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Saturday, 11 July, 2020 I 19 Dhū al-Qa‘dah, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 13 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition
PM announCes rs30bn subsidy for naya Pakistan housing sCheMe g
Govt to pay Rs300,000 of total cost of house foR the fiRst 100,000 units
ISLAMABAD staff report
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RiMe Minister imran Khan on friday announced Rs30 billion in subsidy for the naya pakistan housing scheme in line with helping the underprivileged class build their own homes. addressing the nation after chairing a meeting of the national coordination committee on housing, construction, and Development, pM imran said the scheme was aimed at the “working class, the welder, the small shop owner, who do not have a lot of money to build their own houses”. “the goal of the naya pakistan housing scheme was to construct houses for this strata of the society, which doesn’t have cash.
“We faced many hindrances while launching the scheme due to some existing legislation, such as the foreclosure law, which allows banks not to lend out money without a confirmation of repayment. “[however] despite a lot of hurdles, we were successful in passing the law for pakistan, which is now implemented around the world,” he said. the prime minister also spoke of the construction sector, saying it faced a lot of obstacles, but that the ncc had worked on formulating policies for its revival. “We have decided to revive our economy with housing and construction industry so that people can get jobs and we can generate revenue in times of global recession and pandemic,” he noted. “i, myself, will preside this meeting every week to supervise the working and
Coronavirus in
Pakistan
CONFIRMED CASES:
245,465
DAY'S DEATH TOLL:
NEW CASES:
75
2,751
RECOVERED:
DEATHS:
SINDH:
PUNJAB:
149,092 5,106 102,368
85,261
KP:
BALOCHISTAN:
AJK/GB:
ISLAMABAD:
29,775
11,128
1,485/1,619 13,829
progress of the committee regarding the naya pakistan housing scheme. “We only have time till December 31 to provide incentives to the construction industry,” he added. pM imran explained that under the naya pakistan housing scheme, Rs30 billion had been allocated as a subsidy, which would translate into Rs300,000 for each of the 100,000 households during the first phase of the programme. a 5% interest is levied on a five-marla house and 7% for 10-marla, he noted. “We have also directed the sBp [state Bank of pakistan] to keep 5% of the portfolio for the construction industry, which is calculated to be Rs330 billion,” he said. the government had coordinated with all of the provinces for a one-window operation so as not to have people worry about obtaining no-objection certificates (nocs), the premier announced, adding that there would be a time limit for the approvals of houses maps. “We have reduced provincial taxes so that people can benefit more and more with the subsidies,” he added. pM imran mentioned yet another relaxation in terms of questions about the sources of investment, saying it would not be questioned only during the ongoing year “due to recession caused by the coronavirus”. “We have requested the global financial bodies for these subsidies because most of our economy is undocumented. therefore, i would request people to make the most benefit from these incentives. “We are hoping that these incentives will create employment opportunities for people in these hard times of pandemic,” he said. “around the world, banks provide loans for construction but banks in pakistan only provide 0.3% loans — which is quite less.”
cutting back spending too soon could undermine recovery, iMf warns NEW YORK agencies
as governments rushed out funding to prevent an economic collapse amid the coronavirus pandemic, global public debt swelled to the highest in history, but the international Monetary fund (iMf) warned on friday that cutting back too soon could undermine the recovery. Government spending “will need to remain supportive and flexible until a safe and durable exit from the crisis is secured,” iMf fiscal policy chief vitor Gaspar and chief economist Gita Gopinath said in a blog post. even with record low interest rates worldwide, the debt figures are staggering — surpassing the size of the global economy, and deficits in advanced economies five times higher than pre-pandemic estimates for 2020. the health crisis and the business shutdowns to contain the spread of covid-19 demanded “a massive fiscal response” of close to $11 trillion to help support households and prevent bankruptcies,” the authors said. “But the policy response has also contributed to global public debt reaching its highest level in recorded history, at over 100% of
KE chief says company ‘cannot be blamed’ for Karachi load shedding ISLAMABAD staff report
K-electric chief executive Moonis alvi has refused to accept responsibility for the power utility’s role in the persistent load shedding issues faced by Karachi residents, saying “Ke cannot be blamed”. he instead faulted the federal government for delaying approval for import of oil. a public hearing to discuss the longstanding loadshedding issues in Karachi, which have taken a turn for the worse this year, was held by the national electric power Regulatory authority (nepRa) in islamabad on friday. a number of public representatives, technical experts, representatives of different entities, members of business community, journalists and the consumers of Karachi participated. nepRa chairman tauseef h farooqui presided over the hearing and members of nepRa from all four provinces also participated. “We have gathered here today to discuss the issue of loadshedding in Karachi,” said nepRa vice chairman saifullah chatha. “the authority will listen to all stakeholders present today.” K-electric chief executive Moonis alvi told nepRa that load shedding in Karachi has experi-
global GDp, in excess of post-World War ii peaks.” and, they cautioned, “we are not out of the woods.” the Washington-based crisis lender, which historically has always advocated for governments to restrain spending, is in the unusual position of urging officials to flood their countries with cash while also sounding the warning about pitfalls ahead, especially if cases rebound. “While the trajectory of public debt could drift up further … an earlier-than-warranted fiscal retrenchment presents an even greater risk of derailing the recovery, with larger future fiscal costs,” they warned. PROFOUND TRANSFORMATION: in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis many governments shut down their stimulus programs at the first sign their economies had stabilized, which led to a slow, sluggish recovery. now the “need for continued fiscal support is clear,” Gaspar and Gopinath wrote, but countries also will need to find a way to finance it without debt becoming unsustainable. that includes improving tax collection, making taxes more progressive, so those with higher incomes pay more, and eliminating subsidies on fuel while adopting revenue measures such as carbon pricing.
more inside
PM says govt committed to containing locust attack STORY ON BACK PAGE
enced a rise since June 22. “under normal circumstances, load shedding in Karachi lasts between three to seven- and-a-half hours,” the Ke chief said. alvi said that pakistan state oil (pso) had written to the federal government saying that the demand for furnace oil will not be met and had sought permission to import oil. he said that Ke’s plants ran out of oil and not only Ke, but the government’s thermal power plants, also faced supply shortages. “pso got permission to import oil for Ke’s power plants after much delay,” alvi said. the Ke chief said that due to increased demand for electricity in the summer, load shedding
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has to be done even in areas otherwise exempt. “our request for additional power from the nation grid is never considered,” he complained. alvi said that currently Ke takes 720MW to 730MW from the national grid. chairman farooqui, taking into account the statement by the Ke chief, asked whether Ke must be held responsible for Karachi’s electricity woes since June 22. at this, the Ke chief vehemently denied being responsible. “Ke cannot be blamed for the current situation,” he said. farooqui said that Ke should have foreseen the increase in demand and planned to meet the shortfall in advance.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 02
pakistan overtakes italy to become 11th worst-affected country from covid-19 STORY ON BACK PAGE
Kohala, Azad Pattan power projects to generate 8,000 jobs, says SAPM Bajwa STORY ON PAGE 02
ppp, Jui-f pledge inflexibility on 18th amendment, nfc award STORY ON PAGE 03
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Saturday, 11 July, 2020
NEWS
Kohala, azad Pattan Power ProjeCts to generate 8,000 jobs, says saPM bajwa ISLAMABAD
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With an investment of $1.5 billion and 700.7 megawatts of electricity, the Azad Pattan project will involve no fuel import, enabling the country to move towards cheaper and greener power generation while creating local job opportunities. The project is located at River Jhelum roughly 7km upstream of Azad Pattan Bridge in the Sudhanoti District of Azad Kashmir and is expected to be completed in 2026. While last month, a tripartite agreement was signed on Thursday between a Chinese company and the governments of Pakistan and China for construction of a 1,124 megawatt hydropower project in Kohala costing $2.4 billion. The hydropower plant, being built on Jhelum River in AJK under CPEC, has been awarded to Kohala Hydropower Company Ltd (KHCL), which is a subsidiary of China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC).
HINA-PAKISTAN Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Chairman Lt Gen (r) Asim Saleem Bajwa said on Friday that the Kohala Power and Azad Pattan power projects will generate 8,000 jobs and an investment of $4 billion over the years. Bajwa tweeted that Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, CEOs of China Three Gorges and China Gezhouba visited him separately to thank the CPEC Authority for helping realise the projects and further improve coordination for execution of it. Earlier this week,Pakistan and China signed an agreement for the construction of the Azad Pattan hydel power
project as part of the CPEC project. PM Imran witnessed the signing of the agreement with China Gezhouba at a ceremony in Islamabad.
shujaat advises PM Imran to resolve media's issues through consultation
PM warns cabinet members to improve performance
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain advised Prime Minister Imran Khan to solve all problems related to media with mutual consensus. In a statement on Friday, the veteran politician expressed the hope that the media’s issues, especially Jang Geo Media Group’s CEO Mir Shakilur Rahman’s arrest and the PEMRA ban on Channel 24, will be resolved soon. “One should forget everything else and try to solve the country’s problems,” he said. Shujaat added that information minister Shibli Faraz can play a leading role when it comes to addressing the problems faced by the Pakistani media. The PML-Q chief spoke about last year’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) ‘Azadi March’, revealing that when Maulana Fazlur Rahman came to Islamabad with his caravan of supporters, some people were in favour of cracking down on them hard. “No one was willing to go to Imran Khan and talk to him [about the dharna issue],” he said, adding that people were asking each other to speak to the premier but not willing to do it themselves. He said that former Punjab chief minister Pervaiz Elahi was not even a member of the government’s negotiating committee yet he was asked to speak to the prime minister. STAFF REPORT
IhC directs MoI to take decision on Cynthia ritchie deportation plea ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has asked the Federal Ministry of Interior (MoI) to take a decision, according to law, on a petition seeking to deport US blogger Cynthia D Ritchie. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah was conducting the proceedings of a petition filed by a Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) supporter Iftikhar Ahmed who is seeking Ritchie’s deportation on grounds that her visa has expired. Deputy Attorney General Syed Mohammad Tayyab Shah submitted an interim report on behalf of the federal government, telling the court that the petitioner has not appeared before the interior ministry about his plea. To which, Justice Minallah remarked: “This is a sovereign state, we are watching the conduct of the ministry”. He further said that there was no reason for proceedings as “the law should take its own path”. Justice Minallah asked the MoI to decide upon the plea according to law. The court directed the parties in the case to appear before the ministry on Wednesday at 1pm and record their statements. The IHC also urged the ministry to decide upon Ritchie’s stay in Pakistan and the extension of her visa until July 15 and then inform the court. INP
neWS DeSK Prime Minister Imran Khan has told his cabinet members, including ministers, special assistants and advisers, that they will be judged on the basis of their performance and not on briefings that they give him, according to a media report. According to the report, PM Imran said the cabinet members and other government functionaries will be required to apprise him on the actual facts about progress made towards implementation of the government’s decisions. The media report said that the prime minister has decided to send those failing to deliver packing and not to spare those found involved in delaying tactics. The PM maintains a record of official figures given by government
ISLAMABAD TLTP
The National Assembly (NA) was informed on Friday that there are around 183,000 AIDS patients, while only 25,000 people are registered. Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Maryam
departments and ministries during briefings to keep a track of their performance, the report added.
Aurangzeb and others regarding increase in AIDS-related deaths in the country, Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Dr Nausheen Hamid said that free of cost treatment is being provided to AIDS patients at designated centres across Pakistan. She said that 45 centres for the treatment of AIDS are working all over the country. She also said that there is a big stigma attached to AIDS and people prefer to conceal this disease and only come to get themselves registered in case of critical condition. Nausheen said that reuse of injection syringes, unsafe blood transfusion and mishandling of hospital waste are the main reasons behind spread of this disease. She said that the federal government is taking serious steps regarding injection safety, one-time use of disposable syringes, safe blood transfusion, and hospital waste management. The House was adjourned meet at 4:00 pm on Monday.
Promotions in Pakistan Air Force announced ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
The federal government on Friday promoted one officer to the rank of air marshal and 10 others were promoted as air vice marshals, said a spokesperson of the Pakistan Air Force. “The Government of Pakistan has promoted Air Vice Marshal Aamir Masood to the rank of Air Marshal,” he said. He added that 10 air commodores have been promoted to the rank of air vice-marshal as well. Seven of the officers were from the general duty (pilot) branch and
LAHORE: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan was responsible for the ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) by several countries, including the US and the UK. “The ban on PIA imposed by several countries, with the US being the latest, is a consequence of mindless & ill-thought-out speech by [the] aviation minister who only wanted to evade responsibility. “Look at what he has done to the entire aviation industry besides bringing [a] bad name to Pakistan!” the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president said. On June 30, the aviation minister had disclosed in parliament that 150 pilots working for the national carrier had ‘dubious licences’. He had made the remarks while presenting the initial report of the PIA May 22 plane crash. On Thursday, the United States transport authority became the latest among a number of countries to revoke permission granted to PIA to operate a number of special direct flights to the US. The authorisation was revoked “due to recent events identified by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority that are of serious concern to aviation safety, specifically matters pertaining to the proper certification of certain Pakistani pilots”, according to an email sent to PIA officials by a US-based law firm, seen by Dawn.com. Earlier, the European Union and British aviation authorities had barred the airline from flying to their airports for at least six months. Meanwhile, the aviation regulators of several other countries have sought verification of the credentials of Pakistani pilots and engineers working for them. STAFF REPORT
183,000 estimated to have AIDS in Pakistan, NA told GOVT OFFICIAL INFORMS LOWER HOUSE THAT OUT OF THE ESTIMATED FIGURE, ONLY 25,000 ARE REGISTERED
shehbaz says aviation minister's 'mindless' speech in na responsible for PIa ban
three others were from the PAF’s engineering branch. The promoted officers from the GD (P) branch were Air Vice Marshal Amir Rashid, Air Vice Marshal S Fauad Masud Hatmi, Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Jamal Arshad, Air Vice Marshal Zaffar Aslam, Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Sarfraz, Air Vice Marshal Kazim Hammad and Air Vice Marshal Shakil Ghazanfar. The officers from the engineering branch, who were promoted to the next rank, were Air Vice Marshal Irfan Zaheer, Air Vice Marshal Asif Maqsood and Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Amir Hayat.
