Epaper – July 19 KHI 2020

CMYK

19 July, 2020 I 27 Dhu-al-Qa’dah, 1441 I Rs 25.00 I Vol XI No 21 I 40 Pages I Karachi Edition

imran vows to rid Country of red taPe that ‘Chokes develoPment’ g

PM SAyS PAKIStAn WIll See A reMovAl of SucH obStAcleS In conStructIon And HouSIng SectorS

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

P

rIMe Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said that after personally spearheading the Pakistan tehreek-e-Insaf’s flagship affordable housing programme, he had come to realise just how badly Pakistan’s system “chokes development”. the premier’s remarks came during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Quaid-e-Azam business Park. the park is spread over 1,536 acres of land and is located on the lahore-Islamabad motorway, in Sheikhupura. It contains 12 different industrial zones, according to Punjab Industrial estates development and Management company (PIedMc).

Addressing the gathering, PM Imran regretted how under such a “degenerated” system, the government which should be facilitating the private sector, instead becomes an obstacle in the way. “they put up obstacles where it is absolutely unnecessary. this thinking that we

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

262,797

NEW CASES:

47

1,900

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

198,509 5,544 SINDH:

112,118

PUNJAB:

89,465

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

31,669

cM buzdAr SAyS QuAId-e-AzAM buSIneSS PArK WIll generAte eMPloyMent oPPortunItIeS for More tHAn 500,000 PeoPle

must not let anyone get anything easily is inbuilt into the system.”

He said the system is such that rewards anyone who has money to spend on bribery. the premier went on to lament how the obstacles ingrained within the country’s unnecessarily red-tape-oriented procedures are such that kill any initiatives by small and medium enterprises before they can be birthed. “our SMes are our backbone. for them, the systems are so difficult that the common man, who operates on small margin, their entire initiative is ruined.” the prime minister went on to say he has witnessed firsthand, how a common labourer, when he goes abroad, sees considerable growth within a span of a few years. “they excel there because the system allows it.”

“What is the American dream? the American dream means that whatever you dream you can achieve it. their system rewards hard work. our system has degenerated to a point where it is nothing

Coronavirus in

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

g

11,405

1,840/1,796 14,504

but a hurdle.”

PM Imran said for the first time, Pakistan will see a removal of these obstacles in the construction and housing sectors. “there was something standing in the way at every juncture previously, whether it was the fbr or something else.”

“So this is our government’s biggest effort to give our private enterprises, businesses, industrialists the opportunity to shine and we will facilitate them. this will take place slowly but surely [… ] reformation has already begun,” said the prime minister.

He vowed that the government’s battle against this deeply entrenched system will continue. “this Quaid-e-Azam business Park is an excellent opportunity for Pakistan right now. “ Speaking about his visits to china, he said that every time he went there, multiple businesses showed an interest in operating in Pakistan but complained that the procedures need to be simplified.

He said that a comparison was then made with other countries and it was found that procedures in vietnam and bangladesh even are far better and companies are relocating there. the premier said that now with the one-window operation in the business park, foreign companies will be looking to make an investment in the industrial zones located there.

He assured the Punjab government that the federal government is willing to provide any assistance required and told Punjab chief Minister usman buzdar to contact Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar if need be.

According to a statement by the Punjab government, chief Minister usman buzdar said that the park will generate employment opportunities for more than 500,000 people.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 04

After rail, Iran set to drop India from key gas project NEW DELHI/TEHRAN AgEnciES

After being “dropped” from a key rail project in southeastern Iran along the border with Afghanistan, India is also set to lose an ambitious gas field project in the country that had been in the pipeline for the past 10 years.

India’s Ministry of external Affairs in a statement on thursday said tehran would develop the farzad-b gas field in the Persian gulf region “on its own” and might engage India “appropriately at a later stage”. last week, Masoud Karbasian, managing director of national Iranian oil company (nIoc), told reporters that a new operator had been roped in to develop the gas field, replacing India’s ongc. the field, estimated to possess 21.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, 12.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 212 million barrels of gas condensates, was discovered in 2008 by a consortium of three Indian companies — ongc, oil India limited and Indian oil corporation.

According to the deal, the Indian side was supposed to develop the field but they abruptly stopped work in 2012, following the intensification of sanctions against Iran.

After sanctions were eased in 2015 following the signing of a nuclear deal between Iran and West-

Buzdar gets a pat on the back from Imran g

CONTINUED ON PAGE 04

more inside

PM APPrecIAteS PunjAb govt’S MeASureS to curb covId-19, ProvIde relIef to PeoPle LAHORE

Coronavirus costing PIA Rs15m every hour: report STORY ON PAGE 02

SAPMs are dual nationals, three hold foreign residency

STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday expressed satisfaction over the performance of Punjab chief Minister usman buzdar amid speculation that the prime minister was thinking to replace the chief minister.

In a meeting between the two, PM Imran reportedly appreciated the Punjab government’s measures for curbing the coronavirus outbreak and relief efforts for the public. the chief minister apprised the prime minister of the current situation of the supply of wheat and flour. He also briefed Imran about the pace of work on the projects in balochistan being carried out with the cooperation of the Punjab government. the meeting came in the backdrop of government officials dismissing news of buzdar’s removal on the basis of “belowpar” performance. recently, Punjab Information Minister fayyazul Hassan chohan threw weight behind the Punjab cM, saying buzdar

ern countries, India showed its willingness to return to the project.

However, things again fell apart amid the reinstatement of uS sanctions on Iran in May 2018, which further “discouraged” India from making headway in the project, said sources familiar with the issue who requested not to be named. “by May 2018, the two sides had made tremendous progress and agreed on key details of the project,” the sources said. “However, the uS sanctions played the spoilsport.” the two sides had disagreements among themselves as well, particularly on the number of pipelines to be laid and financial investment in the development plan, according to reports.

In May 2019, Iran’s oil minister, bijan namdar zanganeh, said his ministry had devised a plan to finance the development of the farzad-b gas field. the nIoc had asked the Indian side to submit a financial plan for the field’s development. However, tehran was “not impressed” with the plan and asked for a new one, said the sources. India had reportedly made a $5.5 billion investment plan In August 2019, after slow progress by the Indian side to submit a new plan, Karbasian said Iran would proceed with another operator for the project.

STORY ON BACK PAGE

has been performing his responsibilities with skills and ease. claiming that the international media has been commending buzdar’s performance, chohan said: “buzdar is the only chief minister who has come to the forefront to serve the people of the country.” likewise, Information Minister Shibli faraz had refuted reports of buzdar being stripped from his position, saying that he is “going nowhere”.

However, two days ago, a local tv channel, citing sources, had aired the news that the chief minister is being removed.

Subsequently, senior analyst

Sohail Warraich told a private news channel that interviewtype meetings have been held to find a suitable replacement for the incumbent chief minister.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 04

PMl-n to soon start ‘Punjab bachao’ movement, says Iqbal STORY ON PAGE 03

Traders warn of antigovt drive if all businesses are not reopened by month end STORY ON BACK PAGE in today’s issue

attention Some readers have complained that they are not getting the magazine with their newspaper copy. Please call or WhatsApp us at the following number to register a complaint.

Contact: 0307-7338168 irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk

02

Sunday, 19 July, 2020

NEWS

coronAvIrus costIng PIA rs15m every hour: rePort

t

NEWS DESK

HE coronavirus outbreak has put Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) into financial trouble, causing a loss in revenue by Rs11 billion per month from April 2020 to June 2020.

According to official documents, the national airline suffered a revenue loss of Rs33bn from April to June. These losses can be attributed to the lack of Hajj and Umrah operations and the recent PIA plane crash in Karachi.

The management said that the national carrier was improving before the coronavirus. In 2019, after 8 years, its loss was decreasing because gross loss turned into gross profit. It made a gross profit of Rs7.8bn in 2019, whereas in 2018 it made a gross loss of Rs19.7bn. Revenue in 2019 was more than Rs147bn compared to Rs103bn in 2018.

In the last 20 years, the PIA has seen

vietnam says all Pakistani pilots possess valid licences HANOI: All Pakistani pilots working for Vietnamese airlines have valid and legitimate licences and none have been involved in a flight incident or safety threat, the government said on Saturday. Vietnam last month grounded all Pakistani pilots working for local airlines amid concern from global regulators that some pilots may have been using dubious licences. “All licences administered by the Pakistani aviation regulator are legitimate and valid. There are no fake licences, as mentioned by the media,” a government statement said, citing a note from the Pakistani embassy to the Vietnamese government. Vietnam had licensed 27 Pakistani pilots and 12 of them were still active. The other 15 pilots’ contracts had expired or were inactive due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority. The issue of “dubious” licences drew global attention after Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan revealed in the National Assembly that there were 860 active pilots in the country and 260 pilots had not sat their exams themselves and almost 30 per cent of the pilots had a fake or improper licence and did not have required flying experience. AGENCIES

PIA sAcks seven PIlots, fIrst offIcers its net worth decline a 100 times. This is because the national carrier has been reporting losses since 2005.

Last year, it burned Rs100,000 per minute of taxpayer’s money, taking the total accumulated losses to half a trillion rupees. Experts say it is bankrupt which means that it can’t fund its operations nor pay its liabilities.

Over the years, the airline’s worsening financial health coincided with a loss of reputation and deteriorating safety standards.

sukkur-hyderabad motorway to revolutionise interior sindh: Bajwa

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Saturday sacked seven of its pilots after their licenses were cancelled by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) earlier in the day.

A PIA official confirmed that the pilots, including first officers, have been sent termination letters. The CAA director-general issued license revocation letters after the government’s approval. The Airline Transport Pilot licenses of 48 PIA pilots had been suspended earlier without show cause notices while the pilots were given two weeks to file their reply. The PIA had already grounded 17 pilots in 2019, the national carrier official said. In the last week of June, the federal aviation minister said that 262 or 30% of Pakistan’s 860 pilots have “fake” licenses. Sharing details of what he described as corruption within the CAA, the federal minister said 34 had not appeared in any of the eight exams, a requirement to qualify for a license. And 28 were suspected of having fake degrees. His pronouncements came to the fore weeks after PK-8303, operated by Pakistan International Airlines, crashed in Karachi, killing 97 people. The pronouncement about fake licenses made global headlines and put the credibility of Pakistan’s aviation regulator and the pilots it licences under a pall. NEWS DESK

Work on 672 small hydel power projects in progress, says KP CM MANSEHRA

ISLAMABAD

TLTP

APP

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said that work on 672 small hydel power projects having capacity 55MW is in progress.

Inaugurating five mini-hydel power projects in Kaghan on Saturday, the chief minister said that projects will help provide cheap electricity to the people, besides creating job opportunities in the area.

He said more than 12,000 households, schools and tourists centers will be given cheap electricity from these power stations. The chief minister lauded PEDO for completing hydel projects within stipulated period.

He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has prepared standard operating procedures (SOPs) to reopen the tourism sector in the province and a decision to this effect would be made soon after Eidul Azha. He said the KP government is making efforts to boost the tourism sector along modern lines to provide maximum employment opportunities to the people and strengthen the economy. The chief termed the promotion of the tourism sector as one of the top priority areas of the KP government.

Earlier, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Friday inaugurated three different projects of access roads to local tourist destinations in the scenic Shogran area of the

Lt General (r) Asim Saleem Bajwa, chairman of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority, on Saturday said the Sukkur-Hyderabad (M-6) motorway project will bring a development revolution in interior Sindh. In a tweet, Bajwa, who is also the prime minister’s special assistant on information and broadcast, said that the 306-kilometre highway was approved in a meeting of the executive committee of the National Economic Council (NEC) which will be constructed on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. BOT is a model for large-scale infrastructure projects, wherein a private entity receives a concession from the public sector to finance, design, construct, own, and operate a facility. He said following the construction of the project, the eastern route of the CPEC (PeshawarKarachi) will also be completed. Bajwa added that the project would also connect eastern Balochistan to the countrywide network of motorways.

Another polio case surfaces in Balochistan QUETTA TLTP

Another polio case was reported in Balochistan on Saturday, taking the tally to 15 in the ongoing year. The case was reported in Chaman, where a 17-month-old girl was confirmed with the virus. Her samples were collected on June 5 and 6. The parents of the affected girl were reluctant from administering anti-polio drops to their child, which led to contraction of virus by the girl. Last week, the federal government had decided to launch a special anti-polio immunization campaign after the country so far recorded 58 cases of the disabling disease during the ongoing year. According to sources, the immunization campaign would be launched in four provinces of the country, especially in the areas that have reported rising polio cases. The campaign is titled a targeted response campaign and would begin from July 20.

Mansehra district. These access roads include the 15 kilometres Manoor Valley Road, 11 kilometres Shogran Valley Road and 09 kilometres Pabrang Valley Road.

The projects would be completed with an estimated cost of Rs1421 million.

He said that an amount of Rs2400 million has been allocated in the Annual Development Programme for the construction of access roads to various tourist points in the Hazara Division. The work is in progress on a total of 370 km long road infrastructure in various tourists spots with an estimated cost of Rs20 billion, Mahmood Khan added.

Six RAW-linked terrorists arrested in Karachi KARACHI TLTP

Police on Saturday foiled a terror bid in the port city and claimed to have arrested six members of a group that was behind the attack on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) building. Senior Superintendent of the Police (SSP) West Fida Hussain Janwari said the arrested suspects belonging to outlawed Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS).

“This group was also involved in the stock exchange

attack,” said the SSP as he presented the alleged terrorists before media at his office. He said that the arrested culprits wanted to target key installations in the city.

The SSP West said that the police have recovered explosive material and weapons from their possession.

“The outlawed organisation is running its activities from Afghan soil and is also involved in attacking security forces in Balochistan,” he said.

“We arrested the culprits yesterday and they have admitted RAW’s support for their organisation,” he said

SC chides PHC chief justice for using improper words ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The apex court has admonished Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth for using inappropriate words for a mother, while setting aside his verdict in a child custody case.

"It also pains us to state that the high court was not very sensitive in dealing with the case by referring to the petitioner as a ‘crippled/disabled lady having no source of income’.

“In determining the welfare of the child and his custody neither the mother’s physical condition nor her income are determinative factors,” said a 11-page judgment authored by Justice Qazi Faez Isa. Through this order, the SC set aside the PHC 3-page order to hand over custody of seven-year-old Rayyan to his father because mother is a crippled and has no source of income. It directed the father to hand over the physical

4 arrested in kP for destroying ancient Buddha statue

custody of the minor to his mother within seven days.

The SC noted that it was also inappropriate to refer to the mother as crippled or disabled.

“The petitioner (mother) has a physical disability; she should not be called a cripple or disabled. The mother has not resorted to beggary; she works and earns an honest living.

“To denigrate such a lady was wholly inappropriate.

Instead she should be admired for demonstrating remarkable determination and perseverance," it said.

Justice Isa also referred to Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s judgment as the Lahore High Court chief justice.

Justice Shah, who is now an SC judge, had ruled that the use of the terms or words like “disabled”, “physically handicapped” and “mentally retarded” characterize and label a person on the basis of an impairment, which negates reasonable accommodation as they deny persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fun-

damental freedoms.

He endorsed Justice Shah’s observation that pejorative words “seriously offend the right to be a person thereby infringing constitutional guarantees like right to life, right to human dignity and right to non-discrimination of persons with disabilities, thereby violating Articles 9, 14 and 25 of the Constitution.

"We may add that the Constitution permits the State from making any special provision for the protection of women and children’ but does not permit discrimination."

The court also declared that the agreement to the extent that the mother surrendered the custody of her child or which stopped the mother to claim his custody is not lawful consideration.

