of procedures, e-payment of duty draw back so as to add to ease of doing business (EoDB).

Easypaisa joins hands with FBR and SECP for easy transactions KARACHI PRES RELEASE

Easypaisa has taken another step towards a digital ecosystem by adding a diverse range of government fee payments to its platform, thus enabling users to pay dues to the government with just a few taps from their mobile phone. Payments to major departments working under the federal as well as provincial governments including Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Excise and Taxation, and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) amongst others are now possible via Easypaisa, thus bringing significant convenience to users. Vehicle token payments for instance were a long and tiring process involving visits to bank branches and the respective authorities’ office, can now be conveniently done through a mobile phone. The earlier payment process was not only cumbersome, but the COVID-19 pandemic added to the worries due to the health risk associated with visits to crowded places. Now with Easypaisa, this is no longer a cause for concern. Users can simply log in to their app, choose the respective government department that they want to submit the payment to and make the transaction securely through their smartphone. It doesn’t get much simpler than that! Easypaisa has been revolutionizing the digital financial landscape since its inception and today, it has become one of the most widely used digital payment platforms across the country that enables ease and convenience for all users.

Easypaisa, Pakistan’s leading digital payments platform, is continuously adding new features to bring ease and convenience to its users. From sending money over long distances to remotely topping up airtime to bill payments, the platform has revolutionized payments.

State of the Global Islamic Economy Report Pakistan launch held at IBA IBA CEIF along with HDC (Halal Development Council) Pakistan and in partnership with Dinar Standard, a US-based research, and advisory firm hosted a Pakistan launch event of the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report (SGIE) 2020/21 on December 30th, 2020 at IBA with a theme of ‘thriving in uncertainty’.

Launched in 2013, the eighth edition of the report is supported by Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC) and presents an annual update on the Islamic Economy - encompassing halal products, Islamic finance, and lifestyle sectors and services.

This year’s report, estimates that Muslims world-wide spent US$2.02 trillion in 2019 on halal lifestyle-related food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, modest fashion, travel, and media sectors. While this spending reflects 3.2 percent year-on-year growth, Muslim spending in 2020 is forecast to contract by 8 percent due to the impact of the pandemic. However, spending, excluding travel, is forecast to rebound by the end of 2021 and is slated to reach US$2.3 trillion by 2024, at a cumulative annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1 percent. Islamic

finance assets are estimated to have reached US$2.88 trillion in 2019 and are estimated to remain at the same level in 2020. Pakistan’s domestics Muslim consumer spend on halal relevant sectors was estimated at $120 billion in 2019 which is the 6th highest globally.

In the report’s Global Islamic Economy Indicator that covers 81 countries this year — Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Indonesia, and Jordan lead the rankings. Pakistan moved up one rank to take the #8 spot. PRESS RELEASE

NIC LUMS initiates ‘Entrepreneur in Conversation’ series; strengthens foundation council LAHORE PRESS RELEASE

The National Incubation Centre Lahore (NICL) at LUMS is on a renewed mission to contribute to Pakistan’s economic development by promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. Its latest initiative, the ‘Entrepreneur in Conversation’ series, features some of Pakistan’s brightest entrepreneurial minds discussing their innovative solutions to combat the country’s many challenges.

The talks are helmed by Saleem Ahmad, Chairman NICL. “We hope that these informal and interactive sessions will serve as an opportunity to learn from entrepreneurs who are solving

Pakistan’s big problems, and thereby

CM YK

creating lasting impact. In the process,

we hope to inspire a generation of young problem-solvers who can learn from these entrepreneurs’ path-breaking journeys,” Mr. Ahmad commented.

Through this series, NICL is aiming to provide young entrepreneurs a platform to engage directly with industry leaders and learn first-hand from their start-up journeys. The speaker series highlights their failures and successes, and more importantly, how they overcame challenges to create enduring success. These innovators, disruptors, and visionaries have succeeded in impacting industries, and have built companies that are positively changing the way society operates. These talks are available on NICL’s Facebook page and websites.