Making zulfiqar Mirza home minister was not right decision, says ghani Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani said Friday that his party’s decision to make Zulfiqar Mirza the provincial home minister was not the right decision. “I don’t know whether my leadership will like it or not, but making Zulfiqar Mirza the home minister perhaps was not the right decision,” Ghani told a private news channel. He added that the whole party, including former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur, had to face consequences for making Mirza the provincial home minister. Mirza, who was once very close to former president Zardari, had left the party in 2011 after developing differences with senior party leaders. The then MQM headed by Altaf Hussain accused him of using Lyari’s criminal gangs to target the Karachi-based party. Mirza himself used to share the stage with Uzair Baloch, the leader of the outlawed People’s Aman Committee, during rallies. In one of the rallies, Mirza was heard saying that he gave 300,000 arms licenses to people in Lyari. The PPP leaders have repeatedly denied protecting the Lyari gangster after his JIT report was released on the home department’s website on Monday. “Every political party had contacts with Uzair Baloch,” said the Sindh education minister. “We tried to clear the filth of Zulfiqar Mirza.” The Sindh education minister said that his party held “dialogue” with Uzair Baloch to establish peace in Lyari. When political parties hold talks to restore peace, it doesn’t mean they share blame for the criminal activities, Ghani added. NEWS DESK
KE chief says company ‘cannot be blamed’ for Karachi load shedding ContInueD froM pAge 01 MNA Aftab Siddiqui said the power utility sends huge bills to small consumers. “Why has KE not improved it’s electricity distribution system?” he asked. The NEPRA chairman, during the hearing, also showed disapproval over the KE chief finance officer responding to customers’ queries instead of the chief executive during the video conference. “Where is the CEO?” asked Farooqui, to which he was told that Alvi is away on a call with the power ministry. “The CEO cannot get up and leave a court hearing,” remarked the NEPRA chairman, adding that the power utility has frequently been taken to court over various matters. Imtiaz Sheikh, the power minister for Sindh, thanked the NEPRA chairman for conducting a public hearing. “Karachi has a serious load shedding prob-
lem. NEPRA must come here and see for iteself,” he said. Sheikh said he doesn’t wish to assign blame to anyone and invited the federal government to also come down to the city so the issue can be resolved “once and for all”. To this, Vice Chairman Chatha responded by saying that the authority will soon pay the city a visit. “Will NEPRA end K-Electric’s monopoly in Karachi?” lawyers from Karachi asked the chairman. “NEPRA wants to create a competitive environment in the power sector,” the NEPRA chairman assured them. All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Executive Director Shahid Sattar said the industry is not being provided power and the gas has been cut off too. “Who will be responsible for the loss of the industry?” he asked. The NEPRA chairman said the purpose of the hearing had been to gather all the facts and that a verdict will be issued at
a later date. According to a press release issued by NEPRA following the hearing, a four-member committee has been formed “to visit Karachi immediately, conduct further investigations on the ground and submit a detailed report to the authority before the end of next week”. It shall be headed by headed by Director General (Monitoring & Enforcement) and will comprise NEPRA professionals and experts. Necessary action will then be taken based on the findings in the report. On the other hand, KE, in a press statement issued in response to the NEPRA hearing, reiterated that the current load-management has been the result of fuel shortfall which has compromised generation capacity at K-Electric’s 1,250 Megawatt (MW) Bin Qasim Power Plant as well as at its Independent Power Producers (IPPs) including Tapal. “The current situation has been further
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aggravated due to demand surges on account of high temperatures and humidity as well as erratic power supplies from the Wind Corridor and suspension of supplies from KANUPP. This current situation is unprecedented and in an effort to provide relief to its residential customers during the late-night hours, KE has been managing load through industrial load-shedding despite it having a negative impact on the company’s financial health and profitability,” the company’s statement read. The statement further said that KE operates in a regulated environment where timely approvals from government and regulatory bodies are necessary to materialise both operational and long-term business plans necessary to meet Karachi’s growing power demand. KE said that it had anticipated the growing supply-demand shortfall as far back as
FY16, and had developed a robust $4 billion investment plan which included several generation initiatives including a 700 MW coalfired power plant as well as downstream transmission and distribution upgrades. “While KE received approvals for its 900 MW RLNG power plant in FY19, of which phase one is expected to come onstream by May 2021, with a resultant improvement in Karachi’s power supply situation, approval for the 700 MW coal project is still awaited. The company has been highlighting to all concerned authorities that approval delays will negatively impact KE’s ability to meet the city’s long-term power demand growth and widen the supply demand gap,” the company’s statement said. “Considering that many governmental and regulatory entities have a role to play in providing a climate that encourages and expedites investments, KE should be accountable only to the extent of its role as a power supplier and other players must also share responsibility for delayed decision-making.”
Saturday, 11 July, 2020
NEWS
PPP, JUI-F PLEdgE INFLExIBILITy oN 18Th AMENdMENT, NFC AwARd KARACHI
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STAFF REPORT
AKISTAN People’s Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-eIslam-Fazl (JUI-F) leaders have agreed to continue with their inflexible stance on the 18th Amendment and the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award pledging to pursue political consensus for the country’s integrity and security. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman called on the former President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari at Bilawal House
on Friday. They discussed the political situation of the country for about half and an hour where Fazl also inquired about the health of Zardari. Talking to the JUI-F leader, Zardari said that there would be no compromise on anti-people budget and NFC Award adding that he had already predicted that Prime Minister Imran Khan was incapable and incompetent to govern. Zardari further said that he had warned the government last year about the locust attacks but the regime did not take this seriously due to prejudice and stubbornness. “There could be a worst
food crisis in the country if locust attacks were not warded off and repulsed,” he added. He observed that people are looking towards the opposition to get rid of the “selected government” as incompetence of the PM Imran’s regime has now been fully exposed due to mismanagement of Covid-19 crisis unleashing nation-wide confusion. Speaking during the meeting, Bilawal pointed out that corruption has multiplied during Imran Khan regime but he was using the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for victimisation of ppposition politicians only.
ATC to indict Uzair Baloch in eight more criminal cases
The PPP chairman further said that two years have passed but PM Imran’s regime has taken not a single step in the interest of the masses, adding that all the opposition parties are on one page against the selected government. Fazl was in consensus with the stance of PPP leadership and stated that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has “destroyed the country’s economy to the worst level”. He said that growth rate of the country never went down into minus in the history emphasising that everyone has to challenge the selected rulers to save the country and its economy as well.
ML-I likely to get ECNEC’s nod this month: Rasheed
KP govt moves court to withdraw Kharqamar case against PTM: report
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has said that Main Line-1 (ML1) track will help control railways accidents and generate jobs for hundreds and thousands of youth. Addressing a press conference on Friday, the railways minister said that Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) is likely to approve ML-1 project this month. He said that it will be a crossing free track, which will reduce travel time from Karachi to Lahore to seven hours, while it will take two hours from Rawalpindi to Lahore. Rasheed said that ML-1 will enable trains to run at a speed of 160 kilometres per hour, which can be further extended to 200 kilometres per hour. The minister said that ML-1 is a revolutionary project to be completed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and will revamp the entire structure of Pakistan Railways. He said that 10 per cent of technical staff like engineers will come from China, while rest of the work force will be from Pakistan to accomplish this project. He said the multibilliondollar project will be completed from five to eight years with Chinese help. STAFF REPORT
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has reportedly decided to withdraw a case registered against Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leaders and workers relating to a clash with security personnel at the Kharqamar military checkpost last year, according to a media report on Friday. The case was registered by the Counter-Terrorism Department, Bannu last year against multiple PTM workers for allegedly attacking a security checkpost on May 26, 2019 in the Kharqamar area. Three people were killed and 15 were injured, including five soldiers, in the clash. Senior PTM members and MNAs Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir were nominated in the case along with others. According to the media report, the KP government
Lahore man sues US govt for causing coronavirus spread A man in Lahore has filed a petition against the United States for spreading the novel coronavirus and asked it to pay $20 billion in damages to him, according to a media report on Friday. A civil court has issued notices to the US Embassy for August 7. The US consulate, embassy in Islamabad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the World Health Organisation have been named as respondents. “The WHO has declared the novel coronavirus to be a pandemic,” said the petitioner, adding that it has affected every country and person. He alleged that the outbreak was caused by “five unidentified men from the US in Wuhan, China”. The US had sent 17 teams with more than 280 athletes to the Military World Games in October 2019. “For reasons best known to them, those unidentified five persons spread this virus. The WHO has claimed that it found “some traces of the virus in the USA in October 2019,” the petition said. It is so unfortunate that “some elements of the US, whenever they are unable to compete with its rivals in various fields, they always tried to use tactics detrimental for others,” the petitioner alleged. “This time nature has tried to use tactics detrimental for others. This time nature has decided to teach them and that is why the US is facing in the worst form of consequences of that fire they tried to light for others.” The US is “responsible for the colossal death toll, misery and economic distress they inflicted on the world, including but not limited to Pakistan.” Pakistan is still fighting the USA’s war against terror “which according to some conservative accounts cost us more than $100 billion and we are already struggling with social. NEWS DESK
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on March 16 filed an application in the Bannu anti-terrorism court saying that the government wished to withdraw the case, which was being heard in Abbottabad due to security reasons. The application was filed on behalf of the State through Bannu district public prosecutor and ATC Bannu’s senior public prosecutor. “The state/government as per instructions of the provincial government […] with reference to the prevailing situation, we intend to withdraw prosecution of the subject case,” the application read. The report quoted a court official as saying that the court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the application. The move to withdraw the case comes days after the PTM accepted the government’s offer for talks but called for confidence-building measures (CBM) to demonstrate sincerity.
PM asks CEO PIA to submit restructuring plan of the airline in a week ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday directed the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Air Marshal Arshad Malik to expedite restructuring plan of the national flag carrier and to present to him a framework in a week’s time. The prime minister asked him to undertake the restructuring in consultation with his Adviser on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain. Air Marshal Arshad Malik
briefed the premier regarding ongoing negotiations with European Union Aviation S a f e t y A g e n c y (EASA) to ensure PIA flight operations for Europe. The CEO also briefed the PM Imran regarding restructuring of PIA so
Deaths from Covid-19 related hunger can exceed number of fatalities from virus itself: Oxfam NEWS DESK Poverty and hunger resulting from the novel coronavirus crisis can lead to more deaths than the disease — that has killed more than 549,000 people worldwide — itself, Oxfam warned. Oxfam, an international confederation of 20 non-governmental organisations that work to eliminate poverty and hunger, said in a press release dated July 9, that Covid-19 related hunger can kill 12,000 people per day by year end. According to an Oxfam report, The Hunger Virus, Covid-19 is “deepening the hunger crisis in the world’s hunger hotspots”. Additionally, the health crisis is giving birth to new “epicentres of hunger” across the world. It pointed out the top ten “worst hunger hotspots” in the world, including
Venezuela and South Sudan that are already facing a severe food crisis, which is worsening due to the economic impacts of the pandemic. Yemen, which is already facing a hunger crisis, and Sahel have also been highlighted as hotspots. The briefing also identified emerging hunger hotspots, which include India, South Africa and Brazil, where millions are suffering from the brunt of the health crisis. “[…] Millions of people who were barely managing have been tipped over the edge by the pandemic” in these countries, Oxfam said. The briefing also observed that women, and households run by women, are more likely to suffer from hunger even though they play a crucial role as food producers and agricultural workers.
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as to make it a profitable and leading airline. The premier emphasised that the government was pursuing an across-theboard ref o r m s agenda to make institutions efficient and service oriented.
KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court on Friday resumed hearing eight criminal cases against Uzair Baloch. The ATC judge provided copies of chargesheets filed in these cases to the Lyari gangster for his likely indictment at the next hearing. The cases pertaining to the attack, murder and kidnapping of police officials were registered at Chakiwara and Kalakot police stations. He was presented in court at Central Jail, Karachi amid tight security with his head covered and both hands cuffed. Rangers personnel were deployed in and outside the court to prevent any untoward incident. Earlier this week, the anti-terrorism court had indicted Baloch in a case related to the kidnapping and murder of a trader. The judge framed charges against the accused who denied having any role in the abduction and murder of Abdul Samad and opted to contest the charges. INP
Non-bailable warrants issued Sarfaraz Bugti’s arrest QUETTA: An additional sessions court on Friday issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of Senator Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti in a case related to aiding and abetting the abduction of a minor girl. The court directed Quetta police to arrest the accused and present him in the court. The arrest warrants came a day after the Supreme Court rejected Bugti’s plea for interim bail. A two-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, had dismissed the bail plea yesterday. Quetta’s Bijli Ghar police station had registered a case against the former Balochistan home minister over his alleged role in the abduction of a girl on her mother’s complaint. Earlier, on January 16, the additional sessions court turned down Sarfaraz Bugti’s bail application in the case and ordered his arrest. He, however, fled the court. Later, he approached the Balochistan High Court (BHC) for bail. TLTP
Sadaf Zahra likely died of asphyxiation: post-mortem report ISLAMABAD: The post-mortem report of Sadaf Zahra, who was allegedly killed by her husband, journalist Salman Alvi, has put asphyxiation the likely cause of her death in its initial findings. According to the report, the 38-year-old died at 2pm on June 29 at her residence in Rawalpindi. Sadaf Zahra’s right cheek has a mark, while her lips were swollen and face bore blue bruises, the post-mortem report revealed. It further said that the samples of the liver, kidneys, and stomach have been forwarded to a forensics lab. The report said that the final report determining the cause of death will be compiled after the findings from the forensics lab. Rawalpindi police had arrested journalist Salman Alvi late last month. The arrest came after his sister-in-law, Mahwish Zahra, registered a case against Alvi, accusing him of killing her sister and covering it up as a suicide case. Mahwish said in the complaint that she had rushed to her sister’s place in Yousuf Colony, along with her mother and husband, after she received a call from Alvi telling her that “Sadaf has done something to herself”. STAFF REPORT
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Saturday, 11 July, 2020
NEWS
IndIa can attack aJk In Ladakh frustratIon, says Masood
SHC seeks arguments on petition against K-Electric KARACHI INP
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday put off the hearing of a petition against unannounced load shedding and overbilling by K-Electric. A two-judge bench of the high court, headed by Justice Khadim Hussain Sheikh, took up the petition filed by a citizen against the power utility over prolonged power outages and excessive billing. The court directed the petitioner to come prepared at the next hearing to put forward his arguments on the petition. He submitted before the court that
AJK PRESIDENT SAYS INDIA'S EXPANSIONIST APPROACH, BRI BEHIND INDO-CHINA TENSION MUZAFFARABAD
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zAd Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan on Friday warned that India can strike AJK or Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) to vent its anger on Pakistan over tension with China in Ladakh. “We should prepare for war because India’s agenda is aggressive, aggravating and destabilising after Ladakh standoff. We should take no chances and prepare for all sorts of aggression from India.” The AJK president expressed these views while addressing a webinar on "China-India tension in Ladakh and its impacts on Kashmir", organised by Karachi Council on Foreign Relations. The webinar was also addressed by Senator Mushahid Hussian Sayed, Ambassador Mustafa Kamal Qazi, Chairman of the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations Ikram Sehgal and dr Huma Baqai. Khan said Pakistan and AJK are particularly at risk because India may use this opportunity in the coming months of August or September to displace its anger and direction of that displacement would be towards Pakistan. The AJK president termed bifurcation of Ladakh from Jammu and Kashmir state and declaring it as a union territory and threats of attack on AJK, GB and Aksai Chin to incorporate them into Indian union as an immediate trigger of a military clash between India and China. “India's expansionist approach attempts to encircle China at the behest of US, and conspiracies to sabotage China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and China-Pakistan Economic Project (CPEC) have been the other causes of tension between the two countries," he added.
unannounced load-shedding is ongoing in Karachi with the city’s sole power distribution company subjecting various areas to up to 12 hours of load-shedding amid hot and humid weather. They contended that the denizens have grown sick of prolonged load-shedding as no heed is being to the city’s power woes with political parties just playing politics over the issue. The petitioners pleaded with the high court to restrain K-Electric from resorting to unannounced power cuts and order the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to take action against the power utility over such practice and negligence.
China reiterates support for Pakistan amid Covid-19 crisis ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
The AJK president said that besides Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, China had serious reservations about India's unlawful actions of August 5, October 31 last year and April 2 this year. Besides Indian threats, construction of roads, bridges and military infrastructure in Ladakh and other areas close to the Line of Actual Control fuelled the fire. However, he maintained that China has given a firm, robust and befitting response to Narendra Modi’s regime on both diplomatic and military fronts. Khan said that China took the Kashmir issue to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) the first time after 50 years, while Pakistan with the help of China, succeeded to convene three informal UNSC sessions on Kashmir. Later, China compelled the Indian Army moving towards Gulwan valley of
Ladakh to retreat, he added. About the US support to India in a standoff with China, the AJK president said that in spite of the desire of the US establishment, President Trump did not come forward to help India due to its own internal problems. Similarly, India could not get the expected support from Japan and Australia, he added. “Hindutva or the rise of RSS is an existential threat not only for Pakistan but for all South Asian regions, neighbouring East Asia, Central Asia and West Asia. So, we should be prepared for those challenges as well,” he further said. Khan said that if war breaks out in this region, it may turn into a nuclear clash and added that after facing defeat at the hands of China in Ladakh, India may carry out some aggressive action against Pakistan and India in frustration.