"It is also contrary to the Islamic principles governing hizanat and the law determining the custody of minors and thus forbidden. An agreement the object or consideration of which is against public policy is void,"

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police on Saturday arrested four men for shattering an ancient Buddha statue found during construction work in the province’s Takhtbhai area of Mardan. Earlier in the day, videos surfaced on social media showing a man breaking with a hammer a life-sized statue of Buddha, parts of which were still embedded underground. Other men can be seen looking on as the statue is being destroyed while a couple of people were making videos. Doctor Abdul Samad, KP director archaeology and museums, termed the destruction of the statue a “crime” and said “disrespecting any religion is intolerable”. KP police later tweeted that the suspects had been traced and arrested while pieces of the broken statue were also recovered. According to the police, those arrested include Qamar Zaman, Amjad, Aleem and Suleman. A first information report (FIR) has been registered against them under the Antiquities Act 2016, according to officials. Dr Samad expressed appreciation on the police’s “prompt action” in arresting the suspects. The director said that the statue belonged to the Gandhara civilisation and was approximately 1,700 years old. He added that the police had cordoned off the area. STAFF REPORT

and claimed that RAW is providing training and logistics and monetary support to the outlawed group.

“We have worked jointly with the security agencies to track the perpetrators of the PSX attack and it emerged that those who attacked the building were trained by the Indian security agency,” said Janwari.

He said that the RAW was planning terror attacks in the country and the arrested accused wanted to target security agencies and police personnel.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday last arrested a key operative of a sleeper cell of Indian prime intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

The anti-terrorism wing of the FIA has arrested Zafar a key member of RAW sleeper cell from Karachi, FIA officials said.

The accused received terror-related training from the Mehmood Siddique group in New Delhi, India.

said the judgment.

The court noted that the Principles of Policy set out in the Constitution is the path, and the destination, that the nation has set for itself. The principles require that steps shall be taken to ensure full participation of women in all spheres of national life.

“If women with physical disabilities are considered not able to take care of their children they would stand excluded from participation in family life and excluded from the much higher proclaimed objective of participation in all spheres of national life."

The court also noted that in regards to the rights of the mother and the child, the law, Islam and the Constitution are often violated. However, it is inexcusable when constitutional officeholders, who take an oath to uphold the Constitution and are paid to do so, undermine such rights.

“Disregarding the principles is contrary to the express language of the Constitution, which provides that, it is the responsibility of each organ and authority of the state, and of each person performing functions on behalf of an organ or authority of the state, to act in accordance with those principles in so far as they relate to the functions of the organ or authority’"

Sunday, 19 July, 2020

NEWS

Pml-n to soon stArt ‘PunjAB BAchAo’ movement, sAys IqBAl LAHORE

P

STAFF REPORT

AKISTAN Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) senior leader Ahsan Iqbal said on Saturday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and Prime Minister Imran Khan are neglecting the issues of the healthcare sector, warning the government that his party will soon start a “Punjab Bachao” movement.

The PML-N leader was speaking at a press conference where he said that after meeting and listening to the problems of the doctors across the country, he was quite concerned about the medical fraternity. Criticising the promulgation of Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) Ordinance 2019, through which the government oversees the performance of the medical and dental practice in the country and formulates policies, Iqbal said his

demic, the country needs to fortify its healthcare system.

“10-12000 doctors with foreign degrees are also being left in limbo as their licenses are not being cleared,” he said, calling it an act of ‘bureaucratic negligence’ by the government. The former minister said he feared that the current government will blithely worsen the issues of doctors and healthcare sector just as it did with the national airline PIA. He added that the PML-N will compile a National Health Charter with medical experts and present it at the Punjab Assembly and National Assembly.

The former interior minister accused the PTI government of sending Pun-

party will raise their voice against it in the parliament. He said that the country is not only for the elite class and the government is on a spree to privatise healthcare facilities. “Pakistan is not for the rich only, it is for 22 crore Pakistanis, whose majority is living below poverty line courtesy Imran Khan,” he said.

Referring to his conversation with the Young Doctors Association members, he said that their concerns were well-founded and the government needs to look into their issues and resolve them.

The PML-N leader said that 6,000 postgraduate doctors of the country, who have experience from public hospital practice, are not having their qualifications recognized by the current government. Iqbal stressed that the 6,000 doctors’ credentials should be recognized and their licenses issued so that they can serve in the public sector and in far-flung areas. He added that due to the pan-

Pakistan reports 1,900 new covid-19 cases, 47 deaths ISLAMABAD: The new coronavirus cases and deaths are on the decline in Pakistan, as 1,918 people tested positive and 47 died of the virus during the past 24 hours on Saturday. According to the data released by the National Command and Operation Centre, the number of coronavirus cases currently stands at 261,916 with the death toll reaching 5,522. There are 57,886 active cases in the country and 198,509 people have fully recovered from the infection. However, 1,604 patients are still in a critical condition and undergoing treatment in the intensive care units of different hospitals of the country. On the other hand, the number of tests conducted so far in the country has reached 1,699,101 after another 23,011 people were tested for the deadly virus on Friday. Sindh tops the list with most number of reported cases which has reached 11,238 in the province.

It has also recorded 1,952 coronavirus-related deaths.

Punjab, meanwhile, has recorded most number of deaths which currently stands at 2,067. It is second in terms of the officially reported cases with 89,465 people being infected by the virus. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which was experiencing most number of deaths in the initial phase of the pandemic, managed to reverse the trend. A total of 1,130 people have died of the virus in the province so far, making it third most-affected region of the country. It has reported 31,669 coronavirus cases.

The figures for the other regions are: Islamabad 14,504 cases and 157 deaths, Balochistan 11,405 cases and 131 deaths, Azad Kashmir 1,840 cases and 46 deaths, and Gilgit-Baltistan 1,796 case and 39 deaths. STAFF REPORT

Another karachi doctor succumbs to coronavirus KARACHI: Dr Umer Adnan, who was treating patients at Karachi’s Lyari General Hospital, succumbed to the coronavirus on Saturday, said the Sindh health department. The health department said that the doctor contracted the virus a few days ago and died of it. The deceased doctor’s brother is also being treated for Covid-19 at a private hospital. The department said that the doctor’s wife and other acquaintances are also being tested for the presence of the virus. It said that so far in Sindh, 25 doctors have fallen victim to the coronavirus.

Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in coronavirus infections among healthcare workers, growing to over 6,000 nationwide from 5,000, according to the ministry of national health services data from last week. The data showed that around 70 healthcare workers have succumbed to the virus in the line of duty — with the majority of deaths being recorded in Sindh. Healthcare workers are on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak in the country and have in the recent past complained of an influx of patients at public hospitals and lack of protective gear to shield against the virus. STAFF REPORT

jab back to the Stone Age. He said that the time had arrived for the PML-N to launch a movement against the government’s policies in Punjab.

“The PML-N will soon have to start a Punjab Bachao movement,” he said.”The PTI has wreaked havoc throughout Punjab,” he added.

The PML-N stalwart said that his party’s mandate had been stolen in Punjab and said that instead of strengthening institutions, the PTI was setting the province back 50 years.

“A government of destruction is in power in Punjab which will destroy this developed province,” he said. “[Imran Khan] Niazi will have to answer for the destruction of Punjab,” he added.

He said that Punjab was the biggest province of Pakistan and its performances had a direct impact on Pakistan’s economy. “If Punjab crumbles, the entire system will crumble,” he stated. Rejecting allegations that the PML-N was playing provincial politics, Iqbal said there was nothing wrong in attempting to save 10 years’ development in the province.

Backward areas uplift top priority, says PM LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that development and prosperity in the backward areas of the country is among the top priorities of the incumbent government.

The prime minister stated this while talking to elected representatives from South Punjab here in the provincial capital on Saturday.

The prime minister regretted that in the past insufficient funds were allocated for South Punjab. He said that real development in the region cannot be achieved unless a separate finance commission is constituted.

Imran said work on the extended project of Greater Thal Canal is being started which will irrigate five districts of South Punjab. He said that all available resources will be utilised for the socioeconomic development in the country and efforts are being made to address issues being faced by the people.

A delegation of the members of National Assembly and Punjab Assembly belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf also called on the prime minister and apprised him of issues in their constituencies.

The prime minister on this occasion directed for the solution to the genuine problems and completion of all development schemes.

Selective lockdowns implemented in Sindh hotspots, CM tells NCOC KARACHI STAFF REPORT

A National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) meeting on Saturday at Sindh Chief Minister’s House reviewed the province’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) against Covid-19 and matters pertaining to the management of cattle markets during Eidul Azha.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said trading and sacrificing animals in the streets has been banned during Eidul Azha and sacrificial animals can only be traded at designated locations. CM Murad further informed the NCOC that selective lockdowns are being carried out in areas with clusters of cases.

“Sindh government has set up two separate hospitals in Karachi for Covid-19 patients,” the chief minister said, “Covid-19 tests are being conducted [daily] in Sindh at a capacity of 12,000 and the test ratio has decreased a bit.”

He said that these meetings would improve coordination between the Centre and the province which

would help limit the spread of the deadly pathogen.

He also praised the efforts of the NCOC. NCOC Chairman Asad Umar said the purpose of having NCOC meetings in provinces is to further improve the work being done to mitigate the pandemic in the country.

“Covid-19 will be controlled by the joint efforts of all the provinces,” said Umar. “Provincial governments have also played a key role in controlling the spread of the virus.” The NCOC chairperson added that the federal government is working in consultation with provincial governments on the SOPs and is developing guidelines. This is the first meeting of the NCOC in Sindh whereas previously, meetings have been held in Punjab. Interior Minister Ijaz Shah, NCOC Chief Coordinator Lieutenant General Hamood Uz Zaman and the provincial chief secretary among others also attended the meeting.

The representatives of other provinces, Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir attended the meeting via video link.

03

250,000 stranded nationals repatriated since covid-19 outbreak, Imran says ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said since the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, the government of Pakistan has repatriated as much as 250,000 nationals who were stranded in different parts of the world due to the global suspension of air traffic. In a tweet, the prime minister said his government has fulfilled its promise to bring home stranded citizens and workers despite the suspension of international travel, a measure adopted globally to curtail the pandemic. Imran added that his government will continue to support expatriates “in every way possible”. The government had resumed international flights in May, allowing all the airlines to operate outbound flights from all international airports of Pakistan except Gwadar and Turbat.

Balochistan relaxes coronavirus restrictions QUETTA INP

The Balochistan government on Saturday allowed businesses to operate from 9am to 10pm as it moved to relax social restrictions imposed to curtail the spread of coronavirus. Addressing a press conference, Balochistan government’s spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said the decision was taken in view of declining cases in the province. Shahwani thanked the people of the province for cooperating in following the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and said that if they did so, there would be no surge in cases after Eid. According to him, if cases continued to decline, the government will consider reopening schools, parks, marriage halls and dine-in services. Shahwani said that during the past five days, 20 districts of the province have reported zero cases while Quetta has reported 103. “You can see that cases are declining,” he said. However, he expressed concern that people had become reluctant to get themselves tested. “A reduction in cases does not mean you should not get yourselves tested otherwise it will show us false trends,” he cautioned.

Indian troops kill three fighters in held kashmir SRINAGAR AGENCIES

Indian forces on Saturday killed three pro-freedom fighters in a security operation in held Kashmir’s Shopian district. According to The Hindu, a gunfight erupted in Shopian’s Amshipora early morning when the security forces launched an operation based on a tip-off about the presence of freedom fighters in the locality. Citing police officials, the publication said that the fighters “opened fire when zeroed in”. Their bodies were recovered from a cowshed where they were hiding, the report added. Pakistan has time and again, the latest being Thursday, called for enhanced international monitoring and continued reporting by the United Nations on the human rights crisis in the held valley to save lives, dignity and freedom of the people of Kashmir.

Steps to contain Covid-19 have started bearing fruit: Qureshi ISLAMABAD APP

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday said that timely steps taken to contain the spread of coronavirus despite limited resources have started to bear fruit.

Qureshi expressed these views while speaking to Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, who had called on him at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.

Qureshi observed that the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) will have to be ensured to contain the spread of the disease.

According to Radio Pakistan, on the occasion, Sawar briefed Qureshi on security and coronavirus-related arrangements to be made across Punjab on the eve of Eidul Adha.

According to APP, the two also spoke on the issue of Indian occupied Kashmir. Qureshi said that India was

facing international isolation as a result of its expansionist policies in the region.

The foreign minister said Pakistan was fighting the case for Kashmir at every international front under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Apprising Qureshi on his lobbying efforts to raise internationally the issue, Sarwar said: “I’m in contact with the members of European and British parliaments”, recalling that the vice president of European Union Parliament, Mairead McGuinness, supports Pakistan’s stance on the issue.

04

Sunday, 19 July, 2020

NEWS

BuSIneSSeS fIGhtInG to SurvIve amId PandemIC LaHore

d

SHAHAB OMER

UE to the lack of business in the province, shopkeepers in large and small shopping malls, including those in Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Cantt, Gulberg, Shadman, Allama Iqbal Town, Johar Town and other areas have started closing down.

Mian Naveed, a property agent from Shadman's Sheikh State Agency, told Profit that businesses were open after the government's announcement of Smart Lockdown, but there was no improvement.

“In the Shadman area, about 40 shopkeepers who had taken shops on rent have closed their businesses. Prior to Covid-19 pandemic, business was booming in Shadman Market and even major store chains had also started opening their stores here. Recently, Levi's store was

also open in the same area, which is now closed. Many shopkeepers left the shops on their own due to non-payment of rent and some people opened their shops after smart lockdown but due to lack of business they became discouraged and vacated the shops.”

Ghulam Nabi, a real estate agent from Gulberg informed that he had at least 30 shops available for rent, which shopkeepers had recently vacated due to lack of business. “Not only the shopkeepers are worried about not having business but also the landlords are facing difficulties as many people are running their monthly expenses on the rents coming from their properties. Many landlords are also willing to rent out their shops in cheap rates due to the current situation. The shop whose monthly rent was Rs40, 000 is now vacant and land-lord is also ready to rent it on Rs35, 000.

On the other hand, a shopkeeper, Aatif

Buzdar gets a pat on the back from Imran Continued from page 01 Warraich said that PM Imran was looking for a loyal chief minister, but one that delivers as well. “If a person is appointed on the premier’s behalf, chances are that he may belong to PTI.” “Five names are being mulled over, and these [possible] candidates have been interviewed as well — without being informed that they were being considered for the position,” he said. Despite PM Imran’s repeated support for the incumbent Punjab CM, Warraich said that stripping him of the position can be done easily. Earlier, in January, Prime Minister Imran had outright refused to remove Buzdar, saying he knew who the conspirator behind the CM Punjab fiasco is. While addressing a meeting of the PTI members of the Punjab Assembly, PM Imran said Buzdar would remain the Punjab CM and he will “not be removed at any cost”. Prior to the premier’s remarks, in a meeting of the PTI’s core committee early this year, Science Minister Fawad Chaudhry had lashed out at Buzdar over the latter’s “failure to deliver”. He had also reportedly informed the premier that of the Rs350 billion allocated for Punjab’s development projects, the provincial government had only utilised Rs77 billion. Chaudhry also accused the Punjab government of not disbursing the finance commission award to the districts. In response to the accusations, the premier directed the provincial government to release the award.

Shahzad in a shopping plaza in Shadman said that his garment shop was running very well before Covid-19 pandemic, which is now closed. “Business was good here before pandemic. There was a good daily income from which the shop rent and salaries of the employees were paid. After the lockdown, our business suddenly closed and about three months' rent was due. We tried to start the business again but the trend of people visiting has shops has decreased significantly. Then we were forced to vacate the shop and close the business. The closure of our business has directly shut down the stoves of four houses. The business community is in a lot of trouble at the moment and the government should think seriously about it.”

Adeel Amjad, who runs a biryani shop on Bedian Road, told Profit that he had closed his business due to lack of rent. “My shop had a monthly rent of Rs15, 000 while I used to earn Rs40,000 to Rs45,000

per month from this shop.

After the coronavirus, people are reluctant to buy food from small shops. I was implementing all the SOPs and facilitating takeaways instead of serving food on the spot. Most of my clients were laborers because our food is very cheap. Due to lack of work, the workers are also unemployed and my business is also closed. Now, I have advertised to sell my shop but no one is ready to buy it,” he said.

