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Saturday, 27 June, 2020 I 5 Dhū al-Qa‘dah, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol X No 358 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition
Govt abruptly raises petrol price by a whoppinG rs26 g
GOvT wIll CONTINUE CHArGING rS30 PEr lITrE PETrOlEUM lEvy ON PETrOl AND DIESEl, rS6 PEr lITEr ON KErOSENE OIl AND rS3 PEr lITrE lDO
ISLAMABAD staff report
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HE federal government on Friday increased the price of petrol by rs25.58 per litre for the month of July in line with the hike in global crude oil prices. According to details, the real impact of increase in petrol was rs31 per litre based on the data and working made by Pakistan State Oil (PSO). However, the government decided to increase the price of petrol by rs25.38 per litre that would be effective immediately i.e June 26. According to a notification issued by the Finance Division, the price of petrol has been increased from existing
rs74.52 to rs100.10 per litre. The price of diesel has gone up to rs101.46 from rs80.15 with an increase of rs21.31 per litre. Diesel is used in agriculture and transport sectors and therefore increase in its price would affect these sectors and inflation would go up. The price of kerosene oil has been hiked by rs23.50 per litre from current rs35.56 to rs59.06 per litre. This price is used in remote areas where lPG is not available for cooking purpose. The price of light diesel oil has risen by rs17.84 from rs38.14 to rs55.98 per litre. This fuel is used for industry. After the increase, the government will continue charging rs30 per litre petroleum levy on petrol and diesel, rs6 per
coronavirus in
pakistan
CONFIRMED CASES:
197,705
DAY'S DEATH TOLL:
NEW CASES:
59
2,775
RECOVERED:
DEATHS:
84,168 4,004 SINDH:
76,318
PUNJAB:
71,987
KP:
BALOCHISTAN:
AJK/GB:
ISLAMABAD:
24,943
10,116
962/1,398 11,981
liter on kerosene oil and rs3 per litre lDO. The government had last month reduced prices of all petroleum products except high speed diesel to partially pass on the impact of massive international price reduction to the masses. The government has already increased the general sales tax (GST) on all petroleum products to a standard rate of 17pc across the board to generate additional revenues. Until January last year, the government was charging 0.5pc GST on light diesel oil (lDO), 2pc on kerosene, 8pc on petrol and 13pc on HSD. Besides the 17pc GST, the government has almost quadrupled the rate of petroleum levy on HSD and petrol to rs30 per liter from rs8 per liter in January last year. Over the last many months, the government had been increasing petroleum levy rates to partially recoup a major revenue shortfall faced by the FBr. The levy remains in the federal kitty unlike GST that goes to the divisible pool taxes and thus about 57pc share is grabbed by the provinces. Average petrol sales are touching 700,000 tonnes per month against the monthly consumption of around 600,000 tonnes of diesel. However, the sales of petrol had dropped in recent weeks due to the coronavirus lockdown. The diesel consumption had also dropped after the lockdown but has since picked up owing to wheat harvest. The sales of kerosene oil and lDO are generally less than 11,000 and 2000 tonnes per month.
IHC allows FIA to continue oil companies’ investigation STORY ON PAGE 02
Govt says has grounded 262 pilots over dubious licences g
MINISTEr SAyS PIlOTS INClUDE 141 FrOM PIA, NINE FrOM AIr BlUE AND 10 FrOM SErENE AIr ISLAMABAD staff report
Some 262 airline pilots, whose credentials may have been falsified, will be immediately grounded pending investigations, Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan announced on Friday. According to Sarwar, the pilots include 141 from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), nine from Air Blue and 10 from Serene Air. He added that the remaining were affiliated with flying clubs, chartered plane services or foreign airlines. He said all the airlines and the clubs had been conveyed that: “Their credentials are dubious, and they shouldn’t be allowed to fly.” He added that the names of all the pilots had also been put up on the Civil Aviation Authority’s website. “These pilots against whom inquiries are being conducted were recruited before 2018,” the minister said, referring to the start of the incumbent government’s tenure. “let me also make clear that after 2018,
Govt sees reduction in Covid-19 cases by end June g
ASAD UMAr SAyS NCOC BElIEvES NUMBEr OF NATIONwIDE CASES By MONTH END wIll BE 225,000 Or lESS ISLAMABAD staff report
Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar on Friday said that the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC), after reviewing recent Covid-19 figures, believes that the number of nationwide cases by the end of June will be 225,000 or less. Earlier, the government had predicted that there would be around 300,000 cases by the end of this month. A total of 2,775 new coronavirus cases surfaced in the country over the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 195,745, according to government data. The death toll from the virus stands at 3,962 with 59 deaths reported during the last 24 hours. The total reported 195,745 cases include 71,987 in Punjab, 75,168 in Sindh, 24,303 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 9,946 in Balochistan, 11,981 in Islamabad, 1,398 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 962 in Azad Kashmir. A total of 21,041 corona tests were carried out during the aforementioned period. So far
we did not make any new inductions in PIA or the aviation division or conduct any exams, so whatever this is, it is from the last two terms,” he added. “This government has now set out to rectify the past mistakes,” said the minister, adding that not only will the pilots be grounded, he had also decided to suspend five Civil Aviation Authority officials, who had been found to be involved in the scandal. “I have their suspension letters ready and we are also consulting the legal team to initiate criminal proceedings against them,” said the minister. He added that there were three or four other private persons, who were not affiliated with the CAA but had been found to be involved in the scandal and criminal investigations would be initiated against them too. The issue of dubious licenses drew global attention after the aviation minister Khan declared in the National Assembly that around 150 pilots from PIA had fake licences.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
more inside
SC orders Centre, provinces to take stern action against hoarders of Covid-19 drugs STORY ON PAGE 03
Opposition slams government’s policies during budget debate STORY ON BACK PAGE 84,168 patients have so far recovered from the disease and the total active Covid-19 cases in Pakistan are 107,615. ‘SPREAD CAN BE CURBED’: Umar, while addressing the media alongside Information Minister Shibli Faraz, said that the reduction in the projected figures “proves that if we all do the right thing and everyone performs their duty on an individual level while the government does its job on a communal level, a significant success in curbing the spread can be seen”. Detailing the reasons behind the reduction in figures, Umar said:
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“Most people realised their responsibility. Not everyone realised [their responsibility] and as a result, the government had to take some administrative measures. “As a result, we are now looking at 225,000 cases instead of 300,000 — which we initially feared.” He also explained some measures taken by the NCOC to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. On May 30, the body issued a guideline, deeming it compulsory to wear a mask at crowded places.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
‘Dubious pilot licences’ do not pertain to PIA alone: airline STORY ON PAGE 02
Taliban prisoner issue almost resolved, peace talks expected ‘soon’ STORY ON BACK PAGE
02
Saturday, 27 June, 2020
NEWS
Rs4,960bn Revenue collection taRget to be achieved, ministeR tells na ISLAMABAD
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STAFF REPORT
EDERAL Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar has said that the government is confident of achieving the tax collection target of Rs4,960 billion set in the 2020-21 federal budget through Federal Board Revenue (FBR). Concluding discussion on the Finance Bill 2020-21 in the National Assembly, the minister on the floor of the House pointed out that the present government inherited a weak economy, but due to its concerted efforts, the government succeeded in stabilising it. He said that all the international financial institutions are praising Pakistan government’s performance on economic front. Hammad said that presenting a taxfree budget while enhancing allocations for development shows the true leader-
HOUSE APPROVES 96 DEMANDS FOR GRANTS ship of Prime Minister Imran Khan. He said the government is trying to minimize the impact of Covid-19 on the economy by pursuing a prudent strategy. The minister categorically stated that the federal government has not withheld any funds of the provinces under the National Finance Commission (NFC). He said that the recommendations of the Senate for the Finance Bill 2020-21 would be given due consideration. Earlier, the National Assembly approved 96 demands for grants pertaining to different ministries, divisions and departments for the next fiscal year. Presented by Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar, these demands were related to Climate Change, Commerce Division, Commu-
nications Division, Pakistan Post, Defense Division, Survey of Pakistan, Economic Affairs Division, Power Division, Petroleum Division, Geological Survey of Pakistan, Foreign Affairs Division, Housing and Works Division, Human Rights Division, Information and Broadcasting Division, Information Technol-
ogy and Telecommunication, Inter Provincial Coordination, Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Division, Law and Justice Division, Federal Shariat Court, Council of Islamic Ideology, National Accountability Bureau, District Judiciary Islamabad Capital Territory, Maritime Affairs, Narcotics Control, National Assembly, The Senate, Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Division, Parliamentary Affairs Division, Planning Development and Special Initiatives Division, CPEC Authority, Privatization Division, Religious Affairs and Inter Faith Harmony Division, Science and Technology Division, States and Frontier Regions and Water Resources. No cut motions were moved on these demands for grants. The House also offered Fateha for former chief of Jamaate-Islami Syed Munawar Hassan who passed away in Karachi on Friday.
'Dubious pilot licences' do not pertain to PIA alone: airline KARACHI
gen bajwa lauds services and sacrifices of medical staff RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday acknowledged the untiring services and sacrifices of medical staff all over the country, a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. The military’s media wing said that the army chief inaugurated the Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET-CT) & Cyclotron System and Biplane Angiography System at the Armed Forces Institute of Radiology & Imaging (AFIRI) in Rawalpindi. The COAS said that AFIRI being state-of-the-art facility is providing high-quality medical services to people of Pakistan, read the statement. Acknowledging untiring services and sacrifices of medical staff all over the country, he said that the Army Medical Corps will continue to serve the nation through professional excellence and inspiring leadership. Separately, in a meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan, Kuninori Matsuda has praised Islamabad’s role for peace and stability in the region, the military said. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security situation and measures to enhance bilateral cooperation were discussed, military’s media wing, the ISPR, said in a statement issued on Friday. The army chief appreciated Japan’s contributions to Pakistan in the fight against Covid-19. On Thursday, Gen Qamar had reiterated that the Pakistan Army will continue to make all-out efforts “for provision of secure environment for sustained socio-economic progress”. STAFF REPORT
illegal plot allotment: nab files reference against mir shakil, nawaz sharif LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday filed a reference in an accountability court against Jang Group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakilur Rahman in an illegal plot allotment case. Besides, Mir Shakil, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, former Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general Humayun Faiz and former director Land Development Mian Bashir Ahmed have also been named in the Rs143.5 million reference. The court will hear the matter on June 29. NAB has 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. It is pertinent to mention here that Mir Shakil’s bail petition is pending before the Lahore High Court and a division bench will hear it on July 7. The LHC had previously rejected two petitions filed by Mir Shakil and his wife challenging the arrest and physical remand of Mir Shakil. APP
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STAFF REPORT
AKISTAN International Airlines (PIA) on Friday said that the issue of commercial pilots possessing dubious licences — brought to light after an investigation into a recent plane crash that claimed the lives of 97 people — was not exclusive to the national carrier. In a tweet, PIA said that the licences were issued by the competent authority and were “valid as per their records”. “It’s the process and discrepancies through which they were obtained […] triggered the inquiry by the government and action.” The issue of dubious licenses drew global attention after Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan declared in the National Assembly that 150 pilots from PIA had fake licences. There are 860 active pilots in the country, he had said, adding that of these, 262 pilots did not even take their exams themselves. A day earlier, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed summoned the director general of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to explain allegations of fake licences by some pilots of different airlines of the country who fly passenger aircraft and thus put the lives of people at stake, a serious offence under the law.
The CAA director general was directed to furnish a comprehensive report before the Supreme Court within two weeks in this regard and when the case will be taken up again after three weeks, chief executive officers of the PIA, Air Blue and Serene will also appear before the court with reports about the professional qualification of pilots in their respective airlines. The credibility of CAA and PIA also took a massive hit when the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed concern over the “serious lapse in licensing and safety oversight by the aviation regulator”. Amid the aviation crisis, the PIA management decided to ground 150 pilots and started relieving them from flight rosters for allegedly possessing ‘dubious licences’, while asking the CAA to urgently provide the list of all those who allegedly had fake/suspicious commercial pilot licences. Sources said the PIA management had not officially received the list of those pilots having ‘dubious licences’ from the CAA, but had decided not to allow such pilots to operate flights and initiated departmental action against them. PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez said that it had already been announced that about 150 pilots would be grounded. Despite the number of such pilots and its adverse impact on PIA’s flight operations, all of them would be indefinitely grounded pending the outcome of inquiries against them, constituted by the government of Pakistan, he said.
Court to indict Zardari via video link in Park Lane reference ISLAMABAD APP
An accountability court on Friday fixed July 6, to indict former president Asif Ali Zardari, Omni Group’s head Anwar Majeed and others through video link in the Park Lane reference. The court ordered NAB to make arrangements for attendance of Zardari and other accused from Karachi through video link. AC-II Judge Azam Khan conducted hearing on Park Lane corruption reference connected with the fake accounts scam against Zardari and others filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB). During the course of proceeding, Farouk H. Naek filed a plea seeking one-day ex-
emption from hearing for Asif Zardari which was accepted by the court. Naek pleaded that his client had no fear of his trial but he was unable to travel to Islamabad due to coronavirus outbreak. The NAB prosecutor adopted the stance that the Supreme Court had ordered to use modern technology to complete the trials in pending cases. The proceeding was being disturbed due to non appearance of one man, he pleaded and prayed the court to indict Asif Zardari through video link. The court ordered the NAB to make arrangements for presentation of all accused from Karachi through video link. However, the NAB produced Omni Group’s Head Anwar Majeed through video link from a hospital in Karachi. To a question by the court, Anwar Majeed said that his health was better than before.
Former Ji chief munawar hasan passes away KARACHI: Former Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Syed Munawar Hasan passed away on Friday at a hospital where he was under treatment for the past few days. Hasan was born in Delhi in August 1941, a fortnight before Abul A’ala Maududi launched the JI. In the late 1950s, after aligning himself with the National Students Federation, he crossed over to Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba. Elected chief in 2009 with around 70 per cent votes for the first term, Munawar Hasan started losing his popularity within the party after JI’s poor showing in the 2013 general elections. He served as the fourth JI chief from 2009 to 2014. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif offered his condolences to the deceased’s family and to party workers. “His services to Pakistan and commitment to Islam were unwavering. May Allah rest his soul in peace!” PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari prayed for the deceased’s family and offered his condolences. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also offered his condolences. “I spent a lot of time with Syed Munawar Hasan. He was a man with a happy disposition. He made valuable contributions to politics,” he said. Information Minister Shibli Faraz said that Hasan was a strong voice for Muslims all across the world. APP
ihc tells state institutions to respond in cynthia's visa expiry matter ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday sought comments from the Ministry of Interior, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) in a case seeking to stop free movement of American blogger Cynthia D Ritchie and deport her on expiry of her visa term. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah conducted hearing on the petition filed by Pakistan People’s Party activist. At the outset of hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer pleaded the court that visa of the American citizen had expired and she should be deported. The chief justice asked how the petitioner came to know about the visa of Ritchie. To this, the lawyer said the American blogger had herself admitted in her tweet and there were also some media reports in this regard. The lawyer said the American citizen used to visit sensitive places where the access of a common man was not possible. He said she had tweeted derogatory remarks against his leadership. The court sought reply from respondents till July 3. APP
Federal govt denies fuel shortage, says KE's system faulty ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
The federal energy ministry on Friday denied K-Electric’s claims of fuel shortage, insisting instead that the power utility company has failed to enhance its system. The Centre is currently providing 800MW of electricity to the power utility company, and has the capacity to provide additional 500MW from the national grid, but the KE system’s physical constraints prevent it from taking the additional electricity, claimed a ministry spokesperson in a statement issued on Friday. Besides, the federal cabinet has already approved the provision of additional 1,100MW from the national grid to KE, adds the statement. “However, the KE system is not able to absorb the additional electricity at pres-
ent and its system up-gradation will go on until 2022-23 to fully take the additional supply.” Citizens in the metropolis have been subjected to 10-12 hours of load shedding daily amid Karachi’s sweltering heat. Protests broke out on Thursday, with calls for more on Friday, as angered citizens lashed out against KE for failing to provide relief despite sizzling heat and the pandemic. Angered citizens resorted to vandalism and attacks on KE infrastructure and offices. Meanwhile, the power utility company cited the shortage of furnace oil and gas, as reasons for unabated prolonged load shedding, claiming that the situation would normalise soon given the government’s decision to import the fuel. However, the federal energy ministry claims, “the system up-gradation on part of KE has not taken place at the appropri-
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ate level and with appropriate investment”. Moreover, said the spokesperson, the supply of LNG is available, but on account of Article 158 of the Constitution of Pakistan, only a limited quantity of LNG is being taken by KE. The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) is providing a total of 250-290 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of LNG, reads the statement. Article 158 reads: “The Province in which a well-head of natural gas is situated shall have precedence over other parts of Pakistan in meeting the requirements from the well-head, subject to the commitments and obligations as on the commencing day.” Gas distribution has previously been a point of contention between the provinces and Centre. According to the statement, the petroleum division has made arrangements for
supply of 80 per cent of domestic residual fuel oil (RFO) production to KE to run its power plants. Besides, it adds, the Centre has also made arrangements for supply of 30,000 tonnes of RFO from storage of other power plant to immediately fulfill the requirements of KE. The federal cabinet has also allowed the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) to float a Gallop International Tender to purchase RFO for KE, said the spokesperson, adding that this tender has already been published. Besides, the provision and allocation of 150mmcfd of LNG has been approved by the cabinet for new KE power plants, the construction of which is expected to be complete by 2021, read the statement. According to the energy ministry’s spokesperson, the Centre has “gone out of its way to provide support to KE and the people of Karachi besides running industries and businesses”. The spokesperson lamented that the power utility company did not invest in the up-gradation or modernisation of its system, due to which it is facing hurdles at the time of peak demand.