Saturday, 2 January, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

World WelComes 2021 With loW-key NeW yeAr CelebrAtioNs iN shAdoW of pANdemiC SYDNEY

Gunmen kill Afghan radio journalist in car ambush KABUL AGENCIES

An Afghan radio journalist was shot dead Friday in a car ambush in the central province of Ghor, officials said, the fifth media worker to be killed in two months. Besmullah Adel Aimaq, editor-in-chief of Voice of Ghor radio, was killed en route to Firoz Koh city, the capital of Ghor province, said Aref Aber, the governor's spokesman. In recent months, other prominent Afghans have been ambushed by gunmen or killed in bomb attacks. No group has yet claimed responsibility for Aimaq's murder. The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee, a group working for the security of journalists in the violence-wracked country, confirmed the incident. It comes weeks after the December 12 killing of Rahmatullah Nekzad, who was shot dead with a silenced pistol near his home in the restive eastern city of Ghazni. Two Taliban inmates who were freed ahead of peace talks between the insurgents and the Afghan government have been arrested in connection with Nekzad's murder, Afghanistan's spy agency the National Directorate of Security (NDS) said late on Thursday. About 5,000 Taliban inmates were released last year as part of a contentious prisoner swap ahead of the long-delayed peace talks that finally commenced on September 12. The NDS said that after their release the two Taliban inmates joined a "terrorist group" in Ghazni which has carried out several assassinations. The two, who have confessed to their crimes, had also assassinated a judge and two government employees, the agency said. The Taliban had denied responsibility for the murder of Nekzad. Peace talks are currently on a break, but are due to resume on January 5 in the Qatari capital of Doha.

'No need to panic,' China official says of coronavirus variants BEIJING AGENCIES

There is no sign new coronavirus variants will affect the immune impact of a vaccine that China has just authorised for public use, a disease control official was quoted as saying on Friday. The shot by an affiliate of state-backed company Sinopharm was approved on Thursday, the day after news of China’s first imported case of a variant spreading in Britain. “No need to panic,” Xu Wenbo, an official at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told state TV. “The mutated variant, compared with previous mutated variants .... has no obvious change so far in its ability to cause disease,” he added. He said no impact of variants on the vaccine’s immune effect had been detected.

The variant which British scientists have named “VUI – 202012/01” includes a genetic mutation in the “spike” protein, which could theoretically result in easier spread of Covid-19. Xu added that mutation in the virus’ protein would not affect the sensitivity of most Chinese-made Covid-19 tests that target the virus’ nucleic acids, which carry genetic information.

f

AGENCIES

ROM Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Acropolis, fireworks burst in skies above eerily deserted landmarks as the world ushered in the New Year with muted celebrations and said good riddance to a pandemic-ridden 2020.

After a grinding year that has seen at least 1.7 million people die from Covid-19, fresh waves of infection have sparked renewed lockdowns and forced would-be revellers to extend their 2020 tradition of watching events from the sofa.

The eagerly awaited first seconds of 2021 fell on the Pacific nations of Kiribati and Samoa from 1000 GMT. The uninhabited Howland and Baker Islands were the last to tip over into the New Year.

New Zealand, which has won plaudits for its handling of the coronavirus, followed Kiribati and Samoa, with large crowds gathered in Auckland to watch a fireworks display.

In Australia's largest city, Sydney, fireworks lit up the glittering harbour with a dazzling display, but few spectators watched in person.

"I think everybody is looking towards 2021 as a fresh beginning and a fresh start," Karen Roberts, among the lucky few who were allowed past checkpoints around the area, said at a bar nestled under the Sydney Opera House.

CURFEWS BEING ENFORCED: Some Hong Kongers, despite restrictions, ventured out to mark the start of the year, gathering on the Victoria Harbour waterfront to take selfies.

In Tokyo, where residents face the prospect of a state of emergency being imposed after infections touched new highs, people queued in face masks to offer New Year prayers.

Wuhan in China, where the virus first appeared late last year, saw thousands gather to celebrate – and Taipei also enjoyed a more traditionally upbeat celebration with crowds massing to watch fireworks.

Elsewhere, the mood was far more downbeat.

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin acknowledged in a New Year's address that a second wave of Covid-19 was battering the nation.

"The fight against it does not stop for a minute," he said.

Italy–where shocking images of makeshift morgues and exhausted medics awoke the world to the severity of the crisis–is on a nationwide lockdown until January 7 with a 10 pm curfew in place.

From France to Latvia and Brazil, police and– in some cases–military personnel are being deployed to make sure curfews or bans on large

gatherings are enforced.