Emerging Policymakers’ Institute (EPI) an Islamabad based independent public policy think tank, which conducts wide ranging research and analysis on the issues of governance, security, social development, and regional connectivity – organised a webinar on “Balochistan’s Political Parties’ dialogue: CPEC and China’s Global Leadership during Covid19” on Friday. The dialogue involved speakers from most of the mainstream political parties of Balochistan to reiterate their commitment towards making ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a success and to discuss China’s achievements in tackling the coronavirus pandemic at home and abroad. The dialogue also aimed to discuss the opportunities for Balochistan under joint cooperation mechanism on
Punjab govt announces to close parks, recreational areas on Eidul Azha LAHORE INP
Student shooting TikTok video accidentally kills himself ABBOTTABAD INP
A 10th grade student accidentally shot and killed himself while shooting a video for TikTok, a highly popular Chinese social media app, police said on Friday. They said the incident took place in Bagan neighbourhood of Abbottabad where Abdul Samad was filming video with a pistol. He accidentally squeezed the trigger, fatally injuring himself. Later, he succumbed to his injuries. The body was shifted to a nearby hospital for medico-legal formalities.
The craze for the free video-sharing app that allows users to create and share short 15-second videos, has resulted in a number of such incidents in the country. Lately, an 18-year-old boy in Narowal lost his life while making a video for the app. The teenager drowned in a Narowal canal while filming video. The deceased, identified as Husnain, went to the canal along with three of his friends to record video. He slipped and fell into the canal. On June 21, a teenage boy had shot himself dead while making a video for TikTok in Karachi.
Murad directs for keeping wheat price stable in Sindh KARACHI TLTP
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the food department to keep price of wheat stable in the province. Presiding over a meeting at Chief Minister House, he directed the food department to design a new wheat policy and present it in the next cabinet meeting. He said that the price of roti should not be increased under any circumstances. The meeting was briefed by the officials of food department. They said that supply and price of wheat in the province is stable and food department according to its policy will release wheat in September.
Covid-19 to uplift its health care system, among other important agenda items. Balochistan Governor Justice (r) Amanullah Khan Yasinzai and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing addressed the forum as keynote speakers. Ambassador Yao Jing, in his keynote address, highlighted the importance of the Balochistan to Pakistan and China. He explained the achievements of China in tackling Covid-19 and also appreciated the efforts of Pakistan in the war against the pandemic.
Punjab government on Friday, while considering the proposal of smart lockdown on Eidul Azha, announced to close parks and recreational areas. A special meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Coronavirus and dengue Control chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar considered the proposal of smart lockdown on Eidul Azha.
It was decided in the meeting that the administrative office of the schools would be opened and the administrative staff would be allowed to go, however, students and teachers would not be able to go. The meeting decided that before opening the school, the department will issue complete guidelines on school education SOPs. The meeting also considered opening schools in two shifts, while there will be two and a half hour classes in each shift.
Saturday, 11 July, 2020
PlANNINg CoMMISSIoN DIrECtED to IMProvE ItS ProjECt EvAluAtIoN, MoNItorINg SyStEM ISLAMABAD
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GHULAM ABBAS
RIME Minister Imran Khan has directed the planning commission to revive and strengthen its monitoring and evaluation sections in order to ensure real-time updates on development projects. The direction was given after serious concerns were raised by the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission (PMIC) over the prevailing practices in project evaluation systems, resulting in project delays and cost overruns.
Based on PMIC recommendations, Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Minister Asad Umar on Friday ordered the strengthening of Project Monitoring & Evaluation System (PMES) for timely and evidence-based decisionmaking. The minister was presiding over a meeting of the Planning Commission Advisory Committee. He also directed his ministry's monitoring & evaluation wing to utilize the expertise of advisory committee members to implement a system that is modern, professional and according to the best global practices. The meeting was
also attended by MNA Najeeb Haroon, HUBCO Chief Executive Officer Khalid Mansoor and Pakistan Software House Association Chairman Syed Ahmad. Earlier, on the directions of the PM, the PMIC had carried out a review of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and suggested full compliance with an August 15, 2017, decision that all projects costing Rs50 million to Rs500 million should be based on feasibilities studies prepared by the professionals hired by ministries, divisions, departments, executing agencies for respective project management units or planning cells.
“Also, such feasibility studies should include technical details of proposed projects including design, bills of quantities (BOQs) etc. besides complying with the directions of National Economic Council (NEC) for the project costing above Rs500 million”. The PMIC had also demanded that the project concept papers (PC-1) for the projects involving land acquisition be prepared separately or releases for the development works be made after land acquisition. Executing agencies should also ensure that award of contract for development work is made after land acquisition.
FPCCI likely to shift headquarter from Karachi to Islamabad ISLAMABAD GHULAM ABBAS
In a move that is likely to be opposed by the businessmen of the port city, the leadership of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) has decided to shift its head office from Karachi to Islamabad, as all the relevant government departments are stationed in the federal capital. However, a final decision in this regard will be taken after the FPCCI's general body meeting scheduled to be
held next month. Talking with journalists on Friday at the federation's capital office, FPCCI coordinator Mirza Abdul Rehman said that 85pc of FPCCI-recognised chambers, associations and trade bodies have demanded the federal chamber to shift its head office from Karachi to Islamabad. "The major reason for this demand is that all ministers, diplomatic missions, head offices of regulatory bodies, including DGTO, SECP, FBR and SAARC CCI etc., are in Islamabad," Rehman said. "Times have changed and industrial and commercial centres are branching out,
contrary to the situation some decades ago when Karachi was the only hub of industries and commerce." He said the demand was also one of the promises made by the Businessmen Panel (BMP) during its election campaign. "Besides, we have also announced a reduction in the license fee of trade bodies and women chambers; all these agenda items will be discussed in the upcoming meetings of the executive body as well as the general body scheduled to be held in the first week of August," he said.
Four small cattle markets to be established outside Islamabad ISLAMABAD SHAHZAD PARACHA
The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration on the directions of National Command Operation Center (NCOC) and district magistrate has decided to establish four small cattle markets outside the city, before Eid ul azha. According to sources the ICT administration will establish four small cattle markets at Rawat, Tramri, Bara Kahu and Tarnol. The cattle markets will be set up outside the city, in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and Congo virus within the city limits. According to sources, the ICT administration has finalised the auction schedule for the markets. In case the administration is unable to receive a bid, Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) will establish the markets with the help of union councils. Earlier, plans regarding the establishment of a single market at sector I-11 were under consideration, but were later dropped due to concerns that a larger market will increase spread of Covid-19. The ICT administration has also issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for cattle markets in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus. As per the SOPs, sanitisation tunnels, eateries and food services will not be allowed inside the markets. Moreover, the entry of children and senior citizens will also be banned.
CWSA and NDMA join hands to fight locust infestation in Pakistan KARACHI PRESS RELEASE
Community World Service Asia (CWSA) is working in partnership with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to combat locust infestations in various parts of Pakistan. Through financial support from the Japanese Embassy in Islamabad, Japan Platform and CWS Japan, 58,502 liters of Lambda Cyhalothrine EC2.5% pesticides are being provided to Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) of the respective provinces. The intervention will ensure a safe and secure application of the pesticides as per the plant protection guidelines. According to a press release, CWSA is also supporting 1,600 farmer families with conditional cash grants for tilling/ploughing of lands to eradicate the locust eggs before hatching. With this support, around 16,187 hectares of land will be made free of locust eggs and will be prepared for the next cultivation. As an additional preparedness measure, around 2,000 farmers will be trained on Integrated Crop Management and Integrated Pest Management approaches to be able to efficiently manage similar threats in the future. Many Pakistani farmers, particularly in Sindh province, are currently struggling to combat a series of natural hazards that have left agrarian communities crumbling. The country’s agricultural sector has been struggling for years in the face of drought and dwindling water supplies and since last year has been hit by the worst locust plague to hit the country in nearly three decades.
NEWS
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Ministry seeks business community's proposals for development of Islamabad SEZ ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Planning and Development on Friday sought proposals from the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) regarding the proposed special economic zone (SEZ) to be set up in Islamabad under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework. An ICCI delegation, led by its President Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, called on Planning & Development Secretary Mathar Niaz Rana to discuss various proposals for the promotion of industrialization in the region. Welcoming the delegation, Rana briefed the ICCI members about various initiatives of his ministry and shared the details of CPEC projects that offered a lucrative opportunity for joint ventures and investment to the private sector. He said that ICCI could play a major role in encouraging private sector investors to exploit the potential opportunities of business partnerships in CPEC projects. "An industrial zone has been planned in Islamabad under CPEC and it is our desire that the ICCI share its proposals so that the right policy could be chalked out in this regard,” the secretary added. He opined that sector-specific industrial clusters were required in Islamabad to facilitate the potential foreign and local investors in exploring JVs and investment opportunities. Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Muhammad Ahmed Waheed said that the chamber has long been making efforts for the establishment of a new industrial estate in Islamabad. “ICCI wants to promote industrialization as there is no more space in existing areas to set up new industries due to which the potential investors are facing problems.” TLTP
Saturday, 11 July, 2020
06 COMMENT
Positive aspects of new federal budget
Government in the dock Will Imran Khan undertake soul searching?
national economy. and the State Bank of Pakistan has also introduced a number of initiatives for businesses to neutralize the negative impact of closure owing to persisting pandemic COVID-19. Force (FATF) action plan. Following are the positive aspects and main feaAnd then came the attack of the covid-19 pandemic which has turned out to be a very severe tures of the new federal budget philosophy briefly global economic threat , having the potential of speaking: destabilizing the international economic system. 1. Striking a balance between Corona expenditure and fiscal deficit. Pakistan was no exception to the general disorder, as the corona virus adversely impacted the econ- 2. Keeping the primary balance at sustainable level. omy of the country, forcing the economic team man- 3. Protection of social spending under the ehsaas Programme to support the vulnerable segments agers to do fresh thinking and reset the targets for of the society. financial year 2020-21. The immediate economic repercussions of covid-19 for Pakistan during FY 4. resource mobilization without unnecessary changes in tax structure. 2019-2020 are briefly indicated: 5. Successful continuaThe industry and the tion of the IMF proretail businesses all over gramme. Pakistan have been 6. Carrying forward of badly affected. economic growth The new federal budget for financial the Stimulus Package of more than rs 1200 bilhas been reduced by rs year 2020-21, the second regular lion. 3 trillion bringing down 7. Keeping the developthe GDP growth projecbudget presentation by the PTI ment budget at an adetion from 3.3 percent to quate level to stimulate -0.4 percent. has undoubtedly been government, economic growth of the Projection of overall budget deficit has been a crisis budget prepared under very country. 8. Defence and internal revised upward from unusual and difficult circumstances security of the country 7.1percent to 9.1 percent been given due imof GDP. requiring a well-thought philosophy has portance in the prevailing FBr revenue loss circumstances and perhas been projected at rs and approach by all concerned sisting hostile activities 900 billion. by India. Non-tax revenue of 9. housing initiatives inthe federal government cluding Naya Pakistan has been reduced by rs housing project have been funded. 102 billion. exports and remittances back home from Over- 10. Funding for special areas, that is, erstwhile FATA (since merged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) , Azad seas Pakistanis have been badly affected. Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, has also Unemployment and poverty have increased. been ensured for their development. Large scale manufacturing and Foreign Direct In11. The special initiatives led by the Prime Minister vestment (FDI) have declined. like Kamyab Jawan , Sehat Card, Billion Trees Domestic tourism in Pakistan has stalled. Tsunami, and so on, have also been protected. The new federal budget for financial year 202021, the second regular budget presentation by the PTI 12. Austerity and rationalization of expenditures will be observed. government, has undoubtedly been a crisis budget prepared under very unusual and difficult circum- 13. The sSubsidy regime has been rationalized to provide targeted subsidy to the deserving segstances requiring a well-thought philosophy and apments of the society. proach by all concerned. The federal government has positively stood up 14. The National Finance Commission (NFC) Award is to be revisited. More, the provinces will to the socio-economic challenge by reaching out to be asked to fulfill the funding commitment made the vulnerable segments of the society and business at the time of the merger of erstwhile FATA. community to neutralize the negative impact of lockdown and unemployment. The federal governMuhammad Zahid Rifat retired as Deputy ment has also given relief to the farmers community and daily wage earners, incentives have been pro- Controller (News), Radio Pakistan, Islamabad and vided to the construction sector for stimulating the can br reached at zahidriffat@gmail.com
It was tough, but the budget had some good things too
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rIMe MINISTer Imran Khan had little experience of running an administration when he assumed the office of the PM. Bubbling with confidence, he claimed he had prepared a team over the years that would take the country to new heights. The government’s performance over the last nearly two years has however belied the claims. There are factions within the cabinet that, unlike his forerunners, Mr Khan has failed to control. Unable to fulfill the promises he made, or cope with the challenges to governance, he continues to blame the previous governments for his own shortcomings. It is time the PM did some introspection. how come despite all the support he enjoys from the powers that be, his government has failed to control the prices of commodities of daily use? Why has he not been able to counter the designs of the much maligned mafias? Why are hoarders and smugglers having a field day under the PTI government? Mr Khan’s critics maintain that he lacks the required competence to run the country. Some of the opposition leaders have gone a step further challenging his claims of providing the country an honest leadership. The twin issues of PTI government’s competence and honesty have now landed in the courts also. The government sought political dividends by trumpeting its decision to lower the prices of petroleum products. The announcement turned into discredit when it led to near disappearance of the commodity from the market. Instead of enforcing its writ, the government ordered a hefty increase in the petrol price that made petrol available soon after. The Lahore high Court Chief Justice has called it bad governance and pushed for a high powered inquiry commission to probe if the oil ‘mafia’ had created the shortage of petrol for monetary gains and if the government’s decision to increase petrol prices before the scheduled time was made to benefit the oil marketing companies. Incapable of timely planning, the government feels helpless in dealing with the locust threat. As Secretary Ministry of Food Security and research Omar hamid Khan put it “unless a miracle occurs” Pakistan will have to face swarms coming from the horn of Africa that could be 400 times more than those that came last year.