Saturday, 27 June, 2020
NEWS
sc oRdeRs centRe, PRovinces to taKe steRn action against hoaRdeRs oF covid-19 dRugs COURT DIRECTS GOVTS TO ENSURE ADEQUATE SUPPLY AND AVAILABILITY OF DRUGS, OXYGEN AND EQUIPMENT USED IN COVID-19 TREATMENT ISLAMABAD
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STAFF REPORT
HE Supreme Court (SC) on Friday ordered the federal and provincial governments to take stern action against hoarders of anti-virus chemicals, lifesaving drugs, oxygen cylinders and equipment used to detect, monitor and treat patients affected by Covid-19. The directions were given by the apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed in the written orders in the coronavirus suo motu case. Apart from ordering a crackdown against hoarders, the order states, “We direct the relevant regulatory authorities, enforcement agencies and respective health ministries of the federal as well as provincial governments to ensure availability of all requisite equipment used for detection, monitoring and treatment of the disease at reasonable prices.
“Ensure adequate and sufficient supply and availability of drugs, oxygen and equipment used in treatment of the disease at reasonable prices.” The court noted that unscrupulous elements were hoarding anti-virus chemicals, lifesaving drugs and equipment used to detect, monitor and treat patients affected by Covid-19. Basic instruments like oximeters have disappeared from the market and are being sold at exorbitant prices. Likewise, oxygen cylinders, which are necessary to save lives, have disappeared from the market and are being hoarded and sold at excessive prices. Effective steps have not been taken to remedy such illegal and unethical practices either at the federal or the provincial levels, the court noted.Further, the order asked the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) for fast-track registration of drugs, which had already been registered in the USA and Europe and were used for the treat-
govt says has grounded 262 pilots over dubious licences ContInueD fRoM pAge 01 There are 860 active pilots in the country, he had said, adding that of these, 262 pilots did not even take their exams themselves. A day earlier, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed summoned the director general of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to explain allegations of fake licences by some pilots of different airlines of the country who fly passenger aircraft and thus put the lives of people at stake — a serious offence under the law. The CAA director general was directed to furnish a comprehensive report before the Supreme Court within two weeks in this regard and when the case will be taken up again after three weeks, chief executive officers of the PIA, AirBlue and Serene will also appear before the court with reports about the professional qualification of pilots in their respective airlines. The credibility of CAA and PIA also took a massive hit when the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed concern over the “serious lapse in licensing and safety oversight by the aviation regulator”.
imran launches Rs3bn ehsaas cash programme in aJK MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday launched the Ehsaas Cash Emergency Programme in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to help the people hit by Indian ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC). “I am grateful today that we have been given an opportunity to help the people living around LoC braving hardships and economic losses due to cross border firing,” the premier said while addressing the ceremony here. AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider and President Sardar Masood Khan among other officials were also present during the occasion. PM Imran said cash package worth Rs3 billion will benefit 138,000 families of AJK, residing along the de facto border between India and Pakistan. Beside this, he said the 1.2 million health cards will also be distributed to the people of AJK “which will enable them to avail treatment of up to Rs1 million free of charge”. APP
ment of Covid-19, to facilitate import of such drugs if not manufactured locally and also facilitate local production under licence on fast-track basis. The court directed the federal and provincial governments, ICT, government of Gilgit-Baltistan and DRAP to submit a comprehensive report over the matter before the next date of hearing. According to the order, reports had been filed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Plant Protection Department, ICT, governments of the Punjab, Sindh, KP as well as G-B. “All these reports have been examined by us and are taken on record.” It stated that the report submitted by NDMA lacks some particulars as it did not provide details of the import of machinery undertaken by Al-Hafeez Crystoplast (Pvt) Ltd for the manufacture of N-95 masks in Pakistan. Copy of LC and other import documents
have not been filed. The airway bill shows that the value of the machinery had not been declared. It is not clear whether the machinery was imported by this company and if it was so, whether it paid any taxes and duties on the machinery, and for whom these N95 masks were supplied. If the NDMA was the purchaser of N-95 masks produced by this company, then the NDMA could not have been the facilitator of this company for the import of machinery. It added that the documents indicate that the NDMA itself chartered an aircraft for airlifting the machinery, as noted from the letter dated April 26, 2020 of NDMA filed as Annexure-II. Flight clearance was sought from the Chinese government through the Pakistan Embassy, and whether the facilitation provided to this company was also made available to other business entities in Pakistan by publication in newspapers, etc. No publication of this nature has been filed by the NDMA. It appears that this company has been favoured by NDMA for import of machinery for making of N-95 mask and then supplying the same to the NDMA. NDMA is directed to provide details of purchases of N-95 masks from this company or any third party and money paid to this company or its agents. Further, documents relating to payment of dues and taxes by the company may also be filed. The NDMA should also explain why this company was given special favour by it for import of the machinery. The source from which the money was paid for the purchase of machinery should also be disclosed. Hearing of the case was adjourned for three weeks.
World refuses to buy India's false narrative on Kashmir: Shibli ISLAMABAD APP
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz said on Friday that due to the diplomatic offensive of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government and exposure of Indian crimes in the Occupied Kashmir by the international media, the world community had refused to buy Indian narrative on the Kashmir issue. Shibli was speaking at a seminar marking the “International Day in Support of Victims of Torture” organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting here titled “Humans without Human Rights in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.” He said that India was using state terrorism to muzzle the voice of the people of Kashmir, who were struggling for their internationally recognised and justified right to self-determination. He said that the International Human Rights Commission had exposed Indian atrocities in its reports and the United Nations Security Council had met over Kashmir thrice after August 5 last year and reiterated that the Kashmir issue would be resolved under the UN Charter in light of its resolutions. Shibli said that India had taken belligerent posture towards Pakistan and committed countless violations of ceasefire at the Line of Control to divert the world’s attention from the gross human
rights abuses being committed by its forces in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He said that on February 26 last year it committed naked and unprovoked aggression against Pakistan in Balakot and the next day its two planes were downed by the Pakistan Air Force and one of the pilots Abhinandan was arrested. Even in such a charged atmosphere, Pakistan showed great restraint and once again proved its credentials as a peace loving state but India was still not willing to abandon its aggressive posture. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had already warned the world about the repercussions of the coming to power of a hardline party having RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) mindset and following the Hindutva ideology. The minister said that the United Nations and the world community should realize that the Kashmir dispute could become a flashpoint and destabilise the entire region. He said that Islamabad was always ready to resolve all its outstanding disputes, including Kashmir, with New Delhi through peaceful means of dialogue in light of the United Nations resolutions. He expressed the resolve that Pakistan would continue moral, diplomatic and political support for the Kashmir cause till realization of the goal of freedom. He said that at a time when the international community was focusing on fighting the coronavirus, the sinister Indian government was taking advantage of the situation to crush the Kashmiris with full might.
bilawal, shehbaz reject FY21 budget, agree on calling aPc next week ISLAMABAD/LAHoRe STAFF REPORT
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif rejected the budget presented by the government for the fiscal year 2020-21, and agreed to call an All Parties Conference (APC) next week in light of the evolving political situation in the country. Bilawal telephoned the former Punjab chief minister on Friday and inquired after his well-being, days after Shehbaz tested positive for Covid-19. The two leaders also discussed the contemporary political situation of the country agreeing to summon an APC next week. Both the leaders, in unison, rejected the budget which was presented this month by the government. Earlier this week, the PML-N president had said that the “confused” statements made by Prime Minister Imran Khan about the coronavirus outbreak show that he was in a state of denial which, he alleged, was leading to a rise in the deaths due to the deadly disease. “Ministers are making announcements regarding deaths from the coronavirus but the statements from the premier are in total contradiction to those,” Shehbaz said in a statement on Friday. The PML-N president, who is also a cancer survivor, tested positive for the virus on June 11.
sc issues notice to maulvi iftikhar over threat to Justice isa ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday issued a notice to Maulvi Iftikhar-ud-Din Mirza for using derogatory, contemptuous and scandalous language against the institution of judiciary and Justice Qazi Faez Isa. Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan said Justice Isa’s wife Sarina Isa filed an application at Islamabad’s Secretariat Police Station to register a first information report (FIR) regarding a video clip that went viral on social media of Maulvi Iftikhar where he is heard saying “Isa should be shot publicly”. The attorney general said police have referred the matter to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), adding that FIA has initiated proceedings under the Electronic Crimes Act. Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed responded that the FIA is not doing anything and asked the attorney general to appear in court at the next hearing and assist the SC. The court also summoned the FIA director-general for the next hearing on July 2. Maulvi Iftikhar’s lawyer said Iftikhar appeared before the court earlier but the police took him into custody, to which the chief justice questioned why the police took him. Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed asked for Maulvi Iftikhar to appear before the court.
Govt sees reduction in Covid-19 cases by end June ContInueD fRoM pAge 01 A week later, on June 4, the NCOC issued directives to the provinces to administrative action in order to implement the standard operating procedures (SOPs) laid out by the government. The provinces share data with the NCOC twice a week, Umar said. On June 14, the NCOC told provinces to expand ‘smart lockdown’, which Umar
said had been in place since May. The body pointed out the ‘hotspots’ — areas where a cluster of cases had been detected — in 20 major cities which needed to be sealed. Umar said that while the governments had to take strict action to implement the guidelines, many citizens took precautionary measures after they witnessed the rise in cases. He cautioned that the reduction in pro-
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jected figures “does not mean the danger had passed”. “It is a reminder that if we take the right measures, God will protect us and if we don’t, situation can worsen.” He said that the body was in touch with the modellers and in a week, the government will inform the nation about what the situation would be by the end of July if the current measures stay in place.
The minister acknowledged that pressure on big hospitals in major cities was high for two weeks earlier. The current scenario, however, “does not seem to be getting to a position where our health system would collapse”. He urged the people to realise their responsibility towards the doctors and healthcare workers — who are risking their health and fighting for the nation in this difficult time — by taking precautions. “If we continue to take these measures, our businesses will keep running and life will not come to a halt,” he said.
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Saturday, 27 June, 2020
NEWS
Protests continue in Peshawar against Police brutality CITIZENS SURROUND TEHAKL POLICE STATION, GATHER OUTSIDE KP ASSEMBLY KP GOVERNMENT ASKS HIGH COURT TO NOMINATE JUDGE FOR PROBING THE INCIDENT PESHAWAR
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STAFF REPORT
HE provincial capital once again saw people assembling to protest police brutality as they surrounded the Tehkal Police Station and gathered at two other locations on Friday, days after the video of a man being tortured and humiliated by the police there went viral on social media. Reportedly, the protesters also damaged
CCTV cameras in the vicinity of the police station and set a motorcycle alight. Later, the police said that they had brought the situation under control. However, it emerged that they had used tear gas to disperse the protesters who said that they were demanding justice for the victim. Separately, protesters also gathered outside the provincial assembly’s building and staged a demonstration against police torture. Officials used tear gas to disperse the protesters. The police also said that a separate protest
was also held outside Town Police Station, in which a large number of workers from different political parties participated. The protest was peaceful, they said, adding that officials were there to control the situation. GOVT SEEKS JUDICIAL PROBE INTO THE INCIDENT: Adviser to KP Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations Ajmal Khan Wazir said that the provincial government has sent a letter to Peshawar High Court (PHC) for nomination of a judge for the judicial commission to probe the Tahkal incident. Wazir expressed these views while briefing the media at Civil Secretariat Itlla Cell on Friday. He said that the judicial commission would identify those responsible for the incident, who would be trialed in accordance with law. He added that the government would make public the inquiry report, so that everyone should know the facts of the incident. The CM’s aide said that the provincial government took action against the police
personnel soon after the video went viral on social media. He added that on the directives of the chief minister, four police personnel, including the station house officer (SHO), were suspended and a First Information Report (FIR) was also lodged against them. Wazir said the SSP (operation) was also
Nuclear experts term international estimates about Pakistani nukes misleading ISLAMABAD PPI
Pakistani nuclear experts say international estimates about the country’s nuclear arsenal are misleading and biased. “Western think tanks have had a historical tendency to misreport Pakistan’s nuclear program as the fastest growing one, and downplay the scope of India’s nuclear capabilities,” Executive Director of The Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) Ali Sarwar Naqvi said at a webinar hosted by his institute on Pakistani and Indian nuclear programs. The webinar was held to address the myths about the Pakistani programme, which are often peddled by the international media and certain academics. A report published by the Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute (SIPRI) formed the background of the discussion. The SIPRI report had suggested that the “size and diversity” of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons was greater than that of India and that there was no openness about the “status or size” of the arsenals. The report had claimed that Pakistan had 160 warheads, which were 10 more than those in Indian arsenal. Senior Fellow at CISS Dr Naeem Salik said the difference of ten warheads between the arsenals of the two nuclear armed neighbours has been reported in most estimates for over a decade, which in itself is an admission that no country’s nuclear program was growing faster than the other. Dr Salik said most of the estimates were mere wild guesses in the absence of accurate data about the key factors of warhead production including nature of weapon design, and capacity of plutonium
production. Director General of The South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI) Dr Maria Sultan said the huge transition in India’s force posture from the No First Use doctrine to one of First Use, and the strategy of compellence will determine the number of nuclear warheads and the fissile material stockpiles that India would be looking to get. She maintained that the estimated number of warheads given for India do not match with India’s restructuring of its strategic forces command, military posture, and the actual amount of fissile material stockpiles. She believed that nuclear warheads being sought by India would be much higher. Senior Research Fellow at CISS Dr Mansoor Ahmed said international estimates of Indian and Pakistani nuclear warhead number and capabilities do not take into account India’s large stockpiles of weapon-usable fissile materials.