However, speaking to Profit an official of Planning and Development (P&D) Board said, “P&D is working to support MSMEs (Micro Small and Medium Enterprises) and improving their registration process. Work is underway to rehabilitate the entire formal and non-formal sector affected by Covid-19. P&D has also submitted proposals to the government in this regard. No doubt, businesses have been affected and the government will take all possible steps to rehabilitate them”.

Pakistan to relocate elephant Kaavan to Cambodia sanctuary iSLamaBad AGENCIES

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) approved the relocation of a lonely and mistreated elephant to Cambodia on Saturday after the pachyderm became the subject of a highprofile rights campaign backed by music star Cher.

Kaavan was kept in chains at Islamabad Zoo and exhibited symptoms of mental illness, prompting global outrage over his treatment and a petition demanding his release that garnered over 400,000 signatures.

The court ordered Kaavan’s freedom in May and instructed wildlife officials to find him a “suitable sanctuary”. Authorities told a Saturday hearing that an expert committee had recommended he be moved to a 25,000acre wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia for retirement.

“The court has agreed with the proposal,” Anis Ur Rehman, the chairman of Islamabad Wildlife management board, told AFP on Saturday. Zoo officials have in the past denied that the Kaavan was chained up, instead claiming he was pining for a new mate after his partner died in 2012. But his behaviour — including signs of distress such as bobbing his head repeatedly — demonstrated “a kind of mental illness”, Safwan Shahab Ahmad of the Pakistan Wildlife Foundation told AFP in 2016.

Activists also said Kaavan was not properly sheltered from Islamabad’s searing summer temperatures, which can rise above 40 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit).

Kaavan’s plight drew the attention of Cher, who spent years calling for his freedom.

She tweeted in May that the court’s decision to order his release was “one of the greatest moments of my life”.

Arriving in Pakistan as a one-year-old in 1985 from Sri Lanka, Kaavan was temporarily held in chains in 2002 because zookeepers were concerned about increasingly violent tendencies. He was freed later that year after an outcry but it emerged in 2015 that he was once more being regularly chained for several hours each day.

Government minister Malik Amin Aslam said authorities would “free this elephant with a kind heart, and will ensure that he lives a happy life”.

The court’s May ruling also ordered dozens of other animals — including brown bears, lions and birds — to be relocated temporarily while the zoo improves its standards.

Jhagra expresses determination to defeat polio amid pandemic peSHaWar AZIZ BUNERI

The government has decided to resume vaccination drives against polio in the province after a suspension of four months whereas a small scale campaign has been planned in South Waziristan from July 20 in this regard while strictly adhering to Ministry of Health approved standard operating procedures (SOPs). This was disclosed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Minister of Health Taimur Saleem Jhagra in a press conference held here at Peshawar Press Club on Saturday.

EOC Coordinator Abdul Basit, WHO Team Lead Dr Gedi, UNICEF Team Lead Dr Andrew, N STOP Team Lead Dr Ijaz Ali Shah, EOC Technical Focal Person Dr Imtiaz Ali Shah and other relevant officials of EOC and health department were present on the occasion.

Expanding on his thoughts, Jhagra said that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of life, including immunisation programmes as the immediate responses to the pandemic included halting immunisation campaigns that resulted in declined protection levels of children against preventable diseases.

Imran vows to rid country of red tape that ‘chokes development’ Continued from page 01 “Accommodation facility for industrial workers will be provided over 200 acres of land,” he added. He said that the project has gained great significance due to its proximity to the National Highway and Motorway. The chief minister said that 653 industrial units will be set up in the park. “The whole world is facing economic difficulties due to the Covid-19 outbreak but Prime Minister Imran Khan was determined to put the country on the road to economic development,” Buzdar said. He said that for the first time in the nation’s history, a tax relief of Rs56 billion has been given to the business community in Punjab in the wake of the pandemic. Additionally, a number of small taxes have been done away with to create ease in doing business. “Punjab Small Industries Corporation has allocated Rs12 billion for providing loans to the youth. Under this scheme, loans of Rs25,000 to Rs5 million will be given to the youth on easy terms,” read the statement. Buzdar said that after 121 years, the second major irrigation project of Punjab, Jalalpur Canal Project has been launched and work has also begun on the Greater Thal Canal project in Punjab. Kas Umar Khan Canal project will be started soon and Khanki Barrage has already been inaugurated. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, transparency has been ensured at all levels,” said the chief minister. He said that more mega projects would be launched in Punjab.

Covid-19 infects 2,580 policemen of which 16 have died, 1,604 under treatment: Sindh IGP KaraCHi APP

The Covid-19 infected 2580 policemen, of them 16 lost their lives, 1,604 are under treatment and 960 recovered, therefore the policemen being frontline workers have been given necessary training so that they can perform their duty safely. This was disclosed by Inspector General of Sindh Police Mushtaq Maher in the meeting of Public Safety & Police Complaints Commissioner here at CM’s House Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired the meeting, said a spokesperson to the CM Sindh on Saturday. The meeting was attended by Advisor Law Murtaza Wahab, MPAs Sharjeel Memon, Imdad Pitafi, Mohamamd Ali Aziz, Hasnain Mirza, Shamim Mutaz, Dr Shajila Leghari, Karamat Ali, Nazim Haji, Barrister Haya Eman, Rubina Brohi, Jhamat Mal, Qurban Malano, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, IG Police Mushtaq Maher, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, ACS Home Usman Chachar, Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi Secretary of the Commission Saifullah Abro and others. Speaking on the occasion, IGP Sindh Mushtaq Maher said that the policemen being frontline workers were performing duties selflessly during the ongoing pandemic. He disclosed that the Covid-19 infected 2580 policemen, of them 16 patients lost their lives, 1604 were under treatment and 960 had recovered.

After rail, Iran set to drop India from key gas project Continued from page 01 India’s External Affairs Ministry, however, said the “followup bilateral cooperation” was impacted by “policy changes on the Iranian side”.

DOUBLE BLOW: India’s loss of the project marks a “big setback” for relations between the two countries, Tehran-based analysts, who asked to remain anonymous, told Anadolu Agency, as the Farzad-B gas field and Chabahar port were the two largest bilateral accomplishments between the two sides.

Earlier reports claimed that Iran had “dropped” India from a rail project after the Indian side showed reluctance to start work due to US sanctions.

The memorandum of understanding to construct the 628kilometre railway line from the port city of Chabahar to Zahedan

was first discussed between the two sides in May 2016.

It came on the sidelines of the signing of a trilateral agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan to develop a transport and trade corridor from India to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port in southeast Iran.

The port has been operational since 2016 and has been exempted from US sanctions.

India’s External Affairs Ministry dismissed the reports that Iran excluded it from the rail project as “speculative,” saying Tehran was to “nominate an authorised entity to finalise outstanding technical and financial issues”. The matter, it said, was “still awaited”.

“IRCON was appointed by [the] Government of India to assess the feasibility of the project.

It was working with CDTIC, an Iranian company under their Min-

istry of Railways in that regard.

IRCON has completed the site inspection and review of the feasibility report,” the ministry said in a statement on Thursday, referring to the state-run Indian infrastructure firm undertaking the project.

“Detailed discussions were thereafter held on other relevant aspects of the project, which had to take into account the financial challenges that Iran was facing. In December 2019, these issues were reviewed in detail at the 19th India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting in Tehran.”

An official from Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organisation has also denied the reports. However, he said Iran “has not inked any deal with India” for the construction of the Chabahar-Zahedan railroad.

“Iran has only signed two agreements with Indians for investment in Chabahar: One is related to the port’s machinery and

equipment, and the second is related to India’s investment to the tune of $150m,” Farhad Montaser told state news agency IRNA on Wednesday.

According to the 2016 MoU between India’s IRCON and Iran’s CDTIC, IRCON was to “provide requisite services for the construction of Chabahar-Zahedan railway line which forms part of transit and transportation corridor in the trilateral agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan”.

Services to be provided by IRCON, as part of the MoU, included all “superstructure work and financing the project”, estimated to be around $1.6 billion.

However, the two sides failed to reach an agreement, sources said.

Last week, Iran went ahead with a track-laying ceremony for the rail line, which will eventually stretch to Zaranj on the Afghan side.

C M YK

E R I T SA Sunday, 19 - 25 July, 2020 I Issue 180 I Pages 04 I Sections 06 I Rs 30

NA passes constitutional amendment granting sovereignty to CPEC ISLAMABAD

t

THE DEPENDENT

HE national Assembly on Friday unanimously passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, formalising that grant of Pakistan’s sovereignty to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). the bill was passed with 288 votes after speeches from the

representatives of all the parliamentary parties. Prime Minister Imran Khan, who attended the session and was among those who voted in favour of amendment, lauded the national Assembly. the bill, moved by PM Khan himself, amended the preamble of the Constitution to affirm that “sovereignty of Pakistan belongs to CPEC alone,

and the CPEC authority, formed and exercised, is a sacred trust.” the bill simultaneously amended Article 1 of the constitution ‘the Republic and its territories’, which now reads: “Pakistan shall be… known as the CPEC Republic of Pakistan, hereinafter referred to as Pakistan.”

During the roll call 288 came and voted in support, while no

SAtirE

one opposed. Prime Minister Khan briefly spoke on the bill and praised the lawmakers’ unity.

During his speech the PM confirmed that another amendment will be tabled next week, which will amend Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Early reports suggest that clause 295-D will be added, mandating capital punishment for any disparaging remarks against CPEC or CPEC Authority.g

‘People would’ve distributed turkish delight’ – imran offers Erdogan condolence on failed coup anniversary

P Buzdar clearly being groomed to become CM Baluchistan: analysts

H

ot on the heels of earlier reports speculating a possible replacement of Usman Buzdar as Chief Minister of Punjab, a number of reports abound about the possible placement of Buzdar as the Chief Minister of Balochistan.

“He has been on a long tour of Balochistan,” says political analyst Sohail Warraich. “Why such an extremely long tour? Why is he even inaugurating projects there? It makes no sense till you try to put the pieces together.”

“I know people keep saying he is an awful CM Punjab, but he is going to be an even worse Baluchistan CM, being

planted from Punjab,” continued Warraich. “Yes, I know, he has a claim to be ‘Baloch’, but that’s like calling Imran Khan a Pashtun. they’re Punjabis.”

“But then again, since the CM Baluchistan isn’t a position with much agency, he just might be a good choice,” said Warraich.

“Meanwhile incumbent CM Jam Kamal is okay with it, as long as he is given any position with some actual power, which is why he is rumoured to be given the fisheries portfolio in the Punjab government.” “the mysterious insistence by the PM to have someone whose name starts with Ain, is going to be played out on the people of Baluchistan now.”g

AKIStAn Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced the country’s reaffirmed support and solidarity for turkey, on the eve of the July 15, 2016 failed coup, saying that Pakistan will continue to support its ‘brother nation’ till it is finally successful.

“Four years ago, turkey failed to display its characteristic resilience and legendary bravery, and defied forces targeting its peace and stability as well as its democratic institutions. Had it allowed the forces to take over,

people would have distributed turkish delight,” Imran Khan said in his message for Democracy and national Unity Day. “the needed human courage and determination was not witnessed on July 15, 2016. And indeed it crushed inspiration for millions across the globe and will be remembered in the annals of history,” the PM added in his condolence message to turkey President Recep tayyip

Erdogan.

Drawing parallels with Khilafat Movement, Khan said the spirit of turks on that day was opposite to what “motivated our forefathers not to hesitate from making any sacrifice to uphold an autocratic, undemocratic, form of government.”

“We join the people of turkey in hoping that one day they like Pakistan will have the right kind of government,” the Pakistani premier said. g

SAtirE

SAtirE

Pak Positive! Diamer-Bhasha Dam becomes most inaugurated dam in world

A

MIDSt all the bad news comes a bit of refreshing change as the Diamer-Bhasha Dam has become the most inaugurated dam in the world. on wednesday, PM Imran Khan, while inaugurating the DiamerBhasha Dam, said that it was a historic decision to construct the project that will be the “third biggest dam in the history of Pakistan”. the dam was also approved and inaugurated by former Prime Minister nawaz Sharif in 2014, where he hoped the dam will help solve the energy shortfalls in

the country.

It was also inaugurated by former president General Pervez Musharraf in 2006, where he prayed it would spell an end to the loadshedding in the country.

Given the cost overruns associated by such large projects and the evolving consensus on how diminutive the relative returns (hydel electric, irrigation or flood control) are that mega dams yield, engineers are saying the target of the highest cost per MAF, MW is also very much achievable.

Fingers crossed, Pakistan! g

SAtirE

E D I TO R ’S N OT E The Dependent is a completely satirical publication. The articles within are not true and meant to be taken in good humour.

The Dependent is an “equal opportunity offender” and we would urge all concerned to humour our attempts at humour.

The Dependent is a completely satirical publication. The articles within are not true and are meant to be taken in good humour.

Sunday, 19 July, 2020

06 COMMENT

Great people to fly with

Incompetent or complicit?

After sugar, the wheat crisis

D

Transparency gone wrong

eSPITe the resolve shown and directives issued by the government, the prices of palatable and safe flour remain high. The wheat was procured from the growers at the rate of rs1,400 per 40 kg but now the commodity is selling at the rate of rs 1800 to rs 2000 per 40 kg in the market. The losers are the tillers, and all those who consume wheat products, particularly the roti.

The winners are those the Prime Minister calls the mafia and hoarders. Instead of the flour price coming down anytime soon, there are signs that show it could continue to rise over the year.

What Federal Food Security Minister Fakhar Imam told the National Assembly was unexpected from an educated man and an agriculturist. he wondered how more than six million tons of wheat purchased from farmers after the harvest two months ago had just “vanished” in the market. Was he simply feigning ignorance?

In January the eCC approved the import of 0.3 million tons of wheat amidst an unprecedented price hike.

The lobbies of the vested interest saw to it that there was no import. In March the PM warned the profiteers that the government would take strong action against them if they created an artificial shortage of wheat. Among other measures he threatened to make use of the party’s tiger force, originally formed to counter the coronavirus. This apparently failed to discourage the wheat hoarders who knew the PM would not go beyond sermonising. Over the last three months of wheat prices going north he had not gone beyond making ineffective harangues.

For many, the government’s incompetence is the most important factor behind the wheat shortage. It failed to achieve its wheat procurement target with PASSCO and the KP administration being the major laggards. The federal government decided last month to import of 1.5 million tons of wheat. It took however another month for the notification to be issued, thus providing hoarders a field day. The businessmen are now waiting for international prices of wheat to go down or the government agreeing to buy costly wheat to sell it on subsidized rates before they start importing.

As long as the government remains undecided, the price of flour will go on rising. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s wheat will continue to be smuggled to neigbouring countries. Are those in the government incompetent or complicit, or both?

aRif Nizami

T

he other day I was watching CNN. In its brand reports segment, it briefly introduced emirates. The Dubai based airline is now the fourth largest airline in the world. It operates from terminal 3 of Dubai airport with 3600 flights to 60 to 160 countries in a week.

These are facts known by most Pakistanis who have flown emirates. But little known is the fact that the Airline set shop in March 1985 with Pakistan international Airline (PIA) providing two of its aircrafts on wet lease. PIA also provided training to the cabin crew of the incipient airline at its academy.

This made me wonder after all what is wrong with the national carrier that once was pride of Pakistan. Under the present government, thanks to its myopic policies, PIA has literally run aground.

In the good old days, morale at the airline was sky-high. Nobody doubted its slogan: ‘great people to fly with’.

This was abandoned when a PIA plane crashed and critics morbidly started twisting the slogan to: great people to die with. however, the national carrier bounced back with the slogan: nothing succeeds like success.

To be fair, the rot had started much earlier. PIA over the decades has become a sinecure for cushy highly paid jobs for top bureaucrats and cronies. every successive government packed it with fresh induction of ‘safarshis’ (favourites) rather hiring on merit. resultantly, the Airline now has one of the highest numbers of employees per seat in the industry. To further compound matters, PIA’s employees’ unions and pilots and engineers’ associations became proxies of successive PML-N and PPP governments.