MuhaMMad Zahid Rifat
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here is no denying the that the federal budget for financial year 2020-21, which has already commenced on July 1 was formulated in the very unusual and difficult circumstances and conditions caused by the covid-19 pandemic which affected Pakistan as it did to countries around the world one after the other. everything was going in the right direction, following the bold and necessary policy decisions of the Federal Government, economic recovery was on an upward trajectory, and there were encouraging positive signs of the stabilization of the national economy, which had been in the bad shape for some time. This was till March 2020, the third quarter of the outgoing financial year 2019-20. All this can be affirmed by the appreciable improvement in major economic indicators of the country during the first nine months of FY 2019. The current account deficit had reduced by 73 pe cent from $10 billion to $3 billion; the trade deficit had decreased by 31 percent from $21 billion to $15 billion; the fiscal deficit had reduced from 5 percent to 3.8 percent of the GDP; a primary surplus of 0.4 % of the GDP was achieved for the first time in 10 years; Federal Board of revenue (FBr) revenue collection had increased by 17 per cent and the federal government was on the track to achieve the revised revenue generation target of rs 4800 billion; Non-tax revenue had increased by as much as 134 per cent against the annual target of rs 1161 billion; remittances back home from overseas Pakistanis had increased to $ 17 billion; Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) had almost been doubled from $ 0.9 billion to $ 2.15 billion. Furthermore, debt management had improved by shifting 74 percent of the domestic debt portfolio to long term, resulting in reduction of0 domestic borrowing rates from 14 percent to 10 percent besides a saving of rs 240 billion. Due to the reforms introduced by the federal government , an extended Fund Facility (eFF) of $ 6 billion was approved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF); Only in December 2019, Bloomberg had ranked the Pakistan Stock exchange as one of the top performing markets of the world; Moody’s rating was upgraded from B3-Negative to B3-Positive; Pakistan’s “ease of Doing Business” ranking had improved, and; Significant progress was made on as many as 27 actionable items included in the Financial Action Task
Another blow to PIA US ban needs official intervention for reversal
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hOUGh it was expected, the USA Civil Aviation Authority ban on PIA was a massive blow to the national flag-carrier. Citing safety fears, the USA’s CAA cancelled the permission to operate the remaining five of the 12 flights it had earlier been permitted for repatriating Pakistanis stranded by the covid-19 pandemic. That this had to happen showed the devastating effects of the declaration by Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan that a large number of PIA pilots had dodgy licenses. That this announcement had come in the middle of an enquiry into the Karachi air crash had immediately linked the dodgy licenses with safety concerns, and the eU’s Air Safety Agency was the first to suspend PIA operations. It is not just PIA operations which have been affected. All those pilots and other aircrew who had been licensed in Pakistan, and had obtained jobs in the UAe, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam or any other country, were now grounded, or at least subject to having their licenses verified. The humiliation could be monumental, for it amounted to rendering nugatory the concerned person’s entire professional career. Worse, it has rendered even pilots who have never had their bona fides questioned, subject to the casual assumption that they could not fly, or were somehow a danger to their planes and their passengers. The Pakistani officials are busy at the moment verifying PIA pilots’ licenses, and some have already been sacked. PIA is in danger of having a properly licensed body of pilots, but not having any international destination to fly to. This is one of those occasions when a state enterprise needs the state to show its support. The attitude of the Washington embassy, which expressed blithe ignorance about the US decision, will not do. The government has got one of its ministers making a mess, but now it is for the government to clean it up, so that when PIA can vouch for its pilots, it should not find that there is nowhere it can fly to. The initial error was Mr Khan revealing the information about the enquiry before it was over. Let not further mistakes make matters worse (If indeed such a thing is possible).
Climate change denial in Pakistan The deniers are all over the world Raja ahMed Saeed
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N this day and age, with climate change being on the tip of everyone’s tongue and becoming a topic of heated debate, it was about time this took centrestage in Pakistan as well. With increased awareness about climate change, and how to work towards reversing its catastrophic effects, there has also been an evident wave of denial and general disdain towards this notion. Unfortunately, while this isn’t something new, in the sense that even in so-called developed nations who are leading this battle for the reversal of climate change, a counter movement of naysayers has sprung up as well. In this piece I not only want to delve into the basic reasons of this denial, but also the depth of the psychology behind the thinking of deniers. One of the most common reasons is illiteracy, or the simple fact that they don’t know about climate change or the necessary details. This is due to a lack of focus, especially in Third-World countries, but there are so many more reasons, which include the fact that climate change sometimes clashes with a community’s understanding of the world, and shatters this bubble its members live in. There is a strong path dependency here, in terms of sticking to the ways they are used to over time. Borderline, it rubs them the wrong way, and it is plainly inconvenient to their world view. In purely psychological terms, the reaason for this sheer ignorance and misunderstanding is that people don’t want to revise their beliefs. hence, even when they are presented with facts, they can’t seem to re-wire their thinking patterns to allow an unbiased entry into their decision making. Therefore, they mostly lead to basically the same conclusion that climate change is more exaggerated than it actually is, in terms of an existential threat. Sigmund Freud, a great writer on the complexities of human nature, has described this phenomenon as “a way of taking cognisance of what is repressed”. The nightmarish reality is in front of them, yet their beliefs take preference over rational thinking.
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According to research, strong prevalence of ele- The youth has started to take responsibility for their ments like hierarchy and status quo also plays a huge planet, and the reason I’m stating all these facts is role, whereby poorer and less-scientific or dogmatic that this age difference is also evident in the depeople are more likely to see all this as a sham. Po- niers. The older generation, according to statistics, litical parties on the right generally are also to blame has proven to be set in its ways, and this has been a here, where instead of educating their base, and huge problem in meaningfully combating this fast transforming them to move towards economically evolving existential threat. Pakistan has seen increased effort in recent years and greener jobs, they instead reinforce their views by remaining weak in election manifestos, all in an in this regard, both in terms of spreading awareness, and tangible steps like effort to just grab votes. extensive reforestation hence, instead of programs, and the likes science taking preceof the Clean, Green Pakdence, political gains are seen as more sacred. The deniers can shift their views, istan movement. however, this is not enough The short-sightedness of since sometimes a simple for a country that is exthe political leadership pected to be among the has allowed time to slip, bombardment of facts isn’t the top ten countries globwhile climate change ally, to get most affected has continued to become greatest help. The actual by climate change. a greater threat to difference can be made by the hence, important prospects of life on earth steps in this regard in any normal way. For people; it’s a democracy after all. should include apinstance, taking a look proaching the issue at the USA, one can see Our choices can help make the keeping in mind the sopeople heavily influenced by puritanical valdifference whether it is in terms of cial and psychological factors. Moreover, we ues, like in Pakistan, consuming, regulations or need to diversify to where wrong interpretareach all groups of socition of religious underprotest– at a distance of a ety; one pitch with the standing at the back of same rehashed facts lack of education has alminimum six feet, of course won’t work it needs to lowed people in general appeal to them; more efto take lightly the exfort needs to be put into treme effects of climate making them underchange, and as a consequence, most people have described anthropogenic stand. The deniers can shift their views, since global heating as a normal course of action taken sometimes a simple bombardment of facts isn’t the by nature, and not to be interfered with. Basically, greatest help. The actual difference can be made it is a natural phenomenon, and it will manage itself by the people; it’s a democracy after all. Our choices can help make the difference whether it is on its own! In the face of this denial, and weak policy re- in terms of consuming, regulations or protest– at a sponse by politicians in general– in both the devel- distance of a minimum six feet, of course. At the oped and developing countries– a global trend of end of the day, though, this is not some clichéd cry activism has picked up, at the back of increased in- for activism, but rather trying to give another viewterest in environmental politics. This army of cli- point to furthering this movement of paramount mate activism is spearheaded by the youth, importance. specifically the young girl who has the most powRaja Ahmed Saeed is a freelance columnist erful men shaking in their boots, Greta Thunberg.
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Saturday, 11 July, 2020
COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively
Collecting locusts PAKISTAN hasn’t faced such a disastrous locust attack within the last 27 years. This can affect the economy worse than the corona pandemic but we are yet focused on the virus. One can fight this virus but how to live without food? The idea to collect the locusts and feed them to chicken is amazing as locusts contain 70% protein which can give us healthy chicken and the crop will be safe too. But this process needs to be hurried as each passing day leads to food shortage. In a swarm there can be more than 159 million locusts within one square kilometer and a swarm can eat as much as 2,500 people in one day. So, we need to race against the time for every minute counts. Afroz MJ TurbAT
Why not schools?
Pandemic and Indian unemployment in perspective The young and women have suffered disproportionately dR RajkuMaR Singh
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Ore than one in six young people have stopped working since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic while those who remain employed have seen their working hours cut by 23 percent. The current covid-19 economic crisis is hitting young people harder and faster than any other group. Young people have to face many hard situations, including disruption to education and training, employment and income losses, and greater difficulties in finding a job. The International Labour Organization uses the term “lockdown generation” to describe young people facing multiple shocks from the covid-19 crisis, including increased vulnerability to anxiety or depression. In the USA too “nearly 7.7 million American workers younger than 30 are now unemployed and three million dropped out of the labour force in the past month.” One in three young workers is now unemployed, the highest rate since the USA started tracking unemployment by age in 1948. Among these young people, nearly 40 percent worked in retail and food service industries, where younger workers are typically the first let go and often the last rehired. The situation is even worse for people of colour. An effective way to solve this problem is rigorous testing and tracing of coronavirus infections. In countries with strong testing and tracing, the average fall in working hours has been shorter when compared with countries that don’t take those measures. Testing and tracing can promote public confidence, encourages consumption, supports employment, and helps minimize operational disruption at the workplace. In 2019, the youth unemployment rate was 13.6 percent, a figure already higher than in any other group. Almost 267 million young people worldwide are not employed, studying, or undergoing training. Those who were employed are also more likely to take informal jobs such as low-paid occupations, part-time jobs, or as migrant workers. The covid-19 pandemic is bringing unprecedented challenges in its wake. All governments should take effective measures to help this group. Guy ryder, the ILO Director-General has rightly said, “If we do not take significant and immediate action to improve their (youth) situation, the legacy of the virus could be with us for decades. If their talent and energy is side-lined by a lack of opportunity or skills, it will damage all our futures and make it much more difficult to re-build a better, post-covid-19 economy.” Besides this, the economic downturn is likely to hit young women the hardest. A previous ILO report shows that 41 percent of women are employed in sectors at high risk of job losses, compared with 35 percent of men. Informal female workers are under greater threat. Society should be aware of how covid-19 is exacerbating challenges women habitually face. Promoting gender equality rights can play a key role in returning to normal. Labour market conditions improved in May as a number of people returned to work, despite the unemployment rate remaining “very high”
at 23.5 percent, thinktank Centre for Monitoring start of the pandemic in mid-March, accordingly Indian economy (CMIe) said. A total 21 million to the CMIe. The rate of unemployment is also jobs were added in May, and the labour partici- not equal in rural and urban areas. The thinktank pation rate improved significantly, CMIe said. said the rate of unemployment was the highest The latest data on unemployment from the pri- in the urban areas, which constitute the most vate sector think-tank comes days after the coun- number of the red zones due to the covid-19 try entered the fifth phase of a nationwide cases, at 29.22 per cent, as against 26.69 per cent lockdkown to curb the spread of the coronavirus for the rural areas. Analysts have been warning pandemic, which has battered an already-slow- about the spectre of unemployment ever since ing economy in a big blow to businesses and the country was put under a lockdown on March workers. Of the 21 millionjobs added in May, 25 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrest 14.4 million constituted small traders and wage the spread of the virus infections. India has a jobs bloodbath as the unemploylabourers who account for a third of the total employed population. As the economy has been ment rate shoots up to 27.1 percent. Scenes of opening up gradually in parts of the country, this migrants fleeing urban centres like Delhi and predominantly self-employed class is returning Mumbai only confirmed the long-held concerns on their employment to their businesses. as the economic acAs the ecotivity came to a nomic situation imgrinding halt. The proved slowly “A number of people India has a jobs bloodbath as the government has so far announced inwho had left the acunemployment rate shoots up to come and food suptive labour markets to the in April returned 27.1 percent. Scenes of migrants port vulnerable people as back in May. People part of a rs 1.70 trilwho had left the fleeing urban centres like Delhi lion fiscal stimulus labour market in and Mumbai only confirmed the to the economic, fiApril because of nancial and possibly large-scale job long-held concerns on their humanitarian crisis, losses had parked and is also mulling a themselves in the employment as the economic second round of passive unemployed activity came to a grinding halt. measures soon. excategory in May, perts often rue the many of them were The government has so far absence of a good back and actively gauge of jobs in looking for work,” announced income and food India, which is preas said by Mahesh dominantly an unorVyas, managing disupport to the vulnerable people ganised-sector led rector and CeO of as part of a Rs 1.70 trillion fiscal economy. CMIe’s the Mumbai-based weekly series of data think-tank. The adstimulus to the economic, pointed to a steady dition of 21 million increase in unemjobs marked growth financial and possibly ployment since the of 7.5 percent over humanitarian crisis, and is also start of the covid-19 April, whereas the pandemic in India, jobs of small traders mulling a second round of with the week to and wage labourers March 29 showing jumped 39 percent. measures soon the sharpest spike to The country’s unem23.81 percent. As of ployment rate stood the end of April, at 23.5 percent in Puducherry in South May 2020, which is the same rate recorded in the previous month. India had the highest rate of unemployment at however, the labour participation rate– the total 75.8 percent, followed by neighbouring Tamil number of people currently employed or in search Nadu at 49.8 percent, Jharkhand at 47.1 percent of a job– improved from 35.6 percent to 38.2 per- and Bihar at 46.6 percent. Maharashtra’s unemcent, and the employment rate improved from ployment rate was pegged at 20.9 percent by the CMIe, while the same for haryana stood at 43.2 27.2 percent to 29.2 percent, as per an estimate. The latest official data shows that the coun- percent, Uttar Pradesh at 21.5 percent and Kartry’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded nataka at 29.8 per cent. hilly states had the low3.1 percent in January-March, reflecting only the est incidence of unemployment as of April, the partial impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on think tank said, pointing out that the rate in hithe manufacturing and services sectors. With machal Pradesh stood at 2.2 percent, I in Sikkim that, the annual expansion in the GDP stood at at 2.3 percent and in Uttarakhand at 6.5 pe cent. 4.2 percent in fiscal year 2019-20– the lowest Dr Rajkumar Singh is head of the political pace of growth in 11 years. The covid-19 crisis has led to a spike in the country’s unemployment science department of the B.N.Mandal rate to 27.11 per cent for the week ended May University, Madhepura, Bihar, India and can be 3, up from the under 7 per cent level before the reached at rajkumarsinghpg@gmail.com
The education Minister has decided to open the educational institutions from September. If this didn’t happen now, private sectors are likely to face bankruptcy in no time. A single private institute is the reason for around 60 homes food as we are clearly aware about unemployment rate in Pakistan. Some support this idea while others don’t. But if the government is easing the lockdown and other economic sectors then why not schools and colleges? Same kids are wandering in malls, restaurants and streets. They have no danger of being infected in other places except schools? So far, no one knows how long this virus is with us and for how long we are going to live in this pandemic but everyone knows a country already lagging behind in education with the pace of the modern world will remain behind forever due to further delays. educational institutions need to open under strict SOPs and prevention. New steps need to be taken to cover everything we have lost. Many countries have already reopened their schools because they want no compromise with education and the result for this act is very well. AiShA fArooq TurbAT
PIA suspension in USA AN Airline is not just the transportation method to travel, it’s an international representation of our country. First being suspended in The UK and europe, PIA downfall carries on with the same level of pace and with the equal level of efforts, it got suspension in the USA as well. While going through all kinds of horrible situations, Pakistan’s governance simply do not care about anything at all and they are just playing blame game. Suspending pilots with dubious license is one thing but what should they really be focusing on is, Who allotted them these licenses in this highly reputed governmental department. Of course alot of black sheep will be revealed. The cause of downfall will be crystal clear but as always, like every other department in our country, PIA is also under the influence of those vicious wolves who are you ruining every working department in our country with the only interest to benefit themselves. It is an alarming situation for governement. Including PIA, all other departments should be sanitized from these kind of evil germs, who are not willing to see Pakistan in progress. International transport is not a domestic level problem to be handle with ease, it needs quick action and implementation in order to restore the previous level of superiority. MiAn AizAz AhMEd ShAdAkoT