Moonis assures Sarwar of his party’s support to PTI LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) central leader and MNA Moonis Elahi called on Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar at the Governor House on Friday. On this occasion views were exchanged on prevailing political situation in the country and relations between the two parties among other matters. The governor said that the government and the allies are standing with each other, opposition dreams every day about the end of the government, but the people and allies are with the government, and next general election will be held in 2023. Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaaf (PTI) is pursuing policy of taking the allies along at all levels, he added. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan is taking all decisions in the public interest and any compromise on the process of accountability is out of question. Moonis said that accountability should be seen being done on both sides, accountability of all the government ministers, allies and the opposition should be undertaken without any discrimination. He said that the government and we together will rid the country of the problems. “We believe in service to the people and are with the government, we know that problems of the people can only be solved by supporting the government,” he added.
PPP asks PM to apologise over OBL remarks ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Sherry Rehman, while addressing a webinar for the overseas workers of her party, said that Prime Minister Imran Khan is trying to make a terrorist into a hero to please his “electorate” but he should take back his words and apologise to the nation that has given immense sacrifices in the war against terrorism.“Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda has been linked to the massive Karsaz attack, the Marriott hotel bombings, and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto's assassination, and if he is a shaheed (martyr), then have the lives of our jawans (soldiers) gone in vain? Our forces have sacrificed a lot for our country and PM Khan’s statement disregards and undermines all their efforts and sacrifices. Considering that our country fought one of the world's vilest insurgencies to get here, glorifying Osama Bin Laden in the parliament is disgraceful. What message are you sending across?” she said.
removed from his post, adding that on the misconduct and wrongdoings of few personnel, the whole police department should not be blamed. He said that the police force has given sacrifices in war against terrorism, while they have also been serving on front line against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Islamabad Police arrest alleged killers of cops during search operation ISLAMABAD APP
Islamabad Operational Police and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) conducted a joint operation in `Dhok Qureshian’ area of Golra police station on wee hours of Friday and nabbed two Afghan nationals involved in killing of two policemen after firing at a police picket on May 26 this year. On a tip off, Islamabad Operational police and CTD conducted a joint operation at `Dhok Qureshian’ area in Golra police’s area. During this operation, some persons started firing at police teams following which policemen promptly responded and succeeded to arrest two persons while their two other accomplices managed to escape under cover of firing and taking advantage of darkness. The nabbed persons have been identified as Sajjad alias Chocho s/o Nosherwan and Nur Muhammad alias Nurme s/o Multan Khan. Islamabad IGP Muhammad Aamir Zulfiqar and DIG (Operations) Waqar Uddin Syed have appreciated this overall performance of police teams. Assistant Sub-Inspectors Mohsin Zafar and Sajjad were shot dead by unidentified persons when they started checking at Chungi No 26 on May 26, 2020 after receiving wireless call about some crime incidents in Rawalpindi area. These policemen succeeded to intercept some persons and tried to check their bag following which they opened fire
on policemen resulting their death. After this incident, the Islamabad IGP directed DIG (operations) to ensure arrests of criminals and three teams were constituted which included SSP (CTD) Dr Syed Mustafa Tanveer, SP (CTD) Farooq Amjad Butar, SP (Saddar) Sarfaraz Virk, DSP (CIA) Hakim Khan, SHO (CTD) Fiaz Ranjha, Inspector Shamasul Akbar and other police officials. These teams investigated about the case on technical grounds and succeeded to arrest two culprits after joint operation. During the preliminary investigation, they confessed to murder two policemen at Chungi No 26 on May 26, 2020 and of opening fire at policemen performing duties near Carriage Factory on IJP road resulting death of two policemen Sagheer Haider Saqlain, Khurram Shehzad and injuries to policeman Jehanzeb. They have confessed to commit several dacoities in areas of twin cities and further investigation is underway from them. Raids are being conducted to ensure arrest of absconding criminals.
Saturday, 27 June, 2020
NEWS
05
Federal govt pays rs80bn to balochistan to cover revenue shortFall ISLAMABAD
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GHULAM ABBAS
HE federal government has paid an additional sum of Rs80 billion to Balochistan for the ongoing fiscal year to make up for revenue shortfall as the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award guarantees that any shortfall in the province’s share because of lowerthan-target tax collection by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) would be paid by Islamabad. Speaking to Profit, an official of the Ministry of Finance said that Balochistan received at least Rs80 billion in addition to what the provinces got after the tax department’s revenue target was revised the third time. Under the 7th NFC Award, unlike other provinces, Balochistan had been guaranteed its due share from the divisible revenue pool regardless of any changes to the revenue target, therefore, the province received its share on the basis of the Rs5.5 trillion revenue target set in the budget for fiscal year 2019-20
THE 7TH NFC AWARD GUARANTEES BALOCHISTAN ITS DUE SHARE REGARDLESS OF ANY CHANGES TO THE REVENUE TARGET while the rest of the provinces were given their shares on the basis of the revised target of Rs3.8 trillion, the official added. It is worth mentioning here that economists have said that the federal government has once again set an unrealistic target of Rs4.9 trillion for the next fiscal year and the Centre would again have to make up for the shortfall to Balochistan. The 7th NFC Award, which was signed in 2009 is still in effect under a presidential order after the expiry of its five-year tenure in 2015. Under the agreed division formula for financial resources, Balochistan’s share was spiked from 5.13 per cent to 9.09 per cent to meet the development needs of the province. As the Centre and provinces could not reach an agreement over another revenue sharing formula, the government once again prepared the budget on the basis of the 7th
NFC Award, which means that it would be extended for another year. Currently, Punjab gets the 51.74 per cent share from the total revenue, Sindh 24.55 per cent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) 14.62 per cent and Balochistan 9.09 per cent. There are speculations that the federal government wants to secure an additional share in the divisible pool, but the provinces have strictly warned against reducing their share. Besides protecting its existing share, last year, Balochistan tried to push stakeholders for significant changes in resource distribution arrangements between the Centre and the federating units as well as among the provinces in an attempt to secure a higher share from the federal divisible tax pool. Balochistan wished an increase in weight of some indicators in the formula for division of resources among the provinces. Besides,
Govt urged to upgrade Lahore’s drainage system before upcoming monsoon LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the Punjab government and concerned departments to upgrade drainage systems at some of the main markets of Lahore on an urgent basis to avoid heavy losses and inconvenience to businesses operating in these areas during the upcoming monsoon season. The areas include Brandreth Road, Shahalam Market, Gunpat Road, Urdu Bazar, Liberty Market and a few other markets in the city. LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said that the sewerage system in the markets of Lahore is outdated, damaged and dysfunctional and leads to a flood-like situation whenever there is heavy downpour in the city. He said that rainy water enters into the factories, shops and basements damages trading goods such as machinery, furniture and raw materials. STAFF REPORT
it wanted to get another indicator — inverse cultivated land — added to the formula for horizontal resource distribution under the 9th NFC award. However, the same is yet to be discussed by the stakeholders. According to budget documents the federal government would transfer Rs2,873.72 billion to the four provinces under the NFC Award in the budget for the fiscal year 20202120 against revised Rs2,402.08 billion of the outgoing year. The federal government has increased the provinces’ share by 19.63 per cent for the upcoming fiscal year under the NFC. The amount to be transferred to the provinces would depend on the FBR’s performance to achieve its collection target of Rs4.963 trillion in the fiscal year 2020-21. President Dr Arif Alvi had recently constituted the 10th NFC to reach an agreement over the 8th NFC Award. The 9th NFC had failed to constitute a new resource sharing formula between the Centre and four provinces during the five-year constitutional term. The five-year constitutional term of the 7th NFC award expired on June 30, 2015.
Since then, the federal government is continuously extending the seventh award after failing to reach an agreement over the new NFC Award. Previous government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the incumbent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government both failed to formulate the fresh resource sharing formula between the federal government and the provinces. According to the budget documents, the federal government would transfer Rs1,439.116 billion to Punjab in the next fiscal year against revised Rs1,135.45 billion of the current fiscal year. Sindh will receive Rs742.030 billion in the FY 2020-21 as compared to revised Rs592.32 billion of the outgoing year. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will receive Rs477.52 billion as against revised Rs379.097 billion in the ongoing year. KP would also get additional 1 per cent because of the war on terror. The federal government would transfer Rs265.054 billion to Balochistan in the next fiscal year as compared to Rs295.983 billion of the outgoing year.
KP assigns 19 departments to collect Rs49.2bn revenue for FY21 PESHAWAR AZIZ BUNERI
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has assigned responsibility to 19 departments to collect revenue estimated at Rs49.2 billion for FY21. The provincial government has set a target of collecting Rs28.73 billion in tax from six departments, while Rs21.2 billion would be collected by 13 departments from tax free sources in FY21. The provincial government will collect taxes via the excise and taxation department from citizens through taxes on immovable property, motor vehicles, infrastructure development cess and tobacco development cess and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority sales tax. The Department of Revenue and State has been given the responsibility of collecting taxes including agricultural income tax, stamp duty, registration fee, land revenue and urban capital value tax. The Department of Energy and Power has been assigned the responsibility of collecting hydel power tariff and electricity duty. Similarly, the Transport and Mass Transit Department has been given the responsibility of collecting license fees for transport, transport fares and freight
forwarding agencies and route permit fees. The information and public relations department has been assigned the duty of collecting taxes on printing press, advertisements on Radio Pakhtunkhwa, newspapers and public relations agencies. Similarly, 16 other departments including the Service Tribunal, Public Service Commission, Anti-Corruption, Transport Auction and State Office and the Home Department will collect tax-free revenue. The KP Finance Department will be collecting revenue pertaining to local fund audit, industry and technical education, communication and works municipalities, forestry, environment and wildlife, minerals, sports, tourism, culture, archeology, youth affairs and primary, secondary and higher education.
Completion of cattle market at Arifwala delayed as govt withholds funds LAHORE SHAHAB OMER
Progress on the establishment of a model cattle market in Arifwala, in Punjab’s Pakpattan district has been hampered due to lack of funds, with the project still waiting completion after more than three years since its inception. Sources told Profit that the project was approved by the Local Government and Community Department (LG&CD) on March 22, 2017 at the cost of Rs207.326 million whereas the administrative approval of the said project was issued on March 29, 2017. The Communication and Works (C&W) Department Punjab was responsible to execute the project. The PC-I of the project was also prepared by LG&CD at a cost of Rs229.913 million and a planned completion period of 12 months but construction of restaurant and dormitories was removed by Departmental Development Sub-Committee (DDSC) and administrative approval was issued with a cost of Rs207.236 million. According to sources at LG&CD the current government has withheld funds for the project which has led to a delay in its completion. “According to the planned physical progress of the project, 55 per cent of the work on the project should have been completed by February 7,
THE PROJECT IS NOW EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED WITH A TWO YEARS DELAY IN 2022 2020, however, currently only 29 per cent of the work has been completed and 36.15 per cent funds have been consumed,” said an LG&CD official while talking to Profit. On the other hand other sources in LG&CD claimed that this was not the first project to be delayed and that the current government had stopped most of the projects started by the previous government. “Public money is spent on these projects and money spent on projects which are closed before completion goes to waste, they said. C&W XEN Engineer Tahir Khan while speaking to Profit also confirmed that the current government had withheld funds for the project. “All development funds were withheld by the government in April. Due to non-availability of funds, money owed to contractors was also not paid. A lot of work has already been done on this project and if the government releases the funds the rest of the work will again begin,” he said. “According to our estimates,
about 4,500 animals were to be brought here daily and animals worth Rs1 billion were to be traded every month in this market.” According to the official at LG&CD the project was initiated with an aim to provide facility to sellers and buyers to trade cattle in a free and safe environment serving as a guard against cattle theft. The official further informed that it was planned that the model market will remain open for six days in a week and that cattle trading will freely be carried out by traders under good hygienic conditions. Additionally, the project also aimed to encourage proper registration and certification of breed and the promotion of local animal breeds including Neeli Ravi and Sahiwal Cows for national and international buyers. The official added that the project can help provide better facilities for financial transactions between buyers and sellers and facilities for safe slaughtering of cattle. The official further added that the project also aimed to provide value added commodities. “We had planned to provide better electricity and animal shedding systems to facilitate the farmers against rough weather conditions. But, due to shortage and non-availability of adequate funds, the project is now expected to be completed with a delay by June 30, 2022,” he said.
Saturday, 27 June, 2020
06 COMMENT
Leadership amidst the pandemic
Mr Khan’s questionable claims And a foot-in-mouth remark
The PM seems badly advised
I
T was a good thing that Prime Minister Imran Khan came to address the National Assembly. The bad thing was that as usual he left soon after without listening to the opposition. In his speech Mr Khan justified his government’s coronavirus policy, tried to negate the notion of his being vindictive and maintained that his foreign policy had helped Pakistan. The PM has obstinately stuck to his opposition to the lockdown ignoring warnings from wHo that two weeks back ranked Pakistan among the top 10 countries in the world reporting the highest number of new Covid-19 cases. The PTI government also ignored wHo,advice to enhance daily testing capacity to 50,000 to assess the actual incidence of the disease. Last week, when the number of cases came down due to a reduction in tests, this was wrongly ascribed to smart lockdowns and the people developing herd immunity. The hollowness of the claims became clear on Thursday when with the numbers started increasing once again and with 4,044 additions, Pakistan’s tally of coronavirus infections reached 191,970. Meanwhile the daily fatality count shot up to 148 from 60 a day earlier. The inflexibility on the part of the PM on the issue could lead to tragic consequences. The PM claimed he had no enmity with anyone and most of the cases against his opponents were filed before his assumption of the PM’s office. The claim sounds hollow keeping in view what he told a rally in washington last year, the way he castigated NAB for being slow in sentencing his political opponents, and the way PNL(N) Punjab President Rana Sanaullah was arrested in a narcotics case. The unending media trial of the opposition leaders conducted by the ARU chief Shahzad Akbar is yet another example of the PM’s animus against the opposition. The claim that his government’s relations with the USA are based on trust is belied by the USA’s annual report on terrorism for 2019 which alleges that Pakistan allows terrorist groups targeting Afghanistan and India to operate from its territory. The PM’s naivety is likely to cost Pakistan heavily, particularly after he declared the arch terrorist osama Ben Laden a “martyr.” The remark showing a soft corner for terrorists will not go unnoticed in the western countries, China and the brotherly Muslim states.
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Missing licenses PIA pilots with dodgy credentials cause international consternation
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HAT no less than 152 PIA pilots had dodgy flying licenses would indicate that PIA CEo Air Marshal Arshad Malik’s action, of requesting to be provided the names so that the offending pilots could be grounded, is correct. Indeed, the grounding of all such pilots is a bare minimum, especially in view of the notice being taken internationally. The International Association of Travel Agents has taken notice of this problem, which has the potential of ballooning into an international incident, with just one foreign civil aviation regulator refusing a pilot permission to land or take off, because it did not accept his license, possibly setting off a chain of events that could leave PIA flights cancelled. This situation has developed because of the discovery by the Aviation Minister, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, that the Civil Aviation Authority had found PIA pilots in large numbers with problems with their licenses, including having impersonators appear for them in professional examinations. This emerged in the course of investigations into the recent PIA plane crash at Karachi. It was perhaps unfortunate that pilot and co-pilot of that ill-fated flight have been damned by association. If the license of either was dubious, that should have been stated; if not, that should have been stated openly. This occurring during the pandemic-induced downturn in commercial flying is a blessing rather than a curse, because it means that PIA would be cancelling flights anyhow, so there would be that much less temptation to keep unlicensed pilots flying. However, two issues must be resolved. PIA would look to recruit new pilots, and the tendency to look to retired PAF personnel must be resisted. while that resource should not be neglected, it should not be allowed to take over, as it well might, what with a serving air marshal PIA’s CEo. Also, there is something seriously flawed with the licensing system. The accomplices of the pilots with dodgy licenses must be traced, exposed and punished. otherwise the kind of disgrace not just pilots, but the entire nation, are facing, will be repeated, not to mention the hundreds of passengers put at risk in the aircraft they flew.
