Epaper – January 08 ISB 2021

Friday, 8 January, 2021 I 23 Jumada Al-Awwal, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 190 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

Hazaras continue sit-in against killing of miners for fiftH day g

maryam, bilawal criticise pm imran For not having visited the community

QUETTA

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STAFF REPORT

housands of members from the shia hazara community protesting the killing of coal miners in balochistan continued the sit-in for the fifth straight day on thursday, refusing to bury the bodies despite a request from prime minister imran khan and assurance of a visit. on sunday, the so-called islamic state (is) militants slit the throats of 11 miners belonging to the hazara community in a residential compound near a mine site in mach town of balochistan’s bolan district, filming the entire incident and later posting it online. six of the miners were already dead when found, and five who were critically wounded died on the way to the hospital. thousands of hazaras have since staged a protest, arranging the coffins across a highway in Quetta, refusing to withdraw until the prime minister meets

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

495,075

LAST UPDATED AT 8:40 AM ON JANUARY 7, 2020

50

RECOVERED:

NEW CASES:

2,482 DEATHS:

450,515 10,511 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

221,734

142,835

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

60,229

Faraz says prime minister will visit Quetta this week to express condolences

them and the killers are brought to justice. despite extremely harsh weather as the mercury drops to below freezing point, the mourners, including women and children, have refused to leave until prime minister imran khan meets them and the killers are brought to justice. in a show of solidarity with the victims of the mach killing, the business community called for a complete strike in Quetta. all main business centres of the provincial capital remained shut. a day earlier, pm imran assured the demonstrators of a visit “very soon” to “offer prayers and condole with all the families personally”. in a series of tweets, the prime minister “reassure[d] the hazara families who lost their loved ones in a brutal terrorist attack in machh that i am cognizant of their suffering & their demands”. “i share your pain & have come to you before also to stand with you in your time of suffering,” he said. however, the unmoved protesters

coronavirus in

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

g

18,300

8,416/4,874 38,687

continued the sit-in on thursday, saying they would not bury their dead relatives. “we have become tired of picking up the bodies of our people,” syed agha raza, a shia hazara political leader, told reuters. a young protestor, masooma yaqoob ali, told reuters her elder brother along with four other relatives were among those killed. “now we have no male member [of our family] to take coffins of our brother and other relatives to the graveyard for burial,” she said, shedding tears as she spoke. meanwhile, balochistan chief minister Jam kamal alyani has also requested the protesters to “not link the burials [of the miners] with prime minister imran’s visit”. addressing a press conference in Quetta along with federal ministers ali haider zaidi and zulfi bukhari and members of the shia community, alyani said that as muslims, we “have our religious responsibilities [to bury the deceased]” and these should be fulfilled. “i would request the community to not associate it with some official’s visit,” he added. bukhari and zaidi arrived in Quetta late tuesday night on the directions of the prime minister to hold talks with protest organisers. the protesters have refused to bury the victims of the attack until demands, which include the resignation of the balochistan government, are met. the demonstrations spilt over into lahore, karachi, multan and other cities on thursday. several roads in karachi were blocked on thursday as protests continued for a third consecutive day and reached different areas of the metropolis. television footages showed plumes of smoke rising as demonstrators took to the streets, burning tyres and wood and disrupting traffic.

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Trump finally acknowledges defeat after supporters storm Capitol g

president says transition will be orderly aFter congress certiFies biden's victory WASHINGTON AGENCIES

president donald trump for the first time acknowledged his defeat in the nov 3 election and announced there would be an “orderly transition on Jan 20” after congress concluded the electoral vote count early on thursday, certifying president-elect Joe biden’s victory. trump’s acknowledgment came after a day of chaos and destruction on capitol hill as a mob of his supporters stormed the capitol building and unleashed unprecedented scenes of mayhem as it tried to halt the peaceful transition of power. members of congress were forced into hiding, offices were ransacked, and the formal congressional tally halted for more than six hours. “even though i totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on Jan 20,” trump said in a statement posted to twitter by his social

media director. his own account had been locked by the company for posting messages that appeared to justify the assault on the seat of the nation’s democracy. trump added, “while this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to make america great again!” the statement was the first time trump formally acknowledged his loss after spending the last two months refusing to concede and lobbing baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud, even though his own Justice department, federal courts and state governments have said repeatedly the vote was carried out freely and fairly.

BREAKING POINT: trump’s refusal to accept reality and his incendiary rhetoric reached a breaking point on wednesday when his supporters violently occupied the capitol in one of the most jarring scenes ever to unfold in a seat of american political power.

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‘Pakistan to receive Covid-19 vaccine by end of month’ g

covid-19 leaves 50 more dead with 2,482 Fresh cases ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT/TLTP

parliamentary secretary for ministry of national health services dr nausheen hamid has said that the government is expecting to receive the first shipment of covid-19 vaccine by the end of this month. talking to a private news channel, she said that government is urgently preparing a database of all government and private health personnel to vaccinate them against the novel coronavirus in the first phase, radio pakistan reported. it has not yet been specified from which country the vaccine will be procured. meanwhile, special assistant to prime minister (sapm) on national health services dr Faisal sultan said that healthcare workers played a pivotal role to stop the spread of covid19 in pakistan. addressing a ceremony organised to pay tribute to coronavirus frontline warriors in islamabad on thursday, he appreciated the courage and bravery of doctors and paramedics of the country. the special assistant

expressed his gratitude for their services in fighting the pandemic. highlighting the government's initiatives for healthcare, he said after the pandemic world has realised the importance of quality healthcare systems. he said that the government has introduced a health card scheme to ensure the provision of healthcare to poor segments of society. the punjab health secretary said in a statement on thursday that the province has conducted more than 2.5 million diagnostic tests of covid-19. the health officials are conducting over 15,000 tests daily on average to detect positive cases of the coronavirus, he said. “in case of a positive test, 20 more tests of the people in contact with the patient are being conducted,” the provincial health official said. describing the upcoming coronavirus vaccination drive in punjab, the secretary health said that the people will be inoculated in different phases. “in the first phase frontline health workers and the people above 65 years of age will be vaccinated, while in the second phase remaining healthcare workers will be immunised,” he said.

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more inside

Pakistan’s trade deficit widens 32pc to $2.68bn in December STORY ON BACK PAGE

virgin islands court resumes hearing on reko diq award STORY ON BACK PAGE

Attacks in southern Afghanistan kill at least 11 STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Friday, 8 January, 2021

NEWS

PAkISTAN urGeS uN, eu To eNSure ASIyA ANdrAbI’S releASe ISLAMABAD

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TLTP

AKISTAN has approached the United Nations (UN) Secretary General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union (EU) to seek immediate release of Kashmiri human rights activist and political leader Asiya Andrabi who

remains incarcerated in Indian infamous Tihar Jalil.

At his weekly news briefing on Thursday, FO Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said that the Indian authorities have put Andrabi on trial on trumped up charges, deliberately accelerated the tribal and set aside due process, reflecting malicious intent with clear indications of looming judicial murder.

Seven terror suspects arrested in Punjab: AIG SARGODHA TLTP

The Counter-Terrorism Department of Punjab on Thursday claimed to foil a major terrorism bid in the country as they intercepted a terrorist network and arrested at least seven suspects. The suspects, belonging to a banned outfit Sipah-e-Muhammad, were planning a series of attacks including fanning the sectarian by targeting popular political persons, said Punjab Additional Inspector General of Police Rai Tahir. An intelligence-based operation carried out

by Counter-Terrorism Department and intelligence agencies detained seven suspects including Aslam Hussain, Bharat Khan, Muhammad Ali, and Muhammad Iqbal who received their instructions from a neighbouring country, AIG Tahir said. “We recovered heavy explosives and the pictures of impending targets from the detained suspects,” Tahir said. However, the mastermind of these conspiracies is still at large and we have reached out to Interpol for their assistance in the arrests, he said, adding that their funding were channelled, too, by that same neighbouring country who wishes subversive activities in Pakistan. Earlier today it was reported that Counter-Terrorism Department had intervened, via intelligence information, an ongoing plot wherein at least two suspects were found to be acting on instructions to assassinate their target. They then arrested Musharraf alias Baba Jee and Ameer alias Shahid after the suspects opened fire on their incursion, Counter-Terrorism Department claimed.

The spokesperson said that India's blatant attempts to portray the legitimate struggle of Kashmiris as terrorism and to prosecute its leaders through concocted cases is a clear violation of the UN Charter, UN Security Council and UN General Assembly resolutions and international human rights law.

Meanwhile, at the United Nations, Pakistan has urged to develop common strategies and plans to find just solutions

for complex and protracted challenges, including the conflicts of Kashmir and Palestine.

According to a statement, a Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the world body, Mohammad Aamir Khan told the UN Security Council that foreign occupation, intervention and aggression have led to untold suffering for millions in the Muslim world.

He said that peoples of Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine, continue to struggle for their inalienable right to selfdetermination and the end of foreign occupation.

Amir also asked the OIC to play an important role to apprise the international community of the legitimate concerns of the Muslim world, including the resurgence of Islamophobia.

TLTP

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has demanded of the federal government to hold an investigation into the ongoing gas crisis, especially in Sindh.

In a statement on Thursday, PPP’s lawmaker Nafeesa Shah said that the ongoing gas crisis is worsening day by day across the country. She said that the suspension of gas supply is unacceptable for the nationals amid extremely cold weather. Shah said that the citizens are facing severe trouble due to the gas shortage. She questioned the relevant authorities for not taking timely steps to coup with the gas shortage issues.

The PPP lawmaker urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to immediately take action against the responsible persons in the gas crisis. Residential and industrial areas in Karachi and other parts of the country are facing gas outages, causing problems for the household consumers and businesses. According to details, three sectors, including CNG stations, captive power plants and non-export industrial units are deprived of gas supply. The major industrial zones of Karachi, including SITE, Korangi, North Karachi and others also face low gas pressure.

“These are unacceptable conditions for running a business,” the North Karachi Industrial Association (NKIA) said recently, adding that they would stage a protest against the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) over gas outages.

Besides the industrial units, the household consumers in parts of the country are also facing low pressure to no supply. Commenting on the ongoing gas crisis in the province, Sindh government’s spokesman, Murtaza Wahab, had said that an intentional bid to create a shortage of gas in the province is against the Constitution of Pakistan.

“They are mocking the constitution by depriving the province of the gas supply,” he said, adding that the situation could ruin the industrial units in the province.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) spokesperson said on Saturday last that no gas load shedding is being carried out in any part of Karachi. The spokesperson said that only load management is being carried out in parts of Karachi in order to ensure gas supply to residents of the metropolis.

The SSGC spokesperson further said that residents should contact the company’s complaint centre if they are facing a gas shortage problem.

Admission dates in medical colleges to remain unchanged: PMC LAHORE TLTP

The Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) on Thursday announced that the dates of admissions for the government medical colleges across Punjab will remain unchanged and these will not be extended any more.

The PMC directed the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore to amend its advertisement

regarding the admission schedule in government medical institutions as the final date is January 22 which will not be extended any more.

According to the PMC, the provincial authorities were taken into confidence regarding the date of admissions in the medical colleges and any modification in the dates will affect the admission process at private medical institutions. The private medical universities will start the admission process from February 22 to February

FEROZEWALA: Three people were burnt to death when a furnace oil factory in Rana Town of Ferozewala near Lahore caught fire on Thursday. According to reports, initially the deceased were unable to be traced after the fire broke out. When Rescue 1122 officials started searching for them, they found the burnt bodies which they shifted to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital. However, the cause of the fire could not be ascertained till the filing of this report.

Firefighters reached the factory and extinguished the fire while cooling was underway till the last reports came in. Around 30 Rescue 1122 officials of Lahore and Sheikhupura carried out the relief operation while 10 vehicles were also used in the operation. INP

Naval chief, envoy discuss Pak-Saudi maritime cooperation

PPP asks Centre to probe gas crisis KARACHI

Three die in factory fire

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki called on Naval Chief Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi on Thursday. According to the spokesperson of Pakistan Navy, issues of mutual interest were discussed in the meeting. They also discussed the security situation of the region and further enhancement of bilateral maritime cooperation between the two countries. A day earlier on Wednesday, Federal Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan in a meeting with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmed Al-Malki said that the government is focusing on energy projects under new renewable energy policy to harness local resources for power generation. The minister and ambassador deliberated upon joint ventures by Pakistan and the kingdom in the petroleum and energy sector. The ambassador stressed that the kingdom would continue to work with Pakistan for strengthening bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries.

Separately, Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan has reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further promote and strengthen bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia in a meeting with Al-Maliki. TLTP

24 for the new academic year. The commission praised timely completion of admissions at medical institutions in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in accordance with the prescribed schedule.

It has been announced to complete the government medical colleges’ admission till January 22. It added that an extension in admissions’ date in Punjab will be considered as a discriminatory act with other provinces. Following the violation of orders, the provincial government and UHC will be declared responsible for any delay in admissions at the medical colleges across Punjab.

In occupied Kashmir, empty grave for teenager killed by Indian forces AGENCIES On a recent chilly winter day in Indian-occupied Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmed shoveled the earth, laboriously digging a grave for his teenage son. There was, however, nobody to be lowered inside.

Stunned, a group of onlookers watched in silence.

But Ahmed kept digging, now knee-deep inside the halfdug grave. Then he rose, straightening his back, and faced the crowd, enraged.

“I want my son’s body,” he howled. “I ask India to return my son’s dead body to me.”

Police said government forces fatally shot Ahmed’s 16-year-old son, Athar Mushtaq, and two other young men when the men refused to surrender on the outskirts of Srinagar city on December 30. They described the men as “hardcore associates of terrorists” opposed to Indian rule.

The men’s families insist they were not militants and were killed in cold blood. There was no way to independently confirm either claim.

“It was a fake encounter,” a grieving Ahmed cried, as the crowd that gathered around him in the graveyard in

southern Bellow village shouted slogans demanding justice.

Authorities buried them at a remote graveyard 115 kilometers from their ancestral villages.

Under a policy started in 2020, Indian authorities have buried scores of Kashmiri pro-freedom fighters in unmarked graves, denying their families proper funerals.

The policy has added to widespread anti-India anger in the disputed region.

India has long relied on military force to retain control over the portion of Kashmir it occupied. It has fought two wars over the region with Pakistan, which also claims the mountainous territory. An armed uprising since 1989 against Indian control and subsequent Indian crackdown have killed tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces.

In August 2019, India revoked Kashmir’s semiautonomous status, clamped curfews and communication blackouts and arrested thousands, sparking outrage and economic ruin.

Since then, authorities have brought in a slew of laws and implemented policies that locals and critics view as part of India’s settler colonialism project in the volatile region.

Kashmiris for years have accused Indian troops of targeting civilians and abuse of power with sweeping impunity. Troops have been accused of staging gunfights and then declaring the victims were militants to claim rewards and promotions.

Athar’s killing came months after a rare admission of wrongdoing by the Indian military, which conceded that soldiers exceeded their legal powers in the deaths of three local men it initially described as "Pakistani terrorists".

Police concluded that an Indian army officer and two civilian “army sources” killed the three laborers “after stripping them of their identities and tagging them as hardcore terrorists.” The officer has been charged with murder.

Kashmiris’ fears and rage over such incidents have been exacerbated by the new policy of not identifying those killed or their associates and refusing to return their bodies to their families.

Authorities say the policy is aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus, but rights activists and residents say it is an attempt by the government to avoid large funerals that fuel more resentment against India.

The inspector-general of police, Vijay Kumar, said in a recent interview with The Hindu newspaper that the policy “not only stopped the spread of Covid-19 infections but also stopped the glamorising of terrorists and avoided potential law and order problems.”

Authorities, however, have not stopped statesponsored funerals for government forces killed in combat with the rebels.

“Not returning the bodies of the slain is a humiliation to humanity,” said Zareef Ahmed Zareef, a civil rights campaigner and prominent Kashmiri poet.