The real virus A living virus which converts living organisms into non livings, world’s well known non contracted killer named (Corona) which has no limit where it started from 2 to 234,509 in pakistan till now, very least number of people had hidden themselves inside and other are roaming like a soul. Until first lockdown it was treated accordingly but then its fright was cleaned out which let it to peek in every human body and raised up symptoms but most dangerous are asymptomatic with the slight taste of death. Government is jumping obstacles of ineligibility, they have been surrounded with nation’s vomit and opposition’s corrupt clenches and worst decision, as authority observed people around are dying from starvation and unemployment they unlocked areas and allowed to traffic and trade, people misused orders and broke laws of SOPs then arose to churn each corner also tedium arrangements for weddings. Vaguely specified families understand the manner. actually we have poked corona to deal us experience of death, as pakistanis are found of games of death they gave auditions and passed after that they have been instigating it. In addition to clean spew and to reclaim normal life, economy, health and lost resources, public places must be prevented along with social distancing and standard operating procedures. SuhAil SAEEd Tunio lArkAnA
Child marriages ChILD marriage is generally understood to mean marriages that took place before age 18. It is a tremendous face that the COVID-19 is fundalmdntally changing the course of young women’s lives . Already home to one of the highest rates of child marriages , and secondly the right activists fear a surge in underage unions . however, before coronavirus pandemic struck , there was an alarming situation of early marriages in the country . As Pakistan, being a democratic country is home to an acute population where child marriages seems to one’s nation misconception. The remote areas have reported an increase in earlier marriages . Since schools shut down and economic and mafias pressure on the high rates worsening the situation of our societies. The early and forced marriages are so common in Africa where 38% of girls becomes child brides. You should surely understand that the child marriage is a human rights violation , which the practice remains widespread. have you ever thought about how to prevent it . Surely if a little gazed deep we couldn’t lose our children’s lives into a tailspin. I request the authorities to undertake this issue inorder to secure children’s lives. bArkATullAh TurbAT
Saturday, 11 July, 2020
08 WORLD VIEW
Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear sItes sIgnal a new phase of conflIct THE LATEST ATTACKS AGAINST IRAN COULD BE, AT LEAST IN PART, ISRAELI RETALIATION AND A WARNING OF THE PRICE IRAN WILL PAY FOR SUCH MISCHIEF
middle easT eYe
o
richard SilverStein
VER the past week, mysterious explosions and fires have wracked key infrastructure connected to Iran’s nuclear programme at Natanz and Parchin, key facilities engaged in uranium enrichment and the production of rocket fuel for ballistic missiles. The US and Israel have accused Iran of violating UN resolutions and the nuclear deal in testing new ballistic-missile technology. Although Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has repeatedly denied any intent to create nuclear weapons, even going so far as to issue a fatwa against it, Iran’s enemies are convinced it plans to “go nuclear”. The recent attacks appear to be an attempt by a hostile state to degrade that programme and delay Iran’s ability to potentially send such weapons to targets outside of Iran. Tehran has said that a cyberattack could be behind the explosion at Natanz, which destroyed a building that allegedly housed an advanced centrifuge system that could increase the speed of
enrichment by up to 50 times. RISKY UNDERTAKING: According to the New York Times, a “Middle Eastern intelligence official with knowledge of the episode” said that Israel was responsible for the Natanz attack. “The blast was caused by an explosive device planted inside the facility,” the Times reported, citing information from an intelligence source. The explosion “destroyed much of the aboveground parts of the facility where new centrifuges - delicate devices that spin at supersonic speeds - are balanced before they are put into operation”. Avigdor Lieberman, a rival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has accused Mossad chief Yossi Cohen of being the source. In a radio interview, he said the leak was a deliberate attempt to embellish Cohen’s resume at the expense of Israeli national security, as he prepared to transition from the Mossad to a political career as Netanyahu’s possible successor as Likud leader. According to the Times, “while investigators have considered the possibility that Natanz was hit … by a cruise missile or a drone, they view it as more likely that someone carried a bomb into the building”. An unidentified Revolutionary Guard member told the Times that while it was unclear how the explosives were snuck in, “the attack clearly demonstrated a hole in the facility’s security”. This, together with the fact that a hitherto unknown anti-regime group, the Home-
land Cheetahs, contacted BBC Persian hours before the bombing was made public to claim responsibility, points to the possible involvement of the anti-regime Mujahideene Khalq (MEK). Israel is known to have executed joint assassination operations with MEK killers on the ground in the past. According to the Kuwaiti media outlet al-Jarida, an Israeli F-35 stealth jet was used to bomb the Parchin complex. While this is possible, flying an aircraft from Israel to Iran for such an attack would be a technically complex and risky undertaking. Al-Jarida further reported that the fire at Natanz was the result of a cyberattack aimed at gas compression controls. STUXNET ATTACK: A decade ago, joint US-Israeli efforts resulted in the development of the Stuxnet worm, which infected Natanz and was inadvertently sent around the world. Stuxnet was reportedly delivered via a USB stick. It’s unclear what method might have been used this time, but presumably the attackers would have been looking to exploit any similar lapses of Iranian cybersecurity. A possible motivator could have been a thwarted cyberattack on six Israeli water plants in April, intended to cause systems to malfunction. According to a report in the Times of Israel, which cited Channel 13 news, the attack “was viewed as a significant escalation by Iran and a crossing of a red line because it targeted civilian infrastructure”. As such, the latest attacks against Iran
How to cut (and not cut) the defence budget
BrookiNgs Michael O'hanlOn
First, nothing has gotten easier about dealing with the threats that existed before the coronavirus struck — from Putin’s Russia to Xi’s China to North Korea, Iran, and terrorism. Second, several new types of threats are more palpable and foreboding than ever, as COVID-19 has revealed; some will require more resources to address. Third, the nation’s fiscal plight is dire. Publicly held debt will likely exceed U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) later this year, and keep growing after that, even with a strong recovery. In this environment, defence critics will make hay of the fact that at nearly $750 billion, while modest as a percent of GDP, the annual national defence budget exceeds its Cold War average by more than $200 billion in real terms. Some were already calling for cuts of as much as $200 billion in the annual defence budget before the COVID-19 crisis. As scholars like former John McCain aide Chris Brose have warned, the American armed forces already routinely “lose” to China in combat simulations set in the western Pacific. How can the nation modernize its military, stay vigilant against rising great powers, handle existing challenges, and save some money in the process? The usual list of suspects can only get us so far in the budget-cutting process. Domestic base closures, if they ever happen again, may save money — but only about $2 billion to $4 billion per year once implemented, and only after costing money in the early years. Reform of the $50 billion per year defence health sector may help, too — but as with most things in health care reform, success is usually measured more by limiting future cost growth than actually cutting budgets. Curtailing the F-35 fighter jet program or delaying the replacement of the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile force may help some too — but most aircraft purchases and nuclear weapons modernization efforts are needed to replace weaponry or to make the force more resilient against great-power challenges. We need to think bigger. Fortunately, good ideas are out there, if we get serious about developing and implementing them. Indeed, some are coming out of the Pentagon itself, as I learned last week when interviewing two outgoing members of the joint chiefs of staff. One bold proposal came from the outgoing chief of staff of the Air Force, General David Gold-
fein. Several years ago, Goldfein wanted to grow the Air Force by almost a quarter — from 312 squadrons across the active force, Guard and Reserve to a total of 386. He no longer is pushing this agenda. Now, he says he has “plenty of trucks” — that is, plenty of planes — but not enough “highway.” By the latter, he means command and control networks that withstand the efforts of a future China or Russia to jam our electronics, hack cyber systems, cut undersea communications cables, and jam or shoot down U.S. satellites. In fact, Goldfein is now ready to make some of those 312 squadrons smaller. In a Brookings event in early July, he explained an approach that would eliminate the more expensive planes — call them the lemons (my word, not his) — in various squadrons, and retire those. If we reduced the size of many squadrons say 10% to 20%, some of the savings could be used for modernization; another portion might be returned to the taxpayer. Goldfein did not volunteer a number. But the logic of this approach could make the Air Force — and indeed key parts of all four major military services, since all have air fleets — 5% to 10% less expensive over time. Savings could reach into the low tens of billions a year. General Joseph Lengyel, the head of the National Guard Bureau, laid out another big idea in another Brookings webinar. Lengyel observed that Army National Guard and Air Force National Guard are far different today from the days when he was first in uniform in the 1980s. They are now much more combat-capable, and no longer just the “hand-me-down” part of the military. With the Air National Guard, units are pretty much ready to go all the time. With the Army National Guard, small units are generally quickly available. Bigger ones, up to and including brigades, can be very good after a few months of preparation. The Guard and Reserve components of the various services do not save the United States any money when they are activated and deployed. So shifting more force structure to the reserve components only makes sense if the overall military is somewhat less busy than before. However, with the surges in Iraq and Afghanistan long since over, that is indeed the case now, and figures to be the case in the future, too. Today’s military includes about 2.1 million uniformed personnel: 1.3 million and 800,000 reserve component (including Guard and Reserve). If the Guard and Reserve grew from 800,000 to 1,000,000 personnel, with corresponding cuts to the active-duty forces, annual savings might reach $30 billion or so. Neither of these ideas is going to allow precipitous cuts to the defense budget. But they can help us keep the American armed forces strong — and, importantly, modernize them — in a world where their budgets may stay flat for many years to come. Michael E. O’Hanlon is the Director of Research - Foreign Policy, Co-Director, Security and Strategy, Senior Fellow - Foreign Policy, Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence and The Sydney Stein, Jr. Chair.
could be, at least in part, Israeli retaliation and a warning of the price Iran will pay for such mischief. Yet, the sheer scale of the attacks indicates a massive escalation in hostilities. Iran would also assume, likely correctly, that Israel informed its closest military ally of its mission, and therefore view these acts as joint US-Israeli operations. That could explain the latest missile attack on US diplomatic and military installations in Iraq. In an unprecedented move, Iraqi troops last month arrested a group of Iran-backed fighters allegedly plotting a new attack against the Green Zone in Baghdad. Washington has blamed pro-Iranian militias for rocket attacks targeting US troops across Iraq in recent months. Israel and Iran have played out their rivalry in Iraq before. Iran will undoubtedly seek to exact revenge on Israeli or US assets wherever it can find them. This is no longer a game of cat-and-mouse; it is only a matter of time before one or more of the parties accidentally or intentionally tips the situation into an outbreak of massive, unrestrained conflict. NETANYAHU'S CORRUPTION TRIAL: The timing of these developments could prove extremely useful for Netanyahu, coming in the midst of his corruption trial. If convicted, Netanyahu could be forced to resign, possibly ending his political career. One of the wiliest of Israeli politicians, Netanyahu would not be above mounting attacks to buttress the notion that he is an
indispensable leader protecting Israel’s security by eliminating grave threats, such as those posed by Iran. Furthermore, Netanyahu’s grand plan to annex 30 percent of the occupied West Bank has incited a firestorm of opposition around the globe. Denunciations and warnings have come from political leaders, international diplomats and human rights groups. The Trump administration, thought to have offered full support for the plan, seems now at cross-purposes, with hardliners such as Ambassador David Friedman backing annexation and adviser Jared Kushner urging caution. Former Israeli Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg even told an Italian newspaper that the US was responsible for halting annexation (for now). If he is correct, then the explosions in Iran would be just the ticket to distract public attention from yet another failure by Netanyahu to implement policies favoured by his ultra-nationalist constituency. These attacks are also characteristic of Israel’s strategy to avoid comprehensive solutions to intractable issues and instead engage in half-measures, aptly known in Israeli idiom as “mowing the grass”. Iran analysts and nuclear experts say these attacks do not fundamentally alter Iran’s trajectory if it is seeking nuclear capabilities; at best, they delay progress by a few months or a year. There is no way, short of regime change or armed invasion, that countries can deter rivals determined to obtain nuclear weapons. Informed Israeli sources have repeatedly said Netanyahu never intended to attack Iran on the scale necessary to deal a massive blow to its nuclear programme. At best, these operations only delay the inevitable - and this may be exactly what Netanyahu wants. An ongoing, medium-intensity conflict between Israel and Iran strengthens his argument that he is the only figure who can protect Israeli interests. Richard Silverstein writes the Tikun Olam blog, devoted to exposing the excesses of the Israeli national security state.
I no longer believe in a Jewish state
New York Times Peter Beinart
I was 22 in 1993 when Yitzhak Rabin and Yasir Arafat shook hands on the White House lawn to officially begin the peace process that many hoped would create a Palestinian state alongside Israel. I’ve been arguing for a twostate solution — first in late-night bull sessions, then in articles and speeches — ever since. I believed in Israel as a Jewish state because I grew up in a family that had hopscotched from continent to continent as diaspora Jewish communities crumbled. I saw Israel’s impact on my grandfather and father, who were never as happy or secure as when enveloped in a society of Jews. One day in early adulthood, I walked through Jerusalem, reading street names that catalog Jewish history, and felt that comfort and pride myself. I knew Israel was wrong to deny Palestinians in the West Bank citizenship, due process, free movement and the right to vote in the country in which they lived. But the dream of a two-state solution that would give Palestinians a country of their own let me hope that I could remain a liberal and a supporter of Jewish statehood at the same time. Events have now extinguished that hope. About 640,000 Jewish settlers now live in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and the Israeli and American governments have divested Palestinian statehood of any real meaning. The Trump administration’s peace plan envisions an archipelago of Palestinian towns, scattered across as little as 70 percent of the West Bank, under Israeli control. Even the leaders of Israel’s supposedly center-left parties don’t support a viable, sovereign Palestinian state. The West Bank hosts Israel’s newest medical school.
If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fulfills his pledge to impose Israeli sovereignty in parts of the West Bank, he will just formalize a decadesold reality: In practice, Israel annexed the West Bank long ago. Israel has all but made its decision: one country that includes millions of Palestinians who lack basic rights. Now liberal Zionists must make our decision, too. It’s time to abandon the traditional two-state solution and embrace the goal of equal rights for Jews and Palestinians. It’s time to imagine a Jewish home that is not a Jewish state. Equality could come in the form of one state that includes Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, as writers such as Yousef Munayyer and Edward Said have proposed; or it could be a confederation that allows free movement between two deeply integrated countries. The process of achieving equality would be long and difficult, and would most likely meet resistance from both Palestinian and Jewish hard-liners. But it’s not fanciful. The goal of equality is now more realistic than the goal of separation. The reason is that changing the status quo requires a vision powerful enough to create a mass movement. A fragmented Palestinian state under Israeli control does not offer that vision. Equality can. Increasingly, one equal state is not only the preference of young Palestinians. It is the preference of young Americans, too. Critics will say binational states don’t work. But Israel is already a binational state. Two peoples, roughly equal in number, live under the ultimate control of one government. (Even in Gaza, Palestinians can’t import milk, export tomatoes or travel abroad without Israel’s permission.) And the political science literature is clear: Divided societies are most stable and most peaceful when governments represent all their people. That’s the lesson of Northern Ireland. When Protestants and the British government excluded Catholics, the Irish Republican Army killed an estimated 1,750 people between 1969 and 1994. When Catholics became equal political partners, the violence largely stopped. It’s the lesson of South Africa, where Nelson Mandela endorsed armed
struggle until Blacks won the right to vote. That lesson applies to Israel-Palestine, too. Yes, there are Palestinians who have committed acts of terrorism. But so have the members of many oppressed groups. History shows that when people gain their freedom, violence declines. In the words of Michael Melchior, an Orthodox rabbi and former Israeli cabinet member who has spent more than a decade forging relationships with leaders of Hamas, “I have yet to meet with somebody who is not willing to make peace.” Rabbi Melchior recently told me that he still supports a two-state solution, but his point transcends any particular political arrangement: It is that Palestinians will live peacefully alongside Jews when they are granted basic rights. What makes that hard for many Jews to grasp is the memory of the Holocaust. As the Israeli scholar Yehuda Elkana, a Holocaust survivor, wrote in 1988, what “motivates much of Israeli society in its relations with the Palestinians is not personal frustration, but rather a profound existential ‘Angst’ fed by a particular interpretation of the lessons of the Holocaust.” This Holocaust lens leads many Jews to assume that anything short of Jewish statehood would mean Jewish suicide. But before the Holocaust, many leading Zionists did not believe that. “The aspiration for a nation-state was not central in the Zionist movement before the 1940s,” writes the Hebrew University historian Dmitry Shumsky in his book, “Beyond the Nation-State.” A Jewish state has become the dominant form of Zionism. But it is not the essence of Zionism. The essence of Zionism is a Jewish home in the land of Israel, a thriving Jewish society that can provide refuge and rejuvenation for Jews across the world. That’s what my grandfather and father loved — not a Jewish state but a Jewish society, a Jewish home. Israel-Palestine can be a Jewish home that is also, equally, a Palestinian home. And building that home can bring liberation not just for Palestinians but for us, too. Peter Beinart is a professor of journalism and political science at the Newmark School of Journalism at CUNY and editor at large of Jewish Currents.