ALI SUKHANVER
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wo blacks from the graveyard; “I am George Floyd. I know you all know me well; some of you might have heard me crying ‘I cannot breathe, I cannot breathe’ when my neck was pressed under the knee of that cruel and brutal white man clad in police uniform.” “I am Rayshard Brooks, an African-American. Last Friday night, I was sleeping in my vehicle parked outside a shopping-mall when two policemen pulled me out of that and tried to torture me with a Taser. Just to save myself from the agonizing electric shocks of the Taser, I grabbed the Taser from their hands and ran away. one of them shot me from behind. I fell down and was taken to the hospital where I could not survive.” It seems being from among the Blacks has become a sin in western society. Though the so-called civilized and highly educated western society claims it has wiped off the curse of slavery from the world forever, but unfortunately Black people are still being treated as if they are the slaves. Twhite people do not try to understand that Black people are not ‘black’ by choice. God made them black. If it were in human control, not even a single person would have opted for the Black skin. It is the result of this racial discrimination and disliking that today the most advanced country of the world, the USA, is facing the ever worst situation regarding law and order. Everywhere there is nothing but one slogan resonating; Black Lives Matter. The wave of agitation and protest seems crossing the American boundaries. on June 13, the New York Times reported that ‘thousands of people rallied against police brutality and racism in European cities, punctuating a week of protests across the continent, but far-right demonstrators also emerged in large groups for the first time — particularly in London — leading to sometimes violent confrontations that included attacks on police officers’. It is yet unclear whether the Black Lives Matter movement is against the police departments or against white people but whatever it is; one thing is alarming, that in some of the demonstrations against the George Floyd killing, the protesters in different European countries tried to destroy the statues linked with slavery.
Editor Umar Aziz
Asher John
Executive Editor
Deputy Editor
Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965
The writer is a freelance columnist.
Earlier to that a health alert was also issued by the Chinese authorities in the second week of the last April; this health alert was seriously objected by the US Consulate General Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China. According to the US Consulate General Guangzhou the alert directed the local police to keep an eye on bars and Certainly if the protest was against the police bru- restaurants so that they might not serve clients who aptality, the protesters would never have targeted the pear to be of African origin. Some of the African-Amerstatues linked with slavery. It seems very clear that a icans have launched a complaint that some businesses racial-war between the Black and the white people is and hotels are refusing to do business with them. Apin the offing. This war, if not controlled, may prove a parently all these instructions and directions seem diserious threat to the US surectly linked with the premacy in the world. The Covid-19 pandemic, but actudesignated ‘post’ of the ally it seems that the Africanworld Superpower would be Americans have to face same lying vacant very soon, waitracial discrimination in China Racial discrimination is no ing for the new ‘occupant.’ which they are allegedly facEven a man in the street in American society; say doubt a crime against humanity. ing knows well that it would be some experts on racial issues. none but China taking the For a peaceful and prosperous Chinese Foreign Ministry charge of that ‘post’. would Zhao Lijian future of the world, we will have spokesperson that be the ‘end-state’ of all categorically rejected all that hustle and bustle we all to discourage this evil at every these allegations levied by the are observing in the USA US Consulate General. level. And one more thing must nowadays? The actual issue He said, “At a moment is not to save the USA from when the international comalso be kept in mind that racial munity urgently needs to disintegration or to keep away China from occupying discrimination is not only faced work together to fight the the seat of the world superpandemic, the US side is by the African-Americans; in power; the actual problem is; making unwarranted allegahow to save the black people tions in an attempt to sow India the Muslims, the Sikhs, the from racial discrimination. discords and stoke troubles. Christians and the low-caste Discrimination against This is neither moral nor rethe black-people is not limsponsible. we suggest that Hindus commonly known as the the US had better focus on ited just to the American society; this type of racial Dalits are also the worst victims domestic efforts to contain discrimination has many the spread of the virus. Atof racial discrimination. times been reported in China tempts to use the pandemic too. The ABC News last to drive a wedge between April published a very deChina and Africa are bound tailed report on racial disto fail.” crimination against the African-Americans in China. Racial discrimination is no doubt a crime against The report included detailed statement of an African- humanity. For a peaceful and prosperous future of the American, Andrew, who has been teaching the Eng- world, we will have to discourage this evil at every lish language in the southern metropolis of level. And one more thing must also be kept in mind Guangzhou since long. He said, talking to the ABC that racial discrimination is not only faced by the News, “As CoVID-19 cases originating in China ap- African-Americans; in India the Muslims, the Sikhs, peared to decrease, and cases that the government said the Christians and the low-caste Hindus commonly ‘were brought into the country from abroad increased’ known as the Dalits are also the worst victims of being foreign in China, and especially being black, racial discrimination. meant feeling unwelcome in certain places. In the past couple of weeks, things have changed drastically.” Haris Akmal is a freelance columnist
The looming race war threatens US dominance
Arif Nizami
Joint Editor
oscillate from one extreme to another. while writing these lines, I am reminded of a plaque I had seen on the desk of a Chinese colleague in Hongkong; it read, “ If a cluttered desk reminds you of a cluttered mind, what does an empty desk signify?”. Vision not backed by a concrete action plan is an illusion. Leaders are dreamers, but certainly a nation ill affords a day-dreaming leadership. All citizens of this hapless nation share IK’s enthusiasm to build and govern Pakistan like the “city State of Medina ”. But today, even in Medina, they are not the same Medinites, who had excellence of character. we must accept and be realistic. How about beginning with say “Insaf”, first? Legal aid and framework should be made available at the lowest cost. And justice dispensed with speed. That is the closest first step, in a five=year tenure that IK can look to achieve, towards building city-of-Medina status for Pakistan. It is delusional to think honesty alone is the trait required for a leader. Honesty should be a given, but backed by solid knowledge, intellect and proficiency; or at the minimum the leader should have the profundity to sift through the advice received, to see if it is feasible, and above all makes sense; calling covid19, flu and common colds, did not make sense! The economic anodyne to covid-19 is a charged leadership, willing to take bold decisions. The outbreak happened in February, and to the country’s commercial capital the PM decides to visit after almost five months the alacrity, needed for a leader to act, is grossly missing . Ambivalent leadership can never move forward. It has to be decisive. Not unsure. Individuals who can transcend being a Leader to becoming a statesman are those who can replace prejudice, biases and anger with magnanimity, empathy, kindness and grace. It was dis-appointing that Imran did not meet the Chief Executive of this Province Murad Ali Shah, who in comparison to other CMs has been proactive in the fight against covid19. wisdom is the ability divinely gifted to those who have it in them to listen to other people; with unqualified attention, respect and humility. By doing so, no leader surrenders to others. The end of covid-19 is nowhere in sight. It may sneak into year 2021, as well. In its wake, the repercussions are manifold ranging from economy, social issues to health and mental health disorders. To deal with this requires now of our PM, to exhibit a different mettle. Reluctant leadership cannot be had ad infinitum. Proactive responses are needed. The PM must show decisive action. The half-baked PID sessions , by ill-prepared ministers and advisors, with even more inaccurate or conflicting numbers, isn’t much help to the PM's cause.
Blacks are not the criminals
Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami
Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad
SIRAjUddIN AzIz
HE real test of leadership comes, and the character of a leader emerges, only when he or she faces challenges emanating from the unknown. In the last quarter of 2019, all of us looked forward 2020, filled with great hope and enthusiasm, to arrest the declining numbers in the economy, both locally and internationally. Until then it was focus on the regular challenges of economy, social upliftment, unemployment, inflation, etc. Nobody dreamt or foresaw in their wildest imagination that a virus called “Corona Virus-19”, would unleash itself, first as a mere jolt in the industrial city of wuhan, in China’s Hubei province ; and later envelop the entire globe, with catastrophic implications for economies, politics and society. No country whatsoever was ready for a virus that would become a pandemic. Each country reacted according to its own level of firstly political maturity and secondly its economic. It took China, South Korea and Europe by surprise; then crossed the Atlantic, with cruel speed. China, and a handful of European countries resorted to serous lockdown, the former more seriously effective in its enforcement. Given China’s system of governance, in just 8-12 weeks, it not only confined the situation but also regained some of the economic losses. Chinese leaders take decision and implement them. New Zealand, at the farthest end of the world, is the only country that has officially claimed and celebrated the elimination of covid-19. Rime Minister Jacinda Ardern, had already proven her mettle as a great leader, in handling last year’s terror attack; but as former US President Richard Nixon put it once, there are small events or nations and great leaders; Lee Kuan Yew was his case in point; could he be as successful as he was in Singapore, if he were leading Egypt? New Zealand is not Pakistan! we cannot berate Imran Khan on that count; similarly Pakistan is not Saudi Arabia, where the Monarch orders and people “have to” comply; so again Imran is seen pleading with the nation, “Please wear masks”; his threats of action are hollow, because the legal structure doesn’t support him or his threats. The acrid criticism of the Government by the opposition is not totally unjustified. The presence of so many Covid18 experts around the PM, aren’t serving his cause well. Many an occasion Imran actually appears a leader lost to the coterie of unsound advisors. The airy-fairy, idealistic, impractical and vague asinine suggestions, by these zealots, lead to mockery of the government or rather the leader. we have witnessed the PM’s antithetical state-
ments, who first called covid19, “regular flu” and four weeks later, implored upon the nation to take it seriously, as it is potentially a deadly virus! No, wonder, we see the opposition in overdrive with acerbic comments upon the leadership. A political leader has gone to the extent of calling the PM a bundle of confused thinking. The Government and the corporate/business world would have to demonstrate great skills and an adroit posture towards managing critical sensitivities, which are or will be a natural fallout to this pandemic. Businesses, at this point are merely worried looking at the decline in their numbers; immune to their responsibility to assist the government. The pandemic’s impact on the economy is largely dependent on how business leadership responds to declining sales and lower profitability. A major fabric retailer has begun to shed already low and underpaid counter staff. If this is going to be the response of business to a few months of low profitability, then one can only woefully imagine the number of unemployed, at the end of this year. An additional problem for the government are the returning overseas Pakistanis, skilled and non-skilled; blue and white collar, who will be job seekers, too. organizations (including the public sector, like PSM) contemplating layoffs will have to move with extreme caution laced with empathy. A lay-off is not just about an employee let go; it is an ethical and social dilemma, with far reaching effects. Families are emotionally gutted and that’s when their need for an anodyne becomes crucial. It can come only, where leadership takes into consideration besides the actual impact upon the family, of how to off-set the possible pain of being stigmatized as a “nonessential” person for the entity, and society at large. This can be very traumatic on large scale, lay-offs. Mass disappointments will emerge from any massive lay-offs. Although the government, through the central Bank, has come up with a refinance facility for payment of salaries by commercial organizations facing liquidity crunch; this scribe suspects (based on history),that like all other types of concessional financing, this too will be grossly abused. Funds availability at 3 percent, when the discount rate is 8 percent, is a good source to paying off highercosting debts. A cash-rich organization shouldn’t be permitted to avail refinancing for payment of salaries. Political and business leaders will have to bring to the fore their ethical responsibility towards society and engage with workers during the toughest times of their lives. Clean leadership must be so, not by inertia, but performance. If nothing is done, there is no likelihood of anything going wrong. A leader has to take decisions, adopt a posture and appear to have the conviction of the validity of his thoughts and actions. Not
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Saturday, 27 June, 2020
COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively
Street crime and our system THE surge in street crimes - mobile snatching, money-grabbing, kidnapping for ransom - with every passing day and round the clock in our country is alarming. Right to life, property, and liberty are the most basic rights our constitution grants us with. But no one can now roam without any fear in the streets of Karachi, Lahore and even in the safe city Islamabad. The unchecked population, illiteracy, poverty, unequal distribution of wealth, avarice, alienation from Islamic teachings, and last but not least our failing police system to intercept such crimes on a daily basis. These incidents could be avoided in case the following steps are taken: Every street be patrolled with 2 policemen, poverty be eliminated on a priority basis, Ulema exhort the citizen to fear almighty’s justice and punishment hereafter, and last but not least the motorbikes be registered on a most priority basis. If found unregistered, they are forfeited heavily. MUHAMMAD WAQAS KHAN Dera Ismail Khan
Avoidable Loadshedding
Recall: a disconcerting ‘exclusive’ with the MQM Supremo The man who has blood on his hands
QUdSSIA AKHLAQUE
“N
EVER again!” I said to myself as I boarded the plane for Lahore. I breathed a deep sigh of relief as the plane took off from Karachi. The previous evening I had interviewed the MQM founder and its chief Altaf Hussain- the political Kingmaker of Pakistan’s biggest port city and economic hub. More than the interview, what got to me was the bizarre way it all unfolded. It was in January 1990, a couple of years before Altaf Hussain fled the country to live in selfimposed exile in London. The venue was his unassuming but heavily guarded Azizabad residence-cum-MQM headquarters. How this interview happened is another story. My mother was travelling to Karachi for an official meeting and I decided to tag along, hoping to find some good stories there. My sister suggested that I should aim for an exclusive interview with Altaf Hussain─ the most powerful and controversial political figure in Karachi at that time. The idea clicked and a key contact was tapped the minute I got the go-ahead from Mr Arif Nizami Sahab─ my first editor when I embarked on a career as a journalist in 1988. The interview was arranged at Nine Zero, the city’s most notorious address then─ Karachi’s equivalent of the infamous Freemason’s Hall of Lahore. The excitement of this ‘exclusive’ made me forget about all the horrific stories I had heard about Nine Zero and what happens inside. I still remember horror on the faces of friends in Karachi whom I met soon after the interview. They were scandalized to learn that I had ventured alone to interview the ‘monster’ of Karachi! Technically I was not alone. The newspaper photographer, who seemed even more eager, had accompanied me. on arrival at Azizabad the first thing that struck was the cult celebrity status that Altaf Hus-
sain had acquired. The entire lane, dedicated to MQM, was decorated with posters and banners glorifying him as a messiah. Blaring sound of songs in his praise echoed with upbeat jingles of “Altaf hamara hai….” and all that jazz. we were ushered to the famous room with a flashing silver model of Minar-i-Pakistan where Altaf Hussain conferred with many a political heavyweight and coalition partner over the years. Multiple shades of unrecognizable people waited outside for Altaf ‘Bhai’ or ‘Pir Sahab’ as he was known among the MQM rank and file. when Altaf did not show up for almost 40 minutes I considered leaving (as I had to return to the hotel, check out and board a flight in three hours) but the photographer discouraged me. He insisted I change my flight as this rare opportunity of a one-on-one interview with Altaf Hussain must not be missed. So I decided to stay on and leave the next day. Just then Altaf entered the room flanked by his aides. He apologized at length for the delay caused by an important meeting with his new alliance partners in the then IJI. After a brief introduction and customary exchange of pleasantries I placed my small dictaphone on the table in front. Just seconds later, a man walked in with a big tape recorder and placed it next to my mini recorder. As I engaged with Altaf in a warm-up chat our photographer took a few quick pictures. Just then Altaf’s private photographer also appeared on the scene with a bigger, more sophisticated camera. As if a signal that all is now also on MQM’s record, just in case the need arises to set the record straight! The underlying message of this ‘Tom and Jerry’ kind of enactment was: don’t mess with us! I found it both amusing and disconcerting. was this MQM’s style of marking journalists or a mere pressure tactic? The interview was preceded by a lavish spread of sweet and savory indulgences. Already finding it hard to stomach all that I had witnessed I avoided the temptation. During the interview Altaf spoke as if programmed exclusively for a high-pitched voice. As he thundered, I wondered if he was in a trance or imagining himself to be in a jalsagah. when asked pointed questions about the MQM turning into a fascist outfit with torture cells etc., he was visibly offended. “You must be a PPP supporter,” he said sardonically already feeling the heat of the ‘operation Clean-up’ in Karachi under the PPP government. Next he asked me which area in Lahore I resided, ostensibly to make his point of the elite angrezi bolnay wali (English-speaking) class backing Benazir Bhutto. As he tried to digress by throwing in more personal questions, I politely reminded him that I was the interviewer not him! on the view that he had changed many stances and was not the same person as when he started, he argued that the massive support he had was a testimony to his not having changed
