Tuesday, 28 July, 2020 I 6 Dhul-Hijjah, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 30 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition
Covid-19: imran urges restraint during eidul azha
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
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RIME Minister Imran Khan on Monday warned of a spike in cases of the deadly coronavirus if the public ignored the standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the coming days. PM Imran’s cautionary comments came almost three weeks after he advised people not to repeat “what they did on Eidul Fitr” and exercise extra caution on Eidul Azha so that the coronavirus does not resurge. In a televised address to the nation, he said that the situation of Pakistan was quite different from China, the US, and other European countries. “Due to the smart lockdown strategy, we were able to contain the spread of coronavirus, and now the whole world is now recognising its benefits,” he noted. The premier said Pakistan’s strategy to tackle the virus had to be different than the rest of the world as most of its daily wagers were unregistered. “[At least] 70-80 per cent of labourers
in our country are not registered; therefore, our approach had to be different from the European countries. We could not take any drastic steps like imposing a curfew. We were afraid that more people will die from starvation and poverty than coronavirus itself,” he added. “India is now suffering the results of their decisions and the people are suffering in the neighbourhood,” he said. The world is admitting and accepting that lockdown was not the only solution to the virus situation, the prime minister stressed, adding that Pakistan was also focusing on the agricultural sector as “we do not want any distortions and disruptions in the food supply.” PM Imran lamented the criticism for reopening the construction sector but underlined that “we took the risk and set our priorities straight to save the people from hunger and poverty”. He added that the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme was rolled out as part of the party’s objectives to provide cushion to the vulnerable segment of the society. “There’s no precedent of the Ehsaas
Coronavirus in
Pakistan
CONFIRMED CASES:
274,802
DAY'S DEATH TOLL:
NEW CASES:
35
1,226
RECOVERED:
DEATHS:
241,026 5,853 SINDH:
118,824
PUNJAB:
92,073
KP:
BALOCHISTAN:
AJK/GB:
ISLAMABAD:
33,397
11,601
2,034/1,989 14,884
program in the world, [one] where the impoverished segment of the society was aided through transparent and synchronized operations… Even when we were imposing smart lockdown, we implemented the lockdown strategically with clusters,” he commented. The prime minister went on to thank his team for their efforts in tackling the crisis, saying: “I want to credit my team for pulling off such results. After three months, Pakistan has reported the lowest fatality rate compared to the past.” “We need to understand that the world is still experimenting with strategies to curb the virus. It has also been observed that if countries do not vigilantly make strategies for the post-pandemic world, the virus may return with a peak in the countries. We have examples of Australia, Iran, and other countries where the virus has returned and the spike of cases are reported once again,” he explained. The PM again stressed for people to heed the SOPs in the upcoming days, noting: “If we will not be cautious during the Eidul Azha and Muharram period, we might again see a spike of cases that will be devastating for the country. We have an example of Eidul Fitr, where we were reluctant to abide by the SOPs, the frontline workers were hugely impacted and we saw a surge in cases.” The prime minister said that “our research” suggested that the most effective measure to keep the virus at bay was to wear face masks. “It is quite simple and an easy preventive measure to adopt,” he said. “I am once again asking you all to be careful about the SOPS during the Eidul Azha period,” he urged. “If the nation will cooperate, we have to resume our main sectors of the country including business, construction, and tourism. We have to come back to normalcy. We will resume schools, universities, and restaurants if the numbers for the virus keep on declining. We have to battle the disease collectively as a nation together,” he added.
Govt goes after ‘sugar cartel’ g
SECP, SBP, FIA among those directed to investigate matter, submit report within 90 days ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
The federal government on Monday ordered relevant departments to launch a formal investigation and take “penal, corrective and mitigating measures” against the sugar barons accused of cartelisation and hoarding/profiteering in the investigative report of the sugar inquiry commission. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar wrote letters to Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to “undertake a comprehensive investigation” into the matter. All recipients of the letters, barring the chief secretary of Sindh, have been directed to wrap up the investigation and submit a report to the federal government within 90 days. The forensic audit of the sugar mills, the revelations of which were made public in May, had accused key political players, includ-
Punjab reports zero deaths from Covid-19 first time in two months Government imposes smart lockdown to curb Covid-19 spread LAHORE/PESHAWAR g All retail shops, markets, STAFF REPORT The Punjab government on shopping malls and plazas Monday imposed a smart quarantine across the province in an to remain closed till Aug 5 effort to curtail the coronavirus
g
infection during Eidul Azha in the light of the federal government’s directives. The announcement comes as Punjab reported zero deaths for the first time in two months. The official daily tally of confirmed infections in the province has remained below 500 over the last one week. According to the notification issued by the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, the quarantine will be effective from midnight tonight till Aug 5. During this period, all educational and training institutes, marriage halls, business centres, expo halls, restaurants, theme/amusement parks, play areas and arcades, beauty parlours and spas, cinemas and theatres will remain closed. “There shall be a complete ban on sporting tournaments/matches (indoor
ing Jahangir Tareen of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), of acting as “cartels” besides making huge profits through systematically hurting sugar growers and causing them financial losses. In his letter to the CCP, Akbar highlighted the findings of the sugar inquiry report, saying the mill owners “orchestrated ex-mill and retail price manipulation through satta, abuse of dominant position by the sugar cartel and non-provision of sugar to the utility stores corporation”. The PM’s aide directed the CCP to carry out an investigation to “determine the reasons, magnitude and inordinate delay in taking action against the sugar cartel despite earlier internal findings regarding cartelisation”. He aide also directed the SBP to investigate offences committed by mill owners that have been mentioned in the report by the sugar commission, which include loan defaults, suspicious exports proceeds realisation, disbursement of subsidy to exporters “despite payment to cane growers below the support price and misappropriation of pledged sugar stocks”.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 05
more inside
Five more killed as rain plays havoc in Karachi for second day STORY ON BACK PAGE
87pc reduction in coronavirusrelated deaths but risk remains, govt says STORY ON PAGE 03
and outdoor) except non-contact professional sports without spectators. All contact sports and indoor sports clubs/facilities shall remain closed,” the notification read. The notification added that there will also be a complete ban on gatherings of all kinds for social, religious, or any other purpose at any place, public or private.
“All retail shops, markets, shopping malls and plazas shall remain closed,” the notification said. However, exceptions were made for some, including pharmacies, postal services, petrol pumps and takeaway/home delivery for restaurants, which will be allowed to operate for 24 hours.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 05
IHC rejects petition to reopen schools from Aug 15
STORY ON PAGE 03
Opp APC to be held after Eidul Azha, Shehbaz to chair session
STORY ON PAGE 02
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Tuesday, 28 July, 2020
NEWS
Opp ApC TO be held AfTer eidul AzhA, ShehbAz TO ChAir SeSSiOn LAHORE
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STAFF REPORT
HE joint opposition’s All Parties Conference (APC) would be held immediately after Eidul Azha to devise a joint strategy against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, according to media reports. According to details, the meeting would be presided by Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) President Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad and he would also announce the
fazl's brother transferred back to Kp ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
The federal government on Monday returned the services of Ziaur Rehman, the brother of Jamiat Ulema-eIslam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman who the Sindh government had last week appointed deputy commissioner of a key Karachi district, back to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. A notification issued on Monday said: “Ziaur Rehman, a BS-19 officer of Provincial Management Service (PMS), [the] government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, presently posted in [the] government of Sindh, is transferred and his services are repatriated to the KP government with immediate effect.” The Sindh government had on July 23 posted Rehman as the deputy commissioner of Karachi’s Central district by transferring Farhan Ghani, an ex-PCS officer in the same grade. It remains unclear as to how an official of the KP government managed to bring himself at the disposal of the Sindh government against the service rules. It had emerged on Monday morning that the KP government had written a letter to the Establishment Division and asked for Rehman to be transferred back to the province. “The provincial government is facing a shortage of cadre officers and the services of [the] said officer [Rehman] are required for posting in KP,” the letter said.
pTA says ban on pubG remains in place
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said on Monday that the ban on the online game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) would remain in place as the game developer has not responded to the authority about its suitable framework to address key concerns. Three days ago, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had ordered the government to lift the ban on PUBG, a decision, which was joyously welcomed by the PUBG fans in Pakistan. The PTA, in a statement, said: “The order has been issued in accordance with Islamabad High Court’s orders after a hearing conducted by PTA on July 9 & in accordance with the provisions of PECA 2016.” The telecommunication authority said that it had provided an opportunity of hearing to the concerned parties, including, PUBG’s lawyers. “As per the order of the Authority, the PUBG game shall remain blocked in Pakistan.” “PTA has also approached PUBG management to inform about a suitable framework to address key concerns,” the statement said, adding: “No response has been received from PUBG so far.” On July 1, the PTA announced the decision to temporarily suspend the PUBG game in the country after it received multiple complaints from different segments of society. The authority said it received numerous complaints against PUBG wherein it was stated that the game is addictive, wastage of time, and poses a serious negative impact on the physical and psychological health of the Children. According to recent media reports, cases of suicide attributed to PUBG game have also been reported. The Lahore High court also directed the PTA to look into the issue and decide the matter after hearing the complainants. The authority had also solicited views of the public to reach any decision about the online game.
date of the meeting. All opposition parties, including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and Balochistan National Party (BNP), would participate in the conference. According to reports, the federal government’s two-year performance, including the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB’s) action against the opposition and country’s economic situation would be discussed in the conference. On July 20, it was reported that PMLN’s delegation would include Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Ayaz Sadiq. In their earlier meeting, PPP and PML-
N also agreed to form a joint action committee to formulate a common strategy against the government. The joint action committee will comprise PML-N’s Khawaja Asif, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Rana Sanaullah and Marriyum Aurangzeb, and the PPP’s Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman, Farhatullah Babar and Nayyar Bukhari. The committee will also include ANP’s Mian Iftikhar and Haider Khan Hoti, while Mir Kabeer Shahi will represent the National Party of Balochistan. The committee would focus on the way to “rid the nation of this government”.
SC seeks alternative opinion from BoI about lease of Railways golf club ISLAMABAD APP
The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday sought an alternative opinion from the Board of Investment (BoI) regarding the lease of Railways Royal Palm Golf and Country Club, Lahore. A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, heard the case. During the proceedings, the court directed the golf club administration to complete the accounting details of the club. Justice Bandial told the Railways counsel that the Railway must com-
plete its accounts details’ before leasing out a project. “The investors who showed interest in the lease would ask for accounts first,” he added. On the court’s suggestion for the lease term to be five years, the golf club chairman proposed a lease term of 15 years for the projects. The golf club chairman argued that no investor would agree to invest a huge amount for only five years. The court directed the BoI to submit a feasibility report and the BoI secretary said that the board hired consultants for the job instead of doing it themselves. Justice Bandial said BoI’s pri-
mary job was to prepare feasibility reports. Upon inquiry, he was informed that the BoI’s total budget was Rs270 million. In response to the criticism by Justice Bandial over how BoI was taking this money to do post-office work, BoI’s director said that they paid for private consultants who were experts in the field. Justice Bandial asked the additional director to hire the services of neutral experts for the project and submit a report in that regard. He also directed the golf club chairman to complete accounts in four weeks. The judges have adjourned the case for a month.
Bar councils seek ‘meaningful consultation’ for appointment of judges ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
The country’s superior bars have decided to present their recommendations to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed for amending the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) rules to ensure that bars are part of “a meaningful consultation” for appointments of judges to the superior courts. The decision was taken in a meeting of a committee comprising one member each of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), the Punjab Bar Council, the Sindh Bar Council, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council, the Balochistan Bar Council and the Islamabad Bar Council. The JCP is a commission responsible for appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and five high courts of the country. The chief justice of Pakistan heads the JCP as its chairman. It also comprises four senior most judges of the SC, a former judge, the federal law minister, the attorney general and a senior advocate nominated by the PBC. The PBC representative in the JCP – Akhtar Hussain – is the chairman of superior bars committee that was reviewing the JCP rules. According to reports, the committee will now send the proposed draft for amendments in the JCP rules to JCP chairman – CJ Gulzar Ahmed. The committee has proposed addition of a new clause in the JCP rules for “meaningful consultation” with concerned bar representative before initiation or sending names to the commission for appointment of a judge. The
consultation will be made by respective chief justice. It is also proposed that bars representatives in the JCP should have the right to recommend any name for appointment of a judge. Bars representatives have also suggested another new clause for permitting the commission to summon nominees for personal hearing at a JCP meeting. The committee has also suggested amendments to the JCP rules 6 and 8 to end discretionary powers of the JCP chairman – the chief justice of Pakistan – in the process of judges’ appointments. In 2013, the PBC had also proposed a number of amendments in the JCP rules, calling for transferring discretionary powers on appointment of superior court judges from the chairman to the commission.
MoC, stakeholders resume talks to develop three-year roadmap for tariff rationalisation ISLAMABAD GHULAM ABBAS
The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and Monday said that it would start discussions with relevant stakeholders from next month to develop a three year roadmap for tariff rationalisation. Earlier the MoC had claimed that the rationalised tariff, initially framed by the National Tariff Commission (NTC) would be included in the Budget 2020-21 after due consultation with all stakeholders. However the process could not be completed in time. On Monday, a meeting regarding tariff policy chaired by the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood was held at the MoC. The meeting was attended by secretary commerce, NTC chairperson and other concerned officials. During the meeting, the adviser to the prime minister on commerce and investment appreciated the efforts of Tariff Policy Board (TPB) and Tariff Policy Centre (TPC) of the NTC for the successful implementation of National Tariff Policy in the Budget 2020-21 through the reduction of duties on around 2,000 tariff lines, comprising basic raw materials and intermediates goods. He said tariff rationalisation is vital for export-led industrialisation in Pakistan and that discussions would start with the relevant stakeholders from next month to develop a three year roadmap in this regard. The adviser further emphasised the importance of tariff rationalisation to increase the competitiveness of the domestic industry including the exports sector through duty free access to imported raw materials and intermediate goods, which he said will eventually increase employment opportunities in the country by attracting investment in the manufacturing sector. He said that the stakeholder consultation process should lead to a constructive roadmap to develop an export-led ‘Make in Pakistan’ program. Razak Dawood also said that distortions in the domestic price structure should be reduced in order to increase the welfare of the consumers. He stressed to remove tariff anomalies in the tariff structure through analysis of value chains. He further directed the Tariff Policy Centre NTC to conduct detailed studies and suggest a three year tariff rationalisation roadmap initially for the iron and steel, plastic, engineering, pharmaceutical, chemical and textile sectors. According to officials, NTC on the directions of Razak Dawood was planning to conduct studies on the above mentioned sectors to develop a three year tariff plan. In order to formulate a three years tariff plan, the NTC will identify complete value chains, identify potential stakeholders, collect data from the primary and secondary sources, visit relevant industries, chambers and associations for collection and verification of data and conduct public hearings. The proposed three-year tariff plan will be submitted to the Tariff Policy Board for approval and inclusion in the annual budget. Earlier on July 16, Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers, in a letter sent to the Federal Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar, had informed that it was about to start export of steel to the neighboring countries in a bid to enhance Pakistan’s exports. However, as a nascent export-oriented steel sector, it had urged the government to provide policy support and a predictable road-map for the tariff structure.