Saturday, 11 July, 2020
BUSINESS 09
CORPORATE CORNER
‘GovT To ALLoW ExPorT oF SurGICAL mASKS AFTEr ASSESSInG LoCAL AvAILABILITY’ BUSINESS DESK
KARACHI: HABIBMETRO Bank and EFU Life strengthened their partnership by taking the initiative to launch “Covid–19 Cover” - a first-of-its-kind product that aims to provide a financial solution to HABIBMETRO customers who are financially and medically impacted during the ongoing pandemic.
Thar Coal Block-II projects complete 1st year of successful operations KARACHI: Engro Powergen Thar (Private) Limited (EPTL) – a majority owned Company of Engro Energy – and Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) – a joint venture of the Sindh government and Engro Energy with other corporate partners – have successfully completed one full year of commercial operations of both Block II mine and power Plant. Commenting on the occasion, Ghias Khan – President and CEO, Engro Corporation – said: “The completion of one year of successful and safe operations of the Thar coal mine and power projects has brought our commitment to Pakistan a full circle. At Engro, we are determined to solve some of Pakistan’s most pressing issues and resolving the challenges in the energy value chain are at the core of our focus under the energy vertical.”
LSE launches virtual ADE Seminar series LAHORE: The Centre for Research in Economics and Business (CREB) at the Lahore School of Economics, in partnership with International Growth Centre (IGC) and Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR), launched a virtual Applied Development Economics (ADE) Seminar Series on July 7, 2020. The main objective of the online seminar series was to keep the spirit of the University’s annual ADE conference alive by allowing researchers in the field of development economics, to present their work and to increase the visibility of research being conducted in Pakistan. The virtual seminar is held weekly via Zoom on Tuesdays, at 4 00 pm PKT (11 00 am GMT) and will continue till the end of September.
KP’s FY20 annual development expenditure falls short by 53pc PESHAWAR AZIZ BUNERI
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has spent only Rs150.9 billion or 47 per cent out of the Rs319 billion annual development budget for FY20. According to documents, of the Rs150.9 billion spent by the provincial government, Rs125.33 billion were from the provincial fund. In addition to that, the KP government spent Rs13.43 billion out of foreign aid and loans. Moreover, out of Rs59 billion, Rs24 billion was released for the tribal districts out of which Rs23.91 billion was spent in FY20. According to documents, nine departments of the tribal districts were not able to spend from their budget during FY20. These departments include, religious and minority affairs, finance, environment, labor, law and justice, minerals, population welfare, science and information technology and transport. According to the KP Planning and Development Department, the provincial government had allocated Rs237 billion for annual development programme for settled and tribal districts, out of which Rs82 billion were allocated from international aid and loans. However, the provincial government received only Rs15.79 billion in international aid and loans. Out of the annual development fund released for FY20, Rs3.77 billion was spent on agriculture department, Rs244.048 million on religious and minority endowments, Rs238.54 million on finance department, Rs51.44 million on construction, Rs3.54 billion on drinking water, Rs7.49 billion on primary and secondary education, Rs668.27 million on energy and power, Rs44.695 million on environment, Rs62.16 million on excise and taxation, Rs88.219 million on finance, Rs174.37 million on food, Rs2.9 billion on forests, Rs8.692 billion on health, Rs4.7 billion on higher education, Rs1.5 billion on interior, Rs315 million on housing and Rs732.583 million on Industry and handicrafts.
Advisor to the Prime Minister (PM) on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood on Friday said that the government is considering export of surgical masks and will allow export once more authentic data regarding their availability in the domestic market emerges. “Export of surgical masks is under consideration and a meeting was held today at the Ministry of Commerce (MOC). Once more authentic data about availability of surgical masks is determined then exports will be allowed...,” the adviser to the PM said on Twitter. He further urged the exporters to wait for a few more weeks until such data emerges so that the government can take an informed decision regarding export of surgical masks. Responding to his tweet a large number of people urged Razak Dawood to first ensure that good quality surgical masks were available in the country before allowing export of such masks.
razaq DawooD tells exporters to wait for few weeks until govt takes final Decision regarDing masks’ exports Other exporters on Twitter, informed Razak Dawood of the interest shown in Pakistani manufactured tyvek suits by international buyers and urged him to allow export of such suits. Earlier in the week, the adviser to the PM had urged exporters to increase market reach across the globe and said that increasing geographical diversification is an important part of Pakistan’s strategic trade policy. He announced that DG Khan Cement had acquired orders for the export of cement to the Philippines which he said was the result of the company’s success in China. Moreover, he also announced that Germany’s luxury fashion brand Hugo Boss had placed its first order of sportswear to a Pakistani company. Earlier on July 3, the Adviser to the Prime Minister on commerce and investment had said
Beaconhouse launches its first fully virtual school of tomorrow conference who Director general recognises pakistan’s response to coviD-19 BUSINESS DESK Beaconhouse launched its first fully virtual School of Tomorrow (SOT) Conference: A World of Tomorrow: Negotiating a Better Future with a special video message from the Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “It’s an honour to join the opening session of the School of Tomorrow Conference. I want to recognise the Government of Pakistan for its comprehensive response to COVID-19,” Dr Ghebreyesus said, acknowledging Pakistan’s efforts in countering the pandemic and saying that the WHO is working closely with the government of Pakistan. The opening session of the conference, moderated by Beaconhouse CEO Kasim Kasuri, included OECD’s Director General
for Education & Skills Andreas Schleicher, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, leading epidemiologist from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Dr Mishal Khan. Shafqat Mahmood emphasized the importance of SOPs for students and faculty in evaluating school openings, which he suggested might take place on 15 September. He further addressed the issue of girls’ education and out of school children in Pakistan, suggesting that the same remote learning strategies that were being devised for Covid could address both other issues. Dr Mishal Khan stressed that while Covid-19 is serious, it has been overly hyped, and that “more than 4,000 people die on a daily basis from other illnesses like Tuberculosis”. She stressed that there are
many other diseases and viruses, some far more serious than Covid, that we have learnt to live with. His Excellency Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama of UAE, the world’s first minister for Artificial Intelligence, addressed a separate session on issues pertinent to digitalization and artificial intelligence. Panel discussions ran concurrently on topics such as freedom to privacy in information societies with rights activists Nighat Dad and Jibran Nasir alongside the UK’s Lord Jim Knight, student perspectives on learning during lockdowns, designing schools of tomorrow with award-winning international architects and more. Parliamentary-style debates explored the necessity of the lockdown and the effectiveness of online learning for younger children. Issues surrounding environment & climate change were emphasized in a discussion with nature conservationists like Hammad Naqi, CEO WWF-Pakistan, and other esteemed panellists.
COVID-19
Dolmen REIT announces rental waivers for July BoD DeciDes to waive 45pc rent for tenants having retail outlets in ‘Dolmen mall clifton’; minimum rent will not Be chargeD to those who are closeD or have limiteD operations KARACHI ARIBA SHAHID
The Board of Directors of Dolmen City REIT has decided to waive 45pc rentals for tenants having retail outlets in Dolmen Mall Clifton as well as 40pc waiver for tenants of the Harbor Front for the month of July 2020. "Dolmen City REIT stands fully committed with its tenants and is willing to extend maximum possible support to all of them during the ongoing pandemic," the company stated in a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) the other day. "In addition, tenants of Dolmen Mall Clifton that have closed or limited operations on government directives, such as entertainment, food outlets, and children’s playing area will not be charged the minimum rent." However, the company said, this decision will not impact operational tenants that are providing essential services such as banks and supermar-
kets, considering that they are fully functional. "This measure will provide essential cash flow to tenant partners already affected by the closure of business," the notice read. As per the financial accounts of the third quarter ended March 2020, the mall had an occupancy rate of 98.25pc, whereas the Harbor Front had occupancy of 94.46pc, bringing the total occupancy to 97.04pc. Considering how the fear of coronavirus began spreading in March and the subsequent lockdown towards the end of the month, the daily average of footfall fell from 33,586 in January and 31,906 in February to 15,771 in March. As of June 2019, according to the company's annual statement, the mall occupancy showed that 14pc occupants were related to food, 6pc to entertainment, whereas approximately 0pc were related to financial services. These are the businesses that are likely not liable to pay minimum rent for the Month of July 2020
The majority of the occupants were engaged in apparel with 40pc tenancy, followed by 23pc miscellaneous services. Sources state that the decision to offer a waiver in July despite the continuation of mall operations is due to pressure from apparel retailers. Owing to social distancing protocols, malls no longer allow children under 12 or adults older than 50 years old inside the malls. As a result, greater footfall is witnessed in independent stores as opposed to malls. The retailers have been using this information to negotiate rentals with the Dolmen REIT management in order to get concessions, sources said. As of June 2019, the monthly rental value of Dolmen Mall Clifton was Rs2.42 million, whereas the same for Harbor Front building was Rs71 million. This means that the total rental value of Dolmen Mall is Rs2.9 billion per annum, whereas it is Rs855 million per annum for Harbor Front.
that the government will diligently pursue the ‘Make in Pakistan’ policy and work towards rapid industrialisation aimed at enhancing exports and substituting imports. He said that the government is following a three year plan according to which it will gradually remove duties and tariffs, particularly on raw materials, for the benefit of the industry. He added that the government will have a special focus towards the engineering sector in order to boost exports of power equipment sector, auto sector, home appliances, mobile phones, sanitary ceramics ware, utensils, cutlery, pumps and motors. On June 26, Abdul Razak Dawood, had also announced that Dawlance, a Pakistani-Turkish electronics company, was set to export microwave ovens from Pakistan for the first time in the country's history
MARKET DAILY Cement scrips help KSE-100 close in green KARACHI ARIBA SHAHID
Trading at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) remained range-bound on Friday, with the indices oscillating in both directions before settling in the green. It may be noted that the PSX has been hovering in the positive territory since June 26th, following the surprise State Bank policy rate cut by 100 basis points. In the last 11 sessions, the domestic equity bourse has risen by 7.3pc (+2,471 points). For the outgoing week, the benchmark KSE-100 Index registered a gain of 3.25pc. "Profit booking was observed in banking, pharma, exploration & production, oil & gas marketing and fertiliser stocks, whereas cement and steel sectors furthered their positive momentum on Friday," said a report issued by AHL Research. "The expectation of an announcement by the prime minister with regard to a housing scheme, along with financing through banks, encouraged institutional investors to increase positions in the cement sector." Losing 138.99 points in early trade, the KSE-100 Index recorded its intraday low at 36,003.18. The index, however, changed its direction thereon, recovering all the losses to touch its intraday high at 36,279.56 (+139 points). It finally settled flat (+48.23 points) at 36,190.40. Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index added 56.51 points to close at 57,654.37, while the KSE All Share Index gathered 26.53 points, ending at 25,841.82. Of the total traded shares, 143 advanced and 159 declined. The overall market volumes declined from 467.5 million shares in the previous session to 293 million shares (38pc). Average traded value also plunged by 39pc, from $94.1 million to $57.6 million. Unity Foods Ltd (UNITY -1.25pc), Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd (MLCF +3.24pc) and TRG Pakistan Ltd (TRG -3.08pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 27.98 million, 24.64 million and 14.25 million shares, respectively. Sectors that rescued the benchmark index from bears included cement (+47.95 points), banking (+40.17 points) and fertiliser (+16.22 points). Among the companies, Lucky Cement (LUCK +21.55 points), National Bank of Pakistan (NBP +17.27 points) and Engro Corporation (ENGRO +14.96 points) remained the top contributors to the index. Adding 1.19pc to its cumulative market capitalization, the cement sector emerged as the session's top gainer, with Lucky Cement Ltd (LUCK +1.53pc), Fauji Cement Company Ltd (FCCL +1.64pc) and Cherat Cement Company Limited (CHCC +1.43pc) ending with decent gains. Meanwhile, Worldcall Telecom (WTL -4.72pc) declared its financial performance for FY19. The company's direct cost declined by 22pc YoY, while finance cost surged by 111.50pc YoY. As a result, the company's profit after tax declined by 84pc from last year. Its earnings per share, on the other hand, turned positive from Rs-0.18 to Rs0.04.
Weekly Inflation rises 0.98pc ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI)-based weekly inflation for the week ended on July 9 witnessed an increase of 0.98pc as compared to the previous week. The SPI for the combined consumption group was recorded at 133.62 points during the week under review, as against 132.32 points registered in the previous week, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined consumption group during the week under review witnessed an increase of 11.02pc. The weekly SPI, with the base year 2015-16, covers 17 urban centres and 51 essential items for all expenditure groups. APP
Saturday, 11 July, 2020
10 FOREIGN NEWS
FranCE aSkS ISraEL to drop WESt Bank annExatIon pLanS PARIS
E
AGENCIES
MMANUEL Macron asked Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from annexing Palestinian territory in the West Bank and elsewhere during a telephone call between the two leaders, the French president’s office said on Friday. Macron “emphasised that such a move would contravene international law and jeopardise the possibility of a twostate solution as the basis of a fair and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians”, his office said in a statement after the call on Thursday. It was the latest move by European leaders pressing Netanyahu to drop plans
to annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the strategic Jordan Valley. The controversial move was endorsed in a Middle East plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump in January. Israel’s government had set July 1 as the date when it could begin taking over
the Palestinian areas, where the population of Israeli settlers has grown since the 1967 Six-Day War. The foreign ministries of France and Germany, along with those of Egypt and Jordan — the only Arab states to have peace deals with Israel — warned this
week that any annexation could have “consequences” for relations. But Macron told Netanyahu that France remained committed to Israel’s security and “expressed his attachment to the friendship and confidence that links France and Israel”, his office said.
ISRAELI TROOPS KILL PALESTINIAN ACCUSED OF HURLING FIREBOMBS WEST BANK: Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank who they said was throwing firebombs at a guard post, but who Palestinian officials say was merely strolling through his village. The army claimed that troops fired late on Thursday at two Palestinians who were throwing Molotov cocktails at the guard post near the village of Kifl Haris, in the Salfit governorate. Salfit Gov. Abdallah Kmail said one of the men, 29-year-old Ibrahim Abu Yakoub, was killed and the other was wounded in the leg and taken to a hospital. He said the two were walking through the village when the “Israeli troops opened fire for no reason”. Tensions have been high in the West Bank in recent weeks as Israel has vowed to proceed with plans to annex up to 30 per cent of the occupied territory in line with United States President Donald Trump’s Middle East initiative, which was rejected by the Palestinians. AGECNIES
US partisanship makes fighting Covid-19 harder: Fauci WASHINGTON
Tehran reports series of explosions, power outages
AGENCIES
A top US infectious diseases expert has said that U.S. partisanship has made the fight against COVID-19 harder and the country is not doing well in antiepidemic fight compared to others. "You have to be having blindfolders on and covering your ears to think that we don't live in a very divisive society now," said Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in an interview with the FiveThirtyEight podcast. "You'd have to make the assumption that if there wasn't such divisiveness, that we would have a more coordinated approach," Fauci said. In his latest rebuke to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly touted alleged progress the United States has made in tackling the COVID-19 outbreak, Fauci acknowledged that the country has performed poorly in the battle against COVID-19. "As a country, when you compare us to other countries, I don't think you can say we're doing great. I mean, we're just not," he said.