Paris and Athens both featured socially distanced gatherings, with a virtual concert and light show over Notre Dame in the French capital and fireworks over the Acropolis in Greece.

In hard-hit London, 74-year-old American singersongwriter Patti Smith had been due to ring in the New Year with a tribute to National Health Service workers who have died from Covid-19, projected on the screen at Piccadilly Circus and streamed on YouTube.

But due to alarm at rising infections rates, the big screen projection was cancelled with the tribute viewable instead solely online.

A few dozen revellers did arrive in Parliament Square to watch Big Ben chime 11:00 pm – midnight in Brussels – marking the moment that Brexit finally became a reality, with Britain severing its turbulent half-century partnership with Europe.

Police ordered them home well before midnight, however.

SOCIAL GATHERING: A fireworks and laser show was held in Dubai at the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower, where there has been a slew of new cases. Those watching were required to wear masks and register with identifying QR barcodes.

In Beirut, still reeling from an explosion that devastated the city's port in August, authorities were also cutting loose.

A curfew was pushed back to 3 am and bars, restaurants and night clubs allowed to reopen to host large parties.

On the banks of Lake Baikal in Siberia, where temperatures plummet to as low as -35 degrees Celsius (-31 Fahrenheit), around a dozen Russians emerged invigorated after a New Year's Eve ice dip.

The swimmers, known in Russia as "walruses", ran several kilometres (miles) through a snowy forest in swimsuits and festive costumes before plunging into the world's largest freshwater lake.

"It is invigorating. It stings a little!" Andrei Bugai said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel used her New Year greeting to warn the coronavirus crisis would extend into 2021 even if vaccines bring some hope, as police clashed with revellers near the Brandenburg gate in Berlin.

As the final hours of 2020 ticked away in the Americas, authorities in New York City blocked public access to Times Square, where thousands usually gather to watch a crystal ball drop at midnight.

A star-studded celebration will still be televised from the square with performances from the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Gloria Gaynor – but its confetti will fall onto a largely deserted pavement.

With midnight approaching, the US, the worsthit country in the world, was also nearing 20 million recorded infections and more than 345,000 deaths.

In Brazil – which has already recorded more than 193,000 Covid-19 deaths, the second-largest number in the world after the US – Rio de Janeiro was blocking beach access to prevent the crowds of revellers who traditionally gather.

WHO grants emergency use approval for Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine GENEVA AGENCIES

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday granted emergency validation to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, paving the way for countries worldwide to quickly approve its import and distribution.

The decision "makes the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine the first to receive emergency validation from WHO since the (novel coronavirus) outbreak began a year ago," WHO said in a statement.

Britain launched its inoculation drive with the

US-German vaccine on December 8, with the United States, Canada and EU countries following suit.

"This is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to Covid-19 vaccines," said Mariangela Simao, a top WHO official tasked with ensuring access to medicines. "But I want to emphasise the need for an even greater global effort to achieve enough vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere," she said in a statement.

WHO said its emergency use listing opens the way for regulators in different countries to approve the import and distribution of the vaccine.

It said it also enables UNICEF, which plays a key logistical role in distributing anti-Covid vaccines, and the Pan-American Health Organization to procure the vaccine for countries that need it.

WHO convened its own experts and those from around the world to review the data on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine's "safety, efficacy and quality," weighing the benefits against the risks.

"The review found that the vaccine met the musthave criteria for safety and efficacy set out by WHO, and that the benefits of using the vaccine to address Covid-19 offset potential risks," it said.

African free trade area launches after delays due to Covid-19 African countries began officially trading under a new continent-wide free trade area on Friday, after months of delays caused by the global coronavirus pandemic.

But experts view the New Year's Day launch as largely symbolic with full implementation of the deal expected to take years.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aims to bring together 1.3 billion people in a $3.4 trillion economic bloc that will be the largest free trade area since the establishment of the World Trade Organization.

Backers say it will boost trade among African neighbours while allowing the continent to develop its own value chains. The World Bank estimates it could lift tens of millions out of poverty by 2035.

But obstacles - ranging from ubiquitous red tape and poor infrastructure to the entrenched protectionism of some of its members - must be overcome if the bloc is to reach its full potential.

Trade under the AfCFTA was meant to be launched on July 1 but was pushed back after

Covid-19 made in-person negotiations impossible. However, the pandemic also gave the process added impetus, said Silver Ojakol, chief of staff at the AfCFTA's secretariat.