Segmented load-shedding in line with National Power Policy: K-Electric KARACHI PPI
K-Electric (KE) on Monday, reiterated that only segmented load-shedding which is in line with the National Power Policy 2013, to address the issue of pervasive power theft and load-management, is being carried out in the city. According to the electric power company, no unscheduled load-shedding is being carried out in any part of Karachi. KE said that segmented load-shedding follows a schedule which is duly notified to registered customers via SMS and is also available on the company’s website. Segmented load-shedding is based on the theft-profile of areas and is determined by the Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses in any area.
According to KE’s statement, the power utility conducts a periodic review wherein it evaluates the loss of each area and profiles it as high or low loss respectively. Even in Very High Loss (VHL) areas, where electricity losses extend above 45 per cent, K-Electric supplies power up to 15 to 16 hours in a day. In order to counter power theft, KE has converted Pole-Mounted Transformers (PMTs) to aerial bundled cables. The power utility in 2020 alone has removed close to 200,000 kilogrammes (kg) of illegal wires from electricity infrastructure in areas including Malir, Landhi, Korangi, Orangi, Baldia and Lyari, said KE in its statement. As a result, Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses reduced from 36 per cent in 2009 to 19.7 per cent in 2020, said KE.
The power utility company has clarified that while load-shedding is routinely carried out in areas with pervasive power-theft and is independent of power supply, in contrast, loadmanagement is necessitated in unavoidable circumstances when the gap between power supply and demand widens for a brief duration. It further said that the current electricity crisis has been caused by circumstances outside KE’s control such as delayed regulatory and governmental approvals for power projects, inconsistent fuel quantities, low gas pressure and constrained supplies from various Independent Power Producers (IPPs). KE said that in order to provide relief to its residential customers it has been managing load through industrial load-shedding despite this impacting
negatively on the company’s financial health and profitability. “At the same time K-Electric is moving forward with an ambitious investment plan which would see $2 billion spent across the power value chain over the next three years, including a 900 Megawatts (MW) Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) fired power plant as well as downstream transmission and distribution upgrades,” the company said. Furthermore the company added that in order to evacuate additional power from the national grid on priority, it will also be investing in interconnection infrastructure and has already sought necessary regulatory and governmental approvals, following which 2,100 MW will be added to Karachi’s power supply by 2023.
Tuesday, 28 July, 2020
NEWS
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87pC reduCTiOn in COrOnAviruS-relATed deAThS buT riSK reMAinS, GOvT SAyS ISLAMABAD
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STAFF REPORT
M’S Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza has said that the country reported its lowest number of deaths in the last 24 hours after hitting a peak on June 20. In a tweet on Monday, Dr Mirza shared that there is an 87 percent reduction in Covid-19 related deaths, but warned that there is no room for complacency. Earlier on Sunday, PM’s Focal Person on Covid-19 Dr Faisal Sultan said that the current situation is much better than what the country was facing three months back and appreciated the federal agencies and provincial governments for their collaborative efforts to fight the spread of the contagious disease in the country. In the same press conference, SAPM on Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus said that with effective implementation of coron-
avirus strategies, Pakistan now has “a single-digit” positivity rate for the disease, which is an accomplishment for the government and the people who followed the standard operating procedures. According to the latest statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 1,176 new coronavirus cases were reported in the country during the last 24 hours, taking the tally up to 274,289. Twenty patients were further reported dead because of the virus during the last 24 hours taking the death toll to 5,842. Some 22,056 corona tests were carried out during this period. Pakistan’s cases of Covid-19 have dropped considerably in recent weeks. Critics have said a drop in Pakistan’s coronavirus cases was reported due to the government testing fewer people. However, Dr Faisal Sultan rejected these claims in a press conference on Sunday. Dr Sultan said a lower testing rate
ihC rejects petition to reopen schools from Aug 15 ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday disposed of a petition filed by private school owners seeking the opening of schools, stating that it is the government’s job to formulate a policy on the matter and the court will not interfere. The case was heard before IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, who said that the elected government is answerable to the people and the government would take a decision after assessing the situation. During the hearing, the petitioners’ lawyer maintained that all educational institutions have remained shut in past months due to the coronavirus pandemic. This has led to problems for school owners but the government does not care, he argued, adding that appeals have been made but no decision has been taken yet. It’s not just school owners but also students’ education that is being affected, remarked Justice Minallah. It would be incorrect to say that the matter has not come to the government’s attention, he observed. It is the job of the government to formulate a policy on the matter and the court will not interfere, remarked Justice Minallah. He directed the petitioners to approach the relevant authorities not through individuals but through the association. Educational institutes in the country have been shut since the pandemic hit the country in efforts to contain the spread of the virus and ensure protection for students. During this time several schools and varsities have opted for online classes but repeated appeals have also been made by school owners to reopen the institutes. The provincial education ministers, on July 8, had agreed to reopen all educational intuitions across the country in the first week of September. The decision was taken during an inter-provincial education ministers’ conference, presided over by Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood. However, on July 20, the All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association (APPSCA) announced reopening educational institutes from August 15 across the country. STAFF REPORT
was witnessed due to a “reduction in symptoms being witnessed in people”. He stated that when the spread was more rapid, the number of recorded tests was much higher. The number of recoveries from Covid-19 continues to increase across the country with 241,026 patients so far recovered from the disease. Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department reported zero new Covid-19 deaths in Punjab in the past 24 hours for the first time since May 26. With 172 new cases in the past 24 hours, the total number of confirmed cases in Punjab has risen to 92,073. The number of deaths remained unchanged at 2,116. 10 patients were reported negative for Covid-19 taking the total number of recovered patients to 81,263 in the province. The total number of tests conducted in the province so far is 669,336. The detection rate of the virus is now 13.75% while the death rate has fallen to
2.29% per confirmed Covid-19 case in Punjab. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, in a statement, said that of the 8,742 new Covid-19 tests in Sindh, 513 tested positive, lifting the total number of cases in the province to 118,224. The current virus detection rate was said to be 6%. 11 more patients lost their lives to this virus, lifting the death toll to 2,162. He added that so far, in Sindh, a total of 718,548 samples have been tested for the presence of Covid-19, of which 118,824 tested positive, resulting in an overall detection rate of 17%. With the 11 new deaths, the death rate was reported to be 1.8%. He further stated that 1077 had recovered from the virus in Sindh, in the past 24 hours. The total number of recovered patients in the province rose to 108,480. According to the CM, currently, 8182 patients are reported to be under treatment with 7655 in home isolation, six at isolation centers, and 521 in different hospitals.
Opp seeks time to consider govt's amendments to NAB law ISLAMABAD MIAN ABRAR
The opposition on Monday sought time from the federal government to seek consultation from its leadership on the draft bill presented to amend the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999. The second meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Legislative Business was held here on Monday with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the chair. During the meeting, the government discussed with the opposition issues related to amendments to the NAB laws, action plan of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. Sources told Pakistan Today that the government in its recommendations has proposed an extension in the tenure of the chairman, deputy chairman and prosecutor general NAB; however the opposition has rejected the proposal, saying they needed to be discussed first. Sources said that the opposition told the government representatives that they would need to consult with their leadership on the other proposals. The committee took up nine drafts of legislation, mostly related to the FATF framework. The opposition members of the committee is likely not to create any problems in amendments relating to FATF; however they are all set to give tough time to the government pertaining to the provision of reappointment of the NAB chairman and prosecutor general NAB. The parliamentary committee would meet on Tuesday to deliberate on the draft laws. Earlier, Foreign Minister Qureshi said that the federal government wanted to eradicate corruption from the roots through better legislation. He said that governments keep changing, but legislation is a constant process. “We have one position on some laws, while the
QURESHI SAYS GOVT WANTS TO ERADICATE CORRUPTION THROUGH BETTER LEGISLATION Opposition has another,” he said. “A 24-member parliamentary committee has been formed to bridge the gap between us and the opposition.” The foreign minister said that one meeting of the parliamentary committee has been held and another will be convened soon. “We have sent the drafts related to the FATF, national security and NAB to our friends in the opposition,” he said. “I hope that we will look at these drafts together and discuss it,” the foreign minister observed. Qureshi added that we [the government] also do not want to tarnish anyone’s honour in the name of corruption, or harass anyone. “However, those who have looted this country must be brought to justice,” the FM said. “Thus, our aim is to have a law that meets both these benchmarks,” he added. Last week, the Supreme Court, while raising questions on the conduct of NAB, ruled in its 83-page judgment that accountability laws had been successfully used to change political loyalties. The landmark observation came as the court decided to grant bail to PML-N stalwart Saad Rafique. However, it was reported on July 25 that the government has proposed doing away with a clause in the law governing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) that would allow it to extend the tenure of the anti-graft body’s chairman. The National Accountability Ordinance amendment bill also seeks sparing public office holders from NAB action for any step taken in “good faith”.
Govt plans to generate 100,000MW through indigenous resources ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Minister for Power Division Omar Ayub Khan on Monday informed the Senate that the government had an integrated plan to generate 100,000 MW by 2047 through indigenous resources to ensure energy security and boost industries. Winding up discussion on a motion pertaining to the issue of increase in circular debt beyond Rs1,660 million, moved by Mushtaq Ahmad, the minister said that the share of indigenous energy would be enhanced to 80 per cent to get rid of expensive energy based on imported fuel. He said that energy projects would be set up in areas under the integrated programme. The minister said that Renewable Energy (RE) Plan would be placed before Council of Common Interests (CCI) and Sindh and Balochistan would be major beneficiaries as mainly solar and wind projects would be set up in these provinces. The policy targets increasing the share of alternative
energy in the energy mix up to a level of 20 per cent by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030. Some 8,000 MW would be added through RE by 2025 and its share would be increased to 30,000 MW by 2030, he added. Lamenting the “poor policies” of the previous governments of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), he said that costly agreements were signed with power companies, due to which the public was facing high rates. Omar said that the PML-N government had announced heavy unfunded subsidy during its last year that damaged the economy of the country. The minister said that it was unfortunate that the previous government had generated expensive electricity through liquefied natural gas (LNG). He said that the circular debt had reached to Rs450 billion during the PML-N government and Rs39 billion per month was pilling up in it. The Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) government managed to bring it down to Rs12 billion per month, he added.
Omar said that the previous governments did not enhance the power tariff despite NEPRA’s determination. This move was aimed at winning the general elections and continued power supply to loss making feeders resulted in the piling up of Rs200 billion in dues, he added. He said that the government also upgraded the transmission line and now over 25,000 MW could easily be transmitted it. Earlier, the system could only transmit 18,000 MW, he said, adding there was frequent tripping on 500 kV and 220 kV lines of NTDC. However, he said, owing to up-grading the transmission lines, no tripping was witnessed during last winter. The PTI government collected Rs121 billion more revenue in the energy sector. Around 80 per cent feeders had been cleared from power pilferage and remaining 20 per cent would also be cleared, he added. He said that various mega projects including Diamer-Basha and Mohmand dams and other hydel projects had been started to get cheap hydel electricity.
pM directs to ensure uniform flour price across country ISLAMABAD TLTP
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday directed to ensure uniform prices of wheat and flour across the country. Presiding over a meeting about availability of flour and sugar and their prices in the country, the prime minister directed all the chief secretaries to adopt a joint strategy with mutual consultations to ensure uniform prices of the commodities in the country. He ordered an accelerated crackdown against the elements involved in hoarding and to ensure provision of flour and sugar at reasonable rates across the country. The premier said that the process of importing wheat at official level, besides by the private sector, should be accelerated to ensure profuse availability of wheat in the market. He said it should be ensured that the crushing process by sugar mills is started at the appropriate time, and no delay is committed in this regard. Earlier on July 14, in an effort to ensure availability of wheat flour at reasonable rates across the country, PM Imran had ordered a massive crackdown on hoarders. Presiding over a high-level meeting to review the wheat and flour supply situation in the country, PM Imran had ordered a crackdown against elements involved in wheat hoarding across the country. He had directed the provincial chief secretaries to continue the policy of zero-tolerance against adulteration and not to make any concessions in this regard.
nA offers fateha for ijaz Shah’s brother ISLAMABAD APP
National Assembly on Monday offered Fateha for the departed soul of Interior Minister Brigadier (r) Ijaz Ahmed Shah's brother Shah Pir Hassan Ahmed who passed away on Sunday in a Lahore hospital. On the request of the Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, Moulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali led the Fateha.
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Tuesday, 28 July, 2020
NEWS
SIndh GovT awaRE of PEoPLE’S PRoBLEmS, makInG EffoRTS foR ThEIR RESoLuTIon: Shah KARACHI
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INP
INDH Minister for Local Government and Information Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said that the government is well aware of problems faced by the people and it is making all out efforts to restore business activities with improvement in coronavirus situation to lessen the miseries of all sections and sectors. He was talking to a delegation of Beauty Salon Association which called on him at Ali House Karachi on Monday. Secretary Local Government Roshan Sheikh, Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar, Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shalawani were also present on the occasion. The delegation of beauticians said that due to several months of lockdown, the stoves in the houses of the employees
have gone out and most of them belong to the poor and middle class. The delegation appealed for permission to open a parlor on the days of Eidul Azha but Shah said that government will consult with beauty parlors after Eid. The provincial minister said that people from all walks of life have been affected by corona but economic activities can be allowed under standard operating procedures (SOPs). He said that all the provinces are implementing the guideline given by the federation and all sympathies of Sindh government are with the business community. The delegation included Mona Jamal, Nadia Hussain, Shaista Margoob, Ayesha Mohsin and Afshan Rashid. Justice of Peace District South Karachi Muhammad Aman Pir and social figure Sahibzada Shehzad Khan were also present in the meeting.
PTI believes in taking practical steps for public welfare: Buzdar ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf's (PTI) government believes in practical steps for welfare of the people. In a statement in Lahore on Monday, he said that development projects have been started in backward areas and big cities by identifying public needs and no city, town and village of Punjab will be deprived of fruits of development. He said that Mother and Child, Cardiology and General Hospitals are being built in South Punjab while government will soon start work on a special economic zone (SEZ) in Bahawalpur. He said that the world is appreciating the steps of prime minister against Covid-19 but unfortunately opposition parties played negative role on national challenge of coronavirus. He appealed the people to celebrate Eidul Azha with simplicity and follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) strictly. PPI
2 killed in Lahore firing incidents LAHORE: Two people were killed in separate incidents of firing in separate incidents of firing in different areas of the provincial capital Lahore on Monday. Police said that armed men sprayed bullets at their rival in Nawab Chowk Misri Shah area leaving him critically injured. The wounded person Shahid was shifted to Mayo Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Unidentified motorcyclists gunned down a 50-year-old welder Babar Shah in jurisdiction of Islampura police station and fled the scene. Separate incidents in both incidents were registered at concerned police stations and investigation was underway. INP
KARAchi RAin: WAsim AKRAm, nAsiR shAh engAge in TWiTTeR RoW KARACHI: Former national cricket team skipper Wasim Akram on Monday reacted strongly to Sindh Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah after the politician had lashed out at the cricketer on criticising the authorities over the Karachi situation after the third spell of rain. Taking to Twitter, Akram said: “The people of Pakistan should be able to celebrate the rain, not mourn over it! Mix my words however you like but too many people suffer every year because of this problem, and that is what kills me.” Earlier, the Sindh's information minister had hit out at the former skipper, who had expressed disappointment over urban flooding in Karachi following a spell of rain. Responding to the former fast bowler, Shah invited Akram to visit Karachi and "inspect [the] streets of Karachi and see how water has been drained from all roads". Shah lashed out at the former leftarm pacer, saying if he had tweeted on the Karachi rain situation on things he had heard and not seen for himself, then he had "disappointed millions of people in Sindh". As video clips of several locations around Karachi flooded with rainwater and gutters overflowing started to go viral on social media, Akram had taken to Twitter to call for addressing Karachi's problem. TLTP
Dharejo for stepping up efforts to eradicate corruption from sindh KARACHI TLTP
Sindh Minister for Industries & Commerce, and Anti-Corruption & Cooperative Department, Jam Ikramullah Dharejo has directed the officers of Anti-Corruption Department to intensify their operations against corrupt elements to eradicate corruption from the province. He said this while addressing a meeting of Sindh Anti-Corruption Department at his office on Monday. He said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal BhuttoZardari has issued strict instructions that corruption should be eradicated from the province as soon as possible. Dharejo said that corruption affects the society like termites and due to corruption, development projects are not completed on time and the fruits of these projects could not reach the common man. He said that the
pending cases of corruption should be brought to their logical conclusion immediately and the elements involved in corruption should be identified and punished so that no one dare commit corruption. He also said that a strict system of accountability should be introduced within the department. He added that special training of officers should also be arranged for prevention of white-collar crime and investigation on correct lines. “With the passage of time corrupt elements are adopting new methods of corruption by adopting modern requirements and we have to bring our officers in line with modern requirements to take action against them otherwise we would not be able to get the desired results,” he further said. He said that there is a need to eradicate corruption in any case otherwise the dream of development of the province cannot be materialised.