Egypt carries out military drill near Libya border
TEHRAN AGENCIES
A series of explosions Friday rocked the outskirts of the Iranian capital Tehran, as well as the cities of Garmdareh and Quds, Iranian media reported amid speculation that missile depots were the intended target. Citing social media, official news agency IRIB reported an explosion in western Tehran in the early hours of Friday local time. More explosions were reported in Garmdareh and Quds, the Mehr News Agency added. Saudi-based Al-Arabiya television reported that the explosion took place in missile depots of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), southwest of Tehran. Iranian officials have neither confirmed nor denied that
claim as of yet. Friday morning’s explosions are the latest in a string of mysterious incidents at industrial facilities, research laboratories, ammunition depots and even the Natanz nuclear research facility. While there has been rampant speculation that these might have resulted from Israeli sabotage or cyberattacks, Tehran has not openly assigned blame, while Tel Aviv has issued carefully worded statements neither confirming nor denying involvement. “Not every incident that transpires in Iran necessarily has something to do with us,” Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said on Sunday. Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi went even further, saying that in seeking to block Iran from developing nuclear capability, “we take actions that are better left unsaid.” The first incident happened on
June 26, at a gas storage facility in Parchin near Tehran. Four days later, it was followed by an explosion at a medical facility that killed 19 people, and was attributed to malfunctioning oxygen tanks. A building at the Natanz nuclear facility reportedly housing centrifuges exploded several days after that, with multiple local media describing it as a deliberate attack. On Saturday, there was a fire at the Shahid Medhaj Zargan power plant in the city of Ahvaz, after an explosion of a power transformer. A chlorine pipe rupture at the Karun Petrochemical Company, south of Ahvaz, injured 70 people later that same day. At least two people were killed on Monday in a large explosion at a factory in Baqershahr near Tehran, officially caused by “negligence in filling oxygen tanks.”
‘North Korea won't hold another US summit right now’
CAIRO AGENCIES
PYONGYANG
The Egyptian Army carried out a military drill near the Libyan border called “Hasm 2020”, the military said. The drill, which included Egypt’s Armed Forces’ land, maritime and air defence, was carried out over several days and was attended by the Minister of Defense and Military Production, Mohamed Zaki, and Army Chief of Staff, Mohamed Farid. The military manoeuvre included involved multi-task aircrafts, including helicopters that use live ammunition. “The exercises aim at eradicating elements of mercenaries, their gathering points, command centres as well as damaging all their logistics,” Egypt’s State Information Service said.
AGENCIES
Pyongyang would gain nothing by setting up a third USNorth Korea summit as Washington is only trying to buy time and "calm us down," Kim Yo-jong has said after top American officials signalled an openness to talks. North Korea has "nothing to gain from a negotiation with the US, and we do not even harbour any expectation about it," Kim Yo-jong, the sister and close aid of Kim Jong-un, said in a wordy statement released by KCNA state news agency. Such a meeting, if it were to be held this year, would play into the hands of the US and would be "unprofitable to us," she argued. "We will only end up los-
ing time again," Kim warned, adding that another unsuccessful meeting would only impair "the special relations" between US President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim. A host of high-ranked US officials, from Trump himself to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, signalled in recent days that Washington is ready to restart denuclearization talks with Pyongyang before the end of the year. However, Kim Yo-jong, who is believed to be the second-most-powerful figure in North Korea, suggested the US isn't serious about it at all. "The US only wishes to buy time, keeping the door open to dialogue and calming us down," she suggested. However, she made it clear that Pyongyang may come back to the table if Washington changes its "hostile" stance.
China urges US to discard Cold-War mentality, ideological bias BEIJING AGENCIES
China has urged the United States to discard its Cold-War mentality and ideological bias, and work with China to move forward bilateral relations along the track of coordination, cooperation and stability. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the comment at a press briefing in response to remarks by U.S. Secretary of Defence Mark Esper, who said, "China and Russia constitute our top strategic competitors," and that "we established a China Strategy Management Group and I directed the National Defence University to refocus its curriculum by dedicating 50 percent of the coursework to the PRC." "This U.S. official's remarks and the 2018 National Defence Strategy he mentioned are fundamentally flawed and run counter to the trend of the times as they preach nothing but obsolete concepts of a Cold-War mentality, a zero-sum game mindset, and hyped-up strategic competition between major countries," Zhao said. China's policy toward the U.S. is consistent and clear, he said. "We are committed to working with the U.S. side for nonconflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. At the same time, we are firmly committed to safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests." China urges the U.S. to discard its Cold-War mentality and ideological bias, view the world and China-U.S. relations in the 21st century in a correct way, and work with China to move forward the bilateral relations along the track of coordination, cooperation and stability, Zhao said.
WHo advance team on way to China to set up probe into virus origin GENEVA AGENCIES
An advance team from the World Health Organisation (WHO) has left for China to organise an investigation into the origins of the novel coronavirus which sparked the global pandemic, a spokesperson said on Friday. The virus is believed to have emerged in a wholesale market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, since then closed, after jumping the species barrier from the animal kingdom to infect humans. The two WHO experts, specialists in animal health and epidemiology, will work with Chinese scientists to determine the scope and itinerary of the investigation, WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris told a UN briefing in Geneva. “They have gone, they are in the air now, they are the advance party that is to work out the scope,” she said. This would involve negotiations on issues including the composition of the fuller team and what skills were needed, she added. “One of the big issues that everybody is interested in, and of course that’s why we’re sending an animal health expert, is to look at whether or not it jumped from species to a human and what species it jumped from,” Harris said. “We know it’s very, very similar to the virus in the bat, but did it go through an intemediate species? This is a question we all need answered,” she said. The WHO will have no role in an independent panel, announced on Thursday, to review the global handling of pandemic, Harris said, adding: “From now on it is completely hands off”. US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo have said it may have originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, although they have presented no evidence for this and China strongly denies it. Scientists and US intelligence agencies have said it emerged in nature.
Furore after Indian police shoot gangster dead NEW DELHI AGENCIES
Indian police shot dead one of the country’s most wanted gangsters on Friday just a day after his dramatic arrest, sparking accusations of a staged extra-judicial killing. Officials said Vikas Dubey, detained for the killing of eight police officers, was shot as he tried to escape a police vehicle while being driven to his home city in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Within hours of TV stations carrying images of his bloodstained body lying in a hospital, rights lawyers and activists alleged that police had killed Dubey to prevent him revealing his connections with powerful people. “This is the most blatant case of extrajudicial killing. Dubey was a gangster terrorist who may have deserved to die. But [Uttar Pradesh] police have killed him to shut his mouth,” Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan wrote on Twitter.
“Will we allow police to kill anyone without a court trial?” Utsav Bains, another Supreme Court lawyer, added. Senior opposition Congress party leader Priyanka Gandhi said the people “protecting” Dubey were still free. Dubey, aged about 50, was accused in more than 60 murders, attempted murders and other cases. He was said to have shot dead an Uttar Pradesh state minister inside a police station in 2001. Despite those cases and his reputation for ruthlessness, Dubey has built considerable local political links over the past two decades. On July 3, eight officers were gunned down when Dubey’s gang staged an ambush on a police team aiming to arrest him. A nationwide manhunt was launched, during which five of Dubey’s associates — including his bodyguard nephew — were killed. The gang leader finally gave himself up in a temple in Madhya Pradesh state on Thursday. According to the police account, the car
taking him to Kanpur early Friday overturned on a wet road and he tried to escape. “Dubey has been killed in an exchange of fire after he snatched the pistol of our men and tried to flee after firing at them. Four of our men are also injured,” Kanpur police inspector general Mohit Agarwal told reporters. Nirjhari Sinha, founder of a civil rights organisation in Gujarat state, said his death had revived memories of staged killings there. “History repeats,” she wrote on Twitter. “Dead gangsters can’t speak about their political patronage.” For decades, shoot-outs were staged to bypass India’s judicial system when police battled armed separatist movements in West Bengal, Punjab, Indian-occupied Kashmir and remote northeastern states. More recently, suspects accused of violent crimes have died in custody. Last year, police in southern India shot dead four men accused in the horrific rapemurder of a 27-year-old woman.
CMYK
Saturday, 11 July, 2020
SPORTS 11
PCB rESPondS To daniSH KanEria and SaLEEm maLiK LAHORE
T
STAFF REPORT
HE Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was approached by Danish Kaneria and Saleem Malik on unrelated and separate matters and, after carefully reviewing and studying their requests, the Board has responded to the two former cricketers. A spokesman for the PCB said on Friday that the synopses of the responses are: Danish Kaneria (rehabilitation programme) •You were banned for life by the ECB’s Cricket Discipline Commission after it was established that you had ‘knowingly induced or encouraged Mervyn Westfield not to perform on his
merits in the Durham match’ •You subsequently challenged the decision before the Appeal Panel of the Cricket Disciplinary Commission, which was upheld. Then, you appealed before a commercial bench of the High Court in London, which was dismissed. Then, you appealed before the Court of Appeal (Civil Division), which was rejected •The PCB’s rehabilitation programme is offered to players upon conclusion of the respective periods of ineligibility and not for players who are serving life bans •The life ban was imposed by the ECB and upheld by all ICC Members as per Article 9 of the ICC/PCB Anti-Corruption Code, and the only way it could have been overturned was by way of appeal, an avenue which have already been explored
•Article 6.8 of the ECB Anti-Corruption Code, which is applicable in this case, clearly states only the chair of the anti-corruption tribunal, which has imposed a period of ineligibility on a player, had the discretion to permit the player to participate •As such, you are advised to approach the ECB as per Article 6.8 of the ECB Anti-Corruption Code On the request of Saleem Malik the PCB said: Saleem Malik (failure to respond to transcripts provided by ICC of April 2000 conversation) •You chose not to respond to the contents of the transcripts of a conversation that took place in April 2000 •In the backdrop of the above, the
Broad reveals 'anger' at England Test axe SOUTHAMPTON AGENCIES
PCB will be unable to proceed any further until such time you respond on the said matter •The denial and avoidance to respond to the transcripts doesn’t change the admission when, in a 5 May 2014 letter to the then PCB Chairman, you wrote: “Sir, after consultations and on my free will, I have reached a decision that I am ready to accept my wrongdoing, apologise to the fans and want to start by rehabilitation process. I fully understand the consequence of my decision and am ready to cooperate to every extent with the ICC and the PCB for my rehabilitation programme. I would request the PCB to talk to the ICC if required and start my rehabilitation programme at the earliest.”
Players need to inspire each other in absence of spectators: Mushtaq Ahmed LAHORE APP
Former Test wrist spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, who is the spin bowling coach and team mentor for the England tour, is content with the Pakistan men’s national cricket team’s ongoing preparations and believes that players will need to inspire each other in the absence of spectators to bring out best results. “This tour is being played in extraordinary circumstances,” said Mushtaq in pcb.com.pk here on Friday. There are no spectators, there are hardly any journalists either to analyse the teams or the game. Players need to inspire each other, back each other and support each other to the hilt. “I am happy with the start we have made; we are getting accustomed to the environment and conditions and still have a long time to go before the start of the series.” Pakistan are currently quarantining in a bio-secure environment at the Worcester’s New Road Ground, where they have been preparing for the three-match Test series against England, which commences on August 5. During the quarantine period, the players are undergoing fitness training, net practice, fielding sessions and intra-squad matches under the supervision of a high-pro-
Germany confirm home match against Spain in September BERLIN AGENCIES
Germany host Spain in Stuttgart this September in their first match since the coronavirus pandemic with Cologne and Leipzig to host internationals this autumn, the German FA confirmed Friday. The home match against the Spanish on September 3 in the Nations League A will be the first time Germany has played in 2020 after friendlies against Spain and Italy were cancelled in March, as was May's away match against Switzerland. "After the long break, it is incredibly important for our young team to be able to play again and prepare for the postponed 2020 European Championships," said Germany team director Oliver Bierhoff in a statement. Visitors Spain will play hosts Germany in Enrique's first game since being reappointed Spanish head coach. Three days later, the Germans face Switzerland in Basel in the Nations League. In October, Germany will be based in Cologne and play three games in six days with a friendly against an unnamed opponent in Cologne on October 7, Ukraine away three days later in the Nations League, before hosting the Swiss Cologne on October 13. In November, the team moves to Leipzig which will host a friendly against an unnamed opponent on November 11, then Ukraine three days later in the Nations League before the Germans final match of 2020 away to Spain on November 17. "By choosing the venues, we are avoiding unnecessary travel, protecting the health of the players and keeping an eye on the issue of load management," Bierhoff said.
file coaching staff led by head coach Misbah-ul-Haq. Bowling coach Waqar Younis and batting coach Younis Khan are working hard on the players in their respective domains while the reins of spin bowling coaching are in the hands Mushtaq. The 50-year-old Mushtaq has worked around the world with leading international teams and T20 franchises in a coaching/mentor capacity while he was also a part of the team management during the absorbing 2016 series in England, which Pakistan drew 2-2 under Misbah’s captaincy. Mushtaq has rich experience of bowling in English conditions. He toured twice with Pakistan’s Test squad in 1992 and 1996 and bowled some match winning spells especially in the three-match 1996 series that Pakistan won 2-0. In eight Tests in England, Mushtaq collected 32 wickets at 28.81; the 1996 series remained one of the highlights of Mushtaq’s 14-year-long international career span. He took 17 wickets in the series and was named Pakistan’s man-of-the-series, Pakistan’s wins at Lord’s and Oval were largely due to Mushtaq’s match winning spells in the second innings on the final days of both Tests. He took five wickets for 57 runs in 38 incisive overs at Lord’s before claiming six for 78 on the fifth and final day at Oval in a 37-over spell. He was named man-of-the-
match in the Oval Test. Mushtaq also enjoyed stunning success with his county Sussex leading them to three county titles in a fiveyear span starting from 2003; Mushtaq took 103 wickets in 2003, 102 in 2006 and 90 in the 2007 season. Sussex were crowned county champions in these three seasons. Mushtaq fully understands his role with the national men’s team this time around and the unique circumstances have not deterred him as he is as focused as ever. “Despite the Covid-19 related challenges, the players have been exceptional so far,” he said. “We are trying to make them familiar with the protocols and they have responded wonderfully well. Players are coping with the new regulations with regards to shining the ball as well. “Historically, spinners have used saliva to shine the ball now they are being taught new methods in lieu of the revised ICC rules and regulations. “What makes me really happy is that the players and support staff are working together on team goals and objectives and I am sure in due course the players will be fully aware and ready for the new challenges as we prepare for what is expected to be a tough series against a strong English team in their own backyard. “I am confident we have the players that can not only compete but also win the series.”
England paceman Stuart Broad said he felt frustrated and angry at having "my shirt" taken away after he was dropped for the first Test against the West Indies at Southampton. Broad was in England's 13-man squad for the series opener, the first major international cricket since the coronavirus lockdown. The paceman is second only to long-standing new-ball colleague James Anderson in England's all-time list of leading Test wicket-takers. He was their most successful bowler during a 3-1 series win in South Africa earlier this year, with 14 wickets at under 20 apiece. But for the first match of the ongoing three-Test series, England opted for the express pace of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, as well as Anderson and stand-in captain Ben Stokes in their four-man seam attack. Broad made no attempt to hide his hurt during a frank interview with Sky Sports before Friday's third day, with West Indies resuming on 57-1 in reply to England's 204 all out. "I found out about 6:00 pm the night before the game," said Broad. "Stokesy told me we were just going with extra pace in these conditions." The 34-year-old Broad said he had spoken to England national selector Ed Smith about the prospect of adding to his tally of 485 wickets from 138 Tests. And with England set to play six Tests in seven weeks, with a three-match series against Pakistan to follow the Windies campaign, it is likely Broad will be involved. "I wanted clarification about my future going forward and I was given pretty positive feedback," he said. 'DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND': Broad, the son of former England opener turned match referee Chris Broad, added: "I'm not a particularly emotional person but I've found the last couple of days quite tough. "To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.... I'm frustrated, angry, gutted. "It's difficult to understand. I've probably bowled the best I've ever bowled the last couple of years -- I felt it was my shirt." Broad, however, said he did have some sympathy for the selectors' dilemma. "We are also in a fairly unique position this summer," he said. "Very rarely do you get all your bowlers fit like we've got at this minute. "Part of my strength and durability as a cricketer is that I've been fit on a lot of occasions and been available for selection. "I felt like I deserved a spot in the team, as would anyone else." But the Nottinghamshire paceman, looking ahead to the second Test, added: "Now I'll be doing as much as I can in the next week so make sure I'm available for Old Trafford."
PSF plans int’l tournaments in September: Tahir Sultan ISLAMABAD TLTP
Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Honorary Secretary, Group Captain Tahir Sultan is highly optimistic about Pakistani players’ bright future when squash returns after corona pandemic. While talking exclusively to The Law Today Pakistan (TLTP) on Friday, Tahir said, “There is no doubt corona has badly hurt everything, not only sports but also normal life. We are focussing on players’ mental and physical fitness under the watchful eyes of physical fitness trainer Muhammad Boota, Muhammad Kahsif and Anees.” He said that PSF has initiated online sessions for 28 male and female players who have been given online lessons for last three months. He said that a Whatsapp group has been established and all the players are given different exercises on daily basis. He said that respective associations are also taken on board to keep check on players who want to conduct training on their own. Tahir said, “Professional Squash Association (PSA) has sanctioned PSF to host $30,000 Chief of The Air Staff International Tournament for Men and $12,000 CAS International Women Championship, which would be held at Mushaf Squash Complex from 14th to 18th September.” He said that Mushaf Squash Complex will be upgraded and all the funds required for the renovation are provided by a local hotel. He thanked Aziz Bolani, CEO of the hotel, and Hussian Odhwani, senior marketing and media manager, for always standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the federation. He said that PSF decided to implement
‘Trainer the Trainer’ concept to help amateur coaches become professional squash coaches. He further said, “Federation will conduct PSF Level-I and Level-II coaches courses which will further help these coaches to conduct ASF and WSF level courses, as we need top quality coach, who could impart training to Pakistani players.” Tahir said that PSF President Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan and SVP Air Marshal Aamir Masood had given this vision to bring the squash to common mases and to create vast verity of squash talent, while they had also directed to improve infrastructure at Hashim Khan and Jansher Khan Squash Complexes in Peshawar and Abbottabad respectively. In the second stage, Islamabad and Lahore squash courts will also be renovated/upgraded, he added. “We want to provide players highly conducive environment, where players could focus on their game with completely free mind. It is an individual’s game and Pakistan Air Force has always helped send players abroad for PSA tournaments and provide them with everything they required. “Now it is up to the player to respond in best possible fashion and bring laurels for country and themselves.” He said that PSF is always thankful to the sports journalists who give huge projection to squash and players. Tahir further said that he would like to specially mention the name of Director Academies Aftab Sadiq Qureshi for giving lectures in English to players, coaches and trainers to further polish their English language skills and it would help them better communicate with referees and international players, especially aboard.
CMYK
Liverpool captain Henderson out for rest of season LONDON AGENCIES
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed on Friday that captain Jordan Henderson's season is over due to a knee injury. Henderson was forced off in the midweek 3-1 win over Brighton following a collision with Yves Bissouma but the Reds boss revealed surgery is not needed and expects the midfielder to return in time for next season. "Hendo is the best possible of all bad news -- it is a knee injury but no surgery needed but he will not play any more in the latter stages of this season but I am pretty positive he will start with us the new season," said Klopp. Premier League champions Liverpool, who host Burnley on Saturday, are on course for a record points tally. They have 92 points, eight short of Manchester City's record of 100 points from two seasons ago, with four games to play. Klopp, speaking at his pre-match press conference, said the skipper would still be the man to lift the Premier League trophy. "It was an awful moment when he went down with injury," he said "You saw he knew something happened which shouldn't have happened. "It was a real mood-killer. He deserves to lift the trophy and he will lift the trophy."
Saturday, 11 July, 2020
NEWS
PM SAyS gOvt COMMIttEd tO COntAInIng lOCUSt AttACk ISLAMABAD
P
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Imran Khan on Friday vowed that the government will undertake every possible effort for locust control since the country’s food security is at stake. While speaking at a briefing on National Action Plan for Locust Control at National Locust Control Centre here, the premier accorded in-principle approval for Phase-II of the National Action Plan for Locust Control. It was also decided that the affected farmers would be compensated through the package. The prime minister highly appreciated the timely and coordinated response of federal and provincial governments, including the Pakistan Army, for effectively controlling locust attacks and the use of indigenously developed equipment in this regard. Emphasising that a coordinated national response of federal and provincial govern-
IMRAN APPROVES PHASE-II OF NAP FOR LOCUST CONTROL, SAYS AFFECTED FARMERS WILL BE COMPENSATED
ments and organisations is required to cope with another expected locust swarm so that crop production is not affected, the prime minister said that the locust attack combined with the Covid-19 outbreak was a huge challenge for Pakistan. During the meeting, the prime minister was also informed that the National Action Plan for Locust Control Phase-I has been completed. According to media reports, officials have warned that the coming few weeks could be crucial in the fight against the desert locust infestation with major swarms expected to be reaching here later this month from the Horn of Africa. Also read: New locust swarms from India, Afghanistan could enter Pakistan in July: food security minister While briefing the diplomatic corps at the National Locust Control Centre (NLCC) earlier on Thursday, National Disaster Management Authority Chairman Lt Gen Mohammad Afzal said the locust problem is likely to peak in the next three to four weeks.
Pakistan overtakes Italy to become 11th worst-affected country from Covid-19 NEWS DESK
Following Europe, US also bans PIA flights LAHORE STAFF REPORT
The issue of fake licences of Pakistani pilots is becoming increasingly problematic for the country as after Europe, the United States has also decided to ban PIA flights. The US Department of Transportation has revoked PIA’s special flight permit over concerns about the safety of PIA flights. According to a statement, the main reason behind the ban is the licences of Pakistani pilots being declared suspicious. As a result, all types of PIA flights have been banned from operating in the US. A PIA spokesman has confirmed the ban as well. According to the spokesman, the US Department of Transportation has notified Pakistani officials via email. However, he said that their apprehensions will soon be addressed as the ongoing PIA reform process is set to resolve the fake licencing issue.
Pakistan has overtaken Italy when it comes to the number of Covid-19 cases reported in the country, becoming the 11th worst-affected country by the pandemic, data from the John Hopkins University revealed on Friday. According to the NCOC, the number of positive cases in the country jumped to 243,599 after 2,751 cases were reported on Thursday. On the other hand, Italy’s positive cases stand at 242,363 as per data from the university’s resource center. Pakistan reported 75 deaths over the past 24 hours, taking the nation’s Covid-19 death toll past the 5,000 mark. According to the NCOC, currently, the total number of people who have succumbed to the virus stand at 5,058. The rising death toll has also resulted in Pakistan overtaking China — the epicentre of the virus — in the number of deaths. Pakistan has also become the 18th worst-hit country by the coronavirus in terms of fatality. The NCOC’s report shared that the total number of active Covid-19 cases in Pakistan stand at 89,449, with 149,092 people recovering so far. The breakdown, as per the reports, stated that AJK currently has 1485 cases, Balochistan 11,099 cases, Gilgit Baltistan reported 1,619, Islamabad 13,829 cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 29,406 cases, Punjab 85,261 cases and Sindh is the worst affected province with 100,900 cases of the virus.
Active coronavirus cases drop below 90,000; death toll tops 5,000 ISLAMABAD: There has been improvement in the number of recoveries from Covid-19 in the country with figure now reaching 149,092, said the National Command and Operation Centre on Friday. These recoveries have pushed down the total active Covid-19 cases in the country to 89,449. A total of 2,751 new cases surfaced during the last twenty-four hours taking the tally to 243,599. These include 85,261 in Punjab, 100,900 in Sindh, 29,406 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 11,099 in Balochistan, 13,829 in Islamabad, 1,619 in GilgitBaltistan (GB) and 1,485 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The death toll from the virus has reached 5,058 with 75 more deaths reported over the last 24 hours. Of these 75 people, 68 died in the hospital while seven died out of hospitals. A total of 23,255 coronavirus tests were carried out during the last 24 hours. According to NCOC, there is no patient on ventilator in GB, AJK and Balochistan. A total of 420 ventilators are occupied across Pakistan out of 1,568 ventilators allocated for Covid-19 patients. STAFF REPORT
FBR holds 'open hearing' to address business community’s woes Qatar Airways makes Covid-19 test mandatory for flying out of Pakistan DOHA AGENCIES
Qatar Airways on Friday announced a new requirement for passengers to undergo a coronavirus test before boarding their flights. According to a notification, the Qatari airline said the new requirement would come into effect starting July 13, 2020. “To ensure your safety when flying with us from Pakistan, starting 13 July 2020, there will be a new medical requirement to undertake a Covid-19 PCR test before travel,” the airline said. “You will need to present a negative result of the test issued within less than 72 hours prior to your flight departure. Children below the age of 12 years are exempted from this test if accompanied by family members,” it added. According to Qatar Airways, the coronavirus test requirement was introduced “to ensure your journey is hassle-free”. It also provided a list of authorised laboratories for its passengers to visit and have their “medical test [done] at your own expense”. These include Excel Laboratories, Agha Khan Laboratories, IDC Laboratories, and Essa Labs. The carrier also advised passengers to “sign a consent form authorising the laboratory to directly share the test result with Qatar Airways for authentication”. “Carry a copy of the test certificate and the laboratory authentication form at the time of travel,” it directed its potential customers.
LAHORE: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Friday held an online 'open hearing' to pinpoint issues being faced by the business community and ascertain suitable solutions. Inland Revenue Lahore Chief Commissioner Ahmad Shujah
Khan and LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh answered the questions raised by the participants of the event. During the hearing, various issues and aspects related to FBR, including change in profile, extension in tax return filing date, foreigner’s registration and
enrollment, income tax return revision and income tax withholding statement came under discussion. Inland Revenue chief commissioner said that FBR is working to establish close liaison with the business community and taking all possible measures to build mutual trust. He assured that the FBR is committed to resolving issues being faced by the business community during the economic slowdown induced by Covid-19. APP
“The next eight weeks between July 15 and September 15 would be critical because of the monsoon and the government’s ongoing commitment with anti-Covid-19 measures,” he said. Last month, Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam had said that July will bring with it a new threat of locust swarms, with more of the pests entering Pakistan from Africa, Iran, Oman, Afghanistan, and India. He had said locusts have now taken a new route to enter Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan through Afghanistan. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the minister had said that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has ordered 11 planes to carry out anti-locust spraying, whereas five helicopters of Pakistan Army are also being used in this regard. “The locust attacks have affected various parts of the country and an anti-locust attack survey should be conducted to tackle the problem,” he added. He had said that the ministry is also recruiting 100 entomologists in order to find effective and practical solutions to the locust problem. Imam had said that China has played an integral role in assisting Pakistan to combat the locust attacks and that the ministry is also in touch with other international organisations. “[In this regard] the UK and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has provided 20-micron sprays to combat locusts,” the minister had said.
EOBI beneficiaries to receive 10pc subsidy at utility stores ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
The Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and Utility Stores Corporation (USC) signed an agreement on Friday through which around eight million beneficiaries of EOBI will receive up to 10 per cent in subsidy at the utility stores. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari on the occasion also announced that the government will soon launch an EOBI Sahulat Card to facilitate EOBI beneficiaries.“The partnership between EOBI and USC is a landmark initiative for giving an impetus to the government departments' efforts in materialising the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to transform the country into a welfare state,” Zulfi Bukhari said while addressing a press conference.He highlighted that under the project, card holder EOBI pensioners and insured people would get a subsidy of about Rs1,000 per month on five essential food items such as wheat flour, oil, rice, grains and pulse. He also said that the government had increased the annuity of EOBI pensioners from Rs5,250 to Rs8,500 which he added will be further increased to Rs15,000 by the end of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) tenure. Zulfi Bukhari further said that the USC intends to add more incentives in the scheme and that EOBI beneficiaries will be able to avail such facilities after the launch of the Sahulat Card. EOBI Chairman Azhar Hameed informed that the EOBI Sahulat Card would be launched by early August. In the initial period the card will be made available to a small number of people through a soft launch. These cards will be issued to all the beneficiaries of EOBI verified by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) at a later stage. USC Chairman Zulqarnain Ali Khan said that the initiative would help enhance USC’s sales apart from providing financial benefits to people experiencing financial distress.
US top court rejects Trump's presidential immunity argument WASHINGTON AGENCIES
The United States Supreme Court on Thursday rebuffed President Trump’s arguments of sweeping presidential immunity, ruling that a New York prosecutor can obtain his financial records as “the public had a right to every man’s evidence”. However, the order prevented – at least for now – Democratic-led House of Representatives committees from getting similar documents. The twin 7-2 rulings authored by conservative Chief Justice John Roberts marks another milestone in Trump’s tumultuous presidency and in the short term prevent details of his finances from becoming public because lower courts
must resolve lingering issues. The businessman-turned politician, seeking re-election on November 3, has fought tenaciously to keep his tax returns and other elements of his finances secret – and the rulings spare him of any major revelation at a sensitive time. But looking further ahead, Trump faces possible future criminal prosecution in his native New York, perhaps after he leaves office. The Supreme Court emphasized that there are limits to the powers of the presidency and stoutly reaffirmed the principle that not even the president is above the law – a message delivered 3-1/2 years into a presidency in which Trump has repeatedly skirted the norms of American political conduct.
Trump’s two Supreme Court appointees, conservatives Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, joined Roberts and the four liberal justices in both rulings, spurning Trump’s arguments that the Constitution gave him absolute immunity from any criminal proceedings as a sitting president. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, a Democrat, and the three House committees all issued subpoenas to third parties for the records, not to the Republican president himself. Trump sued to block enforcement of the subpoenas. The court in the New York case ruled that the subpoena to Trump’s long-term accounting firm, Mazars LLP, for tax returns and other financial records to be turned over to a grand jury
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as part of Vance’s criminal investigation can be enforced. The justices rebuffed Trump’s broad arguments on expansive presidential powers in a showdown with Congress as he tried to block subpoenas by lawmakers to Mazars and two banks – Deutsche Bank and Capital One – for his financial records. In doing so, the court also faulted the broad arguments made by the House and sent the litigation back to lower courts, delaying the final outcome. Trump portrayed himself as a victim, calling the subpoenas a “pure witch hunt” and a “hoax” in comments to reporters. On Twitter, he wrote, “This is all a political prosecution … and now I have to keep fighting in a politically corrupt New York. Not fair to this Presidency or Administration!” Trump’s argument that he was immune from any criminal process “runs up against the 200 years of precedent establishing that Presidents, and their official communications, are subject to judicial process,” Roberts wrote.