as a person. “I am the same Altaf Hussain as I was in 1978 when I started. The only difference is that today I don’t have a Honda-50 motorcycIe anymore,” he asserted. Towards close of the interview he said to me “we need people like you in our party.” “Not in this life dude!” I thought to myself, as I smiled it off in the same vein he had said it. The interview went on for much longer than I had anticipated. Altaf with his unstoppable oratory could have made it go on forever! Assuming that I would have attended at least one of his rallies, he was thoroughly disappointed to learn that I had not. So as a parting gift I was given a videotape of some MQM public campaign featuring him. He suggested that I watch it before I did the write-up on his interview. He graciously came outside to see me off. He went up right up to my car, short of opening the door, or may be he did! It did not end there. when I returned to the hotel past midnight after meeting a friend and interviewing TV artiste Badar Khalil, reception handed me a slip saying: “Phone call from the MQM Chief’s residence.” I was not amused. I took the key, went up to my room and just as I opened the door the phone was ringing. I picked up the phone and at the other end was Altaf’s press secretary, asking me how the interview went and what I would write. I told him he would find out once it got published. when he complained about journalists often misquoting “Altaf bhai” I told him I did not subscribe to that kind of journalism. Also, I reminded him of the mega recorder they had parked next to my mini one. I wanted to leave the city right away! Thank God there were no mobile phones at that time for me to be stalked. All this came back to me last week when I read a front page news report titled: Court rules ‘absconding’ Altaf ordered Imran Farooq’s murder. The ruling was given by the Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad. once a key MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq who had reportedly disassociated himself from the party chief was killed in London almost a decade ago. I still remember the video clip of the MQM chief announcing from London the ‘shocking’ news about the murder most foul. The vivid image of Altaf Hussain sobbing inconsolably as he went through this dubious motion, perhaps for public consumption, came through. During that overkill of a solo ‘soap opera’ Altaf was almost falling off his chair as he faked the unbearable pain of his former confidante Dr. Farooq’s brutal killing. Even then many could see through the orchestrated drama of his hollow hysteria. God save us from murderous and treacherous hypocrites! The writer is a senior journalist and has been a diplomatic Correspondent for leading dailies. She can be reached at qudssia@hotmail.com | Twitter@qudssiaakhlaque
THE karachiites are suffering from extensive load shedding for 4 to 16 hours in this scorching heat making their lives miserable. This is not the first time they are being subjected to hardship by K Electric who blame the lack of fuel supply to the power plants. This is shear negligence and lack of proper planning and execution on the part of KE who should have made sure for the continous fuel supply for months to come to avoid such unforgivable unfortunate catastrophe , where millions of hapless people undergo untold misery in this biting heat . It is worthwhile to mention that the other governmental organisations like federal power ministry , related energy networks and Nepra can not be absolved of their responsibility to share the blame for lack of over - seeing the proper running of the KE and ensuring that KE has sufficient fuel stock all the time . The possibility of supplying additional power from the national grid , in times of need , to KE , must also be investigated . After all the suffering of Karachi citizens should have been avoided by all means possible with the government. ENgr rIAz BHUTTA Lahore
Balochistan students woes INTERNET is a momentous facility in today’s modern world and its a great tool to get knowledge and latest books of need. Moreover, the students of Balochistan manifold districts are deprived of internet facility for last five years on the other hand HEC (Higher Education Commission)announced to initiate online classes in the universities owing to outbreak of epidemic covid-19 (Corona Virus) but numerous areas universities could not conduct online classes because rural areas students do not have access to internet. Furthermore, the students of Balochistan took relly and demonstrated for restoration of internet in every districts of Balochistan which is their constitutional right. But it hurts me to state that the police of Quetta Balochistan brutally and barbarously attacked on peaceful relly, beat the students humiliated the female students and arrested and dragged Dr. Mahrang and other female students to the police van which is a condemnable act. The women has a high respect and dignity in Baloch society and the students hoisted their voice for their fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19 and 19-A constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973. In addition, the students strived and utilized their democratic rights to record their peaceful protest which is everyone's right in democratic country even though the students followed the SoPs ( Standard operating Procedures) of government but the prevailing incompetent government of Balochistan flunked to redress the issue of students as if it doesn't have any interest to resolve internet problem. More importantly, internet is a stunning source of communication in today's modern era but the people of Balochistan are deprived of the aforesaid facility which is not only violation of Constitutional rights but also infringement of human rights. online classes have been started by some universities without realising that all the students do not have internet facilities across the country. It is prudent mind and better option to promote the students of Balochistan to next semester according to previous GPA (Grade Point Average). Additionally, Internet is a stupendous source for collecting information and knowledge about anything and internet is necessary for the students; in addition, online class is impossible without internet. HEC (Higher Education Commission should review on its policy of online classes in Balochistan because it was all of a sudden decision HEC has promoted online classes without any proper preparation, training of faculty and solving internet connectivity issues which has resulted a lot of resentment among students. Pakistan whole major cities have internet facilities but the students of Balochistan can not go to Quetta, Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad because the hostels are closed owing to outbreak pandemic corona virus. Surprisingly, it has been listened that youths are backbone, opinion maker and builder of nation but the youths of Balochistan are deprived of their civic, fundamental and legislative rights. As student leader Abid Umer Baloch said that " we are not against online classes but we do not have internet access and demanding internet for online classes is not a crime. If the students of Balochistan do not have internet facilities how can students take online classes. Students are demanding promotion to next semester on basis of previous GPA( Grade Point Average) because their semester ended in May and they do not want their precious time to be dawdled. Despite the students, civil society, social organizations and all political parties did demonstration and demanded for restoration of internet for online classes but all in vain. I request the Federal and Provincial government to take some pragmatic and dire action to resolve the issue of internet in Balochistan so that the students of Balochistan shall not get deprived to avail online classes or promote the students to next semester on previous GPA basis in order to save their precious time. NAWAz ELLAHI Turbat
Saturday, 27 June, 2020
08 WORLD VIEW
The COVID shOCk TO The DOllar NO COUNTRY CAN AFFORD TO SQUANDER ITS SAVING POTENTIAL – ULTIMATELY, THE SEED-CORN OF LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH. THAT’S TRUE EVEN OF THE UNITED STATES, WHERE GENERATIONS OF POLICYMAKERS HAVE COME TO REGARD THE LONG-STANDING BELIEF IN AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM AS THOUGH IT APPLIED TO THE LAWS OF ECONOMICS PrOjEct SyndicatE
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STEPHEN S ROACH
ANDEMIC time runs at warp speed. That’s true of the COVID-19 infection rate, as well as the unprecedented scientific efforts under way to find a vaccine. It is also true of transformational developments currently playing out in pandemic-affected economies. Just as a lockdown-induced recession brought global economic activity to a virtual standstill in a mere two months, hopes for a V-shaped recovery are premised on an equally quick reopening of shuttered economies. It may not be so simple. A sudden stop – long associated with capital flight out of emerging markets – often exposes deeprooted structural problems that can impair economic recovery. It can also spark abrupt asset-price movements in response to the unmasking of long-simmering imbalances. Such is the case for the pandemic-stricken US economy. The aggressive fiscal response to the COVID-19 shock is not without major
consequences. Contrary to the widespread belief that budget deficits don’t matter because near-zero interest rates temper any increases in debt-servicing costs, in the end there is no “magic money” or free lunch. Domestic saving, already depressed, is headed deep into negative territory. This is likely to lead to a record current-account deficit and an outsize plunge in the value of the dollar. No country can afford to squander its saving potential – ultimately, the seed-corn of long-term economic growth. That’s true even of the United States, where the laws of economics have often been ignored under the guise of “American exceptionalism.” Alas, nothing is forever. The COVID-19 crisis is an especially tough blow for a country that has long been operating on a razorthin margin of subpar saving. Heading into the pandemic, America’s net domestic saving rate – the combined depreciation-adjusted saving of households, businesses, and the government sector – stood at just 1.4% of national income, falling
‘Smart lockdowns’ are the future in Europe
BLOOMBErG FERDINANDO GIUGLIANO
EU countries are experimenting with new ways of dealing with COVID-19. Germany, Portugal and Italy have all enforced selective or "smart” lockdowns, shutting down smaller regions in response to new outbreaks as opposed to bringing their entire countries to a halt. This approach is the only hope of returning to a more normal life as we wait for a vaccine. However, it also puts a much larger onus on the public sector compared to generalized lockdowns. Health officials have to ensure small outbreaks do not get out of control and force the need for harsher measures. Germany has seen a number of outbreaks in abattoirs, leading local governments to declare new lockdowns, such as in the municipality of Guetersloh, and enforce partial lockdowns, such as in the nearby town of Warendorf. Over the past few months, Italy has managed to contain some small flare-ups, including one in the tiny region of Molise and one in Rome, without having to impose additional restrictions. But the southern region of Calabria has recently imposed quarantine on an area of the seaside town of Palmi, after a handful of cases were reported. And after a worrying new spike in cases, Portugal has ordered stores in parts of the Lisbon region to shut down early, among other restrictions. Some of these cases show striking similarities. For example, many of these new outbreaks originated in migrant communities facing overcrowded living quarters or unsafe working conditions. This was true of one meat processing plant owned by the Toennies Group in Germany, where more than a thousand employees, most of them migrants from Eastern Europe, came down with COVID-19. This was also the case of the much smaller outbreak in Italy’s central region of Marche. It was similar in Portugal: At the end of May, an outbreak emerged in Lisbon’s Jamaica neighborhood, which was already struggling with
a housing crisis. Health care facilities are another potential source of contagion, as was the case for the recent flare-up in Rome. So far, the authorities have managed to contain these outbreaks. In Italy, the number of new infections has been stable in the low hundreds for the past few weeks, despite a substantial reopening of the economy. In Germany, the reproduction rate "R” of the novel coronavirus, which measures how many people a virus carrier infects on average, shot up to nearly three last weekend — well above the level of one needed to believe the outbreak is under control. Fortunately, this factor has begun to decline. According to the country’s Robert Koch Institute, it also does not appear to be too alarming since the overall number of cases remains relatively low. This tailored approach to lockdowns is in no way a repudiation of the more draconian measures most European countries enforced earlier. In fact, the current strategy can only work because Europe has largely brought new infections under control. It doesn’t look as feasible for countries such as the United States and Brazil, where new infections are still on the rise in many areas. Smart lockdowns require the collaboration of citizens: Wearing masks and maintaining social distancing are two ways to reduce the risk of a new surge in cases. However, much of the burden falls on governments. They have to identify new cases early through rapid testing and contact tracing in order to circumscribe contagion. Getting more people to download contact-tracing apps would help on this front (not enough have done so in France and Italy), but the authorities will also have to ensure local health care systems have enough staff to trace infections effectively. Finally, they’ll need to manage the process of reopening borders carefully, especially when it comes to countries that have not yet kept the virus in check. Of course, all of this may not be enough. A few "superspreader events” or even individual "superspreaders” could prove particularly challenging to manage. But if Europe is successful in this new phase of its fight against the pandemic, the economic and social benefits could be huge. Only a vaccine or a benign mutation will ensure that the COVID-19 threat is over. Until then, smart lockdowns are the best hope we have. Ferdinando Giugliano writes columns and editorials on European economics for Bloomberg View.
back to the post-crisis low of late 2011. No need to worry, goes the conventional excuse – America never saves. Think again. The net national saving rate averaged 7% over the 45-year period from 1960 to 2005. And during the 1960s, long recognized as the strongest period of productivity-led US economic growth in the postWorld War II era, the net saving rate actually averaged 11.5%. Expressing these calculations in net terms is no trivial adjustment. Although gross domestic saving in the first quarter of 2020, at 17.8% of national income, was also well below its 45-year norm of 21% from 1960 to 2005, the shortfall was not as severe as that captured by the net measure. That reflects another worrisome development: America’s rapidly aging and increasingly obsolete stock of productive capital. That’s where the current account and the dollar come into play. Lacking in saving and wanting to invest and grow, the US typically borrows surplus saving from abroad, and runs chronic current-account deficits in order
to attract the foreign capital. Thanks to the US dollar’s “exorbitant privilege” as the world’s dominant reserve currency, this borrowing is normally funded on extremely attractive terms, largely absent any interest-rate or exchange-rate concessions that might otherwise be needed to compensate foreign investors for risk. That was then. In COVID time, there is no conventional wisdom. The US Congress has moved with uncharacteristic speed to provide relief amid a record-setting economic free-fall. The Congressional Budget Office expects unprecedented federal budget deficits averaging 14% of GDP over 2020-21. And, notwithstanding contentious political debate, additional fiscal measures are quite likely. As a result, the net domestic saving rate should be pushed deep into negative territory. This has happened only once before: during and immediately after the 2008-09 global financial crisis, when net national saving averaged 1.8% of national income from the second quarter of 2008 to the second quarter of 2010, while federal budget deficits averaged 10% of GDP. In the COVID-19 era, the net national saving rate could well plunge as low as -5% to -10% over the next 2-3 years. That means today’s saving-short US economy could well be headed for a significant partial liquidation of net saving. With unprecedented pressure on domestic saving likely to magnify America’s need for surplus foreign capital, the currentaccount deficit should widen sharply. Since 1982, this broad measure of the external balance has recorded deficits averaging 2.7% of GDP; looking ahead, the previous record deficit of 6.3% of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2005 could be eclipsed. This raises one of the biggest questions of all: Will foreign investors demand concessions
to provide the massive increment of foreign capital that America’s saving-short economy is about to require? The answer depends critically on whether the US deserves to retain its exorbitant privilege. That is not a new debate. What is new is the COVID time warp: the verdict may be rendered sooner rather than later. America is leading the charge into protectionism, deglobalization, and decoupling. Its share of world foreign-exchange reserves has fallen from a little over 70% in 2000 to a little less than 60% today. Its COVID-19 containment has been an abysmal failure. And its history of systemic racism and police violence has sparked a transformative wave of civil unrest. Against this background, especially when compared with other major economies, it seems reasonable to conclude that hyperextended saving and current-account imbalances will finally have actionable consequences for the dollar and/or US interest rates. To the extent that the inflation response lags, and the Federal Reserve maintains its extraordinarily accommodative monetarypolicy stance, the bulk of the concession should occur through the currency rather than interest rates. Hence, I foresee a 35% drop in the broad dollar index over the next 2-3 years. Shocking as that sounds, such a seemingly outsize drop in the dollar is not without historical precedent. The dollar’s real effective exchange rate fell by 33% between 1970 and 1978, by 33% from 1985 to 1988, and by 28% over the 2002-11 interval. COVID-19 may have spread from China, but the COVID currency shock looks like it will be made in America. Stephen S. Roach, a faculty member at Yale University and former Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, is the author of Unbalanced: The Codependency of America and China.