Briefing the meeting, Director Anti-Corruption Sohail Ahmad Qureshi said that the total number of applications received by Sindh AntiCorruption Department till June 30 is 851. Out of these, 112 complaints were received in Karachi South Zone, 19 in West Zone, 36 in East Zone, 433 in Hyderabad, 116 in Jamshoro, 31 in Mirpur Khas, 21 in Shaheed Benazirabad, 21 in Sukkur and 35 in Larkana. He said that 19 surprise visits were made while 9 raids were carried out. At present there are a total of 585 open inquiries out of which 126 inquiries have been finalized and 459 inquiries are pending. He added that a total of 87 FIRs have been registered till June 30, while 17 people have been arrested on corruption charges. A total of 1,493 challans have been filed against those involved in corruption and the number of fugitives is 1,025 for whom raids are being carried out.
BRT Peshawar to be inaugurated in 2021: Yousafzai PESHAWAR TLTP
In yet another deadline, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Minister for Labour and Culture Shaukat Yousafzai said on Monday that Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project will be inaugurated in 2021. Talking to a private television channel, the KP minister said construction work is going on and the mega project would be inaugurated in 2021. Commenting on the cable car project in the Upper Dir district’s Kumrat Valley, the minister said that the project intends to be the world’s largest and highest one.
Yousafzai said that KP Chief Minister Mehmood Khan has given the approval of feasibility report of the project. The project will boost tourism in the region. Apart from the main attraction of the cable car, facilities will include a car parking space, a restaurant, and other allied facilities, he added According to details, the cable car will likely charge Rs500 per person and the parking area will have a capacity to accommodate around 500 vehicles at a time. Each car cubicle will have a capacity of 10 tourists per round. The ambitious project’s plan mentioned that it will let around 30,000 tourists travel in the cable cars daily, with a single trip facilitating 250 tourists on a 38-minute long round.
AJK president urges UK councillors to lobby for Kashmir issue settlement ISLAMABAD TLTP
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has called upon the British government to fulfil its responsibility to resolve the Kashmir issue according to the aspirations of the people of Kashmir and urged the Kashmiri community in the UK to use their leverage for the solution of the problem. Addressing a National Councillors’ Conference organised by Faheem Kiyani, President Tahreek-e-Kashmir UK, on the topic of “Brutal Lockdown and Demographic Changes in Kashmir,” the AJK president said the UK being a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and fore-bearer of human rights has the responsibility to brief other permanent members of the council about the irredentism in IOK and mounting humanitarian crisis in the region. The event, first of its kind, participated besides others by elected members of over fifty members of different City Councils and Boroughs from across the UK was moderated by Uzma Rasool and also addressed by prominent Kashmiri
Hurriyat leader Altaf Ahmed Bhatt and Raja Faheem Kiani. Speaking as chief guest of the event, President Khan urged the Kashmiri leaders to accelerate their efforts and mobilise British parliamentarians through cohesive efforts to raise the Kashmir issue. “I appeal to you to mobilise public opinion in the UK and beyond by relating that in the last century it was a crime to be a Jew in Nazi Germany and now Muslims in India and Occupied Kashmir are facing the same persecution at the hands of BJP-RSS fascist regime,” Khan said. Khan noted that many electoral constituencies in the UK have a strong Kashmiri population and the Kashmiris constituents can persuade their elected MPs in the British Parliament to help push the Kashmir issue forward for its peaceful resolution as the conflict has posed a serious threat to peace and security of the region. Urging the elected representatives of the diaspora community to communicate with their lawmakers and write to FCO and 10 Downing Street, the president asserted that the UK government should be more firm when it comes to situation in IOK.
Six arrested for killing 9 of a family in Rawalpindi RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Police announced on Monday that main accused and his co-conspirators in the murder of nine people, mainly women and children, have been arrested. According to police, Danish, the main accused, said that he committed the murders to take 'revenge' for his mother’s murder. The police also said it arrested six people accused of being involved in the crime and is in search of suspects Rab Nawaz and others. On Friday last, nine people were killed, including four women and as many children, when they were shot by a group trying to take revenge on its rivals in the suburbs of Rawalpindi. The police had said that two groups had developed enmity after a member of one of the groups was murdered. They added that the other group had barged into the house of the other group to take revenge. TLTP
Islamabad’s recreational spots to remain closed during Eid holidays ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad administration has decided to keep closed all the recreational spots in the federal capital during the Eidul Azha holidays to prevent further spread of coronavirus in the city. Talking to APP, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqat on Monday said that Murree Expressway, Margalla Hills and other picnic spots would remain closed on the occasion from July 31, Friday, till August 2, Sunday. He appealed the public to stay at home and avoid making any outing plan during these days to keep themselves and their families safe during the pandemic. In response to a question about Eid prayer, he said the administration had the same plan as it used on Eidul Fitr. Arrangements would be made in open spaces by following standard operating procedures (SOPs) with different prayer times to avoid gatherings, he added. “Eid prayer is not the main issue, the issue will be at the time of exchanging Eid greetings traditionally on the day when people will avoid social distance preemptive measure,” he further said. Residents of the federal capital would have to show the sense of responsibility by complying the SOPs because law enforcement personnel could monitor people at their homes, Shafqaat added. "If the people did not follow the SOPs this time, the situation could be even worse than it was after Eidul Fitr," he warned. To another query, he said the SOPs were being strictly enforced in cattle markets and animals were also being vaccinated against Congo virus. Citizens were requested not to bring elders and children in the cattle market for purchasing the sacrificial animals, he added. TLTP
Govt achieves targets from polio vaccination drive in selected districts ISLAMABAD: The government has successfully achieved the targets from polio immunisation drive which concluded in selected districts of the country after a four-month suspension due to Covid-19 pandemic. “Our objective was to reach target areas with continuous polio virus circulation to protect children against the crippling polio disease,” said an official of National Emergency Operations Centre, Polio Eradication Programme. He said that staff was especially trained on preventive measures to follow during vaccination, including protocols of door-knocking and marking, keeping the desired physical distance inside homes, and ensuring safe handling of a child while vaccinating and finger marking. He said that the door to door campaigns was also utilizsed to raise awareness on Covid-19 preventive measures and referring mothers and children for other essential vaccinations as well as the antenatal care services. APP
Tuesday, 28 July, 2020
NEWS
05
PunjAb rePOrtS 0 deAthS frOm COvid-19 firSt time in twO mOnthS continued form page 01 However, grocery stores, bakeries, corner shops, fruit and vegetable shops, meat and milk shops and tandoors will be allowed to operate from 6 am to 12 am while inter-city and inter-district public transport will be allowed to operate round-the-clock. AVOID TRAVEL: Meanwhile, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar on Monday urged the countrymen to avoid travelling to remote areas this year in order to avoid a Covid-19 breakout there and the subsequent burdening of the healthcare system. The appeal comes a day after Dr Zafar Mirza, special assistant to the prime minister on health, warned that the prospect of a second wave of coronavirus infection across the
country will no longer be a distant theory if the government-devised standard operating procedures (SOPs) were violated on Eidul Azha and Muharram. Addressing a press conference after the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting in Peshawar, the minister said that far-flung areas in the province and Gilgit-Baltistan have limited health facilities that can only serve the residents of the area and “may not be able to bear the burden” of a bigger crisis. Umar, who was flanked by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, acknowledged the role of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in curtailing the infection and said because of the efforts of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in the province, the disease was registering a decline.
Govt goes after ‘sugar cartel’ continued form page 01 Akbar also directed SECP and FIA to launch an investigation into “instances of corporate fraud” that are detailed in the probe report of sugar commission. In a joint letter to the FIA director general and the SECP chairperson, the prime minister’s aide said that the inquiry commission had found instances of corporate fraud “through associated companies and inexplicable money transfers leading to money laundering”. Additionally, SECP has been told to “fix responsibility and take cognisance of the failure of external auditors/firms and also its own regulatory oversight mechanisms” in its reports. In his letter to the FBR, Akbar said that the sugar inquiry commission had found instances of money laundering and sales and income tax fraud in their dealings. The sugar probe, Akbar said in his letter, found that mill owners had been involved in concealing business turnover by “over-invoicing, under-invoicing, off the books activity and double bookkeeping, etc”. The inquiry commission had also detected money laundering practices through benami transactions, as well as “financial jugglery like fake advances from customers”. The SAPM also informed the Sindh chief secretary about the findings of the sugar inquiry commission including evidence of payments to cane growers that were under the support price. Akbar further told the chief secretary that instances of interest-based loans to growers by mill owners, consequent profits and “unauthorised enlargements” in crushing capabilities were also mentioned in the inquiry report. He noted that such practices were in “derogation of various provincial laws”. The PM’s aide noted that these offences were within the jurisdiction of the province’s anti-corruption department and directed the chief secretary to carry out an investigation to “unearth full spectrum of offences committed under the relevant provincial laws and take penal and corrective measures as per law”.
CMYK
“Eidul Azha is an important occasion but it is our responsibility to practice precautions in order to protect ourselves and those around us,” he said, urging the public to celebrate Eid with simplicity and carry out animal sacrifices in a manner that does not unflatten the curve. On the occasion, Khan while stressing the need to follow the SOPs, said that the ministers and members of the provincial assembly will celebrate the Eid with simplicity and also urged people to do. The chief minister disclosed the KP government will deliberate on the reopening of the tourism industry after Eid, saying that Prime Minister Imran Khan will also be consulted before making a final decision in this regard. He announced to dedicate the upcoming Eid to the people who lost their lives to the pandemic.
COAS, air chief discuss matters of professional importance RAWALPINDI: Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday to discuss matters of professional interest at the General Headquarters (GHQ).Separately, the army chief also met Senator Rehman Malik, who called on him at GHQ. Both of them discussed matters pertaining to defence and internal security. The senator also appreciated the army’s efforts towards establishing peace and pledged the support of the Senate Committee on Internal Security towards consolidating the gains. STAFF REPORT
Tuesday, 28 July, 2020
06 COMMENT
Mufti Muneeb’s lost cause
Karachi under the PPP Neglecting major obligations
K
ARACHi’S low lying localities and the city’s arteries were inundated on Sunday, a third time in July’s rainy season. Karachi is the largest city of Pakistan besides being the country’s industrial hub. At least five people, including two children died while several were injured. As rain water entered houses in certain areas, this became another source of anxiety for the people. K-Electric, a running sore of the city, shut down the power supply of low-lying areas allegedly due to water-logging which it claimed had created a safety hazard. By the time this was done, fallen electricity wires had already taken toll of a couple of lives. Besides suspension of power to certain areas, over 500 KE feeders tripped causing water supply shortage in several localities of the city. flooded roads on working days frequently block city traffic leading to closure of businesses and delays in transport of goods to the port. this not only causes losses to the state’s revenue but also acts as a disincentive for investment in Karachi. the monsoon spell was not an unexpected event. Not only does it occur every year, the Met had only last week forecast a third spell in Karachi with heavy rain and thunderstorm between July 26 and July 27. As usual, the provincial government and the city fathers were little prepared for the emergency. Reportedly the drains and water courses overflowed because these had not been dredged on time. the people of Karachi were once again the victims of government’s neglect. Since 2002 Sindh has been ruled either by the PML(Q)-MQM coalition, PPP-MQM coalition or by PPP alone. Eighteen years of bad governance by MQM and PPP have degraded, misshapened, and made unsafe a peaceful, friendly and magnificent city. the 7th NfC Award had provided enough resources to the Sindh government to improve the civic conditions of the metropolis by introducing a reliable water supply system, upgrading of the waste disposal system and provision of an adequate urban transport network. the tasks have remained unfilled for over a decade. unfortunately the record of the provincial governments led by the Pti is equally dismal.
In its domain, science reigns supreme
HASAN AFTAB SAEED
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ufti Muneebur Rehman is fighting gamely but he is fighting a losing battle. He has chosen to engage in a very public confrontation with fawad Chaudhry over the issue of the lunar calendar. Chaudhry is the least of Rehman’s troubles because inadvertently and most inadvisably he has taken on science itself. And this is no theological issue either where scientists (in their enthusiasm) have encroached upon religion but where they are clearly out of their depth. instead, Rehman has been reckless enough to have taken on science in its domain, where it reigns supreme. if the past is any guide, there is only going to be one winner in this one. Muslims have been having similar debates for centuries. No sooner than one such issue is settled, another one surfaces. the root of the trouble is twofold: the first is the failure to differentiate between religious and non-religious affairs. Going to the mosque to pray is a religious matter no doubt, but the mode of transport chosen, which will inevitably depend on many factors, is not. Similarly, fasting is a religious exercise, but preparation of the fasting timetable is not. Without this distinction, men would be riding donkeys instead of cars, looking heavenwards to try and estimate the time till prayer or breakfast instead of looking at their watches. So it is that while Eid and the fasting season are religious occasions; there is nothing ‘islamic’ about the lunar calendar whatsoever. the second factor is emotional attachment to the good old days. unfortunately, there is no arguing with nostalgia. Like all emotions it is highly impervious to reasoning. Before proceeding further, let us first dispense with something that obfuscates and often derails this discussion. in any moon-sighting calculation debate, sooner rather than later somebody is bound to say this: ‘But why is it desirable, in a country or a region, to have the Eid on the same day anyway?’ this is an interesting question, but it does not belong in this debate. for the state answered it unambiguously when it constituted
Corona controlled? Must move forward with extreme caution
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itH a significant reduction in the daily number of new cases and deaths along with increased hospital capacities being reported across the country, one can say, with cautious optimism, that Pakistan may have gotten a grip over the Coronavirus pandemic. At 20, yesterday’s daily death number was the lowest in three months, from a peak of 153 that was reached mid-June when the pandemic’s infectiousness and lethality ravaged the country with a positivity rate at a dangerous 23 percent that has now receded to only 7 percent. it remains unclear how Pakistan has been able to come out of the crisis and defy some frightening projections given how the Pti government’s initial response to the pandemic was simply abysmal. the taftan and Raiwand debacles allowed the virus to spread beyond reasonable control and by the time the government got out of its denial phase, it was too late. Prime Minister imran Khan and his cabinet members could be regularly seen without face masks, sending out a very confusing message to the general population that was expected to follow the so-called SOPs that included covering one’s face in public. Allowing markets to remain open on Eidul-fitr was another misstep that cost lives. the much-hyped ‘Smart Lockdown’ that essentially entailed limiting the operating hours of markets was peddled as some sort of miracle policy envisioned by Pakistan even though, from a strictly scientific viewpoint, it achieved little. Whether the country has been blessed with a less contagious strain of the virus or there is some innate exclusive immunity present in our population, or both, no one really knows. But one thing remains clear: if past mistakes are repeated, a second wave will surely come and wreak havoc, undoing this fragile remission of a deadly virus that we are experiencing. it was heartening to hear the PM reiterating multiple times the need for extreme caution during the two upcoming major religious holidays, Eid-ul-Azha and Muharram, warning of a recurrence if there is complacency. that this message is accompanied by a week-long ‘Smart lockdown’ starting today, across Punjab, shows that the government is being careful. Any celebration, chest thumping or political point scoring would be premature and ill-advised at this juncture. if indeed the numbers continue to follow this downward trajectory in the coming months, only then should there be any proclamation of victory.