No downsizing to make the airline lean and efficient was possible in this context. The courts also led a helping hand to the unions through perennial stay orders against successive managements.

Where is Ehsanullah Ehsan?

PPP’s questions are not without merit

P

PP Senator Sherry rehman, while referring to an unverified tweet by former TTP spokesperson ehsanullah ehsan, in which he had threatened party chairman Bilawal Bhutto with the same fate as his late mother, inquired about the current ‘status’ of the notorious terrorist. She wondered whether or not he was currently in someone’s custody or not, since his mysterious escape earlier this year from the custody of Pakistan’s security agencies three years after he had surrendered to them under some sort of an information exchange deal.

Not much else is known about his arrangement with the state and apart from a television interview to a private television channel that was rightly met with severe criticism; there was no word on whether or not he would have his day in court for committing some truly heinous crimes.

The DG ISPr at the time, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, termed ehsanullah turning himself in as a ‘turning point in the war against terrorism’, but what tangible value it added to the counterterrorism effort remains unknown. Although Interior Minister Ijaz Shah confirmed that ehsanullah had escaped, he failed to provide any additional meaningful information about how it happened and what was being done to get him back. This absence of basic information may be frustrating for some but none more so than the families of the victims of the APS Peshawar massacre where 134 children were mercilessly gunned down, an attack to which ehsanullah ehsan is widely considered an accessory.

It is especially heart-wrenching that parents, some of whom lost all of their children in a single day, had to submit petitions in Peshawar high Court, seeking contempt of court proceedings against officials responsible for the escape while others held protests demanding answers.

That for over three years, no charges were brought forward by the state against ehsan, only for him to miraculously escape one day, demands an inquiry. ehsanullah ehsan and other hardcore terrorists like him are incapable of reform and definitely undeserving of any reprieve. All such enemies of the state must be brought to book, not trusted to become approvers.

The Role Of Monuments Statues are visible and occupy public space

Rabia ahmed

T

here are all kinds of monuments, roads named after prominent persons, mausoleums, structures, artifacts, columns, tombs, war memorials etc. Monuments commemorate history. You find them in Pakistan and all over the world. Zamzana, the copper and brass cannon also known as ‘Kim’s Gun’ still remains on the Mall in Lahore in front of the Lahore Museum. And many tombs survive in Pakistan. But statues have been less fortunate.

Lahore was once home to several statues. Almost all of them were damaged or destroyed in riots, and removed. A prominent daily lists them as those of Lala Lajpat rai, Sir Ganga ram, Sir John Lawrence, Queen Victoria, King edward VII, and Dyal Singh. Some of them are now stuck in storage, and a couple taken back to Britain. The statue of

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Asher John

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

Perhaps the biggest malaise afflicting PIA is that blow to airline industry worldwide. But Pakistan is a it is being run by the state. emirates in sharp contrast classic case where the government by design or sheer despite being state owned is run independent of gov- foolishness has driven the national carrier into an even deeper hole. ernment subsidy.

While successful airlines even in countries like For years PIA was controlled by the ministry of defence with all its appended complications. The PIA ethiopia and Vietnam run their national airlines by Board is packed with favourites with a sprinkling of professional managements, PIA (especially of late) has become a haven for retired or serving air force a few bankers and businessmen.

Nonetheless, till only a few months back, the officers. The incumbent Arshad Malik was inducted present dismal plight of the national carrier was as CeO when he was a serving air marshal. he was holding dual positions, enjoying perks unimaginable. With a retired air marshal its CeO the airline has hit an all-time low. The fatal blow to the and privileges from both state organizations. Now, already struggling airline was dealt by the aviation post the PK-8303 crash and the pilots’ license fiasco, he has been given a new lucrative contract immediminister Ghulam Sarwar Khan.

The minister, playing to the gallery, sensational- ately after his retirement.

For what services rendered, no one knows. In any ized the PIA Airbus 320 crash over Karachi that happened just before eid last May. The minister with civilized country he would have been sent packing. exemplary alacrity formed an inquiry committee Previously two former air chiefs, namely Air marshal comprised of mostly retired Pakistan Air Force offi- Asghar Khan and Air marshal Nur Khan are credited cers. As promised the report was released on the floor with laying the solid foundations of the national air carof the National Assembly, blaming the pilot and co- rier. These were exceptional gentlemen, pioneers in their field and with tremendous organizational abilities. pilot of the ill-fated plane for the accident.

But in the present matrix, running an airline has As per the ethos of the present government, Sarbecome a highly competitive war Khan also released all and technical business. Prothe previous crash reports. fessionalism and business Perhaps the real reason was acumen are a sine qua non to tannish the previous govfor running a successful airernments for lack of transWas any head-hunting done line. In this context PIA’s top parency. management is still living in It sounded very nice that to hire a professional CEO? the dark ages. here is a government that beWas any head-hunting lieves in sharing facts with None whatsoever! done to hire a professional the people in real time. But Unfortunately, retired CeO? None whatsoever! Unthe minister took it a bit too fortunately, retired officers far for comfort by stating on officers are automatically are automatically considered the assembly floor that close considered qualified for any qualified for any high profile to 40% of all CAA-issued and cushy job. pilot licenses were “fake”. high profile and cushy job The CAA is also headed Perhaps no thought was by a retired Pakistan Air given to the collateral damForce officer. It dismally age this singular act of the failed in its regulatory funcworthy minister will engentions. Yet no heads rolled. der. even, the prime minister Who is responsible for loss of scores of lives patted his minister on the back for exposing another in the recent air tragedy? It is a systemic failure. ‘mafia’.

The CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) has come to The manner in which a technically sound plane the rescue of the aviation minister by claiming that crashed speaks volumes about the spirit de corps all pilot licences are ‘validly issued and genuine’. of the airline.

Billions of rupees have been lost apart from loss According to the CAA director general, the matter had been misconstrued and incorrectly highlighted in of reputation and massive inconvenience for the citizenry. Pakistanis more or less have been cut off from the media.

The all too common tendency to blame it on the the rest of the world. There is no light at the end of hapless media when there is no other explanation the tunnel as restoring confidence in PIA’s lax safety has been deployed by the DG to save the skin of his standards will be near impossible given how the same nominal boss. Perhaps a cursory glance at Sarwar set of people are running it who are responsible for Khan’s speeches on the floor of the National As- this mess in the first place.

Yet the minister for aviation is firmly in his sembly on the matter will enable everybody to sift saddle. The opposition is right in demanding his fact from fiction.

In the meanwhile, to name a few, the USA, eu- resignation. rope, Britain and Malaysia have banned PIA for six Arif Nizami is Editor, Pakistan Today. He can be months on the basis of its safety record. even before Covid-19 set in, the national carrier contacted at arifn51@hotmail.com http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk was deeply in the red. The pandemic has dealt a lethal

I

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

I

Queen Victoria is now in the British high Commission in Islamabad. A statue of Gandhi that was damaged and removed during riots in the 1950s is now with the Indian high Commission in Islamabad. So no, we don’t like statues in this country, in part due to the widespread belief that art should not depict human forms, and for the rest because they are easy, visible targets. roads have fared even worse. There seems to be a campaign all over the country to rename roads. Two examples are The Grand Trunk road, a name that resonates with history but which has been renamed after the founder of Pakistan, a bit like changing the name of the Taj Mahal. And elphinstone Street in Karachi which is now Zaibunissa Street. It is hard to understand why that name was not maintained when the honorable Mounstuart elphinstone, a Scottish statesman and historian, was credited with setting up several educations institutions that were accessible to Indians.

In the current atmosphere of Black Lives Matter, monuments, particular statues are being targeted in the USA. Is it right to do this?

Monuments represent a value, or a fragment of history. A time may come when values change or are allowed to be expressed, when heroes are no longer heroes, and then– because monuments occupy a public spot they are targeted.

In the USA these days, in the current atmosphere of Black Lives Matter, statues of Confederate soldiers and generals, colonists and slave traders are being destroyed or taken down, and it is hard to condemn it. A public spot on a public street or on public land, unlike the inside of a museum, is a space that is visible and therefore it is meant for what commands respect. A guillotine that was used during the French revolution in France for example would not be a popular sight on the streets. how-

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

I

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

I

ever, you can view one at the Police Museum in Paris and see for yourself what a dreadful thing it was, how terrifying and cruel.

Now that people seem to feel free to express their dislike of the roles played by these historical figures, the best place for the statues of Stonewall Jackson, John C Calhoun and robert e Lee would be a museum, where placards under each of them would talk about their achievements as well as their less admirable actions, how they upheld slavery and severe racial discrimination.

It is important to ensure however that these figures remain where their lives can be examined. Their actions must not be obliterated from scrutiny, as the separation of east Pakistan from the West has been obliterated in Pakistani schools and textbooks. The wrongs committed by these people or during these events if obliterated stand in danger of being repeated, and they must not be. reference to robert e Lee will not be banned in the USA. Books about his life will still be read to see why he was a hero to some and an exponent of slavery to others, and how a person can be a bit of both.

The Smithsonian magazine writes about Lee that: “his own hand probably never drew human blood nor fired a shot in anger, and his only Civil War wound was a faint scratch on the cheek from a sharpshooter’s bullet, but many thousands of men died quite horribly in battles where he was the dominant spirit, and most of the casualties were on the other side.”

Lee’s statues may have been taken down but you will still be able to see them and read about him to understand where he went wrong.

Life is not black and white. The conviction that all is white on the ‘good side’ is the extremists’ point of view, the view prevalent in Pakistan. If we are to combat this mindset we have to accept that it is history can best teach us how to live in the present and prepare for the future. And monuments, because they commemorate history are important – but they are best in the right place.

Rabia Ahmed is a freelance columnist. Read more by her at http://rabia-ahmed.blogspot.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Sunday, 19 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

Blessings become hardships WheN there is a rainy Season in any Country people that live there are delightful. Because they can enjoy it without worrying about any discomfort or problems. But when it rains in Karachi it always turns into a great headache for the citizens of Karachi as there are no arrangements made by the authorities operating in Karachi.

Whenever it rains in Karachi we can observe the stagnant water staying on road for days which creates a massive obstacle for the travellers as the few minutes distances turn into hours of hard walk, travelling in rain always been so difficult but the stagnant work makes it even more difficult. There is no proper sewerage system In Karachi.Moreover, there is no frequent cleaning of sewer. In addition to it due to improper constructions of roads the difficulties just keep getting bigger and bigger.

I would like to request the concerned authorities to pay attention on this matter. Otherwise the public will suffer badly instead of enjoying the blessings of rain.

MoIz AHMEd SIddIquI. KARAcHI

Impact of Covid-19 on education

So, what is this fight about?

The nerve, conviction and character to bring about the change

Candid Corner Raoof hasaN “The burden of a porter is temporary, but the burden of a crooked politician is permanent because his conscience always carries the enormous weight of his frauds.”

–Mehmet Murat ildan

I

T appears that politicians of various hues and shades are carrying gruesome burdens that they want to vent out, provoking crass verbosity and combativeness. There is this one agenda that brings them together: to see the back of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The reason is not difficult to fathom. It lies in the difference that Khan has brought to the domain of governance within a short span of less than two years which no one is willing to talk about, much less concede. Instead of being exploited for fattening the personal coffers of the rulers, he has unfurled the path to governance becoming an instrument for bringing relief to the marginalised people. Concurrently, transparency and accountability which are the key constituents of a democratic polity are being given the attention they always deserved. In the process, the insufferable tribe of looters and plunderers of national wealth is being gradually exposed which, it is feared, may lead to their ultimate political demise.

Nawaz Sharif has been convicted. Already on bail, Zardari and clan’s days in freedom may be numbered, as may be Shahbaz Sharif’s. Additionally, a large number of people from their family and those who were part of the ruling clique, having run away from facing justice, have been declared absconders. Their crimes are no ordinary ones. earning hefty commissions through countless self-serving contracts, they were able to siphon off billions of the state money by using a number of fake bank accounts, thus gaining access to immeasurable opulence when the ordinary people were desperately engaged in a fight for their meagre survival.

With pressure mounting, growing desperation is visible among the ranks of the proponents of the status-quo, the ones who would like the old system to prevail for them to continue exploiting it to their advantage, and that of their progeny and associates. The system has been so tailored that it does not make it mandatory for the political parties to instil democracy within their ranks, allowing their members to elect leaders of their own free will. It is thus that we have

countless family conglomerates posturing as their faces as they talk about him. It is as if they ‘democratic’ political parties. In effect, what we are dying to drag him out of his office. And, they have are autocratic fabrications which, through would if they could. After all, he is the one who a manipulated mechanism, keep electing the has remained resolute in the face of a vast repersame person, or the one nominated by him/her, toire of wicked tricks and hate campaign unas the head to carry forth the task as stipulated. leashed by the entire opposition. he is There are also those who have been crowned determined to bring in fundamental changes in kings on the basis of an allegedly fake and ficti- the system to alter the way people think of things so that, instead of benefitting only a few privitious ‘will’.

Political parties which run along despotic leged ones, it would actually work for empowlines cannot foster a democratic polity in the ering the poor and the weak segments of the country. Instead, such indulgences only lead to society. This is not acceptable to the crony benfurther perpetuation of the corrupt tools which eficiary elite because they cannot tolerate letting they have used to advance their journey from the strings of power slip away from their grip. rags to riches, and as a mechanism to reign That’s why there is this resistance; that’s why supreme within the ruling echelons. This has ef- there is this desperation creeping into the ranks fectively limited, even nullified, any prospect of of the opposition; and that’s why there is this ugly fight raging. new leaders emerging In a piece back in who would bring fresh 2012, I had projected ideas for helping the that whenever Khan country along the path would come into power, to progress and empowI am fully convinced that he it would be him against ering the people to bewould never concede to that the rest of them. The come vibrant projection has turned instruments in leading as it may spell the end of a out to be true today. It the way.

Under growing presdream which is pivotal to his will remain this way as as Khan is here, sure of the reform thinking. Consequently, I see long resolute in his determiagenda, these status-quo nation to fulfil his leaders are resorting to this fight getting even agenda of a just, equiusing cunning and deceit bitterer with the passage of table and compassionate as tools in a last-ditch Pakistan. For that, he battle to survive, and time.

But, I am also certain has had to pass through save the illicit billions they have stashed away. that it is Khan who will win in a cauldron of fire with a opposition By making gainful use the end because only he has venomous combined in carrying of the institutions which forth the selfish agenda are rendered complicit in the nerve, conviction and of ousting him to save their crime, most nocharacter to withstand the their tottering empires tably the judiciary and and ambitions. the media, one former vicious and spiteful Khan’s challenge is prime minister, who was convicted by the apex onslaught and remain firm in that he does not have the numbers to push court of the country, his resolve to change through legislation that managed to sneak away would help him incorunder the guise of an illthis country porate the requisite ness that never was. But changes. So, he remains the fact that the doctors stuck with a system that of the board that was he must alter to make it constituted to ascertain his sickness and the judges of the provincial high functional, transparent and accountable.

There are many pleading that he should court played ball in letting him leave is a miniscule reflection of the malfunction which has pen- work with the opposition to facilitate the passage etrated deep. The initial relief period of two of legislation for which the minimum price he is months has now extended to over six, but no step asked to pay is to forget about the accountability and let corruption be. has yet been initiated to get him back.

I am fully convinced that he would never But, then, this is how it was expected to be.

There has never been any tradition of genuine concede to that as it may spell the end of a dream accountability in the country. So, Imran Khan’s which is pivotal to his thinking. Consequently, I initiative to reverse that was to be resisted with see this fight getting even bitterer with the pasall power and venom at the disposal of this cor- sage of time. But, I am also certain that it is rupt and criminal tribe. That’s why the effort to Khan who will win in the end because only he introduce accountability into the system has has the nerve, conviction and character to withbeen politicised and projected as victimisation. stand the vicious and spiteful onslaught and reIn the process, the Prime Minister, his father, main firm in his resolve to change this country.