Distraught families of fighters and civilians killed by government forces have repeatedly demanded that Indian authorities, which are predominantly Hindu, allow final rituals and proper burials at ancestral villages under the Muslim faith. The pleas have been repeatedly denied. Families have sometimes discreetly visited the remote graveyards and marked the graves of their kin with stones and scribbled their names with paintbrushes.

Until last April, Indian forces had handed the bodies of rebels to their relatives for burial.

Since then, according to police, 158 fighters have been buried at isolated locations.

Friday, 8 January, 2021

NEWS

03

PM for eNhANced INTer-ProvINcIAl coordINATIoN, PublIc-PrIvATe PArTNerShIP To booST exPorTS ISLAMABAD

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MIAN ABRAR

RIME Minister Imran Khan on Thursday stressed upon the need to enhance inter-ministerial coordination and public-private partnership to increase the country's

exports.

The prime minister issued these orders while chairing a meeting of the Apex Committee on Economic Outreach (ACEO) in the federal capital.

The meeting was attended by Federal

Ministers Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Senator Shibli Faraz, Syed Fakhar Imam, Fawad Ahmed, Advisor to PM Abdul Razaq Dawood, State Bank Governor Dr Reza Baqir, Special Assistants to the Prime Minister (SAPMs) Dr Moeed Yusuf, Dr Faisal Sultan and other senior officers.

The chief secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and GilgitBaltistan (GB) participated through video-link.

SAPM Yousuf briefed the meeting that

PMl-N MPA dies of coronavirus RAWALPINDI STAFF REPORT

A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member of Punjab Assembly (MPA) passed away on Thursday of coronavirus-related complications. Munira Yamin Satti, who was elected to the assembly against a reserved seat from Rawalpindi, was under treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, the government portal keeping track of the outbreak reported 2,482 fresh infections of the coronavirus after conducting 40,509 tests — a positivity ratio of 6.13 per cent.

hazaras continue sit-in against killing of miners for fifth day CONtINuED fROM PAGE 01 Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) Vice President visited the Shia Hazara community on Thursday, wherein Maryam criticised PM Imran for not visiting the region yet. “I ask Imran Khan, these bodies that lie here, is your ego greater than these?” she asked while addressing the crowd which was protesting the Mach killing victims.

Maryam rhetorically asked if PM Imran had not come in fear of criticism, and advised him to come to share in the grief. “I salute you all. You have more than 2,000 people you have lost. Each one of you is an open book, telling the story of such pain and sorrow,” she said. In a tweet on Wednesday, Maryam had said: “On the direction of Nawaz Sharif I’m going to my sisters and brothers [in Balochistan] with a request to hand over their dead to Allah Almighty. I am sure they will not reject my request. For the last four days, the Hazara community has been calling the heartless in Islamabad.” The PPP chairman lamented the fact that every time he came to Quetta, it was due to unfortunate circumstances like these. Bilawal deplored the state’s failure to implement the National Action Plan for deterrence of such crimes and how every time one comes to visit the community, it is because such an incident has occurred. “Pakistan is a country where even our martyred and the dead have to protest,” he said. Bilawal added that while living expenses such as gas and electricity kept becoming more expensive, “the people’s blood is cheap”. “The blood of our labourers is cheap, and that of political workers, police officers, lawyers, residents and the Hazara community.” Separately, Majlis Wahadat-eMuslimeen (MWM) leader Allama Syed Hashim Moosvi denied that an agreement had been reached between the Hazara community and the government while speaking to the media in Quetta, adding that the protest would continue till the demands were met.

Furthermore, Federal Information Minister Shibli Faraz said that PM Imran will visit Quetta to express condolences with the families of those killed in the Mach incident. Talking to the media persons on Thursday, the information minister said that negotiations are underway with the protesters to end the sit-in, adding whatever transpired in the Mach incident is beyond words. These incidents have taken place in the past as well and the perpetrators behind must meet their due fate, the federal minister said, adding that some elements are always trying to create complications. “We have listened to the demands put up by the protesters and none of which are unreasonable. The compensation money as announced will be soon disbursed amongst the victim families,” Faraz said. “We want that the funeral rites of the martyrs are soon performed and they are buried,” he said. The federal minister remarked that it is not the right time or the right event to do politics over and said the country cannot be transformed into Sweden in two years with all its issues addressed.

an extensive mapping exercise regarding the export potential of goods and services has been carried out in consultation with relevant government ministries, provinces and the private sector.

He said that the industries of information technology, textiles, agriculture, meat, leather, pottery and ceramics, machinery and auto parts, metals and surgical instruments possess an additional export potential of $31 billion.

He further said that a multiplier effect of an additional $2 billion can be achieved from medical tourism, religious tourism, transport

services, manpower, pharmaceuticals, marble and granite, and salt products. He apprised the committee that there is also the potential of additional exports worth $16.7 billion to United Arab Emirates, United States, China, Germany, UK, France, Indonesia, Spain, Algeria and Malaysia.

The SAPM on national security presented an overview for human resource allocation, key performance indicators for foreign missions of Pakistan, human resource training and strengthening of ministerial structures.

PM Imran stated that the main objective

FO condemns use of Afghan soil in terror attacks against Pakistan ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday condemned the use of Afghan soil to execute terror attacks against Pakistan a day after a Frontier Corps (FC) troop embraced martyrdom in a cross-border militant attack.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), terrorists inside Afghanistan fired across the international border on a military post in Mohmand tribal district resulting in the death of 25-year-old Fazal Wahid. The military's media wing further said the Pakistan Army troops responded promptly to the attack.

In a statement issued Thursday, FO spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri "strongly" condemned the attack as well as the "use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan".

Chaudhri further called on Kabul "to take immediate action against the terrorists and terrorist groups finding sanctuaries in Afghanistan to target

Pakistani security forces".

In recent months, the military has been fortifying the 2,400 km-long frontier – mostly running along deserted high-mountain terrain – with nine-foot chainlink fences topped with barbed wire to stop incursions.

Kabul opposes Islamabad’s plans for a barrier along the Durand Line, one of the most dangerous international crossings, and denies granting a safe haven to militants despite strong evidence.

Plans for the fencing have been in motion for the past 15 years, but work on the fence is more recent, having started over the past two years. “We already finished 1,000km and it’s likely going to take another two or three years to complete the rest,” Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan said in 2019.

Islamabad has pinned the blame on the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), based on Afghan soil, for a spate of militant attacks at home over the past year, urging Kabul to eradicate “sanctuaries” for militants.

Court turns down NAB request for Abbasi's arrest warrant ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

An accountability court on Thursday rejected the appeal of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) seeking issuance of a nonbailable arrest warrant for former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in connection with the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project.

The national exchequer had suffered a loss of billions of rupees, the NAB said in 2018 after ordering the inquiry against Abbasi, his predecessor Nawaz Sharif and others for granting a 15year LNG terminal contract “to a company of their liking, in violation of rules and by misuse of their powers”. During the proceedings Thursday, defense counsel Barrister Zafarullah Khan submitted a request seeking an exemption from a personal appearance. At this, the bureau asked the judge to issue arrest warrants for the former premier.

The NAB prosecutor maintained Abbasi travelled

abroad without taking prior permission. However, the defense counsel recalled a sub-committee of the federal cabinet granted a one-time waiver to his client.

The accountability court sought details of the waiver. After it was presented in the court, the bench dismissed NAB's plea to issue arrest warrants. In December, Abbasi left for the US after the federal cabinet removed his name from the Exit Control List (ECL), granting him onetime permission to his sister and brother-in-law suffering from the coronavirus.

As petroleum minister when Sharif was premier, Abbasi masterminded the government's push to embrace LNG after PML-N swept to power in a 2013 election. After NAB filed the reference against him and Sharif, Abbasi said he took full responsibility for work at the petroleum ministry as the deposed premier had “no direct responsibility for the workings of my ministry”. “I welcome any inquiry by NAB or any other agency into the affairs of the ministry and I am available to cooperate with any such inquiry,” he had said.

of this apex committee is to chalk out a long term plan for import substitution and increasing exports so that Pakistan becomes self-reliant.

The premier underscored that the best international practices need to be adopted for priority sectors and consultations with international experts is essential for achieving success.

It was decided that the Ministry of Commerce will furnish an action plan with timelines in one week time and will update the prime minister on weekly basis regarding progress made on priority sectors.

Ac berates PMl-N workers for crowding outside court LAHORE STAFF REPORT

An accountability court in Lahore on Thursday scolded the supporters and activists of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for crowding during a hearing in the Paragon Housing scheme involving former ministers Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Salman Rafique. Citing the need for social distancing amid fears of a new variant of the coronavirus, accountability judge Jawadul Hassan said there should be no rush inside and outside the courtroom. “Khawaja sahib, please limit the number of people who can come to the court [with you],” the judge told Saad. “Hamza Shahbaz appeared in court yesterday and we have heard that he isn’t [feeling] well today,” the judge said. He should have taken government-advised precautions [to fight Covid-19], he added. The new virus variant is dangerous, he said. The Khawaja brothers were allowed to leave the hearing shortly after marking their attendance. The NAB accused the PML-N leaders of wrongfully gaining Rs18.2 million approximately from Paragon City (Pvt.) Ltd in their bank accounts and they failed to account for the illegal gains. It said Saad, in order to achieve his nefarious designs and to disguise the origin of his illegitimate pecuniary benefits, established a proprietorship concern namely M/s Saadan Associates whereby he wrongfully gained an amount of Rs58 million from M/s Executive Builders, a proxy of Paragon City, in last few years under the garb of services of consultancy. Similarly, the bureau accused Salman of the same corrupt practice by establishing M/s KSR Associates and receiving Rs39 million from the M/s Executive Builders under the garb of consultancy services. The reference stated that the Khwaja brothers through their “benamidars” and with the abutment of former PML-N MPA Qaiser Amin Butt and Nadeem Zia established a housing project in the name of Air Avenue. The project was later converted into a new housing project namely Paragon City (Pvt.) Ltd, which NAB said was an illegal society and not approved by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA). NAB alleged that the suspects along with other accomplices cheated the public at large and obtained illegal financial benefits from the funds of the illegal society.

majority of people affected by covid-19 have resumed work in pakistan ISLAMABAD GHULAM ABBAS

Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has claimed that out of the 35 per cent population of the country which had been affected by Covid-19, at least 33 per cent resumed their work after July 2020, indicating a sharp recovery.

The above was revealed during a meeting regarding the steps taken by PBS on designing a support system for inflation as well as the results of a special survey to evaluate the impact of Covid19 on the wellbeing of people.

PBS officials said that, in Pakistan, approximately 55.74 million people were working before the onset of the pandemic, but due to the closure of

20.76 million population was affected by covid-19 in pakistan: pbs business after the implementation of lockdowns, this number fell to 35.04 million.

During the meeting, which was chaired by Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, the PBS said that almost 20.76 million people had been affected, but there had been a considerable recovery.

It found that approximately 52.56 million people reported working after the period of April–July 2020.

The PBS added that the livelihood of 17.07 million households had been affected due to the restrictions and evidence suggested that if the strict lockdowns had continued, vulnerable groups of workers and their families could have suffered devastating impacts.

According to officials, in compliance with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of “Digital Pakistan”, PBS has developed a Decision Support System for Inflation (DSSI) which would enable the policymakers from the National Price

Monitoring Committee (NPMC) as well as the provincial governments and district administrations to take evidence-based policy decisions and address the causes of inflation in the country.

DSSI is designed to provide marketlevel information, city-wise comparisons of prices, time-series data at the commodity level and more. One of the salient features of DSSI is that it provides comparison of rates issued by the deputy commissioners and those collected by PBS on a weekly basis.

During the meeting, the federal minister appreciated the work of PBS and was of the view that the district administration plays a vital role in controlling price hikes by effective monitoring of markets.

Friday, 8 January, 2021

04 NEWS

Ministers discuss plan to revive cultural status of Peshawar PESHAWAR TLTP

The Peshawar Revival Plan will play an important role in restoring and perpetuating the historical and cultural status of the provincial capital, said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Minister for Local Government Akbar Ayub Khan and Minister for Health Taimur Saleem Jhagra while presiding over a meeting to discuss the plan on Thursday. The meeting was attended by Local Government Secretary Mian Shakeel Ahmed, senior officials of Tourism Department, and some other officials of concerned departments. The meeting reviewed the implementation of the plan. It was informed in the briefing that under the plan, cultural activities, restoration of historical places and tourism in the provincial capital would also be promoted. Jhagra said that the historical places in Peshawar should be opened to the public and cultural activities and celebrations should be held in the historical houses. He emphasised that only two to three issues should be focused initially during the implementation of the plan. Ayub said on the occasion that Khyber Festival would be held next spring for which arrangements are already being made. The provincial minister directed the concerned authorities to hold this historic spring festival at different places of the city and invite participants from all over the province. It was agreed in the meeting that the focal person for the various projects undertaken by different departments in Peshawar should be the Local Government secretary so that matters could be carried out in a timely and efficient manner.

FM meets African envoys to review Pakistan's engagement with African countries ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday met with the African envoys based in Islamabad to review the engagement between the countries and charting a way forward.

Held under the rubric of Pakistan government’s “Engage Africa” initiative, the meeting was attended by the envoys from Algeria, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa, Sudan and Tunisia. Recalling the long history of friendly relations with Africa, the FM noted that Pakistan had supported African struggle of freedom from the yoke of colonialism and remained a trustworthy partner in the maintenance of peace and security with the continent. He underlined that as part of the “Engage Africa” Initiative, Pakistan is significantly enhancing its diplomatic footprint and economic engagement in Africa. “The success of the Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference, held in Nairobi in January last year, highlighted the untapped potential of bilateral trade and investment ties, and underscored the mutual desire of taking them to a higher level,” he said. The FM observed that Pakistan had recorded a 7 per cent growth in trade with Africa over the last year despite the Covid-19 related social and economic challenges. In the meeting, the African envoys gave valuable suggestions to enhance mutually beneficial partnership between Pakistan and Africa. The FM welcomed the African envoys’ views and valuable suggestions and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to forging stronger Pakistan-Africa partnership to achieve the shared objectives. APP

PM urges FilM, drAMA industry to Focus on locAl culture, quAlity Production ISLAMABAD

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APP

AKISTAN Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday urged the country’s film and drama industry to come up with a quality local production to provide the youth with a good alternative of substandard and glamorised

content.

“If the Pakistani film and drama industry presents quality local production, it will not only progress but also provide the youth with alternative of substandard and glamorised content, which will be welcomed like Turkish series ‘Dirilis: Ertugrul’,” the premier said.

The prime minister expressed these views during a meeting with the founding team of the Turkish series, led by Kemal Tekden.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz, Kashmir Committee Chairman Shehryar Khan Afridi and the representatives of Turkish and Pakistani film industry were present in the meeting.

The meeting discussed in detail the proposed television series, based on the role of renowned personality Turk Lala. The series will be produced through cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan.

The prime minister said that Pakistani dramas were very popular in the world until the decade of 1980s. The Pakistani film and drama industry need to work for the promotion of local culture so that the West-inspired youth could be made aware about their true culture and saved from social evils being faced by the new generation of neighbouring countries due to the telecast of Western content.

The premier said that it is unfortunate that the new generation is not aware of the golden era of Muslims’

rule in the sub-continent. “Efforts should be made to foil the designs of propaganda mongers by producing films and dramas on that golden era,” he said.

Shehryar briefed the participants of the meeting about the role of Turk Lala in the Khilafat Movement and Lala’s importance in Turkey. The meeting also highlighted the importance of creating awareness among the youngsters about their past heroes.

Appreciating the PM Imran’s decision of telecasting Turkish dramas in Pakistan, Kemal Tekden said that Imran and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

share the vision that the creation of awareness among the youth about their history and culture is vital for the development of a country.

Tekden told the prime minister that June 30 is celebrated every year as a national day in Turkey in the honour of Turk Lala. “Television series on Turk Lala would not only create awareness among the youth about Khilafat Movement but also add a new chapter in PakTurkey relations,” he added.

The prime minister appreciated the project of television series and assured full cooperation of his government.