The Greater Eid asks for a greater sacrifice ‘It is your piety that reaches him’
SHABANA MAHFooz
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OR the locked down Muslims across the pandemic ridden world, a source of joy is near. the moon for Zilhajj has been sighted and the date for Eid-ul-Azha, the Greater Eid has been announced. However, the joy and the celebrations are accompanied with worries and issues for debate, both old and new. the foremost debate, perhaps the oldest of all, is the sighting of the moon. While Pakistan’s Ministry of Science and technology had announced Eid-ulAzha’s celebration to begin from July 31, the country’s Ruet-e-Hilal committee declared that since the moon had not been sighted, Eid would fall on August 1. Most of the Arab as well as the Western world would celebrate on July 31. the controversy of the Eid moon in Pakistan is as old as one can remember. On the occasions of the two Eids every year, the other being Eid-ul-Fitr, the committee becomes active and the entire country bows its head in obedience to its decision, whether acceptable or not. the committee has long been criticised and urged to give up out-dated techniques of moon gazing and receiving shahadats or witnesses for the sighting of the moon and adopt new scientific techniques, which predict the cycle of the moon. But the committee, out of its strong attachment to islamic tradition as well as the fear of losing its job, sticks to the ritual and keeps the nation in suspense every Eid. While this may be a controversy which emerges
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Add pre-scheduling and the calendar makes life so the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee back in 1974. Not very long ago, people used to take as their much easier for schools, organizations, and governguide the position of the sun to say their prayers and ments. Some people cite explicit instructions in Hadees break their fasts. then scientific knowledge and clocks made it easier and much more accurate. Every mosque for cloudy nights and conclude that those should be follows these timetables, and nobody questions this good enough for us. Well, there are explicit injunctions practice now that it has been assimilated. But the mo- in Hadees regarding honey and other remedies as well, ment the same is suggested for the lunar calendar, all are there not? Does it mean we are bound by those and hell breaks loose. Why the one makes sense, but the cannot benefit from progress in medical science? other does not? Religious students belonging to Hardly. there is much doublethink on these issues. People often overlook the fact that the Prophet madrassahs must wonder why their predecessors were so opposed to loud-speakers and printing presses etc. (Peace be upon him) was not just a messenger of God who merely conveyed God’s Some years from now their message. He was also a spiritual descendants will human being and the leader probably feel the same way of his community who had about their campaign against to live a life and lead a nathe lunar calendar. Some people quote the tion. Whenever a problem Some people quote the Hadees which instructs regarding implementation of Hadees which instructs principles appeared, he deMuslims to observe Eid only Muslims to observe Eid only cided according to the best after sighting the new moon. of his knowledge at the time. that was a very sane recomsighting the new moon. after that is why he used swords mendation for a time when and camels and honey, and visual observation was all That was a very sane not missiles and tanks and people had. But if sighting recommendation for a time antibiotics. Moral laws do itself was the point (as these not change, but the tools and people imply), then why nowhen visual observation was implementation methods body bothers to sight the new moon if it is a 30-day all people had. But if sighting change all the time. We have recognized this in many month? (Hint: Because sciitself was the point (as these spheres and have moved on. ence has told them that a But whenever there is a new lunar month cannot be more people imply), then why issue, we again tend to start than 30-days long.) from the same ‘salafi’ arguLunar calendar is not nobody bothers to sight the ment, although we come fool proof, some people new moon if it is a 30-day round after a while. point out. this is true but Science is ruthless. it they cannot make the case month? has a way of crushing those that visual observation is who challenge it in its own less prone to error. (in fact, backyard. Rehman might as there is no comparison bewell be advocating checking tween the probabilities of error in the two systems.) A big deal is made about fuel in your car by using a dipstick instead of a fuelthe criterion for visibility as well. Here’s where sci- gauge. there was similarly fierce opposition from the ence really comes into its own as its models ‘learn’ same quarters to printing presses, radio, tV, loudover time. the criterion can be adjusted; and since speakers, internet and what not. Where is that oppothere is always the feedback loop any discrepancies sition now? Mufti sahab is just another embodiment can be removed and the model improved. Compare of the same old resistance to change. His is a lost this with visual observation: On cloudy nights it is a cause. non-starter. Even on moderately clear nights it is a Hasan Aftab Saeed is a connoisseur of music, function of somebody with the right tools looking in the right place at the right time. And finally, it is a literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be case by case exercise which can never be improved. reached at www.facebook.com/hasanaftabsaeed
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every year, the nearly 6-month old Coronavirus pan- Many devout Muslims proudly show off the beast demic has raised new reasons for concern. for protec- purchased for sacrifice on Eid, along with its price tion against the virus, key precautionary measures tag. While this is a practice which should be discourincluding social distancing have been urged. But what aged every year, it becomes highly pertinent this time we see at every Eid we see this time too: masses of ju- to observe modesty, as many have been struck with bilant public thronging bazaars, oblivious to precau- financial woes, owing to closures of businesses and tions or existence of any virus. Although mosques do loss of jobs. Would we be considerate enough not to limit the number of devoted worshippers for Eid hurt sentiments of someone, maybe even close to us, prayers in compliance to government instructions, already struggling financially? Are we willing to conwould Eid celebrations at homes also be limited? tribute more than the usual share to the needy this Would the invitations for planned weddings to be held year instead of cooking delicacies for our own selves? As i raise these quesamidst pleas for marriage tions, which i feel require halls to reopen, limit to only adequate answers, there are a few? Would the cattle marmany amongst us who are kets which have already considering donating funds emerged across the country, We now have a great to worthy causes instead of seriously practise any measresponsibility to fulfil, other sacrificing animals. i beures which they are expected lieve this to be a wise decito? And on the three days of than rejoice. If we break sion. We, as Muslims, are Eid, when animal sacrifices take place, would there be through the threshold of Eid- wrapped up so rigidly in the dos and don’ts of religion, any practice of sanitisation Ul-Azha wisely and safely, we that we do not realise certain held at individual, hometimes call for certain measbased sacrificial grounds? may be able to continue the ures. it is the spirit of sacriJust like a large number of fice, up something Pakistanis labelled coronpace of improvement as well whichtoisgive dear to us, which is avirus a joke, by wearing a the real Abrahamic tradition. mask, many fellow citizens as maintain the dignity of Animal sacrifice is simply a think that they have taken all those around us. This would ritual. for Allah says in the the necessary measures. for Holy Quran: them using sanitisers, avoidbe a greater sacrifice “It is not their meat nor ing handshakes or embraces their blood that reaches and keeping a distance are Allah; it is your piety that just extra burdens. With this reaches Him.” – Surah Almentality, can we assume Hajj, Verse 37 that Eid-ul-Azha this year will be a safe celebration? As the new moon is rising, we are being told, that And what about the mess which we create at this occasion? Washing away the bloody stains of the the peak Coronavirus reached, is waning. the fear of sacrificed animals from our homes, we drench our the pandemic is slowly fading and many activities are streets and choke our drains with filth. We fulfil our beginning to normalise. if we are to believe that the obligation, we uphold the Abrahamic tradition, we situation is improving, it is only because many of us please our God, the rest is the duty of the civil au- took necessary measures, and as the government thorities, we think. With this firmly entrenched be- claims, the success is owed to ‘smart lockdowns’. We lief, we fill our surroundings with stench and pests, now have a great responsibility to fulfil, other than renot thinking once of the damage we cause to our en- joice. if we break through the threshold of Eid-Ul-Azha vironment. Considering the monsoons this year, just wisely and safely, we may be able to continue the pace in Lahore there is a prediction of heavy showers be- of improvement as well as maintain the dignity of fore, during and after Eid. Are we ready to experi- those around us. this would be a greater sacrifice. ence torrential downpours tainted with blood and Shabana Mahfooz is a broadcast journalist and reeking of sewage? Most importantly, will we continue to witness the freelance writer. She has keen interest in issues conpompous display of wealth in the name of sacrifice? cerning women, religion and foreign affairs.
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Tuesday, 28 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
The escalating war of the words
FATF matters Diplomatic team needs to put its act together our unstinted support to the iSAf, established anymore. the history of terrorist financing, however, under uN resolution 1986, we are on the grey has remained a major concern since the Afghan list of the fAtf. Something is seriously fishy Jihad which kicked off in the early 1980s. Our here unless it is an abject failure of our diploONEy laundering as a formal in- geo-politics sucked us into an algorithm which macy. Going back to the fAtf, my thesis is that ternational criminal offence was has done incalculable damage to every aspect first of all enunciated in the uN of the fabric of our land. As a proxy for west- the fAtf is not an intergovernmental organizatreaty on Narcotic Drugs and Psy- ern powers, we became a frontline state to the tion since 2008, when the membership started chotropic Substances, negotiated expansionist ambitions of the erstwhile uSSR, to be expanded with the G20 brought in. the present membership is in Vienna in 1988. At that time large quantities and although the Jihad 37, and there are scores of heroin were being trafficked to Europe and was fully vindicated, of observer groups inthe united States from the ‘golden triangle’ com- it left behind a host of cluding all the internaflooding by posed of thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, and ills; tional financing from the ‘golden crescent’ comprising Afghan refugees; proThe history of terrorist institutions. in a fair Afghanistan, Pakistan, and iran. So the interna- liferation of assault rideal, Pakistan would be tional community agreed that if this evil was to fles, and iED/VBiEds; financing, however, has a full member, and not be foiled, the proceeds thereof must be criminal- terrorist organizations remained a major concern a country under watch. ized in all jurisdictions. Slowly, money launder- like the ttP; upheaval But when is life fair? ing became a major international concern in the in the fAtA; political since the Afghan Jihad the fAtf has cerfollowing years. the 1988 treaty was signed by instability; economic disaster, and similar all members of the united Nations. which kicked off in the early tain conditionality which needs to be met the then group of G7 countries included existentialist threats. 1980s. Our geo-politics by countries that they By the turn of the Canada, france, Japan, Germany, italy, the pick on. We are imporunited Kingdom, and the united States. the G7 century, Pakistan was sucked us into an algorithm tant because we are a created the financial Action task force fAtf in reeling under immense 1989. the major thrust of this organization internal and external which has done incalculable nuclear country, and one of the most popubased in Paris france was to deter the drug trade pressures. internally, damage to every aspect of lous Muslim nations. which was rampant in their societies supplied by the Elite Capture of Also, as the region the opium growing countries. Cross border the country by mafias the fabric of our land. changes with the ebb movements of money in this trade, was to be was a done deal, and and flow of centers of monitored, proceeds seized and confiscated, and externally, we had enpower, our geographithe traders involved subject to criminal sanctions emies on both borders. cal placing is pivotal to depending upon the laws of the jurisdiction then came the 9/11 incident in New york and the Western powers the winner in this tug of war. thus we are on where arrested. Just after the attacks on the World trade which had abandoned this region a few years the hot seat in every meeting of the fAtf. Be that as it may, we need to stay with our Center in New york on the 9th September earlier, returned to the theatre, chasing a shad2001, the fAtf which till then was mainly owy organization which they called the Al- efforts to check terrorist financing, and money working to combat drug money, added the of- Qaida, never heard of previously. A coalition laundering. Both of these areas are being adfence of ‘terrorism financing’ to its mandate. of Western nations attacked Afghanistan. Hav- dressed by promulgation of new laws, amendthe G7, which controlled the fAtf working ing a previous like-relationship with Pakistan, ments in existing laws, by creation of task was expanded to a new body, termed the G20 they found it convenient to operate with our as- forces and special courts. Pakistan has a Nain 2008. thence on, the fAtf started to morph sistance and so we entered into the second ver- tional Action Plan, and a National Counter terrorism Authority. together these two bodies, as from a purely intergovernmental body to a po- sion of the Afghan Jihad. the Afghan government, through their also the Counter-terrorism Departments of the litical tool in the hands of twenty nations with proxies, and aided by Provincial Police forces, by and large cover the old money and newly india, hit back. the forty standards/indicators of the fAtf. emerging middle inAfter the successful conclusion of the two Pakistan army was too come nations. much to take on; so the chapters of the Afghan Jihad, Pakistan is falsely Pakistan at that Let’s see how the October Afghan-india axis accused of being an exporter of terrorism. time of the creation of began a subterranean Whatever we are doing now is for the protecthe fAtf was a major meeting of the FATF goes. guerilla hit-and-run tion of our own society from the onslaught of drug supply country. warfare on the people inimical nations. We find the fAtf ideals good that being unacceptThe G20, of which India is of Pakistan. Over a for us; we need to have the infrastructure to able, we brought in the decade, thousands of check money-laundering as this bleeds our Control of Narcotic also a member, keeps Pakistani civilians, and economy. We also need to dry up the channels Substances Act in threatening us with hundreds of members through which vast sums of money are being 1994, and then the of our LEAs were secreted into our country into the accounts of Anti-Narcotics force international financial killed/injured in hun- entities attempting to destabilize our country on Act in 1995.By the end dreds of incidents of behest of their masters abroad. of the century, Pakistan sanctions. The Ministry of Let’s see how the October meeting of the iEDs, arson, grenade was rid of this scourge, Foreign Affairs needs to put attacks, and targeted fAtf goes. the G20, of which india is also a and is internationally killings. During the member, keeps threatening us with international acknowledged as a their so far disappointing act previous two decades, financial sanctions. the Ministry of foreign Afsuccess story. As far as Pakistan has lost more fairs needs to put their so far disappointing act the drug trade and together. innocents from terror- together. monies raised from it is ism than any other naconcerned, Pakistan Mohib Asad is a freelance columnist tion. And yet, despite does not have an issue
MoHiB ASAD
M
AS the uS-China spat gains momentum whose roots can be traced from the onset of trade war in 2018 at the backdrop of rising populist rhetoric that set the stage for changing economic wind and protectionism, the recent war of words between the two largest economies of the world is raising eyebrows on the Neo-liberal world order. there are mounting concerns that the tensions may snowball into serious confrontation between the two highly dependent trading partners whose trading, according to iMf, account to 40% of the world’s trade. As trump set the international stage with his slogan, “America’s first” policies and being tough on China, the recent events have seen the manifestation of such approach in a blatant fashion as uS alleges China for performing acts of “economic espionage” causing the former to close the Chinese embassy in Houston. No prizes for guessing, China responded in a reciprocal manner but closing the uS embassy in Chengdu. As the capitalists and communist rhetorical stand at a face-off with uS storming spats and blames on the communist regime for curbing the freedom of Hong Kong through the notorious and controversial extradition bill affair and exporting the “Chinese virus” that has engulfed the world in a vicious storm. On a logical and reasonable side, it is incumbent to ask why the uS continues to foster anti-China narrative at an unsettled time in international affairs. On a cursory glance, such an approach is a manifestation of trump playing his patriotic card to lambast China and grab some votes to his side. However, if such a move is given a foresight, the long-term impact of such brinkmanship might be detrimental to global peace and security. it is because if the rhetoric is allowed to rage at fever pitch, the unintended and plausible consequences might manifold. furthermore, if China’s human rights record are shady, uS is definitely not barred from such criticism. therefore, the prudent way forward in the case of uS- China faceoff might be that instead of picking an ugly fight with one another at the time when global scenario is tense and turbulent, uS should employ more restrained and discreet channels to communicate its genuine concerns with Beijing. Hadia MukHtar karacHi