That he will, sooner or later. he cannot be family and all his achievements have been belitstopped! tled and scorned.

By exhibiting blatant partisanship, the anThe writer is a political and security stratechors and writers have reduced themselves to becoming a painful joke. The venom they carry gist, and heads the Regional Peace Institute – in such abundance for the person of the Prime an Islamabad-based think tank. Email: Twitter: Minister, and what he stands for, not only oozes raoofhasan@hotmail.com. from the words they speak and write. It contorts @RaoofHasan

COVID-19 has impacted educational system more than anything. The government has been trying to ease the lockdown and start everything again except the education institutions. Almost five months have been wasted for students. Apart from it the poors have suffered way too much economically that now there is chance of child labour increments as they won't be able to carry on their studies after the pandemic. The online education has become another problem as there is no internet availability in every area of Pakistan, specifically in Balochistan. The situation of electricity is not a secret as well. And the ones who are saved from all these are facing health problems due to constant screening. Apart from it, the private sectors have reached to the point of bankruptcy. henceforth, I urge the government to reopen the educational institutions soon under strict SOPs to continue the studies.

AFRoz MJ TuRbAT

TikTok troubles AFTer the PUBG game now tik-tok should also be banned in Pakistan Like India. As using tik-tok means wastage of time only. Our young generation, especially teenagers, utilize most of their time on using tik-tok and making videos. It has also become a cause of death for many youngsters. Our youth instead of reading newspapers and books spent time on Tik-tok. This is unethical also as most the girls feel proud while making video and uploading on tik-tok. everyone on tik-tok wants more followers and for this they make 3 to 4 videos in a day. Which is totally wrong. Just because of such time wasting apps our youngsters don't focus on studies. I request the prime minister and concerned authorities to please ban Tik-tok and save our generation.

ANTHoNy SAHoTRA LARKANA

Another looming disaster The met office has forecasted 20% more rains during the monsoons this year. They expect risk of flooding due to extra rains and melting of glaciers due to excessive heat. It is in preparedness that one succeeds. The government though busy in monitoring and dealing with the Corona virus pandemic, must also beware of the looming disaster of floods. If timely action is not taken, I am afraid we may find ourselves struggling to deal with floods followed by water bourne diseases. The floods not only destroy crops, roads infrastructure, and houses, it also brings mass homelessness and diseases. In cities, heavy rains lead to roads being flooded under feet of water and worst is the electrocutions due to exposed poles and wires. every year many precious lives are lost to electrocutions in Karachi during the monsoons. The recent rains in Karachi and Peshawar have exposed the crumbling infrastructure in these cities. roads painted the scenes of a hollywood doomsday type movie. This is only the beginning of what is yet to come. Therefore, I plead to the government to sit with all provincial stakeholder to put in pace a solid disaster management program to deal with anticipated flooding to minimize loss of precious lives and property. We have seen too many people lost unnecessarily to poor planning or lack of it in timely manner. It is time that we change that and start planning ahead instead of running around when the disaster hits.

RAJA SHAFAATuLLAH ISLAMAbAd

Election laws I am confused and perplexed by our election laws where a someone holding a single seat or a few thousand followers (voters) can register a party with the election commission of Pakistan (eCP). Such parties seem to have no ideology or purpose except for personal gains by leveraging their solo seats or the spoiler vote bank. Those that can’t win any seat but have enough votes to spoil it for others enter the election campaign with full fanfare only to gain max benefits from those whose vote they might split. They usually withdraw from contesting election at the eleventh hour by getting what they want, which is personal gains in terms of favor or money. Those with capacity to win limited seats do so with full force. This usually leads to a hung parliament with no single party winning a majority. This is the best time for small parties with a handful of seats in the NA to blackmail the party trying to form government for maximum gains in terms of ministries and discretionary funds. They keep the government hostage all the time, which does not allow the minority government to virtually do anything in terms of fulfilling their promises. I think it is about time that we amend our laws to stop such self-serving spoiler parties from contesting the elections just to either split votes or keep the government hostage against their few seats. Many countries such as Canada have a minimum number of seats or vote national vote bank required in order to gain the status of a political party. I think it is about time that we amend our laws to stop the blackmail of larger political parties at the hands of single-member parties. uSMAN RAJA ISLAMAbAd

Sunday, 19 July, 2020

08 WORLD VIEW How Iran-CHIna deal Could alter tHe MIddle east's balanCe of power

BY GIVING CHINA A PERMANENT FOOTHOLD IN IRAN, THE AGREEMENT WOULD ENHANCE BEIJING'S REGIONAL POSITION AND UNDERMINE US STRATEGIC SUPREMACY IN THE GULF

Middle eaSt eye

t

ShirEEn t huntEr

HE Iranian government has reportedly approved a draft 25-year deal with China on economic and political cooperation. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, said it was a proud moment for Iranian diplomacy.

Tehran has not revealed the full details of the agreement, but a previous report by the Petroleum Economist suggests that Iran is set to grant huge concessions to China, including significant discounts on oil and gas, and the ability to delay payments for up to two years and to pay in soft currencies.

China would also be granted first refusal on opportunities to become involved with any petrochemicals projects in Iran. If implemented, this agreement would make Iran highly dependent on China economically,

while Beijing would acquire a large and secure source of energy, as well as a foothold in the Gulf.

Already, there have been rumours in Iranian media that Tehran has ceded Kish Island to Beijing. While such rumours are likely false, Iran can certainly offer China military facilities in its Gulf ports. The deal also provides for up to 5,000 Chinese security personnel on the ground to protect Chinese projects, an element that seriously undermines Iran’s political independence. This agreement promises to greatly enhance China’s position not only in the Middle East, but also in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Through Iran and the Caucasus, Beijing would have a land route to Europe and even the Black Sea, provided Georgia allows it access to its Black Sea ports.

The advantage for Iran, if China lives up to its commitments, is the infusion of a significant amount of cash into its economy, especially its energy sector ($280bn) and manufacturing and transport infrastructure ($120bn.) Such an infusion would certainly help to revive Iran’s economy and create more jobs - and, in turn, bolster the Islamic regime and ease domestic opposition.

PIVOT TO THE EAST: But the fate of the deal is not yet clear, as it still has to be approved by parliament. When news about the agreement first appeared in Iranian media,

many commentators expressed concern that it could make Iran excessively dependent on China, noting that after the revolution of 1979, Iran did not end its decades of dependence on the US to become a semi-colony of China.

I previously likened the agreement to the infamous Reuter concession of 1872: the Times of London then called that deal, between British banker Baron Julius de Reuter and the king of Persia, the largest surrender of a country’s resources and sovereignty to a foreign concern.

A major reason for Iran’s shift towards China and other Asian countries, known locally as the “pivot to the East”, has been the failure of Iran’s repeated efforts, beginning with the administration of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, to expand economic relations with the West as a prelude to better political ties. The latest of these overtures happened after the signing of the nuclear deal in 2015. Iran offered to buy Boeing and Airbus aircraft, saying it welcomed American and European companies - including energy companies, such as Total - into the country. The response to Iranian overtures, however, was not positive.

In 2018, US President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal and imposed new and crushing sanctions on Iran, including on the sale of its oil. His move convinced even many moderates in Iran that Washington was not in-

terested in improving relations, and instead wanted regime change in Tehran.

Diehard opponents of improved Iran-US relations got a second wind, seeing in China a potential saviour and a shield against future US pressure, including at the UN Security Council.

REDUCING TENSIONS: If the Iran-China agreement is implemented, it would revive Iran’s economy and stabilise its politics. Such an economic and political recovery would improve Iran’s regional position and perhaps incentivise adversaries to reduce tensions with Tehran, instead of blindly following US policies. Arab states could rush to make their own special deals with China.

Moreover, by giving China a permanent foothold in Iran, the deal would enhance Beijing’s regional position and undermine US strategic supremacy in the Gulf. This could also enhance China’s position internationally.

But the US could prevent such a shift by returning to the nuclear deal, lifting sanctions, and allowing European and American companies to deal with Tehran. An immediate effect would be the revival of moderate forces in Iran, and in the longer term, it would lead to better political relations.By pursuing an entirely hostile policy towards Iran, the US has limited its strategic choices in Southwest Asia and thus been manipulated by some of its local partners, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE. China’s more pronounced interest in Iran should alert the US to review its past approach towards Tehran.

Shireen T Hunter is an affiliate fellow at the Georgetown University Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding.

Journalism is not a crime – protecting Why the US has no chance of winning either a free press is vital for us all a ‘cold’ or a ‘hot’ war against China VIOLATIONS OF JOURNALISTIC FREEDOM ARE SADLY BECOMING MORE COMMONPLACE, INCLUDING IN AMERICA AND BRITAIN. GROWING HOSTILITY TO THE PRESS IS A THREAT TO EVERYONE independent The Independent launches a campaign to protect journalism, under attack as perhaps never before: Journalism Is Not a Crime.

We are moved to do so most urgently by the recent experience of our correspondent, Andrew Buncombe. Reporting on the Black Lives Matter protests in Seattle and posing no threat to anyone, nor breaking any law, he was summarily detained with some brutality by the police. He’s now been released.

It is not so unusual, it seems, these days to see press freedom eroded. Some broadcast journalists have been filmed being interrupted and detained even as they were on camera. Amnesty International say there have been at least 60 reported arrests of journalists covering these protests in the US and some may face prosecution and jail sentences.

This the kind of thing that is only supposed to happen in dictatorships. We are not so surprised when media organisations are attacked in Hong Kong, say, or parts of the Middle East, or when correspondents are assassinated in war zones, as was so tragically the case when Marie Colvin was killed during the siege of Homs in Syria.

The world was rightly shocked when the writer Jamal Khashoggi was murdered by the Saudis, and he was hardly the first dissident or critic of the regime to be so treated. The Independent’s foreign and war correspondents have often found themselves in the line of fire. Andrew himself has been detained arbitrarily in Cuba and shot by police during riots in Thailand.

Indeed, at least 500 journalists have lost their lives worldwide in the last decade. Rather than a press card or media flak jacket offering some protection, the modern way is deliberately to target journalists, most despicably as Isis did during their grisly short-lived caliphate.

Yet what is, in its way, more disturbing, now, is when journalists are prevented from doing their jobs, treated as criminals on jumped up charges, in supposedly free societies such as the United States. The first amendment, after all, offers the constitutional basis for free expression and a press fair and free.

What we see today is how often the human rights of many, reporters included, seem to be casually disregarded

by American police forces that are granted extraordinary immunities from prosecution. A certain institutional ethos has developed that the police are above

the law, and have so little to fear from press scrutiny that they can lock journalists up with impunity. It is not healthy for a police officer to treat justice and the tradition of habeas corpus as dispensable, mere inconveniences to clearing the streets.

The rise of authoritarian nationalist politicians has made things far worse, in America and elsewhere.

The “mainstream media” are portrayed as part of some evil conspiracy against the people. When the population is pounded with the message that they are being fed “fake news” by “failing” unpatriotic titles, and when a president feels at liberty to mock a reporter with a disability, then there is something wrong, and there is bound to be growing hostility to legitimate journalism.

The phenomenon is not confined to the United States; the British government is presently waging a guerrilla war against the journalism produced by the BBC, using its funding as a way of coercing its political coverage. Earlier this year, journalists took a stand and walked out of a Downing Street briefing on after the prime minister’s director of communications tried to restrict it to selected publications and broadcasters.

Around the world, from Poland to India, democratic societies are experiencing chilling attacks on press freedoms.

But in the land of Woodward and Bernstein, of Martha Gellhorn, of Dan Rather, Barbara Walters and Walter Cronkite, of the Pulitzer Prize and Magnum, of Time magazine and The New Yorker, there is something deeply poignant and worrying about these new insidious trends. A nation that led the world in press freedom is now placing that freedom in jeopardy.

The other threat to free journalism, there is no doubt about it, is financial.

Quality news gathering, investigations and analysis costs money, whether the organisation is local, national or global.

It is increasingly difficult to make money from telling the truth. The digital revolution has vastly democratised news, spread journalism to new audiences (where, that is, it has not yet been blocked) and made citizens better informed, and perhaps more inquisitive about the world around them.

Yet that disruption has also upended traditional business models. The Independent, like many others, has to rely on its readers, subscribers and supporters to fund its work, dangerous as it sometimes is. You can do that by contributing to our supporter programme.

Sputnik EkatErina Blinova

While ramping up pressure against Beijing on multiple fronts, Washington appears to not be taking into account China's sustainability and resilience, which stem from its sophisticated culture, says sociologist Dr. Heinz Dieterich, explaining why the US' current China strategy is erratic and doomed to failure.

On Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that "most" of China's maritime claims in the South China Sea are null and void. The People's Republic claims up to 80% of the 3.5-million square kilometre sea, in accordance with the so-called "nine dash line". "The world will not allow Beijing to treat the South China Sea as its maritime empire", Pompeo stated. In response, the Chinese embassy in the US warned the Trump administration against "stirring up tension and inciting confrontation in the region."

WASHINGTON STEPPING UP PRESSURE AGAINST BEIJING: The latest spat came on the heels of tit-for-tat sanctions against senior politicians implemented by Washington and then Beijing over Xinjiang as well as the US show of force in the South China Sea earlier this month. The Trump administration is continuing to tighten the screws on China's trade, hightech sector, and artificial island building. According to public opinion polls, anti-China sentiment is now on the rise in the US, with about 66% of Americans thinking unfavourably about the People's Republic, prompting speculations about a forthcoming "cold war" with Beijing.

However, at the same time, the US Chamber of Commerce has recently demanded that top Chinese officials redouble efforts to implement phase one of the trade agreement which was concluded between Washington and Beijing in January 2020.

"Any scientifically sound metric of international standing – economic, scientific, demographic, political, military or Covid-19 – shows, that the US is in no condition to either win a 'cold' or 'hot war' against China", says Dr. Heinz Dieterich, director of the Centre for Transition Sciences (CTS) at the Autonomous Metropolitan University in Mexico City, and coordinator at the World Advanced Research Project (WARP).

Washington´s China strategy is erratic and being coupled with the internal partisan and social divide which has manifested as a systemic crisis in the US, he remarks.

The crisis is systemic, because it has af-

fected political, economic, cultural and social dimensions. It dramatically evidenced the breakdown of the intra-elite consensus between Democrats and Republicans on how to preserve the global US dominationsystem. It has also aggravated longstanding social inequality, skyrocketing national debt and swirling protests, the professor notes. Besides endangering the country's internal stability, it threatens to affect the global balance of power and world peace, Dieterich warns.

THE DEMISE OF THE TRANSATLANTIC PARTNERSHIP: While the US is now praising the UK's decision to ban Chinese telecom equipment from its 5G networks, the Trump administration cannot boast good relations with the European Union, as it has largely alienated Germany, "the undisputed leader" of the bloc.

On 29 June, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned that the current tensions between the US and Germany are unlikely to be solved in the foreseeable future, no matter who wins the November vote: "Everyone who thinks everything in the trans-Atlantic partnership will be as it once was with a Democratic president underestimates the structural changes," Maas told the German press agency DPA. The Trump administration has repeatedly lambasted Berlin over NATO spending, migration and economic policies, as well as its participation in the Russia-led Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, which was recently subjected to US sanctions.

At the same time, the US open policy of intimidation against China, Russia, North Korea and Iran has proven ineffective and failed, according to the academic. Iran's delivery of about 1.5 million barrels of Iranian gasoline and related components to Venezuela, a country suffering from a US embargo, in May and June 2020, clearly indicated that Washington's policy of "maximum pressure" against nuclear or powerful states does not work.

Despite sabre-rattling and muscle flexing in the South China Sea, the US is unlikely to engage in a direct confrontation with the People's Republic as it is doomed to failure, according to Dieterich, who recollects that the US has de facto "lost" four wars in Asia: China's civil war (1946-49), the Korean War (1950-53), the Vietnam War (195575), and most recently in Afghanistan.