Punjab to monitor marts to facilitate people: Firdous LAHORE TLTP

Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister on Information and Culture Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Thursday said that the provincial government has decided to monitor the marts and cash-and- carry stores to facilitate the people.

Addressing a press conference after visiting Utility Stores’ Mega Mall here at Mansoora, Firdous said that the government is trying to ensure availability of commodities at controlled rates at the utility stores of the province.

She said the government is providing quality products at the utility stores and fair-price markets to reduce the inflation in the province. “The public interest has always been the priority of Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is bringing out holistic reforms to make Pakistan a true

welfare state on the model of the state of Medina,” she said.

“The welfare of the public is the core agenda of the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) government, which is taking stern action against hoarders, profiteers and price mafia.

She reiterated that the people could not be left at the mercy of hoarders. Any negligence would not be tolerated. The corruption, nepotism and

unwanted subsidies of the former governments destroyed institutions, but the PTI government is pursuing a comprehensive policy to make institutions strong and self-sufficient.

“The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) had an annual loss of Rs14 billion.

But with the PTI’s peoplefriendly policies, the USC made a profit of Rs46 million in December last year. The government is determined to provide maximum relief to the masses and all practical steps are being taken in

this regard,” she added.

Responding to a question, the special assistant said that the government strongly condemned the terrorist activity in Mach area of Balochistan and urged the protesting members of Hazara community to bury the bodies of their loved ones as the premier would visit them soon. The Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) is notorious for its politics over dead bodies and [PML-N Vice President] Maryam Nawaz is following the same tradition of her party over the Mach victims.

“If the relatives of the martyrs ask Maryam and [Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman] Bilawal about the snakes in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), then what would they answer?” asked Firdous, adding that it is the time to go beyond politics and stand united for the national interest.

LHC decides fate of Royal Kitchens of Lahore Fort LAHORE SHAHAB OMER

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has held that there is no provision of law which prohibits the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) to establish a restaurant in the Royal Kitchens of Lahore Fort, Pakistan Today learnt on Thursday.

Earlier in 2017, after the conservation of the Royal Kitchens, the WCLA had planned to set up a dining restaurant in the Royal Kitchens, but the plan could not be materialised because of a writ petition filed in 2017. In the writ petition, the petitioner had pleaded that it is illegal to establish a restaurant in the fort, as it is a world heritage site.

The petitioner had also pleased that the WCLA has no authority to invite bids or award contracts for the restaurant, erect new construction, alter or demolish the structure of the fort premises, and lease out the fort or its premises.

However, the court dismissed the petition and decided that no interference by the court is warranted. "When all the requirements prescribed under the law have been fulfilled, nothing illegal or devastating….. is going to be done and the impugned order has

DISMISSES PETITION AGAINST ESTABLISHMENT OF A RESTAURANT IN KITCHENS’ PREMISES been passed while considering each and every aspect of the subject, no interference at this stage by this court is warranted. Resultantly, the appeal in hand having no force and substance stands dismissed in limine," the court wrote in the order.

The officials of WCLA informed Pakistan Today that throughout the proceedings of the court, they had been providing different details in support of WCLA’s view of establishing a dining restaurant in the Royal Kitchens. The court was provided with the complete details of the Antiquities Act, 1975 by the WCLA. Three sections of the Act were quoted in the reply to the petition, section 18 regarding restriction on use of protected immovable antiquity, section 20 regarding restrictions on repair and renovation of protected immovable antiquity and section 22 regarding execution of development schemes and new constructions in proximity to immovable antiquity.

The Master Plan of Lahore Fort 20062011 was also presented to the court.

The officials informed that the adaptive reuse of the Royal Kitchens had been endorsed in the report of the Reactive Monitoring Mission of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, who had made a physical visit of the site.

“To make the proposed interventions sustainable and give the previously neglected heritage “a function in the life of the community” in line with the World Heritage Convention, the rehabilitated historic structure is intended to be reused to provide night-time dining facilities, while the arched verandas are to become an art and history gallery as part of the general policy to extend the visitors’ experience of the fort,” the report had said.

“The restaurant would be open to paying customers after closing hours of the fort, and in addition to fine dining, it would also provide a night-time guided visit of the fort. The archaic ambience of the restored structure will also be supplemented by roof-top seating and illumination of the selected areas of

the fort, which would add to the experience of the patrons visiting the restaurant. On selected days and special occasions, the area will also host planned cultural events and shows contributing to a wholesome cultural experience in a world-class historic setting.”

The WCLA officials further said, “The WCLA’s Heritage Conservation Board was also involved in the process of setting up a restaurant in the Royal Kitchens and had examined the case as per directions of the court. It was also discussed in the meeting of the board that no event, eatery or activity, which can damage the site, would be allowed in the Royal Kitchens.”

WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari said, “The Royal Kitchens were established by the Mughals. These were built with ordinary bricks and without any decorations or embellishments, as seen in other high-value components of the fort.

These are situated in a corner of Lahore Fort, covering a space of 8800 square feet with a row of arched verandas and a large open space. Earlier, these places were used as horse stables before the British converted these into ammunition depots. In post-Independence times, these became investigation cells for police and incarcera-

tion cells for political prisoners.”

“The Royal Kitchens had turned into ruins with wild plant growth, snakes and scorpions. A large portion of the buildings had fallen apart while one third of the buildings was covered over by collapsed debris.

It was the WCLA, who took upon itself to carry out the rehabilitation of these buildings with expenses of Rs70 million in 2016-17,” he added.

For more than 40 years, the kitchens were erased from the memory of the people of Pakistan. Nobody was concerned about the existence of the kitchens. Once these were conserved, all put their eyes on these and raised criticism. The WCLA had advertised these places as a fine dining facility but due to a legal controversy, the matter remained pending. We had explained in the court that the historic usage of the kitchens was food preparation. The fine dining would not be inconsistent, but very much in consonance with the historic context.

Without adaptive reuse, these places will turn again into ruins due to lack of visitors’ activities, upkeep and maintenance. However, we are very hopeful now for these places after the decision of the court,” Lashari concluded.

Friday, 8 January, 2021

NEWS

PAkISTAn, TurkMenISTAn dISCuSS GoodS TrAnSIT ThrouGh GwAdAr, kArAChI PorTS iSLamaBad

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STAFF REPORT

DVISEr to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul razak Dawood has appreciated Turkmenistan's proposal for transit of Turkmen goods through Gwadar and Karachi ports via railways and road transportation.

In a meeting with Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan Atadjan Movlamov on Thursday, the

PM's aide noted that the bilateral trade was below its true potential and expressed resolve to take appropriate steps to increase the volume of trade between the two countries.

Both sides agreed that the 3rd meeting of the Joint Working on Trade (JWT) should be held soon to discuss wide-ranging bilateral trade issues. It was also agreed that to finalise the agenda for the 3rd Meeting of the JWT, both sides would hold technical level consultations.

Trump finally acknowledges defeat after supporters storm Capitol Continued from page 01 Authorities said four people died during the violence, including one woman who was shot by an officer outside the House chamber. Trump had encouraged his supporters to march on the Capitol to protest lawmakers’ actions, and later appeared to excuse the violent occupation by the mob, which forced its way inside and clashed with police.

“These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long,” Trump wrote in a message that was later deleted by Twitter. He added, “Go home with love & in peace. remember this day forever!”

Trump’s response to the violence underscored his months-long obsession with trying to overturn the results of the election. He has spent the final days of his presidency angrily stewing and lashing out at republicans for perceived disloyalty while refusing to acknowledge his loss or concede.

Trump’s statement could not be posted on his Twitter or Facebook feeds because both accounts had been blocked from posting.

Trump spent much of Wednesday afternoon watching the insurrection on television from his private dining room off the Oval Office. But aside from sparing appeals for calm issued at the insistence of his staff, he was largely disengaged. Instead, a White House official said, most of Trump’s attention was consumed by his ire at Vice President Mike Pence, who defied Trump’s demands by acknowledging he

did not have the power to unilaterally choose the next president. The official was not authorised to discuss the matter and spoke only on the condition of anonymity.

Trump only reluctantly issued the tweets and taped a video encouraging an end to the violence. The posts came at the insistence of staff and amid mounting criticism from republican lawmakers urging him to condemn the violence being perpetrated in his name, according to the official.

And even as authorities struggled to take control of Capitol Hill after protesters overwhelmed police, Trump continued to level baseless allegations of mass voter fraud and praised his loyalists as “very special.”

“I know your pain. I know you're hurt. But you have to go home now,” he said in a video posted more than 90 minutes after lawmakers were evacuated from the House and Senate chambers. “We can’t play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You’re very special.”

MASS RESIGNATIONS: The violence, coupled with the president’s tepid response, alarmed many in the White House and appeared to push republicans allies to the breaking point after years of allegiance to Trump. After four years with no shortage of fraught moments, Wednesday’s events quickly emerged as the nadir of morale in the Trump White House, as aides looked on in horror at the chaos at the Capitol Trump had fomented.

A number of White House aides were discussing a potential mass resignation, according to people familiar with the conversation. And others quickly departed.

Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s chief of staff

The ambassador showed a keen interest in holding the 6th meeting of Pak-Turkmenistan Joint Governmental Commission this year. He also discussed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Gwadar and Turkmen ports.

It is pertinent to mention that in light of Pakistan’s interaction with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan also wants to have trade relations with Pakistan. Hence, the Ministry of Commerce is developing a strategy to incorporate Turkmenistan into the plan.

and a former White House press secretary, submitted her resignation on Wednesday. Deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, White House social secretary rickie Niceta and deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews also resigned, according to officials. More departures were expected in the coming days, officials said. Other aides indicated they planned to stay to help smooth the transition to the Biden administration. And some harboured concerns about what Trump might do in his final two weeks in office if they were not there to serve as guardrails when so few remain.

Trump’s begrudging statement acknowledging defeat came after even longtime allies floated whether members of his Cabinet should invoke the 25th Amendment and remove him from office. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie told ABC late Wednesday that “responsible members of the Cabinet” should be thinking about fulfilling their oath of office, adding that Trump had “violated his oath and betrayed the American people.”

Trump has been single-mindedly focused on his electoral defeat since Election Day, aides said, at the expense of the other responsibilities of his office, including the fight against the raging coronavirus. Indeed, it was Pence, not Trump, who spoke with the acting defence secretary to discuss mobilising the DC National Guard on Wednesday afternoon.

Hours earlier, Trump had appeared at a massive rally near the White House, where he continued to urge supporters to fight the election results and encouraged them to march to the Capitol in remarks that were peppered with incendiary language and rife with violent undertones. At one point, he even suggested he might join them — a prospect that was discussed by the White House but eventually abandoned.

“We’re going to the Capitol,” he said. “We’re going to try and give our republicans [...] the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country.”

Earlier in the rally, his lawyer, rudy Giuliani, had advocated what he had called “trial by combat.”

As the violence raged, republican lawmakers and former administration officials had begged Trump to tell his supporters to stand down.

Pandemic nurturing nationalism in the divided world taLHa aSLam History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done, said

by Sydney J Harris, an American journalist, who also accounted the fact that the difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does; the former attitude creates a feeling of responsibility, but the latter is a feeling of blind arrogance that leads to war.

The Great Depression of 1929 plummeted the world GDP by 15 per cent, while the international trade fell by 50 per cent. It led to the nationalist movements worldwide, eventually fascism, and world witnessed the World War II. In the post-world war scenario, the cold war between the Soviet Union and United States commenced, emerging United States as the global superpower at the end of cold war. Nationalism and crisis goes hand in hand, the economic recession of 2008, also triggered the nationalistic movement across the globe but with pandemic rattling the world economies and reshaping the power politics of the globe has unfold eventualities that might lead the world to another war, The International Monetary Fund managing director predicted that global economy will shrink by 4.9 per cent in 2020 and with analysts have noted a global rise in nationalism as countries have engaged in a number of nationalist movements in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The economic collapse, the closure of borders and millions jobless has made it imaginable that the post-pandemic world will

be different than the one that came before. The nationalism, driving force behind domestic politics, have made the world leaders forsaken that the Covid-19 virus had crossed the frontiers long before they could even understand what is coronavirus.

On December 3, 2020, The American and Britain officials sparred on how Britain had beaten the United States to authorizing a coronavirus vaccine. The Gavin Williamson, the education secretary clearly dictated that Britain got the best medical regulators, much better than the French, Belgians and Americans. He declared his country much better than any other country. Britain on becoming the first country to start immunization drive declared it as “V-Day” echoing the language used to commemorate its win in World War II russia and China have already began distributing their vaccines and the hasty authorisation of an indigenous vaccine Covaxin by Bharat Biotech International by political leadership of India without any phase 3 data available has raised concerns in the international community of healthcare. The public roll out of an untested product clearly states the citizen health being overshadowed by political nationalism, even above saving lives.

Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General, tweeted on Sunday, January 3, denouncing that vaccine nationalism is not only unfair but self-defeating and no country will be safe from Covid-19 unless all are safe.

This vaccine nationalism in which countries prioritize their domestic needs at the expense of others have relegated the multilateralism. The result is the failing of WHO, Corvax programme,

the global scheme to deliver Covid-19 vaccines to poorer countries which could have deleterious impact for billions of people.

With the tide of nationalism, follows the fascism under extreme conditions which might eventually lead to another World War. Joseph Nye, a Harvard University professor and former senior Pentagon Official said in statement that USChina relations are now at their lowest point in 50 years. Today’s world is divided into two blocs, one that looks to Washington and one that looks to Beijing. A second cold war has already commenced between these two rivals, albeit before the outbreak, but the pandemic has added fuel to the fire. With Military tensions rising in the pacific and China’s influence in the Eastern bloc through its economic might has put a tight rope on the nerves of US as superpower. In the aftermath, the US banned the Chinese technology firms and denounced Chinese government as responsible for the pandemic.

On another front, China banned import of coal from Australia amid the Canberra’s policy to lockout Chinese tech giants such as Huawei from its 5G rollout, hauling Australia as a lead player in holding China responsible for the pandemic. This has led the second largest economy plunging its GDP as the country’s energy demands are dependent upon the coal energy. China is adamant in keeping ban enforced stating that state’s politics is above everything While the US-Iran confrontation in near past has also raised concerns for the framers of the World peace organisations. Iran has filed an appeal with UN Security council to stop US military ad-

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venturism in the Gulf and Sea of Oman, where US military has employed nuclear capable bombers days before the first death anniversary of Iranian top general Qasem Soleimani who was assassinated in a targeted drone strike sanction by President Trump in January 2020.

The Muslim world also seems divided in the wake of recent events. The recognition of Israel by Arab states such as UAE, Sudan and Bahrain under the Trump influence is creating a rift among those who support the Palestinian cause.

The KSA aligning itself with the Trump to keep Iran from gaining influence in the region is another eventuality driven by nationalism and fortifying the divide.

With relegation of globalisation amid country wide lockdowns, the rise of nationalism is marring the global peace.

This is high time for world peace organisations to step forward and lead the humanity out of crisis. Joe Biden, the elect-president will take the White House on January 20 but one thing on which democrats and republicans both agree that China is an adversary, although the new administrations seeks to extend alliances with China and putting emphasis on reversing the effects of Trump’s policies.

The revival of US-China relations in the near future is blurry.

World is changing and it is changing fast, the adverse relations among nations will not only hamper the global trade but will add misery to the injury caused by the pandemic. With the new year came the new variant of coronavirus and like the previous strain it has jumped the frontiers already, more nationalism will only increase divide, as Covid-19 is an international crisis and demands multilateral cooperation of the world leaders.