Lockdown and Police Corruption SiNDH government called for strict lockdown across the Sindh for the weekend days and specified time for other days as a measure to contain the covid-19 spread. What the police are required is to implement the orders strictly according to government guidelines, but there is apparent violation of orders especially in upper Sindh as everything is as usual due to patronage from concerned police officer to the shops and restaurants. But what is more astonishing is minting the hefty money illegally from shopkeepers, restaurants and almost from all businessmen. ultimately, public has to bear the brunt of this corruption in the form of inflated prices. Whenever public carry shopping, they are always charging excessive money on the above mentioned pretext. More importantly, the purpose of lockdown is somehow lost because markets are overcrowded with public for shopping even during lockdown hours and extents of implementation of SOP’s are not hidden to anyone. i request higher authorities to keep check on police as people are already reeling from economic constraints and moreover it is matter of public health. SoHail aHMEd SooMro Sukkur
Raising gentlemen not goons ACCORDiNG to a research in psychology, the early age of a child from a toddler to adolescence, a child learns most of the things by observing like language, behavior, manners and most importantly intonations. the child’s mind is like a blank sheet ready to be written, not by the chalk but by actions. today, we blame children for misbehaving with adult or breaking the laws of society but what actually has to be blamed is their upbringing. Most of the people talk nice in front of children when they are talking to them but the same person if talks in an arrogant way with any other adult, the child might observe it and implement it the way he or she saw it. Same goes for the children to adopt abusive language and behavior. unconsciously, they have been fed with all that stuff either in home or in a school or in society. the root cause of domestic violence is the bringing of child. No matter how absurd it sounds, the environment of home, society or school is a key factor in the molding the nature of a child. it may sound hard but keeping good environment when you have little children around home is a necessity. it might be difficult, but in result you will be raising a gentleman instead of a goon and his or her upbringing may affect the society in an indirect way. So limit the negative observations of your child by changing the environment and the children will no more be an embarrassment for you and society. Mian aizaz aHMEd MirokHan
Karachi drowning EVEN after the warnings of meteorologists — Nothing was taken seriously. from the very first drizzling rain showed its clout which floored Karachi’s drainage system and turned it into a running river. the gutters filled with garbages let rain water to enter in city, houses and shops. As seen, the mixture of rain and drain water gave raise to skin diseases such as: irritations, rashes, fungal infections etc. Main roads and Chowks are also covered in water, because of high speed flowing, water swallowed citizen’s car, rikshahs and bikes also it took humans with it. the water inside shops ruined electronic accessories, general stores and other goods which led heavy damage to their owners. in some areas where the surface is low — narrow paths look a like lakes. Even people are not safe in their homes, how can they be? Because poor’s houses converted into swimming pools. Government must not avoid this disruption and issue a strict order to clean and run water out, so as nation will take a breath of peace. SuHail SaEEd tunio larkana
Tuesday, 28 July, 2020
08 WORLD VIEW
Modi stuMbles: india’s deepening coronavirus crisis “I AM DEEPLY WORRIED THAT IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD, HOSPITALS ARE GOING TO REALLY GET STRAINED, AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO START DYING IN MUCH LARGE NUMBERS. DEATHS WILL RISE, AND I WORRY THEY WILL RISE SHARPLY”
Financial timeS
n
AMy KAzMIN
ARENDRA Modi has cultivated a reputation for making dramatic decisions to respond to India’s complex policy challenges. Addressing the nation on primetime television about coronavirus on March 24, the prime minister was true to form. India then had just about 550 confirmed infections, and many Indians believed their repeated exposure to a wide range of germs would enable their immune systems to ward off the virus. But Mr Modi warned coronavirus had “rendered even the most developed countries of the world helpless”. India’s recent socio-economic progress, he warned, would be set back decades unless it could “break the chain of infection”. With that, Mr Modi ordered India’s 1.4bn people into one of the world’s most stringent lockdowns, warning them not to step out of their homes — “whatever happens” — for the next 21 days. “We must accept that this is the only way before us,” he said of strictures that took effect less than four hours later, at the stroke of midnight. The draconian lockdown — imposed with no warning, no planning and no transparency into the policy deliberations or scientific advice behind it — fit perfectly with the prime minister’s highly-personalised, muscular leadership style. Virtually all economic activity — including logistics, manufacturing, public transport and most healthcare — did come to a near total standstill. Around 140m vulnerable workers were thrust into crisis as their earnings collapsed. Yet for all the human suffering and economic damage it inflicted, India’s lockdown failed to flatten — or even slightly bend — the country’s coronavirus curve. With limited testing capacity and restrictive testing policies, authorities struggled to identify infected patients and trace their contacts. Fears of being hauled off to squalid public hospitals or quarantine centres meant that many who became infected were reluctant to come forward. New cases rose steadily. Under pressure in the following weeks to resuscitate the collapsing economy and give desperate workers a chance to earn again, Mr Modi then changed tack. On May 12, as con-
firmed infections rose to around 71,000, Indians were told to learn to live with the virus, and get back to business. “Corona will remain part of our lives for a long time,” he said in a national televised address. “But we cannot allow our lives to be confined only around corona.” But two months on, India is still facing severe disruptions to normal life, as the virus circulates ever more widely — a deepening crisis that experts warn could hamper the country’s development for years to come. Today, India has recorded more than 1.4m confirmed coronavirus infections — the world’s third biggest caseload after the US and Brazil. New infections are rising to new all-time highs almost every day — exceeding 49,000 on Thursday. Fatalities too are on an upward trend, with more than 32,000 deaths in total. The true magnitude of India’s pandemic — and its death toll — is likely far higher. India has one of the lowest testing rates of any major economy, due both to continued limited capacity — especially in small towns and rural areas where the virus is now spreading — but also political pressure to limit testing to keep the official case count low. Health experts warn of the need for more effective containment. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, says India’s new infections could soon be rising by 100,000 a day — an alarming spectre given its overstretched health system. “The virus is probably much more widespread than what the statistics show,” Prof Jha told the FT. “I am deeply worried that in the days and weeks ahead, hospitals are going to really get strained, and people are going to start dying in much large numbers. Deaths will rise, and I worry they will rise sharply.” LACK OF CONTROL: Failure to control the pathogen will also cast a shadow over India’s economic prospects, with the gloomy scenario Mr Modi foretold in March seeming evermore likely. Tech and industrial hubs like Bangalore, Pune, Chennai and Aurangabad, and entire states like Bihar, are undergoing new localised lockdowns, while the populous state of Uttar Pradesh and nearby Punjab impose stifling “weekend lockdowns”. Even without official restrictions, many urban Indians are too fearful to step out of their homes. Rural migrants are wary of returning to urban workplaces. Small businesses have reopened only to shut down again as employees were infected. Reopening schools — closed since early March — isn’t even a topic of public discourse. Welfare schemes — like mid-day meals and vaccinations — have been disrupted, as resources are diverted to the pandemic. “I don’t think today there is any ambition to actually get rid of the virus,” says prominent businessman Naushad Forbes, chairman of engineering company Forbes Marshall, and a past president of the Confederation of Indian Industry. “Today it’s very much control, con-
East Asia’s new edge
Project Syndicate KISHORE MAHBUBANI
Death tolls don’t lie. The most striking disparity in COVID-19 fatalities to date is between East Asian countries, where the total number of deaths per million inhabitants is consistently below 10, and much of the West, where the numbers are in the hundreds. For example, Japan has so far reported 7.8 deaths per million, followed by South Korea (5.8), Singapore (4.6), China (3.2) and, most remarkably of all, Vietnam with zero deaths. By contrast, Belgium now has 846 confirmed deaths per million, and the United Kingdom has 669, followed by Spain (608),
Italy (580) and the United States (429). What accounts for this extraordinary difference? The answers are complicated, but three possible explanations stand out. First, none of the East Asian states believe that they have “arrived,” much less achieved the “end of history” at which they regard their societies as being the apotheosis of human possibility. Second, East Asian countries have long invested in strengthening government institutions instead of trying to weaken them, and this is now paying off. And, third, China’s spectacular rise is presenting its regional neighbors with opportunities as well as challenges. It’s always dangerous to oversimplify. Yet, the evidence shows that whereas Europeans tend to believe in state-sponsored social security, East Asians still believe that life is composed of struggle and sacrifice. French President Emmanuel Macron is battling to overhaul his country’s pension system and decrease retirement benefits in order to achieve much-needed reductions in budget deficits. As a result, France was convulsed for months by “Yellow Vest” protests. But when South Korea faced a far more serious financial crisis in 1997-1998, old ladies donated jewelry to the central bank in an effort to help.
tain and ensure we have the right kind of health capabilities so we can limit morbidity.” All this will extract a heavy toll on an economy that was already struggling to regain momentum after a protracted slowdown. Nomura, the Japanese investment bank, forecast that India’s gross domestic product will contract by 6.1 per cent this year, while HSBC expects a dip of 7.2 per cent. Domestic rating agency ICRA is gloomier, projecting a 9.5 per cent contraction. “The pace of normalisation is far more uneven than what one would have assumed,” says Aurodeep Nandi, a Nomura economist. “People have started getting more risk averse. Unless you solve the health crisis, the economic crisis will not solve itself.” Nor will the pain end quickly. Economists warn that the pandemic has created new financial stresses that will weigh on India’s growth potential for years. Strained public finances are deteriorating further, with analysts forecasting the combined central and state deficit could rise to 12 per cent of GDP. Banks, which have struggled for several years to reduce nonperforming loans, face a new wave of stressed assets. Lay-offs are increasing, and may accelerate further once a bank moratorium on debt repayments expires at the end of August. “India’s potential rate of growth certainly has come down and these issues will remain in the system for several years,” says Sunil Kumar Sinha, principal economist of India Ratings & Research. Despite this gloomy outlook, Mr Modi’s government — with its sophisticated public communication tools — has persuaded many Indians that Mr Modi’s leadership has enabled them to fare far better than many richer, more advanced nations. As evidence, New Delhi cites India’s low number of deaths compared to its population,
and low case-to-fatality ratio. “The whole world is witnessing how one of the most successful battles against Covid-19 is being fought here,” Amit Shah, the home minister, said recently at a public forum. But public health experts say India’s official death toll is almost certainly undercounted — and that such statistics mean a lot less in a situation where the number of new infections is rising rapidly. Harvard’s Prof Jha also fears that New Delhi’s tendency to minimise the magnitude of the current threat — or simply divert public attention — could backfire, encouraging people to let down their guard as the virus becomes more widespread. “Politicians have often tried to approach this disease like a political campaign — you are just trying to win the day and win the news cycle,” he says. “But downplaying the virus is actually a really harmful strategy because you can confuse people about what their action should be.” MODI’S MANAGEMENT: With new infections surging and the economy wilting, the focus is inevitably returning to the government’s initial response to the pandemic and the rushed decision in March to shut down the country. For some observers, the lockdown strategy was driven as much by Mr Modi’s political persona — and his desire to demonstrate that he was the man in charge — as it was by a clear scientific and public health analysis of the problem. Authorities in the then-hardest hit regions of Maharashtra state and the capital city, New Delhi, had already imposed curfews as local cases rose. Some public health experts say Mr Modi shut down the whole country to assert his leadership over India’s pandemic response. The shutdown reflected Mr Modi’s impulse to rely on the might of the state to en-
East Asians are aware that their societies have done well in recent decades. But constant adaptation and adjustment to a rapidly changing world is still the norm — even in Japan — and huge investments in public institutions have helped these countries to fulfill it. Here, the contrast with the U.S. could not be starker. Ever since U.S. President Ronald Reagan famously declared in his 1981 inaugural address that, “government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem,” the very phrase “good governance” has been an oxymoron in America. We have again seen the consequences of this mindset in recent weeks, with the weakening even of globally respected institutions such as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even today, with America beset by multiple crises, no prominent U.S. leader dares to say the obvious: “Government is the solution.” East Asian societies, on the other hand, retain a strong and deeply held belief in good governance, reflecting the traditional Asian respect for institutions of authority. Vietnam’s spectacularly effective pandemic response, for example, can be attributed not only to one of the world’s most disciplined governments, but also to wise investments in health care. Between 2000 and 2016, per capita public health expenditures increased
by an average of 9 percent per year. This enabled Vietnam to establish a national public health emergency operations center and surveillance system in the wake of the 20022003 SARS epidemic. Vietnam’s track record is all the more astonishing given the country’s low starting point. When the Cold War ended three decades ago, and Vietnam finally stopped fighting wars after almost 45 years of nearcontinual conflict, it had one of the world’s poorest populations. But by emulating China’s economic model and opening up to foreign trade and investment, Vietnam subsequently became one of the world’s fastestgrowing economies. As then-World Bank President Jim Yong Kim pointed out in 2016, Vietnam’s average annual growth rate of nearly 7 percent over the previous 25 years had enabled the country “to leapfrog to middle-income status in a single generation.” And during the same period, Kim noted, Vietnam had managed the “especially remarkable achievement” of reducing extreme poverty from 50 percent to just 3 percent. The country’s success did not happen in isolation. After the Soviet Union collapsed, Vietnam integrated itself into many of East Asia’s existing regional bodies, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. There, it learned quickly from its
force shock-and-awe tactics — and discipline what his ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party sees as a wayward society — rather than mobilise India’s extensive network of grassroots community organisations and civil society groups in a campaign to educate people about the virus. “Big dramatic action — the world’s biggest lockdown — fits the pattern of the prime minister’s thinking about how to deal with the problem,” says Dr T Jacob John, former head of the department of virology and microbiology at Christian Medical College (Vellore). The lockdown reaffirmed Mr Modi’s stature in the eyes of many middleclass Indians, who saw it as a reflection of his courage and willingness to act decisively against a looming threat. Business owners were less impressed, feeling the magnitude of the disruption was avoidable. But lockdown failed to deliver the promised results. In mimicking tactics adopted from authoritarian China, and rich European countries, the government failed to account for the gritty realities of urban India, where millions live in crowded slums sharing toilets and water taps with hundreds of others, or depend on daily wages for that evening’s meal. “Police cannot do public health,” says former health secretary K Sujatha Rao, who worked extensively on India’s successful Aids control programme. “It cannot be done by force. It has to be done through persuasion.” LOCKING DOWN TOO EARLY? As India’s poorest desperately scrambled for food and transport back to their villages, fertile conditions were created for the virus to spread. “You cannot just give an order and everything will be resolved,” says Dr Smarajit Jana, former head of the Aids control program. “Any good public health policy must consider the context of the country in question — the population density, the socio-economic context and the way people live.” Dr Harsh Vardhan, India’s health minister; Dr Vinod Paul, the paediatrician who has been one of Mr Modi’s key advisers on the pandemic; and Dr Balaram Bhargava, the cardiologist who leads the Indian Council for Medical Research, did not respond to requests for interviews about India’s coronavirus strategy. However, Swapan Dasgupta, an MP close to Mr Modi, says the premier acted on “conventional wisdom”, after Italy, Spain, France and the UK — where health systems were already under heavy pressure — imposed controls on their citizens. “It was imagined that if you have 18 or 21 days of very intensive lockdown, you’ll be able to get over this problem,” Mr Dasgupta said. “That was the conventional wisdom — or speculative wisdom. The thinking was, if you are able to stop this at this point, you will be able to get rid of it for the future.” Dr John believes India’s lockdown was “mistimed”. It was imposed too early in the epidemic, when case numbers were still too low, he says, and when the infections were so narrowly concentrated that it did not require such draconian action across vast swaths of the country that had no cases at the time. Today, he says the virus is circulating more widely than ever, yet there is little effort to warn people, or any aggressive campaign to promote correct and comprehensive mask wearing, which he believes is critical to reduce and slow the spread of the pathogen. “The lockdown instilled fear and when the lockdown was lifted the fear is gone, and the virus is hitting everybody,” says Dr John. “It’s the crying wolf story . . . When the wolf really came, nobody cared.”