"We saw the impact on our economies of the disruption of imports due to the pandemic," he said. "So there is actually been an increase in political will to boost intra-

African integration.”

Every African country except Eritrea has signed on to the AfCFTA framework agreement, and 34 have ratified it. But observers such as W. Gyude Moore - a former Liberian minister who is now a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development - say the real work begins now.

"I would be surprised if they can have everything set up within 24 months," he said.

"For long-term success, I think we will need to look at how long it took Europe. This is a multi-decade process."

‘WE MUST START SOMEWHERE’: Historic challenges including Africa's poor road and rail links, political unrest, excessive border bureaucracy and petty corruption will not disappear overnight.

And an annex to the deal outlining the rules of origin - an essential step for determining which products can be subject to tariffs and duties - has not been completed yet.

Meanwhile, 41 of the zone's 54 member states have submitted tariff reduction schedules.

Members must phase out 90 per cent of tariff lines - over five years for more advanced economies or 10 years for less developed nations. Another 7 per cent considered sensitive will get more time, while 3 per cent will be allowed to be placed on an exclusion list.

Finalising those schedules and communicating them to businesses must be done quickly, said Ziad Hamoui of Borderless Alliance, a group that campaigns for easier cross-border trade.

But efforts to implement the deal will also likely face resistance from countries' domestic interest groups. Fears of losing out to more competitive neighbours initially made some countries, including West African giant Nigeria, sceptical of the pan-African project.

Still, proponents of the zone are confident that initial steps towards its implementation will already allow member states to double intra-African trade by 2025.

"Economic integration is not an event. It is a process," said the AfCFTA secretariat's Ojakol. "We must start somewhere.” AGENCIES

Saturday, 2 January, 2021

PCB AwArds 2020: BABAr AzAm nAmed most VALuABLe CrICketer of the YeAr LAHORE

t

STAFF REPORT

HE Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced the winners of its awards for the year 2020. The PCB posted the complete winners’ list on social media after the champions were decided by an independent jury.

Skipper Babar Azam was named as the Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year by the cricket board following his stellar performances across all formats during the year.

In addition to the most prestigious award, the 26-year-old was also adjudged the White-ball Cricketer of the Year after averaging 110.5 and 55.2 in the ODIs and T20Is, respectively.

"I am truly humbled to have been awarded with the White-ball and Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year awards by the independent jury in what has been a difficult year for all professional athletes.

Without the support of my teammates and family, this would not have been possible and, as such, I owe big time to all of them for my successes in 2020 and hope they will continue to support me in years to come.

"Captaining Pakistan at home was a huge moment for me, though without crowds, it took a bit of the gloss of that honour. I think the cricket I played in England was some of the best. England is never an easy place to play due to the conditions and the players they boast, but to go out there and perform gave me the satisfaction and encouragement that I can

RIZWAN, FAWAD, ALIYA, NASEEM WIN ACCOLADES IN RESPECTIVE CATEGORIES

compete against the best and help my side to do better," Azam said in a statement.

"I am disappointed to miss the three T20Is and the first Test in New Zealand as I was determined and motivated to perform against what is a really good New Zealand team and managed outstandingly

by Kane Williamson."

Mohammad Rizwan, the stand-in captain for the final Test of 2020 at Mount Maunganui against New Zealand, was declared Test Cricketer of the Year. In five Tests, he aggregated 302 runs, mostly in difficult situations, with four half-centuries at an average of 43.14. He also accounted for 12 batsmen behind the wickets.

Australia's batsmen must 'grind' to foil India's plans: Labuschagne MELBOURNE

FawadAlam's fighting and courageous 102 at Mount Maunganui, his first Test century in 11 years that made global headlines, was chosen as the Individual Performance of the Year by the independent jury that comprised highly respected and distinguished cricket personalities.

Pakistan women's all-rounder Aliya Riaz was named as the Women's Cricketer of the Year while 19-year-old Fatima Sana was chosen as the Women's Emerging Cricketer of the Year.