Modi and Shah are using democracy to subvert democracy
Print YOGENDRA YADAV
The 45th anniversary of the imposition of Emergency must not be wasted on bashing dead villains or on silly nostalgia. The experience of India’s past brush with authoritarianism must be used to think about how democracies die. Emergency is at once an energising and misleading prism to think about the state and the fate of our democracy. It is energising as the struggle against Indira Gandhi’s authoritarianism invokes powerful memories. MEMORIES OF RESISTANCE: I recall my father’s grim face as he listened to Indira Gandhi’s radio broadcast on the morning of 26 June 1975 in our village Saharanwas in Rewari, Haryana). I was barely 12 then, more agitated about Gavaskar scoring 36 runs in 60 overs in the first World Cup than about Indira Gandhi’s insult to Jayaprakash Narayan. The coming 19 months were going to be a period of political education for me, as my moderate, law-abiding father would find non-heroic ways of protesting against the Emergency, much to the horror of everyone around us. We would tune in to BBC Hindi every evening to learn the truth about our country. In my small town, Sriganganagar (Rajasthan), I gave a passionate speech against the Emergency under the garb of a debating competition. Finally, when elections were announced in 1977, the entire family contributed to the Janata Party campaign. I wasn’t even 14 when I addressed my first election rally! I can never forget the vote counting day when I found myself in the middle of an electrifying crowd celebrating the defeat of Indira Gandhi. That was the beginning of my interest in elections and involvement in politics. Millions of such small stories were woven with a handful of heroic tales of resistance against the Emergency to forge a collective memory that people rejected authoritarianism. This may have been a myth, because the real resistance was very feeble, nothing compared to the resistance offered by the pro-democracy movements in Nepal,
Bangladesh and Pakistan. Yet, it remains a source of inspiration. FALSE EQUIVALENCE: At the same time, Emergency is a misleading prism for us today. It invites us to ask the wrong questions: are we likely to see a repeat of Emergency? Are we already in an ‘undeclared Emergency’? Will the current government go for an Emergency-like suspension of fundamental rights, media censorship and jailing of opposition leaders? Thinking of the demise of democracy through the experience of Emergency lulls us into believing that suspension of democracy must take the same form every time. “Undeclared Emergency” weaves an image of softer and invisible replay of the same experience. That is, of course, not true. Under the Narendra Modi government we are not reliving the experience of 1975-77. Our times may look better, but these may actually be worse than the Emergency. The danger is not that we may face another Emergency, but that we are in the midst of a democracy capture. The Emergency was an exception to a norm; what we now have is a different norm. Emergency needed a formal legal declaration. Capturing democracy does not. The Emergency had a beginning and was, at least on paper, required to have an end. The new system that we now live under has a beginning, but no one is sure if it has an end. The challenge to democracy does not await us in a distant future. We are living in it. By looking for an Emergency in our times, we forget to notice that the first Republic inaugurated with the Constitution of India is already over. I call it ‘democracy capture’, rather than ‘authoritarian capture of democracy’ or ‘crisis of democracy’. This phrase reminds us that democracy is both the object and the subject of this capture. The apparatus being seized is democracy. And the means being deployed for this capture are also democratic, at least seemingly so. It reminds us that the formal procedures of democracy have been used to subvert the substance of democracy. HOW DEMOCRACIES DIE: This is the message of the book How Democracies Die: What History Reveals About Our Future. Published in 2018 by two Harvard professors of political science, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, this bestseller chronicles democratic breakdowns in our times. It reminds us that democracies mostly die an unspectacular, slow and barely visible death, mostly at the hands of democratically elected leaders, often through legal instruments. “The tragic paradox of the electoral route to authoritarianism is that democracy’s assassins use the very institutions of democracy – gradually, subtly, and even legally – to kill it.” Instead of a military overthrow or a con-
stitutional coup like the Emergency, authoritarian rulers usually kill democracies through everyday subversion of the political game. This takes three forms: capturing of referees, sidelining of players and rewriting of rules. The book draws examples from Peru under Alberto Fujimori, Russia under Vladimir Putin, Venezuela under Hugo Chavez, Hungary under Viktor Orban and, of course, the US under Donald Trump to document how democracies die in our times. The book does not mention India, but it is hard not to see parallels between these countries and the India of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. If anything, the capture of the referees – investigating agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), oversight institutions like the Central Information Commission (CIC) and Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), and, of course, the apex judiciary – has been more smooth and complete in Modi’s India. The government did not have to exhaust the full armoury of purging, packing, threatening, bribing, hijacking or even dissolving these institutions to ensure their more or less assured compliance. Similarly, the techniques used by the Modi government for sidelining players — opposition leaders, media, cultural icons and business leaders — are not very different from those used by authoritarian leaders in countries where democracy was killed. It is especially instructive to see how these leaders have captured media without formal censorship. Fujimori’s henchman Vladimiro Montesinos was caught saying this about the Peruvian media: “All of them, all lined up. Every day, I have a meeting at 12:30 … and we plan the evening news.” Sounds familiar? The only thing the Modi government has not done – rather, has not had to do so far – is a major change in the constitutional rules of the game. As yet, the rules of elections have not been changed, nor have elections been postponed. Its popularity with the voters and its success with the media, the Election Commission and the judiciary makes this unnecessary. But don’t rule it out. As the authors say: “One of the great ironies of how democracies die is that the very defense of democracy is used as a pretext of its subversion. Would-be autocrats often use economic crises, natural disasters and especially security threats – wars, armed insurgencies, or terrorist attacks – to justify anti-democratic measures.” Did you think it was written for India of 26 June 2020? The author is the national president of Swaraj India.
Saturday, 27 June, 2020
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Govt taking institutional measures to speed up CPEC projects, says Hafeez Shaikh ISLAMABAD APP
Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Friday said that the government is taking several institutional steps to further speed up implementation of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. The adviser to the prime minister was addressing a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing, who called on the adviser in Islamabad, according to a press statement issued by the Finance Ministry. Several matters of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting, the statement added. Hafeez Shaikh, while discussing progress on CPEC projects, emphasised that the corridor was the culmination of the deep-rooted collaboration of the people and governments of China and Pakistan. He appreciated the support provided by China to Pakistan over the years. Reviewing the social and economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic across the globe, Hafeez Shaikh apprised the ambassador regarding the wide-reaching measures that the Government of Pakistan has taken in order to provide relief to the lowincome and vulnerable people suffering from the negative effects of the pandemic. He also informed the Chinese ambassador of the initiatives that were being undertaken to stimulate the country’s economy. The Chinese ambassador assured Hafeez Shaikh that China will provide enhanced investments in development projects that will help further stimulate Pakistan’s economy and generate employment.
Gold on course for third weekly gain as coronavirus cases spike Gold prices edged up on Friday en route to a third straight weekly gain, as a spike in coronavirus cases dashed hopes of a quick economic recovery. Spot gold rose 0.1 per cent to $1,762.41 per ounce by 0953 GMT, having soared to a peak since October 2012 at $1,779.06 on Wednesday, putting it on course for a 1.1 per cent gain for the week. U.S. gold futures rose 0.2 per cent to $1,774.70 per ounce. “Gold is finding tailwind from concerns about a second wave of infections as some US states see the number of new cases soar,” Commerzbank analysts said in a note. “The expansion of central bank liquidity and public debt resulting from this continues to argue for a robust demand for gold as a safe haven and store of value,” they added. Coronavirus cases have been rising across the United States, while over 9.51 million people have been infected globally, according to a Reuters tally. Gold prices have gained 16 per cent so far this year buoyed by increased central bank and government stimulus measures globally to cushion economies from the blow of the Covid-19 pandemic. The metal also held ground despite a steady dollar and an uptick in European shares. Technically, gold is in a consolidation phase and could see further rallies if investors become more risk averse, ActivTrades chief analyst Carlo Alberto De Casa said in a note. Reflecting positive sentiment, holdings of the SPDR Gold Trust ETF held near an over seven-year peak. “Given the macro backdrop, sentiment in the gold market is positive, and this is illustrated in the continual increase in exchangetraded fund holdings,” said ING analyst Warren Patterson. Palladium rose 0.6 per cent to $1,853.03 per ounce. platinum fell 0.9 per cent to $796.00 per ounce and silver was down by 0.4 per cent at $17.80 per ounce. AGENCIES
PakiStan to divErSify ExPortS into EnGinEErinG, PHarmaCEutiCal ProduCtS, SayS razak dawood PM’S ADVISER SAYS DAWLANCE IS SET TO EXPORT MICROWAVE OVENS FROM PAKISTAN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY ISLAMABAD APP
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DVISER to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood on Friday said that Pakistan is rapidly diversifying its exports into high quality and globally competitive engineering and pharmaceutical products while reducing its dependence on five traditional export sectors. The adviser to the prime minister while chairing an internal review meeting to discuss the finalisation of Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF), informed that one of the main objectives of the STPF is to achieve diversification of Pakistan’s export and reduce dependence on traditional export sectors. He further informed that STPF, among other sectors will have an increased focus on increasing exports in the pharmaceutical and engineering sectors. He added that the reduction in import duties on raw materials and tariff rationalisation in Budget 2020-21 also supports this aim. Currently, the draft STPF is being reviewed by stakeholders. The draft will be placed before the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet shortly once views of the stakeholders are incorporated in it. While commenting on emerging sectors for ex-
port opportunities,Razak Dawood said that Pakistan’s engineering products, especially the home appliances sector, have now begun producing internationally competitive products. He added that in pursuance of the diversification policy, export of microwave ovens from Pakistan has been confirmed for the first time, which will be exported by Dawlance, a Turkish investment in Pakistan. "I am happy to announce the export of microwave ovens by Dawlance. This is the first-ever exports of microwave ovens and we hope it will be a new beginning for our engineering exports, especially home appliances," he said in a tweet
He added that, with the support of the government, other engineering products will soon be added to Pakistan’s exports. In this regard, duties on import of components for televisions have been reduced to promote local manufacturing of television sets, which has a huge potential for exports. The adviser to the prime minister was also optimistic that the results of the first-ever Mobile Phone Manufacturing Policy recently announced by the government will soon become visible in the coming months in the form of increased exports of locally manufactured mobile devices from Pakistan.
Stocks rebound with 229 points rally LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Recovering the losses made in the previous session, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), on Friday, gained 229.86 points finally settling at 33,939.49 points by the end of the day. Positive sentiments prevailed at the exchange as the State Bank of Pakistan slashed interest rates by 100 bps to 7 per cent yesterday. The KSE100 index appreciated by +319.14 points marking its intraday high of 34,028.77. It settled with a gain of +229.86 points at 33,939.49. On a Week on Week (WoW) basis the KSE 100 index recorded an appreciation of 1.5 per cent. The KMI 30 index was up by +520.18 points ending the day at 54,584.65. The KSE All Share index gathered +81.06 points closing at 24,254.22. Out of total shares traded, 150 advanced and 136 declined on Friday. Overall market volumes appreciated from 168.42 million shares in last session to 198.19 million shares. Shares worth Rs6.78 billion were traded on Friday. Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCF +4.26 per cent), Pakistan
Refinery Limited right shares (PRL1 31.08 per cent) and DG Khan Cement Company Limited (DGKC +6.82 per cent) led the volume chart. The scrips had 15.20 million shares, 13.03 million shares and 12.61 million shares traded, respectively. Sectors adding gains to the KSE100 index included fertilizer sector (+109.19 points), cement sector (+93.15 points) and the pharmaceutical sector (+43.21 points). Company-wise, Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited
(+57.03 points), Hub Power Company Limited (HUBC +42.90 points) and Engro Corporation Limited (ENGRO +39.80 points) were top points contributors on Friday. The cement sector gained +2.73 per cent in its cumulative market capitalisation. Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK +2.45 per cent), DG Khan Cement Company Limited (DGKC +6.82 per cent) and Bestway Cement Limited (BWCL +1.41 per cent) all closed positive. Samba Bank Limited (SBL +13.81
per cent) in a notification informed that the bank’s parent Samba Financial Group (holding 84.51 per cent of SBL) has entered into a Framework Agreement with National Commercial Bank of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in order to begin a reciprocal due diligence process, and to negotiate definitive and binding terms of potential merger of Samba (KSA) and National Commercial Bank (KSA). Global equity markets also showed a positive trend. Crude oil prices also moved north with WTI crude oil price up to $38.81 (+0.26 per cent) while Brent crude oil price appreciated to $41.21 (+0.39 per cent) According to the latest date published by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the country’s liquid foreign exchange reserves fell by 45 million to $16,730 million as on June 19. Previously, reserves clocked in at $16,775 million as on June 12. Net Reserves with SBP declined by 1.44 per cent. Moreover, as per State Bank, Pakistan has received $500 million from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank on June 25. This brings the total amount received from multilateral institutions this week to around $1,725 million as reported by the central bank.
India's auto and pharma sectors not ready to wean off China NEW DELHI AGENCIES
Days after a border clash with China this month in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed, New Delhi told firms to find ways to cut imports from China. But two big industries, automobiles and pharmaceuticals, say this is easier said than done. Like many countries, India relies on China for products such as electronic components and drug ingredients because it cannot make them or source them elsewhere as cheaply, company and industry figures say. Thus any moves to curb imports or make them costlier without developing alternatives will hurt local businesses. “We don’t import because we like to, but because we have no choice,” said R.C. Bhargava, chairman of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the country’s biggest carmaker. “To attract companies to produce locally, we need to be more competitive and lower our costs compared with other countries.” India imported around $70.3 billion of goods from China in the fiscal year to March
2019, and exported just $16.7 billion - its widest trade deficit with any country. The government is now consulting with companies on tightening curbs on 1,173 nonessential products, a trade body official said on condition of anonymity. They include
toys, plastics, steel items, electronics and specific auto components - which feed vehicle manufacturing. This is on top of plans to raise trade barriers and import duties on around 300 products from China and elsewhere, as part of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s self-reliance campaign. In April, India also tightened rules for investments from neighbouring countries, including China, to prevent opportunistic takeovers after the pandemic. “If things do escalate, then India stands to lose a lot more than China,” said the chief of corporate strategy at one of India’s top 10 drugmakers. “We cannot afford this.” Over a quarter of India’s auto part imports - $4.2 billion - came from China in 2019, including engine and transmission parts, according to data from the Auto Component Manufacturers’ Association of India (ACMA). Some of these components are critical and hard to source elsewhere immediately, said Vinnie Mehta, director general at ACMA, whose members include companies such as Bosch, Valeo and Minda Industries. “We cannot have a knee-jerk reaction, especially when we are emerging from the disruption caused by the pandemic,” he said. Chinese supplies have also been a key factor in India’s booming drug industry, which exports cheap generic medicines.
Some of India’s largest drug companies, such as Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Lupin and IPCA Labs, rely on China, and India overall gets about 70 per cent of its supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from there, industry officials said. “In the immediate future, we are going to continue to be reliant on China,” said Sudarshan Jain, secretary general of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, which represents major drug makers, although he believed there was only “a very low likelihood” of API supplies being cut off. However, this still leaves manufacturers dependent on low Chinese prices to be able to meet price controls on the home market and stay competitive abroad. This month, China increased prices of the common pain reliever paracetamol and of ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic used to fight respiratory infections, by 25 per cent-27 per cent, one senior industry executive said. “This is an important antibacterial drug. If we don’t buy from the Chinese, there will be shortages,” the executive said. “Ramping up capacity in India is a gradual, long-drawn process.”