neighbors, including China. More recently, Vietnam joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the 11-country trade pact spearheaded by Japan. China’s spectacular resurgence has naturally heightened Vietnamese insecurity, given that the two neighbors have fought as recently as 1979. But rather than paralyzing Vietnamese policymakers, that insecurity has fostered a sense of strategic discipline and vigilance, which has contributed to the country’s extraordinary performance during the pandemic. China’s rise has had a similar galvanizing effect on some of its other neighbors, including Japan and South Korea. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has often cited the former Intel CEO Andy Grove’s mantra that “only the paranoid survive.” Paranoia is usually a negative emotion, but it can also trigger a powerful impulse to fight and survive. A deep determination to battle against great odds may explain why East Asia has so far responded far better to the pandemic than most of the West. And if the region’s economies also recover faster, they may well offer a glimmer of hope to a world currently drowning in pessimism. Kishore Mahbubani, a distinguished fellow at the Asia Research Institute of the National University of Singapore, is the author of “Has China Won?”
Tuesday, 28 July, 2020
BUSINESS 09 CORPORATE CORNER
TORKHAM SCAM
GolD hits A new reCorD hiGh oF rs123,800 per tolA KARACHI
KARACHI: DWP Technologies and Unilever Pakistan celebrated the successful completion of “Unilever Leverage (Accenture Newspage) Project” with an event at a hotel in Karachi.
KARACHI: English Biscuit Manufacturers Chairman and longstanding industry reformist Khawar Masood Butt was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the marketing and advertising industry of Pakistan at this year’s prestigious Effie Awards held virtually by Pakistan’s Advertisers Society.
Dawood Foundation, Aga Khan Uni partner to facilitate hospitalised Covid-19 patients KARACHI: The Dawood Foundation, the charitable arm of the Dawood Hercules Group, has announced a collaborative project with Aga Khan University (AKU) to build the capacity of frontline healthcare professionals to manage Covid-19 patients across Pakistan. The Dawood Foundation will be contributing PKR 79.5 million for this two-phased project, in coordination with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination. In the first phase, 5,000 physicians, nurses and paramedical staff will receive online training in the management of moderate-to-critical COVID-19 patients across the country. In phase two of the project, AKU will provide on-site training to 500 healthcare professionals to build capacity in their respective institutions, in relevant areas of Covid-19 treatment and beyond.
Fauji Fertilizer’s profit rises 2.6pc to rs9.1bn in 1hCY20 LAHORE HASSAN NAQVI
Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC) on Monday released its financial results for the half-year ended 30th June 2020, announcing a 2.59 per cent increase in unconsolidated profit after tax which rose to Rs9.136 billion compared to unconsolidated profit after tax of Rs8.905 billion during the same period of last year. A quarterly comparison of the financial results shows that the company earned unconsolidated profits of Rs4.874 billion in 2Q2020 compared to Rs5.209 billion in 2Q2019. According to Topline Securities Limited Research Analyst Sunny Kumar the revenues of the company declined by 12 per cent Year on Year (YoY) to Rs23.156 billion in 2Q2020 amidst a decline of 57 per cent in Diammonium Phosphate’s (DAP) offtake YoY to 26,000 tonnes compared to 61,000 tonnes in 2Q2019. On the other hand, sales of Urea increased by 9 per cent YoY in 2Q2020 to 681,000 tonnes compared to 623,000 tonnes in 2Q2019. “Gross margin declined by 1.8 percentage points YoY to 32 per cent in 2Q2020 from 33.8 per cent in 2Q2019, which is in line with our estimate,” said Kumar. Other expenses in 2Q2020 declined by 52 per cent YoY to Rs0.628 billion from Rs1.322 billion in 2Q2019 amidst the absence of a one-off impairment loss of Rs1.1 billion related to Fauji Fresh n Freeze Limited in 2Q2019. Kumar added that the finance costs decreased by 27 per cent YoY to Rs0.462 billion in 2Q2020 due to lower borrowing and interest rates compared to 2Q2019. According to AKD Securities Senior Research Analyst Ailia Naeem key financial result highlights for FFC include a 12 per cent Quarter on Quarter (QoQ) higher topline led by a 16 per cent uptick in urea offtake and neutralised by 3.7 percentage points lower gross margins of 32 per cent.
i
ARIBA SHAHID
N line with the recent trend, the price of gold in Pakistan reached a record Rs123,800 per tola on Monday, which is Rs1,500 more than Saturday's closing at Rs120,500. Commenting on the recent surge, Karachi Sarafa Association President Haji Haroon Rasheed Chand said, "Due to low purchasing power in Pakistan, we have the cheapest gold in Asia. We are still under cost by Rs2,000 per tola in comparison with international markets." However, Chand also commented on how the difference between local and international rates has been shrinking. He feels that if gold breaches the $2,000 level, local prices will cross Rs130,000 per tola. WHAT’S CAUSING INT'L GOLD RUSH: The price of yellow metal on Monday crossed its previous all-time high set in 2011 by an upwards of $20 following growing concerns over the dwindling global economy and strength of the USD. Spot gold climbed to $1,944.71 an ounce, beating the previous all-time high set in 2011 by more than $20 or 2.2pc, making it one of the best performing asset classes. Investors have turned to gold as the pandemic hit the global economy and its growth, thus marking itself as a safe haven. However, the rally in gold is primarily because it is a hedge against the weakening dollar, geopolitical tension, inflation, and central bank stimulus measures. The dollar index, which measures the currency against a basket of trading peers, fell as much as 0.5 per cent to its lowest level since June 2018. There is concern over the possibility of stagflation. Stagflation in simple terms is slow or sluggish growth whilst inflation is in an upward trajectory. As
a result of this phenomenon, the value of fixed-income investments fall. Thus, investors park their money in gold in order to preserve value and end with a capital gain. A strong relation between gold prices and the US bond market can be seen whereby gold lures in more investors as a hedge on treasuries, especially considering the real income from them to be below zero per cent in the current scenario. "Gold will continue to trade higher as global interest rates are lower than the previous high of gold yields," said Adnan Sheikh, senior financial analyst. With tensions increasing between the US and China, gold prices are likely to rise. Moreover, the tensions between India and China, two major markets for physical gold is also an alarming situation which is adding to the uncertainty. Chand believes that even if the US China tensions were to cease, gold is still likely to lay above Rs 100,000 a tola in Pakistan. WHY IS GOLD RISING WHILE RETAIL SALES ARE FALLING? Domestically, gold sales are at a low despite the summer usually being a peak gold purchasing season. However, Pakistan is not alone in this regard. Speaking to Profit, a jeweller in Karachi said, "No one is buying gold. Most of the customers are coming in to sell gold either for liquidity purposes or to realize the capital gain they have made. "This is usually peak demand season keeping in mind how there are a number of weddings scheduled for the summer, however, the lockdown has completely crushed the purchasing power." If the price of gold continues its upward trajectory, retail purchases are likely to lay low and only done when absolutely necessary. While Pakistan's demand for gold is negligible in terms of international demand, there has been a re-
duction in the retail purchasing of gold globally, particularly in China and India. Despite that, western investors are overcoming this deficit in demand for physical gold. As per data compiled by Bloomberg, inflows into exchange-traded funds this year are near the highs obtained in 2009. Most of these inflows are from North America and Europe. Total holdings have surpassed 600 tons this year and ETF inflows have exceeded retail purchases in China and India in the first quarter of 2020. This was last seen in 2009. The second quarter is likely to follow a similar pattern. On the flip side, demand for physical gold remains weak in China and India, two of the largest buyers of gold bars, jewellery and coins. At first, this was due to the coronavirus induced lockdowns, however, the trend continued due to the scaling prices of gold making it unattainable. As per the China Gold Association Chief Executive Officer, Chinese gold sales are 30pc lower than in 2019. Analysts believe that western investors will remain interested in gold ETFs regardless of subdued demand for physical gold in Asia. However, if a rebound in Asian purchases is witnessed, gold prices will substantially rally up. Interestingly enough, New York traders have imported gold and added an upward of 700 metric tonnes of gold following the virus-induced lockdown resulting in rising COMEX inventories. This addition of gold to vaults was last witnessed in 1993. WILL THIS TREND CONTINUE? According to analysts, gold may consolidate soon before setting beyond $2,000. This is keeping in account the profit-taking investors may incur. The Japanese yen, another perceived haven, strengthened 0.6pc to a four-month high of ¥105.50 per dollar.
MARKET DAILY
Bank scrips help stocks accumulate 613 points KARACHI STAFF REPORT
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) rallied on the first trading session of the week, with the indices accumulating gains throughout the day on back of strong sentiments in the banking sector. Global equity markets, on the other hand, displayed mixed sentiments on Monday; however, crude oil prices headed north, with WTI crude oil price increasing 0.29pc to $41.41 while Brent crude oil appreciating 0.23pc to $43.88. "The banking scrips got a much-needed impetus following the SBP's decision to defer its monetary policy for the next two months. The anticipation of a further rate cut died with the central bank's decision, which the investors view as a signal of interest rate bottoming out," said a report issued by AHL Ltd. "Besides banks, the cement
sector also rebounded after continued selling pressure in the previous week." The benchmark KSE-100 Index remained in the green throughout the session, registering its intraday high at 38,291.77 after gaining 684.15 points. It settled higher by 613.54 points at 38,221.16. Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index surged 963.91 points or 1.61pc to close at 309.05, while the KSE All Share Index added 309.05 points, ending at 27,028.37. The overall market volumes increased from 266.5 million shares in the previous session to 288.1 million shares (+8pc). Average traded value also surged by 24pc, from $64 million to $79.5 million. Pak Elektron Limited (PAEL +6.50pc), TRG Pakistan Limited (TRG +7.50pc) and Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL -4.47pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 28.92 million, 19.99 million and 18.45 million shares, respectively.
Banks lend out Rs125.9bn under Rozgar Scheme: SBP 'OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT, RS31BN WERE DISBURSED AMONG SMES' KARACHI STAFF REPORT
Banks have approved loans worth Rs125.9 billion under the State Bank of Pakistan's Rozgar Scheme, covering the salaries of over 1.2 million employees as of July 10, according to a report released by the central bank on Monday. Of the approved amount, Rs31 billion was for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and small corporates, defined as businesses with an annual turnover not exceeding Rs2 billion. The Rozgar Scheme was introduced on April 10 and provides concessional credit at 3pc to any business that commits to not lay off workers for three months. The SBP complemented the scheme on May 10 with a risk-sharing facility, under which the government bears up to 60pc first loss on the principal amount for SME borrowers and 40pc for small corporates. Initially, the scheme was available until the end of June 2020, but the SBP decided to extend the scheme by another three months to September 2020. As of July 10, 2,068 businesses have availed the scheme, of which 1,449 are SMEs and small corporates. The SBP noted some improvements in the last
few months. For instance, at the end of April 2020, only 18pc of loan applications had been approved, but by July 10, this had increased to 76pc. Similarly, the number of loans approved against the requested amount also improved. The acceptance ratio for financing increased from 26pc at the end of April to 82pc on July 10. Consequently, the number of employees benefitting from the scheme in terms of acceptance ratio also increased from 26pc to 85pc during the same period. The acceptance ratio for SMEs and small corporates, both in terms of the number of applications and amount, also increased from 35pc and 37pc, respectively, on May 15, to 72pc and 71pc on July 10. The
Sectors that drove the index north included banking (274.50 points), oil & gas exploration (71.12 points) and cement (69.02 points). Among the companies, Habib Bank Ltd (HBL 97.23 points), Bank AL Habib (BAHL 53.10 points) and Mari Petroleum Company (MARI 42.63 points) remained the top contributors. Adding 3.16pc to its cumulative market capitalisation, the banking sector turned out to be the session's top gainer, with MCB Bank Ltd (MCB 1.50pc), United Bank Limited (UBL 2.38pc) and Standard Chartered Bank Ltd (SCBPL 3.67pc) posting decent gains. On the financial side, Fauji Fertiliser Company Ltd (FFC +0.88pc) declared earnings per share of Rs3.83 in the second quarter of FY20 (Rs4.09 in 2QFY19), while Hinopak Motors Ltd (HINO +7.09pc) posted an EPS of Rs-165.71 for FY20 (Rs70.42 in FY19). total number of employees benefitting from the acceptance of financing requests increased from 36pc to 75pc during the same period. Five banks together constitute around 58pc share of overall approved financing amount under the risksharing facility, or a total of Rs18.1 billion. Earlier on June 12, this share used to be 61pc; the lower share reflects the fact that other banks have improved their performance. JS Bank Ltd leads with the financing of Rs4.57 billion, followed by Habib Bank financing Rs4.03 billion. Bank Al-Habib, Bank Alfalah, and Askari Bank constitute the remaining share. Four of these five banks - JS Bank Ltd, Habib Bank, Bank Alfalah, and Askari Bank - were also the top-performing banks in terms of acceptance ratio, along with Habib Metropolitan Bank. Their acceptance ratios in terms of amount stood in the range of 62pc to 86 pc, while the acceptance ratios in terms of the number of applications approved were between 65pc to 89pc. The least performing banks in terms of extending financing include The Bank of Khyber with only Rs103 million given in financing, Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan), First Women Bank, MCB Bank, and Bank Islami. Within these five banks, the number of applications approved ranged from 7 to 29, while the amount approved ranged from Rs103 million to Rs389 million, as of July 10. Three of these five banks - The Bank of Khyber, Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) and MCB Bank - were also the least performing banks in terms of acceptance ratio, along with United Bank Ltd, and National Bank of Pakistan. The acceptance ratios of the five least performing banks were in the range between 19pc to 41pc, while the acceptance ratios in terms of the number of applications approved fell in the range of 13pc to 57pc.