The 17-year-old fast bowler Naseem Shah won the Emerging International Cricketer of the Year following his 20 wickets in eight Tests, including a hat-trick

Leicester defender Evans extends contract to 2023 LONDON AGENCIES

AGENCIES

Australia’s batsmen must balance aggression with discipline to combat India in the third Test in Sydney after being pinned down by their bowlers in the first two matches, number three MarnusLabuschagne said. Australia have not surpassed 200 in either Test so far, struggling to break the shackles of a well-drilled Indian attack which has targeted the stumps and cut off cheap runs with heavy leg-side fields.

While much of the focus has been on Steve Smith’s struggles and his failure to reach double-figures in the series, top order batsman Labuschagne has also had to battle for runs.

Yet to score a half-century a year after dominating Pakistan and New Zealand on home pitches, Labuschagne paid credit to India’s bowlers but said Australia had to rise to the challenge. “They have been very disciplined in their bowling and in their plans, with both spin and pace, I think they have really held that straight line,” said Labuschagne, who was dismissed for 48 and 28 in the second Test in Melbourne. “They have made us face a lot of balls for ... a strike rate of about two runs an over. “We need to be very disciplined. And we also need to come up with ways to put them under pressure. “For us, it is just making sure we keep finding ways to score ... It does not have to be pretty, but we just got to keep grinding and keep fighting away and if we do get in, we have got to make sure we get those big scores.” After Australia won the opener in Adelaide, India’s eight-wicket win in Melbourne has left the four-match series poised at 1-1. The Sydney Test starts on Jan. 7. With opener Joe Burns dropped after twin failures with the bat in Melbourne, David Warner has returned to the squad and is racing to recover from a groin strain. Although close with Queensland team mate Burns, Labuschagne said Warner’s presence would give Australia a real boost. “Someone with over 7,000 Test runs and averaging near-on 50, he is a superb player,” said Labuschagne. “I think he is in that top calibre of player ... Just his energy that he will bring around the group and his energy in the field will be terrific.”

against Bangladesh that made him the youngest bowler to achieve the rare feat.

The Domestic Cricketer of the Year honours went to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Kamran Ghulam after he became the only batsman in the ongoing first-class Quaide-Azam Trophy to complete 1,000 runs.

He finished 19 innings of 10 round matches with 1,065 runs with four centuries and four half-centuries at an average of just under 60.

RohailNazir's progression from the U19 level to Pakistan Shaheens' captain has won him the Men's Emerging Cricketer of the Year award. In the period from September 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020, the 19year-old featured in nine events, including the ACC U-19, Emerging Asia Cup, HBL PSL 2020, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2019, ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2020, two National T20 Cups and Pakistan Shaheens, and finished with 1,260 runs besides his 48 victims behind the wickets.

National men’s team’s gesture to visit the Bangladesh cricket team’s dressing room to thank them for their first visit to Pakistan in over a decade following a T20I series win earned them the Spirit of Cricket award.

The match referees and six Cricket Associations’ captains voted Asif Yaqoob as the Umpire of the Year.

The winners will be presented with specially designed trophies during the upcoming home series against South Africa.

Leicester City defender Jonny Evans has signed a new contract that will keep him at the King Power Stadium until the end of the 2022-23 season, the Premier League club said.

Evans’ contract was due to expire at the end of the current campaign and British media had linked him with a return to Manchester United, where he won three Premier League titles.

The 32-year-old Northern Ireland international has made 89 appearances in all competitions following his arrival

from West Bromwich Albion in 2018 and was instrumental in Leicester’s fifth-place finish in the Premier League last season.

“I am delighted to commit myself to the club, and delighted the club have committed themselves to me,” Evans said in a statement on Leicester’s website.

“I have loved it here since the day I came in. The players are ambitious... and it has been great for me to come in alongside that and be a part of it.”

Evans has been a mainstay in Leicester’s defence this season, making 15 appearances in all competitions, helping them to third in the Premier

League table and qualification to the last 32 of the Europa League.

Brendan Rodgers’ side visit Newcastle United on Sunday (tomorrow).

SPORTS 11 PsL 6 will be held without spectators due to coronavirus: PCB official LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be held without spectators due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it was learnt on Friday. Talking about this year’s season, National High-Performance Centre (NHPC) Director Nadeem Khan said, “According to plan, there will be no involvement of the public in this year’s PSL, however, we are monitoring the situation as the time is progressing.” He said that the PSL 6 will be played on time and the foreign players have confirmed their availability for the season. “If the Covid-19 situation improves, we will look to hold matches in a minimum crowd,” Nadeem was quoted as saying by a news website. Earlier, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)CEO Wasim Khan said in an interview last month that the league’s draft will be held in the first week of January and the tournament will commence from February 20.