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Bahawalpur industrial estate to be functional soon: minister LAHORE: Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht said on Thursday that Bahawalpur Industrial Estate will be functional soon, wherein all business start-up facilities would be provided through one window service. The provincial minister expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation of Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), led by Member of Punjab Assembly Afzal Chaudhry. Hashim said that the road adjoining the industrial estate would be connected to the motorway, adding that the businessmen's concerns over ease of obtaining NOCs on land near highways would also be addressed on a priority basis. He noted that Bahawalpur offered abundant facilities and that the industrial estate would make the region more attractive for investors of other districts. The minister directed South Punjab Additional Chief Secretary Zahid Zaman to resolve the issues of BCCI in the South Punjab Secretariat in future. Earlier, the delegation informed the provincial minister that due to the availability of various facilities in Bahawalpur, many investors from nearby districts were interested in industrialisation, but they were difficulties in obtaining NOC and finding suitable land. The members requested the provincial minister to complete the boundary walls and gates of the premises allotted by the Punjab government for the industrial estate as soon as possible so as to gain the trust of investors. TLTP

Tabish Gauhar resigns as SAPM on power Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Power Tabish Gauhar has resigned after being appointed a couple of months ago, a private media outlet reported on Thursday. Gauhar submitted his resignation via WhatsApp last night, sources confirmed Geo News, adding that one of the reasons for him doing so could be due to his tough position on the government's negotiations with the Independent Power Producers (IPPs). It may be noted that former K-Electric chairman Tabish Gauhar had assumed the charge as SAPM on Power on October 1, 2020. NEWS DESK

‘Pakistan to receive Covid-19 vaccine by end of month’ Continued from page 01 “All other people will be vaccinated in the third phase of the coronavirus vaccination campaign”, secretary healthcare department said. Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has devised a plan for anti-coronavirus vaccine disbursement. According to the document issued by authorities, a provincial vaccine administration and coordination cell (PVACC) has been established which will be led by the KP health secretary. District vaccine administration and coordination cells have also been established across all 35 districts including the tribal areas. These will be led by the additional deputy commissioners (ADCs). At least 280 health facilities have been identified and the provincial government has formed a health vaccine administration cell (HFVAC) across the province including the merged districts where the vaccine will be administered to frontline health works in the first phase. Training was held for provincial and district masters on vaccine administration and data flow on January 4 while cascade training was underway. The cold chain assessment has been completed and the supply chain management mechanism would be developed after "clarity from the federal government". The provincial government has also developed adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) strategy.

Furthermore, 50 more people died of Covid-19 across the country during the previous 24 hours, soaring the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic to 10,511. The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said on Thursday that 2,482 new cases of the coronavirus emerged across the country over the previous 24 hours, taking the national tally of infections to 495,075.

Facebook, Instagram to block Trump's account for rest of his presidential term Facebook Inc and Instagram will extend a ban on US President Donald Trump’s accounts for at least the next two weeks until the presidential transition is completed, Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said. “We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great,” Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post on Thursday. Earlier on Wednesday, Twitter Inc, Facebook, and Snap Inc had temporarily locked Trump’s accounts, as the tech giants scrambled to crack down on his baseless claims about the US presidential election and hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol. AGENCIES

Friday, 8 January, 2021

06 COMMENT

Policing terror, but at what cost?

Trump leaves office But his creed is yet to be defeated

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hAT happened in Washington on Wednesday was unprecedented in the history of the world’s oldest democracy. A mob of President Donald Trump’s armed loyalists stormed the Capitol to disrupt the final electoral count by the Congress. Not reconciled to a humiliating defeat Trump had used every imaginable stratagem to get the election results nullified.

When this failed to happen he incited armed mobs of loyalists to take recourse to violence. When the trick failed, Trump was left with no option but to accept the results, albeit with reservations. The Democrats meanwhile also secured a stunning pair of victories in runoff elections in Georgia, thus gaining effective control of the Senate.

Trump may have lost the election but he won a record number of votes, and tightened his grip on states like Ohio. What is more his worldview has become the agenda of the global right. Some of the highly negative trends that he promoted remain strongly entrenched in the USA and a number of other countries. These include denial of scientific truths, conservative populism and illiberalism and a strong racist streak that discourages immigration and mistreats minorities. Trump’s legacy includes a macho image combined with strong-arm tactics.

Among Trump’s kindred spirits that still rule their countries are Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Indian PM Narendra Modi and PM Imran Khan. Bolsonaro has alarming similarities with Trump, like a far-right message, courtship of conservative evangelical churches with moralistic discourses and an identity as a disrupter. Modi shares Trump’s disregard for political norms, disdain for dissent, and a dedication to strengthening his executive power at the expense of state institutions. Modi has tested the limits of his authority in India by unilaterally revoking the constitutionally enshrined autonomy of IndianOccupied Kashmir; establishing new limits on India’s citizenship laws that discriminate against Muslims; and imposing violent crackdowns on protests across the country.

Mr Khan shares with Trump his intolerance of the opposition and media criticism besides possessing a skyhigh ego. Both hold conservative views and exploit the deep anti-government grievances of right-wing constituencies. Both use religion for political purposes.

Trump has gone. It will however take years of hard work to defeat his ideology and macho style of governance in various countries, including the USA.

Another killing, again the nation is shocked At Penpoint M A NIAZI

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he gunning down of Usama Satti by five members of the Islamabad Police CounterTerrorism Department (CTD) has caused outrage throughout the country, not just because the killing was so brutal, but because it had transpired in Islamabad, thus raising questions about the quality of policing in the federal capital at a time when the federal government is facing a threat from the opposition PDM’s protest movement. The overall role of CTDs has to be considered, and governments have to decide whether they are playing a positive role in the War on Terror, or whether they are merely what other police sub-formations seem to have become: sub-gangs within what has become a large gang overall.

The policemen seem to be settling their defence to the boy not stopping at their checkpost. Unlike the case in Sahiwal, there is no claim that he (at that time the sole occupant) was a terrorism suspect. Just that he was driving away. The shooting that followed, according to the medical report, was apparently from the front, though the policemen claim they fired from behind.

The Sahiwal incident, on 19 January 2019, saw four people killed: the car’s driver, who was suspected as a terrorist, an ISIS member, a couple and their eldest daughter. Two more children were injured by shooting. The car had stopped, and still the shootings took place. It seemed as if the police party attempted to kill off the eyewitnesses, though they did not succeed. A red line, that of not shooting suspects who had placed themselves in custody seems to have crossed.

In the Islamabad incident, another red line that seems to have been crossed is that there was no firing in reply. The police are supposed to consists of civilians, and are not an armed force. Its members might carry arms, but that is because criminals also do. The purpose of carrying weapons is to return fire, not to shoot at someone who does not have a weapon.

There is a broader culture of the police arrogating to itself the role of executioner, a culture that has been encouraged by a series of rulers seeking a quick fix for the problem of crime. The culmination of this was the ‘police encounter’. The encounter, in which the police claims that a suspect’s accomplices attempted to free him, only for him to be killed in the resulting exchange of fire, is depressingly familiar, but it must be noted that the police always justified its firing of its weapons by saying that the others, the criminal, had fired first.

All roads lead to Parliament But the government must make it possible

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ATIONAL Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser is busy holding meetings for the holding of a new session of the house, including one with Prime Minister Imran Khan. The logic, which Speaker Qaiser is pushing, is that Parliament is the best forum for settling all national issues, so the opposition PDM should take its protest off the street and bring it to Parliament. Obviously, for this to work, Parliament must be in session, not least because it will take away many leading figures off the streets, who are presently busy being the ornaments of PDM rallies. It also feeds the PTI narrative of not negotiating with anyone who is not a member of Parliament, a move meant to exclude not just PDM President Maulana Fazlur Rehman but also PML(N) vicePresident Maryam Nawaz.

In this context, former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry’s remark that both government and opposition need to step back from their existing positions is perceptive. If there is to be any result of a negotiation, then both parties must be ready to move away from their stated positions. The government has already shown its concern with whom it will talk to, but the Maulana and Ms Nawaz are being pushed forward by the government itself, for the Leader of Opposition Shehbaz Sharif and PML (N) leader Kh Asif are both in NAB custody. The government insists on not talking to those who are corrupt, insistent on deciding who is corrupt, and eagerness to designate as corrupt all those in the forefront of the opposition, means that it may soon find itself with no one to talk to. The essence of calling a Parliament session is so that voices expressing opposing opinions are all heard.

The calling of Parliament is basically a requirement, as there are a certain number of days of meeting to be completed each year. The house must be in session for the Senate elections, especially for the Senators to be elected from Islamabad. If Parliament is to meet, it is too much to expect it not to deal with the opposition’s movement, which has convulsed the nation. however, if there are to be any results, the government must get off its high horse and stop being so self-righteous.

Indian game plan in Afghanistan India is preparing for the US withdrawal MusA KhAN JAlAlZAI

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RIvATe mercenaries and foreign funded militias have reshaped the culture of unending war in Afghanistan in a modern form, and contributed significantly to the disputed leadership and misgovernment. They received financial and military support from domestic and international stakeholders to consolidate the form of armed governance, and the artificial infrastructure of the Afghan State. The past 40 year’s long conflict and transformation of social fabric have configured the political landscape of Afghanistan, and significantly empowered local warlords. The collapse of the Afghan state in 1992 left a huge political and military vacuum permeated by Mujaheddin militias, Taliban, the ISIS and Karzai’s government militias. Afghan politicians and warlords also gained financial and political advantage from the buildup of these inexplicable militias while Interior and Defence Ministries sought to take them under their control.

At the provincial level, local Northern Alliance warlords, and self-styled commanders who had opposed the Taliban took advantage of the deteriorating law and order situation by renewing their own private militias in Northern Provinces. As a matter of fact, these militia commanders were driven overwhelmingly by foreign stakeholders to serve their interests and challenge authority of the Afghan state. The USA and its NATO allies established their own militias unanwerable to the Afghan military command, accomplishing night raids across the country since 2007. They and their funded militias, such as the Taliban, ISIS and the NDS Units kill women and children in their homes, markets, shops, colleges, schools, and on roadways. The CIA and RAW both funded the Afghan intelligence agency (NDS) and have also established regional intelligence units to help the Pentagon execute night raids. Of these militias, Unit-01 operates in the central region, Unit-02 in the eastern region, Unit-03 in the Southern Region, while Unit-04 operates as a Khost Protection Force.

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That culture has seen the transformation of the noy gone on a classificatory binge, but they do have role of the police from that of collecting evidence for the bedrock of pre-Independence policing, in which the courts to supplanting the courts, from preventing the Raj blithely classified certain birdardris as ‘crimcrime to punishing it themselves. Because it exists inal castes’, and made assumptions which still persist, outside the state system, such a role has been reduced about the criminal proclivities of certain biradris.

It perhaps could have been safely predicted that, to the police acting as ‘guns for hire’, and there are stories of policemen carrying out encounters on crim- like the SARS, the CTD was not a very good idea. inals after they have been paid off by victims. One Two problems arise. The first is that such elite groups sign has been the use of the police in property dis- emphasize the elements of the group. Just as commanputes. That is another area where the police acts ac- dos are supposed to be more soldierly than the average, so are police special squads meant to be more cording to an officer’s judgement, not a court’s.

That the police universally comes into conflict policeman-like than the average for the force. In this with at least some sections of the citizenry is common. case, tragically, it means more trigger-happy than average. Another problem is reThe protests in the USA over cruitment.

While the the killing of George Floyd formation of the CTDs has last year by a two-man team meant an increased intake, it of the Minneapolis police is not direct. The CTDs remay have been about race, The government should not cruit from the district police, about Black Lives Matterthough promotions may ing, but the protests were forced into attempting a be occur within them. The imalso about policing. Indeed, mediate supervisors in the one of the most visible signs cost-benefit analysis, where district police, who may not of racial discrimination in it has to choose between have the best of human rethe USA are not about forsource anyhow, will fight malized discrimination, but policing the War on Terror tooth and nail to keep their about routine police behavand keeping its citizens alive. best and brightest. Instead, ior with black Americans, they will ensure that the new which is, among other Too many incidents like the formation gets has-beens and things, degrading. One sign no-goodniks. At best, those of how much the protests Sahiwal and Islamabad who have blotted their copywere about policing was the incidents might force the book somehow, but who the loudness of the demand for supervisor thinks deserves a defunding the police. government’s hand. second chance, will end up Another example of rein the new formation. vulsion against policing The incidents have been came this year in Africa, piling up. The occurrence at where the widespread protests against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad led Islamabad shows that the one at Sahiwal was not an to shootings on protesters in which three people were aberration. however, if the CTDs are not examined killed. The misdeeds alleged against the Squad in- closely, more indents could occur. The CTDs were cluded shooting suspects in cold blood, arbitrary ar- formed to handle the War on Terror. This was only rests and illegal detentions ended only after bribes natural, for they were meant first to investigate terchanged hand. Like the BLM protests, the end-SARS rorist blasts, though now they have expanded to tracprotests were prolonged and countrywide. The prin- ing the activities of the militants.

The government should not be forced into atcipal demand was the disbanding of the SARS, which had been announced before, but had been followed tempting a cost-benefit analysis, where it has to by reformation. Now the protesters were demanding choose between policing the War on Terror and keepcriminal charges instituted against offending police- ing its citizens alive. Too many incidents like the Sahiwal and Islamabad incidents might force the govmen.

One element common to the Black Lives Matter ernment’s hand. It would be better if the police high protests and the anti-SARs protests was that both in- command was itself to handle the situation. Obvidulged in racial profiling. US policemen discrimi- ously, things are not all right. nated against blacks, while Nigerian policemen chose things like clothes and tattoos. Pakistani police have The writer is a member of staff.

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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After the US-Taliban peace deal, for policy makers in India, there was no option left but to establish more militias in Northern Afghanistan to protect its interests and counter Taliban and Pakistan’s influence after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

India’s anxiety is not limited to losing control of its political and military assets, but include the possible change of government in Kabul. A recent Hindustan Times analysis noted a meeting between the RAW Chief and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that issued a stern warning that things might become out of control after the Taliban deal with the USA. Later on, RAW contacted warlords and former Mujahideen commanders in Northern Afghanistan to manage the recruitment of a strong force (60,000) for the proposed private militias.

Now, every week, Indian intelligence experts overtly and covertly visit Kabul and the northern provinces to oversee different military and intelligence projects, and inculcate in Afghan military commanders, members of Parliament, and of local councils, that the exclusive enemy of Afghans is Pakistan’s military establishment and Punjabis. These Indian generals have often squeezed the Ghani administration to expand the operational boundaries of RAW and MI across the country. India has also established different intelligence units to counter Pakistan’s military influence within the Afghan army and intelligence infrastructures.

This unwanted role of the Indian army and Intelligence agencies forced China to counter the Indian influence by establishing intelligence units across Afghanistan. A week ago, President Trump was briefed about the alleged Chinese bounties offered to non-state actors in Afghanistan to attack US troops.

China shares a border at Xinjjiang with Afghanistan at Badakhshan, and has long been worried about militant infiltration from Afghanistan. On 31 December, the Chinese Special envoy to Afghanistan met with the Afghan National Security Advisor to discuss the arrest of Chinese intelligence units in Afghanistan.

The hubbub of the Afghan and Indian leaderships about the infiltration of Pakistani extremists in Kashmir and Northern Afghanistan received a gloom-rid-

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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den response in the media due to their own sponsorship of various intelligence and terrorist networks in Pakistan. The three intelligence agencies (RAW, MI, and NDS) provide field intelligence information to their militias, and manage the operational mechanism of Afghan intelligence in Balochistan. In Kunduz, Balkh and Mazar-e-Sharif, and Jalalabad, a wide range of militias have been receiving funds, arms and intelligence support from different stakeholders. The Indian military and RAW continues to recruit young soldiers for its anti-CPeC commando group in the northern and eastern provinces of Afghanistan.

Afghans view the involvement of Indian Intelligence agencies in the internal affairs of the country with mixed feelings and cynicism that RAW’s connection and correspondence with TTP, BLA and Daesh (ISIS), and its recent move to establish private militias under the command of Indian army in Afghanistan is the principal cause of instability.

In the 1990s, RAW recruited Afghan warlords who still occupy a central position in the country’s politics. Journalist Shemin Joy in an August review of Yatish Yadav’s book (A History of India’s Covert Operations) in the Deccan Herald noted the recruitment of Afghan warlords by Indian Intelligence RAW who are still occupying central positions in Afghan politics. however, the US-Taliban deal is seen in India as a one-sided agreement and fears that this deal will bring Pakistan’s military establishment back to the centre of the Afghan game. The Indian Army and the Ghani administration have begun establishing private militias in Northern Afghanistan, which will take up arms against the Taliban in several parts of Afghanistan in near future.

