Epaper – June 2 ISB 2020

CMYK

Tuesday, 2 June, 2020 I 10 Shawwal-ul-Mubarak, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol X No 333 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

there are 0.67m Covid-19 Cases in Lahore aLone, Punjab Cm toLd two weeks ago g

PuNJAB HEALTH dEPARTMENT INFORMEd CM BuzdAR IN SuMMARy THAT NO AREA IN PROvINCIAL CAPITAL IS dISEASE-FREE

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

i

N a shocking development on Monday, it has been learnt that the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare department sent a summary to Punjab Chief Minister usman Buzdar almost two weeks ago in which it stated that there were an estimated 670,800 coronavirus cases in Lahore alone and that no residential area or workplace was disease-free in the provincial capital.

The Punjab health department stated that asymptomatic cases became the “main source of infection and local transmission” in the provincial capital and “any subsequent decision of lifting, relaxing or doing away with lockdown measures should be taken after reviewing the results of smart sampling conducted with

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

74,320

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

60

DEATHS:

26,083 1,574 SINDH:

29,647

PUNJAB:

26,240

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

10,485 255/711

SAyS ASyMPTOMATIC CASES ARE MAIN SOuRCE OF INFECTION ANd LOCAL TRANSMISSION OF COvId-19 AMONG RESIdENTS

regular intervals till the final tapering down of the virus”.

The summary — signed by Primary and Secondary Healthcare department Secretary Muhammad usman and dated May 15 — listed the results of a “smart sampling project” to “detect and determine the spread of Covid-19 and to structure and guide [the department’s] response towards its containment”. under the exercise, randomised targeted sampling (RTS) and smart sampling (SS) were carried out; the former was to determine the prevalence of the disease in occupational sectors that remained functional during the lockdown, while the latter was to understand community spread.

After these exercises, the report said, it could be estimated that Lahore, which has a population of over 11 million, has around 670,800 coronavirus cases. But as of June 1, the entire Punjab province has

Coronavirus in

RECOVERED:

g

4,393

2,589

officially reported just 26,240 infections and 497 fatalities.

Analysing the data from various hotspots including workplaces and residential areas, the summary noted “a worrisome picture of Covid-19 prevalence” in communities, with 5.18 per cent infection rate for RTS and 6.01 per cent for SS. “This means that no workplace and residential area of any town is diseasefree and, as such, Lahore exhibits an alarmingly similar transmission pattern,” it added.

Elaborating on the findings for the testing carried out in the provincial capital, the summary stated that six per cent of all those who were tested turned out positive for Covid-19, while some towns showed a positive rate as high as 14.7 per cent.

“These cases being asymptomatic could not be reported to health facilities, but became the main source of infection and local transmission,” the report stated.

“The town wise breakdown shows a value of more than three per cent for all towns — except wagha Town — and ranges between 2.11 per cent and 9.33 per cent,” it added.

The summary also stated that people over 50 years of age are the ones most affected by the respiratory illness, as is reflected in international literature and research.

It further stated that any decisions regarding lifting or enforcing lockdown measures can’t and shouldn’t be taken in isolation. “It should be necessarily articulated through larger consensus and based on evidence gathered through smart sampling and testing,” it added.

The summary further said that the sampling exercise was carried out with the technical assistance of a working group, consisting of a panel of experts, that was constituted on the directives of the provincial cabinet to provide an international perspective and input to determine Covid-19 prevalence.

PM hints at opening more sectors as Covid-19 cases soar g

IMRAN SAyS RESTRICTIONS TO BE RELAxEd IN TOuRISM SECTOR, wARNS OF MORE CORONA CASES, dEATHS ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Imran khan on Monday announced further easing of lockdown measures across the country amid appeals to people to adopt the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government, as Pakistan confirmed 60 more deaths from the disease during the past 24 hours.

According to the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 2,964 new coronavirus cases surfaced during the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 72,460. According to the latest figures, 26,240 cases have so far been detected in Punjab, 28,245 in Sindh, 10,027 in khyber Pakhtunkhwa (kP), 4,393 in Balochistan, 2,589 in Islamabad, 711 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and 255 in Azad Jammu and kashmir (AJk). 26,083 people have been recovered from the virus so far. Pakistan has so far conducted 561,136 coronavirus tests with 14,398 tests in the past 24 hours.

Earlier on Monday, a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) decided to impose a complete lockdown on weekends

Justice Isa challenges law minister’s decision to represent govt in reference g

SC JudGE ASkS COuRT NOT TO ALLOw FAROGH NASEEM’S REPRESENTATION, SAyS HIS CONduCT IS OF A ‘TOuT’ ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Federal Minister for Law and Justice Farogh Naseem resigned on Monday to represent the federal government in the Supreme Court (SC) in the presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa on June 2 (Tuesday), however the latter has urged the apex court not to allow Naseem’s representation, saying his conduct comes within the definition of “tout”.

According to the law, a serving minister cannot appear in a court of law as a lawyer, as their license is cancelled during their tenure in the office.

This is the second time that Naseem, a Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) stalwart, has resigned from his post. Previously, he had resigned in November last year to represent General Qamar Javed Bajwa before the apex court in a case pertaining to the extension in his tenure as the army chief.

In an official statement, Naseem said: “I’ll represent the federation in the case and

while keeping the shop timings unchanged for the rest of the week The NCC’s decision is in direct contrast with the Punjab health department’s recommendation of enforcing a complete lockdown for at least four weeks since a smart lockdown would not be effective anymore as all areas of Lahore have already been affected by the disease, affecting an estimated 670,800 residents so far.

‘COVID-19 WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD’: Addressing the media after chairing a meeting of the NCC, Prime Minister Imran announced that the government has decided to “open all the sectors” apart from those where the threat of “virus is still present”.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Extended lockdown could lead companies towards bankruptcy: SBP STORY ON BACK PAGE

more inside

Prove Daniel Pearl was kidnapped with evidence, SC tells Sindh govt STORY ON PAGE 02

Inflation eases further to 8.2pc in May STORY ON PAGE 02

therefore I have tendered my resignation as the law minister.”

“I have no personal vendetta [against] any person, judge, bar council or a lawyer not even with Justice Qazi Faez Isa,” he said further, adding: “I will appear in the Honorable Court only as a lawyer to assist the Hon’ble Court.”

A six-page application submitted by Justice Isa against Naseem’s representation in the SC states, “This Honourable Court may be graciously pleased not to permit private

CMYK

counsel to represent official respondents and not to permit Mr Farogh Nasim, who was Law Minister till 1 June 2020, to represent anyone (other than himself) as counsel.”

“One is further constrained to point out that his conduct also comes within the definition of ‘tout’ mentioned in section 2(m) the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973, which also describes, a tout as one ‘who procures…to any person interested in any legal business to procure’.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Govt to offer sector-specific subsidies in upcoming budget STORY ON PAGE 02

Govt increases petroleum levy

by Rs6.29 STORY ON PAGE 05

02

Tuesday, 2 June, 2020

news

PRove DaNieL PeaRL waS kiDNaPPeD witH eviDeNCe, SC teLLS SiNDH Govt KARACHI

t

STAFF REPORT

HE Supreme Court (SC) on Monday rejected a petition filed by the Sindh government which sought to annul the verdict in the Daniel Pearl case in which the Sindh High Court (SHC) had acquitted all four suspects accused in kidnapping and murder of the Wall Street Journal reporter.

In its verdict announced in April, the high court had turned the death sentence awarded to Ahmed Omer Saeed Sheikh, the prime suspect in the case, into a seven-year jail term in addition to acquitting the other three suspects, earlier handed life sentences. The bench also declared that the prosecution had failed to prove the case against the

Govt to offer sector-specific subsidies in upcoming budget ISLAMABAD SHAHZAD PARACHA

The federal government has decided to offer subsidies only for "targeted sectors" in the next fiscal year, sources revealed on Monday. According to details, the government would refrain from giving broad-based subsidies in the next fiscal year, whereas it would target sectors such as housing, power, export and food security, for subsidies. Sources said that the government would lower the subsidies by up to Rs70 billion for FY21 as compared to the ongoing fiscal year. The government had allocated around Rs50 billion subsidies this year due to the corona pandemic. They said the government might end the subsidy for those consuming up to 300 units electricity, adding that the economic team is also considering giving gas and power subsidy to people through BISP card, besides allocating around Rs200 billion for the PM's Ehsaas programme. In addition, sources said that the Utility Store Cooperation (USC) subsidy would also be provided through the BISP database. Sources said that the government would allocate around Rs30 billion for Naya Pakistan Housing Project, as promised earlier by the prime minister. It may be noted the government had allocated Rs31 billion for food security, Rs3 billion for exporters and Rs145 billion for power sector subsidiaries for the current fiscal year. The overall subsidy in the ongoing fiscal year was Rs191 billion.

Saudi govt considering allowing 20pc Pakistani pilgrims for Hajj NEWS DESK Federal Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri has said that Pakistan is in contact with Saudi authorities regarding quota for this year’s Hajj. Saudi authorities have presented their recommendations regarding Hajj to King Salman, Qadri told a private news channel. The recommendation regarding conducting this year’s pilgrimage on a limited scale is under consideration, he said. Saudi authorities are considering allowing 20 per cent Pakistani pilgrims to perform the pilgrimage, the minister said. However, a final decision in this regard is expected next week, he added.

PML-N expresses concern over lack of facilities for Covid-19 patients ISLAMABAD

APEX COURT TURNS DOWN GOVT'S PLEA AGAINST SHC VERDICT IN MURDER CASE suspects. While the judges found Sheikh guilty of being involved in Pearl’s abduction-for-ransom and handed him a seven-year term, they noticed that he has been in prison for the last 18 years. “His seven-year sentence will be counted from the time served,” the bench announced, implying that he has already served his sentence.

During the hearing on Monday, Justice Manzoor

Malik observed that the petition cites irrelevant provisions of the law to support its assertion.

“First of all, the kidnapping [of Daniel Pearl] must be legally proved,” Justice Malik said. “Evidence must suggest that the abductee was Daniel Pearl,” he further said, adding: “The Sindh government claims that a conspiracy was hatched in Rawalpindi. What conspiracy took place in Rawalpindi must also be proved with evidence.”“The court should be provided a complete record of the case,” the judge remarked. “I want to look at all the records so that I can understand all the points.”

He added that the court has to check whether the confession and identification parade was in accordance with the law. “The facts cannot be ignored,” Justice Manzoor said. The apex court ordered the Sindh government’s

counsel to submit the detailed record before the court for the case to proceed. Following this, the counsel sought time to submit the record of the trial court.

The hearing was then adjourned indefinitely.

The Sindh government had challenged the high court’s verdict in the Supreme Court on grounds that the “last seen evidence”, “impersonation” and “identification parade” was proved against the accused persons and maintained concurrently by the trial court.

Inflation eases further to 8.2pc in May ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Continuing with its recent declining trend, the rate of inflation in the country further slowed to 8.22pc on a year-on-year basis (YoY) in May, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Monday.

Although the prices of some food items went up owing to the holy month of Ramzan, a significant reduction in prices of petroleum products helped the inflation to fall during the month under review.

According to PBS, the price of petrol reduced by 13pc in May. As economic activities remained subdued due to the outbreak of coronavirus, the fall in inflation rate also slowed down in May. However, restoration of commercial activities by the mid of May helped ease inflation.

PBS stated that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 8.2pc for the month of May was the lowest in the past 11 months

(8pc in June 2019). The rate had surged to 14.6pc in January this year.

The inflation rate was recorded at 8.5pc in April 2020. On a cumulative basis, the rate of inflation in the country was recorded at 10.94pc during the first 11 months (July-May) of the current fiscal year (FY20), as against 6.69pc in the

corresponding period of last year.

PBS calculates inflation by monitoring the prices of 356 commodities in 35 cities and 244 goods in 27 rural markets.

The Ministry of National Food Security & Research has already constituted a cell to look at various options to ensure the supply of food items amid coronavirus.

Budget FY21: PM for provision of all possible incentives to industry ISLAMABAD APP

Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday that all efforts should be made to incentivize the country’s industrial sector and create jobs for the youth.

Chairing a meeting to discuss the objectives and considerations for the forthcoming budget (FY 2020-21, the PM said that the most affected sectors be identified so as to provide them with maximum possible support in the forthcoming budget.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Industries & Production Minister Hammad Azhar, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Finance Adviser Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Commerce Adviser Abdur Razzak Dawood and Institutional Reform Adviser Dr Ishrat Hussain.

The PM said the coronavirus pandemic had severely affected the upward trajectory of economy, adding that the government, despite its financial constraints, gave an unprecedented stimulus economic package to support businesses and industry, and to minimize the impact of coronavirus.

Discussing the priorities for the forthcoming budget, the PM directed that the process of cutting unnecessary government expenditure should be expedited at all levels,

including the federal government as well as the provincial governments.

Imran Khan stressed the need to review the existing system of provision of subsidies to make them target-oriented and ensure their optimum utilization.

He said the present situation called for expediting the reforms process in critical sectors so as to reduce the burden on the national exchequer and provide relief to the masses.

The PM also directed the adviser finance to apprise the people about the current economic situation and the strategy being followed by the government to cope with the challenges.

Dr Hafeez Sheikh apprised the meeting about the overall state of economy and the philosophy, objectives and considerations for the next budget, FY2020-21.

He also dilated upon various economic constraints, especially in the wake of corona pandemic, that had made the government to further focus on providing incentives to the industry for its revival and growth, cutting unnecessary government expenditure, rationalize subsidies and expedite reforms process in critical sectors.

Various proposals were discussed in detail to stimulate the corona-affected economy, especially ensuring greater participation of the private sector in the development process and promoting public-private partnership to complement public sector development programme.

According to the PBS data, the overall inflation rate in urban areas eased to 7.3pc in May, while the same in rural areas stood at 9.7pc. However, food inflation increased in both areas.

Food inflation in urban areas grew from 10.4pc in April to 10.6pc in May. In rural areas, it surged from 12.9pc in April to 13.7pc. Urban area food items that saw an increase in their prices included chicken (41.46pc), potatoes (31.19pc), fruits (9.72pc), milk (4.63pc), condiments & spices (3.71pc) and butter (2.58pc).

Similarly, the items that recorded a decline in their prices included onions (23.35pc), vegetables (19.62pc), eggs (18.74pc), tomatoes (7.74pc), pulse gram (7.25pc), pulse masoor (4.43pc), besan (4.38pc) and wheat (3.37pc).

In rural areas, food inflation was witnessed in potatoes (41.55pc), chicken (41.15pc), fruits (11.46pc), condiments & spices (8.60pc), pulse moong (4.36pc), milk (4.23pc), gur(2.75pc) and pulse mash (2.13pc).

Rs583bn released for projects under PSDP ISLAMABAD: The federal government has released Rs583 billion against the total allocation of Rs701 billion for various ongoing and new uplift projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2019-20. According to data released by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, an amount of Rs244.2 billion was released for federal ministries, Rs194.18 billion for corporations and Rs43.56 billion for special areas. Out of these allocations, the government released Rs49.73 billion for security enhancement in the country, against the total allocation of Rs53 billion for 2019-20.

An amount of Rs97.64 billion was released for the blocks managed by the Finance Division under the government's 10-year development programme. For Higher Education Commission, the government released an amount of Rs28.28 billion out of its total allocation of Rs29 billion.

Meanwhile, Rs270.47 million were released for Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority against the total allocation of Rs270.47 million. The Revenue Division received Rs5.84 billion, whereas the Cabinet Division got Rs34.16 billion during the period under review. The government also released Rs27.11 billion for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) projects, while Rs16.34 billion were released for Gilgit Baltistan projects. APP

Faisal Javed defends Turkish drama after Fawad’s criticism

STAFF REPORT

NEWS DESK

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has expressed concern over the lack of facilities for coronavirus patients in government hospitals in Islamabad. In a statement, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzaib said that the number of patients in Islamabad has reached 2,400 whereas only 12 ventilators are operational. She claimed that there are no arrangements for the coronavirus patients in Islamabad except 90-bed isolation wards at the Polyclinic and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). She added that families of the coronavirus patients are forced to use their influence to get ventilators. Criticising Prime Minister Imran Khan’s handling of the Covid-19 situation, she said that the premier was fighting coronavirus through press conferences, presentations, computer-generated statements and claims while the health system of the country is running on a bad auto pilot.

Senior PTI leader and PM Imran’s close aide Faisal Javed Khan has defended Turkish drama Ertugrul, which is being aired on Pakistan Television (PTV), after criticism from Science Minister Fawad Chaudry who said that foreign content will ‘ruin’ Pakistani productions.