India include natarajan in test squad for injured Yadav SYDNEY AGENCIES

India named left-arm seamer T. Natarajan on Friday as the replacement for injured paceman Umesh Yadav ahead of the last two Tests against Australia. Yadav bowled only 3.3 overs in Australia’s second innings in the second Test before limping off as India went on to level the series 1-1 with an eight-wicket victory in Melbourne. The 33-year-old will miss the remaining matches in Sydney and Brisbane in the latest injury setback to the tourists, who are also without regular captain and batting mainstay ViratKohli, who has returned to India for the birth of his child. “The fast bowler will not recover completely ahead of the remaining two Test matches and has been ruled out of the series,” Jay Shah, the secretary of India’s cricket board, said in a statement. Veteran seamer Ishant Sharma missed the entire tour with a side strain while experienced paceman Mohammed Shami was ruled out after fracturing his forearm while batting in the opening Test in Adelaide. The 29-year-old Natarajan was initially picked as a net bowler for India’s tour Down Under after his strong showing in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament. However, a spot opened up for Natarajan in the limitedovers squad due to an injury to a spinner and he made an instant impact on his first international tour. Shardul Thakur, who made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2018, replaced Shami in India’s squad ahead of the Boxing Day Test and is likely to get the nod for the third Test in Sydney starting January 7.

In some welcome news for India, opening batsman Rohit Sharma, who travelled to Australia last month after rehabilitation from injury, completed his quarantine and joined the team in Melbourne.

South Africa seek series success against wounded Sri Lanka JOHANNESBURG AGENCIES

South Africa will seek a first series win in four attempts when they host injury-hit Sri Lanka in the second and final Test starting at The Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday (tomorrow), but both will also be focused on keeping their players on the pitch.

This will be especially important for the tourists, who return home directly after the Test for a money-spinning two-match series against England in Galle that starts on January 14.

Key all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva will be missing having picked up an injury in the first Test, a crushing innings and 45run defeat in Pretoria, while seamers KasunRajitha and Lahiru Kumara also sustained muscle injuries, as did leading batsman Dinesh Chandimal.

The Lankans leading fast bowler SurangaLakmal did not play in the first

game and remains doubtful in what has been a horror run of injuries brought about by a lack of adequate preparation time, according to team officials. Just getting 11 players through the second Test unscathed will be a major aim and South Africa coach Mark Boucher has sympathy for his opposite number Mickey Arthur.

“It is very difficult in these times to prepare,” Boucher told reporters. “We havenot had a lot of cricket – games have been postponed or cancelled.

“We are having to think out of the box continuously to try and get our workloads up in order to bowl 20 overs a day.

“It is easier for batters to work on their fitness. You can do shuttles. But it is difficult to bowl 20 overs in your back garden.

You have to try to simulate a game situation.” Fortunately Sri Lanka brought an extended 21-man squad for the tour, so do have replacements on hand if required.

South Africa will keep the same top six

batting line-up that scored 621 in their only innings in the first Test, and may recall fitagain fast bowler KagisoRabada.

They have gone into matches on the bouncy Wanderers pitch with an all-seam attack in the past, but Boucher, who was appointed a year ago, says it is unlikely this time round. “I am not a big fan of going into a Test match without a spinner.

It is very dangerous,” he said. “As we saw with Sri Lanka (in the first Test), if

they did not have a spinner, they would have struggled even more.” South Africa have lost successive home Test series to Sri Lanka and England, and away in India, and so can end a period of dismal failure in the five-day game, even though neither side is likely to reach the final of the ICC Test Championship that is scheduled for Lord’s in June. They have won both previous Tests against the Lankans in Johannesburg by an innings.

Saturday, 2 January, 2021

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ImRan says RemaRks abOut PtI’s unPRePaRedness taken Out Of COntext PREMIER REJECTS RIFTS WITHIN RULING COALITION ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

RIME MINISTER Imran Khan on Friday said that his remarks that he was not prepared to take charge of the government were taken out of context as he meant that no one could understand regarding the internal working of the institutions while sitting outside.

In an interview with a local television, the prime minister negated the impression that he was not ready and said that he cited an example of the United States president, who is briefed by the national institutions two months ahead of assuming his powers. “Now when Joe Biden will take charge as US president, he will have complete knowledge of the systems in place,” he said adding he talked about that sort of a briefing, which was quoted out of context.

The premier expressed the belief that he will be successful in improving common people’s lives on the completion of his five-year term in office. He expressed the hope that good time will come.

PM Imran said that half of the tax revenue of the country is spent on repaying the debts and when they assumed power, the country’s fiscal deficit had reached US$20 billion.

“During the first 60 years, Pakistan’s debt stood at US$6 billion which jumped to US$30 billion during the next 10 years,” he said.

He rejected any differences within the coalition partners in the federal government and said that he enjoys a good relationship with Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA).

He lamented that the entire politics of the opposition parties revolves around the bid to get an NRO; however, he would not compromise on the matter.

“If I’ll join hands with them then who will make them accountable for their wrongdoings,” he said.

The premier said that the opposition had given deadlines for overturning

their government multiple times. “Even when Covid-19 hit the country, Shehbaz Sharif came back from London to put pressure on the government,” he said, adding that their attempts against him have failed in the past and will face the same fate in the future.

“I am the prime minister of a common man, not the elite class,” PM Imran said, adding that it was due to the trust reposed on him by the masses that the country has witnessed a record surge in remittances and exports.

To a question regarding frequent changes in his team, the premier said that he reshuffles his team frequently to find a suitable man for a position and further warned that action would be taken against any of his ministers if an allegation of corruption is proved

against them. Answering a question, he said that he will not compromise his ideology of curbing corruption from the country. He added that no nation can progress if its prime minister and ministers become involved in corruption.

Separately, PM Imran on Friday inaugurated a Panagah (shelter) at Tarnol area of the federal capital to provide free of charge food and shelter to downand-out people.

Accompanied by Special Assistant to PM on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar, Managing Director Pakistan Baitul Mal and Senator Faisal Javed, the prime minister cut the ribbon to formally open up the facility.

The premier spent the first evening of the New Year with the poor people at the facility. He joined the beneficiaries over the dinner and interacted with them. He questioned them about the condition of their livelihood and assured them that consequent to the government’s economic policies, the employment opportunities would enhance in the near future.

The Panagah initiative is very close to the prime minister’s heart which was launched at the very beginning of his term in the office. This is the fifth such facility in the federal capital being run according to the defined standards to ensure quality and serve the poor people with dignity. The 100-bed facility had been established with the collaboration between PBM and Turkish cultural ministry. At the Panagah, 10 beds had been specified for the women.

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CPI inflation contracts to 8.63pc in first half of fiscal year 2020-21 ISLAMABAD: The average headline inflation based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) contracted to 8.63 per cent during the first half of the fiscal year 2020-21, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said on Friday. During the first half of the last fiscal year, the average inflation was 11.11 per cent while it was 5.96 per cent during the first half of the fiscal year 2018-19, it added. The PBS said that CPI Inflation General increased by 8 per cent on a year-on-year basis in December 2020, as compared to an increase of 8.3 per cent in the previous month and 12.6 per cent in December 2019. On month-on-month basis, it decreased by 0.7 per cent in December 2020, as compared to an increase of 0.8 per cent in the previous month and a decrease of 0.3 per cent in December 2019.

CPI Inflation Urban, increased by 7 per cent on a yearon-year basis in December 2020, as compared to an increase of 7 per cent in the previous month and 12 per cent in December 2019. On a month-on-month basis, it decreased by 0.3 per cent in December 2020, as compared to an increase of 0.6 per cent in the previous month and a decrease of 0.4 per cent in December 2019.

CPI Inflation Rural, increased by 9.5 per cent on a yearon-year basis in December 2020, as compared to an increase of 10.5 per cent in the previous month and 13.6 per cent in December 2019. On a month-on-month basis, it decreased by 1.2 per cent in December 2020, as compared to an increase of 1.1 per cent in the previous month and a decrease of 0.3 per cent in December 2019.

Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) inflation on year-onyears basis increased by 9.1 per cent in December 2020, as compared to an increase of 9.9 per cent a month earlier and an increase of 18.1 per cent in December 2019.