Tuesday, 28 July, 2020
10 FOREIGN NEWS
RUSSia BeaTing US in BaTTle foR China’S eneRgy maRkeT: BloomBeRg WASHINGTON
S
TLTP
OME 396,000 tons of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) were exported to China in June, according to a Bloomberg report citing data from China’s General Administration of Customs. That figure reflects a 20.7 percent rise compared to May. Statistics showed that US LNG exports to China amounted to 340,000 tons during the same period, slightly up by 2.4 percent.
US consulate in Chengdu closed CHENGDU TLTP
At 10 a.m. Monday, as required by China, the US Consulate General in Chengdu was closed. Relevant Chinese authorities then entered through the front entrance and took over the premises, Chinese Foreign Ministry said on its website. On July 24, the ministry informed the US Embassy in China of its decision to withdraw its consent for the establishment and operation of the consulate, a "legitimate and necessary response" to earlier U.S. unilateral provocation of demanding that China close its Consulate General in Houston.
Two protesters die after clashes with police in Baghdad: medics, security sources BAGHDAD AGENCIES
Clashes between Iraqi protesters and security forces in central Baghdad killed at least two demonstrators overnight, security and medical sources said on Monday. It was the first such deadly incident for months at Tahrir Square, which became a symbol of anti-government protests during months of deadly mass unrest last year. The protesters had begun marching from Tahrir to nearby Tayaran Square chanting about worsening power cuts during a heat wave that has sent temperatures soaring above 50 degrees centigrade in Iraq. Security forces tried to contain the march and fired tear gas, police, medics and protesters said. Protesters threw stones and petrol bombs, a security source said. Two protesters, who were at the demonstration, and Ali Bayati, a member of Iraq’s semi-official High Commission for Human Rights, said that security forces fired live ammunition to disperse the crowd. Military spokesman Yehia Rasool said in a statement on Monday that security forces were given strict instructions not to use force against protesters unless necessary, adding that an investigation into what happened will be conducted. Medics at two hospitals in Baghdad said two men were hit in their head and neck with tear gas canisters and died of their injuries overnight. More than 26 protesters were wounded and several members of the security forces suffered minor injuries, police said.
Overall, the world’s largest energy consumer, China, imported 5.79 million tons of LNG last month, boosting its imports by 29 percent year-on-year. Gas consumption in China, Asia’s biggest economy, has surged in recent years as the government pressures homes and factories to use it instead of coal, in an effort to combat air pollution. The country has been ramping up gas and LNG imports, while analysts say demand will continue to grow in the coming years. Russia is looking to boost LNG deliveries to the growing Asian market, with storage hubs close to end-users to
reduce freight costs and increased flexibility in deliveries. Its largest LNG producer and exporter, Novatek, has been shipping liquefied gas to China via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) along the Arctic coast. Deliveries from the Yamal LNG project have drastically cut delivery time to Asian consumers. Novatek also plans to develop another largescale project – Arctic LNG 2, which is set to start producing LNG in 2022-2023. Last year, the Russian company inked an agreement with two Chinese firms under which they will become shareholders in the Arctic LNG 2 project, with a ten-percent stake each.
Europe’s economic recovery to outshine US: report BRUSSELS TLTP
Europe is set to do better than the US not only in handling the COVID-19 outbreak, with a strikingly lower number of infections, but also when it comes to dealing with the economic fallout of the pandemic, bankers say. The US economy contracted around five percent in the first three months of this year, and it is expected to crash even more as the deadly virus has only built up momentum since then. According to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast, US gross domestic product is set to nosedive 37 percent in the second quarter and by 6.6 percent for 2020 as a whole. The economic outlook for Europe has not been optimistic either, with the European Commission slashing its own forecasts several times, recently saying that it expects the region to contract by 8.3 percent this year. Meanwhile, the IMF predicted that the eurozone, the 19-member region that shares the euro, would contract by more than 10 per-
cent in 2020. Despite projected deeper contraction, with new figures set to be released by both Washington and Brussels next week, Europe is headed for a swifter recovery and could outpace the US, analysts at JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs said. “We also expect it [the eurozone] to bounce back more sharply,” chief European economist at Goldman Sachs Jari Stehn said, as cited by the publication. “It’s pretty rare that the euro area would outgrow the US over a horizon of one to two years.” Chief economist at JPMorgan Bruce Kasman believes that Europe managed to have “broken the chain” that links mobility and the virus, and “will recover more fully.” Meanwhile, Barclays strategists noted that the US can still catch up with its European peers. However, over the last two years, the eurozone’s performance has lagged behind the US, at least by annual economic results. For the year 2019 as a whole, eurozone GDP went up by 1.2 percent, after 1.9 percent growth a year earlier. US GDP growth stood at 2.3 percent last year, less than the 2.9 percent in 2018.
Coronavirus forces Japanese firms to use tech solutions
Troops among nine killed in anti-govt operations in Syria DAMASCUS TLTP
Explosion and assassination attempts were carried out against the government forces and pro-government people in the Syrian southern province of Daraa on Monday, a Britain-based war monitor reported. In the city of Nawa in the countryside of Daraa, three Syrian soldiers were killed and five others wounded when an explosive device ripped through their vehicles, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. In another incident, unknown armed men stormed a house of an ex-rebel commander in the city of Sanamain in the countryside of Daraa, and opened fire, killing five former rebel commanders who had reconciled with the Syrian army. Also, a cooperator with the Lebanese Hezbollah group, which is an ally with the Syrian government, was killed in his house in the village of Harak in the Daraa countryside, according to the observatory. It has been reporting anti-government sentiment and operations in Daraa, which is the birthplace of the more than nine-year-long war in Syria. A total of 589 assassination attempts and attacks have been carried out since June in Daraa, said the observatory, adding that 393 people have been killed, including civilians, Syrian soldiers, and rebels. The Syrian army captured Daraa in 2018 following battle and made deals for the rebels to flee to Idlib province in northwestern Syria.
Putin, Zelensky discuss Ukrainian issue over phone MOSCOW TLTP
TOKYO TLTP
The coronavirus pandemic may be a drag on economies across the globe, but in Japan it's bringing long-overdue change in work habits and tools. About 90% of Japanese refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co's non-manufacturing employees have worked from home. Department-store chain Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd is using video chats to offer shopping suggestions online, while smaller enterprises are embracing digital tools. Digital signatures are finally taking hold, replacing official stamps and seals. Despite being at the forefront of technologies ranging from imaging chips to electric-vehicle batteries, Japan ranked 23rd out of 63 nations in digital competitiveness last year, according to the International Institute for Management Development. While a chronic labor shortage caused by a declining population was already spurring businesses to automate, the COVID-19 outbreak is pushing the transition to the digital workplace into higher gear. "Many companies small and large have talked about digitization as being important, but put it off," said Miku Hirano, chief executive officer of Cinnamon Inc, a provider of AI-based business-solution services. "Now, the pandemic is making them take up the
mission."Although Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lifted Japan's state of emergency in late May, companies such as Hitachi Ltd. and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. plan to keep work-from-home measures in place for better operational efficiency. Earlier this month, Fujitsu Ltd. said it would halve its office space. Japan's government is also playing catch-up, with plans to upgrade the digital infrastructure of ministries and public services next year after the pandemic revealed the dated nature of its administrative operations.
Four asteroids to shoot past earth today WASHINGTON
United Nations moves last grain from frontline store symbolic of Yemen's aid struggle
TLTP
DUBAI
As the week begins with a flurry of asteroidal activity, with four space rocks set to shoot past earth on Tuesday (today) alone, two Indian teenagers have discovered yet another space rock due to cross paths with our planet. To kick things off, the small-house-sized asteroid 2020 OO1 will buzz by at a distance of 669,000km on Monday. Then on Tuesday, the world will witness a whopping four flybys in one day, starting with the relatively safe and short-lived sojourns of 2020NZ and 2020 OE2, 28m and 12m in diameter respectively, which will blow through our cosmic backyard at a safe distance of 3.1 million kilometers and 1.7 million kilometers. Next, the real fun begins with the car-sized (2.9m) 2020 OY4, set to skip by at a distance of just 41,500km. It will be followed by the plane-sized (26m) 2020 OR4, which will pass us at 10 times that distance, looping beyond earth at 457,000km. Both of these might be considered a little too close for comfort, as the distance between earth and the moon is just 384,400km. Neither poses any real threat, however, as they are unlikely to strike us and even if they did, they would be no match for our planet’s atmosphere. The brief barrage of space rocks is reason enough to set suspicious stargazers on edge, especially after two 14-year-old girls in
AGENCIES
India, Vaidehi Vekariya and Radhika Lakhani, discovered asteroid HLV2514 which will also, one day, cross paths with earth. The teen stargazers spotted the space rock during the All India Asteroid Search Campaign (AIASC), part of IASC, an outreach program run by NASA. “It is, in fact, a near-Earth object (NEO),” IASC Director Patrick Miller confirmed, adding that it will evolve into an earth-crossing asteroid at some undetermined point in the future. For the moment at least, it appears our planetary defenses are operating optimally as they spotted the outbound Chinese probe Tianwen-1 en route to Mars shortly after beginning its seven-month journey to the Red Planet while scanning the sky for wayward asteroids.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky at the initiative of the Ukrainian side, discussing issues of the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, the Kremlin said in a statement Sunday. "There was a thorough discussion of various aspects of settling the Ukrainian crisis and the need for boosting the efficiency of negotiating efforts as part of the Minsk contact group," said the statement. The parties praised additional ceasefire measures that were agreed by the contact group on July 22 and are to come into effect on July 27, it added. Putin and Zelensky stressed the importance of unconditional compliance by all parties of the conflict with these agreements, according to the statement. The Russian side underscored that it is a top priority to implement the decisions made by the Normandy Four format leaders, including during their summit in Paris in December 2019. The presidents also exchanged opinions on other issues, including the situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
A U.N. grain store that symbolised aid agencies’ struggle to navigate the front lines of Yemen’s war has finally been emptied and distributed to a starving population almost two years after fighting cut access, the U.N. food agency said on Monday. The Red Sea Mills, a milling facility rented by the World Food Programme (WFP) as part of an aid operation feeding 13 million people a month, had become a focal point of a frozen conflict in the strategic port of Hodeidah. Located in a complicated web of frontlines between forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government and those of the Iran-aligned Houthi group, the grain store became inaccessible in September 2018 and suffered shelling damage. Enough to feed nearly four million people, the grain risked rotting in the humid cli-
mate. It took a year of negotiations and risky cross-frontline operations to regain access and resume milling and distribution in September last year. Aid agencies have repeatedly complained that the combatants in the five-year-old conflict across Yemen have restricted access to needy populations and aid supplies. The flour delivery comes as fears of famine in Yemen are resurfacing, the United Nations has said. Yemen is seen as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis where 80% of the population relies on humanitarian aid. A recent U.N. report saw Yemen returning to “alarming” levels of food insecurity. Coronavirus restrictions, reduced remittances, locusts, floods and significant underfunding of this year’s aid response have compounded an already dire hunger situation. The WFP in April halved food aid to alternate months in Houthi-controlled north Yemen and says it needs $737 million to keep services running to December.
Tuesday, 28 July, 2020
SPORTS 11
BrOad StarS aS EngLand EdgE CLOSEr tO WInnIng thIrd WIndIES tESt MANCHESTER
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AGENCIES
TUArT BrOAD edged closer to his 500th wicket as England left West Indies reeling at 10 for two wickets after setting them a target of 399 runs to win the third and final Test at Old Trafford. Broad, who had taken four wickets in the tourists’ first innings in the morning, continued by removing opener John Campbell without scoring and then nightwatchman Kemar roach (4) after the West Indies were put in for the last six overs of the day. England had declared on 226 for two in their second innings as rory Burns scored 90, Joe root a quickfire 68 and Dom Sibley 56. They accelerated the run rate in Sunday’s evening session, seeking to build a large lead but still leave themselves enough time to bowl the West Indies out again and win the Test. England were hastened by the prospect of Monday’s play being heavily curtailed
by rain, leaving them the last day’s play on Tuesday to try engineer victory and take the series 2-1. Burns had to sacrifice the personal
milestone of a Test century to allow England a chance to bowl at the tourists in the late afternoon gloom, in search of an early inroad. He abandoned the studied approach
that got him to the 80s to slash at the ball and was out when he skied spinner roston Chase straight up into the air and caught. root was not out, scoring his runs off just 56 balls as he went after the bowling with characteristic flair. Sibley was the first England wicket to fall after a 114-run partnership with Burns, trapped leg before wicket by Windies captain Jason Holder. England began their second innings just before lunch after Broad finished with figures of 6-31 in 14 overs, mopping up the tail to dismiss the West Indies for 197 in the first innings and give his side a 172-run lead. But it took a frustrating 54 minutes for England to make a breakthrough after the West Indies had resumed on 137-6, facing the possibility of being asked to bat again. Holder led the fightback as he scored an important 46 runs to help his side avoid the follow-on before Broad had him lbw. The series is level after West Indies won by four wickets at Southampton before England secured a 113-run victory at Old Trafford.
Pakistan team faced with legal threat of equipment being seized Qazi Onik banned for two years for failing dope test DHAKA AGENCIES
Bangladeshi left-arm fast bowler has been banned for two years for failing a dope test during the National Cricket League in November 2018. After failing the test, he was from every BCB programme that he was part of. According to a BCB media release, Onik tested positive for Methamphetamine during an NCL match in Cox’s Bazar. He admitted to the offence and accepted a two-year suspension for an anti-doping rule violation involving his use of a prohibited substance. The substance is included as a stimulant, prohibited under section S6a of the 2018 ICC Prohibited list and consequently prohibited under the BCB Anti-Doping code 2.1, which has adapted the ICC Anti-Doping code. His two-year ban started from February 8, 2019, the day of formal notification of the player’s adverse analytical finding and the day upon which he accepted a provisional suspension. He will therefore be re-eligible to participate in cricket-related activities from February 7, 2021. Onik was Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, with . In senior cricket, he has taken 15 wickets in four firstclass matches, 41 wickets in 26 List A games and 11 wickets in nine T20s.
LAHORE AGENCIES
The PCB has played down reports that a company based in the Isle of Man may seize assets owned by the Pakistan team currently in the UK, as part of an old legal dispute between the firm and the Pakistan government. A report in the Pakistani daily the News quoted a letter from Broadsheet LLC to the Pakistan government in which it said it would “seize the assets of the Pakistani cricket team” because of longstanding dues owed to it by the government. The PCB has been in touch with the Pakistan Embassy in the UK and is believed to have been satisfied that there is little prospect of this actually happening. That belief lies in the legal opinion that
the Pakistan team is representative of the Pakistan Cricket Board, an autonomous body, and not of the Pakistan state or government, and so is not a party to the case or liable for the damages. In the letter, Broadsheet says that the Pakistan team is “by the very nature, an asset of the defendant and that monies due to the team and assets of the team are assets of the defendant to the litigation”. The legal dispute dates back to the early 2000s, when Broadsheet was hired by General Pervez Musharraf, who was the head of state of Pakistan then, to trace out hidden assets of Pakistan nationals in foreign countries. Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) signed an agreement with Broadsheet, which was eventually terminated in 2003. The termination led to a legal dispute, one resolved in 2018,
when an international arbitration court in London ruled in favour of Broadsheet, and established that the NAB was liable to pay damages. It is this payment that remains outstanding. The letter quoted in the News was written by Broadsheet to Allen & Overy, the firm that represented the Pakistan government and the NAB in the case, and said that Broadsheet was owed “more than USD 33 million” after it won the arbitration. ESPNcricinfo reached out to NAB for comment, but the body has not confirmed or denied any threat to the cricket team’s equipment being seized. The Pakistan team will play three Tests and three T20Is against England, with the first Test scheduled to start on August 5 in Manchester. The final T20I will take place on September 1.
ICC to launch World Cup qualifying Super League DUBAI AGENCIES
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced a new one-day international league, Super League, which will determine the qualification of the 2023 World Cup and is set to launch this week. Thursday´s one-day international between world champions England and Ireland in Southampton will be the inaugural match of the 13-nation league, with World Cup hosts India and the next seven highest-placed teams automatically qualifying for the 2023 edition. The ICC´s 12 full members and the Netherlands will take part with each side playing four home and four away three-match series. The coronavirus pandemic has caused havoc with the cricket calendar with the 50over and T20 World Cups pushed back. The start of the Super League was also delayed due to Covid-19. The ICC said it was working with national boards to find dates for series in the new Super League to be “safely and practically rescheduled.” “The decision last week to move the (50-over) World Cup back to late 2023 gives us more time to schedule any games lost due to COVID-19 and preserve the integrity of the qualification process, meaning it will be decided on the field of play, which is important,” said ICC general manager Geoff Allardice. Under the previous qualifying system for last year´s World Cup in England, the top eight teams in the ICC rankings were joined by the top two sides from a qualifying tournament to make up the 10-team event. “We´re looking forward to playing cricket again and to the ICC men´s World Cup Super League,” said England´s limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan. “Given the situation, it will be quite different to the last time we played at home, when we lifted the World Cup at Lord´s, but it´s nice to be starting our journey for the next edition of the tournament.” Ireland´s captain Andrew Balbirnie said: “It is obviously going to be a huge challenge taking on the team that won the World Cup just a year ago, but we have prepared well and have taken confidence from our form over the early months of 2020. “What is important is that we are getting back on the field. I hope international cricket´s return is steady during these challenging times.” The later qualifying tournament will feature five of the 13 sides that fail to get through directly against five associate nations. The start of the Super League comes nearly a year after the ICC launched a world Test championship between the nine top-ranked teams. “The league will bring relevance and context to ODI cricket over the next three years, as qualification for the ICC Men´s Cricket World Cup 2023 is at stake,” said Allardice. “The Super League gives cricket fans around the world even more reasons to watch as the drama of league cricket unfolds,” he added. Cricket came to a grinding halt in March due to the virus outbreak and it returned early this month with England hosting West Indies in a three-Test series.
Qatar interested in hosting Olympics, possibly in 2032 DUBAI AGENCIES
Qatar, the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, announced on Monday it would also like to stage the Olympics, possibly in 2032. The Gulf Arab state’s Olympic committee said it submitted a request to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to join the phase of “continuous dialogue” about hosting a future Games. Oil-rich Qatar is increasingly keen to host major sporting events, and has already welcomed world athletics championships, though scorching desert temperatures during parts of the year have caused some anxiety in the sports world. “It is this proven track-record and wealth of experience, along with our desire to use sport to promote peace and cultural ex-
change, that will form the basis of our discussions with the Commission,” Qatar Olympic Committee President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani said in a statement. The Olympics have never been hosted in the Middle East, and Qatar will be the first nation in the region to host soccer’s biggest showpiece. It has invested billions of dollars in preparing for the 2022 soccer World Cup. However, human rights groups have criticised the treatment of migrant workers. The Qatari government has said it does not tolerate unscrupulous treatment of workers. Qatar’s Doha had also unsuccessfully bid for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. “The IOC... welcomes the interest recently expressed by Qatar, which is the latest country to enter the new dialogue phase,” the International Olympic Committee said in a
statement. The IOC has changed the bidding process in recent years to reduce costs and make it more attractive to interested cities, who now enter into an initial discussion with the IOC to see whether the Olympics would be a fit for them. “These are ongoing, non-committal discussions that are not necessarily related to a specific edition of the Olympic Games or the Youth Olympic Games, and are an opportunity to explore a project without committing extensive time and resources,” the IOC said. There is no deadline for a decision to be made, though usually cities are given at least seven years in advance to prepare for hosting the Games. Several other countries have expressed an interest for the 2032 summer Olympics including Indonesia, Australia, India and Germany, among others.
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Tuesday, 28 July, 2020
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FIve moRe kIlled as RaIn plays HavoC In kaRaCHI FoR seCond day a NEWS DESK
T least 10 people were killed in the two days up to Monday of torrential rainstorms that lashed the metropolis, wrecking its neglected infrastructure, flooding streets and multiple neighbourhoods, and causing traffic jams on major thoroughfares. According to authorities, the 10 people died in different incidents during the rains in Karachi, with seven of them — including a child — killed by electrocution. Police said a 10-year-old child was electrocuted in Gulshan-e-Hadeed Phase 2, a 22-year-old man in Landhi's Qaddafi Town, two in their homes near Garden's Fawwara Chowk and Orangi Town's Sector 11½, respectively, another in a local cattle market, and two near Suparco Road, Baldia Town. One person died after falling into a drain in Orangi Sector 11½, while another was killed when a wall collapsed near Liaqatabad's Gujjar Nala, authorities confirmed. Read more: At least three dead, several areas experience power outages as rain lashes Karachi One man died when lightning struck him in Bin Qasim Town, police added. Most areas of Karachi remained inundated with rainwater Monday as heavy rainfall lashed the metropolis, causing citizens to suffer due to urban flooding, pro-
longed power outages, and traffic jams. Heavy downpour in Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Ayesha Manzil, Baldia, Power House Chowrangi, Orangi Town, and Hyderi caused roads and streets to become inundated. Moreover, three to four feet of water accumulated in certain residential areas of the city, hampering the flow of traffic and leading to traffic jams. Despite the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) having earlier forecast a third spell of monsoon, the city's administration failed to make the adequate arrangements to tackle the long-sought issue of urban flooding. As soon as it started raining, multiple roads in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Gulistan-e-Jauhar were flooded. Traffic jams ensued and as cars were stranded on both sides of the Safari Park. In this regard, the chairperson of Karachi's Central district, Rehan Hashmi, said the urban flooding situation in the city would continue to remain the same until the rain stops. However, he said the DMC central district has done what was possible to prevent the city from flooding situation. "The situation calls for improving infrastructure in urban areas," he added. Since yesterday, more than 550 K-Electric (KE) feeders had tripped as the third spell of rain lashed the city.
Hezbollah says all-out war with Israel unlikely in coming months
China reports coronavirus spike as global cases pass 16m BEIJING AGENCIES
India receiving Rafale jets amid China border tensions NEW DELHI: With plans to add five Frenchmade Rafale jets to its arsenal this month, the Indian Air Force is set to boost its military capabilities, say security experts. “The political controversy over the Rafale contract was unfortunate as it had a direct bearing on India’s defense preparedness. Acquisition of Rafale and other medium multi-role combat aircraft is important as it will be difficult for India to keep pace with the evolving security threats, particularly one posed by China. I think it’s time that the political quibble over this should end,” Sameer Patil, fellow for international security studies at Gateway House, a Mumbai-based foreign policy think tank, told Anadolu Agency. A multi-billion-dollar deal to buy French warplanes had triggered a political debate in the country, with the main opposition Congress Party accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making the purchase at a price three times higher than what had been negotiated in 2014, when the Congress was in power. The Congress has demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi be investigated for his “actions” in the deal. Retired Air Marshal PK Barbora told Anadolu Agency that he hoped there would be no politics involved in the matter and that the induction would be smooth. “[…] the deal will go through and I see no reason that there should be any kind of politics. I don’t think any politics [will take place now], because the Supreme Court has already ruled about it […] Induction is going to take place in ordinarily fashion and induction is going to be very smooth,” said Barbora. The Supreme Court in November last year rejected all petitions related to the Rafale jet deals. In 2018, the apex court exonerated the government on allegations of irregularities in the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets by India from France Senior Indian Defense expert Ajai Shukla said on Twitter: “I think it’s time to close the chapter and the endless politicisation of the Rafale. We cannot allow it to become another Bofors.” A statement issued by the Ministry of Defence on Monday said the first five Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafales had taken off in the morning from the Dassault Aviation Facility in Merignac, France, including three single-seater and two twinseater aircraft. “The ferry of the aircraft is planned in two stages and will be undertaken by the pilots of the IAF, who have undergone comprehensive training on the aircraft. The Air to Air Refuelling planned during the first leg of the ferry will be undertaken by these pilots with dedicated tanker support from the French Air Force,” the statement said. AGENCIES
China on Monday reported its highest number of coronavirus cases in three months, part of a worrying swell of second and third-wave infections that are hitting Asia and Europe. Australia has been rocked by its deadliest surge since the start of the pandemic, Hong Kong is experiencing record daily numbers and Spain’s caseload has tripled in the last fortnight. Meanwhile, other regions are still battling their first waves after never getting the virus under control: the US alone has recorded almost 4.23 million cases of Covid-19, while infections in Latin America and the Caribbean surged on Sunday to briefly overtake North America’s total for the first time. Worldwide the confirmed case count has passed 16 million, although experts believe that figure is vastly short of the true number. One study in New Delhi found a quarter of people tested had contracted the virus, amounting to 4.7 million in the Indian capital alone. China–where the coronavirus was first reported in December last year– recorded 61 cases on Monday, the highest daily figure since April. The second-wave surge was propelled by clusters in separate regions, and authorities have declared “wartime mode” lockdown measures to combat the spread of the deadly contagion. Most of the 57 new domestic cases were in the far northwestern Xinjiang region, where an outbreak in the regional capital Urumqi occurred in mid-July. A second programme of mass testing was launched Sunday in the city of 3.5 mil-
lion people to check residents who had previously tested negative, with 2.3 million people screened so far. Chinese authorities have also rolled out mass testing for hundreds of thousands in the northeast port city of Dalian where a fresh cluster broke out last week. DEADLY NEW WAVE: Australia on Sunday suffered its deadliest day since the pandemic began, with 10 fatalities and a rise in new infections despite an intense lockdown effort. And on Monday the country recorded its highest number of daily cases of at least 549, more than Wednesday’s high of 501 with some states still to report their numbers. Daniel Andrews, premier of Victoria state where the latest outbreak is centred, begged anyone sick to stay at home. In Hong Kong, which seemingly had a lid on local transmissions for weeks, new infections have snowballed sparking fears the latest outbreak is spreading out of control. More than 1,000 infections have been confirmed since early July — more than 40 percent of the total since the virus first hit the city in late January. Eighteen people have died. The city said it will stop most ships from changing crews in the densely populated territory from Wednesday to cut
back on quarantine exemptions blamed for causing a third wave of cases. And Spain, where more than 28,400 have lost their lives, has also witnessed a recent surge in cases with nearly 1,000 on both Thursday and Friday, although the government insisted the country was safe to visit and was not experiencing a second wave. “Like other European countries, Spain has new outbreaks,” Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya told reporters on Sunday, adding: “It’s not unusual.” London sparked a spat with the Iberian country, hugely popular with British holidaymakers, after it announced passengers arriving from Spain should spend a fortnight in isolation. However, Britain defended its decision with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab telling Sky News: “We can’t make apologies for doing so… We must be able to take swift, decisive action.” CASES PASS 16M: As worldwide infections passed 16 million, Latin America and the Caribbean totalled more than 4.34 million, according to an AFP tally, briefly surpassing North America, where the United States remains the hardest-hit country in terms of both caseload and death toll. But North America soon moved ahead again, as the US recorded more than 55,000 new cases in 24 hours for a total of nearly 4.23 million. Combined with Canada’s 116,000 cases, North America now has more than 4.34 million infections. In Latin America, Brazil is the worst-hit country with almost 2.42 million cases and more than 87,000 deaths. There have also been increases in infections in Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Argentina, all of which are trying to resume economic activities.
BEIRUT: The deputy leader of Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah movement on Sunday dismissed the prospect of an escalation of violence between the Iran-backed movement and Israel despite increased tensions in the last week. “The atmosphere does not indicate a war […] It’s unlikely, the atmosphere of war in the next few months,” Sheikh Naim Qassem said in an interview with proDamascus television station al Mayadeen. Tensions rose along Israel’s frontier with Syria and Lebanon after Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia said a fighter was killed in an apparent Israeli strike on the edge of Damascus last week. After two Hezbollah members were killed in Damascus in August 2019, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah vowed the group would respond if Israel killed any more of its fighters inside Syria. The Israeli military has since boosted its forces on its northern front. An Israeli drone crashed inside Lebanon during operational activity along the border, an Israeli military spokeswoman said on Sunday. Israel has stepped up strikes on Syria in recent months in what Western intelligence sources say is a shadow war approved by Washington that has undermined Iran’s military power in the region without triggering a major increase in hostilities. Hezbollah has deployed fighters in Syria as part of Iranian-backed efforts to support President Bashar al-Assad in a conflict that spiralled out of protests against his rule in 2011.The bases in eastern, central and southern Syria which Israel has hit in recent months are believed to have a strong presence of Iranian-backed militias, according to intelligence sources and military defectors familiar with the locations. Analysts say Hezbollah and Israel want to avoid an all-out conflict at a time of regional tensions and keep rules of engagement drawn up since the Iran-backed movement fought a one-month war with Israel in 2006. AGENCIES
China takes over US consulate premises in Chengdu as ties worsen CHENGDU AGECNIES
China said it had taken over the premises of the US consulate in the southwestern city of Chengdu on Monday after ordering the facility be shut in retaliation for being ousted from the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas. Police in Chengdu restricted access to the area around the consulate on Monday morning, and four officials in personal protective gear were seen walking towards the consulate at about 10:24 am local time (0224 GMT). China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the consulate was closed as of 10 am. It said later that authorities entered the building and took over the premises. China ordered the closure of the facility on Friday after Washington last week gave China 72 hours to vacate its consulate in Houston, in a dramatic escalation of tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The United States confirmed the closure of the consulate in a farewell video shared from the US embassy in China’s Twitter account.
“The US consulate in Chengdu has been proudly promoting the mutual understanding between Americans and the people in Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Yunnan and Tibet since 1985. We will forever miss you,” it said. State broadcaster CCTV shared a video on its Twitter-like Weibo account, taken by a reporter, of the American flag in front of the consulate in Chengdu being lowered at 6:18 am on Monday. On Sunday night, a crane was seen entering the consulate compound and hoisting at least one container onto a large truck. On Saturday evening, a worker was seen using tools including a hammer and chisel to remove fittings around a plaque outside the main entrance. US-China relations have plunged to their worst in decades over a range of disputes, from trade and technology to the COVID-19 pandemic, China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea and its clampdown on Hong Kong.
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