Faisal Javed, who is also the Chairman Standing Committee on Info Broadcasting and Heritage, has been keenly involved in the project.

“Such great productions like Ertugrul @DirilisDizisi will help our industry. We shld [should] show some amazing work that has already been produced - Presenting Islamic History, Culture, Faith. Also this should be bilateral - exporting our content abroad,” the senator said.

“It's a win win trade.”

Fawad took to Twitter on Sunday to exclaim his 'surprise' at the PTV for "taking pride on other countries productions".

"Surprised on @PTVHomeOfficial taking pride on other countries produc-

CMYK

tions, you guys must focus on Pak productions otherwise foreign dramas ll ruin Pak productions, its always cheap to import foreign dramas but this ll have devastating long term effect on our own programming," he had tweeted.

Responding to the fellow party leader, the senator agreed that the Pakistani entertainment industry should also work on local content.

“Our drama industry is one of the best in the world in terms of talent, productions, direction etc. With great substance we can penetrate major markets across the globe,” he tweeted.

“Awwww wish we had reacted when rubbish Indian content (low standard dramas, films, songs) was aired across our tv channels, cinema & radio.

Our own people promoted "Games of

Thrones" here. Why shld we object Ertugrul type content. Even PTV used to air Good English film.”

The globally acclaimed Turkish TV series “Diriliş: Ertuğrul” has amassed a massive fan following in Pakistan after, on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, it was broadcast by PTV for the Pakistani audience.

However, the TV series has triggered a debate in Pakistan with many celebrities voicing concern that foreign content will ultimately prove harmful for local content consumption and as a result, harm the showbiz industry in Pakistan.

Renowned actors such as Osman Khalid Butt, Bilal Ashraf and Mehwish Hayat have praised the show and called on Pakistani producers to come up with similar content.

Tuesday, 2 June, 2020

news

03

aiRbuS teaM RetuRNS to FRaNCe witH voiCe, Data ReCoRDeRS KARACHI

t

STAFF REPORT

HE team of Airbus experts investigating the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crash departed for France on Monday via a special flight.

The 11-member foreign team, which had landed in Karachi on Tuesday to offer help in the ongoing probe, took with them the flight data recorder, cockpit voice recorder and samples from the wreckage of the crashed jet.

They also inspected the aircraft’s engines, landing gear, wings and flight control system avionics as well as the houses destroyed in the crash.

At the airport, they inspected friction

marks on the runway caused by the belly landing, reviewed CCTV footage of the landing and surveyed the runway and apron from different angles from the control tower and approach tower.

The team had also sought the complete record of the crashed aircraft from the national flag-carrier to determine how many times the Airbus A-320 had landed in a year, what defects were worked on, how many cycles did the engine complete during the flight last year, how many times did the plane go through the check process, how many times the landing gear was serviced, which engineers worked in the main technical services of the aircraft and what resources and parts were used to fix the technical issues.

Another team of experts in France will investigate the flight data recorder and cock-

pit voice recorder. The work is expected to begin from June 2, at an aviation laboratory in Le Bourget, France.

The decoding of the data recorder will enable the investigators to hear the conversation between the captain and the first officer during the flight as well as their communication with the air traffic controllers.

After the black box is decoded, they will be able to determine as to how the two captains used the plane’s equipment from takeoff till the crash and assess how well the cockpit crew adhered to Airbus’ agreed procedures for operating the aircraft.

The experts will also use the pictures they took of the crash site and marks on the runway using high-resolution and drone cameras as they investigate the crash.

PPP SeekS Na Debate oN PLaNe CRaSH ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has submitted an adjournment motion in the National Assembly Secretariat seeking a debate in the House on the Karachi plane crash incident. The motion was submitted by Dr Nafisa Shah, Shahida Remani, Naz Baloch and Nasiba Channa. The motion demanded a debate on the issue after suspending routine agenda of the session. It added that 97 precious lives were lost in the crash, which is the fourth such tragic incident in the last 10 years. No report has yet been issued of the previous three crashes, the motion stated. The motion also called for a debate on the performance of Civil Aviation Authority and Pakistan International Airlines. APP

A team of PIA’s Aircraft Accident and Investigation Board’s (AAIB) reportedly also accompanied the experts back to France.

On Sunday, heavy machinery reached the crash site to remove an engine and wing

Climate change in KP leads to 30pc drop in wheat production PESHAWAR AZIZ BUNERI

Nawaz’s medical reports be probed, Fawad demands ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry Monday said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s recent picture from Britain shows that he is in good health.

The minister said that there is a need to investigate the medical reports of the former premier. He said that Nawaz Sharif is also not sharing his test reports from Britain with the government, which has given rise to suspicion. “This establishes that British laboratories have not confirmed Nawaz Sharif’s illness,” said the minister. He added that there are suspicions that the former prime minister submitted fake reports to the courts to ensure his travel abroad for treatment. He further said it seems that the former prime minister had facts distorted in his report to ensure the way is paved for him to escape from Pakistan. “There is a need to investigate Nawaz Sharif’s test reports carried out in Pakistan,” Fawad wrote to the PM. He added that it should be probed as to who has distorted the test reports in Pakistan, adding that an inquiry committee should be established to determine who helped Nawaz escape.

Earlier, a picture of Nawaz Sharif having tea went viral on the social media. The photo shows the PML-N supremo having tea with his grandchildren in the garden of Hasan Nawaz Sharif’s Hyde Park Place office. STAFF REPORT

Climate change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has led to a 30 per cent drop in wheat production, creating fears of food shortage in the province.

Experts said heavy rains and hailstorms this year had adversely impacted the wheat crop, with yields reducing by 25pc to 30pc.

Talking to this scribe, KP Agriculture Dept Director-General Abid Kamal said that the province had set a target of 1.35 million tonnes of wheat for this year, but owing to climate-related problems, it failed to achieve the desired results. "The province now estimates the production of wheat at 1.25 million tonnes," he added.

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of National Food Security & Research had estimated wheat produc-

tion at 27 million tonnes for FY20.

However, it was reported that locusts attacks, adverse weather conditions, untimely rains, torrential downpours etc. caused severe damage to at least 1.5 million tonnes of wheat.

It is estimated that the production of wheat would be reduced to around 25 million tonnes this year.

Flour Mills Association Chairman Haji Iqbal said the government's unusual panic and unconventional measures in the wheat procurement scheme for 2020-21 could lead to serious problems in the availability of flour. He said wheat production in KP has dropped by more than 50pc this year, and this could lead to flour shortage and price hike.

Rejecting the provincial government's claim of 1.3 million tonnes of wheat production, Iqbal said that KP usually produced 4.5 million tonnes

PM, Italian counterpart discuss IOK, debt relief initiative ISLAMABAD APP

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday emphasised that the developed countries could not deal with global economic recession without taking developing countries along as global challenge requires a global and holistic response. He was talking with his Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte on telephone. The Covid-19 pandemic and a broad range of other subjects were discussed dur-

ing the conversation.

Offering deep condolences over loss of precious lives, Prime Minister Imran commended Italy’s efforts to fight the pandemic and briefed PM Conte about the latest situation in Pakistan and steps taken by the government to contain the spread of the virus.

Underlining the imperative of saving lives and livelihoods, the prime minister highlighted the salient points of Pakistan’s strategy to deal with the twin challenges of health and socio-economic impacts.

Moot calls for unified global efforts to achieve debt relief initiative ISLAMABAD APP

Speakers at a webinar on Monday emphasised for a unified global efforts to implement Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Global Initiative on Debt Relief to developing countries following slowdown of the economy due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organised the webinar, ‘Providing Debt Relief; Time for solidarity,’ to discuss Prime Minister Imran khan’s global initiative on debt relief, according to a press release.

ISSI Director Research Najam Rafique said that in a battle to overcome the pandemic, the developing world had to contend with current account and fiscal deficits, faltering service and produc-

of wheat per annum "but due to a 50 per cent reduction in production this year, the farmers will utilise all their wheat and there will be nothing available for PASSCO to purchase".

At present, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa needs 4 million to 4.5 million tonnes of wheat per annum to fulfil its needs.

Iqbal further informed the owners of flour mills had recently met with the federal and provincial officials wherein they were assured that the province would import 1.5 million tonnes of wheat for itself since Punjab had imposed a ban on flour and wheat supply to the province.

"Despite the fact that there was PTI government in both Punjab and KP, the former's ban on wheat supply to the latter is very unfortunate. We demand the federal government to immediately restore wheat supply from Punjab."

tion industries, failing businesses, and laboring national budgets.

With falling exports and remittances, balancing their budget will be an uphill task for many developing countries, he said and added that under these circumstances, it was important that there should be a unified global effort to implement Prime Minister Imran Khan’s global initiatives on debt relief to developing countries.

In his introductory remarks, ISSI Director General Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry stated that debt overload was a global phenomenon and the developing countries were gravely affected by this more than others. He said the present state of the world may be heading towards a depression, similar to that of the 1920’s, and therefore, it is

time for solidarity and that all stakeholders must come together to defeat this challenge and reach common solutions.

He pointed out that the GDP is shrinking, exports are going down and we are heading towards a very challenging situation.

Farrukh Iqbal Khan articulated that Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for global debt relief and was continuously engaging with the world community in this regard. He said that sustainability was the need of the hour in order to move ahead. He was of the opinion that it would be best to pursue debt suspension rather than debt relief since it would not be possible for the international financial institutions to completely write off debts.

Sharing his observations on the subject, Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri stated that the pandemic which was going to lead to

negative GDP growth was likely to affect Pakistan’s economy in dire ways and the recent locust attacks were also very likely to further exacerbate the situation.

The ongoing pandemic is posing grave challenges for Pakistan and the lockdown has shut many businesses and affected the informal economy as well, he said and added the closure of economic activity poses several challenges, especially in the shape of growing unemployment. Humayun Akhtar Khan, while giving his perspective stated that Prime Minister Imran Khan had been the first one to call out for debt relief. He said that the dilemma was that addressing health crises weakens the economy as saving lives requires a strict lockdown.

He said the economy was already in a slowdown and when this pandemic emerged, the government was already struggling to bring about some economic stability via IMF programs. He further said that the country has long been facing an endemic problem of public debt and it has further worsened with the COVID19, along with a fall in GDP as estimated by the government.

still buried under rubble. The wing was extracted and transported to the airport.

However, the engine will be extracted and transported under the supervision of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) construction experts on Monday.

Shehbaz moves LHC for bail in assets case LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has approached the Lahore High Court for pre-arrest bail in assets beyond means and money laundering case. In a petition filed through Advocate Amjad Pervaiz, the PML-N president submitted that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had launched an investigation against him over charges of assets beyond means and money laundering. He said that the investigation had been pending for the last 16 months but the bureau had not yet filed any reference. He also said that he extended full cooperation with NAB authorities and appeared before the investigation team on being summoned. He added that instant proceedings were prompted by mala fide intentions. Shehbaz submitted that the bureau had thoroughly investigated him about assets during his custody earlier but could not confront him with any evidence to suggest any nexus with the misuse of power in amassing assets. “In absence of any evidence worth name to suggest any nexus between amassing of assets and abuse or misuse of office, an offence in terms of section 9(a)(v) of NAO, 1999, cannot be attracted,” he contended while terming the investigation illegal and unlawful. He further said that NAB chairman did not have any authority to launch investigations into money laundering allegations under anti-money laundering act. The PML-N president said that the bureau had again summoned him in connection with the investigation on June 2 and it was feared that he might be arrested. APP

‘Spray and Survey’ strategy deployed against locust swarms ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Food Security & Research (MNFSR) on Monday said that a strategy of ‘spray and survey’ is underway to control the locust infestation plaguing the country. In a press statement, the ministry said that almost 204,000 acres of land has been surveyed while 496,700 acres of land will see a control operation against existing locust swarms.

State of the art machinery has been deployed to fight the menace while airplanes and helicopters have also been deployed against the locusts, which continue to ravage crops in Pakistan and various parts of the world. Earlier on May 29. Chairman National Disaster Management Authorities (NDMA), Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal held a press conference to address the locust threat in the country. He said that the locust threat has gradually seen a decrease due to the migration of a large portion of the swarms to India’s area of Rajasthan. He added that the reason for the large scale pest infestation in the country was due to the cold, humid and rainy season in Balochistan last year due to which a large population of the insect couldn’t migrate. INP

04 islamabad

Tuesay, 2 June, 2020

tuesday

290C

200C

Wednesday

KP traders demand end to locKdown PESHAWAR

t

AZIZ BUNERI

HE Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) traders’ community here on Monday demanded of the government to end lockdown and allow businesses to remain open seven days a week. The demand was made by a delegation of the Traders Alliance Federation (TAF) led by its president Amin Babar, Senior Vice President Sanaullah, Vice President Munawar Khurshid and others dur-

ing a meeting with Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Engineer Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz here at the Chamber House.

Members of the Chamber’s Executive Committee Aftab Iqbal and Ihsanullah Khan and others were also present during the meeting.

The meeting was apprised about grievances and difficulties of traders’ community because of the prolonged pandemic induced lockdown in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The traders said that small businesses have struggled the most

since the lockdown.

"We cannot afford the imposed restrictions anymore," Maqsood Pervaiz opined, adding that small scale traders were forced into starvation due to the lockdown while labourers were also severely affected due to the closure of business centres.

He said that thousands of workers would lose their jobs if the restrictions to open shops remained in place.

While speaking on the occasion, SCCI chief said that the Covid-19 pandemic had virtually crippled the country’s economy

320C

210C

thursday

and businesses activities and maintained the business community had extended full cooperation to the government during the prolonged lockdown but they needed to operate at full throttle now in order to make up for the losses and ensure survival. Later, a delegation of KP Furniture Manufacturers, Dealers and Exporters Association Traders Group led by its chairman Ejaz Ali Shah, Vice Chairman Irfan Khalil, President Forez Shah, General Secretary Ihsan Khan, Vice President Mujeebullah and others also met with the SCCI president. Ejaz Ali Shah informed the meeting about the problems and issues being faced by dealers and manufacturers associated with the furniture sector.

The SCCI chief assured the delegation of raising the issues and long-standing demands of furniture dealers, manufacturers and exporters with the government and relevant departments in an effective manner on a priority basis.

World Bank to provide Pakistan $188m to fight climate change ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister’s Advisor Malik Amin on Monday said that the present government is taking all-out measures for the overall environmental protection through forest regeneration and biodiversity conservation programmes in addition to boosting the country’s climate-resilience through enhanced disaster risk management.

This he said while addressing a signing ceremony of a five-year US$ 188 ‘Pakistan Hydromet and Ecosystem Restoration Services Project’ agreement. Under the agreement, the World Bank (WB) would join hands with Pakistan to provide funding and technical support to latter’s disaster resilience and ecosystem restoration initiatives through more reliable and timely weather forecasting improved disaster risk management services as well as overall environmental sustainability and achieving green growth targets of the country.

“This is the first time that Pakistan has successes to win heft funding of US 188 million for an ambitious five-year project that aims to address environmental degradation, deforestation, climate change-caused disaster risks in the country through nature-based solutions such as increasing forest cover, strengthening hydro-meteorological forecasting for effective delivery of disaster risk management services,” the advisor said.

Speaking about the Green Economic Stimulus, Malik Amin said that it supports the objectives of 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation Project which is aimed at bolstering plantations, setting up of nurseries, natural forests, and promotion of honey, fruits and olive plantation in Pakistan.

Under the package, a ‘Green Nigehabaan’ initia-

President terms doctors who died of covid-19 as heroes ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday termed doctors who lost their lives in the fight against coronavirus as heroes. In a tweet over the death of pathologist Dr Aurangzeb and pediatrician Dr Muhammad Azam Khan due to Covid-19 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the president said the nation acknowledges their sacrifice and offered condolences to the families of the deceased doctors.

“My condolences to their families. The nation thanks them, who have sacrificed their lives & health professionals who are at increasing risk.

They are our heroes. But as we recognise them, we must insist that we practice SOPs. Wear masks, wash hands, & keep social distance everywhere,” he tweeted. In another tweet replying to Azerbaijan Ambassador Ali Alizada, Dr Alvi said it is important that we must not forget the neglected strata of society, particularly orphans, differently-abled and thalassemia affected children during the fight against coronavirus. Ambassador Alizada on his Twitter handle had shared a picture captioned as nice memories from last year’s celebration on International Children Day hosted by the president here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. Dr Alvi said that because of Covid-19, the presidency this year has missed such functions where orphans, differently-abled, thalassemia affected children, and many others from neglected strata of society are invited.