On month-on-month basis, it decreased by 2.7 per cent in December 2020, as compared to an increase of 1.1 per cent a month earlier and a decrease of 2.0 per cent in December 2019. STAFF REPORT

Hafeez stresses on reviewing pay, pension mechanism ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh has emphasised on the importance of reviewing the existing pay and pension mechanism, allowances, perks and possibilities of monetisation in order to have a financially viable solution for the government employees. The finance minister said this during a meeting with Chairperson Pay and Pension Commission Nargis Sethi on Friday. Nargis briefed the finance minister about the working of the Pay and Pension Commission to resolve the issue of burgeoning expenditure of pensions on the government exchequer and anomalies in the pay and pension structure. She apprised the finance minister of the working of the sub-committees and reiterated her commitment for streamlining the prevailing system of pay and pension based on principles of fairness and transparency. STAFF REPORT

Oil prices edge up Oil prices edged up in the international market on Friday. At 1505 hours GMT, Brent, the global benchmark for two-thirds of the world’s oil, went up by 0.33 percent to $51.80 per barrel, whereas US crude gauge West Texas Intermediate (WTI) increased by 0.04 percent to $48.42 per barrel. The price for Opec Basket was recorded at $50.78 a barrel without any change, Arab Light was available at $51.18 a barrel without any change while price of Russian Urals remained $42.22 a barrel without any change. NEWS DESK

10gm gold price jumps to Rs98,000 Gold price in the country increased on Friday as 10 grams yellow metal was available at Rs98,000 after gaining Rs500. The price of 10 grams gold was recorded at Rs97,500 on Thursday last. Meanwhile, gold price in the international spot market went up as the US dollar index slumped to two-and-a-half-year low. Gold was available at $1,899 an ounce at 1520 hours GMT after gaining $3.70 an ounce in its value as compared to its value on Thursday last. NEWS DESK

ISLAMABAD: The first sunrise of 2021. ONLINE

PSX welcomes New Year as KSE-100 gains 678 points KARACHI TLTP

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday welcomed the New Year with a bull run on the back of extension in amnesty for construction industry and hopes of resolution of debt circular, as the benchmark KSE-100 Index gained 679.42 (+1.55 percent) to close at 44,434.8 points.

The bulls dominated the benchmark KSE-100 index on the first trading session of the year, as the index gained to make an intraday high of 1,119 points. This positivity in the market can be attributed to sources that suggested that IPPs and government have in principle come to an agreement to clear outstanding backlog of circular debt. Resultantly IPPs, E&Ps and Oil and Gas Marketing sector (all part of the energy chain) lead the

rally in the market. Some intraday profit taking was observed during the latter part of the second trading session, as the index finally settled at 44,434.8 level.

A total of 642,622,037 shares were traded during the day compared to the trade of 578,250,758 shares the previous day whereas the price of shares stood at Rs27.303 billion against Rs23.780 billion the previous day.

As many as 406 companies transacted shares in the stock market, 214 of them recorded gain and 178 sustained losses whereas the share price of 14 companies remained unchanged.

The three top traded companies were Power Cement with a volume of 35,837,500 shares and price per share of Rs9.88, Hascol petrol with a volume of 35,483,395 and price per share of Rs14.69 and Pak Refinery with a volume of 33,644,000 and price per share of Rs23.79.

The three contributed to total market volume for 104 million shares out of the total market volume of 642 million shares. Unilever Foods recorded a maximum increase of Rs500 per share, closing at Rs14500 whereas Colgate Palm was runner-up with the increase of Rs80 per share, closing at Rs2980. Nestle Pakistan witnessed a maximum decrease of Rs37.51 per share, closing at Rs6627.50 whereas Bata (PK) shares decreased by Rs21.31 per share closing at Rs1510.53.

Major contributions to the index came from HUBC, OGDC, PPL, PSO and UBL, as they cumulatively contributed 465 points to the index.

Karim Punjani, a research analyst, agreed that these two reasons played a major role in helping the KSE-100 index move up. Punjani, however, said that the rally was powered by the “January effect” too. Stock markets usu-

ally perform well during the month of January, according to the analyst.

He said the news of the resolution of circular debt issue not only drove the power sector stocks, but it also pushed oil and gas exploration and marketing companies such as the OGDCL and the PSO. Punjani said that other stocks such as banks also performed well. It was due to the positive sentiment in January, he added.

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