"My Center for Transition Sciences (CTS) has developed a multi-variable 'Geopolitical Index of Relative Power of Nation-States' (GIRP), which we presented in Moscow in 2014 that clearly shows that the US and its allies would have won a nuclear war against China in the 1950s. But, even against the lightly armed peasant army of Mao Zedong, they could not win the Korean War," the professor notes.

The US as a superpower is today only "a shadow of what it was after 1945", according to the academic, who claims that it has turned from a “tiger with nuclear teeth” (as Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchov defined it) into a “paper tiger” (as Mao Zedong called it).

US UNDERESTIMATES CHINA'S SUSTAINABILITY: Touching upon the massive pressure the US has exerted on China's economic, social and political spheres, as well as raising stakes in the South China Sea, Dieterich presumes that Washington underestimates China's resilience based on its sophisticated culture and "dialectical spirit of Confucius, LaoTse, and Gautama Buddha" which have many times helped the nation overcome dramatic historical challenges and paved the way to its socio-economic and political transformation.

He notes that if one takes a look at the past two centuries, one would see that the Chinese managed to fend of the Japanese intervention, survived the Civil War, and proved sufficient in the Korean and Vietnam wars. It successfully underwent the Cultural Revolution under Mao Zedong and then further socio-cultural transformation under Deng Xiaoping. Currently, he says, Chinese society is making a dramatic technological leap striving to accomplish its Made in China 2025 strategic plan under Xi Jinping.

"These successes have produced an overwhelming support of the people for the government, a strong national unity behind a clear strategic leadership, based on the scientific principles of Marxism, and an international global power and standing in all important metrics," Dieterich says.

The Chinese are not sitting on their thumbs while the US is trying to build an anti-China coalition; the People's Republic is actively forging multilateral alliances and strengthening ties with Russia and the Germany-led European Union.

Thus, Beijing is pushing ahead with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a proposed free trade agreement in the Indo-Pacific region, which brings together the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its FTA partners, namely, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea.

Furthermore, the People's Republic is signalling a "positive and open attitude" towards joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), an "updated" version of the Obama-era Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) shredded by Donald Trump when he assumed the office.

To preserve the global balance of power, Washington should adhere to a symmetrical multi-polar world and give up plans of "subjugating China, Russia and Europe, in order to recuperate its former world supremacy", according to the professor.

"Democracy and Justice in the world system are only possible between entities, which roughly have the same amount of power," he remarks.

"The only stable and viable solution for the species to survive is a new eco-civilisation, based on a global non-market economic system, in which the private tyranny of the market – a global plutocratic elite of profit mongers – and anti-democratic oligarchic political systems do no longer rule the destiny of the people," Dieterich concludes.

Sunday, 19 July, 2020

BUSINESS 09 CORPORATE CORNER IG Prisons, Legal Aid Society guage coronavirus situation in Sindh prisons KARACHI: A historic initiative for ‘Covid-19 Seroprevalence Survey, Training & Medical Camps across 24 Prisons of Sindh’ was organized by the Legal Aid Society headed by Justice Aslam Zahid & IG Sindh Prisons Kazi Nazir Ahmed in collaboration with Nawan Laboratories & Advanced Lab along with French Epidemic Control & Statistical Expert, Z&Z Consultants, from 13th to 15th July 2020. The project was initiated by LAS Executive Director Barrister Haya Zahid to assist Sindh prisons with managing and curtailing the spread of Covid-19 in Sindh prisons and gauge immunity developed among the prison population. The first phase of the project has commenced with a Donation Drive to provide Personal Protective Equipment including hand sanitizers, thermal scanners, soaps, masks, gloves for prisons in Karachi. The second phase includes covering prisons in Sukkur and Hyderabad divisions. The Legal Aid Society (LAS), a not-for-profit organization, works exclusively with marginalized and vulnerable populations across the province and has been assisting in various legal empowerment initiatives for prisoners. PRESS RELEASE

NITB, NCOC to use TPL Trakker’s location-based services for Covid control KARACHI: TPL Trakker has been chosen as the primary Location Based Services (LBS) provider by the National Information Technology Board (NITB) and National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) to support multiple national-level applications as part of Pakistan’s fight against Covid-19. Through this collaboration, TPL Maps, the mapping arm of TPL Trakker, will continue its critical role in helping the people of Pakistan during this pandemic by providing the necessary Location Based Services (LBS) to government applications for the purpose of mapping, analyzing, reporting and responding to cases across the country. Given that the Smart Lockdown program initiated in June through this collaboration proved successful in tackling the surge of Covid-19 cases, the next phase of developments is designed to enhance and improve the response to active cases. PRESS RELEASE

Meezan Bank engages Sehat Kahani to provide free online medical consultation to employees KARACHI: Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s first and largest Islamic bank, has partnered with Sehat Kahani – an ehealth services provider offering healthcare through telemedicine solutions to extend medical benefits to its employees and their families. In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two parties at Meezan House, Karachi, attended by Munawar Rizvi - Group Head, General Services & Special Assets Management, Khalid Zaman Khan - Group Head, Human Resources, Learning & Development from Meezan Bank and Dr Sara Saeed Khurram - CEO & Co-founder and Dr Iffat Zafar Aga - COO & Co-founder from Sehat Kahani along with their respective teams. Under this agreement, Meezan Bank’s employees - both permanent and contractual, will be able to access online consultations with accredited doctors, not only for themselves but also for their dependents including spouse, children and parents. PRESS RELEASE

GOvT urGed TO deCLAre GhuLAM KhAN, KhArLAChI TrAde rOuTeS reBATABLe PESHAWAR

T

AZIZ BUNERI

HE trade associations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have urged the federal government to declare the Ghulam Khan and Kharlachi trade routes rebatable, in line with Torkham and Chaman points.

Sources said despite declaring both border crossings rebatable under the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTA) in 2010, the customs department and the Ministry of Commerce have not yet taken any decision in this regard.

Owing to this issue, they added, most traders prefer Chaman and Torkham routes, causing congestion at these points.

Traders complained that due to con-

DUE TO CONGESTION AT CHAMAN AND TORKHAM BORDERS, AFGHAN TRADERS ARE BEING FORCED TO IMPORT THEIR GOODS THROUGH IRANIAN PORTS gestion at Torkham and Chaman crossings, thousands of Afghanistan-bound containers were stranded at Karachi port while hundreds of freight vehicles were queuing up to Takhta Baig for clearance.

As a result, KP traders were facing heavy losses while Afghan traders were being forced to import their goods through Iranian ports.

Traders feared that if the prevalent trend continues, there would be a reduction in Pakistan's trade volume with Afghanistan.

Talking to this scribe, Sarhad

Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Senior Vice President Shahid Hussain said the decision to declare Ghulam Khan and Kharlachi points as rebatable would not only increase PakAfghan trade but would also facilitate traders in Sindh and Punjab.

"In addition, the distance to Kabul will reduce by 400km-500km."

He said the SCCI has already conveyed its suggestions to the government during a meeting with Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Pakistan's Special

Foriegn direct investment surges 88pc to $2.56bn in FY20

At G20, Germany pledges 3 billion euros for poor countries BERLIN AGENCIES

KARACHI MEIRYUM ALI

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country increased 88pc to $2.56 billion in the fiscal year 2019-20, compared to $1.36 billion in FY19, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

The FDI in the country has bounced back to FY18 levels, when it stood at $2.78 billion, before falling to $1.36 billion in FY19.

Specifically, in the month of June, FDI in Pakistan rose 70.5pc to $174.8 million, compared to $102.5 million in June last year. On a monthly basis, FDI increased by 45.6pc in June, from $120 million

recorded in May 2020.

Foreign direct investment remained on the rise, particularly in the first three months of the calendar year 2020, where the monthly FDI was consistently above the $200-million mark.

One notable month was December 2019, where FDI increased to $487 million, against $319.5 million recorded during the same month in 2019.

Country-wide data released by the central bank shows that China remained the largest investor, with net FDI of $844 million during FY20, compared with an investment of $130.8 million during the same period last year.

The second-largest investor was Norway, with a net FDI of $402 million, compared with $115.8 million during the same period the year before.

Malta made a significant investment, with a net FDI of $222.2 million, while the Netherlands had net inflows of $133.2 million. FDI from the UK stood at $117.3 million, while inflows from the US came in at $97 million.

The highest amount of FDI during FY20 was in the power sector, at $764.3 million. The second highest was communications, at $663.9 million, followed by the oil and gas exploration sector, at $311.4 million.

Govt formulating 'crop insurance policy' to facilitate farmers: minister ISLAMABAD: National Food Security & Research Minister Syed Fakhar Imam said on Saturday that the government was working on a crops insurance policy to facilitate farmers. "There is no immediate threat of food shortage in the country despite the ongoing locust attacks and prediction of above-normal monsoon rains," he said during an interview with VOA. "The government is making a strategy for the next year in view of the decline in agricultural production." The minister said that the Met Office has predicted 10pc extra rains during this monsoon season which might affect Kharif crops in the country as climate variations were causing a change in traditional monsoon rains every year. He said the food ministry in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority would make all-out efforts to save crops from rains and floods. Fakhar Imam said that fertilization of locust was a big threat for Pakistan's agriculture and the government was working on preventive measures in collaboration with provinces. APP

Zoom overpowers Google and Facebook with worldwide app downloads SINGAPORE BABAR KHAN JAVED

The global app ecosystem has set a new world record with 37.8 billion downloads in the second quarter of 2020, according to the Q2 2020 Data Digest from Sensor Tower.

The mobile app intelligence firm said that installs on the Apple App Store grew 22.6pc to 9.1 billion, while Google Play saw 34.9pc growth, reaching 28.7 billion.

Apps categorized under business, health & fitness, and education thrived during Q2 2020, while apps classified under travel, navigation, and sports worked to recover from extended periods of low installs.

"Zoom was the top app by downloads worldwide, in the US, and in Europe for the quarter," said Jonathan Briskman, a senior mobile insights analyst at Sensor Tower. "It was only the third app to reach 300 million installs in a quarter, joining TikTok and Pokémon Go in accomplishing this feat. Covid-19 reshaped the app landscape in the first half of 2020. Top business apps like Google Meet and Microsoft Teams achieved all-time download highs in Q2 [2020], and India’s Covid-19 contact tracing app Aarogya Setu reached the top [ten] at [number] 7."

In the report, Briskman stated that Zoom shattered the record for App Store

Envoy for Afghanistan Sadiq Khan and Adviser to Prime Minister Arbab Shehzad.

"As Torkham is handling 60pc of Pak-Afghan trade and Chaman 40pc, the SCCI demands the government to immediately eliminate the coronavirus SOPs on both points and declare Ghulam Khan and Kharlachi rebatable," the SCCI president maintained, adding that this would ease the burden on important crossing points by at least 20pc and there would also be no delay in the clearance of trade vehicles.

"APTTA is going to expire in December 2020 and the new Transit Trade Agreement to be signed in 2021. The government should hold consultations with business communities, exporters and importers in Pakistan and Afghanistan before the signing of the agreement," he added.

installs in a quarter with nearly 94 million.

TikTok held the previous record with 67 million downloads in Q1 2020, and no other non-game app has surpassed 50 million in a quarter. He wrote that Google Play installs for Zoom increased by more than 200pc quarter-over-quarter, while TikTok experienced a 9.5pc decline from its high in Q1 2020.

Outlier data for the US and Europe The report shows that Zoom was the top app by US downloads, dominating both Apple App Store and Google Play, with TikTok in second place, followed by apps from Google and Facebook. As a consequence, after India at 68 million in-

stalls, the US became the largest market for Zoom at 41 million installs. Following its launch in Q4 2019, Disney+ ranked in the top 15 in the US for Q2 2020, falling in ranking significantly after dominating US downloads in Q4 2019 and being in second place in Q1 2020.

In Europe, all apps that facilitate remote working and video conferencing saw huge growth, with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet among the top apps. After launching in Great Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Switzerland in late Q1 2020, Disney+ was in the 15th most downloaded app on the continent during Q2 2020. On

CMYK

both Apple App Store and Google Play, the top three apps for Europe were Zoom, TikTok, and WhatsApp. YouTube, Google Meet, Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Chrome were in the top 20 apps, placing 6th, 11th, 14th, 16th, and 20th on the Apple App Store in Europe.

Key Takeaways The top game download categories were casino, puzzle, strategy, role-playing, simulation, shooter, lifestyle, sports, location-based, and arcade. The top downloaded games worldwide were Coin Master, Candy Crush, Clash of Clans, and Marvel Strike Force. Users in the US spent a combined $1.5 billion on nearly 200 games in May 2020 and revenue began to decrease in June 2020 across all genres.

While downloads for travel, navigation, and sports apps plummeted for obvious reasons, Sensor Tower suggests that these app categories are bouncing back as airline travel is steadily resuming, while work-from-home has peaked, and athletic leagues are hinting at continuing matches.

“Business apps saw the highest growth following COVID-19 and have been able to maintain strong growth relative to other categories,” said Briskman. “[Installs for business apps] peaked at 176pc above precoronavirus levels, and were still more than double those levels by 10 weeks following the country’s 200th confirmed case.”

Germany pledged 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion) at a meeting of G20 finance ministers to help the world’s poorest countries, the finance ministry said on Saturday. The funds will be made available as long-term loans for the International Monetary Fund’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT). In April, IMF officials said they had received pledges of a combined $11.7 billion from Australia, Japan, Canada, France and Britain to replenish the PRGT. The United States has not yet pledged any money for the programme. “With the funds ... low-income countries can receive greatly discounted loans and bridge liquidity bottlenecks,” the German finance ministry said.

It added that Germany will provide a total of 8.7 billion euros for international aid measures in 2020 and 2021. Earlier in the day, World Bank President David Malpass urged the Group of 20 major economies to extend a freeze in official debt payments by the poorest countries through the end of 2021, and said they should start talks on reducing the debt of some countries. Malpass told a virtual meeting of G20 finance officials that some major official creditors were not participating fully in the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), and private creditors should stop collecting payments from the poorest countries. “Even with these immediate steps ... many of the poorest countries won’t be able to make the resulting debt burdens sustainable in the medium term,” he said. “I urge the G20 to open the door to consultations about the debt overhang itself and effective ways to reduce the net present value of both official bilateral and commercial debt for the poorest countries.”

Chinese ports hit capacity as virus tests slow clearing BEIJING AGENCIES

Testing of imported food for the novel coronavirus is pushing capacity at some major Chinese ports to their limit, major shippers told customers this week, warning of additional fees and possible diversions to other ports. China stepped up inspections of imported food last month after an outbreak of the coronavirus among people working at and visiting a major food market in Beijing. "Import container pickup activities have been severely impacted and as a result reefer plugs are highly utilized especially at the port of Yantian and Ningbo," said German shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd in a customer notice on Friday. Reefers, or chilled containers used for meat and fresh produce, must be plugged in for the contents to be kept cool or frozen. A person who answered the phone at one of Ningbo port’s terminals referred Reuters to the port company’s headquarters, which was closed after business hours. Nobody at Yantian port could be reached. Though it has only found the virus in a handful of samples out of more than 200,000 tested so far, China continues to inspect cargoes and carry out tests on a large portion of arrivals.

Hapag-Lloyd warned that containers could be discharged at an alternative port and that cargo owners would be liable for additional costs.

Sunday, 19 July, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

China, Russia pledge To fuRTheR CoopeRaTion, RejeCT us unilaTeRalism BEIJING

C

AGENCIES

HINESE State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov , with both sides voicing support for strengthening coordination and cooperation.

The strategic guidance of the two heads of state is the biggest political advantage of China-Russia relations, Wang said.

After Russia successfully carried out a referendum last week, the two heads of state spoke to each other again by phone, confirming their firm support for each other and stressing that they regard the ChinaRussia relations as the top foreign policy priority of the two countries, Wang said.

The two sides should further implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, maintain the momentum of exchanges at all levels, deepen anti-Covid-19 and practical cooperation, and strengthen strategic coordination in major international and regional affairs, Wang said.

Wang stressed that the United States is practicing its policy of stark “America First” and pursuing its egoism, unilateralism and bullying policy to the extreme.