Recently, Afghan warlord and former governor of Balkh province, Atta Muhammad Noor, and General Dostum visited India to discuss the funding and infrastructure of these militias. Indian Ministry of external Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava in his tweet noted; “Foreign Secretary harsh Shringla welcomed Afghan leader Atta Mohammad Noor to India”.

The writer is a freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Friday, 8 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

A plastic ban of plastic bags ACCORDING to a report, the government of Pakistan has ordered the ban of plastic bags since 2006 to save the earth plus the atmosphere and still the government is ordering. however, plastic bags are still being used unlimitedly.

About 55billion to 112 billion plastic bags are being used by people of Pakistan. however, we are using plastic bags more than our need. People use plastic bags separately for each thing. They don’t throw the plastic bags in dustbins but streets and on roads which causes blockage of pipe lines, pollute the water and air. Lots of times, people throw plastic bags in gutter lines and the gutter comes from pipe lines on roads by which people face difficulties in walking. In some places there are no dustbins, so they throw the garbage and fire them which results in several poisonous gasses that hurt the environment too.

The government should make reusable bags for people so that they can finish using plastic bags.

Mubarak baluch Sajidi awaran

Recent trends of Indian federalism ciple. The Inter-State Council was constituted in Centre and many States are being governed by 1990. The entry of regional parties in coalition coalition of different political parties. The earlier government at the centre became a regular fea- phenomenon of ‘one-party system’ or rather ture in 1996 with the formation of the United ‘one-party dominant system’ has been eroding Dr rAJKuMAr sINgh Front government and in all subsequent ones– to a coalition system. Political parties or alliance and presently in the United Progressive Alliance of political parties are playing divergent roles in government. The left parties, which supported the Union-State governance. A Party, which is he history of federalism and Centre- both the National Front government in 1989 and ruling the State, is in the opposition at Centre State relations in India is marked by the United Front govand vice-versa. ‘This political mobilisation and intermittent ernment in 1996-1998 has made the spectacle struggle to fashion a more federal set- and the present UPA of monolithic party orup. In the first phase lasting until the government, are strong ganisations a thing of last 1960s, the task of nation building and devel- supporters of the fedthe past. Different segNo single entity can claim opment was the main concern of the nation’s eral principle. An ments of the same superiority. Sovereignty does party rulers. This period was not solely dominated by analysis of the nature are both cooperthe trend of centralisation. Whatever conflicts and dimension of fedating and opposing the not lie in any one institution arose, and there were many major ones, were all eral government in government of the day or in any one wing of the sought to be resolved under the Constitution. India will show that and this has thrown Geographic boundaries of the States have often there have been qualitasuch a challenge to tragovernment. The power of been reorganised. In 1956, they were organised tive changes in the ditional thinking in reon linguistic basis. This laid the basis for the inner dynamics of politgard to federalism that governance is distributed later assertion by the States for greater powers. ical parties in India, the President, the among several organs and Later more States were formed– haryana, hi- both at the national and Prime Minister and the machal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, regional levels.

Chief Ministers are institutions for good Arunachal Pradesh and Goa. even in 2003, three In the beginning of vying with each other governance. Thus the large States were bifurcated to create three new 1990s the implementain their expressions of States of Jharkand, Uttarakhand and Chhatisgarh tion of dual policies of mutual co-operation element of cooperation, of to respect and encourage the local aspirations of liberalisation and deand smooth running of respectively. centralisation were sigseeking friendly counsel with Union-State relations’.

In this regard installation of non-Congress nificant as the local The time is ripe now each other and of ever governments at the state level after 1967 is con- bodies in their functionwith almost every sidered as the beginning of the process of ero- ing reduced the role of major political party rekeeping the larger end in sion of Congress hegemony. But in fact this was the bureaucracy while alising by sheer experiview, is of paramount the starting point for the emergence of coalition increasing grassrootsence, and because of politics in India. The decline of the ‘Congress level participation with objective conditions, importance.

System’ as advocated by Austin, brought a num- the State’s support. A the need to establish a ber of issues to the surface. One of this issues historic development true federal system that was to make room for other political parties to took place in 1992, both would strengthen the play their roles in the national as well as local in the Constitutional bonds of mutual cooppolitics. The 1977 development is the process of and federal history of India, by virtue of the 73rd eration, unity, and cordiality between the Centre culmination which started way back in 1967. In and 74th Amendment Acts to the Constitution. and the States. post 1967 phase the Dravida Munnetra They respectively made the rural local bodies The honest and the practical way ahead is Kazhagam decided to carry on a campaign on and the urban local bodies respectively a com- for the Union to lose its extra weight and shed Centre–State relations in a systematic and scien- pulsory and statutory provision. They were also its tendency to be the centre with monopoly of tific manner. In February 1970, in the DMK entrusted with powers and responsibilities ‘to power to dominate over the units and the people.

Conference in Tiruchy, a popular slogan , ‘Au- enable them to function as institutions of self – In short, the only way to preserve ‘India, that is tonomy for the States; Federalism at the Centre’, government and such law may contain provi- Bharat’ as a ‘Union of States’ is to work for was given. In its 1971 election Manifesto, the sions for the devolution of powers and respon- building it as a ‘federal Union’ with multiple DMK announced: ‘Though the Constitution of sibilities. Their main responsibilities were ‘the tiers of government and sharing of powers from India is described as a Federal one, the balance preparation of plans for economic development the lowest grassroot levels of Panchayats to the is more tilted towards and social justice in the Parliament and the Government of the Union. the Centre and hence matters listed in When the basic units of the federal Union at the the States are not able eleventh and Twelfth grassroots become small and autonomous, most to function freely in the Schedules for the rural of the conflicts related to ethnicity and quest for administrative and fiand urban local bodies freedom may get resolved and it may be possible In the beginning of 1990s the respectively. nancial spheres. Only Both these to involve various groups in governance more such powers as are necSchedules are broadly closely and this may make the Union stronger implementation of dual essary for the Centre to derivatives of the State and the nation more integrated, emotionally and policies of liberalisation and list preserve the strength of and these are meant culturally.

India should be asAbove all, it needs to be remembered that in further refining the decentralisation were signed to the Centre developmental and only the spirit of ‘cooperative federalism’, and significant as the local and all the other powers welfare functions of the not an attitude of dominance or superiority, can should be left to the State and in the preserve the balance between the Union and the bodies in their functioning States without impairprocess, federalism too. States and promote the good of the people. ing the ideal of a strong In this regard the Under our constitutional system, no single entity reduced the role of the India’. The DMK is of fact remains that decen- can claim superiority. Sovereignty does not lie bureaucracy while increasing tralisation has often in any one institution or in any one wing of the the view that for proper and ideal Centre–State grassroots-level participation come to be regarded as government. The power of governance is distribrelations, there should a way of reducing the uted among several organs and institutions for with the State’s support. be more powers for the strength of govern- good governance. Thus the element of cooperaStates. ments and as synony- tion, of seeking friendly counsel with each other For the first time in mous with and of ever keeping the larger end in view, is of 1989, a National Front privatisation. In these paramount importance. coalition government Amendments, a total of headed by v.P. Singh, which included major re- 29 responsibilities have been given to rural local The writer is head of the political science gional parties like the DMK, took office at the bodies and 18 to urban local bodies respectively. department of the B.N.Mandal University, Centre. Though short-lived, this government India for more than the last one decade has Madhepura, Bihar, India and can be reached at took certain steps to strengthen the federal prin- been experiencing coalition politics and both the rajkumarsinghpg@gmail.com

Local bodies have become crucial

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Injustice with fans MUhAMMAD Aamir’s sudden retirement from cricket is a big shock for Aamir’s fans. Of course, this is bad news for all cricket fans as well. But apart from all these, Mohammad Aamir’s decision to retire from cricket was not appropriate at all. Because when Aamir was found guilty of match-fixing, Aamir returned to cricket after his conviction because of his fans. Aamir’s fans raised their voices everywhere and forced the PCB, including the ICC, to allow him to play. But now resigning on the basis of resentment from the management is a complete injustice to his fans. This difficult time comes to everyone, so Aamir should fight the situation with courage instead of retiring. As a fan of Aamir, I request him to announce to play again so that all his fans are not disappointed and at the same time Pakistan is in dire need of Aamir to play. hunzla kakar zhob

We are the masks The heartbreaking news pieces of corona casualties have been emerging from every nook and corner worldwide up till date. Almost a year on, the bloody pandemic has been playing havoc with the lives of the people out there across the world. My recent visits to so many newspaper websites from across the world online have shown me a notso-good picture of the current situation. Continuing emotional stories, existing corona death toll and multiple difficulties posing to the people have all been different sad stories.

The east or the West, the people have been handling the pandemic crisis through all methods and procedures possible. however, confusing signals and bizarre situations are all pointing to the fact that still, something scientific has been found missing on the ground despite those serious efforts to tackle the pandemic. Sometimes, hope gives us the strength required to stand up to the current crisis.

Americans have been hopeful of a permanent solution to the current political crisis due to voter fraud charges levelled. Just as we have been having a continued fight with the climate crisis, today is the day to fight the pandemic head-to-head. how about those COvID Standard Operating Procedures? Time and again, the corona safety measures have been explained across to the people. But the situation has gone out of control over and over again, catching the people unawares.

COvID vaccines apart, the so-called mask mandate is the need of the hour now. Just a few days into the whole new year, let us all pledge to wear masks as much as possible to control this virus disease as soon as possible. Interestingly enough, all my family members were following the basic corona rules like mask mandate during my father’s death anniversary held recently at home.

Also, my businessman brother with his family had been following all COvID rules to travel between Mumbai and Tuticorin back and forth. I have been following and spreading this important message to friends and others in my native areas like Korkai, Tuticorin, Tiruchendur, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. Finally, one day the whole idea behind this letter had come to me all of a sudden.

COvID vaccines apart, the so-called mask mandate is the need of the hour now. Just a few days into the whole new year, let us all pledge to wear masks as much as possible to control this virus disease as soon as possible. Interestingly enough, all my family members were following the basic corona rules like mask mandate during my father’s death anniversary held recently at home.

So it is all about our own mindsets that make a difference. hence, the corona fight seriously involves the attitude of everyone out there. It is the people’s efforts that are the real strategies to kill the virus. After all, we the people are the masks and our attitude to the crisis situation is the real vaccine shot against the bloody virus.

P Senthil Saravana durai MuMbai

Shortage of gas SIR, hub is one of populous cities of the province Balochistan. however, It is facing multiple challenges. The problem which I am going to highlight is “ Shortage of gas”. Gas itself is a need of everyone. nowadays, but some areas are possessionless from this. In hub city such as, Daro hotel, Zehri gote, Jangy gote, Marri Abad etc. There are pipes of gas but no meters except some places. Many people send their sisters, wives, family members on mountains to bring wood to get fire.

Some people are voiceless, they are good in their simple life. even they are not informed from such facilities.

It is my humble request to the government to solve or take some necessary steps and provide gas in such areas.. naveed ahMed hub

Friday, 8 January, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

MIssIon faIlure: HoW THe us CapITol Was sTorMed natIOnaL IntEREst DoV S ZAKHEIM

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NItS of the 173rd Airborne Brigade can deploy anywhere in the world on eighteen hours’ notice. So too can one of the brigades of the 82nd Airborne Division. But the DC National Guard, which certainly had at least eighteen hours notice that trouble was brewing in the Capitol, tarried for hours while rioters egged on by the president of the United States besieged the seat of America’s legislature, breaking windows and climbing through them to wander

AS THE INSTIGATOR OF THE WORST ASSAULT ON AMERICA’S DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN MORE THAN A CENTURY, DONALD TRUMP HAS PROBABLY SHATTERED HIS PROSPECTS OF RETURNING TO THE WHITE HOUSE IN FOUR YEARS’TIME around the building at will. Washington had not witnessed such a violent assault on its federal institutions since 1814, when the British set fire to the building during the War of 1812.

Unlike the state National Guards, who take their orders from their respective governors, the DC National Guard is under the command and control of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. the policymakers in that office are a group of recently appointed “acting” officials, trump flunkies all. Acting Secretary Christopher Miller and his minions not only did not move to mobilize the Guard in the absence of an explicit order from the White house. they apparently were not prepared even to suggest that the Guard be deployed in anticipation of the trouble that ultimately materialized in a manner no one, with the possible exception

of Donald trump, could possibly have anticipated. Indeed, it has been reported that when DC Mayor Muriel Bowser requested that the Guard be mobilized to protect against what she sensed would be rioting and even bloodshed—indeed, a woman was shot on the Capitol grounds and has since died— the Pentagon turned her down. Its response was rather different from the haste with which it ordered National Guard units both to protect the Capitol from Black Lives Matter protesters and to deploy to environs of Lafayette Park in order to confront protesters and to make way for the president’s ludicrous photo-op in front of St. John’s Church.

In the absence of the Guard, the Capitol Police seemed overwhelmed. they did virtually nothing to prevent the rioters from climbing into the Capitol building and roaming through its halls and offices. Indeed, it

Intelligence officials warn of what comes next after pro-Trump Capitol riots

was not at all clear whose side at least some of the police were on; several took selfies with those they were meant to control. And despite all the mayhem, virtually no arrests were made until after Bowser’s 6 PM curfew came into force.

Coordination of the federal law enforcement agencies responding to what can only be called an insurrection fell to Vice President Mike Pence, who had been extracted from the Capitol and whisked to an “undisclosed location.” On the other hand, once he had whipped up a crowd of his supporters to march on the Capitol—even suggesting that he might accompany them—President Donald trump went AWOL. his silence during the first hours of the riot was deafening.

When trump finally emerged from wherever he was hiding, it was to release a video tweet in which he told his supporters, whom

IndEpEndEnt

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ANDREw FEINbERg

t took 159 years, but the Confederate battle flag finally flew in the United States Capitol on Wednesday night as a mob of men and women marching behind it smashed through windows, assaulted police officers, and terrorized members of Congress in hopes of preventing the house and Senate from certifying Joe Biden’s election as the 46th President of the United States.

Not since Major General robert ross led the British Army’s burning of what was then known as Washington City has a force hostile to the very idea of American democracy darkened the corridors of the country’s legislature. Yet this invasion came not at the hands of foreign soldiers sworn to obey George III, but of Americans bent on sedition, on the orders of President Donald trump. rioters bearing flags ranging from the Confederacy’s “stars and bars” to those emblazoned with the president’s name drove lawmakers from their chambers just as they were beginning debate on republican objections to the counting of Arizona’s electoral votes. they did so just minutes after trump, speaking at a “stop the steal” rally at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, exhorted crowds of his followers to intervene.

By the time law enforcement and national guardsmen from the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia had joined the Capitol’s own police force and the FBI in retaking control of the building, one person was dead, more than 15 were under arrest, and numerous Capitol police officers had suffered injuries. And even though the house and Senate both announced plans to resume the votecounting, national security experts who study authoritarianism and radicalization fear that President trump’s refusal to admit his defeat will plant seeds for yet more violence long after he is gone. this was just the sort of nightmare scene former republican representative Denver riggleman had tried warning his former colleagues about in his final

speech from the house floor last month.

An ex-Air Force intelligence officer, riggleman had urged his colleagues — and all Americans — “to recognize that many bad actors who spread spurious and fantastical conspiracy theories under banners like QAnon, Kraken, ‘Stop the Steal,’ ‘Scamdemic’ and many other emotive terms and coded language are not disseminating information rooted in knowledge but with questionable motives and greed.” In a phone interview Wednesday evening, riggleman said the riot was a predictable outcome of the embrace of conspiracy theories such as QAnon by trump and many of his advisers. “When you put radical, radical ideas together with messianic belief systems, that is a recipe for disaster,” he explained. “We are lucky things didn’t burn this time.” riggleman said both President trump — whose advisers were reportedly in contact with people connected to Wednesday’s riot — and GOP members who embraced his baseless claim that Biden’s victory stems from a “stolen election” share responsibility for the violence.