PRAyER TImINgS

WEATHER UPDATES

tive would also be launched to provide thousands of job opportunities to youth and daily-wagers in the first phase by making them a part of the plantation campaign. The Green Economic Stimulus also promotes the Clean and Green Pakistan Movement, which adopts a holistic approach and aims at reducing and alleviating pollution of air, ground and water. He also told the ceremony participants that the Climate Change Ministry has already launched the ‘Ecosystems Restoration Initiative’ (ESRI) which is an ambitious initiative that focuses on applying the nature-based solutions to bolster Pakistan’s climate change adaptation and mitigation objectives while addressing issues like livelihoods and reducing damages from natural disasters.

He said that the current pandemic has brought a new set of challenges for Pakistan like many other countries, including social, political and even to human survival issues. “As a result, it has become increasingly challenging to sustain the livelihoods of millions of people, while putting in place effective safety measures,” he added.

“A recent assessment indicates that up to 19 million people could be laid off due to the lockdown, bringing extreme challenges for the government to ensure the economic survival of various communities,” he cautioned.

“However, so far, the government has very ably utilised the situation to ensure economic sustenance of people and converting the challenge into an opportunity through now what is the world-acclaimed Green Stimulus initiative, which has been approved

by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan as part of his government’s efforts for ensuring economic security in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic,” he emphasised. Malik Amin also said that the federal government’s launch of the Green Stimulus Package

would support the 10 Billion Tsunami Afforestation Project, which is promoting the forestry sector by engaging the workforce for raising plantations and other conservation-related activities all over the country.

He further mentioned that the Green Economic Stimulus also promotes the Clean and Green Pakistan Movement, which adopts a holistic approach and aims at reducing and alleviating pollution of air, ground and water.

Prime Minister’s Advisor Malik Amin on Monday said that the present government is taking allout measures for the overall environmental protection through forest regeneration and biodiversity conservation programmes in addition to boosting the country’s climate-resilience through enhanced disaster risk management. This he said while addressing a signing ceremony of a five-year US$ 188 ‘Pakistan Hydromet and Ecosystem Restoration Services project’ agreement.

Under the agreement, the World Bank (WB) would join hands with Pakistan to provide funding and technical support to latter’s disaster resilience and ecosystem restoration initiatives through more reliable and timely weather forecasting improved disaster risk management services as well as overall environmental sustainability and achieving green growth targets of the country.

“This is the first time that Pakistan has successes to win heft funding of US 188 million for an ambitious five-year project that aims to address environmental degradation, deforestation, climate change-caused disaster risks in the country through nature-based solutions such as increasing forest cover, strengthening hydro-meteorological forecasting for effective delivery of disaster risk management services,” the advisor said.

COMSATS University’s employees decry salary delay ISLAMABAD APP

The Academic Staff Association of COMSATS University Islamabad (ASACUI) has expressed serious concerns and resentment over the delay of salary disbursements to employees of various campuses that had dampened Eid celebrations.

Despite the notification of Finance Division No. 4(4)Exp-III/2011 dated May 4, 2020 and as per Note-4 of Rule-217 of the Treasury Rules (VolI), the salaries of CUI faculty and officers are not disbursed as of today, ASA-CUI said in a statement. Ironically, the administration did not inform these employees of the university about prospective delay in salary disbursement.

As a matter of fact, the employees have been continuously performing their duties online, including online classes and research supervisions, as per directions of relevant authorities even in these trying times. When the students have already paid tuition fee in advance for the Spring 2020 semester, due to closure of university during lockdown in the last couple of months the recurring expenses got reduced considerably, then a serious question

arises on the financial mismanagement of interim administration of CUI. The ASA-CUI believes that the long-lasted adhocism in CUI has resulted in lots of administrative, financial and academic problems that have severely and adversely affected the affairs of the university.

The delay in salary disbursements is purely the incompetency of the interim administration which is merely struggling to prolong its adhoc setup and the unlawful higher administrative positions for more than three years.

ASA-CUI appealed to the President of Pakistan, being the Chancellor of CUI, the Prime Minister of Pakistan and Minister for Science and Technology, Mr. Fawad Hussain Chaudhry, being Pro-Chancellor of CUI to take remedial measures to ensure the disbursements of salaries to CUI employees at the earliest and to end the long-lasting adhocism in CUI as directed by the Islamabad High Court.

ASA-CUI further demanded independent inquiry of salary delay and forensic, financial, and administrative audits of CUI absence of which has resulted in serious damages to this university in general and to its faculty specifically.

340C

220C

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

3:18

12:06

3:51

4:58

7:13

8:55

QaU ranks among top 500 best universities of world ISLAMABAD APP

The Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) has been ranked at 454 in top 500 universities of the world in 2020 by The Times Higher Education, a world university rankings institution, it was revealed on Monday. QAU remarkably improved in the ranking from 511 to 454 in the last 15 months at global level while it has also achieved 79 position in Asia. It is worth mentioning that QAU is the only university of Pakistan that ranks among the top 500 by all best ranking agencies of the world like, world times ranking, QS ranking, United States (US) times and the world news ranking agency. The university spokesman while talking to APP said it was an excellent news with the new semester starting. He also congratulated all dedicated faculty members, students, staff, alumni and Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali on the occasion. "We hope that under the visionary and dynamic leadership of Prof Dr Muhammad Ali and with the efforts and contribution of faculty members, students, staff and alumni, QAU will further improve its ranking at international level", he added. He also requested the government, Ministry of Education and Higher Education Commission (HEC) to allocate special funds to the university so it can mark its position in the top 300 universities next year.

IccI urges govt to slash Pol taxes as prices go down ISLAMABAD APP

Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, while hailing the government for reducing the prices of petrol, light diesel and kerosene by over Rs7, Rs9 and Rs11 per litre respectively, has called for a slash in taxes on Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricant (POL) products instead of making them a source of revenue generation.

In a press release issued here, the ICCI president said that on the one hand, prices of POL products were reduced, but on the other hand taxes on these products were further increased which was not a wise decision as has deprived the people of availing any effective benefit of the decline in oil prices in the international market. He said that the business community and people have suffered badly due to Covid-19 so, in these circumstances, the government must reduce taxes on petroleum products in order to reduce the high cost of doing business to facilitate the revival of business activities and unburdening people from high inflation. He said that diesel was mostly used in transportation, industry and agriculture sectors but the government has not reduced its price even though there was an urgent need to provide relief to these sectors.

He said that despite the historic decline in the price of oil in the global market, the government has not reduced the price of high octane petrol due to which the price of petrol in the market was about Rs147 per litre and added that there was no justification for keeping the price of high octane so high.

The ICCI president said that most of the electricity in Pakistan was generated from oil-fired power plants and now that the price of oil has come down drastically, it necessitates a proportionate cut in the price of electricity to alleviate the hardships of the business class, revive industrial and commercial activities besides boosting exports.

Tuesday, 2 June, 2020

ISLAMABAD

t

AHMAD AHMADANI

he government has deprived the customers of reaping full benefit of the declining global oil prices by increasing petroleum levy on petrol

by Rs6.29 per litre for June, Pakistan Today has learnt.

Sources said that instead of letting customers enjoy the full benefits of the declining oil prices in the international market, the government increased the petroleum levy to minimise its revenue losses.

They said that ‘record high’ petroleum levy was increased on the recommendation of the Finance Ministry to increase government’s revenue by Rs6 billion in June and to

GOvt InCREASES PEtROlEuM lEvy by RS6.29 PAKISTAN HAS CHEAPEST OIL PRICES IN SOUTH ASIA, SAYS PM meet shortfall of Rs188 billion.

They added that for the first time in the last 15 years, the ratio of petroleum levy on POL products, especially petrol, is higher than ever, however, the Finance Ministry,

Renowned writer Dr Asif Farrukhi passes away

Petroleum Division and other concerned departments are yet to make the notified rates public.

On Sunday, the government reduced the prices of petrol by Rs7.06 per litre. Similarly,

the prices of light-diesel oil and kerosene oil were also slashed by Rs0.37 per litre and Rs11.88 per litre. However, it increased high speed diesel by five paisa per litre effective for the month of June.

‘OIL PRICES CHEAPEST’: On Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan has the cheapest oil prices compared with other states in

PM Imran approves wildlife protection, plantation initiative

NEWS DESK Pakistani writer, teacher and critic Dr Asif Aslam Farrukhi passed away on Monday at the age of 60. Dr Farrukhi was born in September, 1959. He was the son of distinguished Urdu scholar, poet, researcher and writer Dr Aslam Farrukhi who passed away after a prolonged illness in 2016. In 2014, Dr Farrukhi joined Habib University in Karachi as an associate professor and the director of the Arzu Centre for Regional Languages and Humanities. He was employed by the university when he passed away. The varsity paid tribute to him in tweet Monday evening. According to Habib University’s website, Dr Farrukhi, a public health physician by training, did his MBBS from the Dow Medical College, Karachi in 1984 and Masters in Public Health with concentration in International Health from the Harvard University, USA in 1988. From 1994 to 2014, he served as the health and nutrition programme officer at UNICEF, Karachi. Dr Farrukhi founded the Karachi Literature Festival with former Oxford University Press managing director Ameena Saiyid.

SSGC deputy managing director passes away KARACHI: Naeem Akhoond, the deputy managing director of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), passed away in Karachi on Monday. His family took him to South City Hospital on Sunday but the administration refused to admit him and his family started searching for other hospitals. However, when his condition deteriorated on Sunday night, they took him to South City Hospital once again and were told that they would only admit him if Rs1 million were deposited in advance. The family deposited the amount and admitted him to the hospital but he could not survive and passed away on Monday afternoon. STAFF REPORT

Judicial remand of Jang Group CEO extended

ISLAMABAD APP

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday approved the launch of the “Protected Area Initiative” on Monday, under the ‘Green Pakistan Programme’.

Advisor to PM on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam Khan called on the prime minister, according to the press release issued by the PM’s office.

The meeting was a continuation of the “Green Stimulus” package approved by the prime minister in April, 2020, wherein 65,000 youth/ daily-wage earners, who are facing unemployment in the wake of Covid-19, were to be

would launch the “Protected Area Initiative” after the Ministry of Climate Change completes the process of consultation with stakeholders.

On April 28, Prime Minister Imran Khan had approved the ‘Green Stimulus’ package as part of the government’s efforts to extend green cover in the county and to create job opportunities for the youth, particularly in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

The Green Stimulus package, as part of 10 Billion Tree Tsunami project, aims to promote plantation, setting up nurseries, natural forests and promotion of honey, fruit and olive plantation in the country.

June begins with 1,402 new coronavirus cases, 22 deaths KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah disclosing daily situation report of coronavirus on Monday said that the new month of June started with 22 deaths and detection of 1,402 new cases across Sindh.

He said that the virus death toll has reached 503 and the number of cases had risen to 29,647.

Giving details, the chief minister said that 6,289 samples were tested which resulted in 1,402 new coronavirus cases that constituted 22.3 per cent. He added that so far his govern-

ment had conducted 187,092 tests which detected 29,647 cases. According to Shah 22 more patients succumbed to the virus, lifting the death toll to 503 that came to 1.7 percent. He added that 342 patients were in critical condition, of them 71 were on ventilators.

He said that at present, 14,554 patients of coronavirus were under treatment, including 13,346 at home, 113 at -isolation centers and 1095 at different hospitals. Shah said that 785 patients had recovered during the last 24 hours and the number of patients recovered so far had reached 14,590 that showed 49.2 per cent recovery rate. Giving districtwise details of the cases, the chief min-

ister said that out of 1,402 cases, 1,028 belonged to Karachi. Korangi has 292 cases, East 232, South 193, Central 165, West 101 and Malir 45.

Ghotki and Sukkur have 46 cases each, Larkana 38, Hyderabad 25, Mirpurkhas 21, Shikarpur 20, Jacobabad 12, eight each in Khairpur and Jamshoro, four each in Badin and Sujawal, two each in Thatta, Dadu and Naushehroferoze, each one in Umerkot, Shaheed Benazirabad and KashmoreKandhkot.

He warned the people of Sukkur, Larkana and Ghotki to follow the SOPs because the cases of local transmission were on the rise in their areas.

Justice Isa challenges law minister’s decision to represent govt in reference CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

LAHORE: An accountability court on Monday extended till June 15 the judicial remand of Jang Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mir Shakilur Rahman in a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) case pertaining to illegal allotment of 54kanal residential land. A brief hearing, presided over by Accountability Judge Syed Jawadul Hassan, was conducted wherein NAB prosecutor Asim Mumtaz and defense counsel Chaudhry Aurangzaib appeared. However, the anti-graft agency did not produce Mir Shakil due to the Covid-19 threat. The bureau had arrested the media mogul in March this year. According to the agency, the land in question was allotted to him in 1986 in Block H of Phase 2 in Johar Town “by then chief minister Punjab Mian Nawaz Sharif in violation of the relevant laws and rules”. APP

utilised for plantation activities across the country, the statement said.

The programme would involve the establishment of 12 national parks with the aim to preserve and protect wildlife and plantations.

The premier directed for all provinces to be taken on board for the initiative at the highest level, which includes chief ministers.

“PM Imran emphasised that such initiatives provide employment opportunities in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, while at the same time protect the natural resources of the country,” the press release maintained.

It added that the prime minister

In this case there has been double procurement. Mr Farogh Nasim, the Law Minister, procured this case for the Advocate, Mr Farogh Nasim,” the application read.

The top court judge said if the former law minister represents the government or anyone else in his case it would constitute “illegal practice in terms of Section 58 the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973”.

BACKGROUND: The federal government in May last year filed separate references with the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against two Supreme Court judges, Justice Isa and Justice Karim Khan Agha, accusing the two judges of concealing their assets and

recommend action against them under Article 209 of the Constitution. According to Article 209, if the SJC finds the judge to be “incapable of performing the duties of his office or has been guilty of misconduct”, the president may remove the said judge from office.

Subsequently in August, Justice Isa approached the apex court and requested it to form a full-court bench comprising all eligible judges to hear his petition against the reference while accusing then chief justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa of “showing personal bias against him”.

He had argued that a judicial precedent for constituting a bench comprising the full court is already available in former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry vs the president of Pakistan through secre-

tary and others.

Later in September, he moved another petition making a similar request.

The judge was of the view that matters narrated in accompanying civil miscellaneous application dated August 26 – “which may for the sake of brevity be read as a part hereof” – demonstrates the necessity for hearing by such a fullcourt bench.

“The petition also raises a number of important constitutional questions, including that of the independence of the judiciary, the formation of an independent opinion by the president, obtaining federal cabinet’s approval and other vital issues of surveillance, and the manner and method of collecting evidence against a judge of the Supreme Court and his family,” he had said.

PM hints at opening more sectors as Covid-19 cases soar CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 The premier warned the country that the coronavirus will continue to spread unabated and that people need to learn to live with it until a vaccine is developed. He appealed the nation to adopt standard operating procedures (SOPs) and other precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus.

“The world has agreed, the richest countries have come to the conclusion that the virus will spread no matter what. Nothing can be done about it. The virus will spread and our death toll will also rise […] I told

you that from day one,” he said.

Prime Minister Imran said that he was always against lockdowns, saying that if it were up to him, he never would have imposed a lockdown. He added that lockdowns were not a “cure” for the coronavirus.

“Due to the presence of 18th Amendment, provinces in our country can ake their own decisions,” Khan said, as he derided the “elites” of the country who did not care about the welfare of the poor.

“The reality of our country is that there are 25 million labourers whose families will starve if they don’t work. So I, personally,

have always believed that a lockdown was going to affect these workers. “When we impose and enforce lockdowns, people starve.

Those who live in DHA don’t care about these things,” the premier stated.

Prime Minister Imran said that the lockdown had caused “massive suffering” for people who relied on daily wages to feed their families. He cited the example of India as a country that had failed to take care of its needy citizens during the countrywide lockdown. “Just look at India. They imposed a strict lockdown. And look at the effect of it on their migrant workers. Dozens have died on

train tracks. Poverty has become rampant there. And the virus is still spreading,” he said.

Addressing the frontline healthcare workers fighting against Covid-19, the prime minister said that while his thoughts and prayers were with them during their “jihad” against the virus, they needed to understand that lifting the lockdown was necessary, as the country has more than 50 million people who live below the poverty line.

‘TOURISM SHOULD BE REVIVED’: Prime Minister Imran said that the country’s tourism industry should be revived once again, stating that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

NEWS

05

South Asia after recent reduction by the federal government.

“We have further reduced petrol, light diesel oil, kerosene oil prices. Now we have the cheapest fuel cost compared to other states in South Asia. India is almost exactly double. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Nepal are all 50 to 75 percent more expensive than us,” tweeted the prime minister.

He said that the government has further reduced petrol, light diesel oil and kerosene oil prices and reduction in prices is applicable from that day. The prime minister said that prices of petroleum products are almost double in India while these prices in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal are expensive by 50 to 75 per cent if compared with prices in Pakistan.

India committing aggression against all neighbours, says Shibli ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz on Monday said that the RSS-led Indian government has launched a campaign of baseless and false allegations against the staff of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi. In a statement, the minister said under the international law, preventing the Pakistan High Commission from discharging its diplomatic duties and arresting and torturing diplomatic staff is a heinous and highly reprehensible act. The aim of vicious campaign, he said, is to cover up its crimes, to avoid global stigma against its treatment with minorities and divert attention from state terrorism against unarmed Kashmiris in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). He said that international community should take note of India’s actions and hold New Delhi accountable for its violations of diplomatic and international laws.

He said India is guilty of aggression against all its neighbours in the region. Indian mischief and expansionist mindset forced even a peaceloving and progressive country like China to deploy its army on Indian border. He added similar pieces of news are reported in media regarding Nepal. Faraz said that unilateral and illegal Indian action in IOK, an internationally recognized unresolved dispute, is a clear violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions and international laws and is a charge sheet against New Delhi. APP

Google honours Anna Molka Ahmed – pioneer of fine arts in Pakistan LAHORE: Google on Monday honored acclaimed Pakistani artist and educator Anna Molka Ahmed, the country’s first art teacher to bring her students out of the classroom to paint outdoors. On this day in 1940, Ahmed established the fine arts department, now the University College of Arts & Design, at the University of the Punjab in Lahore, laying the foundation for decades of arts education in the country.

Anna Molka Bridger was born on August 13th, 1917, in London, England. She was determined to become an artist from a young age, and despite her parents’ disapproval, eventually enrolled at the Royal College of Art in London.

There she met her husband, and the pair soon moved to Lahore. Ahmed’s path took a fortuitous turn when she responded to an advertisement from the University of the Punjab seeking an artist to open a women’s art department at the school. In 1940, she became the first head of the university’s fine arts department, and over more than thirty years, she was instrumental in fostering a culture of arts education in Pakistan. She organised the first art exhibitions ever held in the country, and many of her students went on to establish their own university arts programs throughout Pakistan. Meanwhile, Ahmed never stopped painting, her expressionist work often combining European influences with inspiration from her adopted home country. STAFF REPORT

(KP) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) governments will soon issue SOPs to allow reopening of the sector. “I think that tourism should be revived because that sector provides jobs to many in GB and elsewhere,” he said.

“There are areas in our country [GB and KP] that can only be toured during the summer months. If we continue to impose lockdowns in those areas, the local people who rely on income from tourism to survive will starve,” Khan argued.

The premier also announced that all the Pakistani nationals stranded abroad will be repatriated to the country.

“I want to talk about overseas Pakistanis.

I’m worried about our labourers in UAE and Saudi Arabia. They send valuable remittances to us.

Tuesday, 2 June, 2020

06 COMMENT

In praise of unlearning

A neo-liberal concept of governance Controlling the pandemic is people’s own responsibility

Especially how it helps to understand the Quran

t

HE basis of the policy announced by the PM on Monday was laid down a day earlier at the nCOC meeting. the lockdown is no more on the current agenda. the country will have to devise a strategy aimed at living with the pandemic which would continue to claim lives in months to come. the policy is targeted at gradually opening up different sectors of the economy. It is understood that this was bound to raise the number of infections and casualties. Most of the task to reduce the impact of the virus is to be undertaken by the people themselves through strict observance of the SOPs. they are to blame themselves if their failure leads to the spread of the disease. the government has done its duty by issuing the SOPs. But has it? the government will go for smart lock downs in pockets of population infested with Covid-19. the much maligned lockdown, imperfect as it was, helped stem the tide of the virus while providing the government a respite to build up stocks of testing kits, PPEs and ventilators and train new teams of laboratory analysts. the arrangements have to remain a step ahead of the rate of the virus spread to be able to reduce its force. Will the administration be able to fill the gap created by the unending casualties of doctors, nurses and health workers? Will the future spread remain lower than the administration’s present projections?

Had the government started an awareness campaign and taken measures to discourage public gatherings three months earlier, the spread of the virus could have been slowed down. the desire to gain the goodwill of the clerics led the government to allow the taraveeh prayers, which led to gross violation of the SOPs. Feeling encouraged, those running the seminaries have now announced to start admissions in their schools from today and hold regular classes from June 12. What’s more they have decided to take private schools on board and are pressurizing the government to allow tableeghi Jamaat to resume its activities. Is the PtI administration committed to good governance and people’s health or it would again be dictated by political exigencies?

haSaN aFTab Saeed

U

nlEARnIng is an extremely underrated virtue. Often it is every bit as important as learning, if not more. none of us can help accumulating, in our formative years, huge stores of ideas and perceptions that are either incorrect (if they are matters of fact) or poorly founded (if they are opinions). this is unavoidable because hearsay is one of the ways we learn new things. It becomes worrisome only if these ideas and perceptions are not subjected to frequent checks.

Especially when one of us takes up the study of any subject, unlearning (foolish) things about that subject is at least as important as learning (sound) bits about it. It’s rather easy to fall in love with one’s longheld opinions, and one asks for trouble if one resolves to resist altering one’s preconceived notions about the subject and decides to defend them with all the emotional force at one’s disposal. What results then is an unholy muddle of sound and foolish ideas. this intellectual lethargy/dishonesty comes at a huge price: the man becomes an embodiment of doublethink. there’s no wisdom where there’s no coherence. the Quran calls itself Al-Furqan (the Criterion that decides between the true and the false). It also declares that it is quite complete as far as its subject-matter is concerned. It is a Book, which implies that all the necessary context is right there in the text itself. It claims that it is revealed in unambiguous and clear Arabic, in a form most suitable for guidance. It says that its perfect transmission and purity is guaranteed by god Himself. Also, it’s the verbatim speech of god, as op-

Diplomatic spat India unwilling to give peace a chance

I

n what is the latest deterioration in diplomatic relations with its neighbor, India has expelled two diplomats from Pakistan’s high commission in Delhi for allegedly being involved in espionage. the officials, who were taken into custody by Indian law enforcement authorities, were accused of attempting to obtain sensitive information about the country’s security establishment.

Since Prime Minister narendra Modi secured a second term last year, he has ramped up confrontation with Pakistan, bringing both countries almost to the brink of war at one stage. Under him, the BJP’s Hindutva ideology has gained prominence through a continuously propagated anti-Muslim narrative, passing of discriminatory citizenship laws and the revocation of the special status afforded to Jammu and Kashmir under the Indian constitution where a lockdown has persisted now for close to ten months. Pakistan, under Prime Minister Imran Khan has attempted to find some middle ground in this current impasse with no luck. Modi won on an antiPakistan stance and there is no limit to how far he will take it as he has clearly decided to keep it up to pander to his core base. Indiscriminate firing along the lOC has continued unabated for months resulting in casualties on both sides every so often. In such an atmosphere, the intelligence apparatus, which is expansive and overactive in both countries, will naturally be on high alert and more vigilant than usual. An indication of this reality being more pronounced on the Indian side is the comical and not so infrequent detention of Pakistani ‘spy pigeons’ by Indian authorities. the hasty arrest and framing of charges against foreign diplomats is similarly excessive and should have been handled with more care.

India’s atrocities in Kashmir along with rising intolerance and extremism against minorities within the country have been widely condemned by international human rights groups. Other than taking a beating from the economic and human fallout of the coronavirus, it is now also engaged in a border conflict with China in ladakh.

Regional peace is only achievable if all players want it and contribute towards deescalating any tensions to increase cooperation that can lead to better diplomatic relations and more trade. India must therefore examine and alter its irrational and dangerous strategy of opening fronts unnecessarily while refusing to come to the negotiating table and sort matters out.

Track and trace Shouldn’t there be consent first?

Rabia ahmed

I

t seems the government is employing military technology to fight the corona virus. this technology is normally used to hunt down terrorists to discover what they’re up to by enabling the user to listen in to their telephone conversations, to note their movements to see who they are in touch with. this now is being used against the victims of corona, to ‘track and trace’ those infected with the virus, and by listening in to their phone conversations to discover whether those they are in communication with are also infected. this is of course being done by monitoring our phones.

Is this a good idea? this strategy is not restricted to Pakistan alone.

It is also being used by other countries for example Israel. Whether or not it is a good idea for those other countries to use it is not the remit of this column. the government of Pakistan has failed dismally to come up with a coherent strategy to deal with the pandemic – much less adhere to whatever strategy it does produce. Its calls for lockdown have been ignored by the public, and the so called ‘religious’ lobby has ignored restrictions on mosques and congregations and done exactly as it pleased. It has laid down and repealed instructions to educational institutions. It is now falling back upon threats against the government in Sindh for continuing the lockdown in that province, seeing that it must be seen to be doing something. this government and all previous governments are therefore hardly the most competent authority to trust with listening in to one’s private conversations - if one must entrust someone

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Asher John

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

there’s another unfortunate tendency among huposed to an inspired idea which the recipient of the revelation has expressed in his own words. none of these mans that plays its part here: If one hears something attributes of the Quran is shared by any other text or for the first time, one is bound to reject it out of hand tradition; and so it makes no sense at all to give prece- as something too peculiar, especially if it goes against dence over the Quran to any other account (when it what one has heard all one’s life. And yet, if one comes to the subject of the Quran). If anything has the keeps hearing the same thing again and again, it stops authority of settling theological issues among Mus- sounding strange. this tendency (which is there in lims, it’s the Quran and nothing else. the moment one the best of us) makes it imperative that one keeps re‘understands’ the Quran ‘in the light of’ any other examining one’s thoughts about any subject to see if source (no matter what it may be), one is guilty of giv- they make any sense or are just accepted because of being more familiar. ing this authority to someMore specifically, one thing other than the must make it a habit of Quran. the results are asking oneself this: Does very unfortunate, whether What follows is that we need an understanding of a one does so consciously Quranic verse appeal to or unconsciously. that is teachers, not interpreters of the me because it agrees why it’s the Hadees that Quran. A teacher attempts to explain with a familiar story I must be understood in the have heard many times light of the Quran, and not the meaning of a given verse by (to the extent that I can’t the other way around imagine it to possibly be (which happens to be the pointing out the context and the any different), or does it popular approach with words employed and referring to appeal to me because it is very unfortunate results). the best explanation of Reverence and reother relevant verses of the Quran. the words of the verse spect for one’s religious taken in their context? teachers and what one An interpreter simply gives an What follows is that learned at the knee of we need teachers, not inone’s mother is probably interpretation, which cannot be terpreters of the Quran. A the biggest hurdle in the found in the Quran but is based on teacher attempts to exunderstanding of the the meaning of a Quran. One may sinsome extra-Quranic narration. Often plain given verse by pointing cerely believe that one is merely reading a given it blatantly contradicts other verses out the context and the words employed and reQuranic verse but what is of the Quran. ferring to other relevant going on in the mind at verses of the Quran. An that time is often a reinterpreter simply gives playing of some fairy tale an interpretation, which heard in childhood. Ask anybody about the last two chapters of the Quran and cannot be found in the Quran but is based on some he will most probably start by telling you that they extra-Quranic narration. Often it blatantly contradicts were revealed to counter the magic spell that his ad- other verses of the Quran. like all valuable things understanding of the versaries were successfully able to cast on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) – may god preserve us! Some Quran only comes with sincerity and effort. But it of them would even give you an elaborate description cannot be achieved without unlearning preconof how as the eleven verses were recited eleven knots ceived notions about it. this often gets neglected on some thread came unstuck and the evil spell was and the resulting religious worldview, on account of eliminated. the Quran says no such thing. In fact, being based on disparate and conflicting narratives, quite the opposite: on many occasions it refutes this is of necessity and therefore something that fails to very claim from its doubters that Muhammad hang together.

(PBUH) was under a magic spell. Examples could be Hasan Aftab Saeed is a connoisseur of music, multiplied but it would be a safe estimate that every fourth verse of the Quran is given a spin based on ex- literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be reached at www.facebook.com/hasanaftabsaeed ternal sources.

I

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

I

istan also establishes the right to privacy as a fundawith such a thing.

Pakistan has a massive population. Almost three mental right. Article 14(1) of the Constitution conquarters of this large number of people have access firms that “the dignity of man and, subject to law, the to mobile phones, and a quarter to the internet. this privacy of home, shall be inviolable.”

Yet Pakistan’s constitution also includes a widesurveillance involving all these people has been started without prior consent of the people of Pak- ranging exception to the primacy of fundamental istan. Furthermore, organizations entrusted with this rights. the provisions of Article 8 do not apply to any surveillance by the government do not always work law relating to the ‘proper discharge’ of the duties of the Armed Forces or the police. in a salubrious manner.

It is a cause for concern therefore to find that a Privacy international.org tells us that Pakistan is strategy such as track and signatory to: trace this is being emthe International ployed, perhaps with the Covenant on Civil and best intentions.

Political Rights, When taking the step to bring in this By employing this which states that “no one method the way it has, shall be subject to arbisurveillance, have any safeguards the government of Paktrary or unlawful interistan has failed to protect ference with his privacy, been put into place to ensure that its citizens and has acted family or corresponthis surveillance does not extend to in contravention to its dence.” the ICCPR also own laws, and in contracommits Pakistan to enother things that are unrelated to vention to the other suring the protection of agreements it is signaother rights that rely on ‘viral matters’? Are there any tory to. the protection of privacy, guidelines in place to bring this Where, you wonder, such as freedom of exis Covid-19 likely to stop pression and freedom of surveillance to an end once the and politics begin? When association. the step to bring in the Cairo Declaravirus dies down or will it continue to taking this surveillance, have tion on Human Rights In any safeguards been put Islam affirms that: “a) try and unearth matters that have into place to ensure that Everyone shall have the nothing to do with the Coronavirus? this surveillance does not right to live in security extend to other things for himself, his religion, that are unrelated to his dependents, his honor ‘viral matters’? Are there and his property. (b) Everyone shall have the right to privacy in the con- any guidelines in place to bring this surveillance to duct of his private affairs, in his home, among his an end once the virus dies down or will it continue to family, with regard to his property and his relation- try and unearth matters that have nothing to do with ships. It is not permitted to spy on him, to place him the Coronavirus?

And why were the people of this country not on under surveillance or to besmirch his good name. the State shall protect him from arbitrary interference. (c) board at the time that this measure was taken, why A private residence is inviolable in all cases. It will was their permission not obtained? this is not a good idea at all. not be entered without permission from its inhabitants or in any unlawful manner, nor shall it be demolished Rabia Ahmed is a freelance columnist. Read more or confiscated and its dwellers evicted.” the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pak- by her at http://rabia-ahmed.blogspot.com/

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

I

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

I

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Tuesday, 2 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

Life's struggles MOSt times life sucks, and can get really annoying that you get frustrated, most times it is beautiful that you wish to keep living forever. there are plethora of people on earth each person with its own hurdles to take and its beautiful moment to experience. the most important thing is to make each moment count...the good and the bad times. life is like a roller coaster with passage leading to different route. life has its ups and down but it is your decision to make each moment worthwhile, get out of your self and observe the existence .there is happiness. Joy and there is also sadness,sorrow.yet humans always look for a way to cope and deal with life's Issues. You shouldn't feel dejected when life does not go according to your plans because there is a time for everything and a season for every activities under the heavens. So brave yourselves and enjoy the moment.

HAMzA SIddIquI Karachi

I can’t breath

Silly little miseries And how we try to transcend loneliness, apathy and existence through others tains of certainty and abysses of doubt, some of all set to give up the ghost.

And in sadness our silly little miseries dwell, us hang. Our craving to believe has a competitor in our inner demons. In our happiness’ very core, bloom and prosper. Silly because we know they seeds of our sadness blossom and many of us are are mere sensations we thrive on. little because the universe is indiftold to be happy as ferent to all we go young kids, come through. Miseries what may. Some of because they make us learn soon our existence full, up enough that sadness If we dig deeper, folks, if we really to the brim with the is our best pal. absence of a prestoiling under get ourselves a hammer and sickle, ence and presence of the delusion that it dawns upon us that we live in an an absence. We get happiness is the end presence, love it, and all and be all of our age where positivity is the mantra in our heart of existence, we mask hearts, we know the our sadness in thouto live by. Our age is an aeon where absence will come sand garbs. We write and we’ll lose what or listen to sad,heartall things rotten and bleak have we cherish the mostwrenching poetry. been reduced to entertainment and eventually, perpetuWe have agony-inShah Nawaz mohal ally and forever, we ducing songs on sensations. Our sadness has a are the Sisyphus loop. We call our whose trials and tralove of life and cry market, our grief has customers, O the rational and pragmatic, misery, like helpless, hapvails never end. our misery is manufactured, and suffering and agony are something to less, tear-shedding If we dig deeper, be avoided at all cost. the meaning of babies because we folks, if we really get even the tormented, dead souls of ourselves a hammer life, if we were the ideal creatures don’t want to be which we are not and never will be, seen as weak, emoand sickle, it dawns ours are up for sale for a price. would have boiled down to a simple list of do’s tional duffers in upon us that we live and don’ts. We would be avoiding pain, seeking front of any one but in an age where pospleasure, busy being merry, vying to get ahead, that one special, itivity is the mantra eating better, sleeping more, exercising a lot, beautiful creature. to live by. Our age is being with people we love, sacking the people We watch fantasy, action, horror and epic an aeon where all things rotten and bleak have we abhor, putting up with people there is no run- films in the cinema amidst strangers looking for been reduced to entertainment and sensations. Our ning away from and waiting for life to perpetu- action, suspense, tricks, illusions and an escape sadness has a market, our grief has customers, our ate itself on and on until it gives up on us or we from boredom-filled realities they are made to misery is manufactured, and even the tormented, give up on it. live in. But films like Requiem for a Dream, dead souls of ours are up for sale for a price.

If that was the world we lived in, folks, there Magnolia, Synecdoche, new York, Atonement, I don’t want to burden you with academic, sewon’t either be any space nor any place for our Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, Mary and rious theories of how it all came into being, and ‘Silly little Miseries’. In a perfect, properly-or- Max, P.S. I love you and thousands of others, we how the society we live in aims to tame us, makes dered, divinely-ordained world, if we had one, experience in the dark sanctuary of our rooms, us inmates of a circle where every desire, every we would all be zilch but mere happy, little in the arms of our beloved or away from them, wish, even every rebellion, every revolt, every princesses enjoying imagining ourselves revolution has to remain within the boundaries our happily ever afin the characters on defined, limitations imposed, and laws made. ters where peace Our revolutions are nothing but sons killing our screens, diareigned supreme, logues that tear us their fathers to claim the throne and acting exHappiness is good. Sadness is tranquility flowed apart yet keep us to- actly the way their dead, beheaded fathers did. from everywhere Our silly little miseries, then, are the prodgether and touch, Grand. Happiness is a moment. and every nook and lams in Urdu, we ucts of dashed dreams, frustrated hopes, paths cranny reeked of not taken, roads not traversed, friendships we in, on and for.

Sadness is an hour. Happiness is a live Happiness happiness. is lost, loved ones gone and aimless wanderings Fortunately, and good. Sadness is of our mind.

Unicorn. Sadness is your first car I use that word very Cheers to these silly little miseries, folks. grand. Happiness is and only car. Happiness is a carefully, it is not a moment. Sadness Cheers to suffering which makes us create sculpthe case. We live Happi- tures. Cheers to misery that makes us write poetry celebrity crush; you can at best get isnessan ishour. our lives as impera Unicorn. regretting life. Cheers to feeling the transitions of fect beings, beings Sadness is your first life and sticking to it. Cheers to all the battles lost. an autograph from or a picture subject to whims, car and only car. Cheers to all the pyrrhic victories. Cheers to life. with. Sadness is your wife for four Happiness is a Cheers to all the silly little miseries. beings making choices, and then Don’t be miserable. However, just know that celebrity crush; you decades, sitting beside you, perishing because can at best get an without our silly little miseries, we are not huthey made the autograph from or a mans at all. Be human, know the worth, value holding your hand on your choices that seemed picture with. Sad- and bear with all your heart the beautiful, cute, deathbed as you are all set to give ness is your wife for lovely silly little miseries. right, turned out wrong, and left four decades, sitting up the ghost. wondering what Shah Nawaz Mohal is a law graduate and beside you, holding went wrong. your hand on your journalist based in Islamabad. He can be Between moundeathbed as you are reached at mshahnawazmohal@gmail.com.

T

gEORgE Floyd, a 46 years old black man, has been murdered by now an Ex-police officer, Derek Chauvin, in Minneapolis. Videos are recorded by bystanders, which show george Floyd being kneed by a white police officer unconcernedly choking him while he is desperately begging for his life—repeatedly stating: "I can't breath". Bystanders claim that george never denied his charges, nor did he resist against the police. Despite all of this, why was george MURDERED? the reason for this is simple yet harsh. Racism still exists. Every day many innocent black people, many other george Floyds, are murdered for doing ordinary things while others are clearly privileged but refuse to accept their privileges. those who have never experienced racism do not recognise its horrible nature. Many people turn their back on discrimination because "it's fine as long as it's not me." this is a mentality that sadly, many people have adopted and is very hard to get rid of.

Social media are finally taking action and have started the so-called "Black lives Matter" movement. this movement has become increasingly popular as people ask for justice. they are signing petitions, trending the topic "Black lives Matter" and engaging in many discussions about it. Many have been protesting on streets in cities since tuesday chanting "I can't breath" and "it could be me". Police are seen being violent with protestors even though they want to spread awareness. President Donald trump has even allowed the police to shoot protesters who went or started looting companies by recently tweeting "when the looting starts, shooting starts".

After many protests, the police officer who wrongly murdered an innocent man is now said to be arrested and charged for a third degree murder and manslaughter after being kept in protective custody. Protestors don't think of it as a Justice as the charges literally say it was a "mistake" when the video recorded clearly showed that the officer knew what he was doing.

People say "nO JUStICE nO PEACE #BlacklivesMatter ". george and all the people who have been murdered just because of their skin colour did not deserve it. All OF tHEM deserved a life full of promising hopes and futures, their lives matter. Black lives matter and they should be heard when fighting for their rights. talk about them. Say their names. george Floyd couldn't breathe #Blacklivesmatter NAyAb SEHR quetta

Lockdown over?

PRIME MInIStER Imran Khan on Monday announced further easing of lockdown measures across the country, even as he appealed the nation to adopt standard operating procedures (SOPs) and other precautionary measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

He was addressing the nation after a meeting of the national Coordination Committee (nCC). “I want to request all of you [the nation] to follow the SOPs we have outlined to prevent the spread of this virus. If we don’t take precautions then we will continue to suffer,” Khan warned, as he announced that the government has decided to “open all the sectors” apart from those where the threat of “virus is still present”. the reality of our country is that there are 25 million labours whose families will starve if they don’t work . So I personally have always believed that a lockdown is going to affect these workers.

SuMAN FAHEEM Karachi

Escalation of white collar crime WHItE-COllAR crime is a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation. Whitecollar crime is said to have three characteristics: it is non-violent; it is financially motivated; it is committed by business and government professionals. Is white-collar crime really non-violent? Violence is defined as “behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something”. For the record, the government of Pakistan buys goods and services worth $60 billion or Rs7.5 trillion a year every year.

Is white-collar crime really non-violent? Here’s the record: 290,000 newborn Pakistanis die every year before the end of their first month; 175,000 Pakistani children die annually due to premature birth; and 53,000 Pakistani children die of diarrhea caused by contaminated water every year.

Pakistan is the “riskiest country for newborns – riskiest in the world”.

Is white-collar crime really non-violent? take the new Islamabad International Airport as an example. the original cost estimate was Rs23 billion. the total amount spent was Rs100 billion. Just how much is Rs77 billion? the cost of building Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre was Rs4 billion. With Rs77 billion, 19 such hospitals can be built all through Pakistan.

In Pakistan, the FIA and nAB are the agencies responsible for prosecuting white-collar criminals. the conviction rate at the FIA is 6.6 percent. In 2017, a total of 26,551 complaints were filed with nAB, of which 456 complaints (two percent of the total) were taken to the ‘inquiry stage’. Of the 456 ‘inquiries’, 215 were ‘investigated’. Of the 215 ‘investigations’, a total of 112 were convicted.

I hope officials will take serious actions about these black sheeps of our system and eliminate them before they cut the roots of country.

MuJAHId qAyyuM Islamabad

Tuesday, 2 June, 2020

08 WORLD VIEW

China-india border: Why tensions are rising betWeen the neighbours THE ARMIES OF THE WORLD'S TWO MOST POPULOUS NATIONS ARE LOCKED IN A TENSE FACE-OFF HIGH IN THE HIMALAYAS, WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ESCALATE AS THEY SEEK TO FURTHER THEIR STRATEGIC GOALS

BBC AnbArAsAn EthirAjAn And VikAs PAndEy

o

fficials quoted by the indian media say thousands of chinese troops have forced their way into the Galwan valley in ladakh, in the disputed Kashmir region. indian leaders and military strategists have clearly been left

stunned.

The reports say that in early May, chinese forces put up tents, dug trenches and moved heavy equipment several kilometres inside what had been regarded by india as its territory. The move came after india built a road several hundred kilometres long connecting to a high-altitude forward air base which it reactivated in 2008. The message from china appears clear to observers in Delhi - this is not a routine incursion.

"The situation is serious. The chinese have come into territory which they themselves accepted as part of india. it has completely changed the status quo," says ajai shukla, an indian military expert who served as a colonel in the army. china takes a different view, saying it's india which has changed facts on the ground.

Reports in the indian media said soldiers from the two sides clashed on at least two occasions in ladakh. stand-offs are reported in at least three locations: the Galwan valley; Hot springs; and Pangong lake to the south.

india and china share a border more than 3,440km (2,100 miles) long and have overlapping territorial claims. Their border patrols often bump into each other, resulting in occasional scuffles but both sides insist no bullet has been fired in four decades.

Their armies - two of the world's largest - come face to face at many points. The poorly demarcated line of actual control (lac) separates the two sides. Rivers, lakes and snowcaps mean the line separating soldiers can shift and they often come close to confrontation. The current military tension is not limited to ladakh. soldiers from the two sides are also eyeball-to-eyeball in Naku la, on the border between china and the north-eastern indian state of sikkim. Earlier this month they reportedly came to blows. and there's a row over a new map put out by Nepal, too, which accuses india of encroaching on its territory by building a road connecting with china.

WHY aRE TENsiONs RisiNG NOW? There are several reasons - but competing strategic goals lie at the root, and both sides blame each other.

"The traditionally peaceful Galwan River has now become a hotspot because it is where the lac is closest to the new road india has built along the shyok River to Daulet Beg Oldi (DBO) - the most remote and vulnerable area along the lac in ladakh," Mr shukla says. india's decision to ramp up infrastructure seems to have infuriated Beijing. chinese state-run media outlet Global Times said categorically: "The Galwan Valley region is chinese territory, and the local border control situation was very clear." "according to the chinese military, india is the one which has forced its way into the Galwan valley. so, india is changing the status quo along the lac - that has angered the chinese," says Dr long Xingchun, president of the chengdu institute of World affairs (ciWa), a

In India, the pandemic is cover for Modi’s war on journalists INDIA HAS BECOME ONE OF THE WORLD’S DEADLIEST PLACES TO PRACTICE JOURNALISM. AND IT’S ONLY GETTING WORSE

Washington Post

n

jAson rEzAiAn

EaRlY three months into its coronavirus lockdown, india is continuing its transformation into one of the world’s most dangerous places to be a journalist.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi didn’t quite manage to pass legislation completely banning independent coverage at the outset of the pandemic, the journalistic climate has been steadily deteriorating regardless. small media outlets are suffering financially. Restrictions on movement prevent reporters from getting to the story. and any journalists who dare to question the Modi government’s official line face threats and intimidation. all this is eroding what was once one of the world’s most vibrant media landscapes. While online attacks against prominent and critical voices with large social media followings have received growing international attention, other journalists working in remote corners of the country, who routinely face threats on their lives, get far less publicity. The extent to which the Modi government is prepared to silence any criticism of its actions borders on the absurd.

“Even basic reporting on the failing health, food, transport infrastructures is being criminal-

ized,” Neha Dixit, an independent journalist based in Delhi, told me.

“There is no tolerance for any reflection on state failure to provide the bare minimum during the pandemic. There is an equal attack on journalists across the country. The difference is that the attacks on journalists in urban areas get reported; the rural ones do not get attention.” Dixit, a winner of the committee to Protect Journalists’ international Press freedom award, is now sounding the alarm bells over the deteriorating treatment of the press in her homeland. since the government imposed limitations on commerce and movement inside india in late March, at least 10 reporters have been arrested or charged with criminal offenses relating to their coverage of the pandemic.

The offenses in question cover a wide range of subjects that tend to prompt official paranoia — from the lack of personal protective equipment for hospital workers to the absolutely farcical arrest of a journalist who had the audacity to question why relatives of a patient who tested positive for the coronavirus were themselves quarantined for speaking to the infected person by phone. That journalist, Zubair ahmed, faces an array of charges. The most ridiculous: a “negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life.” Neeraj shivhare, another journalist who faced criminal charges, was cited for reporting on a woman who was forced to sell her refrigerator so she could buy basic supplies for her family. a court summons to shivhare explained, “The whole nation is dealing with the pandemic and publishing such posts can create an atmosphere of fear in the public. The post has damaged the image of the administration.”

These are two examples of many. it’s likely that many other cases are going unreported. This increased legal pressure has led many indian journalists to avoid reporting on sensitive issues. few employees with jobs at competitive national media outlets are willing to risk their livelihoods or safety by doing critical reporting.

Meanwhile, due to the lack of personal safety for freelancers and shrinking budgets, coverage outside of large metropolises is disappearing. some rural parts of the country are at risk of becoming news deserts. Modi seems to be fine with that. since taking power in 2014, Modi and his government have shown no interest in maintaining a free press. in fact, the opposite is true. Dixit notes that the prime minister of the world’s biggest democracy doesn’t hold press conferences — additional evidence of his disdain for the press. such attempts to reduce official accountability can have far-reaching effects — as President Trump’s similar approach has shown. “The same attitude has been adopted by the state governments who are also criminalizing journalism,” Dixit told me. a recent study in india suggests that there have been at least 200 serious attacks on individual journalists in the Modi era. in that time, at least 40 of them were killed. india has become one of the world’s deadliest places to practice journalism. and it’s only getting worse.

“The international community needs to start acknowledging that in the last six years, under the present government led by Modi, there have been unprecedented human rights violations in india,” Dixit said. The pandemic has provided a new pretext for Modi to infringe on journalists and their work. When the pandemic is over, india should be pressed on its record of suppressing journalism. failure to do so would deal a blow to a core democratic value that, once lost, may be impossible to regain.

think tank. Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the asia programme at the Wilson center, another think tank, says this face-off is not routine. He adds china's "massive deployment of soldiers is a show of strength".

The road could boost Delhi's capability to move men and material rapidly in case of a conflict. Differences have been growing in the past year over other areas of policy too. When india controversially decided to end indianheld Kashmir's limited autonomy in august last year, it also redrew the region's map. The new federally-administered ladakh included aksai chin, an area india claims but china controls. senior leaders of india's Hindu-nationalist BJP government have also been talking about recapturing Pakistan administered Kashmir. a strategic road, the Karakoram highway, passes through this area that connects china with its long-term ally Pakistan. Beijing has invested about $60bn (£48bn) in Pakistan's infrastructure - the so-called china Pakistan Economic corridor (cPEc) - as part of its Belt and Road initiative and the highway is key to transporting goods to and from the southern Pakistani port of Gwadar. The port gives china a foothold in the arabian sea. in addition, china was unhappy when india initially banned all exports of medical and protective equipment to shore up its stocks soon after the coronavirus pandemic started earlier this year.

HOW DANGEROUS COULD THIS GET? "We routinely see both armies crossing the lac it's fairly common and such incidents are resolved at the local military level. But this time, the build-up is the largest we have ever seen," says former indian diplomat P stobdan, an expert in ladakh and india-china affairs.

"The stand-off is happening at some strategic areas that are important for india. if Pangong lake is taken, ladakh can't be defended. if the chinese military is allowed to

settle in the strategic valley of shyok, then the Nubra valley and even siachen can be reached." in what seems to be an intelligence failure, india seems to have been caught off guard again. according to indian media accounts, the country's soldiers were outnumbered and surrounded when china swiftly diverted men and machines from a military exercise to the border region. This triggered alarm in Delhi - and india has limited room for manoeuvre. it can either seek to persuade Beijing to withdraw its troops through dialogue or try to remove them by force. Neither is an easy option. "china is the world's second-largest military power. Technologically it's superior to india. infrastructure on the other side is very advanced. financially, china can divert its resources to achieve its military goals, whereas the indian economy has been struggling in recent years, and the coronavirus crisis has worsened the situation," says ajai shukla.

WHAT NEXT? History holds difficult lessons for india. it suffered a humiliating defeat during the 1962 border conflict with china. india says china occupies 38,000 km of its territory. several rounds of talks in the last three decades have failed to resolve the boundary issues. china already controls the aksai chin area further east of ladakh and this region, claimed by india, is strategically important for Beijing as it connects its Xinjiang province with western Tibet. in 2017 india and china were engaged in a similar stand-off lasting more than two months in Doklam plateau, a tri-junction between india, china and Bhutan. india objected to china building a road in a region claimed by Bhutan. The chinese stood firm. Within six months, indian media reported that Beijing had built a permanent all-weather military complex there. This time, too, talks are seen as the only way forward - both countries have so much to lose in a military conflict. "china has no intention to escalate tensions and i think india also doesn't want a conflict. But the situation depends on both sides. The indian government should not be guided by the nationalistic media comments," says Dr long Xingchun of the ciWa in chengdu. "Both countries have the ability to solve the dispute through high-level talks." chinese media have given hardly any coverage to the border issue, which is being interpreted as a possible signal that a route to talks will be sought.

Pratyush Rao, associate director for south asia at control Risks consultancy, says both sides have "a clear interest in prioritising their economic recovery" and avoiding military escalation. "it is important to recognise that both sides have a creditable record of maintaining relative peace and stability along their disputed border."

China's currency could trigger a new flashpoint in the growing cold war with the US DEPRECIATION OF THE RMB WOULD EXPORT DEFLATION INTO GLOBAL ECONOMY

sydney Morning herald stEPhEn bArtholomEusz

o

VER the past week there’ve been some curious fluctuations in the value of china’s currency that could create yet another flashpoint in the escalating tensions between china and the Us. Early last week china’s renminbi was trading at 7.1965 to the Us dollar, its weakest level since 2008. On friday The People’s Bank of china acted to support the currency, setting the midpoint for the band in which it allows it to trade at 7.1316.

The fact that the RMB is trading above a ratio of 7:1 against the dollar is by itself significant. When the currency broke through that level last august, during the most intense period of the trade war with the Us, it ignited a Us response.

The Us declared china a currency manipulator and was considering more sanctions until the trade truce late last year that ended with the ‘’Phase One’’ agreement by china to buy an extra $Us200 billion ($297 billion) of Us goods and services. With that trade deal under pressure, whether because of the impact of the coronavirus or the renewed outbreak of friction – china is tracking well behind the rate of purchases needed to make good on its commitments – the three per cent depreciation of the RMB since March would normally cause convulsions within the Trump administration. it hasn’t yet.

The administration has had some other china-related priorities and distractions, notably another crack down on china’s technology companies, the prohibition on a plan by the pension fund to invest against an index that includes chinese companies, the decision to force audits on chinese company

listed in the Us and, of course, the Us response to china’s decision to impose security laws on Hong Kong.

The PBOc intervention late last week to prop up the RMB may be an attempt to defuse the risk that the currency could further worsen the relationship with the Us but is more likely to flow from china’s own domestic concerns.

The depreciation does generate some benefits for china at a moment where the coronavirus has all but wiped out its economic growth and appears likely to continue to weigh on its economy for at least the rest of this year. china’s GDP shrank 6.8 per cent in the March quarter and, for the first time in three decades, it has decided to abandon any growth target for this year. The shrinkage in the economy, at a time when the pandemic has sparked a flow of capital to the perceived safe haven of the Us, strengthening the Us dollar, would explain most of the RMB depreciation. a weaker currency, however, also helps make its exports more competitive, blunts the impact of the Us tariffs and the effects of the pandemic on global growth while making imports more expensive. The increased competitiveness and the reduced effectiveness of the tariffs is what the Us will focus on. There is, however, a limit to the extent and the rate of depreciation that the PBOc would be very mindful of. in 2015, with growth slowing, china embarked on a series of devaluations that sent shockwaves through global markets. its own sharemarket plunged and there was an exodus of capital. Ultimately, to halt the capital flight, china used up about $Us1 trillion of its foreign currency reserves. its leadership would be even more mindful of that risk of capital flight today.

The reaction to its proposed security laws for Hong Kong, with the Us decertifying the autonomy for the territory that Us law previously recognised and the Us threatening to impose

the tariffs on china that Hong Kong has been exempted from (among other, vaguer, sanctions), provides the potential for another massive and destabilising outflow of capital.

Hong Kong has been the conduit for a lot of the western capital flowing towards china, whether for commercial or financial purposes. it’s also the repository for a lot of chinese mainland capital, a perceived safe haven for the wealthy. if there is to be further depreciation of the RMB it would make sense for the PBOc to try to ensure that it is controlled and incremental to avoid creating another front in the growing cold war with the Us or causing a panic among its own citizens and Hong Kong investors. if the Us, which so far has threatened a series of unspecified actions after declaring Hong Kong is no longer autonomous, were to actually impose tariffs and sanctions the PBOc might not be able to stand against the tide of capital outflows without again having to throw throwing trillions of dollars of its reserves at a defence of the RMB. RMB depreciation is likely to continue, given that currency encapsulates the effects of the confrontations between china and the Us. That’s not going to help defuse the tensions with a trade-obsessed Us administration but neither is it helpful for the region or a global economy staggering from the pandemic-inspired lockdowns. in the midst of the coronavirus crisis china's leadership has chosen this moment to take actions it must have known would incite potential sanctions from the West.

Depreciation of the RMB would export deflation into global economy, with particularly harmful and destabilising impacts on the rest of asia, at a moment of great global vulnerability. stephen is one of australia’s most respected business journalists. He was most recently co-founder and associate editor of the Business spectator website and an associate editor and senior columnist at The australian.

Tuesday, 2 June, 2020

buSineSS 09

E-coMMErcE MarkEtPlacE Bazaar raIsEs $1.3M In PakIstan’s largEst PrE-sEEd round

CORPORATE CORNER

LAHORE KARACHI: As part of the Rs1 billion ‘Hussain Dawood Pledge’, Engro Foundation – the social investment arm of Engro Corporation - has launched an initiative to donate 459,000 units of personal protective equipment (PPE) worth Rs100 million for frontline healthcare practitioner. PRESS RElEASE

al Baraka group head passes away Al Baraka Banking Group Founder and Chairman Sheikh Saleh Abdullah Kamel passed away on May 18, 2020.

Sheikh Saleh is widely acknowledged and revered internationally as a pioneer of Islamic banking & finance and participation banking. He was the highest authority in the field of Islamic economics. As a philanthropist, Sheikh Saleh’s commitment and contribution to communities across the world is unparalleled. Sheikh Saleh was also the Chairman of the Dallah Al Baraka Group, one of the largest business groups in the Middle East. He founded the group over 50 years ago and created Al Baraka Investment and Development, a holding company for many Islamic banks, financial institutions and companies in various diversified businesses around the world. PRESS RElEASE

Business community lauds reduction in Pol prices ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Muhammad Ahmed Waheed has welcomed the government's decision to reduce the prices of petrol, light diesel oil and kerosene oil by over Rs7, Rs9 and Rs11 per litre, respectively, for the month of May. However, he urged the government to also slash taxes imposed on petroleum products instead of making them a source of revenue generation, particularly in the prevalent crisis-like situation. "We appreciate the reduction in POL prices but the decision to increase taxes on these products is depriving the masses of availing the real benefits of the global decline in oil prices," he said in a statement issued on Monday. Waheed informed that the business community and people have suffered badly due to Covid-19, and under such circumstances, the government must reduce the taxes on POL products so that the cost of doing business, as well as the overall inflation, could be lowered. He lamented that the government did not reduce the price of diesel, which is mostly used in transportation, industrial and agricultural sectors. He also termed no relief in the price of high-octane petrol, which is being sold at about Rs147 per litre, as unjustified. "As most of the electricity in Pakistan is generated from oil-fired power plants, it is necessary that the government immediately announces a cut in the price of electricity, as it would help alleviate the hardships of the business community, revive industrial and commercial activities, and boost exports." APP

lPg price reduced by rs2 per kg ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Monday issued a price-revision notification of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for the month of June, decreasing the locally produced LPG price by Rs2 per kilogramme. According to the notification, the authority said after the revised prices, the price of 11.8kg cylinder would be sold in the open market at Rs1,298.31, which was available for Rs1,322.90 during the month of May. Meanwhile, the per metric tonne (MT) LPG rate has been fixed at Rs110,027.44 for the current month. The commodity sale price per MT was Rs112,110.63 during the previous month. APP

B

STAFF REPORT

AZAAR, a Karachi-based business-to-business (B2B) ecommerce marketplace, has raised $1.3 million in Pakistan's largest pre-seed round.

According to media reports, the round was led by Indus Valley Capital, a Pakistan-focused fund (started by LinkedIn's former VP (Growth) Aatif Awan) that had also led early investments in Airlift. In addition, Alter Global, a Silicon Valley-based fund for emerging markets, also invested in the round, making it their first investment in Pakistan.

AlterGlobal has previously invested in similar startups across different emerging markets.

Some angels from the Middle

East and Pakistan also participated in the round.

The deal, which is one of the largest pre-seed rounds of Middle East, North Africa, Turkey & Pakistan, was closed entirely on Zoom in less than two weeks. The founders, Saad Jangda and Hamza Jawaid, had received the term sheet just ten days after the first pitch.

Jangda, who was one of the founding members of Careem NOW, and Jawaid, who was previously a Management Consultant with McKinsey, founded Bazaar less than two months ago to connect retailers (grocery stores only for now) in Karachi with wholesalers and manufacturers. The startup does it through its mobile app to help retailers source inventory for their stores.

The app allows these retailers (small mom and pop stores locally known as kiryana stores) to order gro-

ceries such as pulses, flour, wheat, tea, drinks, and different FMCG products for free next day delivery to their storefronts in Karachi. Its ‘large’ assortment includes products from both local and international brands as well as unbranded products.

“We had spent many months studying the market opportunity here. When the first Covid-19 infections broke out in Pakistan, we thought there was no way we could launch this,” Jawaid said. “But we began to notice that the lockdown had forced shorter operating hours for retailers so the problems for these retailers became even more severe. It added impetus for us to launch even sooner.”

Meanwhile, commenting on the occasion, Aatif Awan, the founder and Managing Partner of Indus Valley Capital, who in his previous role helped

MARKET DAILY

Stocks gain 90 points in range-bound trading

LinkedIn grow to half a billion members, said, “Bringing the fragmented B2B retail market online is one of the biggest startup opportunities in Pakistan. I have tracked it for over a year and have been waiting to back the right team to go after it. Bazaar’s founding team is phenomenal on all fronts – product, strategy and execution. Indus Valley Capital is really excited to partner with them.”

Alter CEO and Founder Jesse Sullivan stated, “I am fascinated with this business model, as we have been lucky to work with ventures pursuing it around the world. Pakistan is a great market flying under the radar right now, and we think this team can be the ones to put the Pakistan tech ecosystem on the map. We support only high character role model founders, and Saad and Hamza perfectly embody those criteria.”

12,464MW electricity to be added to national grid through IPPs’ projects

KARACHI

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

APP

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a dull start to the trading week, with the benchmark KSE100 Index managing to close a range-bound session slightly green. "Exploration & production and banking scrips remained largely positive on Monday, whereas cement, fertiliser and pharma stocks faced selling pressure amid diminishing prospects of a further rate cut by the SBP," said a report by Arif Habib Ltd. "Today's release of monthly inflation data, which came in line with street estimates (8.2pc for May 2020), hinted that there might not be any rate cut in the near future."

According to the report, the E&P sector got traction from an increase in international crude oil prices, which rose from the levels witnessed on Friday.

Off to good start, the benchmark KSE-100 Index recorded its intraday high at 34,062.14 after gaining 130.91 points. However, the rally was short-lived, with the index dropping 111 points to mark its intraday low at 33,820.09. It finally settled higher by 90.74 points at 34,021.97.

Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index gathered 58.40 points to close at 55,230.07, while the KSE All Share Index added 31.08 points, settling at 24,466.26. Of the total traded shares, 113 advanced and 190 declined.

The overall volumes declined from 233.1 million shares in the previous session to 198.1 million shares (-15pc). Average traded value also declined by 29pc, from $62.4 million to $44.2 million. Pak Elektron Limited (PAEL +4.73pc), Unity Foods Limited (UNITY +1.64pc) and Fauji Foods Limited (FFL +3.43pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 22.74 million, 14.23 million and 11.38 million shares, respectively.

As many as 12,464 megawatts of electricity would be added to the national grid through 25 projects of Independent Power Producers (IPPs), which are in various stages of development. Sources told APP that these projects were being facilitated by the Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) and would be operationalised gradually between 2020 to 2028.

Giving the breakup, they said a 1,263MW RLNG project, being set up near Trimmu Barrage in Jhang, would be ready by 2020. Similarly, five projects having an accumulative capacity of 2,047MW would be made operational in 2021. These include two 330MW Thar coal power plants, 660MW Thar coal power plant, 7.08MW Riali-II hydropower project and 720 Karot hydropower project. Moreover, four projects with a total capacity of 2,160MW would be ready by 2022 and these would include 330MW Thar coal power plant, 1,320MW Thar coal power plant, 870MW Suki Kinari hydropower project and 300MW imported coal power plant. Likewise, sources said 1,980MW would be added to the system through IPPs in 2023, 2,124MW in 2024, 1,172MW in 2026 and 1,710MW in 2028. The projects include 700MW Azad Pattan hydropower project, 1,124MW Kohala hydropower project, 300MW Ashkot hydropower project, 640MW Mahl hydropower project, 450MW Athmuqam hydropower project, 82MW Turtonas-Uzghor hydropower project, 163MW Grange Power Limited etc. It is pertinent to mention that PPIB was created in 1994 as a "onewindow facilitator" on behalf of the government to promote private investments in power sector. In 2012, PPIB was made a statutory organization through the Private Power and Infrastructure Board Act 2012 (Act VI of 2012)

Sectors that kept the index in the green zone included banking (+169.29 points), oil & gas exploration (+51.54 points) and pharmaceutical (+6.15 points). Among the companies, MCB Bank Limited (MCB +56.20 points), United Bank Limited (UBL +37.14 points) and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC +34.77 points) remained the top contributors.

The banking sector gained +1.76pc in its cumulative market capitalization, with MCB Bank Limited (MCB +4.17pc), Habib Bank Limited (HBL +1.73pc), United Bank Limited (UBL +3.56pc) and Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL +5.26pc) accumulating decent gains. Meanwhile, Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited (FATIMA -0.59pc) declared its financial performance for the year ending December 31, 2019. The company’s sales appreciated by 46pc YoY, whereas gross profit margin declined from 50pc to 37pc. The company's earnings per share increased from Rs5.67 last year to RsR5.75. Dividend yield stood at 7.52pc as against 4.80pc last year.

Facebook finalises Authorized Sales Partner for Pakistan SINGAPORE BABAR KHAN JAVED

Following months of being pitted in a fiveway bid between Httpool, Viral Edge, East River, and Starcrest Communications, Facebook has awarded the Authorized Sales Partner (ASP) duties to Dial Zero.

Led by Zameer Qureshi, CEO of Starcrest Communications, Dial Zero will offer support across advertising, content, and payments, including exclusive training opportunities for marketers and decision-makers at media companies and agencies.

"We are thrilled to be appointed by Facebook as their Authorized Sales Partner for such a promising market; particularly at a time where Pakistan’s digital industry is booming with a growing SME ecosystem," said Zameer Qureshi, co-founder & CEO of Dial Zero. "We pledge to be an extension of the Facebook sales team and aims to connect advertisers in Pakistan with the tools, knowledge, and training Facebook has to offer to

DIAL ZERO HAS BEEN SELECTED TO OFFER SUPPORT ACROSS ADVERTISING, CONTENT AND PAYMENTS, INCLUDING EXCLUSIVE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MARKETERS AND DECISION-MAKERS AT MEDIA COMPANIES AND AGENCIES help them realize their full growth potential.

By giving personalized service and customized solutions, we intend to build an ecosystem of entrepreneurs who will eventually become Agents of Change. We look forward to this partnership as the beginning of a long and mutually rewarding journey."

As an extension of the sales teams at Facebook, an ASP provides local assistance, strategic direction, and expertise across the family of Facebook products: namely WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Facebook.

ASPs are vetted, trained, and educated by Facebook to ensure quality service while offering large advertisers a credit line and the possibility to pay locally.

"Pakistan is an important country for Facebook and it is a priority for us to invest in the market and to be closer to the people and businesses here," said Jordi Fornies, Managing Director of Emerging Markets for APAC at Facebook. "As such, we are happy to bring in Dial Zero as Facebook’s Authorized Sales Partner in Pakistan and believe that with Dial Zero’s robust local market insights and expertise, we can provide better support for businesses and agencies locally to help them emerge stronger from this challenging time and further unlock their potential growth."

Facebook has historically avoided shortlisting and awarding the ASP to network

agencies, to limit platform abandonment and the perceived unfair advantages it creates.

For this reason, the ASP bid was awarded to an independently owned Dial Zero, which does not fall under Z2C, we have learned with ownership split between Zameer Qureshi and Saima Qureshi.

In the APAC region, the dominant ASP has been Httpool, with representation in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar while the ASP in Sri Lanka is Roar Global. In China, Facebook reportedly has 16 ASPs, a market where digital advertising is valued at $8 billion based on pre-Coronavirus estimates.

VALUING PAKISTAN'S MEDIA MARKET: According to a post-C19 forecast seen by this reporter, advertisers and agencies in Pakistan are expected to spend $430 million across above the line (ATL), below the line (BTL), and digital mediums during the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The media spend is split across TV, digital, print, OOH advertising, brand activations, and radio, with a share of 39pc, 26pc, 14pc, 10pc, 6.3pc,

and 2.1pc, respectively. By this account, advertisers and agencies are projected to spend $111.8 million over the course of the 2020-2021 fiscal year, the bulk of which will be allocated towards the Google and Facebook duopoly.

With regard to the Pakistan market, both advertising leaders have drastically scaled the market development efforts in recent months, with training programs for large advertisers and co-marketing efforts with mobile marketing analytics and attribution platforms. Both social and digital advertising giants have channel partners in Pakistan, operating through agency relationships and growing the market through either in-market consultants or Singapore-based relationship leaders.

Sources share that the rebate structure offered by Google in Pakistan solely benefits large agencies, with smaller agencies unable to compete on price alone. Market speculators have suggested this partnership model may cause smaller agencies to abandon recommending Google altogether.

Tuesday, 2 June, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

MOSCOW

S

AGENCIES

HOPPING malls and parks are set to reopen in Moscow on Monday as the Russian capital eases coronavirus restrictions despite having the world’s third-largest caseload.

MoSCow eASeS loCkdown deSpite high viRuS CASeloAd

The relaxation of the confinement orders in Moscow, the epicentre of Russia’s outbreak with a population of more than 12 million, comes after President Vladimir Putin announced the epidemic had passed its peak in the country.

Under lockdown since March 30, residents of Europe’s most populous city were

Artist Christo who wrapped Reichstag in fabric dies aged BERLIN: The artist known as Christo, who made his name transforming landmarks such as Germany’s Reichstag by covering them with reams of cloth, died on Sunday aged 84, his official Facebook page announced. Christo Vladimirov Javacheff died of natural causes at his home in New York City, the statement said. The Bulgarian-born artist worked in collaboration with his wife of 51 years Jeanne-Claude until her death in 2009. Their large-scale productions would take years of preparation and were costly to erect; but they were mostly ephemeral, coming down after just weeks or months. “Christo lived his life to the fullest, not only dreaming up what seemed impossible but realising it,” said a statement from his office. “Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s artwork brought people together in shared experiences across the globe, and their work lives on in our hearts and memories.” In accordance with Christo’s wishes, the statement added, a work in progress, “l’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped”, would be completed. The event is now scheduled to be shown from September 18, 2021, having been postponed from this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Born on June 13, 1935, in Gabrovo, Bulgaria, Christo left his home country in 1957, living briefly in several countries before arriving in Paris, where he met his future wife, a fellow artist. But in their subsequent collaborations, he was credited more as the artist and Jeanne-Claude as the organiser. “This is not the work of Christo, it’s the work of Christo and Jeanne-Claude,” she would say.

To finance their massive, ambitious projects and thus maintain their artistic freedom, the couple would sell their preparatory work, including collages and drawings, at exorbitant prices. AGENCIES

Facebook slams 'severe' Singapore misinformation law SINGAPORE: Facebook said Monday Singapore’s use of an online misinformation law is “severe” and risks stifling free speech, after the company was again forced to block a page in the city-state. It was the latest criticism from the tech giant over legislation that empowers ministers to tell internet platforms to put warnings next to posts they deem false and order the blocking of pages. Fringe political website the National Times Singapore was accused of making false statements via its Facebook page, including a claim that “every criticism” of the government had been outlawed under the disinformation law. The site was ordered to erect a banner flagging it was false — but it refused, and Facebook was ordered to block access to the site’s page in Singapore. Asked about the government request to block the page, Facebook said the company was “legally compelled” to comply. But a spokesperson added that “blocking orders like this are severe and risk being misused to stifle voices and perspectives on the internet”. “Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, and we work hard to protect and defend this important civil liberty around the world.” The page was run by anti-government activist Alex Tan, who lives in Australia and has been repeatedly accused of spreading falsehoods on a variety of subjects. Four Facebook pages that he operates have now been blocked, according to authorities. A Singapore government website aimed at debunking untrue information claims that Tan “continues to publish falsehoods that distort the public’s understanding of the (misinformation) law and how it has been implemented”. Other tech giants, including Google and Twitter, as well as rights groups have expressed concerns about the law, which came into force in October. AGENCIES

until now only allowed to leave their homes for brief trips to shop, walk dogs or travel to essential jobs with a permit.

While Muscovites welcomed the opportunity to return to parks and malls after weeks of being cooped up at home, many ridiculed the Moscow mayor’s “experiment” aimed at regulating people’s walks and exercise.

As a two-week test measure, Sergei Sobyanin said residents of Moscow will be allowed to take walks according to a staggered schedule based on their home address.

“Regular walks are allowed between 9am and 9pm but no more than three times a week — twice on weekdays and once on a weekend,” said Sobyanin on his blog, adding that a detailed schedule would be released separately. People can jog or exercise between 5am and 9am but must wear masks,

according to the new rules.

Sobyanin said he feared that without limits on walking, people would throng the streets in scenes reminiscent of May Day outpourings in Soviet times.

SHEER LUNACY: The new regulations unleashed a flood of mockery on social media, with political commentator Alexander Golts calling them “sheer lunacy”.

Critics quipped that life in Moscow was beginning to imitate dystopian fiction such as the novels of Aldous Huxley and Yevgeny Zamyatin. Popular comedian Maxim Galkin, who has nearly eight million followers on Instagram, released a sketch in which Putin and Sobyanin discuss a “breathing schedule” for Moscow residents.

The five-minute parody has been viewed nearly six million times over the past few days.

When the restrictions are relaxed, drycleaners, laundry services and repair workshops will be allowed to reopen, while restaurants, cafes and cinemas will remain closed for now.

Moscow authorities also said that no mass gatherings would be allowed during the city-wide quarantine that will remain in place until at least June 14.

On Thursday authorities sentenced prominent reporter and activist Ilya Azar to 15 days in jail for staging a lone protest in central Moscow. Dozens of his supporters have also been briefly detained over the past few days. Rights organisations including Amnesty International and the Council of Europe have warned Moscow against using the coronavirus lockdown as a pretext to muzzle activists.

Thousands face homelessness in Greek refugee relocation push ATHENS AGENCIES

Abdelkader Rahmoun hasn’t slept in days. The 44-year-old Syrian and his family are among thousands of recognised refugees about to lose the temporary homes they were given under Greece’s asylum seeker housing scheme.

As of Monday, authorities will start moving more than 11,200 people out of flats, hotels and camps on the mainland, to make room for other asylum seekers currently living in dismal island camps.

Rahmoun’s family has been given until the end of June to vacate his small EU-funded flat in the port of Piraeus. But he has little confidence that they will find alternative accommodation by then.

“We risk finding ourselves on the street,” the haggard former taxi driver and father of two told AFP. Greek officials say housing must be secured for other vulnerable asylum seekers on the islands, many of whom “sleep under trees”, Manos Logothetis, the migration ministry’s asylum secretary, said earlier this week.

The migration ministry says the ESTIA accommodation system, managed by the UN refugee agency UNHCR, is designed for asylum seekers.

Once they become full-fledged refugees they have the right to apply for Greek tax and social insurance numbers,

and should, therefore, find jobs, the ministry says. Refugee support groups note that although this is technically true, in reality applicants face insurmountable difficulties. The country was recovering from a decade-long debt crisis and jobs were already scarce before the coronavirus pandemic, which is expected to bring additional layoffs. Refugees with precarious incomes also face reluctance from Greek landlords when they seek to rent lodgings on their own.

“UNHCR is seriously concerned about thousands of recognised refugees expected to leave Greece’s reception system from the end of May,” Boris Cheshirkov, UNHCR spokesman in Greece, told AFP. “Recognised refugees are expected

to leave assistance but they do not have effective access to social benefits and support,” he said, adding that the language barrier is a further impediment.

The International Organisation for Migration runs a separate integration programme, HELIOS, that offers language courses, help with job-hunting and accommodation support. But at most the scheme can assist only 3,500 people at a time. As he is now expected to fend for himself, Rahmoun says his monthly benefit of 400 euros ($440) will also be cut.

The family from Idlib changed homes several times to protect themselves from bombardment during Syria’s civil war, before eventually fleeing the country.

Now, after “struggling to survive” for the past decade, they must “start from

zero again”, Rahmoun said.

Several neighbours in the block of flats where Rahmoun’s family live face a similar predicament.

Out of 10 families in the building, six have been told they must leave in June.

THIS IS CRUELTY: One family from Iraq includes a father in a wheelchair and a five-year-old girl who requires assisted feeding through a gastric tube.

“We have a disabled father and sister.

How could the Greek government be throwing us out into the street? This is cruelty,” says the family’s eldest son Mustafa. Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi has said the housing transfer process had been due to start in April but was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Refugees used to be able to keep their accommodation for up to six months after receiving protected status.

The new conservative government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has reduced this period to just a month.

Officials have repeatedly said Greece must become a less attractive destination for asylum seekers.

“Accommodation and benefits for those granted asylum will be interrupted… From then on, they will have to work for a living. This makes our country a less attractive destination for migration flows,” Mitarachi said in March. The government also has political considerations.

‘Saudi game of thrones’: Pressure grows on MBS to release jailed prince WASHINGTON AGENCIES

A $2 million US lobbying effort and petitions from European lawmakers are piling pressure on Saudi Arabia to release a philanthropist prince jailed for two years without charge amid an intensifying royal crackdown.

The detention of Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz and his father since January 2018 is part of a clampdown under de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that has ensnared not just potential rivals but also figures posing no visible challenge to his hold on power.

The dangerous power plays have also swept up family members of Saad Aljabri, a former aide to another detained prince and top intelligence official, who fled to Canada and holds key state secrets.

The most unlikely target is Prince Salman, a multilingual 37-year-old educated at Paris’ Sorbonne University, who apparently espoused no political ambitions and earned a reputation of being a “walking blank check” for funding development projects in poor countries. “This is not just an unlawful arrest,” an associate of the prince told AFP. “This is daylight kidnapping.

This is a forced disappearance.”

After being detained for around a year in the highsecurity Al-Ha’ir prison near Riyadh and later in a private villa with his father Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the prince was moved to a secret detention site in March, multiple sources told AFP. He was mysteriously returned to the villa last week to be reunited with his father, three of those sources said. It remains unclear why he was moved to the secret site. His telephone calls to his family are monitored by

CMYK

Saudi intelligence, the sources said.

But his return may be a tentative sign that international pressure for his release is working. Saudi authorities did not respond to a request for comment on the case.

PRESSURE CAMPAIGN: A delegation from the European Parliament implored Saudi authorities to release detained royals including Prince Salman during a visit to Riyadh in February, according to a source and an in-

ternal report of the tour seen by AFP. “The European Parliament already asked for information about the case in a letter addressed… to the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which (remains) unanswered,” Marc Tarabella, a vice chairman of the parliament’s delegation for relations with the Arab peninsula, wrote to the European Commission.

“I would like to ask you to raise this issue […] with the highest relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia appealing for Prince Salman’s release. “I remain confident that the release would positively impact the relations of the European Parliament with Saudi Arabia,” he wrote.

Separately, leading Washington lobbyist Robert Stryk’s Sonoran Policy Group signed a $2 million contract in May to advocate for the prince’s release “with the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, France, and the European Union”, according to a US justice department filing seen by AFP. Stryk, known to have close connections with the administration of US President Donald Trump — an ally of Prince Mohammed — was recruited by Hashim Mughal, a Paris-based confidant of Prince Salman, according to the filing. A source described Mughal, a Pakistani national, as the prince’s former financial advisor who raised $2 million from his personal wealth and by tapping the influential royal’s friends.

The international effort is a gamble that could backfire in a kingdom whose authoritarian rulers are strongly averse to public criticism. But as private appeals to the rulers go unheeded, the campaign may be the only hope at a time when the kingdom is grappling with a coronavirus-led economic slump and amid unease in Washington with Prince Mohammed’s aggressive policies.

Tuesday, 2 June, 2020

SPORTS 11 ‘CALM DOWN!’

Waqar Younis tElls crickEtErs aFridi, GaMbHir to End social MEdia sPat NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD

F

AGENCIES

ORMER Pakistan star Waqar Younis has called on all-rounder Shahid Afridi and cricketerturned-politician Gautam Gambhir to end their social media war and for India and Pakistan to resume playing cricket.

After being fierce on-field rivals, Pakistan’s Afridi and former Indian opener Gambhir have become involved in heated social media exchanges over the troubled Kashmir region. Gambhir is now a lawmaker in the Indian parliament, while Afridi has his own foundation and is a vocal activist. Waqar advised the pair to “calm down” in an online chat show.

“The banter between Gautam Gambhir and Shahid Afridi has been going on for a while now. I think they

Hamilton slams ‘white-dominated’ F1 for silence over Floyd death LONDON: World champion Lewis Hamilton criticised the “biggest of stars” in “whitedominated” Formula One for failing to speak out against racism as protests erupted around the United States. The Mercedes driver warned “I know who you are and I see you” as he accused his fellow drivers of “staying silent” following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, during his arrest in Minneapolis. The videotaped incident has triggered unrest in several cities and led to an outpouring of condemnation from top athletes including Michael Jordan and Serena Williams. “I see those of you who are staying silent, some of you the biggest of stars yet you stay silent in the midst of injustice,” Hamilton wrote on Instagram. “Not a sign from anybody in my industry which of course is a white-dominated sport. I’m one of the only people of colour there yet I stand alone. “I would have thought by now you would see why this happens and say something about it but you can’t stand alongside us. Just know I know who you are and I see you.” Hamilton, the six-time world champion, said he supported only peaceful protesters, not those who have looted stores and set fire to buildings. But he added: “There can be no peace until our so-called leaders make change. This is not just America, this is the UK, this is Spain, this is Italy and all over. “The way minorities are treated has to change, how you educate those in your country of equality, racism, classism and that we are all the same! “We are not born with racism and hate in our hearts, it is taught by those we look up to.”

both got to be smart, sensible, and calm down,” said Waqar.

“It has been going on for way too long.

My advice to them is to maybe catch up somewhere around the world and talk it out if you cannot really calm it down.”

India and Pakistan have not played a series since 2012-2013 and have hit a new peak in tensions over Kashmir, which they have fought over since their independence in 1947.

India frequently accuses Pakistan of organising militant attacks in the sector of the Himalayan region that it administers.

Waqar, 48, said a cricket series would boost relations between the arch-rival neighbours.

“I think that it would be the biggest hit of the world,” said Waqar. “I think Pakistan [and] India should play, and should play on a regular basis to avoid depriving cricket lovers.”

Jasprit Bumrah says cricket should seek ‘alternative’ to saliva for shining the ball NEW DELHI AGENCIES

Indian pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah said if the International Cricket Council (ICC) is going to ban the use of saliva on cricket ball during the coronavirus pandemic, then it should allow an “alternative” for shining the ball.

The ICC is likely to implement a ban for the game’s return when they meet next week after receiving medical advice that spit poses a Covid-19 transmission risk.

Handshakes, celebratory high-fives and hugs are also likely to be off-limits when international cricket resumes with safety protocols in place.

“I was not much of a hugger anyway, and not a high-five person as well, so that doesn’t trouble me a lot,” Bumrah said in an ICC video chat with the former West Indies pace bowler Ian Bishop and the ex-captain of South Africa, Shaun Pollock. “The only thing that interests me is the saliva bit,” added the 26-year-old Bumrah. “I don’t know what guidelines that we have to follow when we come back, but I feel there should be an alternative.

“If the ball is not well maintained, it’s difficult for the bowlers. The grounds are getting shorter and shorter, the wickets are becoming flatter and flatter. So we need something.”

Pace bowlers usually try to make

the ball swing through the air by shining one side on their clothing aided by using sweat or saliva and leaving the other half to become scuffed.

Anil Kumble, chairman of the ICC cricket committee that recommended banning saliva, insisted the move was only an “interim measure”.

Australian cricket ball manufacturer Kookaburra is developing a wax applicator that allows players to shine the ball without using saliva or sweat.

But its use would need a change in the laws of cricket which forbid the use of any artificial substance to alter the ball.

Test players have in the past been

accused of using lozenges, petroleum jelly and resin to keep the shine on the ball, and also scuffing it with bottle tops, trouser zippers, grit or fingernails.

The most notorious recent incident was in 2018, when Australian players attempted to alter the ball with sandpaper during a Test against South Africa in Cape Town, resulting in lengthy bans for the three involved — Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

Bumrah, who has emerged as India’s lead paceman since his Test debut in 2018, has claimed 68 wickets in 14 Tests and 104 scalps in 64 oneday internationals.

Japan race cancelled over coronavirus as MotoGP looks to Europe TOKYO: The Japanese MotoGP was cancelled over the coronavirus on Monday as organisers said they would concentrate on holding as many races as possible in Europe this year. The scrapping of the October 16-18 race in Motegi follows the axing of the Australian MotoGP, which was due to be held a week later. “The situations in Japan and Europe are unpredictable,” said Kaoru Tanaka, president of Mobilityland, which owns the Twin Ring Motegi circuit. “As a result of our discussions with Dorna, the managerial body of the series, we agreed that we have no choice but to cancel the Japanese GP in order to complete the season.” The first 11 races of the MotoGP season have been either postponed or cancelled, and there have been discussions about how to preserve as much as possible of the European calendar. At the moment, the sport hopes to resume with backto-back races at Jerez, Spain. The first, on July 19, would be the new season-opener, with Dorna suggesting slotting in the second race at the same circuit on July 26. A round of the Superbike Championship was also proposed for Jerez on August 2. The opening legs, if approved, are most likely to be held without spectators, and with restrictions on the number of people allowed in the paddock. There have also been talks about holding the French MotoGP, which was scheduled for May, in October instead. “The MotoGP family is working very hard to be able to restart the racing season and hold as many events as possible, and in the safest way possible,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports. “(MotoGP organisers) have decided that, until mid-November, MotoGP will remain in Europe to do as many European MotoGP events as we are able to. “Therefore, overseas events, if at all possible, should be scheduled after mid-November -– which would be too late in the year for the Motul Grand Prix of Japan to be held.”

What now for tennis in 2020?

Professional tennis has been in cold storage since March due to the coronavirus pandemic with tournaments unlikely to resume before August.

Here’s a look at three talking points as the sport heads into June: FANS IN OR OUT AT US OPEN AND ROLAND GARROS? In 2019, the US Open attracted a record crowd of almost 740,000 to its sprawling Billie Jean King Tennis Centre in New York.

The French Open last year at Roland Garros brought in 520,000 paying customers. However, the 2020 editions of the two remaining Grand Slam events on the calendar will look very different with the chance of them being played behind closed doors a real possibility to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.

Roger Federer, whose 20-Grand Slam title haul includes five titles at the US Open and one in Paris, is not keen on seeing rows and rows of empty seats.

“I can’t bear to see an empty stadium. I hope that won’t happen,” the Swiss star was quoted as saying by Brazilian media recently. Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova said she too has no desire to play a Slam with without spectators.

“I would like to play another Grand Slam, but if it’s like this, I’d rather cancel them,” Kvitova said.

“Playing without fans who are our engine doesn’t look nice to me and the Grand Slam doesn’t deserve it.” As far as the rescheduled Roland Garros in September and October is concerned, Jean-Francois Vilotte, the director-general of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), told AFP: “The aim is that there will be spectators.”

“But we will have the capacity to organise Roland Garros whatever the option decided, including behind closed doors.”

MONEY MATTERS? There has been no prize money to play for over the best part of three months but that hasn’t stopped it being discussed.

The ATP and WTA tours, the International Tennis Federation and the four Grand Slam tournaments — the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open backed a fund worth more than $6 million to support low-ranked players hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

World number one Novak Djokovic had already said that he, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal — the sport’s biggest earners with over $100 million each banked in prize

money alone — were also willing to help.

However, world number three Dominic Thiem was not keen on giving money to lower-ranked players. “Quite honestly I have to say that no tennis player will be fighting to survive, even those who are much lowerranked,” said the Austrian.

Marion Bartoli, the 2013 Wimbledon champion, chimed in last week by suggesting a reduction in doubles events with prize money diverted to struggling players.

“You just don’t make the same effort (in doubles) as a singles player. You don’t practise so much, your routine is different.

“I don’t know if we have to stop doubles completely, but to get less money and give that money to qualification and others, that could be the solution.”

ARE WE MAKING AN EXHIBITION OF OURSELVES? There is some tennis going on in the world at a series of tightly-controlled exhibition events. Germany kicked it off on May 1 with an eight-man exhibition in the tiny town of Hoehr-Grenzhausen, near Koblenz which featured Dustin Brown, who famously defeated Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2015.

Strict rules over health and safety meant there were no fans, no ball boys or girls and

CMYK

no line judges. There was just a chair umpire. Handshakes were banned, players handled their own towels and brought their own water and fruit to the clay courts.

Similar events followed in the US before Petra Kvitova won an all-Czech event in Prague last week.

“The gloves, face masks, the fact nobody handed us the towels, no handshakes, that was definitely bizarre,” said Kvitova.

Other exhibitions are scheduled includ-

ing a World Team Tennis tournament in West Virginia in July featuring Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens.

Andy Murray will return from his latest injury problem on June 23 in a charity tournament in London.

Nick Kyrgios joins Dominic Thiem at a grasscourt event - likely the only one this summer - at Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport from July 17-19.

Tuesday, 2 June, 2020

NEWS

Gen Bajwa calls for resolvinG lonG pendinG disputes for lastinG peace RAWALPINDI

c

STAFF REPORT

HIEF of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday said that the future of enduring peace and stability in South Asia hinges on ability to resolve long pending disputes within the region.

“This can be complemented through meaningful international support and will to take on challenging regional issues,” he said while addressing officers and faculty during a visit to Command and Staff College in Quetta, a press statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The statement comes two days after Islamabad approached the United Nations (UN) over New Delhi’s blatant attempt to turn the Muslim-majority in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) into a minority.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has written letters to the UN Security Council president and the UN Secretary General, apprising them of the latest situation in the occupied valley particularly the recent changes brought by the Modi government in domicile laws that would pave the way for non-Kashmiris to acquire permanent residence there.

Addressing the military officials, Gen Bajwa said that a well-trained and professionally competent Army is guarantor for peace. “Pakistan Army with the backing of the nation is one such formidable force,” he maintained.

The COAS stressed the need for officers to remain

extended lockdown could lead companies towards bankruptcy: sBp focused on pursuit of professional excellence and keeping abreast with latest developments to overcome new challenges.

Dilating upon Covid-19 pandemic, Gen Bajwa said that

Pakistan Army along with other state institutions will do all to mitigate the challenges faced by people of Pakistan.

Only a cohesive national effort shall take Pakistan to progress and prosperity COAS, he stressed.

Europe pushes ahead with easing lockdowns, as LatAm cases pass 1m LONDON AGENCIES

Countries across Europe took bolder steps in easing coronavirus lockdowns, with schools, pubs, parks and pools reopening in places, while in Latin America the outbreak grew more dire with infections passing the one million mark.

The deadly disease has now killed more than 372,000 million people and infected at least 6.1 million since emerging in China late last year.

It has ravaged economies and threatens to tip the world toward a recession not seen in decades, while hemming billions of people in across the globe under lockdowns to slow its deadly march.

But from Russia to France, Italy and Britain, countries have started to emerge from months-long lockdowns, cautiously returning to a new post-pandemic version of normal.

Bars were set to serve again in Fin-

land and Norway — albeit with distancing restrictions or shortened hours — while some schools in Britain and Greece opened doors again Monday.

But the decision to allow schools to partially reopen in Britain drew scorn from some accusing the government of moving too fast.

“Covid-19 spreading too fast to lift lockdown in England,” scientific advisor Jeremy Farrar said on Twitter.

Britain has the second highest death toll in the world after the US, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has come under fire for bungling the response to the outbreak early on.

Leaders in Russia too faced backlash for easing restrictions in the capital Moscow, the epicentre of the outbreak that has been under lockdown for months.

Shopping malls and parks reopened Monday, despite the still-high number of cases that officials chalked down to large-scale testing — not a signing of a

ballooning outbreak.

There was cautious hope among some shopkeepers eager to see business pick up again.

“We opened two hours ago but we already have a few clients. I’m pretty optimistic, I think people will come back little by little,” Olga told AFP at her shop selling handbags and jewelry in central Moscow.

Elsewhere in Europe even bolder steps were taken. Greece opened some hotels, schools, pools and tattoo parlours, while in Slovenia a mandatory rule to wear masks was eased as the country declared the end of the outbreak.

Rome’s famed Colosseum opened to visitors — Italian nationals only — for the first time since March, drawing sparse crowds.

“We took advantage of the fact that foreign tourists aren’t here yet,” said Pierluigi, adding that it was his first visit to the massive amphitheatre.

And in France, parks in Paris opened

for the first time in months, ahead of restaurants, cafes and bars being allowed to serve on sidewalks and terraces in the city on Tuesday.

BOLSONARO BUCKLES DOWN: The pandemic has devastated the global economy, which is facing its worst downturn since the Great Depression, and with businesses and citizens growing tired of confinement, there is pressure on many leaders to press on with reopenings — especially in nations where outbreaks appear to be slowing.

But health experts have continued to warn of the possibility of a second wave of infections if authorities and citizens let their guard down, especially if they risk large gatherings.

In Brazil, which has more than half a million known infections and the second highest caseload in the world after the US, anti-lockdown President Jair Bolsonaro again defied social distancing recommendations on Sunday.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday issued a report highlighting the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on Pakistan’s economy, and warned that in case of an extended lockdown, a number of companies would head towards bankruptcy. In a series of videos posted on microblogging site Twitter, the country’s central bank said that Covid-19 had impacted the global economy, bringing a simultaneous negative impact on the country’s remittances. The central bank said that purchasing power of the people at local level and foreign investments have witnessed a decline and the virus has affected business activities at the local level as well. It said that decrease in purchasing power would affect the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The central bank said that cash flow of factories and business sector was affected due to the lockdown and if it continues for a longer period then it could lead companies towards bankruptcy. “Bankruptcy of the companies will not only affect the banking sector’s income but also increase the unemployed ratio in the country,” it said while predicting that foreign reserves could also go down in the current situation, leading to a decrease in the value of rupee against dollar. The SBP said that the current situation will also affect the economic growth rate and budget of the country. It said that the government has taken various measures to improve economic conditions and it had led to decrease in imports and improvement in exports. However, the report highlighted that the expenditure incurred on health sector in Pakistan amid coronavirus pandemic is far below than other countries in the region. It said that four out of 10 people in the country are living below the poverty line. The report further highlighted an increase in country’s debts as on the contrary pressure from oil imports had eased due to low fuel prices at global level. NEWS DESK

Clashes outside White House as US cities under curfew WASHINGTON AGENCIES

Police fired tear gas outside the White House late Sunday as major US cities were put under curfew to suppress rioting as antiracism protestors again took to the streets to voice fury at police brutality.

With the Trump administration branding instigators of six nights of rioting as domestic terrorists, there were more confrontations between protestors and police and fresh outbreaks of looting.

Violent clashes erupted repeatedly in a small park next to the White House, with authorities using tear gas, pepper spray and flash-bang grenades to disperse crowds who lit several large fires and damaged property.

Local US leaders appealed to citizens to give a constructive outlet to their rage over the death of an unarmed black man in Minneapolis, while night-time curfews were imposed in cities including Washington, Los Angeles and Houston.

One closely watched protest was outside the state capitol in Minneapolis’ twin city of St. Paul, where several thousand people gathered before marching down a highway.

“We have black sons, black brothers, black friends, we don’t want them to die. We are tired of this happening, this generation is not having it, we are tired of oppression,” said Muna Abdi, a 31-year-old black woman who joined the protest.

“I want to make sure he stays alive,” she added in reference to her son, aged three.

Hundreds of police and National Guard troops were deployed ahead of the protest.

At one point, some of the protestors who had reached a bridge were forced to scram-

ble for cover when a truck drove at speed after having apparently breached a barricade.

The driver was later taken to hospital after the protestors hauled him from the vehicle, although there were no immediate reports of other casualties.

There were other large-scale protests in cities including New York and Miami.

Washington’s mayor ordered a curfew from 11:00 pm until 6:00 am, as a report in the New York Times said that President Donald Trump had been rushed by Secret Service agents into an underground bunker at the White House on Friday night during an earlier protest.

STORES RANSACKED: Large-scale violence has rocked many US cities in recent days, and looters ransacked stores in a neighborhood of Philadelphia on Sunday.

In the Los Angeles suburb of Santa Monica, looting was reported at stores in a popular beachside shopping center.

Officials in LA — a city scarred by the 1992 riots over the police beating of Rodney King, an African-American man — imposed a curfew from 4:00 pm Sunday until dawn.

“Please, use your discretion and go early, go home, stay home and help us make sure that those who want to change this conversation from being about racial justice to be about burning things and looting things, don’t win the day,” the city’s mayor Eric Garcetti said on CNN. The shocking videotaped death last Monday of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, at the hands of police in Minneapolis ignited the nationwide wave of outrage over law enforcement’s repeated use of lethal force against unarmed African Americans.

Floyd stopped breathing after Min-

neapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and is due to make his first appearance in court on Monday. Three other officers with him have been fired but for now face no charges.

Governor Tim Walz has mobilized all of Minnesota’s National Guard troops — the state guard’s biggest mobilization ever — to help restore order.

Police fired tear gas and stun grenades to clear streets of curfew violators Saturday night in Minneapolis.

Walz extended a curfew for a third night Sunday and praised police and guardsmen for holding down violence. “They did so in

a professional manner. They did so without a single loss of life and minimal property damage,” he said.

“Congratulations to our National Guard for the great job they did immediately upon arriving in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last night,” President Donald Trump tweeted, adding that they “should be used in other States before it is too late!”

The Department of Defense said that around 5,000 National Guard troops had been mobilized in 15 states as well as the capital Washington, with another 2,000 on standby.

The widespread resort to uniformed National Guards units is rare, and it evoked disturbing memories of the rioting in US cities

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

in 1967 and 1968 in a turbulent time of protest over racial and economic disparities.

Trump blamed the extreme left for the violence, saying he planned to designate a group known as Antifa as a terrorist organization.

“The violence instigated and carried out

by Antifa and other similar groups in connection with the rioting is domestic terrorism and will be treated accordingly,” added Attorney General Bill Barr.

‘A NATION IN PAIN’: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said Trump, who has often urged police to use tough tactics, was not helping matters.

“We are beyond a tipping point in this country, and his rhetoric only enflames that,” she said on CBS. Joe Biden, Trump’s likely Democratic opponent in November’s presidential election, visited the scene of one antiracism protest.

“We are a nation in pain right now, but we must not allow this pain to destroy us,” Biden tweeted, posting a picture of him speaking with an African-American family at the site where protesters had gathered in Delaware late Saturday.

Floyd’s death has triggered protests beyond the United States, with hundreds rallying outside the US embassy in London in solidarity.

“I’m here because I’m tired, I’m fed up with it. When does this stop?” Doreen Pierre told AFP at the protest.

In Germany, England football international Jadon Sancho marked one of his three goals for Borussia Dortmund against Paderborn by lifting his jersey to reveal a T-shirt bearing the words “Justice for George Floyd”.