By shifting its own responsibilities, the

U.S. side has used the epidemic to smear other countries and shift the blame in every possible way, and even created hot spots and confrontation in international relations, Wang said, adding that Washington has lost its sense of reason, morality and credibility.

Wang said that the U.S. side has revived its notorious McCarthyism and outdated Cold War mentality in its policy toward China, deliberately provoked ideological confrontation and crossed the bottom line of international law and basic norms governing international relations.

Biden warns of Russian election meddling after receiving intelligence briefings DETROIT AGENCIES

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said on Friday he is now getting intelligence briefings, and has been told Russia continues to try to meddle in November’s US election. China also was conducting activities “designed for us to lose confidence in the outcome” of the 2020 election, Biden told supporters during an online fundraiser for his campaign. “We know from before, and I guarantee you that I know now, because now I get briefings again. The Russians are still engaged in trying to delegitimize our electoral process. Fact,” Biden said. He warned that if Russia continued to interfere there would be “a real price to pay” if he wins the November election against Republican President Donald Trump.

It is unclear when Biden began receiving the intelligence briefings, which are normal for major party presidential nominees. His campaign did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Biden said at a June 30 press conference he had not been offered a classified briefing and “may very well” ask for one in the aftermath of reports Trump did not act on intelligence reports that Russia had put bounties on US troops in Afghanistan. The former vice president under President Barack Obama has criticized Trump over reports he does not read his intelligence briefings.

Multiple US intelligence agencies found Russia acted to help Trump in the 2016 election, a charge Russia denies and which Trump has repeatedly labeled a “hoax.”

China will not be misled by a small number of anti-China forces in the United States, but will firmly defend its legitimate interests and dignity, Wang said.

Wang said that as major responsible countries, China and Russia should not only push their bilateral relations to a higher level, but also stand by all countries with an objective and fair stance to reject any actions destructive to international order and against the historical trend, jointly safeguard world peace and stability, maintain the international justice and pre-

serve global development.

For his part, Lavrov said Russia is willing to follow the guidance of the consensus reached by the two heads of state, support the strengthening of pragmatic cooperation between Russia and China in the context of the regular epidemic prevention and control, and promote the synergy between the Eurasian Economic Union and the construction of the Belt and Road.

As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major responsible countries, Russia and China should further strengthen coordination and cooperation in international affairs and safeguard international law and common interests of the two countries, Lavrov said.

He said that the United States has always believed in the American exceptionalism and egotism, adding recently, it stripped off its pretence and was ready to threaten or wield sanctions against others.

Russia opposes unilateralism in international affairs, he said.

The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on holding a summit of the five permanent members of the Security Council, maintaining international strategic stability, as well as the development of regional situation and international hotspot issues of common interest.

Indian minorities panel faults police role in Delhi riots targeting Muslims NEW DELHI AGENCIES

A government-appointed commission promoting the rights of India’s religious minorities said police failed to protect Muslims campaigning against a new citizenship law during violent riots in Delhi earlier this year.

At least 53 people, mostly Muslims, were killed and more than 200 were injured in the worst communal violence in New Delhi for decades.

The clashes erupted amid an outcry over a new federal law laying out the path to citizenship for six religious groups from neighbouring countries, except Muslims. Independent observers believe the law was discriminatory and flouted India’s so-called secular image.

The Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) said Muslim homes, shops and vehicles were selectively targeted during the rioting that erupted in northeast Delhi in February when protests against the new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) broke out across the country.

In all, 11 mosques, five madrassas or religious schools, a Muslim shrine and a graveyard were attacked and damaged, a team from the commission said the report released on Thursday.

Recommendations made in the commission’s report to safeguard minority rights are not binding.

“Seemingly, to crush the protests, with support of the administration and police, a retaliatory plan of pro-CAA protesters was worked out to trigger violence at a large scale,” it said.

The commission said police had

charged Muslims for the violence even though they were the worst victims.

Delhi police spokesman Anil Mittal rejected the allegation of bias and said police had acted fairly.

“We have filed 752 first information reports, over 200 chargesheets, arrested over 1400 people in connection with the riots. We have also formed three special investigation teams and are still open to receiving complaints,” Mittal said.

Critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hardline Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government say it has been promoting a Hindu-only India and that the citizenship law aimed to further marginalise the country’s about 170 million Muslims.

The BJP denies any bias but says it is opposed to the appeasement of any

community.

The report also alleged some senior BJP leaders like former member of Delhi legislative assembly Kapil Mishra of fuelling the Feb 23 violence, but the party spokesperson said there was no basis of such allegations.

“When Delhi Police has already stated in court that there is no role proved of Kapil Mishra, then on what grounds DMC is saying this,” BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana said.

The minorities commission said witnesses spoke of police failure to intervene in the rioting.

“Multiple testimonies collected by this Fact-Finding Committee recount reports of police inaction even as [the] violence unfolded before them, or of police not arriving despite being called repeatedly,” it said.

Trump rejects national mask mandate WASHINGTON AGENCIES

US President Donald Trump has said that he won’t issue an order at the national level mandating the use of masks, even as the United States continues to break its singleday coronavirus case records amid a pandemic far from being contained. During a TV interview when asked if he would consider issuing a national mask mandate to slow the spread of the virus, Trump said: “No, I want people to have a certain freedom and I don’t believe in that, no.” “I don’t agree with the statement that if everyone wore a mask, everything disappears,” the president added, as Wallace pointed out that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the virus would be brought under control if everyone wore a mask. “Dr (Anthony) Fauci said don’t wear a mask, our surgeon general — terrific guy — said don’t wear a mask. Everybody was saying don’t wear a mask, all of a sudden everybody’s got to wear a mask,” Trump said. “And as you know, masks cause problems too. With that being said, I am a believer in masks. I think masks are good.”

Trump has been refusing to wear a mask himself since the pandemic broke out, citing his good health and frequent negative tests for the virus. He was seen wearing a mask in public for the first time on July 11 while visiting Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, some three months after the CDC recommended that Americans do so because asymptomatic bearers of the virus could still transmit it to others. Along with the surge in coronavirus cases — topping 3.5 million after the mindboggling single-day record of 72,045 infections was set on Thursday, as per CDC’s data — the mask issue has been politicized to the extent that it has become a symbol of allegiance: Those refusing to wear masks support Trump while those donning them are against him. Earlier in July, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows also said the option of a national mask mandate was not on the table. He told the “Fox & Friends” program on July 6 that “a national mandate is not in order. We’re allowing our governors and our local mayors to weigh in on that.” In recent weeks, though, even Republicans have rallied around wearing masks, with at least one GOP lawmaker bluntly suggesting that Trump himself do so publicly.

Regretting the fact that the “simple life saving practice” of wearing a mask has been politicized to showcase whether one supports Trump or not, Republican Senator Lamar Alexander said on June 30 that he had “suggested the president should occasionally wear a mask even though there are not many occasions when it is necessary for him to do so.” Meanwhile, governors and municipallevel officials have requested that residents wear masks to halt the virus resurgence.

While the governors of Arkansas, California and Colorado have issued mask mandates effective across their respective states, Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s order applies to residents of counties with more than 20 coronavirus cases, effectively covering most counties in the state. In Georgia, however, Republican Governor Brian Kemp and state Attorney General Chris Carr, also a Republican, sued Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, and the Atlantic City Council to block the mayor’s mask mandate, claiming that such an order put businesses in harm’s way and undermined the state’s economic growth, and that local orders must not exceed the state’s executive order in restrictiveness.

John Lewis, lion of civil rights and Congress, dies at 80 ATLANTA AGENCIES

John Lewis, a lion of the civil rights movement whose bloody beating by Alabama state troopers in 1965 helped galvanize opposition to racial segregation, and who went on to a long and celebrated career in Congress, died. He was 80.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi confirmed Lewis’ passing late Friday night, calling him “one of the greatest heroes of American history.”

“All of us were humbled to call Congressman Lewis a colleague, and are heartbroken by his passing,” Pelosi said. “May his memory be an inspiration that moves us all to, in the face of injustice, make ‘good trouble, necessary trouble.’”

The condolences for Lewis were bipartisan. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Lewis was “a pioneering civil rights leader who put his life on the line to fight racism, promote equal rights, and bring our nation into greater alignment with its founding principles. ” Lewis’s announcement in late December 2019 that he had been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer — “I have never faced a fight quite like the one I have now,” he said — inspired tributes from both sides of the aisle, and an unstated accord that the likely passing of this Atlanta Democrat would represent the end of an era.

The announcement of his death came just hours after the passing of the Rev. C.T. Vivian, another civil rights leader who died early Friday at 95.

Lewis was the youngest and last survivor of the Big Six civil rights activists, a group led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. that had the greatest impact on the movement. He was best known for leading some 600 protesters in the Bloody Sunday march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma.

At age 25 — walking at the head of the march with his hands tucked in the pockets of his tan overcoat — Lewis was knocked to the ground and beaten by police. His skull was fractured, and nationally televised images of the brutality forced the country’s attention on racial oppression in the South.

Within days, King led more marches in the state, and President Lyndon Johnson soon was pressing Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act. The bill became law later that

year, removing barriers that had barred Blacks from voting.

“He loved this country so much that he risked his life and its blood so that it might live up to its promise,” President Barack Obama said after Lewis’ death.

“Early on, he embraced the principles of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience as the means to bring about real change in this country.”

Lewis joined King and four other civil rights leaders in organizing the 1963 March on Washington. He spoke to the vast crowd just before King delivered his epochal “I Have a Dream” speech.

A 23-year-old firebrand, Lewis toned down his intended remarks at the insistence of others, dropping a reference to a “scorched earth” march through the South

and scaling back criticisms of President John Kennedy. It was a potent speech nonetheless, in which he vowed: “By the forces of our demands, our determination and our numbers, we shall splinter the segregated South into a thousand pieces and put them together in an image of God and democracy.”

It was almost immediately, and forever, overshadowed by the words of King, the man who had inspired him to activism.

Lewis was born on Feb. 21, 1940, outside the town of Troy, in Pike County, Alabama. He grew up on his family’s farm and attended segregated public schools.

Lewis turned to politics in 1981, when he was elected to the Atlanta City Council.

Lewis’ wife of four decades, Lillian Miles, died in 2012. They had one son, John Miles Lewis.

Sunday, 19 July, 2020

SPORTS 11

Ben STOkeS' impreSSive 176 puTS englAnd On TOp AgAinST WeST indieS MANCHESTER

e

AGENCIES

NGLAND took charge at Old Trafford on Friday after Ben Stokes scored an impressive 176 against West Indies, declaring their first-innings on 469-9.

Meanwhile opener Dom Sibley made a painstaking 120 and put on 260 with star all-rounder Stokes after England had been in trouble at 81-3 on Thursday following the loss of returning captain Joe Root.

West Indies, faced with a tricky hour to bat until stumps on the second day, lost John Campbell to the recalled Sam Curran and were 32-1 at the close.

England had been forced into a late change to their pace attack after fast bowler Jofra Archer was dramatically omitted Thursday for breaching the bio-secure bubble by making an unauthorised trip home to Brighton following the West Indies´ four-wicket win in last week´s first Test at Southampton.

But left-arm paceman Curran, who might not have played if Archer had been retained, made the breakthrough when an inswinger had Campbell lbw on review and he would have also had nightwatchman Alzarri Joseph leg before if England had challenged a not out decision.

England came into this match already planning to revamp their pace attack, with Stuart Broad — angry at being rested last week — back in action.

James Anderson, was rested in turn,

even though this match was taking place at the Lancashire home ground of England's all-time leading wicket-taker, with Chris Woakes recalled after Mark Wood was also given a breather.

But the day belonged to Sibley and Stokes, whose partnership was the secondhighest for the fourth-wicket by England against the West Indies, behind the celebrated stand of 411 shared by Peter May and Colin Cowdrey at Edgbaston back in 1957. Sibley's hundred was one of the slowest in Tests by an England batsman, the opener batting for 471 minutes —

Hockey competition schedule announced for rescheduled Olympics

nearly eight hours — to complete a 312ball century featuring a mere fours.

But the 24-year-old Warwickshire right-hander's second hundred in his eight Tests, following 133 not out against South Africa at Cape Town in January, was a valuable innings.

And he made normally reliable West Indies captain Jason Holder pay for dropping him in the slips on 68.

'MAKE IT COUNT': Run-scoring was difficult against a swinging ball and on a sluggish outfield, with even the usually fluent Stokes taking nearly six hours and

285 balls to complete his 10th Test century.

"West Indies made us work really hard for the runs," Stokes told reporters. "It swung and nipped throughout.

"If you get in, you have to make it count. We keep saying we base our Tests on big first innings runs and we've done that this week."

Stokes led from the front with the bat, even though he had handed back the captaincy to Root, who missed last week's match to attend the birth of his second child. After getting himself in, left-handed batsman Stokes showed his class by upping the tempo with a third fifty off just 46 balls and overtaking Sibley after given his team-mate a 'head start' of 31.2 overs.

Stokes' assault on the new ball included a remarkable check-drive six over midwicket off Joseph. Sibley, 86 not out overnight, ground his way to a hundred before he holed out against off-spinner Roston Chase, who took 5-172 from 44 overs.

But Stokes made sure England's innings did not get bogged down.

"It was great," said Sibley of batting with Stokes. "He turned it on after he got to a hundred and started being very expansive and took the pressure off me a little bit."

Kemar Roach checked England´s progress when he struck for the first time this series with two wickets in two balls. In his 71st over of the campaign the persevering paceman had Stokes, attempting an ambitious reverse sweep, caught behind to end a 356ball innings featuring 17 fours and two sixes before Woakes was caught in the gully.

Archer cleared to play in third Test after fine and written warning LONDON AGENCIES

Jofra Archer has been cleared to play in the final Test of the series against West Indies despite breaching biosecurity protocols after the first Test. Archer was dropped from the squad for the second Test in Manchester after it emerged he had made an unauthorised visit to his home in Brighton after leaving Southampton. Ashley Giles, the managing director of England men's cricket said the breach "could have been a disaster" which cost English cricket "tens of millions of pounds". But a disciplinary hearing chaired by Giles ended with Archer being given a fine - which is understood to be around £15,000, the value of his match fee for the second Test - and an official written warning. The relatively lenient penalty reflects Archer's previous good record, his remorse and an acceptance his actions were foolish rather than a wilful breach of protocol. The hearing was also attended remotely by Archer's agent, Tom Harwood, a representative from the Professional Cricketers' Association, and John Carr, the director of England Cricket Operations at the ECB. Archer has been obliged to isolate in his hotel room at Emirates Old Trafford since the details of his trip came to light.

Beijing 2022 Games ´pressing ahead´ despite coronavirus threat

ISLAMABAD

BEIJING

APP

AGENCIES

Following the one-year postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 due to the COVID-19 global health pandemic, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has confirmed the match schedule for the men’s and women’s hockey competitions of the XXXII Olympiad. The hockey event was originally scheduled to run from Saturday July 25 until Friday August 7, 2020, with matches being played at the purpose-built Oi Hockey Stadium in Japan’s capital city. Although nothing has changed in terms of the location and overall running order of the matches, the Olympic hockey competitions will now start on Saturday July 24 and conclude on Friday August 6, 2021, the FIH said in a press release.

In line with what was planned for this year, the opening match of next year’s Olympic Games will be contested between the men of Japan and Australia, with the host nation facing a stern test from the 2019 FIH Hockey Pro League champions – Olympic gold medalists at Athens 2004 – on July

Beijing 2022 organisers were "pressing ahead" with preparations for the Winter Olympics Friday after a senior official of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) warned the coronavirus could force the Games to be postponed.

Dick Pound, a former IOC vice-president, told AFP that all options would have to be considered if the Beijing Games cannot be held in 2022. Beijing is due to host the Winter Olympics just six months after the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games, which have been put back a year to JulyAugust 2021 because of the coronavirus.