Saturday, 27 June, 2020
10 FOREIGN NEWS
DIgItal toolS beIng USeD to traCk people aS never before, warnS Un rIghtS ChIef GENEVA
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HE internet and new digital tools are being manipulated as never before to infringe on people’s right to free assembly, the UN’s top rights official said on Thursday, in a call for a moratorium on the use of facial recognition technology during peaceful demonstrations. Amid global protests against systemic racism, corruption and economic woes exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet also expressed concern about the use of non-lethal weapons against demonstrators. These emerging devices include pepper ball launchers, acoustic weapons and drones and other “autonomous systems” that release tear gas, Ms. Bachelet’s Office, OHCHR, said in a report, mandated by the UN Human Rights Council. The High Commissioner urged States and businesses to ensure that these and other fast-developing technologies are developed and used in ways that do not disrupt and prevent people’s participation in public affairs. “New technologies can be used to mobilize and organize peaceful protests, form networks and coalitions…thus driving so-
US unemployment during coronavirus crisis surpasses 47m WASHINGTON AGENCIES
Another 1.48 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, according to the US Labor Department. Economists expected 1.3 million initial filings as the nation grapples with a coronavirus resurgence. The new filings brought the total number of claims since mid-March to 47.3 million. Continued regular jobless claims – that is by those who have filed for unemployment benefits for at least two weeks in a row – stood at 19.5 million, down from 20.3 million in the week before. “Initial jobless claims continue to moderate only gradually,” Nomura economist Lewis Alexander wrote on Wednesday. “While the labor market remains exceptionally weak, signs of gradual improvement suggest another month of NFP [non-farm payroll] gains during June.” In the week ending June 20, California reported the highest number of jobless claims, at an estimated 287,000 on an unadjusted basis, up from 241,000 the previous week.
India blocks imports of US products made in China MUMBAI AGENCIES
Customs officials at major Indian ports are holding back imports coming from China, which include US goods manufactured in China by companies like Apple, Dell, Cisco, and Ford Motor Company. A lobby group representing US firms, known as the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, has addressed the curbing of imports in a letter to India’s commerce ministry, according to media reports. “Authorities have abruptly halted the clearance of industry consignments coming in from China (and perhaps other destinations) at most major ports and airports,” the group said. On Wednesday, the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) revealed its members were recently told that airports in the cities of Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai would have a “new examination procedure for all consignments coming from China.” New Delhi is reportedly working on a list of alternative countries that could be suppliers of critical components that cannot currently be manufactured domestically. The need for import substitution has come to the fore in India after disruptions to raw-material supplies from China in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Calls for the process to be expedited have increased, following a deadly border clash this month between soldiers from both countries along a disputed border in the Himalayas. The Bureau of Indian Standards is expected to roll out tougher norms on at least 370 Chinese products, to ensure items that can be locally produced aren’t imported.
cial change”, Ms. Bachelet said, a former two-term president of her native Chile. “But, as we have seen, they can be – and are being – used to restrict and infringe on protesters’ rights, to surveil and track them, and invade their privacy.” In a call for mandatory training for lawenforcement personnel on the use of crowd control weapons - and accountability for rights violations related to their misuse - the High Commissioner explained that they “can kill if …improperly used, whether deliberately or accidentally”. According to OHCHR protests took
place in some 80 countries around the world in 2019, with many grievances at the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This year, people in thousands of cities worldwide took to the streets in the wake of the death in the U.S. of George Floyd, whose death on 25 May in Minneapolis was captured on video, while a police officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes. In a worrying development, more States are increasingly using facial recognition technology to identify protesters, “sometimes in real time”, said OHCHR’s Peggy Hicks, Director of Thematic Engagement. This was despite the fact that the technology was allegedly “prone to errors”, she continued, urging its proportionate use. “That means in this context that misidentification could lead to wrongful arrest for example, or prosecution. These risks we know are substantially greater for women and people of colour, raising the likelihood that facial recognition technology may perpetuate and amplify discrimination.”
GLOBAL DEATH TOLL FROM CORONAVIRUS RISES TO 492,051 ISLAMABAD: The number of coronavirus infection cases across the world has risen to over 9.71 million and the pandemic has so far claimed over 492,051 lives. The United States tops with over 2.5 million cases and more than 126,700 deaths followed by Brazil with over 1.23 million cases and 55,054 deaths. Russia is at number three with 620,794 cases and 8,781 deaths followed by India with 491,992 cases and 15,319 deaths. Over 5.2 million patients have so far recovered from the disease. AGENCIES
Turkey’s emerging market status may face downgrade ANKARA AGENCIES
Turkey’s main share index may be downgraded by a top international index compiler in what would be a blow to its already volatile financial markets. MSCI, a prominent index provider, said it may lower the status of Turkey’s share index to a “frontier market” due to bans on short selling and stock lending since October 2019 and February 2020, respectively. That would mean the loss of major investment by international pension funds and other institutional investors that use MSCI indexes to deploy their capital. Frontier markets are seen to carry more investor risk. “In the last 12 months, two important emerging markets, Argentina and Turkey, suffered substantial deterioration in market accessibility that could lead to their exclusion from the MSCI Emerging Markets Index,” said Dimitris Melas, global head of equity research and chairman of the MSCI Index Policy Committee. Experts think that this new warning should be taken as a sign of the unease of foreign investment in the country as the government adopts ever stricter measures on the currency exchange. Qatar’s recent move to increase its currency swap line with Turkey may have provided some relief, but analysts still see the potential need for further measures such as capital controls which would limit funds leaving the country. Goldman Sachs said this boost from Qatar could only cover up to one third of Turkey’s foreign exchange funding gap this year. In the meantime, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday again reduced its economic forecasts for
Turkey, with its GDP iforecast to drop by 5 percent this year. But the country is resisting any assistance from the IMF for fear of “economically and politically surrendering” to foreign institutions despite its impending balance of payments crisis. “The MSCI is issuing a warning to Turkey and would like it to reverse the restrictions imposed on short selling and stock lending. The Turkish authorities would be wise to heed this warning and ease these restrictions,” Nigel Rendell, director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at New York-based Medley Global Advisers, told Arab News. “Turkey has been part and parcel of emerging markets’ portfolios for decades — through good times and bad; it’s absence would be greatly missed if it were to drop out of the MSCI EM index. Rendell expressed concern at the speed at which the Turkish central bank has cut interest rates, which leaves the lira looking exposed given that inflation
is still entrenched. Turkey has $169 billion in foreign debt due in the next 12 months, while its gross foreign currency reserves stand only at $84 billion. Scarce foreign currency reserves are not going to save the day without much-needed summer tourism revenues that could be hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic. Last year the country generated $35 billion from foreign tourists, which is a distant dream this year. “The possible demotion to “frontier” market by one of the world’s leading index providers shows how futile and harmful is to fight a war against the market,” said Wolfango Piccoli, co-president of Teneo Intelligence in London. “After wasting billions in defending the currency, Turkey may now lose its place in the key MSCI index. The possible reclassification as “frontier” market or standalone market would further intensify the ongoing outflow of capital from both Turkey’s equity and fixed income markets,” he said.
lightning kills 107 as thunderstorms rage across northern India NEW DELHI AGENCIES
At least 107 people have been killed in lightning strikes in northern India, as the monsoon season continues to rage and the country’s meteorological department issues fresh ‘red alerts’ of thunderstorms and heavy rain. Lightning struck numerous districts across the northeastern states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during heavy storms. The majority of the victims were farmers working in the paddy fields when the squall hit, state disaster management officials reported. Thunderstorms have so far claimed the lives of 83 residents in the Bihar region alone, and over 20 more died in the surrounding areas. Dozens of people were admitted to regional hospitals with severe burns, putting emergency departments under serious pressure, as the monsoon destroyed homes and felled electricity poles and trees. The death toll is among the worst daily death tolls inflicted by lightning in the state for years, Bihar’s Disaster Management Minister Lakshmeshwar Rai said. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for thunderstorms in Bihar and areas further east of the north Indian state, and also warned of further falls of heavy weather for the next three days. Bihar’s government has issued an appeal asking people to remain indoors until June 29. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh expressed their condolences to the families of the storm victims on Thursday, and said that relief work is underway. Bihar’s chief minister announced that 400,000 rupees ($5,300) compensation would be paid to the relatives of the deceased. In India, more than 2,500 people die every year due to lightning, which is a common phenomenon during the monsoon season, from June to September. However, the death toll in the Bihar region so far in 2020 is almost twice as high as in previous years. Climate experts believe that the thunderstorms’ severity and frequency are expected to increase still further, due to increasing global temperatures.
Man shot by police in glasgow has died LONDON AGENCIES
A man shot by armed police during an incident in Glasgow has died, Police Scotland said on Friday, adding that six people including a police officer were in hospital for treatment. “The individual who was shot by armed police has died. Six other people are in hospital for treatment to their injuries including a police officer, who is in a critical but stable condition,” they said on Twitter. “We are continuing to deal with the incident on West George Street #Glasgow and would ask people to avoid the area. We would urge the public not to speculate about this incident or share unconfirmed information on social media.”
Coronavirus casts ‘huge shadow’ over Afghan life: UNAMA NEW YORK AGENCIES
The COVID-19 pandemic is not just a health emergency, but a multidimensional crisis for Afghanistan, dealing its people a painful blow just as Kabul and the Taliban prepare for peace talks in Qatar, the top UN official in the country said. Deborah Lyons, Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), told the Security Council on Thursday that the novel coronavirus outbreak is casting “a huge shadow” over Afghan daily life. Under the leadership of the Afghan government, the United Nations is supporting a coordinated response that includes setting up a nationwide network of labora-
tories and the provision of personal protective equipment, she said. Sadly, women and girls are being disproportionately impacted by the crisis, with lockdowns limiting their mobility and exposing them to greater risk of domestic violence, said Ms. Lyons, addressing the Council for the first time since she took up her post in April. “The socio-economic impact of weeks of lockdown, reduced economic activity and loss of remittances will be deep and longlasting”, she said, presenting the SecretaryGeneral’s latest report on Afghanistan. Given the challenge of getting more international financial support at a time when the pandemic is pummelling the global economy, she said that UNAMA is working closely with the Afghan and Finnish gov-
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ernments to prepare for a major donors’ pledging conference – the first since 2018 - due to be held later this year. “This conference and the peace talks (between President Ashraf Ghani’s government and the Taliban) should be mutually reinforcing”, she said, calling for “robust engagement” by all stakeholders. Lyons, who was Canada’s ambassador to Kabul from 2013 to 2016, said that Afghanistan has made big strides in recent years, with improved living conditions and a free and vibrant media sector. She added that she is also deeply impressed by the strength and courage of Afghan youth. But such progress remains fragile, she emphasized, with too many Afghans facing daily struggles to survive, and the 29 February peace deal between the United States
and the Taliban providing only brief respites from all-too-familiar carnage. Particularly egregious have been attacks on healthcare facilities in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the 12 May attack on a maternity ward in Kabul – leaving at least 24 dead, according to news reports - setting a new low, she said. Over the weekend, UNAMA reported 15 attacks on healthcare sites in the first two months of the pandemic. Eight of the attacks were attributed to the Taliban and three to Afghan government forces. On the political front, Lyons welcomed the power-sharing agreement struck on 17 May by President Ashraf Ghani and his main rival Abdullah Abdullah, adding that she expects a cabinet and inclusive peace structures to be announced within days.
Saturday, 27 June, 2020
Jubilation as liverpool win premier league to end 30-year drought LIVERPOOL
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IVERPOOL ended a 30-year wait for the English title as they were crowned Premier League champions on Thursday, triggering jubilant scenes as fans ignored social-distancing to celebrate uproariously. Jurgen Klopp's men sealed a 19th league title with a record seven games remaining after Chelsea's 2-1 defeat of second-placed Manchester City left the 2018 and 2019 champions an unbridgeable 23 points adrift. Liverpool's first English title since 1990 — further delayed by the coronavirus shutdown — earns them their maiden trophy in the Premier League, which was introduced in 1992 and has been won 13 times by their arch-rivals Manchester United. Klopp was in tears after Liverpool's long-awaited win, which follows their Champions League and Club World Cup victories last year, when they finished just a point behind City in the Premier League. “It's such a big moment, I am completely overwhelmed,” an emotional Klopp told Sky Sports. “Tonight it is for you out there. “It's incredible. I hope you stay at home, or go in front of your house if you want, but not more. We do it together in this moment and it is a joy to do it for you.” However, thousands of fans, many in face masks, converged on Anfield, lighting flares, chanting and celebrating with a replica trophy, while motorists drove up and beeped their horns.
Congratulations poured in from around the world with basketball star LeBron James, actor Samuel L. Jackson and former world number one tennis player Caroline Wozniacki among those paying tribute. 'I'M HOPING THERE IS MORE': Liverpool, who were tantalisingly close to glory when the coronavirus forced the suspension of English football in March, demolished Crystal Palace 4-0 at their home ground of Anfield on Wednesday to stand on the brink of the title. City needed to win at Stamford Bridge to keep the Premier League alive but slipped to a 2-1 defeat. Liverpool's 19th English title, which puts them one behind United's record haul
of 20, owes much to the transformational impact of Klopp. “We followed him and believed him,” said captain Jordan Henderson. “It's been an amazing journey. “I'm hoping there is more. We just keep hungry, keep wanting more and following him.” Liverpool have clinched the title earlier than any other Premier League champions, breaking the previous record of five games left shared by City and Manchester United. But it has been an agonising wait for Liverpool fans across the world, with the virus lockdown forcing them to put the champagne on ice. Videos on social media showed many of Liverpool's players watching the
Chelsea match together at a hotel. “We won't tell you the exact location but we are all in a hotel together as a team,” Liverpool star Andrew Robertson told the BBC. “We thought something hopefully special was going to happen and that's how it turned out.” FERGUSON ER: Liverpool spent years in the shadow of arch-rivals Manchester United during the Alex Ferguson era before being left behind by the massive spending of Manchester City and Chelsea. They infamously squandered a golden opportunity to win the title in 2014 under manager Brendan Rodgers, when Reds captain Steven Gerrard made a costly slip in a late-season defeat against Chelsea. But Klopp's team are deserved champions after an incredible campaign that could end in record-breaking style. Liverpool are on course to beat Manchester City's record points total of 100 set in 2017/18. Klopp, the first German manager to win the Premier League, has been the architect of Liverpool's renaissance since the former Borussia Dortmund boss arrived in 2015. Infusing his players with a belief in his “heavy metal” football and high-tempo “gegen-pressing” game-plan, the charismatic Klopp has earned his place alongside Liverpool's iconic former managers Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish. “He epitomises everything that Liverpool Football Club stands for. He appreciates it, he respects everyone who works at the club,” Dalglish, architect of Liverpool's 1990 title, said of the German.
Australia and New Zealand win race to host 2023 Women's World Cup SPORTS DESK Australia and New Zealand were handed the right to host the 2023 Women's World Cup soccer tournament by a comfortable margin after a vote by the FIFA Council on Thursday. Their joint proposal beat a rival bid from Colombia to host the tournament which is being expanded to 32 teams. Japan, who had also put forward a bid to stage the event, pulled out on Monday after they were ranked below the joint bid by world governing body FIFA's evaluation report.
The report highlighted the infrastructure and organisational advantages of the Australia/New Zealand bid which FIFA believed would make for a commercially successful tournament. "The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand will be ground-breaking in many ways," said a delighted Chris Nikou, president of Football Federation Australia (FFA). "Not only will it be the first ever coconfederation hosted FIFA World Cup and the first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in the Asia-Pacific region, but we will unlock the huge potential for growth in women’s
football in the Asia-Pacific region." There had been media reports that the vote could be tight with UEFA's European representatives backing Colombia but in the end the margin of victory was wide with Australia and New Zealand gaining 22 votes to Colombia's 13. The 2019 World Cup in France was hailed as a watershed for global interest in the women’s game and FIFA President Gianni Infantino personally drove the campaign to increase the field to 32 teams from 24 for 2023. Infantino had also expressed a preference for the successful Aus-
tralia/New Zealand bid during the FIFA Council meeting. Colombia, who were hoping to become the first South American nation to hold the tournament, were disappointed at the decision but vowed to keep fighting to host a major FIFA event. "We wanted the seat of the Women's World Cup 2023 for Colombia and we gave everything to get it," the country's sports Ministry wrote on twitter. "We will work more strongly to bring another World Cup to Colombia. With the efforts of all, women's soccer (here)...will keep growing."