“It's a scary time and they are complicit,” he said, before adding that the new Congress would do well to consider passing a domestic terrorism statute to target extremist ideologies: “I believe at some point we have to have a domestic terrorism czar and an anti-online radicalization and disinformation effort that's government-wide.”

Another former intelligence operative, ex-CIA officer Patrick Skinner, also said the federal government needs to give itself the tools to crack down on a radicalization process that isn’t dissimilar from that used by the leaders of Islamist terrorist groups he once worked to disrupt. But unlike those foreign enemies, he said much of the radicalization process that is leading to violence at home is easy to see and is led by top government officials.

“Before, 9/11 chatter was through the roof, but now we know exactly what the chatter is about… and the chatter is coming from inside the White house,” said Skinner, who now works as a police detective in his Georgia hometown.

Because trump and his allies have spent years propagandizing his supporters to believe that Democrats holding power would result in the destruction of the country, the former CIA operative offered a rather pessimistic assessment of the future if the US doesn’t act as aggressively to counter right-wing extremism as it did with Islamist extremism. “the best-case scenario right now is we have some longgun, terrible shootings, or a couple small bombings… preceding or after an inauguration that half the country says is a theft,” he said. “When the president of the United States says clearly that ‘they are

trying to steal it’ and ‘we must fight for our freedom,’ people usually join the military for that sort of cause.” “We're not even just talking about our mentally unstable people. We're talking about… what we used to call regular people,” Skinner continued. “But now they are certainly unstable. And they're being incited by the president of the United States and United States senators, some of whom are not dumb and know exactly what they're doing.” As if to validate Skinner’s sentiments, the president himself ignored calls to denounce his followers’ actions, instead taking to twitter to reiterate false claims about the election and encourage supporters to “remember this day” going forward. “these are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously and viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly and unfairly treated for so long,” he tweeted. “Go home with love and in peace. remember this day forever!” though twitter management has long given him a free hand to violate the site’s rules because his public statements are deemed newsworthy as president, this post-riot missive may have crossed a line. the company took down the tweet and announced that trump’s personal twitter account would be locked for twelve hours. Colin Clarke, a senior research fellow at the Soufan Center and a former analyst for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, said he fears that trump is “laying the groundwork” for violence directed against a government he no longer leads to be “the new normal.” And with just two weeks remaining until Biden is sworn in as trump’s successor, Clarke warned that the country faces “another inflection point” on Inauguration Day because trump has consistently told his followers that various far-fetched solutions would be deployed to validate his claims about the election and secure him a second term in office. “When Joe Biden is installed as the president, the jig is up because he's going to have to physically leave the White house,” he said. “And they're going to realize that all of the smoke and mirrors he's been basically attempting to deceive people with over these past couple of months [were] all a hoax.”

“Anyone who believed him, and… the people who give money to… his defense fund, I think they're going to feel foolish and angry, and they're going to lash out,” he continued. “And they're not going to lash out against him, they're going to lash out against the person he's been saying is illegitimate this whole time, which is Joe Biden and the symbols that surround him.”

Dov S. Zakheim served as the undersecretary of defense (comptroller) and chief financial officer for the U.S. Department of Defense from 2001–2004 and as the deputy undersecretary of defense (planning and resources) from 1985–1987. He also served as the DoD’s civilian coordinator for Afghan reconstruction from 2002–2004. He is vice chairman of the Center for the National Interest.

Who's on the hook if vaccines go wrong?

BLOOMBERG ANJANI TRIVEDI AND ANDY MUKHERJEE

'WE'RE NOT EVEN JUST TALKING ABOUT OUR MENTALLY UNSTABLE PEOPLE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE USED TO CALL REGULAR PEOPLE. BUT NOW THEY ARE CERTAINLY UNSTABLE’

he said he “loved” to “go home.” Of course, he had to add the election had been stolen from him, which had the effect of enabling the rioters to justify to themselves their seditious activities.

Many leaders of America’s allies have expressed shock at the events in downtown Washington. On the other hand, the likes of Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and the Ayatollahs can only be smirking at America’s misfortunes. None of this appears to matter to Donald trump. his only concern is somehow to reverse the outcome of the presidential election, by whatever means that remain available to him. Not only will he not succeed, but as the instigator of the worst assault on America’s democratic institutions in more than a century, he has probably shattered his prospects of returning to the White house in four years’ time. And should that be the case, America will be much better for it.

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hether it’s a loss of income, hefty medical bills or other serious adverse effects from getting a shot, someone has to pick up the tab, be it vaccine manufacturers or governments. In the past, socalled liability shields have given companies cover to produce effective treatments quickly without legal exposure. But it’s a risky endeavor for countries to absorb full responsibility for highly novel products, developed and licensed at lightning speed. especially when every man, woman and, eventually, child will need to be injected.

Adar Poonawalla, the chief executive of Serum Institute of India Ltd., the world’s largest vaccine maker by volume, wants indemnity. Competitors tripping up one another by instigating frivolous civil suits isn’t a trivial risk for the likes of Poonawalla, who’s manufacturing the jab developed by AstraZeneca Plc and Oxford University. It could get messier still because some health care systems may experiment with dosage quantities and intervals to deal with mutations. Who will be responsible if there are serious adverse side events then?

No insurer will underwrite the risk; the burden of compensation will fall on states or, in the case of poor countries, on Covax, a global initiative to ensure equitable distribution.

On current estimates, Covax can meet only a fifth of global demand by the end of the year.

So countries that are striking direct agreements with producers will still have to worry about potential tort claims, which seek civil remedies — and not just for the next year or two. the virus may stick around even after universal immunization, with mutant strains creating an enduring market for jabs long after COVID-19 has ceased to be a public health emergency.

Manufacturers, distributors and other entities in the United States “are very likely to find their COVID-19 products and services moving across borders,” according to rAND Corporation researchers. their legal exposure in foreign courts is thus uncertain, especially given the rapid pace of vaccine development and limited data about side effects and longterm consequences.

Going by past pandemics, this data won’t start showing up for a while. When it does, it will likely vary by country, which affects how liability is handled. In 2013, four years after swine flu hit the globe, the U.K. government reversed its stand on the safety of the Pandemrix jab made by GlaxoSmithKline Plc, after a major study showed that it was associated with narcolepsy. Affected individuals could apply for compensation. At the time, the health department noted that “the decision to recommend that children got this vaccine during the flu pandemic was based on evidence available at the time, along with the advice from the european Medicines Agency which approved its use.” It then said that the department keeps “all emerging evidence under review,” which is why usage stopped in 2011 for those under 20. the data evolves, muddying potential liability issues.

It gets more complicated. rich countries are buying up large doses of viable vaccines from Pfizer Inc.-BioNtech Se and Moderna

Inc. Many are now weighing turning over a portion they have secured to low- and middleincome nations facing delays as Covax hasn’t worked out as planned. the european Union, for instance, is considering donating 5% of its inoculations, reuters reported. With altruistic gifts, it’s even harder to assign responsibility.

During the h1N1 pandemic of 2009, the World health Organization came up with a multicountry liability shield, as rAND researchers describe it, or a global legal framework. recipient countries had to sign a letter of agreement that basically allowed donors to wash their hands of liability, or indemnify donors, as long as they followed WhO standards. the issues were knotty and some countries didn’t have the resources to interpret them. eventually, of the 94 countries that were interested in donations, 87 signed the agreement and only 78 completed the preconditions in the agreement for vaccine supply. the complexity of the current situation and the sheer scale of production mean a new agreement will be required. National governments will need to negotiate, consider and approve various requirements — all long processes. If disparities between countries crop up, manufacturers will face barriers to production and distribution. the alternative is national compensation funds, which honor claims for those who have suffered adverse effects from the vaccines. Many countries simply can’t afford these, further reinforcing the resource and investment imbalance.

Previous widespread illnesses like small pox and other influenzas show that liability issues can hinder progress of new vaccines, even domestically. In 1976, as the Ford administration took on an ambitious program to vaccinate millions against an anticipated outbreak of swine flu, insurers and manufacturers balked. their concerns around legal exposure prompted Congress to pass a law waiving liability. through legislation, the U.S. was substituted as the defendant in lawsuits against any vaccine manufacturer, distributor or American entity providing free inoculation.

Although that flu scare didn’t evolve into a full-blown pandemic, firms in the U.S. are now effectively protected. Such a legal setup isn’t standard in most other places.

An additional challenge this time around is the space race-type international competition in vaccine development. China and russia are promoting inoculations with little or no data validating their effectiveness in large studies. India has licensed an indigenous product developed by local firm Bharat Biotech International Ltd. “in clinical trial mode” — those receiving the shots will be tracked and that will supposedly prove its efficacy. that’s because phase three experimental data, which do exactly that, aren’t yet available.

All this is too breathtaking a pace for scientists. Policy makers in developing nations may not have a choice but to take what they can get — easily, cheaply and quickly. But in so doing, they might just be storing up legal troubles for later.

Anjani Trivedi is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering industrial companies in Asia. Andy Mukherjee is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering industrial companies and financial services.

Friday, 8 January, 2021

BUSINESS 09

corporate corner HBL Asset Management Ltd’s rating upgraded to AM2++ KARACHI: VIS S Credit Rating Company has upgraded the Management Quality Rating (MQR) of HBL Asset Management Limited (HBL AMC) from ‘AM2+’ (AM-Two Plus) to ‘AM2++’ (AM-Two Plus Plus). Outlook on the assigned rating is ‘Stable’.

S HBL Asset Management Ltd CEO Mir Adil Rashid commented on the occasion, “We are proud to have achieved yet another milestone. The trust and commitment of all our stakeholders enabled us to continue providing exceptional services, in spite of the ongoing pandemic. Our dedication to have our best foot forward is absolute and we will continue this upward trajectory moving forward.” PRESS RElEASE

PTCL partners with Avaya to launch digital workplace app in Pakistan ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and Avaya Holdings Corp have signed a partnership agreement where PTCL will launch Avaya Spaces, the all-in-one workstream collaboration app for the digital workplace, for the first time in Pakistan. The partnership will enable organizations to implement a blended and flexible environment for their employees.

Speaking on the occasion, Zarrar Hasham Khan, Chief Business Services S Officer, PTCL, said, “We are continuously working towards empowering organizations within Pakistan and supporting the vision of a Digital Pakistan. In the present circumstances, where most of the organizations are offering flexible working environment, our partnership with Avaya is a step in the right direction.” PRESS RElEASE

OGRA GRAnTs K-ELECTRIC LICEnCE TO COnsTRuCT, OPERATE GAs PIPELInE ISLAMABAD

T

AHMAD AHMADANI

HE Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has approved K-Electric's application for a licence to construct and operate a gas pipeline to supply Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) to the RLNG-based 900MW BQPS-III power plant at Bin Qasim Power Complex.

OGRA, through a notification dated January 6, granted a licence to K-Electric (KE) to undertake regulated activity related to construction and operation of 14-inch diameter x 2.4 kilometer-long gas pipeline along with ancillary/con-

nected facilities for purpose of transmission of natural gas/RLNG from Tiein Point, SSGC Custody Transfer Station located at Bin Qasim, to KE's Bin Qasim Power Complex.

According to sources, the proposed gasline will not only supply RLNG to the 900MW BQPS-III power plant but will also supplement the fuel requirement of the plants that are established at Bin Qasim Power Complex. Similarly, the addition of the 900MW RLNGbased power plant along with proposed decommissioning of older and less efficient units will ultimately increase the power utility’s generation capacity and lead to improved service delivery.

K-Electric on 18 May 2020 had

submitted an application with OGRA mainly to ensure that the pipeline would be built in time for the commissioning of the first unit of BQPS-III. Sources said that this milestone will go a long way in helping bridge the supply-demand gap in Karachi in the years to come. They said that work on the BQPS-III power plant is proceeding on a fast-track basis; gas turbines and steam generators have arrived and are waiting to be installed so that the first unit of 450MW can be brought online by summer of 2021, and the second unit by end of 2021.

They said the approval of the 900MW plant is a vital step towards meeting Karachi’s growing power de-

‘Smart metering system’: CCoE seeks joint proposal from Power Division, IT ministry ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCOE) has sought a joint proposal from the Power Division and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication on 'Electricity-Meterless Smart Metering System'.

Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Minister Asad Umar chaired the CCOE meeting on Thursday.

The Power Division briefed the committee on the latest circular debt situation as well as strategies to arrest the rising debt. It was informed that a management plan was being effectively imple-

mented to minimise the circular debt buildup.

The meeting discussed the proposal forwarded by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication regarding the Electricity-Meterless Smart Metering System.

The CCOE directed the Power Division and IT ministry to hold further deliberations on the proposed design and submit a joint proposal to the CCoE. Meanwhile, the Petroleum Division proposed setting up a committee to streamline the process for industrial gas connections to Balochistan. The CCoE approved the proposed committee and directed that its recommendations be submitted to CCoE within one month.

KARACHI: Under its flagship initiative, Project Sarbulandi, K-Electric organized camps in different locales of Lyari and Gadap. More than 500 people from Ghanchi Para, Lyari and Lasi Goth, Gadap, benefited from free medical facilities provided at the camps. PR

Stocks add 191 points to overnight rally KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) carried on the northward journey on Thursday, with the benchmark index accumulating around 200 points despite profit booking in some sectors.

"The market opened on positive note, but profit booking later in the day, mainly in exploration & production, cement, steel and oil & gas marketing sectors, dragged the index lower," a report issued by Arif Habib Ltd read. "Nevertheless, aggressive buying was witnessed throughout the day in banking and fertilizer sectors, whereas news regarding removal of additional customs

Exports of India, Bangladesh show negative growth as compared to Pakistan: PM Prime Minister Imran Khan has congratulated the Ministry of Commerce and exporters for achieving record growth in exports during November and December 2020, as compared to exports of India and Bangladesh. In a tweet on Thursday, the prime minister said that exports of India and Bangladesh during the past two months – November and December – showed negative growth, while Pakistan showed 8.32pc and 18.30pc increase, respectively. He expressed satisfaction over the positive trend in the country’s exports. Earlier on January 1, Imran had felicitated Pakistani exporters on achieving “record exports in December 2020 with a growth of 18pc over the previous year.” “Well done and keep up this trend. A major pillar of our government’s economic policy is export enhancement and we will provide full support to promote export culture,” the premier had stated on his official Twitter handle. BUSINESS DESK

SBP reserves rise $261m to $13.4bn

MARKET DAILY ISLAMABAD: A delegation of IBA Sukkur S University, led by its Vice chancellor Prof Dr Syed S Mir Muhammad S Shah, called on COMSATS S S University Islamabad Rector Prof Dr Muhammad Tabassum Afzal in his office on Thursday. PR

mands, while other commitments must also be fulfilled in a timely manner for this reality to be realized. Agreement with Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) for supply of 150mmcfd of gas for BQPS-III has already been signed, and subsequent negotiations on the Gas Sale Agreement (GSA) have reached the advance stage.

Sources further said that the 900MW RLNG-based plant will keep Karachi energized while the commissioning of this plant will also require from the NTDC to expedite work on the upgradation of the interconnection facilities at the KDA Grid so that the power utility (KE) can evacuate the promised additional 450MW from the national grid before summer 2021.

duties on 152 tariff lines helped textile and chemical stocks put up a decent show."

SUMMARY: Reminiscent of the previous session, the benchmark KSE-100 Index remained in the green throughout the day, registering its intraday high at 45,619.80 after gaining 466.38 points. It settled higher by 191.12 points at 45,344.54.

Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index lost 150.43 points to close at 73,679.96, whereas the KSE All Share Index appreciated 21.85 points, ending at 31,652.43.

The overall market volumes dropped slightly from 664.52 million shares in the previous session to 641.41 million shares (-4pc). Average traded value, on

the contrary, increased 3pc, from $154.3 million to $159.5 million. Byco Petroleum Pakistan Ltd (BYCO +0.20pc), Power Cement Ltd (POWER +0.19pc) and Kot Addu Power Company Ltd (KAPCO +4.69pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 94.87 million, 34.20 million and 32.19 million shares, respectively.

Sectors that kept the benchmark index afloat included banking (+177.30 points), fertilizer (+99.74 points) and investment banking (+11.87 points). Among the companies, United Bank Ltd (UBL +88.04 points), Habib Bank Ltd (HBL +43.73 points) and Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd (FFC +37.39 points) remained the top contributors.

ISLAMABAD: The foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) increased 1.98pc or $261 million to $13.41 billion during the week ending on December 31, 2020, data issued by the central on Thursday showed. Overall, liquid foreign currency reserves held by the country, including net reserves held by banks other than the SBP, stood at $20,512.1 million. APP

KARACHI: BankIslami, in line with its vision to enable and promote cashless and digital payments, becomes the first Islamic bank to go live with NIFT ePay. National Institutional Facilitation Technologies (NIFT) had launched its services for enabling digital commerce payments through NIFT’s DFS S platform under the brand name “NIFT ePay” last year. PR

Bankers, corporate sector comes out in support of NBP President Arif Usmani LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Pakistan’s corporate sector including bankers, businessmen and finance professionals have come out in support of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) President, Arif Usmani after reports of an ongoing investigation by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) into alleged offshore assets owned by him were leaked to the media, stating that such information should be kept confidential in all cases until an accused is acquitted or convicted.

According to a report carried by this publication on January 3, the FBR is probing the incumbent NBP President Arif Usmani for allegedly concealing offshore accounts.

Signed by dozens of professionals, a statement in support of Usmani said that “reports of frivolous charges against him clearly indicate the mala fide intent of vested interests.”

Similarly, taking to Twitter, a number of renown officials also condemned the leaking of the news and its subsequent publishing in the media.

“As former Senior Partner of A. F. Ferguson & Co and former FBR chairman, it is my responsibility to agitate public debate on the personal tax of NBP President Mr Arif

COUNTRY’S CORPORATE SECTOR ONCE AGAIN CALLS FOR FBR, NAB TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REGARDING ONGOING PROBES UNTIL CONCLUSION Usmani. It destroys the faith in our tax system and resultantly Pakistan. AU is an honourable man. Save Pakistan,” former FBR chairman Shabbar Zaidi said in a tweet.

Replying to Zaidi’s tweet, Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Policy Board Member and (KE) BoD’s Board Member, Asad Ali Shah, a chartered accountant by profession, regretted the “media campaign against Arif Usmani”.

“Highly regret vicious media campaign against Mr. Arif Usmani, President NBP, a thorough gentleman who was selected to lead NBP through a robust process. I agree any tax questions raised by FBR need to be in accordance with law & are not for public debate or domain.”

Punjab Technical Education & Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) Senior Consultant Azam Jamil tweeted, “Arif is a dear friend. Have known him all my life. He would not earn a wrong dollar ever. Not sub-

mitting a document could possibly be an error in judgment, never in intention.”

It may be mentioned here that the country’s corporate sector, including members of the Pakistan Business Council (PBC), has repeatedly raised the issue of leaking news of investigations against officials holding posts in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to the media before conclusions. Meetings in this regard had also been held with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan in October 2019, wherein it was suggested that federal agencies be directed to conceal information regarding ongoing probes until they are concluded.

It was said that professionals in the industry consciously avoid top slots in SOEs, for instance, PIA, PTCL, PEPCO etc. due to such an atmosphere where professionals with stellar careers are subjected to media trials that tarnish their reputations before a

CMYK

judgement is reached.

More recently, it was opined that the FBR could be mistaken or there might be vested lobbies involved against officials holding important positions in national institutions. However, the criticism almost always goes against the media rather than federal agencies.

The same sentiment also echoed in Usmani’s favour, with businessmen and others privy to the matter saying that the trial against him was baseless, to begin with.

“Just when govt needs professional expertise to sort our PSEs and public/private partnership is the way forward, media trial of Arif Usmani, President NBP, an accomplished banker with impeccable credentials and declared wealth is regretful,” a tweet by Pakistan Business Council (PBC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ehsan A. Malik said, adding, “I am sure Arif Usmani can account for his wealth though how reasonable is it to ask for a 30-year record of earnings? Notwithstanding, this investigation could be conducted confidentially. How do you expect more professionals to serve the public good when they can see how courageous people with an unblemished record like Arif are treated?”

Members of the business community also

pointed out that making the amount of money the incumbent NBP president has is no big deal for a banker of his stature. “Any successful banker would be rich with hard-earned money. By these hounding tactics who on earth with competence would ever think to work for the government?” UBL Fund Managers ex-CEO Mir Muhammad Ali said.

On January 3, this publication had reported about FBR’s probe into the NBP’s incumbent president’s alleged offshore assets based on documents available with the media.

The publication had also reached out for a statement from Arif Usmani, who informed Profit that he is submitting information all regarding his offshore assets, acquired during the 26 years that he spent out of the country, to the FBR. It may be noted here that the government, in consultation with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), had approved the appointment of Arif Usmani as CEO of the NBP for a duration of three years on February 12, 2019.

He had been serving at Mashreq Bank whereas his previous experience included stints as global head of wholesale banking at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC, and also managing director and country officer of Citibank NA Pakistan.

Friday, 8 January, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

Syria SayS iSrael StriKeS agaiN, Several miSSileS dowNed by air defeNCeS: State tv CAIRO

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AGENCIES

SRAEL struck targets in southern Syria on Wednesday in the third such attack in nearly 10 days, state TV reported as military defectors said the missiles targeted Iranian revolutionary guard bases.

A military spokesman said missiles flying over the Golan Heights targeted several locations and air defences downed several missiles. Live coverage showed a multistorey building on fire.

“Our air defences responded to an aerial Israeli ag-

North Korea's Kim vows to boost military capabilities at rare party congress

gression ... on some targets in the southern region,” state media quoted a Syrian army spokesman as saying.

Two military defectors said the strikes hit the Kisswa area in the southern outskirts of the capital Damascus and military bases used by Lebanon’s Hezbollah group.

There was no immediate comment from an Israeli military spokesman but Israel’s Defence Force Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi said last month the missile strikes had “slowed down Iran’s entrenchment in Syria”.

“We have struck over 500 targets this year, on all fronts, in addition to multiple clandestine missions,” Kochavi said in comments published in Israeli media.

The bases in eastern, central and southern Syria

which Israel had hit in recent months are believed to have a strong presence of armed militias, according to intelligence sources and military defectors familiar with the locations.

Western intelligence sources say Israel’s stepped up strikes on Syria in the last few months are part of a shadow war approved by the United States and part of the anti-Iran policy.

They say that the past year has seen an expansion in the targets hit by Israel across Syria where thousands of armed militias have been involved in regaining much of the territory lost by Syrian President Bashar al Assad to insurgents in a nearly decade old civil war.

No diplomatic ties to Qatar yet, but trade, travel resuming, says UAE DUBAI

SEOUL

AGENCIES

AGENCIES

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he would expand military capabilities to better defend the country, state media reported on Thursday, during a rare party congress as the country faces international sanctions and pressure. The Eighth Party Congress, which began on Tuesday, comes as North Korea faces increasing economic crises caused by a self-imposed border lockdown to prevent a coronavirus outbreak, a series of natural disasters, and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme. The gathering also comes just days before US President-elect Joe Biden is due to take office, after unprecedented personal meetings between Kim and outgoing President Donald Trump failed to lead to a breakthrough in denuclearisation talks or a loosening of sanctions. In sessions on Wednesday, Kim discussed policies to make a “tangible turn in improving the people’s living standard,” a day after he admitted that previous economic goals had fallen short, state media reported. To secure a “peaceful environment” for the people and country, Kim called for “placing state defence capabilities on a much higher level, and put forth goals for realizing it.” The party congress being held in Pyongyang is the first since 2016, which was in turn the first since 1980. Since announcing a selfdeclared moratorium on nuclear testing and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches from 2018, Kim has called for continued production of nuclear weapons for his arsenal, launched a series of smaller missiles, and unveiled what would be North Korea’s largest ICBM yet at a parade in October. North Korea has not officially confirmed any coronavirus infections, although it has reported thousands of “suspected cases” to the World Health Organization and imposed strident measures to prevent an outbreak. Photos of the congress released by state media show delegates sitting close together without wearing protective face masks.

Arab states boycotting Qatar could resume travel and trade links with Doha within a week under a USbacked deal, but restoring diplomatic ties requires more time as parties work to rebuild trust, a United Arab Emirates official said on Thursday.

Gulf powerhouse Saudi Arabia announced the breakthrough in ending a bitter dispute at a summit on Tuesday, with its foreign minister saying Riyadh and its allies would restore all ties with Doha severed in mid-2017.

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash told a virtual news conference that measures to be implemented within a week of the agreement “include practical measures of airlines, shipping and trade”.

However, he said, other issues such as restoring full diplomatic relations would take time given geopolitical issues such as Iran, Turkey and political groups regarded by traditional Arab autocrats as an existential threat.

“Some issues are easier to fix and some others will take a longer time,” Gargash said, adding that bilateral working groups would try to move those forward. “We have a very good start ... but we have issues with rebuilding trust.”

Restored air links to the UAE’s regional aviation hub will be important for Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt imposed the embargo on Qatar over allegations that it supports terrorism and is cosying up to foe

Iran. Doha denies the charges and says the boycott aims to curtail its sovereignty.

Kuwait and the United States have been mediating in the dispute that Washington says hampers efforts to contain Iran, a key issue for Saudi Arabia especially after attacks on its energy installations last year.

The Gulf feud also complicated efforts to stabilise countries reeling from years of turmoil as the parties and their respective allies vied for influence from Libya to Yemen and Sudan.

Since the 2011 “Arab Spring” protests, which aspired to democratic reform but in several countries collapsed into warfare, Egypt and especially the UAE emerged as main foes of the Muslim Brotherhood backed

by Qatar and Turkey.

Sources familiar with the matter said that the Trump administration and Riyadh had pressed the other boycotting states to sign the deal and that Saudi Arabia would move faster than its allies to restore ties.

Discussions continued even after the deal was signed at the summit in

the kingdom on Tuesday to offer reassurances, a source familiar with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday.

“The only thing worse for the UAE than this agreement was to be isolated in rejecting it, revealing a split with Saudi Arabia,” said Kristin Smith Diwan, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

“I do not expect this will alter their (UAE) ideological and strategic rivalry with Qatar,” she said, adding that the UAE’s business hub Dubai would benefit from restoring commercial ties.

The four nations had set Doha 13 conditions to end the boycott, including closing al Jazeera TV, shuttering a Turkish military base, cutting links to the Muslim Brotherhood and downgrading ties with Iran.

Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman AlThani told the Financial Times that Doha had agreed to suspend legal cases related to the boycott, including at the World Trade Organisation and the International Court of Justice.

Chinese city of 11 million stops people leaving in bid to contain Covid-19 SHANGHAI AGENCIES

The capital and largest city in northern China’s Hebei province barred people from leaving on Thursday in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus as the country reported the biggest rise in daily infections in more than five months.

Hebei accounted for 51 of the 52 local cases reported by the National Health Commission on Thursday. This compared with 20 cases reported in the province, which surrounds Beijing, a day earlier. Authorities in Shijiazhuang, home to 11 million people, have launched mass testing drives and banned gatherings to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. In addition to barring people from leaving the city, people and vehicles from areas of the city considered high-risk were not allowed to leave their district, authorities said. Hebei entered a “wartime mode” on Tuesday, meaning investigation teams would be set up at provincial, city and district levels to trace the close contacts of those who have tested positive. Chinese state television earlier reported that Shijiazhuang had banned passengers from entering its main railway station. The city had previously required travellers to present a negative nucleic acid Covid-19 test result taken within 72 hours before boarding a train or a plane in the province. Total new Covid-19 cases for all of mainland China stood at 63, compared with 32 reported a day earlier, marking the biggest rise in daily cases since 127 cases were reported on July 30. The number of asymptomatic carriers, who have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the disease but have yet to develop any symptoms, also rose, to 79 from 64 a day earlier.

The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in mainland China since the outbreak first started in the city of Wuhan in late 2019 now stands at 87,278, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,634. In the city of Dalian in Liaoning province in China’s northeast, which has reported local infections in recent days, residents in medium or high-risk areas have been barred from leaving the city. Residents in other areas were told to refrain from unnecessary trips out of Dalian.

Authorities in Guangdong province in southern China late on Wednesday reported a patient infected with a more transmissible variant of the coronavirus discovered in South Africa. Some scientists worry that Covid-19 vaccines currently being rolled out may not be able to protect against this variant because of certain mutations that have been observed.

China says US will pay 'heavy price' for interference BEIJING AGENCIES

China said on Thursday that the United States will pay a “heavy price” for its wrongdoing, after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it may sanction those involved in Hong Kong arrests and that the US’ UN ambassador would visit Taiwan. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, speaking to reporters, urged the United States to immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.

Virus can damage brain without infecting it; hair loss on rise among minorities during pandemic WASHINGTON AGENCIES

A research has revealed that the new coronavirus does not need to directly invade brain tissue to damage it.

Researchers examined the brains of 19 patients, who died from Covid-19, focusing on tissues from regions thought to be highly susceptible to the virus: the olfactory bulb, which controls the sense of smell, and the brainstem, which controls breathing and heart rate.

In 14 patients, one or both of these regions contained damaged blood vessels– some clotted, and some leaking. The areas with leakage were surrounded by inflammation from the body's immune response, they found. But the researchers saw no signs of the virus itself, they report in The New England Journal of Medicine. "We were completely surprised," said co-author Dr Avindra Nath of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in a statement. The damage his team saw is usually associated with strokes and neuroinflammatory diseases, he said. "So far, our results suggest that the damage ... may not have been caused

by the SARS-CoV-2 virus directly infecting the brain," Dr Nath said.

"In the future, we plan to study how Covid-19 harms the brain's blood vessels and whether that produces some of the shortand long-term symptoms we see in patients."

Another study revealed that the pandemic stress may be causing people to lose their hair. By mid-summer, rates of a hairshedding condition called telogen effluvium

(TE), had surged more than 400 per cent in a racially diverse neighborhood in New York City, researchers report in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

From November 2019 through February 2020, the incidence of TE cases was 0.4 per cent. By August, that rate had climbed to 2.3 per cent, they found. "It is unclear if the increase in cases of TE is more closely related to the physiological toll of infection or extreme

emotional stress," said co-author Dr Shoshana Marmon of Coney Island Hospital. The increase was due primarily to TE in persons of colour, particularly in the Hispanic community, "in line with the disproportionately high mortality rate of this subset of the population due to Covid-19 in NYC," the authors said.

TE rates rose in smaller non-white minorities as well, but not among Blacks, who also were severely impacted by Covid-19.

Dr Adam Friedman of George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, who was not involved in the research, said he too is seeing increases in TE "and the timing makes plenty of sense, as the onset of shedding is typically three months following the traumatic event," which would correspond to the rise of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, three research groups argued in three papers in Annals of Internal Medicine that a single dose of one of the currently available Covid-19 vaccines, even if less effective than two doses, may have greater population benefit.

In large trials, two-dose regimens of the vaccine from Pfizer Inc and partner BioNTech SE and Moderna Inc's shot both

demonstrated nearly 95 per cent efficacy in preventing illness from the coronavirus.

Yale School of Public Health researchers said a less-effective single-dose might confer greater population benefit than a 95 per cent–effective vaccine requiring two doses.

University of Washington researchers said doubling vaccine coverage by giving a single dose to more people would hasten pandemic control by lowering transmission rates.

Stanford University researchers said delaying second doses in some people could enable millions more to receive a vaccine.

"In a public health emergency, a powerful argument exists for doing something with lessthan-perfect results, if it can help more persons quickly," said Thomas Bollyky of the Council on Foreign Relations in an editorial published with the papers. "However, whether alternative approaches with current vaccines would accomplish this goal is far from clear."

The US Food and Drug Administration said on Monday the idea of changing the authorised dosing or schedules of Covid-19 vaccines was premature and not supported by available data.

Friday, 8 January, 2021

puCovski halF CenTury lays plaTForm For ausTralia in sydney

AustrAliA 166 for 2 (lAbuschAgne 67 not out, Pucovski 62, smith 31 not out) vs indiA

SYDNEY

a

AGENCIES

USTRALIA looked destined for their biggest score of the series against India after a half century from debutant opener Will Pucovski helped them to 166 for two at the end of the rain-disrupted first day of the third Test on Thursday.

Pucovski rode his luck for his 62 but his partnership of 100 with Marnus Labuschagne for the second wicket established a solid platform for the hosts as they look to break a 1-1 tie in the four-match series.

Labuschagne notched his ninth Test half century to finish the day on 67 not out with Steve Smith unbeaten on 31 at the other end in a potentially ominous stand between Australia’s two best batsmen. “Nice to spend a bit of time out there,” said Smith, who had scored only 10 runs in his four previous innings in the series.

“Nice partnership building with Marnus and hopefully we can bat for a while tomorrow.”

Australia’s previous best tally in the series was their 200 in a losing effort in the second Test in Melbourne and they overhauled their opening partnership for Sydney in an effort to improve matters.

David Warner returned after miss-

SPORTS 11 england Women to tour pakistan for first time in october LONDON: England Women will tour Pakistan for the first time to play three one-day and two T20 internationals in October, officials from both countries announced on Thursday. The two T20 games will be played in Karachi on October 14 and 15 as doubleheaders alongside the men’s team, who are set to visit Pakistan for the first time in 16 years. Heather Knight’s side will then remain in Karachi to compete in three ODIs on October 18, 20 and 22. “The England Women’s cricket team has never toured Pakistan before so this is another important step in our history and journey,” said Clare Connor, the England and Wales Cricket Board Managing Director of Women’s Cricket. “Not only will this be a cricket tour that provides valuable competitive opportunity to both teams, it should also serve as another powerful and positive message as we drive forward our equality ambitions for more women and girls to derive empowerment through the sport.” Pakistan and England last met in the Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia last year, with England winning by 42 runs. AGENCIES

2023 asian Cup to start from June 16 BEIJING: The 18th edition of the Asian Cup, the region’s flagship national team competition, will take place in China on June 16-July 16, 2023, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Thursday. Ten cities across China will host the 24-team tournament, which will be held over 31 days, three days more than the 28-day showpiece in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2019. China will host the tournament for the second time after organising it in 2004. “We are confident that the upcoming tournament in China will be the biggest and greatest in Asian football history,” AFC General Secretary Windsor John said. “We know that the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the Chinese Football Association will deliver a truly historic tournament in 2023.” AGENCIES

ing the first two Tests with a groin injury but his stay at the crease was brief and he departed for five swatting at a Mohammed Siraj delivery that flew to Cheteshwar Pujara in the slips.

The rain descended soon afterwards with only seven overs completed and it was four hours before the skies cleared and Pucovski was able to return to the crease. The 22-year-old was twice dropped behind the stumps by India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and survived a run-out scare but made the most of his reprieves to reach the half century with his fourth boundary.

His innings ended when he was

trapped lbw to give Indian seamer Navdeep Saini his first Test wicket as he also made his debut as a replacement for the injured Umesh Yadav.

“I was just absolutely loving it, it was probably my favourite day of cricket yet,” Pucovski said. “I am really hopeful that with what we have, and the batting we have to come, we can build a pretty big total.” Siraj said his team mates would have to be patient in absence of any help from the wicket.

“It was a flat wicket, great to bat on,” said the 26-year-old who made his Test debut in the previous match in Melbourne.

“Our target will be to build pressure by hitting the same area and bowling dot balls after dot balls. We saw some turns towards the end, let’s see how it pans out tomorrow.”

After a second outbreak of Covid19 in Sydney, the match was being played in front of a reduced attendance of around 10,000 fans with the wearing of masks compulsory for fans except when they are eating or drinking.

The fourth Test is scheduled to start on January 15 in Brisbane but reports persist that India might refuse to head north because of the quarantine measures they will face in Queensland.

Female umpire polosak makes sydney TesT breakThrough SYDNEY: Australian Claire Polosak became the first woman to officiate at a men’s Test on Thursday when she took up her role as fourth umpire for the match between Australia and India. Polosak was the first woman to officiate onfield in a men’s one-day international when Namibia hosted Oman at Windhoek in April 2019 but her duties at Sydney Cricket Ground will be more limited unless one of her fellow umpires is indisposed. Travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have resulted in an exclusively Australian umpiring team for the four-match India series. Polosak, 32, was also the first woman umpire to stand in an Australian men’s domestic fixture after officiating a one-day match between New South Wales and a Cricket Australia XI in 2017. The fourth umpire at a Test match has duties related to pitch preparation, equipment changes and support for the on-field umpires. There was another first on the opening morning of the third Test when the new edition of the Australian national anthem was sung before the start of play. The government last week changed the words of the second line of Advance Australia Fair from “for we are young and free” to “for we are one and free” in recognition of the indigenous population’s more than 50,000 years of history. AGENCIES

Former india captain ganguly discharged after angioplasty NEW DELHI: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has been discharged from a Kolkata hospital where he underwent angioplasty over the weekend, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Thursday. Ganguly, also the BCCI president, was hospitalised on Saturday after he complained of chest discomfort while exercising on a tread mill at his home gym. “I thank the doctors at the hospital for the treatment,” Ganguly said to his fans waiting outside the hospital. “I am absolutely fine.

Hopefully, I will be ready to fly soon.” Ganguly’s return to activity may offer clarity following media reports that the Indian cricket team, currently in Australia, might refuse to play their final Test in Brisbane if they were to be forced into strict quarantine there. AGENCIES

belgian mertens pulls out of abu dhabi with shoulder injury ABU DHABI: Belgian Elise Mertens withdrew from the WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi on Thursday with a right shoulder injury hours before her opening match of the 2021 tennis season, the women’s governing body said.

The world number 20 was drawn to meet Frenchwoman Alize Cornet in her first round match in the seasonopening event in the United Arab Emirates and will be replaced by Greek lucky loser Valentini Grammatikopoulou. Mertens, 25, also pulled out from the doubles, in which she was to partner Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, and would hope to regain fitness ahead of the Australian Open Grand Slam, which starts in Melbourne from February 8. AGENCIES

city outclass united in manchester derby to reach league cup final MANCHESTER AGENCIES

Manchester City reached their fourth straight League Cup final as second-half goals from John Stones and Fernandinho gave Pep Guardiola’s side a 2-0 win over Manchester United in Wednesday’s semi-final at Old Trafford.

City will meet Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley in the April 25 final as they seek their fourth League Cup triumph in a row. In a frantic opening to the game, both teams had efforts ruled out for offside with Stones turning the ball into his own net but being saved by the flag and Ilkay Gundogan converting a low ball in from Phil Foden but, again, the attempt was rightly ruled out. Kevin De Bruyne struck the post with a thundering drive from outside the box before Foden also put the ball in the net for City but the visitors were foiled by offside once again. It was an open and entertaining game with City looking sharper but United competitive as they sought revenge for last year’s defeat by their neighbours at the same stage of the competition.

City went ahead five minutes after the break when Foden whipped in a free kick from the left through a crowded box and defender Stones bundled a cross home at the back post, the ball going

in off his thigh. United keeper Dean Henderson produced a brilliant save to tip over a strike from Riyad Mahrez, after the Algerian had burst forward from the halfway line.

Fernandinho made sure of the win seven minutes from time with a stunning volley as he pounced on a headed clearance from Aaron WanBissaka. United have now lost at the semi-final stage in their last four Cup campaigns, leaving manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still searching for his first final since taking over at the club. “We are getting closer. This is a much better version of United than a year ago in those semis,” said the Norwegian. “It is not psychological, sometimes you meet good teams in the semis. City are probably the best team in England at the moment,” he added. City entered the field in number eight shirts in tribute to former player Colin Bell who died on Tuesday and Guardiola said they had honoured his memory. “It is for Colin Bell and his family. He helped to build something special for this club. It is an incredible victory for us to beat United away and it was for him absolutely,” he said. “The team is ready and it was an outstanding performance. We dipped a little bit in the second half, we were tired...but when the team has this mentality they can do something incredible”.

CMYK

Friday, 8 January, 2021

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PAkIstAn’s tRADe DefIcIt wIDens 32Pc to $2.68bn In DecembeR

Virgin Islands court resumes hearing on Reko Diq award NEWS DESK The High Court of Justice in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) resumed the hearing of a case relating to the enforcement of a $5.97 billion award against Pakistan on Thursday. In this regard, in addition to the government’s own legal team, Pakistani BVI companies have also appointed their team separately to appear before the BVI court and contest the case. The office of attorney general for Pakistan (AGP) had earlier stated that the government would vigorously pursue the proceedings initiated by TCC in any jurisdiction and the government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the national assets wherever they might be located. Tethyan Cooper Company (TCC) had on Nov 20, 2020, approached the High Court of Justice for enforcement of the $5.97bn award against Pakistan by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Reko Diq litigation on July 12, 2019. The BVI high court had through an ex parte order on Dec 16, 2020, attached the assets belonging to Pakistan International Airlines Investment Limited (PIAIL), including the company’s interests in two hotels namely Roosevelt Hotel in Manhatten, New York, and Scribe Hotel in Central Paris, and frozen 40 per cent interest of PIA in a third entity, Minhal Incorporated.

EXPORTS RISE 18.3PC TO $2.35BN, WHEREAS IMPORTS SURGE 25.2PC TO $5.03BN IN DECEMBER 2020 ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

AKISTAN’S trade deficit widened by 6.44 per cent in the first half (July–December) of the current fiscal year (2020-21) owing to an uptick in imports during the last two months.

According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Thursday, the country’s trade deficit was recorded at $12.42 billion during July–December FY21 as compared to the deficit of $11.67 billion in the corresponding period

of the last fiscal year.

Exports of the country grew five per cent to $12.1 billion in 1HFY21 as compared to $11.52 billion in the corresponding half of the last fiscal year.

Similarly, total import bill also increased 5.72pc to $24.52 billion during the period under review as compared with $23.2 billion in the corresponding half of last year. On a year-on-year basis, the trade deficit widened sharply by 32pc to $2.68 billion in December 2020 as compared with the deficit of $2.03 billion in the same month of 2019. Exports during the month under review in-

creased 18.31pc to $2.35 billion compared with $1.988 billion in December 2019. On the other hand, imports clocked in at $5.035 billion in December 2020 as compared to $4.020 billion in December 2019, registering a significant increase of 25.25pc. Meanwhile, on a month-on-month basis, Pakistan’s trade deficit widened by 25.55pc in December 2020 compared to $2.137 billion in November 2020.

Exports rose 8.19pc MoM in December 2020 compared to $2.174 billion in November 2020, whereas imports increased 16.79pc in December 2020 compared to $4.311 billion in November 2020.

DUBAI Saudi Arabia will move faster than its allies to reconcile with Qatar, sources familiar with the matter said, aiming to impress the incoming Biden administration by ending what the West sees as a parochial dispute that benefits only mutual foe Iran.

The rapprochement reduces potential points of friction between Riyadh and a US government sure to be less forgiving than outgoing President Donald Trump, who has consistently protected the kingdom from criticism of its human rights record. In a move that cast the kingdom as a force for stability in a turbulent region, Saudi de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chaired a summit on Tuesday that declared an end to the bitter rift in which Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have boycotted Qatar since mid-2017.

The kingdom said at the gathering that all four states had agreed to restore diplomatic, trade and travel ties with Doha under a U.S.backed deal, but the three sources said the other three nations had been pressed to sign a general declaration and were likely to move more slowly, as deep divisions remain.

“Saudi Arabia is way ahead of the others, who could drag their feet,” said one source familiar with

the matter. “The declaration was kept general to ensure all parties signed it.”

The UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have yet to announce specific measures to rebuild ties, severed over allegations that Qatar supports terrorism, a charge that Doha denies. Each of the three countries have had their own differences with Qatar.

The UAE and Egypt both resent Qatar’s alleged support for militants, especially the Muslim Brotherhood, the world’s oldest Islamist movement, which they see as a political foe. Bahrain, an arch critic of Iran, is uneasy about Qatar’s even-tempered relations with Tehran and the kingdom also has a territorial dispute with Doha.

The Trump administration has for over a year been pressing for a resolution, particularly reopening airspace to Qatar, to bolster efforts to contain Iran. But a deal had proven elusive despite U.S. and Kuwaiti mediation efforts.

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and other officials made a renewed push with the support of Prince Mohammed, the source said, handing Trump another diplomatic win after normalisation deals between Israel and several Arab states.

“We wanted to get it done before the end of the term,” a senior Trump administration official to Reuters. “I expect the same level of compliance as Saudi Arabia,” the

Moderna’s Covid-19 mRNA vaccine is likely to offer protection of up to a couple of years, its chief executive said on Thursday, even though more data is still needed to make a definitive assessment.

The US biotech company, which stunned the world last year by coming up with a vaccine against the disease caused by the new coronavirus in just a few weeks, received approval for its shot from the European Commission on Wednesday.

Given vaccine development and pharmacovigilance usually requires years, the protection duration of Covid-19 shots is a lingering question for scientists and regulators.

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KABUL AGENCIES

Separate attacks in southern Afghanistan left at least 11 civilians and security forces dead, officials said on Thursday, even as Afghan negotiators were in Qatar to resume talks with the Taliban aimed at finding an end to decades of conflict. In southern Uruzgan province, a suicide car bomber detonated a vehicle full of explosives early on Thursday near a military base, killing six security forces, said a provincial council member who was not authorised to speak with the media.

Mohammad Karim Karimi, deputy head of the provincial council in Uruzgan, confirmed the attack on the military base in Tirin Kot, the provincial capital, but couldn't provide an exact death toll. He said the explosion was so strong it sent shock waves through the city. In southern Helmand province, at least five civilians were killed and five others wounded in a suspected airstrike late on Wednesday on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital, according to Attaullah Afghan, head of the provincial council.

He said the casualties included children and women. Abdul Nabi Elham, provincial governor, said officials were investigating to determine whether the assault was an airstrike or some other type of attack. No one immediately claimed responsibility for either attack.

official said of other boycotting nations.

SCORING POINTS: Saudi Arabia is currently the only one taking active steps to reopen its airspace and borders to Qatar and restore diplomatic ties, the three sources said.

For Riyadh’s allies, the third informed source said, it will be very hard to retreat from Tuesday’s announcement, but may also be difficult to move forward fast and that some view the deal at the summit as “a starting point rather than the finish line”. Saudi Arabia, which lobbied hard for Trump’s maximum pressure campaign against foe Iran, has come under international scrutiny over its human rights record following the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Kashoggi and over the ruinous Yemen war.

For Prince Mohammed, seen by critics as an unpredictable leader, his push for detente with Qatar appeared aimed at showcasing him as a statesman seeking regional stability.

President-Elect Joe Biden has said he would take a harder line against the kingdom, an oil exporting giant and major buyer of American arms, over those issues.

Diplomats in the region and analysts have said Riyadh’s push for Gulf detente was largely aimed at positioning Riyadh as a valuable U.S. partner at a time of regional tensions with Iran.

Moderna CEO says vaccine likely to protect for 'couple of years' AGENCIES

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Attacks in southern Afghanistan kill at least 11

With eye on US ties, Saudi Arabia leads pack on Gulf détente AGENCIES

FAJR SUNRISE 5:45

“The nightmare scenario that was described in the media in the spring with a vaccine only working a month or two is, I think, out of the window,” Moderna Chief Executive Officer Stephane Bancel said at an event organised by financial services group Oddo BHF. “ The antibody decay generated by the vaccine in humans goes down very slowly [...] We believe there will be protection potentially for a couple of years.”

Bancel added his company was about to prove that its vaccine would also be effective against variants of the coronavirus seen in Britain and South Africa.

Scientists have said newly developed vaccines should be equally effective against both variants.

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