However, with the pandemic showing no signs of receding, Japanese and IOC officials have both raised fears that the Tokyo Olympics may have to be cancelled altogether. "To get to that point, where you decide you can´t do it (Beijing) in 2022, you explore whatever options you can do," Pound said in an interview.

"If we´re in Tokyo, things all may be ready

for Beijing. On the other hand, they may not be," he added. In a statement to AFP, Beijing 2022 said the IOC is ploughing on with both Games as planned, despite the coronavirus still claiming lives in much of the world. "As far as we know, the position of the IOC is very clear and remains unchanged," Beijing organisers said.

"They are fully concentrated and committed to the successful delivery" of both the Tokyo and Beijing Games, they added.

China, where the coronavirus emerged late last year before spreading worldwide, has largely brought the contagion under control despite periodic localised new clusters.

However, Chinese authorities have ruled out hosting most international sports events this year -- with the exception of 2022 trials -- as part of measures to prevent a resurgence.

"At present, Beijing 2022 is implementing strict prevention and control measures against COVID-19, while pressing ahead with the Games preparations in an orderly manner," organisers added.

IPL 2020 likely to be played in UAE between September, November MUMBAI AGENCIES

The 2020 edition of the IPL being played entirely in the UAE is now a distinct possibility, and ESPNcricinfo understands that the BCCI has earmarked a tentative window between September 26 and November 7 for it.

A final decision will be taken by the BCCI once the ICC announces the likely postponement of the men's T20 World Cup, scheduled between October 18 and November 15 in Australia. The ICC Board is scheduled to have a call on July 20 to discuss the matter, and a final decision on the World Cup is likely to be taken then.It is understood that the BCCI has written to the Indian government seeking permission for the tournament to be shifted to UAE and also get the necessary travel permission for the players and officials of the teams.

On Friday, the BCCI's Apex Council discussed the possibility of the IPL being played in the UAE in its entirety. It is understood that the BCCI would still prefer conducting the tournament in India, but the Covid-19 situation - the number of infections in the country are on the rise - has meant that the UAE has been identified as the next-best option.

In April, the BCCI deferred the IPL indefinitely because of the pandemic. With over a million cases at the moment, India is third on the list of countries in terms of infections and has officially recorded over 26,000 deaths.

The BCCI had originally wanted to conduct the IPL behind closed doors in limited venues and singled out Mumbai as the hub, but India's commercial capital has a huge number of Covid-19 infections in the country, making it unfeasible.

In June, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly wrote to the state associations, stating the board was "optimistic"

CMYK

about the IPL taking place this year and "all possible options" were being worked out including playing in "empty stadiums".

If the tournament does shift to the UAE, it would be the second time for the IPL there, after the first 20 matches of the tournament were staged in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in 2014 because of the general elections in India.

In April, the Emirates Cricket Board had written to BCCI, offering UAE as an alternative venue for the tournament. And the board is ready to play host now, if the BCCI green-lights the switch. "We are ready to fully support the IPL if it chooses to come and play in the UAE," Mubashshir Usmani, ECB secretary, told ESPNcricinfo.

"We will provide all the support concerning the protocol and government permission required to host the IPL. We are waiting for written confirmation from BCCI." The tournament is expected to be played at the three main grounds in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, while it is not clear whether the oval at the ICC Academy in Dubai, too, could be used as one of the venues with the tournament likely to be played behind closed doors.

As far as the franchises are concerned, they discussed playing in the UAE during an owners' call on July 13. With most of the global pool of players homebound due to the pandemic, the franchises are primarily concerned about the players getting enough training ahead of the tournament, which could go on for at least six weeks. If the tournament does move to UAE, it is understood that franchises are likely to set up their bases a month in advance, for training and also to cater to any quarantine measures imposed by the UAE government.

It is understood that the main reason for marking November 7 as the date for the IPL final was to ensure Indian players get enough time to travel to Australia for the four-match Test series, set to begin in December.

Sunday, 19 July, 2020

PRAyER TimingS

NEWS LAHOR

F

STAFF REPORT

our out of 15 special assistants to the prime minister (SAPMs) are dual nationality holders while three have foreign residency. This information was revealed on Saturday when the Cabinet Division uploaded details of the assets and nationalities of SAPMs and advisers on its website.

Those who have dual nationalities included Zulfikar Bukhari, British citizenship; Shehzad Syed Qasim, US citizenship; Nadeem Babar, US citizenship; and Tania Aidrus, Canadian nationality and Singapore resident.

The three SAPMs who have foreign residency included Nadeem Afzal Chan, Canadian permanent residency; Moeed Yousaf, US residency; and Shahbaz Gill, US green cardholder.

According to asset details of these cabinet members, Zulfikar Bukhari has properties worth millions of rupees in London. His father gave him two pieces of land as gift in 2006 and 2007 while he was also gifted 1,210 kanals and 91 kanals. He also inherited plots in Islamabad from his maternal relatives.

SAPM Sania Nishtar does not have a

FouR SAPMS ARe DuAl nAtIonAlS, thRee holD FoReIGn ReSIDency

dual nationality, according to the documents. Nishtar, along with her husband, have a total bank balance of Rs14.8 million. The only car, a Honda Civic is in the name of Nishtar’s husband. She owns jewellery worth Rs500,000 and has inherited property of 9.6 marlas in Peshawar.

She has liabilities of Rs2.3 million.

SAPM Shahzad Akbar owns property worth Rs6.5 million while his wife also holds property worth Rs1.3 million.

He has Rs450 million in cash.

Shahbaz Gill owns assets worth Rs150 million while Hafeez Shaikh has

In a first, global coronavirus cases rise by 1m within 100 hours NEW YORK

revealed assets worth Rs300 million, however, he is in debt of Rs290 million.

SAPM Nadeem Babar owns assets worth Rs2.184 billion, including multiple properties in Pakistan as well as foreign destinations. Babar has stakes in over two dozen companies in companies based out of Pakistan.

SAPM Shahzad Qasim owns three plots worth Rs6 million in Lahore along with ownership of Rs3.5 million land in Gwadar. He holds assets in the US and UAE along with having a cash amount of Rs40 million in bank accounts.

SAPM Ali Nawaz Awan has property worth Rs37.1 million along with immovable property worth Rs3.1 million. He also possesses 75 tolas of gold.

SAPM Lt Gen (r) Asim Saleem Bajwa’s immovable property is worth Rs151.433 million. Shares worth Rs3,100,000 have been bought in his wife’s name. The documents have listed a Toyota Prado ZX 2016 worth Rs3 million.

Two bank accounts in Islamabad have Rs291,000 and Rs1,239, respectively. Lt Gen Bajwa also has a foreign bank account in Rawalpindi containing $4,149.

SAPM Usman Dar owns assets worth Rs60 million.

In a tweet, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said that the government has placed the details of assets of all SAPMS and advisers on the website of the Cabinet Division. The minister said that these details have been shared with the nation on the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Traders warn of anti-govt drive if all businesses are not reopened by month end ISLAMABAD

DRAP okays 10pc hike in medicine prices ISLAMABAD TLTP

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) approved an increase of up to 10 per cent in prices of medicines on Saturday. According to the notification issued on Saturday, the federal government has amended the Drug Pricing Policy 2018, allowing pharmaceutical companies to increase prices of medicines up to 10pc. The notification stated that the regulator has allowed pharmaceutical companies to increase prices of their life saving drugs by up to 7pc and other drugs by up to 10pc. The decision to raise drug prices has been taken in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The notification said the Ministry of Health will review drug prices every year according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Earlier in January, the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) had notified reduction in prices of 89 medicines on directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan after the federal cabinet reduced the prices in its meeting.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said the prices of several life-saving drugs had also been reduced.

The All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran on Saturday gave the government a deadline till July 31 to meet their demands after the traders took to the streets of the federal capital to record their protest against closure of businesses.

“Traders should be given interest-free loans,” APAT and Traders Action Committee Islamabad President Ajmal Baloch said, adding that if their demands were not met till July 31, a “send the government home” campaign would start.

Pakistan has imposed a lockdown across the country to stem the spread of the coronavirus due to which several businesses have been restricted from operating, while those open are bound to close shops earlier.

Demonstrators honked car horns and trumpets during the protest under the slogan “honk your horn, wake up the government”. APAT president said that if Imran Khan was allowed to stage a sit-in in front of the Prime Minister House then why were traders barred from doing the same. The traders have demanded that

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA 5:20

7:23

8:50

Govt denies promulgating ordinance to provide Jadhav reprieve ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The federal government on Saturday denied promulgating any secret any ordinance to give Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav reprieve. “The spokesperson of the Ministry of Law and Justice has denied the allegations that secretly an ordinance with a view to give reprieve to the Indian Commander Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav was promulgated by the federal government, without taking the country or the Parliament into confidence with a malafide intent,” read a statement issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice. The statement comes a day after Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari accused the government of promulgating an ordinance to facilitate Jadhav. “What is this secret Kulbhushan Jadhav ordinance introduced by our selected government without taking the country or parliament into confidence,” he had written. According to a press release issued by the Law and Justice Ministry, the ICJ had instructed Pakistan in its July, 2019 judgement to provide Commander Jadhav an “effective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence”. Indian Navy officer Jadhav was arrested on charges of espionage in Balochistan in March 2016 and sentenced to death by a military court a year later. “In order to comply with the directions of the ICJ, the International Court of Justice (Review and Reconsideration) Ordinance, 2020 was promulgated to provide an effective mechanism of review and reconsideration to Commander Jadhav, of Pakistan’s own choice,” said the press release. The press release said that the Article 89 of Pakistan’s Constitution allows the president to promulgate any ordinance when the parliament is not is session.

ISLAMABAD TLTP

restaurants, schools, hotels, and wedding halls be allowed to resume activities immediately, adding that businesses be allowed to operate till 10pm.

The businessmen said that the police have prohibited the traders coming from all over the country from entering Islamabad. “If the roads are not opened [for them], they will hold a sit-in wherever they are,” the protesters said.

Baloch said that the entrance to Islamabad from Zero Point has been sealed, adding that traders should be allowed to enter as they were holding a peaceful protest. The APAT

president said that the protesters from Sindh and Balochistan were not allowed to enter Islamabad.

The protesters plan to march from Zero Point to the Prime Minister’s House. Furthermore, a protest caravan of APAT in Lahore had left for Islamabad under the leadership of General Secretary APAT Naeem Mir. According to Mir, the intensity of the coronavirus pandemic has started to decrease and in the light of this development, businesses should be allowed to reopen. Mir assured the government that the protesters would remain “peaceful”.

Pakistan summons Indian envoy over repeated LoC ceasefire violations ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday summoned a senior Indian diplomat to register Pakistan’s “strong protest” over the latest ceasefire violations by Indian border forces along the Line of Control (LoC), which left two women injured on Friday.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a tweet on Friday that Indian troops had initiated “unprovoked ceasefire violation” in Rakhchikri and Baroh sectors along the LoC targeting the civilian population.

“Due to [the] indiscriminate and unprovoked firing”, 35-year-old Shakeela Bibi, a resident of village Kirni and 40-year-old Nazia Bibi, a resident of village Gahi, sustained serious injuries, the FO spokesperson said in a statement.

“The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary have been continuously targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-calibre mortars and automatic weapons,” the press release noted.

According to the FO, India has

ZUHR 12:38

5:53

IMF chief for extending debt service suspension initiative

STAFF REPORT

AgEnCiES

For the first time, there has been a surge of 1 million coronavirus cases in under 100 hours around the world, as global infections passed 14 million on Friday, according to a Reuters tally. The first case was reported in China in early January and it took three months to reach 1 million cases. It has taken just four days to climb to 14 million cases from 13 million recorded on July 13. The United States, with more than 3.6 million confirmed cases, is still seeing huge daily jumps in its first wave of Covid-19 infections. The United States reported a daily global record of more than 77,000 new infections on Thursday, while Sweden has reported 77,281 total cases since the pandemic began. Despite the surging cases, a cultural divide is growing in the country over wearing masks to slow the spread of the virus, a precaution routinely taken in many other nations. US President Donald Trump and his followers have resisted a full-throated endorsement of masks and have been calling for a return to normal economic activity and reopening schools despite the surging cases. Other hard-hit countries have “flattened the curve” and are easing lockdowns put in place to slow the spread of the novel virus while others, such as the cities of Barcelona and Melbourne, are implementing a second round of local shutdowns. The number of cases globally is around triple that of severe influenza illnesses recorded annually, according to the World Health Organization. The pandemic has now killed more than 590,000 people in almost seven months, edging towards the upper range of yearly influenza deaths reported worldwide. The first death was reported on Jan. 10 in Wuhan, China before infections and fatalities then surged in Europe and later in the United States. The Reuters tally, which is based on government reports, shows the disease is accelerating the fastest in the Americas, which account for more than half the world’s infections and half its deaths. In Brazil, more than 2 million people have tested positive including President Jair Bolsonaro, and more than 76,000 people have died.

FAJR SUNRISE 4:26

committed 1,697 ceasefire violations this year to date, resulting in 14 deaths and serious injuries to 133 civilians. Condemning the targeting of innocent civilians by Indian forces as “deplorable”, the FO said the Indian envoy was conveyed that “such senseless acts are in clear violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, and are also against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct”.

“These egregious violations of international law reflect consistent Indian attempts to escalate the situation along the LoC and are a threat to regional peace and security,” the

statement added. It said that by raising tensions along the LoC and the WB, “India cannot divert attention from the grave human rights situation” in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The FO called upon India to respect the 2003 ceasefire agreement and to “maintain peace along the LoC and the WB” along with investigating all such violations. It also urged India to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva has called for extending the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) .She said this while addressing the virtual meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, chaired by Saudi Arabia, said a press statement issued here on Saturday. She said due to the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the global economy faces a deep recession this year, with partial and uneven recovery expected in 2021.

While there remains great uncertainty on the outlook, the unprecedented actions taken by the G20 countries and others have helped avert a much worse outcome.

“As we enter the next phase of the crisis, further policy action will be required, as well as increased international cooperation. The G20 Action Plan is key to this effort,” she added.To support countries in fighting the crisis and to prevent long-lasting scarring of the global economy, particularly waves of bankruptcies, risks to financial stability, high unemployment, and increasing inequality, she emphasized on the following. First, the public health response remains the main priority to protect people, jobs, and economic activity. Across the world, countries have implemented exceptional measures to support individuals and workers. These lifelines should be maintained as needed and, in some cases, expanded. Second, supportive fiscal and monetary policies will need to continue until a safe and durable exit from the crisis is secured. Premature withdrawal of this support could derail the recovery and incur larger costs. Third, policies need to prepare for and support transformational change will expand. Adapting to change in an inclusive manner will require adequate social protection, and training and job search assistance to workers.

Fourth, there is a need to unite to help the poorest and most vulnerable economies, especially those struggling with high debt or dependent on hard-hit sectors. “The G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) has been commendable and I hope that consideration will be given to extending it,” she said.

In addition, to make it even more effective, greater private sector participation, and greater debt transparency, should be strongly promoted. Beyond the DSSI, there is a need to fill gaps in the international debt architecture and think about more comprehensive debt relief for many countries. “We stand ready to support these efforts,” she maintained. “I also emphasize that we can use the crisis as an opportunity to build a better future for all people by: maximizing the potential of the digital economy; promoting green investment to combat climate change in a job-rich manner; and investing in human capital to build a more inclusive economy. “The IMF has moved with unprecedented speed—providing emergency financing to 72 countries in four months—and we will continue to support our member countries relentlessly.

We see especially pressing needs to assist low-income countries, and small and fragile states which have been hit very hardwith the support of our membership, we continue to mobilize additional concessional resources to help them. In this context, we are stepping up action to make better use of existing—Special Drawing Rights (SDRs),” said the IMF chief. She concluded by saying that IMF will explore additional tools that could further help in this crisis.

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot No 66-C, 1st Floor, 21st Commercial Street, Phase-II (Extension), DHA Karachi and printed at Ibn-e-Hassan Printing Press, Hockey Stadium, Karachi. Ph: 021-35381208-9. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk