Epaper – June 23 LHR 2020

CMYK

Tuesday, 23 June, 2020 I 1 Dhū al-Qa‘dah, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol X No 354 I 52 Pages I Lahore Edition

ECC allows privatE sECtor to import whEat g

COMMITTee SAYS WHeAT SITUATION WILL Be MONITOReD ON MONTHLY BASIS TO eNSURe ITS AvAILABILITY AT ReASONABLe PRICeS g APPROveS 45 ACReS OF LAND IN ISLAMABAD FOR ISI

ISLAMABAD

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SHAHZAD PARACHA

N order to control the prices of wheat and flour in the market and to ensure their availability at reasonable prices across the country throughout the year, the economic Coordination Committee (eCC) has given a go-ahead to the private sector to import the commodity.

The eCC meeting, which was chaired

by Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, also decided not to restrict wheat import to any particular limit, stating that the situation would be monitored on a monthly basis to ensure the availability of wheat and flour in all parts of the country at reasonable prices.

“The provincial governments will be requested to announce their ‘Wheat Release Policy’ immediately. In addition, Punjab will have to release 900,000 tonnes of wheat to flour mills of the province during the next two months at its proposed release price in order to prevent

the surge in the price of wheat/flour,” the committee stated.

Moreover, PASSCO was directed to assess the immediate requirement of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and ensure the supply of wheat as per agreed targets. It was also asked to facilitate the private wheat importers and make arrangements between importers and KP/Balochistan government so as to calculate the impact of import subsidy. “If there is no import by the private sector, then the government should import the commodity itself. It should also monitor and improve the wheat supply mechanism at shortage points, besides looking at other market imperfections connected to supply and demand of wheat/flour.”

Meanwhile, the eCC considered and approved five proposals moved by the Interior Division, including a technical supplementary grant (TSG) of Rs2.5 billion to clear accrued verified liabilities of Punjab Mass Transit Authority as federal share on account of operation of the Pakistan Metro Bus System; two separate TSGs of Rs200 million and Rs36.400 million for ICT

Coronavirus in

pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

183,300

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

89

4,471

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

SINDH:

PUNJAB:

71,458 3,628 71,092

66,943

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

22,633

9,587

845/1,288 10,912

Police to clear outstanding liabilities of Shuhada families; and two separate TSGs of Rs105.621 million and Rs60.581 million for ICT Police to clear outstanding liabilities during FY19-20.

The eCC also approved a proposal by the Finance Division for a TSG of Rs1.3 billion to meet critical demands related to medical stores and utilities for the Pakistan Navy.

On a proposal by the Defence Division, the eCC allowed the Capital Development Authority to collect charges against allotment of 45 acres land in Jagiot Farm in Islamabad to the Directorate General of the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) as per Rs2,250 per square yard rate with the total implication of Rs490.05 million as already approved by the former prime minister in May 2018. The eCC approved a TSG amounting to Rs490.05 million for the purpose.

On a proposal by the Industries and Production Division, the eCC approved a reduction in duties and taxes for a period of three months to ensure uninterrupted supply of oxygen gas and cylinders in the country for medical purposes. The eCC also directed the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination and Ministry of Interior to clear all the outstanding dues payable to oxygen manufacturing companies as per the legal provisions of contracts.

The committee also considered and approved a proposal by the Finance Division for a new lending policy to the provincial governments for their ‘Ways and Means’ requirements and for the signing of agreements by Finance Division and the State Bank of Pakistan to implement the new lending policy.

PM calls for ensuring implementation of smart lockdown strategy as cases rise g

89 deaths, 4,471 new Covid-19 cases recorded in 24 hours ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday directed officials to ensure implementation of the smart lockdown strategy by involving local community leaders as well as the volunteers of the Tiger Force.

The PM’s directions came as Pakistan confirmed 89 deaths in a single day by coronavirus, taking the nationwide tally of fatalities to 3,590, as the number of positive cases surged to 181,088.

According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 4,471 persons tested positive for Covid-19 in 24 hours. Sindh became the worst-hit province by the pandemic in terms of cases followed by Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. As of Monday, 69,628 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 66,943 in Punjab, 21,997 in KP, 9,475 in Balochistan,

Kashmiris counting on OIC for lasting solution to dispute, Qureshi says g

FM urges OIC to press India to stop human rights violations in occupied valley ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday urged the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to step up its efforts to facilitate a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue, saying the oppressed people of the occupied valley were counting on the forum and Muslim Ummah more than ever now.

“The OIC must urge India to rescind its unilateral and illegal actions since August 5, 2019, implement the relevant UNSC resolutions to hold a UN-supervised plebiscite, halt its blatant human rights violations and provide unhindered access to […] human rights organisations and international media to investigate and report on the situation in the occupied territory,” he said during a virtual meeting

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OIC official calls on UN secretary general to urge India to abide by UNSC resolutions and engage in dialogue

meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.

The foreign minister also urged the group to lend support for actively raising the issue at international forums.He said the situation in Kashmir had further aggravated since Sept 25, 2019, when the group last met in New York. “It is marked by gross and systemic violations of human rights, and an escalating threat to regional peace and security.“The current Indian leadership remains bent upon perpetuating India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. The ‘Hindutva’ agenda of the RSS-BJP combine is deliberately targeting defenceless Kashmiris with unspeakable violence to break their will.”

He said that Pakistan has consistently been raising the issue with the OIC and the international community about India’s “real intentions to change

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the demographic structure [of the occupied valley] and further disempower and disenfranchise the Kashmiris”. “It is highly reprehensible that while the world community is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, India remains busy intensifying its brutalisation of the Kashmiri people.”

He maintained that India was seeking to cover up the indigenous struggle of the Kashmiris, by calling it “terrorism” and by blaming Pakistan. As part of this cover up, India has intensified ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary, he said.

“Since January 1, India has committed 1,440 ceasefire violations [and] has deliberately targeted innocent civilians on the Pakistani side of the LoC, killing 13 and injuring 104, including women and children.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 02

10,912 in Islamabad, 1,288 in GilgitBaltistan (GB) and 845 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Furthermore, 1,435 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab, 1,089 in Sindh, 821 in KP, 102 in Balochistan, 101 in Islamabad, 22 in GB and 20 in AJK. Chairing a review meeting on the pandemic situation, the prime minister also directed for finalisation of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for eidul Azha in consultation with the provincial governments as soon as possible.

“This time, eidul Azha will be being celebrated under extraordinary circumstances. The current situation demands that clear SOPs should be formulated as soon as possible for the protection of the people and their strict implementation be ensured,” the prime minister said.

Imran said that implementation of the smart lockdown strategy must be ensured.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 02

more inside

Senators demand more allocation for smaller provinces, education and health STORY ON PAGE 03

No GIDC paid by fertiliser companies in last five years, Senate body told STORY ON PAGE 09

Economists point out myths and facts about Pakistan’s defence budget STORY ON BACK PAGE

Saudi Arabia to hold Hajj with ‘very limited pilgrims from resident nationalities’ STORY ON BACK PAGE

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Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

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PM IMran vows More shelter hoMes for low IncoMe grouPs PM REVIEWS DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS IN FATA, SAYS FEDERAL GOVT HAS RELEASED FUNDS ALLOCATED IN 2018 FOR TRIBAL DISTRICTS ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

RIME Minister Imran Khan on Monday said the government will incrementally increase shelter homes in Pakistan. He insisted that Pakistanis are charitable and passionate in their desire to give, and the government only has to ensure confidence [of the public]. “People start sending food themselves to shelter homes,” said the PM, assuring that transparency will be ensured in the relief and Ehsaas programmes.

The government will identify spots where shelter homes are needed, and channels will be set up to allow philanthropists

to offer sponsorships for the same.

The premier also thanked Dr Sania Nishtar for her work on the Ehsaas programme, and credited the initiative, as well as the decision to reopen the construction sector, for the condition in Pakistan not being “as bad as in India”.

He reiterated that the government’s challenge is to ensure that the wheels of the economy keep running while at the same time the public is made aware of the SOPs needed to control the spread of the pandemic.

Referring to the Covid-19 Tiger Force, the premier said it was active and has been reaching out in areas identified as virus hot spots. Earlier, the prime minister said it is a fact that the virus will spread and the “the

Budget focuses on provision of relief to poor, say treasury lawmakers ISLAMABAD APP

trend our experts have observed is that it spreads, then peaks after a few weeks and then the curve will flatten”. “The purpose of flattening the curve is to ease the pressure on hospitals,” explained the premier while addressing the nation on state television.

“We can manage the pandemic if we observe the SOPs in place and take precautions,” the premier had urged the people.

“We expect our peak to come by the end of July or August and then we will witness a reduction in transmission of new cases.”

FATA DEVELOPMENT: Separately, PM Imran chaired a meeting to review development progress in former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), that have

now been merged with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (K-P).

Imran expressed his wish for development projects to be initiated in the region soon, said Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Shibli Faraz, in a video statement released to brief on the meeting.

Faraz quoted the PM as saying that the people and the youth of FATA are dear to him.

Faraz added that the federal government has released the funds allocated in 2018 in this regard.

Besides, a committee has been constituted to coordinate with other provinces and ensure the availability and release of remaining funds, he said.

The minister further added that PM Imran expressed his wish for the ‘sacrifices’ of the people of FATA, with regards to countering terrorism, being recognised.

According to Faraz, the prime minister wants development works in the region to be initiated as soon as possible.

ISLAMABAD Jamshoro Joint Ventures Limited (JJVL) has asked the government to direct Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) to immediately resume gas supplies for local production of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) at JJVL facilities. In a letter to Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Petroleum Division Nadeem Babar, JJVL requested the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) to call a meeting of the SSGC Board and allow JJVL to make a presentation on the matter so that a fair and transparent decision could be taken in the national interest.

Similarly, JJVL has requested the government to direct SSGC to resume gas supplies with immedi-

ate effect in line with the Supreme Court's validated agreement on an ad hoc basis.

"In addition, SSGC must immediately submit all required data to A F Ferguson and Co for final determination of revenue sharing between SSGC and JJVL as had been directed the Supreme Court in December 2018."

Moreover, the letter stated, SSGC should bring on record the report of their consultants who JJVL understands has recommended that it is not viable for SSGC to set up its own LPG plant and that it should continue arrangements with JJVL. "The SSGC should advise the ministry if it has any alternative facilities available for gas processing for local LPG/NGL production."

According to a letter of JJVL,

SSGC on June 20, 2020, had informed JJVL that it shall not be extending the Supreme Court's validated agreement of December 29, 2018, for local LPG and LNG production at JJVL’s facilities.

"The sudden discontinuation of 300 metric tonnes of daily LPG production came at a time when the country was already reeling from an oil crisis," it maintained. "JJVL production had been catering to the energy needs for over 750,000 homes across the country. Immediate job losses as a result of SSGC’s decision shall now follow."

According to JJVL, the energy ministry through different letters instructed that SSGC not only continue local LPG production but also to enhance it. However, the SSGC decision of June 20 contravened these instructions.

Urea price likely to surge

by Rs200 per bag ISLAMABAD GHULAM ABBAS

As gas companies have sought up to 100pc hike in their tariffs, the fertiliser industry may also increase the price of urea by Rs200 per bag from next month.

According to sources in the fertiliser industry, Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) had recently filed their petitions for determination of gas prices for the year 2020-21.

SNGPL had sought an increase in gas prices by around 100pc (Rs622/mmBTU), while SSGC had sought an increase of 20pc (Rs85/mmBTU) to meet their revenue requirements for the upcoming fiscal year.

In December 2019, the Oil and Gas Development

LAHORE: The Punjab government on Monday decided to seal eight more areas of Lahore in order to contain the spread of coronavirus.

According to details, 96,229 houses and 1.69 million population will be put under lockdown in all blocks of Gulberg (I, II, III), Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Faisal Town, Garden Town and areas falling under the walled city. According to the commissioner’s office, 3,613 Covid-19 cases have been reported in these localities. Section 144 has also been imposed to force the residents to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs). Akbari Mandi, Shah Alam Market and grocery stores will remain open while all the shopping malls will be closed. So far, 1403 cases have surfaced in DHA, 736 in Gulberg, 659 in Model Town, 188 in Faisal Town, 238 in Garden Town, 212 in Gulshan Ravi and 170 in Walled City.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad administration has also decided to seal I-8, I-10, G-9 and Karachi Company areas due to increasing coronavirus cases. The moves came after Pakistan confirmed 89 deaths in a single day by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 181,088. STAFF REPORT

renowned scholar allama talib Jauhari passes away

LPG production: JJVL seeks immediate resumption of supplies from SSGC AHMAD AHMADANI

Government lawmakers told the National Assembly (NA) on Monday that the budget for the fiscal year 2020-21 was focused on providing relief to the poor and deserving people of the country. Participating in the budget debate, Raja Kurram Nawaz said that adequate funds were earmarked in the federal budget for the poor and deserving people as was evident from Ehsaas Programme. He said that relief and support were provided to people living below the poverty line.

He added that the prime minister was not seeking financial assistance for himself but for the poor people of Pakistan. He demanded share from the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award for the federal capital so that the funds could be spent on its progress and development. Rashid Shafiq said the coronavirus had not only affected Pakistan but engulfed the whole world, adding appropriate measures had been taken by the government to control its spread and also ensured the continuation of economic activities to protect people from starvation. He said that the previous governments ignored the health sector of Rawalpindi, however, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had established a hospital, which was neglected for decades on political grounds. He said that appropriated funds had been allocated for education and for the provision of water to the twin cities – Rawalpindi and Islamabad. He also demanded honorarium for the employees performing their duties in the ongoing budget session. Meanwhile, Mohammad Aslam Bhootani said the federal government presented a good budget in the prevailing situation. He, however, highlighted the issues faced by the students in Balochistan due to coronavirus, saying that no online classes were being conducted in the province, which may lead to loss of an academic year of the students. He said that the schemes announced in the Federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) should be initiated on time and not be carried forward. Sajid Mehdi stressed the need for making the NA Committee on Agricultural Products more active to facilitate farmers. He said that agriculture was an important sector for promoting economy, adding that unless the agriculture sector was developed, progress could not be made. Aliya Kamran, however, criticised the government for not devising appropriate strategies to cope with various challenges faced by the country.

Khursheed Ahmed Junejo demanded to increase salaries of the government employees and pension.

gulberg, Dha among 8 areas to be sealed in lahore

Authority (OGRA) had recommended an increase of 135pc in fertilizer feed gas prices, along with 32pc increase in fuel prices, which was further amended by the Ministry of Petroleum to increase fertilizers feed gas price by 5pc and fuel gas price to be increased by 64pc to Rs1,672/mmBTU. However, the proposal was not implemented by the government at the time.

Sources said the possible hike in urea price was likely to overburden the farming community, which was already struggling amid the Covid-19 outbreak and severe locust attacks.

It may be noted that urea offtake has declined dramatically this year due to worsening farm economics and the announcement of government subsidy, after which the farmers had delayed their purchase decisions.

KARACHI: Renowned religious scholar Allama Talib Jauhari passed away on Monday at the age of 80 after being hospitalised for a few weeks. Allama Jauhari had been under treatment at intensive care unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Karachi for past few days. He had been on a ventilator since June 10. His funeral prayer was offered after Zuherain prayers in Amroha Ground, Ancholi Society and later he was buried. Allama Jauhari was born on August 27, 1938, in Patna, India. He was a student of Ayatollah Shaheed Sayyid Baqir Al-Sadr in Najaf, Iraq, where he studied Islamic theology under Ayatollah al-Uzma Sayyid Abu al-Qasim alKhoei. He was a master orator and a prolific writer. He wrote several books, including a detailed commentary on the Quran. STAFF REPORT

Kashmiris counting ContInueD froM pAge 01 He added that despite India’s “belligerent rhetoric and aggressive actions”, Pakistan had showed maximum restraint. “Pakistan does not want another conflict. However, it has the will and the capacity to respond forcefully and effectively, and defend itself resolutely against any act of aggression.” In a statement issued after the meeting, OIC Secretary General Dr Yousef A Al-Othaimeen stressed the group’s commitment to finding a peaceful settlement for the Kashmir issue. “At the same time, I call on the international community to strengthen its efforts to assist the people of Kashmir to decisively practice their legitimate rights denied for decades,” the secretary general said. The group also reaffirmed the continued support for the people of occupied Kashmir and called on the United Nations secretary general to urge India to abide by the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) resolutions and engage in dialogue. The group called on India to halt security operations, respect basic human rights, refrain from changing the demographic structure of the occupied valley, and settle the conflict under the relevant UNSC resolutions, the statement said. After the meeting, the group issued a statement on recent developments in the region in which it welcomed the efforts made by some member states to mediate between India and Pakistan.

PM calls for ensuring implementation of smart lockdown strategy as cases rise ContInueD froM pAge 01 He directed for involving of local leaders and the communities. He also called for seeking help from the Tiger Force to create public awareness about the lockdowns and their implementation.

The meeting discussed the overall pandemic situation, increase in the number of oxygenated beds in hospitals, demand and supply of oxygen, implementation of smart lockdown in affected areas and the arrangements for Eidul Azha.

On the occasion, the prime minister was briefed about the efforts being made to increase the number of beds reserved for Covid-19 patients in the hospitals in all the four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal briefed the meeting about the supply of beds to the various hospitals in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Islamabad. He added the beds capacity would be increased by 2,150 beds by mid-July.

The meeting also took stock of the steps being taken to meet the oxygen requirements and the implementation of smart lockdown in the identified hotspots in major cities of the country. The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the steps being taken to meet the needs of beds and oxygen.

He said that keeping in view the regional and international experience, it had become clear that the strategy adopted by the government for the prevention of coronavirus spread had yielded better results.

Earlier, a meeting of the NCOC, with Planning Minister Asad Umar in the chair, reviewed the targeted lock-

down situation, need assessment of oxygen, epidemic (Epi) curve data and the update on the Resource Management System (RMS) and Pak Nigehban App. Umar told the meeting that the aim of the targeted lockdowns was to isolate maximum Covid infected cases instead of merely restricting huge number of people. He observed that there was a positive difference seen in the urban areas with maximum compliance of wearing masks at public places.

The additional Punjab chief secretary briefed the forum that Lahore had the largest number of Covid cases for the past many days. He added that a provincial cabinet committee was going to devise the future course of action, keeping in view the new hotspots.

The KP chief secretary informed the forum that there was no administrative challenge faced yet in imposing smart lockdown. The Sindh chief secretary highlighted

CMYK

an under-consideration suggestion to expand smart lockdown to further hotspot areas.

The Sindh chief secretary told the forum that the notification had been issued for barring the corporate sector from taking any punitive action against the employees residing in smart lockdown areas for not attending to offices.

The Balochistan chief secretary informed the forum that the strategy and deployment plan for smart lockdown had been prepared. He added the smart lockdown would be imposed for one and a half month.

The AJK chief secretary informed the forum that four districts were under complete lockdown. The GilgitBaltistan chief secretary mentioned that the decentralisation strategy was successful as the deputy commissioners in their relevant districts had efficiently contained the risk of outbreak.

Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

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senators DeManD More allocatIon for sMaller ProvInces, eDucatIon anD health ISLAMABAD

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APP

ENATORS on Monday demanded more allocations for smaller provinces, and health and education sectors in the federal budget 2020-21.

Taking part in the debate in Senate, Ateeq Shaikh of the Muttahida Qaumi MovementPakistan (MQM-P) praised Prime Minister Imran Khan and his financial team for presenting a balanced budget in a critical time when the whole world was facing a financial crisis due to coronavirus pandemic.

He, however, said the budget lacked visible relief for the overseas Pakistanis, who contributed to the national economy through remittances. They should be allowed to bring used mobile phones, besides giving them tax exemption for buying property in Pakistan, he added.

He stressed on taking more steps for digitising the country as it could create job opportunities. The government should provide laptops to the youth free of charge or through banks on easy installments, he added.

Ateeq Shaikh said that the Chinese president had introduced digital currency in the wake of Covid-19, which should be replicated in Pakistan also.

Robina Khalid of Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) criticised the federal government for taking over charge of hospitals in the Sindh province. She asked the federal government to take over hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), particularly Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, which she claimed, were in worse condition. She also urged the government to reduce the prices of sugar and medicines in the country.

Senator Nuzhat Sadiq of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) expressed her concern over rising number of Covid-19 patients. She said that the government had slashed the budget of higher education. She claimed a record budget was earmarked by the PML-N government for higher education and suggested incumbent government to also increase the same. Gul Bushra of Pakhtunkhwa Mili Awami Party (PkMAP) claimed that no relief was given to the masses in the budget. She alleged that a meager amount was allo-

Maryam shares nawaz’s letter penned to her from jail on father’s Day neWS DeSK Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Sunday shared her father’s brief letter written to her while both of them were serving jail term last year. “Every day is #FathersDay for me but today there is no greater tribute than this brief letter. That even while going [to face] one revenge to another, the father is not concerned about his person, but about the daughter lying in the other dark prison cell. One life is too little to sacrifice for such a father!” she said in a tweet on the occasion of Father’s Day. The brief handwritten letter in Urdu language penned on Oct.11, 2019, shared in the tweet, reads: “Dear daughter Maryam, Assalam-o-Alaikum. (The) NAB men are taking me away (from Kot Lakhpat Jail to National Accountability Bureau’s offices in Lahore) in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case today. I pray to Allah that He may create relief for us all. Take care of yourself and don’t worry. Allah may grant His mercy in abundance. My prayers are with you. Allah Hafiz. Father.”

cated for Balochistan.

Dr Jehanzeb Jamal Dini said that allocations of Rs55 billion and Rs32 billion for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) were a good omen. He pointed out that Rs10 billion was earmarked for Balochistan, which constituted 44 per cent of the country. He urged that the under developed Balochistan should be brought at par with other provinces.

He also called for setting up at an oil refinery in Balochistan, which would help generate thousands of employment opportunities for the local people.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq, while taking part in the debate, alleged that the government had not given any relief to the general masses in the budget as the per capita income had decreased from $354 to $264. The development budget of only Rs650 billion was allocated, he added.

The JI chief said the agriculture sector should be given due attention in the budget as around 70 per cent people of the country were directly and indirectly linked with it. He said that the government had made cut in the budg-

ets of health and education sectors, which needed to be revised. Kabeer Ahmed Shahi of National Party (NP) also stressed to allocate more amount for Balochistan and its due share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had been termed a `game changer’ and visible development should be made in Balochistan after that project, he added. He demanded a desalination plant for Gwadar as its people had no clean drinking water.

Usman Khan Kakar complained that the previous governments had neglected Balochistan and the current opposition was not raising voice to resolve the problems being faced by the people of the province either.

PPPP’s Behramand Khan Tangi also criticised the budget. During his speech, the treasury lawmakers protested over the objectionable language used by him.

An exchange of harsh words was witnessed form both sides of aisle.

Muhammad Ayub Afridi and Zeeshan Khanzada also expressed their views on the budget. Later, the House was adjourned to meet again on Wednesday at 4 pm.

Gen Bajwa lauds Pakistan navy's valour, sacrifices LAHore STAFF REPPORT

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday appreciated the valour and sacrifices of Pakistan Navy for defending the country. The army chief was visiting the Pakistan Navy War College here.

He also laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada and offered Fateha, according to an official statement. While addressing participants of 49th Naval Staff Course and faculty members, Gen Bajwa said that Naval War College is a prestigious institution of Pakistan Navy, “where officers of Pakistan armed forces and friendly countries are trained for assumption of key command and staff appointments”.

He said that Pakistan Navy with proud history of valour and sacrifices “as formidable force has always come up to the expectations of the nation in defending the maritime frontiers of motherland”. During the

address, the army chief also focused on geostrategic environment, security challenges and opportunities for Pakistan. Rear Admiral Muhammad Zubair Shafique, Commandant Pak-

istan Navy War College, received the COAS upon his arrival. Lieutenant General Majid Ehsan, Commander Lahore Corps, was also present at the occasion.

Moot highlights challenges to Pakistan’s trade competitiveness KArACHI STAFF REPORT

Learners’ Republic recently conducted an important webinar on Pakistan’s international trade competitiveness titled ‘Boosting Pakistan’s Trade Competitiveness’.

The webinar was divided into four rounds; the first focused on the evaluation of Pakistan’s current position with regards to trade; the second focused on future strategies, the third on questions specific to the panelists’ expertise, while the fourth was reserved for questions.

Panellists included Interloop Limited Chairman Musadaq Zulqarnain, Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians MNA & Chairperson Shandana Gulzar Khan, World Bank’s Senior Economist Gonzalo Varela, Pakistan’s Trade and Investment Minister in London

Shafiq Shahzad, Gentech Solutions Founder & COO Shamim Rajani, and IBA Karachi Assistant Professor Dr Aadil Nakhoda.

The session was moderated by Ariba Shahid, a business journalist from Profit.

During the talk, Zulqarnain highlighted ways in which Pakistan should integrate with the world. He stressed the importance of developing the youth in attempts to boost trade.

Varela, in light of the World Bank, explained how imports are important for Pakistan’s trade and can essentially lead to greater exports.

Gulzar represented the government’s stance throughout the webinar and emphasized on the importance of the budget and how it is trade friendly.

Ranjani commented on the importance of the IT

sector. Interestingly, she commented that private sector organizations deal with app development and problem solving on a greater frequency than the government.

Thereby, it would have been better had the GOP outsourced the Covid app to the private sector.

Shahzad called for greater coordination among ministries in order to reap greater returns. In addition, he explained his role as a trade attaché.

Nakhoda commented on the need for greater awareness of the private sector. “If the right research about export markers is undertaken and standards are adhered to, exports can be boosted.”

Profit was the exclusive media partners of the event. During the webinar, Zulqarnain appreciated the SBP’s Rozagar Scheme launched in response to Covid-19.

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Ihc turns down ritchie’s plea to stop fIa probe of controversial tweets ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed a petition filed by Pakistan-based US blogger Cynthia Dawn Ritchie against an earlier court order directing the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to register a case against her for posting controversial tweets. The district and sessions court of Islamabad had last week directed the agency to investigate Ritchie’s allegations of sexual assault against the top Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders which rocked the domestic political landscape. The order was announced on a petition moved by PPP Islamabad chapter president who had approached the court against the blogger, accusing her of posting indecent tweets that involved slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The petition had requested the court to order police to register a case against Ritchie. Accepting the petition, the court directed FIA to investigate the matter. However, two days later, the blogger approached the IHC, seeking to halt the inquiry against her. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Monday made clear that the court will not interfere in the inquiry and ordered the agency to continue with the investigation.

Citing the original court order regarding the registration of the case, the plaintiff submitted that the order did not explicitly ask the police to register a first information report (FIR). To which Justice Minallah noticed that the agency was in fact directed to conduct an inquiry prior to the registration of a FIR. The plaintiff then said that the petition in fact objected to the part which calls on the police to lodge a FIR. The court will go into merits and demerits of the order, the judge responded. Ritchie, 44, who is residing in Pakistan since 2009, got herself involved in a dogfight last month when she levelled indecent allegations against slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto on Twitter. She followed up her tweets with a string of allegations against PPP leaders including former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and former ministers Rehman Malik and Makhdoom Shahabuddin. STAFF REPPORT

04 LAHORE

Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

WEATHER UPDATES TUESDAY

420C

310C

Buzdar, Elahi plEdgE fortifying political alliancE LAHORE

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APP

UNJAB Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Monday said that Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) are on the same page and their political alliance will be strengthened further.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi called on the chief minister at his office on Monday and promised that the political allies would continue supporting the PTI-led government in the province and the alliance would be strengthened with each passing day.

Both leaders discussed budget session, public welfare projects and political situation besides measures to contain coronavirus pandemic in the province. They expressed their satisfaction over the working relationship between the allies.

Buzdar and Elahi reiterated their resolve to work in unison for welfare of people of Punjab, adding that their detractors would fail in creating any misunderstanding among the allies.

The chief minister said that the opposition, hoping to derail the government, would be disappointed, adding that the opposition was playing politics on non-issues as it did not have any agenda for welfare of masses.

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Buzdar said the government would enhance its efforts on ensuring speedy completion of public welfare projects in the province irrespective of the criticism by the opposition.

He also hailed the speaker’s efforts in running the House smoothly during the budget session.

The speaker felicitated the chief minister on presenting a public welfare budget for the fiscal year 2020-21. He said that the PML-Q would stand by the Punjab CM through thick and thin, adding that his party stands shoulder to shoulder with the PTI-led government in Centre and Punjab in the journey to serve the poor. He said that the opposition parties are a rudderless ship with no agenda for benefit of masses and a policy to control coronavirus.

Elahi said that the former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rulers had done injustice to the people of Punjab by abandoning the projects started by him during his stint as the chief minister, adding that PML-Q believed in selfless service to masses.

“Those, who dreamed of creating differences in the alliance will remain unsuccessful in destabilising the government,” Elahi said, adding CM Buzdar was serving masses sincerely.

Punjab Minister for Housing and Urban Development Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed and PML-Q senior leader Chaudhry Moonis Elahi were present during the meeting.

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LHC adjourns hearing of Mir Shakil’s bail plea till July 7 LAHORE APP

A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Monday adjourned the hearing of a bail petition filed by Jang/Geo Group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakilur Rahman in illegal plot allotment case till July 7.

The bench comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem heard the post arrest bail petition filed by Mir Shakil.

At the start of proceedings, National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) Prosecutor Syed Faisal Raza Bukhari stated that the NAB's response had been submitted, in response to a court query.

To which, Mir Shakil 's counsel submitted that as per NAB response, investigations had been completed

from his client. At this stage, Justice Rizvi observed that copy of NAB's response was missing in the file of his fellow judge. The court would conduct further the hearing of the matter after filing of the reply by the bureau in high court office, he added.

He asked why the bureau did not submit two copies of its reply. To which, NAB prosecutor told that four set of copies were submitted. If four set of copies were not submitted then the high court office did not receive the reply, he added.

In response to a court query, Mir Shakil's counsel submitted that his client had been shifted to jail on judicial remand. He further submitted that the bureau had recorded statements of various present and retired officers Lahore Development Authority (LDA) after April 7. He submitted that the bureau had failed to

recover anything from his client during the custody, whereas, all relevant record had been given to it. He pleaded with the court for granting benefit of bail to his client.

Subsequently, the bench directed registrar office to annex the copy of NAB's reply with file while adjourning hearing till July 7. The court also directed NAB prosecutor for submitting copies of complete reply by the next date of hearing. It is pertinent to mention here that LHC had previously rejected two petitions filed by Mir Shakil and his wife challenging arrest and physical remand of Mir Shakil. The NAB had alleged that Mir Shakil obtained illegal exemption of 54 plots of one-kanal each in Johar Town Lahore, with the connivance of Nawaz Sharif, the then chief minister of Punjab, in violation of the exemption policy in 1986.

LHC rejects plea challenging Buzdar’s appointment as CM LAHORE INP

A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court challenging the appointment of Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.

Advocate Abdul Waheed Khan said Buzdar’s wealth declaration varies on his election nomination papers and oath-taking documents. He declared his wealth to be Rs25 million in his nomination papers but the affidavit for oath shows it be Rs 761,000.

Buzdar has lied and he should be removed from the

LCCI’s help sought for reopening marriage halls business LAHORE: Marriage Halls owners on Monday called on Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) office-bearers and sought their help for reopening of their businesses.

LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh presided-over the meeting here at LCCI while Senior Vice President Ali Hussam Asghar, Junaid Ahmad Zia, Tahir Anjum and other representatives of marriage halls/marquees spoke on the occasion. They said that marriage halls/marquees were not only a big source of tax collection for the government but hundreds of thousands workers, including waiters, electricians, decorators, caterers, chefs were directly associated with the business while hundreds of others like meat suppliers, flower suppliers and decorators were indirectly associated with this industry. APP

Govt's Rs56bln tax relief to promote business commendable step: Aslam Iqbal LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Industries and Trade Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal has said that international economy including Pakistan's economy has been adversely affected due to coronavirus pandemic and it has speedily spread in Pakistan due to adopting irresponsible behaviors.

He said it is not possible to impede its spread without public cooperation.

Talking to a delegation of party workers at his camp office on Monday, he urged that people should not lend their ears on rumors and act upon the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government. He maintained that the only way out to prevent oneself from coronavirus lies in adhering to precautionary measures. INP

post under Article 62(i)(f) of the Constitution, says the petition. Article 62 (i)(f) is a provision requiring elected officials to be “honest and righteous”. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen were disqualified under this clause. The CM Punjab won the PP-286 seat during the 2018 general election after which he was elected as a member of the Punjab Assembly.

The court registrar, however, raised objections over the petition and returned it to the petitioner. The registrar said Buzdar contested the 2018 election from Taunsa Sharif so the petition should be filed in the Multan bench.

NEWS

05

PSX caLLS foR Reduced caPitaL GaiNS taX KARACHI

t

MEIRYUM ALI

HE Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has formally asked the government to reduce the capital gains tax (CGT), in a statement released on Monday.

The exchange recommended that the CGT rate be brought down to 10pc for short term investments, and be made nil for long term investments.

In making this proposal, the PSX said it had the support of the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Pakistan Stockbrokers Association (PSA).

Broadly speaking, a CGT is a tax on the difference between an asset’s sale price, and the original purchase price. According to the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, a CGT can be charged on the disposal of securities, such a share of a public company, a modaraba certificate, or debt securities.

For the 2019-2020 tax year, if a secu-

rity’s holding period was less than one year, the rate was 15pc. If a security was bought before July 1, 2016, and the holding period was between one to two years, the rate was 12.5pc. If the security was bought between 2013 and 2016, and had a holding period of more than two years, the rate was 7.5pc. If the security was bought before July 1, 2013, the rate was zero percent.

The PSX claimed that the CGT rate is one of the highest in the region, and that the tax’s structure needs to be rationalized in line with international best practice.

It should be noted though, that the CGT rate in South Asian countries is more or less in the same ballpark range as Pakistan’s CGT. India’s CGT ranges from 10pc to 20pc, depending on the security holding period, while Bangladesh’s CGT stands at 15pc. However, Sri Lanka’s CGT stands at 10pc on property, while it is nil for capital gains from shares.

According to the exchange, the current structure in Pakistan is inefficient as the only Rs.1.3 billion was collected as CGT last year. How-

ever, if the proposed changes to the CGT were to be followed, the PSX says it would be a “significant and welcome headline change which will attract new domestic and international investors to Pakistan’s capital markets, without any negative revenue impact.”

In its statement, the PSX explained that the current CGT structure was in fact discriminating against Pakistan’s capital markets. Currently, Pakistan’s capital markets are fully documented. The exchange said it was important to have a tax structure that attracted funds from the informal and undocumented part of the economy, towards the documented capital markets.

“This will help create new tax payers and increase Pakistan’s low savings rate, one of the critical structural imbalances in Pakistan’s economy.” said the exchange.

However, the PSX said a review of CGT on listed securities has now become even more urgent in light of the changes made in the CGT structure on real estate.

In the most recent Federal Budget an-

Covid-19 and Pakistan’s economy KHAYYAM MUNAWAR The Coronavirus, codenamed COVID-19 was first traced and reported back on the 1st of November in the Wuhan city of China and has since wreaked havoc worldwide. With over 8.66 Million reported cases and approximately 460,000 deaths to date it was declared a global pandemic by WHO on the 11th of March-2020.Although the exact source of this RNA virus remains to be officially named, amidst numerous conspiracy theories and opinions it is believed to have been contracted from a species of bats and contrary to popular belief is neither caused by 5G towers nor does some multi-billion dollar corporation have a stake in its spread.

A global recession seems inevitable as worldwide trade continues to contract which is predicted to be much more potent than the one caused in 1945 and 2009. With reference to the IEA Oil Market report, the worldwide average oil consumption is expected to contract by a record 9.3 mb/d comparative to 2019 in relation to the twin demand and supply shocks caused by containment measures across 187 countries. Oil prices reacted to the thinning demand and have decreased by 62.51% since January-2020. The impact of COVID-19 is widespread and the total exports across 46 major contributors to the world trade fell by 11% over the first 4 months of 2020 in comparison to 2019. Livelihood of millions is at stake as numerous small-scale businesses worldwide cease operations and wide-scale unemployment looms on the horizon.

The economy of Pakistan paints a similar picture: With the country being a low-income developing entity, its economic metrics were showing signs of mild improvement prior to the pandemic and inflation was expected to stay at a single digit figure after soaring to 7.3% in 2019. The State Bank of Pakistan suggested a modest figure of 3.3% in terms of actual GDP growth however the state had to impose a lockdown on the 23rd of march in line with the directions of WHO and the GDP growth as a result was revised to a negative 1.3% with serious implications to the low-income earning group, 125 million of which are expected to fall below the poverty line over the course of 2020.

With the spread of COVID-19,

China had to restrict its trade, and the majority of that vacuum was redirected to the remaining Asian states.

Loss of a major supplier meant higher lead times, inability to meet export orders and potential loss of international customers, all of which are conditions that raise doubt over the ability of an entity to operate as a going concern.

The effects of this have trickled down to the sectors of Agriculture, Machinery and Equipment, Transportation, Textiles, Tourism, Financial Services, Telecom and IT, Automotive, Construction, Education, Power generation and Health and Care. Exports were cut short by U$ 2 Billion for the period March-May 2020 compared to the year 2019 The lockdown dictated a large part of how commodities were locally consumed and there was a drastic increase in the consumption and hoarding of consumables subsequent to the imposition of the lockdown (as seen in the case of perishable consumables and medical supplies). The transportation had halted in numerous parts of the country, timely delivery of consumables was affected creating a gap in the supply and demand which was further aggravated by import barriers as neighboring states exercised their individual lockdowns(import of food products during May-2020 was reduced by 21% relative to that in May-2019). However, employment in the particular sector remained relatively secure and insulated. The onset of COVID-19 impacted the Machinery sector in the form of unavailability of input materials, decline in local and export sided demand. Multiple expansion projects in relation to increasing the electricity transmission network have also either been scraped or delayed.

The Transportation sector accounts for 12.89% of the GDP and 5.7% of the national labor force and whilst courier services remained functional though limited, passenger transportation had completely halted in most instances. Services such as metro had to cease their primary operations (incurring further losses of PKR 500 Billion) and it became increasingly difficult to source airplane tickets, which in some cases were selling at a premium of up to 40%. The civil aviation authority bore losses of up to PKR 19 billion during the period flights remained suspended. Railways too had to limit their operations in compliance with the lockdown and were burdened with a loss PKR 10 Billion. Petrol prices were reduced by PKR 37/Liter over the period March-June and although there were attempts to create an artificial shortage on part of petrol pump owners to escape losses,

Prime Minister Imran Khan has assured that such an activity shall not be tolerated and strict action be taken against offenders. Oil companies and authorities have been directed to ensure a smooth supply.

The Textile sector contributes 8.5% to the total GDP and 56% to the total export basket and in most cases remains dependent on imports of raw materials from China (as in the case of MMF). Most mills were operating at maximum capacity when China drew out but as the global demand of textiles contracted (such is the case each time the consumer’s purchase power gets constricted, expenditure related to clothing are one of the first to be controlled), exports declined and exportable inventory began to saturate warehouses. Exports from the textile group decreased by 36% for the period March-May 2020 compared to last year and APTMA has demanded that aid be allocated to the industry in form of working capital and utility bill credit provision if the losses on exports are to be recovered.

Small scale businesses are limited to resources that are adequate enough to sustain a months’ worth of cash-flow requirements at best in cases revenue is constricted, the majority of which were exhausted during the lock down. Reportedly, salaries of up to 50% were deducted in some instances in the private sector, capping the movement and purchase power of the consumer(especially in the consumption of luxury items).Commercial investment will be further hindered by the changing consumer sentiment which as a consequence will exert further stress on macroeconomic growth. The Ministry of planning has suggested that an approximate of 12.4-18.5 Million jobs are at a risk and has further assessed losses of up to PKR 1.2 Trillion during a lockdown situation.

The terms of the first lockdown were openly violated due to which the subsequent spike in positive cases was observed. As of 20th June, 171,666 active cases have been reported,144,192 of which pertain to the period after the first lockdown was lifted.3,382 patients have expired due to Covid-19 and WHO insists that a second much stricter lockdown be imposed to tackle the exacerbating situation. The state has been very active in their attempts to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 and has taken up multiple routes to educate the public.PM Imran Khan even went the extent to announce a relief package worth PKR 1.2 Trillion to facilitate the public, disbursing PKR 131.8 Billion so far and serving 10.9 Million affectees. However, despite these efforts the final responsibility rests with the general public, as they play the most vital role when it comes to flattening the curve .The importance of adhering to the guidelines mentioned at http://covid.gov.pk/ cannot be stressed enough.

Fueled by our personal interests, we tend to ignore that we are all in the same boat; we tend to set aside the needs of the nation as a unit and focus over our individual needs.

nounced on June 12, the government had made some incremental changes on the CGT charged on immovable property (where the tax rate ranges from 5pc to 20pc, depending on the gain value). For instance, the government exempted capital gains made on property held for four years, as opposed to the earlier eight years. It also tweaked how it calculated the holding period of capital gains.

This difference in the CGT structures “creates a tax driven distortion between the capital markets and real estate, and discriminates against the capital markets, which are fully documented,” the statement read.

The PSX said that this goes against “all logic, fairness and the stated policy of GoP and FBR”, which is to encourage documentation of the economy. It will also impact other associated industries, including mutual funds, pensions and insurance.

Instead, the PSX believes that through the rationalization of CGT, local and foreign investors will be attracted to the stock market and more people will be included in the

Two Indian High Commission staffers arrested last week leave for India ISLAMABAD StAff REPoRt

The two staffers of the Indian High Commission, who were arrested last week for their involvement in a hitand-run incident in the capital, left for India through the Wagah border crossing on Monday.

The two employees – Dwimu Brahma, security official, and Paul Selvadhas, a driver – were caught by

SNGPL contributes Rs19m in PM’s relief fund Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has donated Rs. 19 Million in Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for Covid-19. Chairperson SNGPL Board of Directors Roohi Raees Khan and Managing Director Amer Tufail presented the cheque to Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar at the Chief Minister House, Lahore. It is pertinent to mention that the Company has so far donated Rs. 38 Million for Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for Covid-19. A cheque of Rs. 19 Million was presented to Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar in the month of April by Chairperson BOD Roohi Raees Khan and Senior Management of the Company.The Board of Directors, in a statement, said that the Company stands with the nation in these challenging times and will make every possible effort to help Government of Pakistan in coming out successfully from the pandemic. PRESS RELEASE

documented economy and tax net.

However, if the CGT aspect is not addressed, the exchange said there is a greater likelihood that people will continue to be attracted to the undocumented asset classes.

This will have a spillover effect, whereby domestic savings will not be channeled into the economy and new tax payers will not be added into the tax net through the capital markets.

This is not the first time the PSX has suggested a change to the CGT. In early May, the exchange had requested the government to eliminate or reduce the CGT for the next two years, as part of its broader proposals for the fiscal year 2020-21 budget.

The PSX made its own displeasure with the budgetary announcements known, by including this passage in its statement on the CGT: “It should also be noted that since the announcement of the budget, the stock market has fallen by 1390 points, which is a 4pc decline, highlighting the negative sentiment towards the budgetary announcements.

bystanders on June 15 after their car hit a pedestrian.

According to eye-witnesses, the car was being driven irresponsibly and had got out of control due to speeding. The man was critically injured and shifted to a nearby hospital.

The staffers were handed over to Islamabad Police who released them the same night. Multiple reports suggest that the two were released after the Foreign Office intervened in the matter.

New Delhi had summoned Pakistan’s high commissioner to protest the arrests.

According to reports, while on their return, the employees were accompanied by the second secretary and Air Adviser Group Captain Manu Midha of the high commission who have been summoned by New Delhi for consultations on the recent tensions between the two arch-rivals.

06 COMMENT

18th amendment and NFC Award

RIP compassion, RIP empathy, RIP reason The piety brigade strikes again

Khan’s failure to get a correct measure of opposition

P

M Imran Khan wants changes in the 18th amendment and NFC award. Constitutional amendments are not made in haste. It took a whole year for the multiparty parliamentary committee to hammer out the 18th amendment. One would readily agree that constitutional provisions are not written in stone and have to be revised to keep the basic law in consonance with the demands of the times. That a certain provision does not suit a government, a political leader or an interest group is however not enough to justify a change.

Besides the two mainstream parties that played a crucial role in getting the amendment passed and supported the NFC Award, the two documents also enjoy the backing of all the nationalist parties that include ANP, PKMAP, BNP-M, BNP-A, JWP as well as religious parties like JUI-F, JI and the MMA alliance. The PPP leadership was the first to smell a rat and issued a warning last year that the PTI government was planning to bring changes in the 18th amendment.

On Friday, after saying goodbye to the PTI coalition, BNP-M chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal attended a multiparty meeting of the Balochistan parties presided over by JUI-F chief Fazl-ur-rehman. While Mr Akhtar Megal accused the PTI leadership of displaying “non-serious attitude” towards Balochistan’s problems, Maulana Fazlur rehman read out to the press the declaration of the MPC which besides other issues expressed grave concern over the government’s move to amend the 18th Constitutional Amendment and change the NFC Award. The declaration said that the moves would be “resisted by the democratic forces” which would not accept any cut from the 57.5 per cent share of the provinces from the NFC. It’s time the PM leaves the two contentious issues aside. he should instead concentrate on dealing with the pandemic with the support of all other parties who will be too happy to cooperate. Any move at this time to change the 18th amendment and NFC award would divide the nation and create problems for the PM even in the provinces ruled.by the PTI.

haSaN aFTaB SaEED

O

Ne would not usually expect three letters to trigger such a furore. Last week’s commotion on the social media was started by nothing more than a benign rIP wished to Sushant Singh rajput. The resulting explosion of bigotry was troubling even if it wasn’t exactly eye-opening (one can have eye-opening experiences only so many times). It was not permitted to pray for Singh as he had died a non-Muslim, the piety brigade vehemently announced.

Just as way too many atheists believe that anybody religious must have some screws loose, way too many religious folks think that anybody who is an atheist (or belongs to the ‘wrong’ religion) must be insincere.

There is a marked dearth of goodwill and spirit of extending the benefit of doubt on either side; but the latter directly concerns our subject today. From the Muslim point of view, there can be at least two reasons for somebody not being a Muslim: either he did not get the message properly; or he received it all right but rejected it due to arrogance, convenience or some such reason.

This is certainly not to say that Singh necessarily belonged to the first category. But the point is that there is no way to know that he belonged to the second category either. While there is no denying the existence of insincerity among many unbelievers, without a prophet in our midst how can one say about a given individual that he is insincere? And not knowing one way or the other, what is wrong with assuming the best on the part

Smart lockdowns Not so smart

W

hILe experts continue to urge Pakistan to impose a strict two-week lockdown to slow down the spread of the coronavirus, the government is stubbornly pursuing its ‘smart-lockdown’ policy, the latest iteration of which is a smart-selectivelockdown. Cases are surging towards the 200,000 mark and the death toll, averaging 95 deaths per day, continues to add to the total number of deaths. These numbers are only going to increase because the disease was allowed to spread freely pre and post eid. There is nothing smart about partially closing down some parts of a city with virtually no enforcement and keeping the rest open. Prime Minister Imran Khan continues to stress on keeping the country open for the sake of the common man and the economy but in doing so, the point at which Pakistan will reach its peak and the curve’s trajectory will reverse, keeps on getting delayed. It was initially projected to come by April then pushed to June and now it is expected by the end of July.

Meanwhile, hospitals are barely keeping up with the patient load as they reach full capacity and healthcare workers are dying. So far at least 63 doctors, paramedics and other healthcare workers have died battling the virus on the frontlines. Senior doctors from the healthcare fraternity had warned on multiple occasions of the disastrous effects the opening up of the country so prematurely would have on an already underfunded and understaffed healthcare system, but all such warnings fell on deaf ears.

There are differing views among scientists over the exact nature of the and about how it attacks the human body. A vaccine may very well be another six months away and would still be the fastest one ever produced, fit for mass global inoculation. But from the start there was consensus, among leading epidemiologists across the world, on how to stop it from spreading too rapidly and thereby preventing deaths; facilitate social distancing by enforcing a complete lockdown. It was obvious from the initial misinformation spread about the virus by the PM to his dilly dallying over the imposition of any type of lockdown that international best practices were not being considered and Pakistan would do what it saw fit. The strategy has not worked and it will not work. There is only one type of a lockdown; it’s called a ‘lockdown’.

Insane madness of lunacy

Shah Nawaz Mohal

W

here is the thin blue line between sanity and insanity, between madness and creativity, between finding wonder in everyday life and being boredom-struck amidst wonderland?

When do we cross the final frontier from ‘all-thatis’ to ‘all-we-wanted-to-be’? Where is the door from where we go beyond the reality of mundane to the serenity of beyond? Why do we lose our minds to an extent that others have to rush in and do their best to tame us and bring us back to the Land of The Normal? how some madmen perish amidst chaotic noise, surrounded by million fragments of neverending visuals, and an array of sensations that tax their minds so much that to silent it or make sense of it is the sole aim. Some members of our species choose insanity as an escape. A hobson’s choice where to take it or leave it has become more a question of contemplation rather than a serious query which could be answered no.

Who are they, these settlers of fringes, these obsession-filled, impossibly imaginative, gibberish-uttering lads and lassies? Always on the edges, never home, never at peace, always departing, never arriving. What makes them, them? Is it Genetics, environment, trauma, betrayal or tiresome realities? Or is it a craving for escape or an allure for the ‘other side’?

It could be one or all of these or some other push that nudged them ahead and beyond.

Arif Nizami Editor Umar Aziz

Asher John

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

jority of us on our toes. The demands of the body have consumed billions of us. The perils of thought and mind cast their gloomy pall on few. Why? Well, let us think more, let us think hard, and let us delve deep. humans are creatures who thrive on looking, craving and finding distractions. Our ancients found it in rituals of their elders, sights and sounds of nature, poetry of wandering bards, myths and tales of anI have written many times in these pages about cients, gruesome spectacles of misery, tricks and illusanity, creativity, psychotherapy and madness. sions of magicians and closing of their eyes and ears.

Madness has many hues and nuances. Solitude reAlas, in our age we have mastered the art of conmoves all the distractions and smoke screens al- cealing our madness by antidepressants, crowding lowing us to peep inside our minds. Creativity is out solitude by memes and notifications, channeling observing the familiar and seeing something novel, our creativity to appease the base taste, getting high every time. Although beasts of different nature, all on the number of likes, views and shares. The dawn three, play a very pivotal role in the lives of indi- of information technology held promise of an era viduals. It takes a looney, a madman, a fringe- where ideas will float freely, the world will come dweller to make closer and a more dyprogress in the fields of namic, more democratic, arts, literature and scimore open society will ences. come into being.

All these questions are eternal.

What is madness?

All these hopes and Whatever idea of maddreams dashed. Social Philosophers, theorists, religious ness you have is probaMedia has made us all bly tainted by how you into narcissists sans figures, social scientists, poets and approach it. A poet and beauty, sans talent, sans psychologist will differ thought, sans anything. writers have been grappling with hugely the way they perWhat’s the cure? have these queries for as long as we ceive it. Why is solitude social media accounts on necessary to achieve a every platform. Go there, humans have been condemned to deeper, nuanced underpost your thing, and log standing of ourselves? out. Don’t consume it the servitude of words. ruminate about it. What like junkies. If you have urges us to express ourcontent, throw it there. selves through words, The consumers will condeeds and acts of cresume. Want content, get ative expression? Will it ever be satiated? The an- it in one place. email, Whatsapp, Messenger, any swer is no. All these questions are eternal. platform, until it is one, would suffice.

Philosophers, theorists, religious figures, social sciThe insane madness of lunacy is one notch away entists, poets and writers have been grappling with from getting any of us. Feel depressed, talk. Feel suithese queries for as long as we humans have been cidal, talk. Feel like having a cigarette, share. Feel like condemned to the servitude of words. losing mind, knock on a door. Feel like crying, cry.

Those among us who deviate from the norm, sta- Feel like losing it all, don’t. Lucky we are for we have tistical norm of normalcy as determined by rational, countless distractions. Distract yourself. Distract yourlogical behavior, are madmen and women. Those self with books. Distract yourself in the company of who lead solitary, secluded lives away from the hustle strangers. Distract yourself with Netflix. Distract bustle of chaotic daily life and seek refuge in their yourself with books. Distract yourself with calling minds- for a painter it could be a canvass, for a writer loved ones. Distract yourself with music. Distract seclusion means pages and pens, for those whose yourself with poetry. Distract yourself with philosomind loves to wander, it is sights and sounds of na- phy. Distract yourself with comics. ture- are the renegades who refuse to play by the Distract yourself brethren and ladies. Or else the rules. These maladjusted blokes and dames are single insane madness of lunacy will rip you apart from the handedly responsible for making our species leap seams. ahead and discover new frontiers.

The great mass of our species have always been Shah Nawaz Mohal is a law graduate and busy in making ends meet. The pressing physical journalist based in Islamabad. He can be reached at needs for food, shelter and security has kept the ma- mshahnawazmohal@gmail.com.

And why we need to go beyond labels, taboos and stereotypes

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

of others, especially when the Quran warns against where the Quran makes it clear that apparent association with a camp or giving lip service to a cause erring in the opposite direction? [49:12] The Quranic verse pressed into service to support mean nothing as far as one’s fate in the next world is the position that one is not permitted to pray for the concerned, and there can be no room for any doubt non-Muslim after his death, and which became a twitter on the matter. God Judges men based on their attitrend, was this: “It is not fitting for the Prophet, and tudes and actions, not on what label they wore or those who believe, to pray for the forgiveness of idol- which club they were members of.

But Singh committed suicide (a forbidden act), aters even though they may be their near of kin after it has been made clear to them that they are people of hell the righteous folks reminded us for good measure. fire.” [9:113] First of all, one would be hard pressed to Will it be too much to ask that at least some things find a Sikh who will admit to being an idolater. But let are not seen through the prism of piety and impiety? us not dwell on that detail. The subject of Chapter 9 of If one could only imagine how disturbed somebody the Quran is punishment for those deniers of truth about must be even to contemplate ending his own life, maybe one would think whom God had declared twice before judging that they had received and him. understood the message.

According to the The Prophet (PBUh) of While there is no denying the Quran, every man is God was among the begoing to find with his lievers so there was no existence of insincerity among Lord his just reward (or room for any doubt. The punishment); nobody verse has nothing to do many unbelievers, without a will be wronged. So, our with the non-Muslims of prophet in our midst how can one saying rIP is hardly today. Whenever a verse going to change anyof the Quran is quoted say about a given individual that body’s fate. But to think after tearing it loose from its context, the concluhe is insincere? And not knowing good of others and wishing them well, whether sions that are drawn are alone way or the other, what is they are living or dead, ways flawed.

This or otherwise, is tendency to quote out of wrong with assuming the best on Muslim for our own good. hatred context is a very slippery slope. People have notorithe part of others, especially when is a strange animal. Sure, it occasionally makes a ously used other verses of the Quran warns against erring in man do things to harm the same chapter to justify those whom he hates. But all sorts of killings in the the opposite direction? [49:12] what it does in every case name of Islam with devaswithout fail is to consume tating consequences. the life of the hater.

Which leads us to a Moreover, it is a manifesbroader point; there are many non-Muslims around but now that the prophet- tation of something already seriously wrong in his life. hood has ended once and for all, as far as we are con- A man given to such emotions needs to be more worcerned nobody is a kaafir anymore – not that we can ried about what is missing in his own life. Admittedly, know of, at any rate. The latter would be someone who the last time I checked there was no law against being deliberately rejects the truth knowing that it is the truth bitter; so, it is fine if you decide to spend your life that – something no man can be sure of about another man. way. Just don’t pretend the Quran told you so.

I used to scoff at any suggestion that Islam was What the Quran really says about salvation is quite the opposite of what the piety brigade would in some sort of danger. Not anymore, for I have rehave us believe. “Those who believe and those who vised my position in this regard. There is no doubt in are Jews, and Christians, and Sabaeans – all who be- my mind now that Islam needs to be saved from selflieve in Allah and the Last Day and do good, surely righteous Muslims. their reward is with their Lord, and there shall be no Hasan Aftab Saeed is a connoisseur of music, fear upon them nor shall they grieve.” [2:62]. (The same thought is expressed again with a minor varia- literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be tion of words in 5:69.) Add the numerous places reached at www.facebook.com/hasanaftabsaeed

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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

Despair is disbelief

In search of justice Justice delayed is justice denied

SalMaN MuNir

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N 2017, I was back in a high Court after some 35 years, with an exception. This time I was in the Sindh high Court, Karachi appearing as a witness in a wrongful dismissal case instead of the Lahore high Court, Lahore where I appeared as a practicing lawyer until 1982. Nothing much had changed during these 35 long years. The Cause List (list of cases for the day) was still a mile long and the title of the case and the name of the lawyer were called out aloud by a peon at the entrance of the Courtroom. Just like 1982. And perhaps like 1882. The whole morning was taken up by the first two cases because of the lengthy arguments of the lawyers concerned.

Needless to say, I returned to Islamabad without the case coming up for hearing. recently I was reading a book entitled “Out of Order” written by Sandra Day O’Connor, a retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. This book contains stories from the history of the Supreme Court and mentions how the Supreme Court has reduced the time allocation for lawyers to argue orally to just 30 minutes. This was not always the case. In the beginning, lawyers had unlimited time for oral argument. The Court realized that quantity was not quality. So in 1848, the Court limited arguments to two hours for each side. This was then reduced to one hour per side in 1925 and finally in 1970 each side had just 30 minutes for oral argument.

This practice continues today. In fact the Court has also put limitations on written briefs. The parties’ briefs in cases coming up for oral arguments may not exceed 15,000 words. This ensures that the lawyers fully research and contain all relevant citations in their briefs, rather than depending upon their eloquence in oral arguments. This cuts both ways and gives Justices the time to read and even have the briefs researched thoroughly with the help of their assistants and then seek clarifications, if needed, in those 30 minutes.

If we were to follow this practice, not only will this tremendously help in bringing down the number of cases pending adjudication, it will also help in resolving a longstanding issue of the upand-coming lawyers. These lawyers feel rather strongly that they are not given as much time as the more established big name or big firm lawyers.

A recent op-ed written by a budding lawyer and published in another english language newspaper from Karachi, mentioned exactly the same issue.

Giving unlimited time to lawyers just prolongs cases and burdens their clients with additional appearance fees and expenses for travel and hotel. A few months ago, a lawyer argued for 4 straight days about just one aspect of a case. Then there

were other lawyers arguing about other aspects of to. Once this list is prepared, it will be easy to see if the same witness is appearing in more than one the same case. result: case still pending.

In my view it’s time for the Supreme Court case or if there is a connection between a witness and even the high Courts to limit the time of the and an errant police officer.

A few months ago, I wrote “While volunoral arguments to a maximum of 30 minutes for each party and insist that the written briefs with teering for a few months in 2018 with Justice a set word limit must contain all relevant cita- Project Pakistan (JPP), a non-profit human tions and arguments in their favor. The Courts rights law firm established in 2009 in Lahore, I can then focus on seeking clarifications during came across some 1867 cases of torture and dethe oral arguments. Imagine, if we had followed struction of rights by police in Faisalabad district this practice in the Panama cases for example; alone. Although most victims were men, police how much time and public money we could have did not spare women and even children. Many saved? Gradually this practice can be introduced of the police atrocities have been documented in reports prepared by students of The Allard K. to the subordinate judiciary to expedite cases.

Another way to limit cases and expedite justice Lowenstein International human rights Clinic is to simplify the language contained in the statutes. at Yale Law School and JPP, published in June A simple reading of any statute, old or new, will 2014.” Later on upon analyzing this study we show us that it’s written in a language that is not in found that the same police officers carried out common use. In our daily lives how many times atrocities whether posted in one police station or do we use thereafter, or hereinafter or party of the another. I guess old habits do die hard.

So it will not be difficult to look for profesfirst or second part etc. Phrases in Urdu are even more ridiculous. Consider a commonly written sional witnesses and errant police officers and phrase in Urdu language plaints/applications “Mun take preventive action against them. By the time kay Mussami.” Whatever that means. No real ef- a person convicted for murder under duress or a forts have been made to simplify language so that false testimony is finally released by the Supreme a layperson can understand the meaning without Court, he or she has spent considerable time behind bars. Somethe help of the times even a lawyers, who like lifetime. The State psychologists and must proceed against doctors love jargon, witnesses who give which invariably Another way to limit cases and false testimony, and complicates thing. expedite justice is to simplify the those police officers Increasingly, large who encourage and US law firms are language contained in the statutes. perpetuate such testinow employing editors to simplify letA simple reading of any statute, old monies by knowingly producing such ters sent to clients or new, will show us that it’s witnesses. In the reand even advise on years the the wording of conwritten in a language that is not in cent Supreme Court has tracts. released a number of In UK, the City common use. death row prisoners Council in Bradford who had been conexperimented with victed on false testiplain english with monies but without fascinating results.

In consultation with a lawyer, a group compris- compensation for living behind bars. While I ing a journalist, a librarian, teachers etc. redrafted agree that no amount of compensation can bring the rules, standing orders and other legal docu- back the years spent behind bars, however, some ments. The final product was much easier to un- compensation to start life anew is warranted even derstand because jargon was kept to a minimum. if there is an absence of a specific law on the subThe reason our statutes are so complicated is be- ject. In my view, the Court could give the Govcause of the jargon and absence of fresh thinking ernment a direction to “adequately” compensate or thinking out of the box. Perhaps our Govern- the person concerned within a week or two on acmental Law departments staffed with career civil count of the criminal justice system’s failure to servants or so-called drafting experts should also provide justice. People, after all, look for justice consider employing english and Urdu language towards the Supreme Court and only the Supreme teachers, editors, writers, journalists and librari- Court. A friend once told me that if he were killed ans. The final product will surely help litigants in New York, he would die with the satisfaction that his killers will be caught and justice served. and further the cause of justice.

Another hot topic in criminal justice system In the same breath he also said that if he were is that of perjury. The Supreme Court has in the killed in Karachi, he would die with the regret that last few years lamented time and again perjury by his killers will not be caught and justice shall not the witnesses in criminal trials. Prevention being be served. This coming from a law abiding and better than cure, the District and Sessions Judges tax-paying citizen is a sad commentary on our pomay like to prepare lists of all witnesses in crimi- lice and justice system.

Thurgood Marshall, Associate Justice of the nal trials pending in their areas to see if one witness was appearing in more than one criminal Supreme Court of the United States, and the first case. This National Identity Cards-driven database African-American Justice famously said “We will flag the “usual suspects” or the professional must never forget that the only real source of witnesses. The tendency is that such witnesses power that we as judges can tap is the respect of stick to their areas of residence and, therefore, the people.”

Let’s work towards getting justice and the could be appearing in more than one case in the same area. A similar exercise can be carried out to respect of all people! flag out those police officers who like to rely on Salman Munir is a management consultant torture or false testimonies to strengthen their investigations. They generally repeat their “special and innocence lawyer. He can be reached expertise” in every police station they are attached at as1236m@gmail.com

DISAPPOINTMeNT is the name of failure and despair. Man becomes frustrated in different places and at different times. When you see another successful, beautiful or rich person in front of you, you feel disappointed by feeling inferior. But disappointed people are always cowards. If you look at the history of the most famous people in the history of the world, you will know that They have succeeded in overcoming many difficulties. They say that disappointment is disbelief.

Someone asked edison, “how many times have you were failed when you tried to make the bulb? Then the response came that 9999 times. But i was not disappointed, edison said, every time, I used a different methodology and way it doesn’ matter that how many times failed. that is, nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine bulbs did not produce light. Ten thousand times it became one bulb. It lit up the whole world. today, the result of edson and his efforts lightened the world. Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, also failed the exam many times. But he was not disappointed. Man should not be disappointed by his failure but should strive harder. The world famous and successful people such as Plato, Aristotle, Archimedes, Pythagoras, Nelson Mandela, Gandhiji.

Abraham Lincoln, hulagu Khan, Shakespeare, Fidel Castro, Karl Marx, Socrates, Alexander the Great. In the pages of the history of the world to this day, the names of these people are found in golden words and will continue to be found till the Day of Judgment. Man should not always be hopeless and disappointed but should try to make the impossible as possible as they like and wish.

BAkHtIAr rAHIM BALocH Lahore

Price surge in Pakistan PAKISTAN’S economy is facing serious challenges on the fiscal front.The main challenges are insufficient revenue generation and high fiscal deficit exports. An insignificant growth and fear of a slowdown in remittances.PTI government is trying to overcome the fiscal challenge in several ways but other relevant and concerned departments are not assisting the government appropriately.even some of the government’s members are repeating their usual activities like past’s governments.

There is little scope for encouraging imports of industrial raw material to lift the country’s large-scale manufacturing sector out of recession. This, in turn, means industrial growth may remain stalled in the near future.There is also no room for the rupee to become strong enough in the short term to create demand for the import of even consumer goods. Consumption of domestically produced stuff is also dwindling because of falling income levels and high inflation. Inflation is stubbornly high and is on the rise.Agriculture is not growing at the desired pace and industries are producing less. The PTI government is hoping for the export-sector revival.But failure to accelerate revenue collection and boost export earnings is pushing the government to continue to borrow from domestic as well as external resources. The resultant increase in the debt stock is pushing up the cost of both domestic and external debt servicing.

SAqIB ISHAq Azad kashmir

Afterglow of terrorism TerrOrISM means harassment, destruction, suicide attack and killing of innocent people on no reasons. Terrorism disturbs the inhabitants, damage infrastructure, cause a decline in economic well-being, bring political instability, and break the social fabric of the society. Terrorism affects the economic growth of a country by lowering foreign direct investment, capital formation, investment and increases risk perception.

When we look around the world from a historical perspective, we see that war affected countries, whether in Africa, Asia, europe or any other region have suffered alike. More terrorist attacks at private citizens, property, transport and airports are related to lower capital formation and low GDP per capita growth. The International Monetary Fund estimated the direct costs of September 11, 2001 attacks on US as equal to $21.4 billion while, Navarro and Spencer found that the loss of capital stock was $50 billion to $53 billion. Pakistan has been fighting the war on terror since September 2001. So far the war has cost the country the lives of more than 35,000 citizens and 3,500 security personnel, besides destruction of infrastructure and $67.93 billion direct economic loss. Pakistan is facing terrorist attacks including suicide bombing which has deteriorated law and order situation and the foreign investors are reluctant to invest in Pakistan. The military operations against the terrorists displaced millions of people from Swat district of KPK. Terrorist activities also shattered Pakistan image in the international community. Terrorism has threatened the peace, stability and well-being of Pakistani society.

FurqAN kHAttAk kohat

Pakistan’s suicide rates SUICIDe is the act of intentionally causing one’s own death, often with mental disorders and inclusion depression. There is no official statistics on suicide in Pakistan. As the suicide rates in young people have increased in these crisis times of COVID-19. however, there is continuous suicide and deliberate self-harm in Pakistan . Seventy-five percent of the global suicides occur in low and middly-income countries.

(LMICs) . Pakistan is one of the low and middly-income country where information on suicidal behaviour is limited . Since January 2020, a total 29 suicide cases were reported in Pakistani press media . Although our best religion (Islam) consider suicide a major sin and a crime in some jurisdiction . It is said that suicide is strictly forbidden in Islam, since this is an affront to God . It is very ordinary in our societies that a person becomes in full control of his senses and even some of them gets unsatisfied with their life’s consequences. This abysmal suicide is the causing of mortalities in Pakistan . It is the accurate time for the authorities to undertake this issue in Pakistan.

BArkAtuLLAH turbat

Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

08 WORLD VIEW

Why Israel’s annexatIon of parts of the West Bank Would Be a hIstorIc mIstake i understand that a peace treaty is far away. but even if we cannot reach an agreement now, we need to Keep the path to peace open

WashinGton Post

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Tzipi livNi

SRAEL is about to make one of the most fateful decisions in its modern history — a decision that will have a profound impact on its future as a Jewish democratic state and on the prospect for peace.

The Israeli cabinet is on the verge of unilaterally annexing territories in the West Bank. This is not a technical issue. It is a question that has a direct bearing on the very nature of the state of Israel — its identity, its values and its future.

Our country is deeply divided over competing visions of our national fate that lead us in starkly different directions.

One vision, which I hold, prioritizes Israel’s status as a secure Jewish democratic state: the nation-state of the Jewish people with equal rights for all its citizens, including the Arab minority.

We can sustain these values only as long as Israel has a Jewish majority. Otherwise, the next generation will face a terrible choice between a nondemocratic Jewish state or a binational state that will suffer from violent internal conflict.

The idea of two states for two peoples serves Israel’s interest because each state would separately answer the national aspirations of the Jewish people and the Palestinians. This solution should bring an end to the conflict, an outcome that justifies the compromises and risks involved.

As always in the Middle East, there is no perfect option. A two-nation-state solution, however, is the best one for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Unfortunately, negotiations to this end

have stalled. Peace is not around the corner. Speaking frankly, I was the Israeli chief negotiator for the past two rounds of negotiations, and we were unable to reach an agreement.

The Palestinian failure to continue the negotiations based on then-Secretary of State John F. Kerry’s 2014 two-nationstates framework was a huge mistake and a missed opportunity for all of us. But a blame game leads nowhere.

The Palestinian refusal to discuss President Trump’s peace plan, which his administration offered as a basis for renewing negotiations, has given some Israeli leaders an excuse to move unilaterally to annex parts of West Bank territory in accordance with the conceptual maps enclosed in the plan.

I believe that this would be a historic mistake. Such an annexation of around 30 percent of the West Bank might be carried out under an understanding between Israel and the United States, but not one between

charlie chaplin, dr tuttle and the spanish flu

Montreal Gazette Joe Schwarcz

Avoid public gatherings. Close churches and theatres. Don’t shake hands. Don’t spit. Wear masks.

Sounds like Dr. Anthony Fauci in 2020. But those words were spoken by Dr. Thomas Tuttle in 1918 when the “Spanish flu,” which did not originate in Spain, was sweeping across the globe. Countries involved in the First World War censored stories about the flu so as not to create even more panic than that sparked by the war. Spain was neutral and newspapers published extensively about the flu in that country, forever linking the disease with Spain.

Tuttle was a specialist in infectious diseases and had been appointed health commissioner in the state of Washington. Although viruses had not yet been discovered, he was convinced the disease was spread through human contact, particularly by the coughs and sneezes of people who had been infected. He even raised the prospect of individuals transmitting the disease without being sick themselves, a situation now termed “asymptomatic transmission.”

Tuttle had learned of an outbreak of flu on a steamship traveling from Nome, Alaska to Seattle, and wondered how that could have happened given that no cases of flu had been reported in Nome. The conclusion was that someone had boarded the ship and spread the infection despite having experienced no symptoms. Based on his observations, Tuttle advocated what today is being called “social distancing,” and even managed to convince the mayor of Seattle to impose fines for not wearing a mask on a streetcar and for spitting on the sidewalk. Not unlike today, there was opposition to the severe measures, especially the closing of churches. The mayor responded by suggesting that “religion which won’t keep for two weeks is not worth having.”

With the implementation of Tuttle’s recommendations, the spread of the flu in Seattle slowed significantly, and other cities took note. San Francisco imposed a $5 fine, heavy at the time, for “disturbing the peace” by not wearing a mask in public. St. Louis banned public gatherings and closed schools with results that sharply contrasted with cities that did not take severe measures such as Philadelphia. The “City of Brotherly Love” went ahead with a parade to raise money for the war effort that led to the flu spreading like wildfire. In just one month, over 11,000 Philadelphia residents died, including 759 on the worst day of the outbreak. Special wagons drove around the city with drivers hollering “Bring out your dead!” The collected corpses were then buried in mass graves.

In New York, with the pandemic in full swing, opening night of a new Charlie Chaplin movie, Shoulder Arms, was for many film buffs too hot to resist despite the city’s discouraging of public gatherings. The LittleTramp kidnapping the kaiser sounded like welcome relief from wartime news. Many of the attendees

both sides of a peace treaty: Israel and the Palestinians. That means it move us past the point of no return in the quest for peace.

In doing so, we would sentence our children to live in an ongoing conflict in the tiny place between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. More than that, although the first step would keep the Palestinians in enclaves scattered across the West Bank, this kind of situation is not sustainable even if we call it “autonomy.” Without hope for a separate Palestinian state, the focus will turn to a onestate solution and would lead to a significant addition of millions of Palestinians within the state of Israel, changing its identity as a Jewish democratic state.

Those supporting annexation have their own vision. For them, more sovereignty on more land and the annulment of a future Palestinian state would be a dream come true for a “Greater Israel” — regardless of the existence of Palestinians living in the West Bank.

Their ideology is based on the historical and biblical rights of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel that includes Judea and Samaria (the West Bank). While I also believe in the rights of my people to the entire land, I continue to adhere to a vision of Israel as a democratic Jewish state on part of that historical territory.

Joe Schwarcz is director of McGill University’s Office for Science & Society (mcgill.ca/oss). He hosts The Dr. Joe Show on CJAD Radio 800 AM every Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m.

Tzipi Livni is a former minister of foreign affairs for Israel.

Open the schools

there was of course no vaccine to curb the spanish flu of 1918-19. that plague eventually abated when infected people either developed immunity or died got relief all right; they were relieved of their lives. The manager of the theatre, Harold Edel, on seeing the large opening night crowd, exclaimed: “We think it is a most wonderful appreciation of Shoulder Arms that people should veritably take their lives in their hands to see it.” He probably did not think that one of those lives would be his. Edel died of the Spanish flu soon after mingling with the opening night crowd.

Although Seattle was successful in temporarily curbing the pandemic, Tuttle warned that once restrictions were eased, a second wave would follow, and indeed it did. He became disenchanted with how various levels of government were interested only in dealing with the problems at hand and not in preparing for the next pandemic which he believed was inevitable. He wrote that “owing to the inclination of our government (city, county, state and national) to provide funds for operating only when sickness is present, and to absolutely cut off any support whatsoever for the study of the epidemiology of the disease after an epidemic has passed, renders it very probable that we will meet our next epidemic (probably 20 or 30 years hence) with as little knowledge of the true nature of the disease as we had when we confronted the epidemic in the fall of 1918.”

In terms of time, he wasn’t off by much. In 1957, the “Asian flu” spread from China to the rest of the world, causing some 1.1. million deaths globally with about 116,000 in the U.S. But Tuttle was wrong about scientists having as little knowledge as in 1918. The electron microscope had been introduced in the 1930s, making viruses visible. By 1940, experiments were underway to produce anti-viral vaccines eventually leading to one that would be successful in containing the Asian flu pandemic.

There was of course no vaccine to curb the Spanish flu of 1918-19. That plague eventually abated when infected people either developed immunity or died.

And what happened to Tuttle? Even though he was a visionary in terms of the effectiveness of physical distancing, masks and quarantine, his advocacy for essentially “shutting down” made him a very polarizing figure and resulted in him losing his job as health commissioner. The Spanish-born philosopher George Santayana put it very well in his classic assertion that “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” So let’s remember the Shoulder Arms disaster, and let’s be very careful with rushing back to public gatherings. Luckily, technology now allows us to watch Chaplin’s films without having to go to the theatre. In these “Modern Times,” we can watch The Great Dictator in the comfort of home.

Think twice about sharing the popcorn though.

This was also the historical decision of David Ben-Gurion and the Jewish leadership who accepted the partition plan of the United Nations and announced in 1948 the establishment of the state of Israel on part of the land.

Annexation would eventually jeopardize the nature of Israel as a Jewish democratic state as it was defined in the declaration of independence of the state of Israel, written in full consensus by the political leaders at the time.

In the first session of negotiations in 2007, we argued about who has more rights on the land. The first and best decision we made was this: Instead of arguing forever about rights, each side should adhere to its own historical narrative while both focus on how to make a better future for generations to come.

I am realistic. I understand that a peace treaty is far away. But even if we cannot reach an agreement now, we need to keep the path to peace open. We should not put up obstacles that will prevent us from implementing our vision of Israel as a nation state of the Jewish people with equal rights for all its citizens.

Supporting negotiations and finding an agreed solution to end the conflict is in line with the policy of all previous American presidents, whether Democratic or Republican, who have dealt with the issue, including President Trump.

Keeping that possibility alive is the responsibility of any leader who believes in the vision of Israel as a Jewish democratic state and who does not abandon the hope for peace.

Keeping Kids out of classrooms indefinitely will do them considerable harm

City Journal Naomi Schaefer riley

When the Centers for Disease Control released its recommendations for how children could return to school safely this fall, it prompted lots of eye-rolling among, well, anyone who has ever met children. The CDC suggests that kids over age two wear masks; that they “be frequently reminded not to touch the face covering”; that art supplies or toys be shared on a limited basis or cleaned between uses; that all students’ belongings be kept separate; that students sit at least six feet apart; that only one child should sit in each row on school buses; and that each time a student uses a tissue, he should throw it out and wash his hands for 20 seconds.

One wonders how these guidelines will be applied in elementary schools, where the phrase “keep your hands to yourself” is repeated constantly, for good reason. The answer, unfortunately, is that the guidelines may serve as a rationale for keeping schools closed. New York City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza puts the chances of schools opening in September at 50-50. Public and private schools around the U.S. are preparing for the possibility of continuing online education, and public officials are doing little to allay fears about putting kids back into social settings. “I would not send my children to day camp,” New York governor Andrew Cuomo has said. “If I would not send my children to day camp, then I would not ask anyone to send their children to day camp.”

But many parents of school-age children would like the option. How are they supposed to work when they have nowhere to send their children? Even parents of older children, who can generally be left alone, may not be able to depend on them to attend all their Zoom classes. Los Angeles reported that as many as a third of its students were failing to log in each day.

Few parents or teachers think that online school is a reasonable

substitute for the real thing. Students are asked to watch videos and complete worksheets, but it’s hard to tell who is understanding the material, and even harder to help when there is little time for real-time interaction. A friend who teaches literacy in a Connecticut elementary school told me that her union instructed teachers not to conduct learning in real time because if they “said the wrong thing it could be recorded and used against them.”

Even real-time learning is no bargain. I watched as my own daughter’s second-grade teachers tried valiantly to keep students interested, but Zoom meetings, like conference calls, are noticeably slower than in-person gatherings. No one knows who will speak next. It’s harder to read people’s expressions.

Fewer visual cues are available, and each student takes longer to realize that he or she is being called on. And there is nothing else to look at— none of those colorful classroom posters—but the screen.

For older kids, other problems intrude. They’ve taken few, if any, tests. For some school leaders, the pandemic provides an excuse to do away with the standardized tests they’ve long despised. Even a simple math or history test becomes a fraught exercise. A friend who teaches seventh and eighth grade at a Westchester private school has found a serious cheating problem.

The school has figured out a way to lock the kids’ laptops and proctor exams on Zoom, but ensuring that students are not looking at an iPad or a textbook off-screen requires two adults for a class of 15 kids.

Given that, as a Brookings Institution report finds, “students’ achievement scores declined over summer vacation by one month’s worth of school-year learning” and that “income-based reading gaps grew over the summer,” we can only imagine the decline once students have effectively been out of school from March until God knows when.

And it’s not just academic skills that will be lost; it’s also the social and emotional competencies that kids develop from interacting with peers and teachers. Researchers at UCLA found that when preteens were sent to an overnight camp with no screens for five days, their ability to read facial expressions and emotional cues improved significantly.

Then there is the physical toll that staying at home will continue to have on students. Heavy use of screens has long been tied to obesity. Without any organized sports or even schoolsponsored PE—and no open basketball courts or playgrounds—plenty of kids won’t get off the couch this summer. Those who do will have parents who find workarounds. The parents have swing sets or pools in their backyards or send kids to play tennis.

They pay for personal training. Or they have the extra time and energy to get kids outside themselves. Once again, the kids already at a disadvantage—from poorer homes, with single parents—will get the short end of the lockdown stick.

Medical experts seem to agree that the coronavirus does not affect children in significant numbers, that those who do get it experience almost entirely mild cases, and that kids’ chances of contracting a new form of the disease look exceedingly small. It’s true that kids can transmit the virus to adults at home, that certain teachers may not be able to take these risks, and that some kids probably won’t be able to attend. But even given these caveats, other countries hit hard by the virus are opening schools. The United States needs to do so as well.

Remarkably, as many as twothirds of parents want to keep schools closed “until officials are certain that reopening will not pose a health risk.” Maybe that’s not as surprising as it sounds: American parents have spent decades trying to minimize risks for children, arming them with everything from bicycle helmets to tracking devices. The combination of public-safety campaigns and a never-ending stream of lawsuits against schools, toy companies, and other entities involved with children has created a culture of overprotection. Federal, state, and local officials have spent three months tapping into that instinct by stoking our fears of the virus. If they can’t bring themselves to explain that opening schools poses only minimal risks to kids, they should at least concede that keeping them closed presents plenty of dangers of its own.

Naomi Schaefer Riley is a senior fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum and a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

business 09

NO GIDC PAID BY FERTILISER COmPANIES IN LAST FIvE YEARS, SENATE BODY TOLD

CORPORATE CORNER

COMMITTEE REJECTS FERTILISER ASSOCIATION'S PROPOSAL FOR REDUCTION IN TURNOVER TAX ISLAMABAD

KARACHI: Naya Nazimabad, carrying on its commitment to give back to Karachi’s progressive middle class, is preparing for the forthcoming inauguration of Ali Habib Medical Centre. The center is a not-for-profit institution named in the honour of House of Habib former chairman late Ali Habib.

Two new entrants of Huawei Y Series open for pre-orders LAHORE: Huawei has embarked on a journey to channelize the youth with its latest Y Series offerings. The all-new HUAWEI Y6p and HUAWEI Y8p are at the heart of Huawei’s Y Series line-up for 2020 – drawing upon young consumers who love a technological edge in their smartphones. People can pre-order the HUAWEI Y6p and HUAWEI Y8p from Monday (22 June) onwards and avail the double-deposit offer.

For HUAWEI Y6p, pre-order starts from paying Rs800 which equals Rs1,600, while for HUAWEI Y8p, a deposit of Rs1,500 equals Rs3,000.

SECP gets re-elected to IOSCO board for fifth consecutive term

T

SHAHZAD PARACHA

HE country's top five fertiliser companies have not paid any Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) in the last five years, said an FBR member during a meeting of the Senate's Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs on Monday.

The meeting, which was held under the chair of Senator Farooq H Naik, was

held to discuss proposals with regard to the budget 2020-21.

Earlier, the All Pakistan Fertilizer Dealers Association informed the committee that the Federal Board of Revenue was charging 0.75pc turnover tax out of their Rs2 profit per fertiliser bag. They proposed a decrease in turnover tax to 0.25pc.

On this, FBR Policy Member Dr Hamid Attiqe informed that the consumers have been paying up to Rs25 tax on fertiliser bags, and that the big companies must share their profits with dealers.

"They [fertiliser companies] have been given subsidies under various heads in the past. However, this time, we have proposed to directly facilitate the farmers with subsidies."

The committee rejected the fertiliser association's proposals on the arguments put forth by the FBR. The FBR official member policy further informed that the government has set a revenue target of Rs4,963 billion for the next fiscal year. "We have estimated that the target is achievable given Covid-19 pandemic remains under control."

He said for the first quarter of FY21, the FBR aims to collect a revenue of Rs850 billion, as against the target of Rs960 billion.

Meanwhile, Senator Sherry Rehman proposed a revision in the government's plan with regard to an 11pc cut in the provincial share under the National Finance Commission (NFC). The committee chairman recommended the Finance Division not to propose any cut in provincial share under the NFC Award.

Senator Sirajul Haq suggested the government double the education and health budgets, besides ending "interest" from the economy.

Moreover, the committee approved a proposal with regard to the presentation of debt pact details in the parliament.

It also recommended FBR to enhance FED on cigarettes to Rs100.

‘FY21 budget doesn’t take into account changing economic priorities’ LAHORE SHAHAB OMER

Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Mian Anjum Nisar on Monday said that the budget presented by the government for the next fiscal year was a very traditional budget as it lacked focus on changing economic priorities.

While speaking to the media about the budget for financial year 2020-21, he said that Pakistan is currently facing a recession situation and targets could not be achieved. Last year, the budget targets were revised thrice while the agriculture sector was there to support the gross domestic product (GDP) which was about 6.4 per cent, he added. “Last year, agriculture supported the economy, but this year the agriculture sector has been badly affected by locusts. In some parts of the country, locusts attack has caused a lot of damage,” he further said.

The FPCCI president said that the FY21

FPCCI PRESIDENT APPRECIATES RELIEF GIVEN TO SOME SECTORS, BUT URGES TIMELY STEPS TO SAVE THE ECONOMY AMID THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC budget did not meet the expectations of the business community. “We were expecting relief in taxes due to Covid-19 pandemic but taxes were not reduced. The industries and trade sector are facing severe financial crises and will face more in the future. Only 35 per cent of the suggestions made by the FPCCI have been implemented,” he said. “According to the Economic Survey, jobs were to be saved, but the current budget does not give any impression in this regard.”

He also said that if the industry remained closed for two days in a week, it would only worsen the economic situation. “The government should take steps to save the economy, otherwise the problems will get worse, and if this situation continues, many industries will not be

able to function in the future,” he added.

He said that the demand for restoring the zero-rating facility and proposals of the textile export sector has been disregarded. “There is no support/ policy for SMEs, the most vulnerable sector under the current crisis. CNIC issue is not resolved. Sales tax rates are not reduced.

Corporate tax and turnover taxes are not reduced. No clear-cut policy on demurrage has been announced. No time is fixed for deciding appeals as appeals are pending for decision for the last three years.

Rate of turnover tax and withholding tax for distributors are not reduced. Rates of tax for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) are not reduced. Minimum Tax at 1.5 per cent U/S 113(i) (e) and (2)(c) has

not been reduced. The time period of records keeping of six years - section 174 has not been reduced,” he said.

Nisar also highlighted a few positive aspects of the budget i.e. exemption of additional custom duties on those tariff lines which are now at 0 per cent customs duty in tariff, reduction of customs duty on 40 raw materials of various industries, tariff rationalisation under National Tariff Policy, 2019, by reducing customs duty on 90 tariff lines from 11 per cent to 3 per cent and 0 per cent, reduction in regulatory duty from 12.5 per cent and 17.5 per cent to 6 per cent and 11per cent on Hot Rolled Coils (HRC) of iron and steel falling under PCT codes 7208 and 7225& 7226, respectively. He also appreciated that a number of industrial inputs/intermediary raw materials are being allowed concessional import under new serial number of the fifth schedule through IOCO quota determination such as Butyl Acetate, syringes and saline infusion sets, buttons, interlining/buckram and wire rod, etc

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Securities and Exchnage Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has been re-elected to the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Board for the fifth consecutive term.

IOSCO is the leading international policy forum for securities regulators and is recognized as the global standard setter for securities regulation.

IOSCO regulates more than 95pc of the world's securities markets in more than 115 jurisdictions. SECP has been an IOSCO member since 1998 and on its Board since 2012. SECP has been elected to the board as representative of the Asia Pacific Regional Committee. Speaking on the occasion, SECP Chairman Aamir Khan, “IOSCO has a critical role in leading the development of global framework for securities markets and Pakistan looks forward to supporting this mandate as part of IOSCO board to improve regulatory standards.”

MARKET DAILY

Stocks rebound with 298-point rally KARACHI ARIBA SHAHID

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) managed to recover all losses accumulated in the first half of the day and ended the session in the green.

“After a lacklustre start to proceedings on Monday, the fertiliser sector led the way and brought positivity to the index, mainly on the back of EFERT and FFC,” said a report issued by Arif Habib Ltd. “The

sector was further aided by a rebound in exploration & production stocks (OGDC and PPL).”

Losing 367.58 points in early trade, the benchmark KSE-100 Index slid to its intraday low at 33,071.36.

However, the index rebounded in the second half, rallying 355.93 points to touch its intraday high at 33,794.87.

It finally closed higher by 298.97 points at 33,737.92.

Among other indices, the KSE All Share Index gained 174.19 points to end at 24,246.41, while the KMI-

Govt eyes producing 31mbl oil, 1.6tcf gas in next fiscal year ISLAMABAD APP

With an aim to meet domestic fuel requirements through indigenous means and to bring down the country's oil import bill, the government has fixed a target of producing 31.12 million barrels (MBL) oil and 1.58 trillion cubic feet (TCF) gas during the fiscal year 2020-21.

"The gap between indigenous gas/petroleum products and demand will be supplemented through liquefied natural gas (LNG) and petroleum imports," according to the government's Annual Development Plan devised for the upcoming fiscal year.

The country's total consumption of petroleum products stood at 19.68 million tonnes (MTs) during the year 2019-20, of which 11.59MT was produced through local refineries while the demand for 8.09MT was met through import.

Currently, as many as five refineries are operating in the country with an overall installed capacity of 417,400 barrel per day (BPD) oil, contributing significantly in meeting the petroleum needs through indigenous production.

Of these refineries, Pak Arab Refinery Limited (PARCO) has 100,000bpd oil refining capacity, Attock Refinery Limited (ARL) 53,400bpd, Byco Petroleum Pakistan Ltd (Byco) 150,000bpd, National Refinery Limited (NRL) 64,000bpd and Pakistan Refinery Ltd 50,000bpd.

In FY20, petrol consumption in the country stood at 7.6MT per annum, of which 30pc was being catered from local refineries and rest was being imported to meet the national demand.

Similarly, the consumption of diesel was around 7.3 MT per annum. The local production helped the country meet 65pc of the total demand, while

rest of the demand was being met through imports.

At present, 30 oil marketing companies (OMCs), including Pakistan State Oil (PSO), Shell Pakistan (SPL), Total Parco Pakistan Limited (TPPL), Attock Petroleum Limited (APL), Gas & Oil Pakistan Private Limited (GOPPL) and Hascol Storage Limited (HPL), are operating in the country.

Among these, PSO leads with an overall market share of 42.5pc, followed by APL with 10.9pc, TPPL 10.3pc, HPL 9.8pc and SPL 8.3pc.

OMCs receive, store and distribute the petroleum products in the country by utilizing their supply arrangements and infrastructure, comprising installations, storage depots, oil pipelines and retail outlets.

The bulk of 19.68MT of POL products required by Pakistan’s market is transported by road (around 74pc), oil

30 Index gathered 844.17 points or +1.59pc, settling at 53,846.22.

The overall market volumes increased from 105.9 million shares in the previous session to 161 million shares (+51pc). Average traded value also surged by 83pc, from $20 million to $36.8 million. Unity Foods Ltd (UNITY -1.65pc), Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd (MLCF -0.77pc) and TRG Pakistan Ltd (TRG +2.78pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 11.54 million, 8.19 million and 7.32 million shares, respectively.

pipelines (24.4pc) and railways (1.5pc).

On the other hand, the country’s indigenous natural gas production remained at around 4bcfd during the current year, as against an unconstrained demand of over 6bcfd.

According to the Economic Survey 2019-20, the ever-increasing demand of the commodity is being met through import LNG and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

“To achieve self-sufficiency in the energy sector, the government has devised an effective strategy to accelerate oil and gas exploration activities in potential areas of the country to identify new hydrocarbon deposits,” it stated.

As per the survey report, Pakistan has an extensive gas network of over 12,971kilometre transmission, 139,827km distribution and 37,058km services gas pipelines to provide the commodity to more than 9.6 million consumers across the country.

At present, two LNG terminals with 1200mcfd re-gasification capacity are operating in the country to mitigate gas demand-supply shortfall, while the total supply of LPG during July-March 2019-20 stood at 739,785MT.

Arif Naqvi's extradition hearing commences in London BUSINESS DESK Former Abraaj Group founder and chief executive Arif Naqvi is set for a four-day extradition hearing in London, starting from Monday, as he battles to avoid a trial in the United States for fraud and money laundering following the collapse of the private equity company. Naqvi is one of six former Abraaj executives who face charges stemming from the private equity’s firm’s 2018 collapse. In court papers last year, US prosecutors said Naqvi stole more than $250 million. But in a new filing on Friday, as reported by foreign media, the liquidators put the losses much higher, claiming Naqvi stole $385 million from 2009 to 2018 as he moved money for his own use in more than 3,700 transactions. The 59-year old has been living under curfew at a luxury gated London apartment block for more than a year after his arrest at London’s Heathrow Airport when he returned to the UK from Pakistan in April 2019.

Abraaj managed more than 40 private equity funds and assets of more than $14 billion until it crumbled in the biggest failure for a private equity firm.

FBR offices to observe extended working hours on 29th, 30th BUSINESS DESK The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued instructions to all the LTUs/CRTOs/RTOs to remain open and observe extended working hours till 09:00 pm on 29th June (Monday) and till 11:00 pm on 30th June 2020 (Tuesday) to facilitate the taxpayers in the payment of duties and taxes. FBR has further instructed the chief commissioners (Inland Revenue) to liaise with the State Bank of Pakistan and authorized branches of the National Bank of Pakistan to ensure the transfer of tax collection by these branches on 30th June to the respective branches of SBP on the same date and to account the same towards the collection for the month of June 2020.

Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

IndIan, ChIneSe CommandeRS paRley on BoRdeR, gRowIng CallS to BoyCott ChIneSe goodS

I

LADAKH

NDIAN and Chinese military commanders parleyed on Monday to ease tensions at their contested border, as the public mood hardened in India for a military and economic riposte to China following the worst clash in over five decades.

An Indian government source said corps commanders from both sides met in Moldo, on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de facto border dividing India’s Ladakh region from the Chinese held Aksai Chin, high in the western Himalayas.

Lower-ranking officers had attended the first parley last Thursday after the brutal clash on June 15, when soldiers fought with rocks, metal rods and wooden clubs.

While blaming each other’s forces for the bloodshed, the two governments have sought to avoid any escalation that could risk further conflict between the two nucleararmed states.

Under long observed protocols, both

Beijing coronavirus cases to see 'cliff-like' drop this week: expert BEIJING

militaries refrain from firing weapons, and the last time there was a deadly clash on the disputed border was in 1962.

The Indian foreign ministry has, however, described the fighting that left 20 Indian soldiers dead and at least 76 injured as a “pre-meditated and planned action”

by China.

For its part, China has accused Indian troops of violating a military agreement and provoking and attacking its troops in the Galwan valley in Ladakh. China has not disclosed how many casualties it suffered, though an Indian minister has said around 40 Chinese soldiers may have been killed.

Shocked and angered by the death of their soldiers, Indians have been calling for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ultra-nationalist government to show India will not be bullied, bitterly remembering their country’s humiliation in a war against China in 1962.

Members of an Indian traders body made a bonfire of Chinese goods at a bazaar in New Delhi, pushing for a nationwide boy-

cott of products made in China.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which represents some 70 million traders, has asked federal and state governments to support a boycott of Chinese goods and cancel government contracts awarded to Chinese companies.

“The entire nation is filled with extreme

anger and intensity to give a strong befitting response to China not only militarily but also economically,” CAIT National General Secretary Praveen Khandelwal wrote in a letter to the chief ministers of some Indian states.

China is India’s second-biggest trading partner, with bilateral trade worth $87 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2019, and a

Fearing second Covid-19 wave, Europe aims to train 'army' of medics

AGENCIES

China’s capital will see a “cliff-like” drop in new cases in a recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus by the end of this week with efforts to cut chains of transmission underway, a disease control expert said.

The city of more than 20 million people reported its first case of a new spike in infections on June 11, linked to a sprawling wholesale food centre. In all, 236 people have been infected in the worst outbreak in Beijing since the novel coronavirus was identified at a seafood market in the central city of Wuhan late last year. Beijing reported on Monday nine new cases had been confirmed the previous day, sharply down from 22 a day earlier. “If you control the source, and cut the chain of transmission, the number will have a cliff-like drop,” Wu Hao, a disease control expert from the National Health Commission, told state television in an interview aired late on Sunday.

Millions of people in Beijing have had their daily lives upended by the resurgence of the disease over the past 11 days, with some fearing a city lockdown is imminent.

But Wu said Beijing was not headed for a “flood-like” lockdown, unlike early efforts in Wuhan when little was known about the virus, adding that lockdown tactics had been more targeted this time.

BRUSSELS AGENCIES

Europeans are enjoying the gradual easing of coronavirus lockdown measures, but in hospitals, they are already preparing for the next wave of infections.

Some intensive care specialists are trying to hire more permanent staff. Others want to create a reservist “army” of medical professionals ready to be deployed wherever needed to work in wards with seriously ill patients.

European countries have been giving medics crash courses in how to deal with COVID-19 patients, and are now looking at ways to retrain staff to avoid shortages of key workers if there is a second wave of the novel coronavirus.

“We need a healthcare army,” said Maurizio Cecconi, president-elect of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM), which brings together medics from around the world who work in wards with extremely ill patients. Cecconi, who heads the intensive care department at the Humanitas hospital in Milan, says medical staff need to be more flexible in the work they do, and more mobile.

“If there is another big wave, we

should be prepared to deploy doctors and nurses from nearby regions within Italy.

This did not happen a lot in the first wave,” he told Reuters.

Many countries were caught unprepared by the COVID-19 pandemic in March and April, and hastily retrained medics to work with patients with severe cases of the disease, to ramp up numbers and replace those who fell sick.

Some sent medical students and re-

tired doctors to help out in intensive care wards as hospital staff were overwhelmed. That worst-hit by the pandemic had to provide more beds and essential equipment for acute care units, and some built new hospitals.

But problems and shortages persist.

Italy, for example, may need to boost by 50% the number of anesthetists, resuscitation experts and other medics it has working in intensive care, according to the Italian society of intensive care SIAARTI. CRASH COURSES: Across Europe, hospitals have been re-training surgeons, cardiologists, internal medicine physicians and nurses from other departments, and have moved them to intensive care units when needed. Many have attended crash courses on how to handle COVID19 patients, said Jozef Kesecioglu, president of ESICM and head of intensive care at the University Medical Center of Utrecht, in the Netherlands.

He plans to call back the same people to offer them more training. Under normal circumstances, intensive care workers undergo years of training but he said: “We should not wait until the new wave comes, we should give them regular training.”

trade deficit of $53.57 billion in China’s favor, the widest India has with any country.

The traders body, which advocates selfreliance and supports Modi’s hardline policies, has also asked the federal commerce ministry to amend rules and make it mandatory for e-commerce platforms to mark the country of origin for all products.

“Most of the e-commerce portals are selling Chinese goods for which the consumer remains unaware,” CAIT said in a statement.

The editor-in-chief of China’s Global Times newspaper warned that the “nationalists of India need to cool down”. The Global Times is published by the People’s Daily, the official newspaper of China’s ruling Communist Party.

“China’s GDP is 5 times that of India, military spending is 3 times,” Global Times editor Hu Xijin said in a post on Twitter.

Nationalists of India need to cool down. China’s GDP is 5 times that of India, military spending is 3 times. Don’t use firearms at border.

US, Russian envoys tight-lipped as arms control talks start in Vienna VIENNA AGENCIES

Nuclear weapons talks between the United States and Russia started in Vienna on Monday, with the two countries’ envoys making only guarded comments shortly before they met. Little has been said officially about the arms control negotiations but the US envoy has made clear they will be about nuclear weapons, suggesting they will include replacing the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which expires in February. “We’ll see,” US Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea told Reuters when asked what he expected to come of the talks as he arrived with his delegation at a palace adjoining Austria’s Foreign Ministry. He declined to elaborate on their content. His Russian interlocutor, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, was equally cautious, telling reporters soon afterwards: “Let’s see, let’s see. We are always very hopeful.” The US State Department has said Billingslea will be in Vienna for the talks on Monday and Tuesday. New START imposes the last remaining limits on US and Russian deployments of strategic nuclear arms to no more than 1,550 each. It can be extended for up to five years if both sides agree to. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for China to join the United States and Russia in talks on an agreement to replace New START.

What you need to know about the coronavirus right now LONDON AGENCIES

Here’s what you need to know about the coronavirus right now: SINGLE LARGEST DAILY INCREASE IN CASES: The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported a record increase in global infections on Sunday, with the total rising by 183,020 in a 24hour period.

The biggest increase, of more than 116,000, was from North and South America, it said in a daily report. Total global cases have passed 8.7 million with more than 461,000 deaths, the WHO added.

BEIJING’S EFFORTS: Officials in the Chinese capital are running tests on tens of thousands of food and parcel delivery workers to detect virus traces in a bid to rein in a new outbreak, statebacked media said on Saturday. All couriers in the city would be tested by next week, Beijing News said.

The city is capable of screening almost 1 million people a day for the coronavirus, an official said on Sunday. The tests are done on multiple samples collected in one test tube, Gao Xiaojun, a spokesman for city health authorities, told reporters.

China’s customs authority said it had suspended imports of poultry products from a plant in Springdale, Arizona owned by US-based meat processor Tyson Inc that has been hit by the virus. China has stepped up oversight of imported foods after a new

cluster of cases was linked to a sprawling wholesale food market in its capital just over a week ago.

RISING CONTAGION: Germany’s coronavirus reproduction rate jumped to 2.88 on Sunday, up from 1.79 a day earlier, health authorities said, a rate that shows infections are rising above the level needed to contain the disease over the longer term.

The rise strengthens prospects for renewed curbs on activity in Europe’s largest economy, which would be a blow to a country until now widely seen as successful in reining in the spread and holding down the death toll.

Australia’s second-most populous state of Victoria extended a state of emergency for four more weeks until July 19, as it battles a spike in infections with a pick-up in community transmission.

COME TOGETHER: International music and film stars will headline a globally televised and streamed fundraising concert on Saturday, aiming to raise billions of dollars in private and public donations to mitigate the pandemic’s impact on marginalised communities.

Hosted by actor Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson, the virtual concert will feature Cyrus, Chloe x Halle, Christine and the Queens, Coldplay and Shakira besides actors Charlize Theron and Hugh Jackman as well as retired soccer star David Beckham.

European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen said the concert would coincide with a pledging summit at which artists, scientists and world leaders will “commit to helping the world end coronavirus, while leaving no one behind”.

CMYK

Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

SPORTS 11

Three Covid-19 TesTs in a week, Then one every five days for pakisTan's players

Lahore

p

agencieS

AKISTAN'S players and support staff will be subject to three rounds of Covid-19 testing apart from a host of other precautions before they leave for their England tour.

Once in England, the entire touring party will be tested every five days. The PCB medical board admitted that despite the extensive measures due to be undertaken, eliminating risk entirely was not possible.

However, the bio-secure bubble that the players will be in should help mitigate concerns. The tour, consisting of three Tests and three T20Is, will begin in August.

Dr Sohail Saleem, Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB's) director of sports medicine, said the touring party would have to follow guidelines strictly, and that a combination of safety measures had been worked out to ensure the risk was reduced to the minimum.

Between Sunday and Monday, 28 players were tested (minus Shoaib Malik, who will be

travelling later), alongside 12 members of the support staff. All of them were tested at their respective homes. Those testing 'negative' will move to a five-star hotel in Lahore and remain in isolation, while anyone who tests positive will remain in isolation at home and be provided medical assistance. For those who have not tested positive, a full medical screening and a second Covid-19 test will be carried out on June 25 at the hotel. If someone tests positive on this second test, they will be taken out of the cluster for treatment.

Those who have tested negative on both tests will then fly out to Manchester on June 28 on a specially chartered plane from Lahore. Player (s) who test positive can still join the squad, provided they recover after 14 days in isolation and test negative thereafter. They will then be allowed to take a commercial flight to England, where they will be admitted into the bubble that the existing players are in, after following the UK government's guidelines. All players will be tested again when they land in England.

While the backroom staff will also travel

with the team, two members - Waqar Younis (bowling coach) and Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist) - will join the squad directly in England. Younis will fly in from Australia, while Deacon will arrive from South Africa.

"It is a big risk," Saleem said in a video conference. "We can't really say it's not a risk. We are trying to build a new normal, redefining etiquette - respiratory marks, hand washing... it is a combination of many thing to make sure that we are keeping safe or reducing the risk factor to the minimum.

Cricket isn't a contact sport. The only source (of contact) is the cricket ball. Two different analyses confirmed that the chances of transmitting the virus through sweat are less, while you cannot use saliva at all.

"Thinking that we are moving ahead with a zero percent viral load, that's not right.

You can control it by precautions and following the WHO guidelines to keep the environment and the people involved clean. There are protocols. During the England tour, players will go through another test (upon landing) and then undergo a test every five days.

Going out during a pandemic is a risk, but you have to go by the available research and information, and take whatever precautions to reduce the risk."

All matches during the tour - three Tests and three T20Is - are scheduled to take place behind closed doors. The England Cricket Board (ECB) has come up with extensive plans to keep Pakistan's players in a bio-secure environment - likely to be in Derbyshire initially - from the moment they land in the country. Players will be allowed to train on a daily basis, but not as a combination, for the first two weeks.

All players were briefed verbally about the the procedures in place. The PCB was hoping to hold a training camp in Lahore, at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and Gaddafi Stadium, where a larger squad would reside and train in a completely iso-

Three players TesT posiTive for Covid-19 ahead of england series

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday said that three players – Haider Ali, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan – have tested positive for Covid-19. The PCB, in a statement, said: “The players had shown no symptoms until they were tested in Rawalpindi on Sunday ahead of the Pakistan men’s national cricket team’s tour to England.” The PCB medical panel is in contact with the three who have been advised to immediately go into self-isolation. Imad Wasim and Usman Shinwari, also screened in Rawalpindi, have tested negative and, as such, will travel to Lahore on June 24. “The other players and team officials, barring Cliffe Deacon, Shoaib Malik and Waqar Younis, underwent tests at their respective centres in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar on Monday,” the statement read. Their results are expected at some stage on Tuesday, which will also be announced by the PCB through its usual channels, the board said. Staff report

lated area, but the camp was scrapped due to the country seeing a spike in Covid-19 cases.

"We have spoken with the players before taking their consent," Saleem said. "Yes, they will be living without families and naturally they will be thinking about their loved ones' well-being. We have formed a monitoring team to check on families on a daily basis to allay any concerns from the minds of the players. It's true that we haven't practically gone through this process, and everything right now is theoretical. But it's the first time for everyone. Going forward, everyone will eventually have to adapt to the new procedures. I am told

PCB to ban use of social media during England series SportS DeSk The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will reportedly ban the use of social media during the upcoming England series and direct the players to shun approaches by the unknown individuals in order to avoid any unpleasant event during the tour.

Pakistan is scheduled to play against England in three Tests and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), with the matches likely to be played between August 5 and September 1 in Manchester and Southampton.

During four separate lectures on Thursday, the board will inform the touring party on how to carry themselves in England and adhere to the strict tour guidelines issued by the authorities.

Reportedly, bookies and match-fixers are trying to swindle players through sponsorship deals and offers. They might try to persuade players in the guise of representatives of team owners from different franchise tournaments and invite them to

attend events and parties in order to trap them. These individuals might make use of fake names and untraceable numbers.

The national squad is also directed to

spend most of their time in hotel rooms to minimise the possibility of contracting the virus that has ravaged the world, particularly England, where more than 42,000 pa-

Mourinho defends his record on strikers LonDon agencieS

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho defended his record of nurturing strikers following criticism from former Arsenal player Paul Merson.

After Harry Kane drew a blank in the 11 draw against Manchester United, Merson said the forward would not manage a high goal return under Mourinho because of his style of play. Kane had scored seven in 11 games under Mourinho before Friday's league match. "I think Kane has no problems scoring in my teams," the Portuguese said.

The England captain was playing in his first match since recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered on 1 January. Kane managed 36 touches of the ball during the match - only goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had fewer among the players to have played the entire game. He had one shot on target.

"It was a game where the two strikers [Anthony Martial for United] had a lot of chances," Mourinho added.

"Do you give credit to my defence for Martial game? Do you give credit for United defence for the game and the occasions that we create or didn't create?"

Mourinho also reeled off the goal records of strikers he previously managed, including former Chelsea man Didier Drogba, Cristiano Ronaldo, who he had at Real Madrid, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who worked with the 57-year-old at Manchester United and Inter Milan. "I had a few strikers that played for me and they are not bad," he said. Addressing Merson, he added: "Dear Paul, I have lots of respect for you. I think Harry Kane has no problems scoring goals in my teams, especially when he is fit, fresh and has a routine of playing. "That's my message to somebody I have a lot of respect for."

tients have succumbed to the disease.

PAKISTANI SQUAD TESTED FOR CORONAVIRUS: The PCB's Englandbound players and officials were tested for coronavirus in the first round of COVID19 testing on Monday.

According to media reports, the tests were carried out in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and Peshawar. The second round of screening will be conducted on June 25.

Due to stringent protocols, PCB CEO Wasim Khan said that there will be no practice matches and that the team will have to resort to intra-squad games in a bid to prepare themselves.

"Because of strict protocols due to Covid-19, this time there would be no practise matches ahead of our series against England," he said.

"Our players will prepare for the Test series by playing matches within our squad. We would have 29 players available during the tour so they can have plenty of match practice by having 14-a-side games."

the West Indies team (currently in England and subject to the same procedures) were also uncertain at the start but the moment they got in the routine with training, they were fine.

"We have been monitoring the football in Europe, baseball in South Korea and now even the English Premier League has also started. So this is a big step for the resumption of cricket. People have been confined at home for over three months, the level of anxiety is increasing. Sport at least provides entertainment and can reduce anxiety. Like doctors fighting on the frontline, these sportsmen in a way are also serving the people."

Mohammad abbas' nottinghamshire contract cancelled LONDON: Nottinghamshire have cancelled Mohammad Abbas' contract with the club, but held out hope that he would be able to represent them at some point in the future.

Abbas had been contracted to play nine County Championship fixtures before the season was pushed back because of the Covid19 pandemic. County chief executives are hoping that some form of regionalised red-ball cricket competition would be possible starting in August, when Abbas would be playing in Pakistan's Test series in England. "We hope that circumstances will allow Mohammad to play some Test cricket in England this summer for Pakistan, and will certainly be watching with interest," Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire's director of cricket, said.

"His ability, nous and experience have made him a threatening proposition in English conditions, and whilst it's impossible for him to link up with us this year, we're certainly not closing the door on welcoming him to Trent Bridge in the future." The Nottingham Post reported that the club remained hopeful that Dan Christian would be available to play in the T20 Blast if it is possible to stage the tournament, and that they had planned to bring back Imad Wasim after his successful spell with them in last season's edition. Imad is part of Pakistan's 29-man touring party, and could be available if the Blast gets underway in September. agencieS

Covid-19: arsenal trio affected before Man City game LONDON: Three Arsenal players were unable to train in the build-up to last week's defeat at Manchester City after one of them returned a positive Covid-19 test. The Athletic reported Arsenal have refused to name the individual and he also came into close contact with two other players. Under Premier League protocols, all three had to go into self-isolation.

The trio showed no symptoms, were tested again - this time all negative - and trained before the City game. All three were involved in the 3-0 defeat at Etihad Stadium. agencieS

CMYK

Tuesday, 23 June, 2020

NEWS

EconomISTS PoInT oUT myTHS And fAcTS AboUT PAKISTAn’S dEfEncE bUdGET GOVT TO SPEND ONLY 17.7PC ON DEFENCE-RELATED ACTIVITIES IN FY21 LAHORE

L

HASSAN NAqvI

EADING economists of Pakistan have pointed out a number of myths and facts about Pakistan’s defence budget. Farrukh Saleem, an economist and financial analyst, said that the first myth is that the defence budget eats up the lion’s share of the country’s total budgetary expenses.

“In budget 2020-21, ‘Defence Affairs and Services’ has been allocated Rs1,289 billion out of the total budgetary expenses of Rs7,295 billion. What this means is that defence comprises 17.67 per cent of the total expenses and 82.33 per cent of all government expenses are non-defence related,” he explained.

He said that the second myth is that of the total defence budget, Pakistan Army takes away the lion’s share. “Pakistan Army gets Rs613 billion (47.6 per cent), Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Rs274 billion (21 per cent), Pakistan Navy Rs140 billion (11 per cent)

and Inter-Services Rs262 billion (20 per cent),” he added.

Saleem said that the third myth is Pakistan’s defence budget has been increasing at a high rate. In the 70s, the allocation for defence amounted to 6.50 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), he added.

He stated that in the financial year 200102, 20 years ago, the allocation for defence amounted 4.6 per cent of the GDP, whereas budget 2020-21 has allocated Rs1,289 billion which is 2.86 per cent of GDP. “In the 60s, Pakistan Army’s budget as a percentage of total expenditures hovered around 30 per cent. In budget 2020-21, Pakistan Army’s budget as a percentage of total expenditures has come down to 8 per cent,” Saleem said.

He stated that the fourth myth is that Pakistan has a large military. “There are at least 64 countries in the world who have more military personnel on a per capita basis than does Pakistan,” he said.

These countries, he added, include Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Switzerland, Italy, Nor-

Saudi Arabia to hold Hajj with 'very limited pilgrims from resident nationalities'

ARMY TO GET 47.6PC OF THE TOTAL DEFENCE BUDGET OF RS1.28TR

way, Singapore, South Korea, Russia, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Libya, Kuwait, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Israel, Estonia, Vietnam, Slovenia, Botswana, Mongolia, Yemen, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Mauritania, Croatia, Chile, Somalia, Albania, Sao tome and Principe, Namibia, Angola, Cambodia, Uruguay, Bolivia, Romania, Morocco, Lithuania, Portugal, Burma, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Burundi, Bulgaria, Columbia, Serbia and Montenegro, Cyprus, Greece, Armenia, Djibouti, Maldives, Oman, Belarus, Jordan, Syria, Laos, Bahrain, Brunei, Eretria and North Korea.

He pointed out the fifth myth is that Pakistan’s military expenditures are the highest in the world on a per capita basis.

Saleem stated that Pakistan’s military expenditures on a per capita basis are actually one of the lowest on the face of the plant. Israel spends $2,000 on a per capita basis and Pakistan spends $22 per capita.

For him, the sixth myth is that the military’s commercial undertakings are a burden on our economy. “Fauji Fertilizer is one of

the highest taxpayers in Pakistan. In 2019, Fauji Fertilizer paid a wholesome Rs42 billion in taxes and duties. Fauji Cement deposits around Rs10 billion a year in the treasury on account of income taxes, excise duty and sales tax,” he said. He stated that the fact is Pakistan spends 2.86 per cent of its GDP on defence, while the global average is 2.18 percent. “Yes, we do spend a higher percentage of our GDP on defence than the global average,” Saleem said.

He added that countries that spend even a higher percentage of their GDP on defence than Pakistan does include Saudi Arabia (8 per cent), Israel (5.3 per cent), Russia (3.9 per cent) and United States (3.4 per cent).

Saleem maintained that it is also a fact that Pakistan Armed Forces are the sixth largest in the world but our expenses on a per soldier basis are the lowest. “The US spends $392,000 per soldier, Saudi Arabia $371,000, India $42,000, Iran $23,000 and Pakistan $12,500 per soldier,” he claimed.

Agreeing with him, economic expert Dr Ikramul Haq said that his calculations are

Saudi Arabia vows continued support to Pakistan on Kashmir issue

ISLAMABAD

PESHAWAR The Pakistan-Afghanistan Ghulam Khan border crossing in North Waziristan reopened on Monday after remaining closed for three months. The transportation of goods vehicles has resumed under the coronavirus SOPs, according to Tehsildar Ghani-urRehman. All arrangements have been made at the border crossing to prevent the virus spread, he said.

Pakistan closed its border with Iran and Afghanistan in early March amid fears of coronavirus spread in the country. North Waziristan Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali said the decision to reopen the border crossing was made after successful talks with Afghan officials late Sunday. Under the new arrangement, people from both sides could travel through the border crossing on one specific day of the week, according to DC Ali. Goods vehicles would be allowed on the remaining days.

APP

Sindh govt delaying work on K-IV water project: Asad Umar

Pak-Afghan Ghulam Khan border crossing reopens for trade STAFF REPORT

ISLAMABAD Saudi Arabia on Monday decided to hold Hajj this year with “a very limited number of pilgrims from various nationalities already residing in the Kingdom”. “This decision has been taken to ensure Hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols,” the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said in a statement shared on the twitter handle of the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry. The decision came as an extraordinary measure to protect the people from the risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic. The Hajj Ministry said as the COVID-19 had spread to over 180 countries with seven million cases and half a million deaths, it was important to consider the risks of the disease and the infections spreading in crowded gatherings where it was difficult to maintain safe social distancing. It mentioned that the top priority of Saudi Arabia was to enable the Muslim pilgrims to perform Hajj and Umrah rites safely and securely. “[Saudi Arabia] has been keen since the beginning of the pandemic to take all necessary precautionary measures to protect pilgrims including by suspending the entry of Umrah pilgrims while ensuring the safety of the pilgrims already present at the holy sites,” it said. The ministry said the “decision had received many approbations from Islamic and international organizations in recognition of its wide contribution to fighting the virus globally and supporting the efforts of health organisations in limiting the spread of the deadly disease.”

correct and depict a true picture.

“In the media, there is dissemination of misinformation about the budget allocations for defence and benefits available to them,” he said. “The largest burden on national exchequer is debt servicing that increased monstrosity due to wrong economic and fiscal policies of civilian regimes since 2008.”

Dr Haq shared that only about 10 per cent officers reach the rank of brigadier that is BPS-20 and when compared to the ratio of civil services, it is extremely low.

He added that only about 2 per cent officers become major generals and this average is further reduced for lieutenant generals.

The economic expert said that ratio of similar grade officers in civil services is much higher. He added that the allowances and benefits of legislators are much more as they enjoy free residences and vehicles, air tickets, etc.“All armed officers pay their utility bills with no exception whatsoever but judges of higher courts get tax-free benefits of electricity and petrol, including tax-free cash judicial allowance,” Dr Haq pointed out.

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Monday reaffirmed the kingdom’s traditional support for the Kashmir cause.

During a phone call, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Saudi counterpart agreed to remain in close contact to take forward the important bilateral agenda and close cooperation in various fields.

Qureshi shared deep concern over the continuing double lockdown as well as the intensification of military crackdown by Indian occupation forces and attempts to change the demographic structure of the disputed territory by introducing new domicile law.

He also lauded the recent statements of OIC and other international bodies which showed serious concerns and urged urgent steps to address the situation in IOJ&K. The development comes as Indian troops have intensified their oppression against innocent people in Occupied Kashmir, killing over a hundred in the last

few months.

The official statement said that both leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, including Covid-19 pandemic, enhanced bilateral cooperation and situation in IOJ&K. Qureshi underscored that the fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are deep-rooted and multifaceted and the strategic relationship between the two countries is growing in myriad dimensions.

He also thanked for condolence messages issued

by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman over the PIA plane crash.

Qureshi offered condolences on the loss of precious lives in Saudi Arabia due to Covid-19 pandemic and highlighted the measures being taken by Pakistan to contain the virus, with a focus on saving lives and securing livelihoods.

The two foreign ministers exchanged views about the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic. The Saudi FM expressed solidarity with Pakistan in its efforts to combat the outbreak.

Afghanistan accuses Taliban of killing 291 security personnel in past week KABUL: The Taliban killed at least 291 Afghan security personnel over the past week, a top government official said Monday, accusing the insurgents of unleashing a wave of violence ahead of potential talks. The past week was the “deadliest” in the country’s 19 years of conflict, said Javid Faisal, spokesman for the National Security Council, even as the insurgents dismissed the latest figures. The Taliban carried out 422 attacks in 32 provinces in the past week, killing 291 security force personnel and wounding 550 others, Faisal said on Twitter. “Taliban’s commitment to reduce violence is meaningless, and their actions inconsistent with their rhetoric on peace,” he said. AGENCIES

Virus cases surge in US, India, but slow in China, Korea

STAFF REPORT

Rejecting the impression of abandoning mega projects in Karachi, Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives Asad Umar has said that the federal government fully stands by its commitments relating to the Greater Karachi Water Supply Project (K-IV). According to a press release, the minister clarified that the project has been experiencing delays for quite some time due to design related issues. Replying to a question relating to the Sindh chief minister’s statement regarding the project’s ‘wrapping up’, Asad Umar said that the federal government has been regularly following up with the government of Sindh to move the project forward, however, the provincial authorities are yet to process the revised documentation.

He explained that the provincial government had engaged NESPAK to review the project’s original design.

“NESPAK completed the design review and submitted its report to Karachi Water & Sanitation Board (KWSB) after which the Sindh government, in November 2019, appointed a technical committee to scrutinise NESPAK’s report and suggest the way forward. The technical committee had submitted its report with the recommendation that work on the existing alignment may be resumed with necessary modifications soon after that,” he said.

NEW YORK AGENCIES

The world saw the largest daily increases yet in coronavirus cases, with infections soaring in India’s rural villages after migrant workers fled major cities. India’s coronavirus case load climbed by nearly 15,000 as of Monday to 425,282, with more than 13,000 deaths, the health ministry reported.

After easing the nationwide lockdown, the Indian government has run special trains to return thousands of migrant workers to their natal villages in recent weeks. Nearly 90 per cent of India’s poorest districts have cases, though the outbreak remains centered in Delhi, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu states, which are home to major cities.

Infections slowed in China and South Korea, suggesting they are making headway in stemming their newest outbreaks. But despite clear progress in con-

taining the virus in some regions, especially those that saw early outbreaks, globally the number of new virus cases has soared in recent days. In Brazil, Iraq, India and the United States, hospitals are scrambling to cope.

Nearly 9 million people have been infected by the new coronavirus and more than 468,000 people have died, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Experts say the actual numbers are much higher, given limits to testing and the presumed large share of asymptomatic cases. In a grim reminder of the pandemic’s ubiquitous reach, Philippine officials said Saudi Arabia’s king had asked that the remains of 282 Filipino workers who perished in recent months in the oil-rich kingdom be repatriated within three days.

They died of varied causes, but virus restrictions have delayed the repatriations. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III

said the Philippine government asked that a deadline be extended and that the bodies of about 50 Filipinos who died of Covid-19 be buried in Saudi Arabia.

The Philippines has reported more than 30,000 infections and 1,169 deaths, among the highest in Southeast Asia and is struggling to help bring home tens of thousands of Filipinos who have lost their work abroad. In Pakistan, infections are accelerating and hospitals forced to turn away patients, with the number of new daily cases as high as 6,800 a day in mid-June.

The government has relaxed pandemic restrictions, seeking to salvage a near-collapsed economy as the number of people living in poverty has risen to 40pc, up from 30pc of the population of 220 million people.

In Iraq, masked workers were setting up makeshift coronavirus wards in Baghdad’s vast exhibition grounds as a long-dreaded spike in infections strained its overstretched hospitals, battered by

Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

years of conflict and poor infrastructure.

On Sunday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported the largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases by its count, at more than 183,000 new cases in the latest 24 hours.

Brazil tallied 54,771 and the US was next at 36,617, the UN health agency said. India reported more than 15,400.

Experts say rising case counts reflect multiple factors including more testing and spreading infections. More than twothirds of the new deaths were reported in the Americas. Still, in East Asia there were signs of progress, as South Korea reported 17 new cases, the first time its daily increase fell to under 20 in nearly a month. A rise in cases among people arriving from South Asia prompted a halt to new visas for travellers from Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Elsewhere in Asia, Beijing’s increase was in single digits for the first time in eight days. It reported nine cases.