SPORTS 11
pCb mulling to revise Covid-19 policy ahead of england series SPORTS DESK
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to reconsider the current testing policy according to which the players who have tested positive must have two subsequent negative tests if they are to depart for the scheduled England tour in the coming months. According to a news report published in ESPNcricinfo, the head of the PCB medical department Dr Sohail Saleem is consulting with a variety of sporting and medical experts to decide whether those players who did test positive could potentially leave for England after returning one negative test. The 10 players and one support staff member — who tested positive for the virus earlier this week — will undergo testing again on Friday and if the board were to comply with their original policy, then the group would have a third test on June 29. However, it is because of the third test that the board is in a dilemma as it would mean that they will miss the chartered flight arranged by the England and Wales Cricket Board on June 28. The new development comes in after senior all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez had said that he tested negative for the coronavirus on Wednesday — a day after the PCB had said he was among seven more players who had tested positive for the virus. "After tested positive COVID-19 according to PCB testing report yesterday, as second opinion and for satisfaction I personally went to test it again along with my family, Hafeez had said. The board, however, has said that it will only count tests conducted with Shaukat Khanum hospital as the PCB officially acquired its testing services, therefore, Hafeez’s negative test, conducted at a different private lab, will not be considered.
one-day world Cup could have joint winners: ross taylor SPORTS DESK Ross Taylor does not believe there would be anything wrong in having joint winners in the one-day World Cup rather than using Super Overs to split the teams. It is almost a year since England and New Zealand could not be separated across 100 overs and the Super Over in the World Cup final at Lord's with England taking the title on boundary countback. The ICC has since amended the playing conditions and if the situation played out again there would be additional Super Overs to decide the winner, but Taylor does not see a problem with having joint champions. "I'm still undecided in a Super Over in a one-day game, I think oneday cricket is played over such a long time that I have no problems in a tie being a tie," he told Cricingif. "In T20, to continually go on is the right way to go. A bit like football or some other games, trying to get that win in, but I don't think the Super Over is necessarily needed in a one-day game. I think you can have a joint winner.
Pakistan's sports industry struggles to recover amid Covid-19 KARACHI AGENCIES
As the world of sports slowly reopens after a months-long hiatus, Pakistan’s otherwise thriving sports industry is struggling to recover from the hit it has taken from coronavirus restrictions. Dozens of sprawling warehouses in the northeastern city of Sialkot – famous for producing finest quality sports goods – are littered with millions of footballs, hockey sticks, cricket bats, tennis balls, and other games-related goods after hundreds of orders from Europe, South America, and the Far East were cancelled due to the global coronavirus lockdown. The country’s sports industry, according to exporters, has seen a 70% decline in new orders over the past three months. “It’s not [reduction in] the new orders alone that has hit the sports industry. We also have to recall scores of orders, which were either ready to ship, or on their way to be shipped after importers cancelled them or extended the delivery dates due to the lockdown,” Ahsan Naeem, chief executive of Vision Technologies, a Sialkot-based sports manufacturer, told Anadolu Agency. Apart from other sports goods, Naeem’s company had to recall over 100,000 footballs ready to be shipped to different countries in April and May. Pakistan produces between 1.5 and 2 million footballs per month. It’s famous
“thermos-bonded” soccer balls were used in 2018 World Cup in Russia. Before that, Pakistan had supplied footballs for almost all the world cups from 1990s to 2010. “Our warehouses are over stocked. But, we don’t have buyers as nothing has been happening in the world of sports for the past several months. “Though, a few sports events have recently been kicked off, but at the higher level only. Sports activities at schools, colleges, clubs, and other domestic levels throughout the world are still suspended, dealing a big blow to sports industry,” Naeem said. According to Husnain Cheema, a former president of Pakistan Sports Goods Association, around 25% workers have lost their jobs during the lockdown period. “Unemployment rate is going high every week,” Cheema told Anadolu Agency. “Businesses are going into deep financial crunch, stripping the contract-based workers as well as some permanent staff from each factory of their jobs,” he said, adding: “Another 25% (workers) are at the brink of losing their jobs if the situation remains the same for the next few months”. LITTLE RELIEF: Pakistan annually earns $1 billion from exports of sports goods, which includes $350-$500 million from footballs alone. Cheema, however, observed the country’s exports of sports goods reduced to $700-$800 million due to lock-
down restrictions. Resumption of some European football leagues, and cricket series, which will be played behind closed doors, has brought a little relief to Pakistan’s sports industry. “We have started receiving some orders but it will take time to resettle,” Naeem said, adding: “The delayed shipments require a reinspection, which would cost us extra”. Echoing Naeem’s views, Cheema opined that the resumption of “limited” sports activities would not make a major dif-
CMYK
ference, at least in the short term. “Sports industry is reeling from a double brunt. On the one hand, export orders have been cancelled or delayed, while on the other, they have already imported [manufacturing] raw material from abroad, which has multiplied the financial burden on us,” he went on to say. Referring to imposition of a 30% duty on imports of sports goods, Cheema called for a “special concession” to Pakistan. “I appeal to President [Recep Tayyip]
Erdogan to support Pakistan’s struggling sports industry by waiving the import tariff,” he said. Pakistan exports footballs, fitness items, boxing equipment, and other sports goods to Turkey. ‘SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING’: Contrary to the groaning exporters, small local factories, which manufacture goods used in board and card games, are thriving. Sports shops, which usually sells items relating to cricket, hockey, and football, have lost their traditional businesses. But, they have found a new chunk of clients who are buying items related to indoor games like fitness items, board and card games. “Almost 80% of our traditional customers are lost as all the sport activities are suspended due to coronavirus related restrictions,” Anwer Miandad, a former first class cricketer, who runs a sports shop in central district of Karachi, told Anadolu Agency. “But, there has been a surge in sale of indoor games, which do not take much space, over the previous three months,” said Miandad, who is a younger brother of Pakistan’s legendary batsman Javed Miandad. However, he said, there new clientele were not earning him the usual profits. “Chess, and carrom boards, ludo and cards are neither costly nor breakable like [cricket] bats, [hockey] sticks, and racquets. The profit margin on their sale are meager,” he went on to say.
Saturday, 27 June, 2020
NEWS
OPPOsItIOn slaMs gOvernMent’s POlICIes durIng budget debate AHSAN IQBAL SAYS PM IMRAN’S GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED ON EVERY FRONT ALI MUHAMMAD KHAN SAYS PML-N LEFT BEHIND A WEAK ECONOMY ISLAMABAD
t
STAFF REPORT
HE National Assembly (NA) session on Friday witnessed a heated debate between the government and the opposition, with the latter lashing out at the former over its policies, the budget presented for the upcoming fiscal year and the prime minister’s speech in the last sitting of the lower house. Opposition lawmakers said that the way the cut motion had been moved was not appropriate and urged Speaker Asad Qaiser to ensure that the House’s proceedings are in accordance with the rules. “We do not approve. This is NRO,” Maulana Asad Mahmood of the Jamiat Ulema-eIslam-Fazl (JUI-F) said, referring to political amnesty given by then military ruler Pervez Musharraf in 2007. The speaker said that all members would be allowed to speak. “We are running the House according to the rules,” he said.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal moved a cut motion regarding the Cabinet Division. He told the house that the in the past, Imran Khan had spoken about a cabinet of 18 ministers, but today there was the largest cabinet in the history of Pakistan. “The claimant of the state of Median had said that he would form a small cabinet. Today is the largest cabinet in the history of Pakistan, the burden of which is being borne by the people,” he said, adding that no cabinet had ever become the butt of the jokes as the incumbent ministers. Referring to the premier’s Thursday’s speech, Iqbal said that he insisted that there was no contradiction in his statements. “Speeches alone cannot run the country. His only goal was to become prime minister. He has no plans,” he added. In a further broadside against the prime minister, Iqbal said that the ruling party supporters said that the captain [Prime Minister Imran Khan] was an honest person but his
NAFISA SHAH QUESTIONS AVIATION MINISTER'S CREDENTIALS AND DEMANDS HIS RESIGNATION
advisers were not good. “I say that the captain himself is incompetent,” he said. “The government has failed on every front.” Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Dr Nafisa Shah said that the cut motion regarding the Cabinet Division was based on the performance of the cabinet. “Yesterday, the prime minister spoke about his performance. “The prime minister doesn’t even know the difference between Germany and Japan,” she said. She added that the minister for climate change had said that there are 19 points in Covid-19 adding that the statement was being ridiculed all over. The aviation minister presented the report of plane crash in parliament and on the same day he said that out of 800 pilots, licences of over 200 pilots were fake. “I demand the resignation of the Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan. The minister made a wrong statement, which discredited Pakistan all over the world. The minister’s own degree is questionable,” she charged. At one point, the speaker stopped the
PPP leader from speaking, to which she strongly protested. During her speech, there were angry exchanges between her and the ruling party’s female lawmakers Asma Hadid. However, she was allowed to complete her speech. PPP’s Shahida Rahmani struggled to hold back her tears, as she told the house that her mother and father were on ventilators because of Covid-19 infection. She accused the government of failing to control the spread of coronavirus. “Today the country is in ruins,” she said. Defending the government policies, Ali Mohammad Khan said that during the PTI government, the expenses of the Prime Minister House, the Presidency had been reduced, while funds for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) had been increased from Rs100 billion to Rs 200 billion. And in a counterattack on the previous PML-N government, he said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had promised to make the country an “Asian Tiger”. However, he added that Sharif left behind a tiger that could not move.
India wants to quell domestic dissent after China clash: Qureshi
Pakistan dismisses Indian reports on FATF grey listing ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Pakistan has firmly rejected the remarks made by the spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and dismissed the fabricated news reports in Indian media on Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary session. The Foreign Office (FO) on Friday also completely rejected the MEA spokesperson’s terrorism-related allegations against Pakistan. The Indian media had claimed another “extension” in Pakistan’s continuation on the Grey List due to “failure” to complete the Action Plan, in the recently concluded virtual FATF plenary session. The FO said that Pakistan was prepared to present its progress report to FATF in the Plenary Meeting which was scheduled for June 2020. However, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, FATF decided on April 28, 2020, on a general pause for four months in the review process for a number of countries under ICRG (International Cooperation Review
Group) assessment including Pakistan. The FO made it clear that the agenda of FATF’s virtual plenary meeting, held on June 24, 2020, did not include Pakistan. In this virtual plenary meeting, no new decision regarding Pakistan was made.
PM urges int'l community to hold India accountable for IOK atrocities ISLAMABAD
The decisions taken by FATF in February 2020, plenary meeting regarding a number of countries, including Pakistan remain in effect. The evaluation of Pakistan’s FATF Action Plan would be made in the next plenary cycle of FATF, in which Pakistan would present its progress
“You have increased the country’s debt from Rs6,000 billion to Rs30,000 billion. Had Nawaz Sharif left a strong economy, Imran Khan would not have delayed the imposition of a complete lockdown in the country,” he added. “Our economy cannot afford a complete lockdown. Coronavirus wreaked havoc around the world. Give me the name of one country that has helped 14 million families,” he said. “If the assistance was not provided to poor families, Pakistan’s situation would not have been different from that of India.” Commenting on the sugar inquiry, he said that the government must be given the credit for making the inquiry report public. He also said that if National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was taking action then “what is our fault?” adding: “You were in the government, when the NAB chairman was appointed.” He said that there were some advantages of the 18th Amendment but also there were some disadvantages. He pointed out that since the 18th Amendment, the country’s agricultural production had declined by 7 per
ISLAMABAD AGENCIES
report, said the FO.In this backdrop, reports in the Indian media insinuating that FATF has extended Pakistan on the Grey List are patently misleading and part of the incessant smear campaign by India against Pakistan, said the FO. Pakistan has repeatedly drawn the attention of the international community towards India’s sinister attempts to use FATF process for its narrow political gains. Pakistan has also been raising the issue of India’s dubious credentials as an impartial and objective assessor of Pakistan’s progress on the FATF Action Plan. India’s efforts to misuse the technical forum of FATF for discrediting Pakistan have been noticed by FATF members and are not appreciated by the international community. The Foreign Office said that Pakistan remains committed to completing its FATF Action Plan and continues to make progress. “We hope that the FATF membership would take cognizance of India’s malicious campaign against Pakistan and reject any attempt at politicizing the FATF proceedings,” concluded the statement.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in an interview with Reuters, denounced India’s announcement made on Tuesday that it would expel half the staff in Pakistan’s embassy in New Delhi over spying, saying India was trying to divert attention at home. “The accusations were baseless,” he said. Pakistan has accused India of trying to distract the attention of its people by expelling Pakistani diplomats after Indian forces got a “battering” at the hands of Chinese troops in a clash on their disputed Himalayan border. “They have no answers for the battering they got in Ladakh, so to quell the domestic dissent they want to refocus,” he said. India’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to request for comment. Qureshi said he was concerned that India could try to get Pakistan involved in the regional tensions with a “false flag operation” — an incident staged to provide a pretext for action. But he added that Pakistan backed the position of its ally China over Ladakh and he had recently had a call with China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, who had expressed appreciation for that position. The foreign minister expressed fear that any Indian “misadventure” in Pakistan’s territory would prompt Islamabad to respond with force. He further said that Pakistan is concerned about the tension after the June 15 clash in the Ladakh region — in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed — in particular about the possibility Pakistan could get dragged in.
Taliban prisoner issue almost resolved, peace talks expected 'soon'
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday urged the international community to hold the Indian government accountable for its human rights violations in Indian-Occupied Kashmir. “Women, men and children have faced pellet guns, sexual assaults, electrocution, physical & mental torture [in IOK],” PM Imran said on Twitter on the occasion of International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The premier added that continued silence in the face of such blatant abuse is against international human rights and humanitarian laws which must be unacceptable. “These atrocities by Indian Occupation forces on orders of the Hindutva Supremacist Occupation Modi government are well documented by [United Nations] UN, [Human Rights] HR organisation and international media.” A day earlier on June 25, during his address in the National Assembly, the premier said that the BJP government’s Hindu supremacist agenda became clear when India annexed occupied Kashmir and did not take steps to improve relations between the two countries. The premier also had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a “fanatic” who was a curse for not only Indian Muslims but for the Hindus also.
KABUL AGENCIES
Peace talks between warring Afghan factions are expected to start as soon as they iron out their main differences over the release of the “most dangerous” Taliban prisoners, officials and sources from both sides said. Despite a major push by the United States, there has been a delay in the intraAfghan talks as the Afghan government and some key NATO members are uncomfortable about the release of Taliban commanders accused of conducting large-scale attacks that killed civilians in recent years. An Afghan government source said the prisoner issue had largely been resolved and they would release an alternative set of prisoners with talks expected to start mid-July. “The Taliban agreed because it was delaying the talks,” he said, adding the
government had also demanded a guarantee from the Taliban that it was no longer holding any Afghan security force prisoners. A source close to the Taliban said the group was willing to move for-
ward so long as most of the 5,000 prisoners demanded were released. “I don’t think releasing or not releasing 200 or 300 prisoners will matter in the process, the Taliban can agree for
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(those) prisoners to remain in Afghan government custody,” the source said. Taliban political spokesperson Suhail Shaheen could not be reached for comment but has reiterated in recent weeks that the group expects the full terms of their February agreement with the United States, including the release of 5,000 prisoners, to be implemented before talks can start. Pakistan, seen as a key regional player in getting the Taliban to peace talks, said it expected negotiations to begin very soon and was optimistic that sticking points, including the prisoner issue, would be resolved. “I think we are almost there,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told Reuters in an interview on Thursday. “The impediments have been addressed one by one and now there is a general agreement that this is the way forward…I’m expecting things to be begin quickly.”