Epaper – March 16 LHR 2021

Tuesday, 16 March, 2021 I 1 Shaban, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 257 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

Govt demands resiGnation of eCP Chief, members g

Shafqat says the electoral process regulator had 'completely failed' in discharging its responsibilities ISLAMABAD

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N an unexpected turn of events, the government on Monday sought resignations from the members of the election commission of Pakistan (ecP), including the chief election commissioner.

Addressing a press conference, Minister for education Shafqat Mehmood said that the electoral process regulator had “completely failed” in the discharge of its responsibilities.

“It was a longstanding demand of the prime minister that the power of money should not be used to influence elections,” said Shafqat Mehmood, flanked by information minister Shibli Faraz and Fawad chaudhry. “For this purpose, the premier wanted the Senate elections to be held via an open ballot.”

The education minister stated

that the electoral body had failed to uphold its responsibility of ensuring elections were free from corruption and demanded that it should be disbanded as it could not act as an impartial umpire.

The minister said that the ecP despite the clear directions of the

Supreme court (Sc) failed to devise a mechanism to eliminate corrupt practices during the Senate elections. yousuf Raza Gillani’s win shows that corrupt practices were done during the election of the Senate seat from Islamabad, he added.

“If you ask other parties, even they don’t have confidence in the ecP,” he asserted. “The ecP should collectively resign and a new commission should be made which enjoys the trust of all parties.”

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ministers also condemned the attack on Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Dr Shehbaz Gill, wherein ink was thrown on him, and alleged that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had a hand in it.

The education minister said that when matters go according to the wishes of the PML-N, then everything is fine. However, when it goes against them, then the party decides to attack, said the minister.

“The PML-N was responsible for the attack on the Supreme court in the past,” he said. “When the prime minister was seeking a vote of confidence, their leaders arrived [outside the parliament] to instigate a fight,” Shafqat added.

PML-N agrees to tender resignations before long march; PPP undecided g

PDM to discuss resignations, long march today

ISLAMABAD News Desk

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentary party on Monday decided to submit resignations to party leader Maryam Nawaz before the announcement of long march towards the federal capital.

Sources in the PML-N told Pakistan Today that

after a long debate in the party meeting, the party lawmakers decided to submit resignations to yield to the demand of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman who had set a precondition.

Talking to media following the meeting, Maryam opened up about the decision and said that the part was not only ready to submit resignations but also would put pressure on the PPP to

agree to the resignation demand. The PML-N vicepresident said that talks were underway with the parliament regarding resignations, which would also be discussed at the PDM meeting tomorrow.

“We will try to persuade those who do not accept the resignations,” she said. Maryam further said that the PML-N have also obeyed the decision as the PDM is an alliance of 11 parties and all parties are united on the long march agenda.

Meanwhile, PML-N leader and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has made a big offer to PDM President Fazl that all PML-N members are ready to hand over their resignations to him before start of opposition’s long march.

It is pertinent to mention here that the PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has put a precondition of the opposition party’s resignation to make He said that whether the party agrees or not, “we are ready to resign and that you can announce your resignations whenever you want”.

According to details, PML-N leader Nawaz has made a big offer to Fazl that he can resign whenever he wants, because he as the PDM president has the authority to announce resignations, and that his party is ready to resign. He said that he was ready to hand over the resignations of all the members of PML-N to him.

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Report ranks Pakistan among world’s largest arms importers Professional excellence, extensive training ensure effective response against all challenges: COAS

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PRoScRIbeD bLA cLAIMS ReSPoNSIbILITy FoR THe ATTAck KARACHI APP

Attacks on security personnel continue in the country as a Rangers official was martyred and 10 other people got injured in a blast reported near orangi Town area on Monday. According to police, the blast took place near a Rangers vehicle that was parked in the Mominabad area of karachi’s orangi Town. The Sindh Rangers personnel were discharging their duties and were busy snap checking at the Mominabad neighbourhood of karachi when a blast occurred near Rangers’ vehicle, said police. Three Rangers officials and seven other people who were present at the site were injured in the blast.

The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for medical aid, according to rescue sources. Following the incident, Rangers and police personnel arrived at the site of the blast and cordoned off the area. SSP West karachi, who arrived at the site after the blast, said that pieces of evidence collected from the crime scene show that the blast reportedly occurred in a motorcycle with explosive material installed in it. He said that the main target of terrorists was a Ranger’s vehicle, adding that an investigation has been launched into the incident.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Coronavirus in

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

607,453

LAST UPDATED AT 7:30 AM ON MARCH 15, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

MORE INSIDE

Sindh reimposes restrictions to halt third coronavirus wave

Rangers official martyred, 10 injured in Karachi attack

29

RECOVERED:

STORY ON PAGE 03

DEATHS:

PUNJAB:

261,411

186,659

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

76,104 STORY ON BACK PAGE

2,253

571,878 13,537 SINDH:

STORY ON BACK PAGE

NEW CASES:

11,017 / 4,961

19,220

48,081

02

Tuesday, 16 March, 2021

LAHORE

NEWS

olIve plANtAtIoN cAN solve clIMAte chANge, INcreAse exports: IMrAN nOwSHERA

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RIME Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that plantation of olive trees will not only be part of the solution in solving climate change but increase the exports thereby resolving the crucial balance of trade issue.

He said that large-scale cultivation of the fruit will prove to be the best investment for the country in terms of earning foreign exchange and ensuring food security.

Addressing a gathering after the launch of a countrywide olive cultivation drive starting from the Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the prime

PREMIER SAYS PAKISTAN POSSESSES IMMENSE POTENTIAL REQUIRED FOR THE CULTIVATION OF OLIVE TREES minister said that the country possessed immense potential required for the cultivation of olive trees owing to suitable topography and climate from north to south.

He mentioned that dry localities such as the Sulaiman Mountains near Waziristan, Balochistan’s plains and Punjab’s diverse terrain offered a suitable environment for low-irrigation olive farming.

Terming food security a big challenge for the country, he said the olive fruit produced edible oil of high nutritional value, which could also be used to meet local

IslAMIc scholAr MuhAMMAd AlI MIrzA survIves AssAssINAtIoN AtteMpt IN JheluM One of Pakistan’s prominent Islamic scholars and YouTubers, Muhammad Ali Mirza, survived a second assassination attempt late on Sunday, it emerged. The Jhelum-based preacher escaped without injuries and is safe and sound after being stabbed at his Holy Quran academy during the weekly meeting. The assailant had made an attempt on Mirza’s life with a knife while taking a picture with the scholar. The scholar received injuries to his arm. According to police, the attacker has been identified as Shehzad Ali, a resident of Lahore.

However, the police have also arrested another suspect. This is the second failed assassination attempt on the Islamic scholar in three years as he faces severe criticism from scholars of different schools of thought. Earlier, Jhelum police arrested him under section 153-A as he allegedly passed mocking remarks against other religious scholars.

Muhammad Ali Mirza, commonly known as Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza is a Pakistani Islamic commentator, preacher and YouTuber. The preacher is a mechanical engineer and a Grade-19 public officer in Defense Ministry. Mirza also gives online lectures where he talks about different religious and social issues and runs a research academy where he imparts religious education. He has been criticised for ‘misguiding people’ by taking an unorthodox view on Islam, but his many followers believe he takes a religious position that is rationally articulated after exhaustive study. NewS DeSk

Maryam says NAB isn’t authorised to judge her statements LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday served a notice on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz in a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) request seeking to cancel her bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) reference.

In November 2019, the high court granted post-arrest bail to Maryam in the reference but directed her to surrender her passport as the prosecution feared she might flee the country. Last week, the dirty money watchdog challenged the bail in the court, adopting a stance that the PML-N leader is taking “undue benefit” of her freedom and has withdrawn her cooperation in the probe into her assets despite being offered a reprieve. During the proceedings on Monday, a NAB prosecutor, Faisal Raza Bokhari, told the court that Maryam is out on bail and is issuing statements targeting state institutions.

Maryam, he said, is not cooperating with the agency in its investigations into her assets and has not provided relevant documents required for the probe. Subsequently, the court directed Maryam to submit her response by April 7 and adjourned the proceedings.

‘NAB NOT AUTHORISED TO JUDGE MY STATEMENTS’: Speaking to reporters before leaving from her Jati Umra residence for the hearing, Maryam hit back at the agency for “making an issue about my statements”. “[…] your job was to supposedly stop rampant corruption. Now that you’ve failed in that [sic], have you changed your responsibilities?” she said. Since institutions such as the military and the courts had their own spokespersons, who had appointed NAB as their spokesperson, she asked. NAB had in its petition submitted to the high court on Saturday accused Maryam of non-compliance with its directives.

In her talk on Monday, she said the bureau had uttered a “great lie” about her obstructing the investigation. “I presented myself at the NAB office for the hearing,” she said, adding that the institution resorted to delaying tactics and did not attend to her. STAff RePoRT

demands besides its export.

He said that Pakistan had more potential than Spain, one of the leading olive oil producers, and could explore the possibilities with an effective strategy of olive cultivation.

He also said that the country was blessed with 12 climatic zones and a diverse landscape and stressed the need to promote planting a variety of crops and fruit.

Imran said that olive was also mentioned in the Holy Quran several times that enhanced the relevance and significance of

the “wonder fruit”.

He said that the cultivation project would generate employment opportunities for the locals, both short and long-term, due to the long life of the plant.

The prime minister said that olive cultivation was being carried out under the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami initiative, adding that plantation of other local fruits would be also be included in the programme.

He said that Pakistan was among the 10 most vulnerable countries on the verge of attracting adverse effects of climate change.

He also said that to save future generations from climate change, the plantation was the key step and also to reduce rising pollution levels in metropolitan cities of the country.

He mentioned the recently launched

More targeted restrictions in Punjab as cases rise LAHORE STAff RePoRT

Punjab government on Monday imposed smart lockdown in more neighbourhoods of Lahore, Sialkot, and Rawalpindi in view of a spike in Covid-19 cases there.

Government statistics showed Punjab registered 1,191 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, a day after registering 1,653 fresh cases — its highest daily rise since June last, the latest in a steady rise in infections in recent weeks after months of limited spread. The last time the densely populated province reported such a high number of cases was during the first wave on June 24 when it confirmed 1,655 infections.

The Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department secretary announced on Monday, through a notification, restrictions in 15 hotspots in Rawalpindi, 13 in Lahore, and six in Sialkot. All shopping malls, restaurants, private and government workplaces located in these areas will remain closed during the period.

The smart lockdown is imposed to limit the social movement in the hotspots and to protect the people living in close proximity from Covid-19. In any urgency, only one person of the family is allowed to go out and/or use one vehicle as all kinds of gatherings and meetings will

remain suspended.

Medical services such as pharmacies, laboratories, medical stores, collection centres, hospitals and clinics will remain open round the clock.

Whereas dairy shops, chicken, meat, and fish shops, as well as bakeries, will operate between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm.Grocery stores, general stores, flour mills, fruit and vegetable shops, tandoors, and fuel pumps will remain open between 9:00 am and 7:00 pm.

The danger of coronavirus has not yet subsided therefore precautionary measures to protect oneself from the pandemic need to be taken, the notification read.

PUNJAB CONTRIBUTING TO 55PC OF TOTAL DEATHS: A National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting was informed on Monday that Punjab was contributing to 55 percent of the national Covid-19 mortality rate.

In the last 24 hours, the province reported 16 deaths due to coronavirus-related complications, raising total casualties to 5,769. Punjab, after it reported fresh infections, now has 186,659 confirmed cases. The authorities conducted 22,916 tests receiving back a positivity rate of 5.2 percent. There were 943 new recoveries recorded, leaving 170,695 fully recovered, and 10,195 active cases of the virus.

Cases to be registered against those responsible of sharing questionable content during Aurat March ISLAMABAD APP

Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony Sahibzada Noorul Haq Qadri has said that cases would be registered against the responsible for uploading objectionable contents of “Aurat March” on social media after conducting thorough investigations.

In a statement, he said that Pakistan was the country of Aashiqan-e-Rasool and the insolence actions taken against the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) could not be allowed in the country.

Efforts were underway to ascertain the facts behind

the rationale of displeasing banners, placards and blasphemous slogans of the Women March which went viral on social media.

Those who photoshopped the banners of the Women’s March would also be punished, he emphasised.

He said that right now investigations of sacrilegious placards, banners and blasphemous slogans displayed in the “Aurat March” were being conducted.

The participants of Aurat March have clarified that they did not raise blasphemous slogans in their march staged on March 8 to mark International Women’s Day, and their video had been doctored to curb the growing popularity of their struggle.

Miyawaki technique plantation drives at several sites in Lahore and Islamabad with an objective to get dense greenery at a faster than usual pace. He asked the head of the Forest Department to use a similar plantation method in Peshawar as well as the city touched alarming levels of pollution.

He also lauded the efforts of KP Governor Shah Farman for materialising the billion tree project across the province.

Prior to his address, the premier planted a sapling of olive at the model plantation site of Amangarh in the city, where the cultivation of around 7,200 olive plants will be carried out. He visited the cultivation area, where he was given a briefing about the potential of olive plantation on the occasion.

Farman, Chief Minister Mehmood Khan, Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak, Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam and senior officials were present.

According to official details, the expected economic return of four million grafted olive plants in the sixth year will be about Rs10.8 billion per annum with a total income of Rs54 billion after a decade. The olive oil production in the sixth year will be approximately 7.2 million litres with average fruit production per plant at 15 kg.

NAB allowed to file supplementary reference in Karkey rental power case till April 6 ISLAMABAD TLTP

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday sought more time from the accountability court to file a supplementary reference against former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and other accused in the Karkey Rental Power case. The anti-graft body was supposed to file the supplementary reference against the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) stalwart on Monday, but it failed and pleaded with the court for more time. “We will file the supplementary reference on the next hearing,” the NAB assured the court. The AC while granting time to the NAB for filing supplementary reference adjourned the hearing until April 6. It is to be noted that, an accountability court, last year, had acquitted former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, former finance minister Shaukat Tareen and other accused in the Pira Ghaib Rental Power reference. Judge Muhammad Bashir had announced his verdict on applications of the former premier and others seeking acquittal in the case. Other accused whose acquittal pleas were approved included Shaukat Tareen, Ismail Qureshi, Shahid Rafi, Tahir Basharat Cheema, Muhammad Saleem Arif, Chaudhry Abdul Qadreer, and Iqbal Ali Shah. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed the Pira Ghaib Rental Power reference in 2014, accusing Raja Pervez Ashraf of misusing his powers in his capacity as water and power minister to gain financial benefits in the project. The Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim (KKEU) was one of 12 rental power companies that had been awarded contracts by the PPP government in 2008-09 to resolve the power crisis. The company failed to provide the required electricity and then it moved the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) which imposed a $1.2 billion penalty on Pakistan in 2017, which is now amicably resolved. Due to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s intervention, the fine worth $1.20 billion imposed on Pakistan was waived.

Remarkable development with miraculous achievement and boon for Thar

By SAwAI KHAn CHHALgRI Tharparkar is not only the district with the largest area but it is also the paragon of peace, coexistence and interfaith harmony. It is widely known as Thar HB with a population of sixty lack forty-nine thousand and six hundred sixty-one and spread over twenty thousand square kilometers. Tharparkar has seven Talukas viz: Mithi, Islamkot, Nagarparkar, Chachro, Dahli, Kaloi and Diplo. It has sixty-four union councils and two thousand three hundred and sixty-five villages. The elected representatives include two members of the National Assembly: Doctor Mahesh Malani, Peer Ameer Ali Shah; two senators: Engineer Gianchand and Senator Krishna Kumari members of provincial assembly include Faqeer Sher Mohammad Bilani, Arbab Lutiful Allah and Qasim Saraj Soomro and Rana Humair Singh and two advisors of Chief Minister namely Veer Ji Kohli and Khatu Mal Jeewan.

Thar is the hub of abundant natural resources such as coal, Granite, Salt and China clay. Thar Coal reserves are 175 billion tons spread over 9000 square kilometers. There is a variety of granite and nearly ten different kinds of granite reserves are available in 26 billion tons.

Besides it, Thar is replete with plentiful reserves of China clay & salt that can be used for any commercial mining and industrial activities.

The government of Pakistan has taken indispensable initiatives to covert Thar as a major economic zone for the major foreign direct investment and projection economic and industrial activities. It is mandatory to mention that the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) is fervently engaged in coal mining and its power generation plants have been successfully adding 660 Mega Walt(MW) coal-generated energy in the national grid. whereas 1320 MW will be added to the national grid by Sino Sindh Resource Private Limited ( SSRL).

There are two under construction power

plants of Thal Nova and Hubco Thar Energy limited of 330 MW each and they will also add their power to the national grid by 2020. Hence, it won’t be incorrect to assume that Thar will change Pakistan.

It is meritorious to mention that Sindh Government has taken praiseworthy and remarkable initiatives to facilitate and encourage the investment and industrialisation in the Tharparkar district with vivid infrastructural development such as a widespread network of well-constructed roads, construction of the 42 small dams, water carrier pipelines, dam for the reservoir of rainwater in Tharparkar district, establishment of the Mai Bhakhtawar airport, Establishment of NED University Campus, schools by Engro with the collaboration of TCF and the start of the state of the art institutions of heart diseases the institute of Cardiovascular Diseases( NICVD) and several other projects.

The Sindh government has made a

remarkable initiative on constructing 42 small dams in Thar. The construction of 23 dams has successfully completed and inaugurated by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah and he showed an eager interest in the completion of the remaining 11 small dams will be completed by 2022. The initiative of the construction of small dams will not only provide fresh drinking water to 87 villages but will irrigate 85000 acres of land. At present constructed 23 dams have immensely contributed to the irrigation of the hundred acres of land with bumper crops of wheat, Onions, Garlic, Oats, Gawaar, and other crops which is indeed a miraculous achievement of the Sindh government for the prosperity of the People that was the vision of Mohtrama Shaheed Banzeer Bhutto and Bilawal Bhutto which coming to happen as an undeniable reality.

The writer can be reached at chhalgriswaikhan@gmail.com

Tuesday, 16 March, 2021

LAHORE

sINdh reIMposes restrIctIoNs to hAlt thIrd coroNAvIrus wAve KARACHI

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OURS after the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) advised the provinces to reimpose restrictions of targeted areas to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the Sindh government on Monday ordered the closure of all markets at 10:00 pm and re-enforced the 50 per cent attendance at workplace policy.

The government portal keeping track of the outbreak in Pakistan on Monday reported 2,253 new infections of the coronavirus after conducting 44,061 tests, receiving back a positivity rate of 5.11 per cent.

In its meeting, the NCOC asked the provincial authorities to adopt strict measures against the people flouting standard operating procedures (SOPs) designed to curtail the spread of the contagious disease.

Following the meeting, the provincial health department issued a notification announcing the closure of shrines, early closure of amusement parks, and other stringent measures such as suspension of indoor weddings and dining until April 15.

“In pursuance of the directions of NCOC […] Sindh [government] is pleased to re-direct as under with immediate elect and till 15th April 2021 unless changed or amended earlier,” the notification read.

The notification said businesses — including markets, shopping malls, marriage halls — will function between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm. However, essential services such as medical stores, hospitals as well as petrol pumps, bakeries, and milk shops will remain open round the clock.

“There would be no indoor dining at the restaurants and only outdoor dining and takeaway would be allowed,” the notification read.

reforms necessary to steer railways out of deficit: pM

All amusement parks would be closed by 6:00 pm whereas all indoor facilities would also remain closed to the public. Indoor weddings will not take place any more.

Only outdoor gatherings and weddings would be allowed with an upper limit of 300 guests with defined health guidelines.

“Marques with defined modification for ventilations whereas no buffet service is allowed,” the notification added.

Work from the home policy would be implemented whereas 50 percent of staff in attendance would be allowed in all public and private offices.

Respective commissioners and deputy commissioners are empowered to impose smart quarantines “as necessary based on disease hotspots” or “as deemed appropriate” under the Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act, 2014, it said.

Seperately, while speaking to a news channel, provincial Minister for Education Saeed Ghani announced that

Govt to reach out to Opp for fresh electoral reforms, provincial status for GB ISLAMABAD MIAN AbRAR

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that uninterrupted reforms process in railways is very imperative to steer it out of deficit. The prime minister said this while chairing a meeting on the ongoing reforms process in Pakistan Railways, progress in Karachi Circular Railway Project and Prime Minister’s Railway Green Initiative on Monday. The premier said that an improved railway system would not only provide better transportation facilities to the people but will also help in resolving transport related issues and improving the economy. The meeting was informed that a plan is under process to construct a special freight corridor for freight vehicles parallel to the Lahore-Karachi railway track through which Pipri will be connected to Karachi Port Trust to address the transport related problems of Karachi city.

Referring to the Karachi Circular Railway project, it was informed that Pakistan Railways has developed a model on buildoperate-transfer (BOT) basis which will ensure improved service to the passengers. It was informed that a detailed reform program is underway to overcome the losses in the institute. The meeting was also briefed on the progress of ML-1 project. It was also given a detailed briefing on land identified for planting trees along a 221 km long track where trees will be planted. The meeting was attended by Railway Minister Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Advisor on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain, Federal Secretaries and senior officers.

Meanwhile, Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjani and Deputy Chairman Mirza Muhammad Afridi called on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday. The premier felicitated them on their election as the chairman and the deputy chairman of the Senate. He said that leading the upper house by representatives from Balochistan and erstwhile tribal areas is an honour for the people who have been ignored in the past, and now their election will further strengthen the federation. He expressed the hope that the chairman of the Senate, in his second term, would continue discharging his responsibilities in the upper house in the same manner in which he had performed his duties in the past. Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak was also present during the meeting. APP

walk-in vaccination for people aged 70 to begin today The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has said that people aged 70 years or older, who have registered for vaccination, can walk into any vaccination centre from tomorrow and get inoculated against Covid-19.

In a statement, the NCOC said that the citizens would have to show their Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) at the vaccination centre. They can register by sending their CNIC number to 1166. This is applicable for all provinces and regions in the country, including Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. NewS DeSk

educational institutions will remain open during the period.

He further announced the authorities had taken action after the emergence of positive cases in education institutes.

During the second wave, 141 schools and four colleges were closed down after they reported positive Covid-19 cases, he said. However, the government will reissue instructions to the administrations for strict compliance with the health guidelines, said the minister.

The minister warned that the education centre will be immediately sealed even if a single coronavirus case reported from there. He clarified that the Sindh government has not yet taken any decision to shut educational institutions.

Despite passing through two waves of the pandemic, the government has yet to fully utilise its testing capacity of 61,177, with daily testing remains significantly below numbers proposed by global health experts.

Keeping in view the reservations shown by the treasury and the opposition parties over ‘non transparent’ elections of the Senate, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday decided to form a bipartisan committee comprising government and opposition parties to help prepare proposals for constitutional amendments for electoral reforms and also to award provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

Sources in the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) told Pakistan Today that the government has started efforts to pave the way for transparent elections and the premier has decided to reach out to the opposition as the government as well as the opposition have reservations over the Senate elections. After consultation with the prime minister, Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Babar Awan called on NA Speaker Asad Qaiser and discussed the formation of a parliamentary committee on electoral reforms. During the meeting, it was agreed to form a parliamentary committee to finalise proposals including the holding of Senate elections through an open ballot.

The resolution tabled by the political parties in the GB Assembly was also discussed and would be presented

GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION SHOULD RESOLVE PUBLIC ISSUES AMICABLY, NA SPEAKER SAYS to Prime Minister Imran, sources informed.

Furthermore, the meeting agreed to form a committee on constitutional and electoral reforms. The committee will be chaired by NA Speaker Qaiser and the opposition and the government will be given equal representation in the committee. The committee will review in detail the constitutional, legal aspects and reservations of the opposition regarding the GB’s interim province and work out a consensus strategy while deciding whether the committee will also review the pending election reform bill.

The committee will consult on the proposed amendment to the constitution related to the Senate elections. Qaiser said that important legal issues can be reformed through legislation. The government and the opposition should resolve public issues amicably. The lack of reforms in the Senate elections is a spectacle, he added.

Pakistan joins OIC in observing day to fight Islamophobia ISLAMABAD STAff RePoRT

Pakistan on Monday joined the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in observing the maiden “International Day to Combat Islamophobia”.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has time and again urged the United Nations to universally outlaw rising Islamophobia in many countries, including neighbouring India. In his address to the UN General Assembly in September last year, he had urged the world body to heighten efforts against a rising tide of Islamophobia across the globe. In November, the government had presented a resolution to designate March 15 as a global day to fight Islamophobia at the 47th meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) which was held in Niamey.

The resolution was unanimously adopted by the participants. The OIC is now working with the

international community to commemorate this day at the international level. In a statement, the Foreign Office (FO) said that the Muslim group’s unanimous support for the designation of this Day was a reflection of the sentiments of billions of Muslims around the world.

Marking this occasion, the OIC will hold a high-level event in New York on March 17, it said. “The scourge of Islamophobia, fuelled by populism, hate speech, and lack of knowledge and disinformation, is causing unimaginable suffering to Muslim minorities around the world,” the statement added.

It said that Islamophobia had taken many forms including inter alia negative profiling, mob lynchings by cow vigilantes, discriminatory laws, attacks on women for wearing hijab, ban on minarets, negative propaganda and disinformation campaigns, manifestos of far-right parties, deliberate vandalism of Islamic symbols and holy sites, and attempts to link and equate Islam with terrorism.

INK, egg throwN At shAhBAz gIll’s fAce At lhc LAHORE: A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) worker Monday threw ink and an egg on the face of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Shahbaz Gill’s face on the premises of the Lahore High Court (LHC). According to details, when Gill entered the premises of the high court to appear before the court in a case, a man hit him with an egg. Later, a man threw black ink on his face inside the LHC. The police have arrested the culprit, who was reportedly beaten up by the police and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers. Later talking to the media, Gill said that the PTI would not reply to the PML-N activists’ treatment with him. He advised his party’s workers not to return the actions of the PML-N in kind. He made it clear to PML-N that Pakistan was not their property. “We have laid down our lives for the creation of this country,” he said and referred to PML-N leader Mian Javed Latif’s remarks that the party would not raise the slogan of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ if party Pice President Maryam Nawaz was harmed. He said that he was not sure whether PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif or his son Hamza Shehbaz’s political future was safe or not, but as far as PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif or his daughter Maryam were concerned, their political future had been sealed. He also claimed that he has a recording of a WhatsApp call in which PML-N and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) PPP leadership were berating each other for failing to get the required votes in the Senate chairman elections. He said that he would soon release the call to the media. Gill had earlier written on Twitter that he would go to the LHC, leading people to believe that the attack was planned. He wrote that he was going to appear before the LHC and there were reports that miscreants of PML-N workers have prepared to attack him in the court. However, he termed himself a soldier of Prime Minister Imran Khan and said that such tactics would not be able to deter his resolve. Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Monday condemned the incident of throwing ink on SAPM Gill. In a tweet, the minister stated that “The incident of throwing ink on Shahbaz Gill is beyond condemnation, such actions will increase the bitterness”. He said: “Black deeds (of opposition) will not be removed by throwing ink on others”. INP

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president, first lady get coronavirus vaccine ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi and First Lady Samina Alvi on Monday got their anti-Covid shots with the former urging the nation to take precautions to make the country sail through the third wave of the pandemic. The president and the first lady arrived at the vaccination centre at Tarlai after they received the intimation from 1166 registration service, where the duo had registered themselves on February 15 this year. Talking to the media, the president said that the elite across the world had been breaking the queue to get vaccinated but in Pakistan, the government had put in place an efficient mechanism for vaccination of the people on their turn. Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan also accompanied the president and the first lady. “I think the vaccine gives further protection but we will have to take precautions of wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing unless the world fully overcomes the pandemic. APP

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Tuesday, 16 March, 2021

LAHORE

NEWS

Buzdar annOunceS rS7Bn ramzan Package tO PrOvide relief tO maSSeS LAHORE

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STaff rePorT

UnjAB Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has announced the Ramzan Package worth seven billion to provide relief to the masses in the holy month of Ramzan.

While chairing the cabinet committee meeting on Monday, the chief minister, while giving details of the package, said that a total of 313 Ramzan bazaars will be established across the province where a 10kg flour bag will be available at Rs300.

The Punjab government will provide around Rs3.50 billion subsidy for this, he added. Meanwhile, the implementation of coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs), including observance of social distancing, will be fully ensured, he further said.

CM SAYS POOR PEOPLE WILL BE GIVEN ECONOMIC RELIEF AT ANY COST Buzdar said that agri. fair-price shops will also be established to provide fruits and vegetables at the rates of 2018. Similarly, besan, dates, dried chickpeas lentils (chana dal) and other items will also be available at the rates of the year 2018, he said. Meanwhile, sugar will be provided at Rs60 per kg and ghee, chicken and eggs will be sold Rs10 to Rs15 less than the market price, he added.

The CM directed the administration to provide maximum relief to the citizens adding that the scope of Sahulat bazaars will be expanded. He further directed to establish Sahulat Bazaar Authority to provide perma-

nent relief to the consumers from artificial price-hike. He directed to follow austerity measures while arranging Ramzan bazaars and saved money be utilise for providing relief to the masses.

The poor will be given economic relief at every cost, the CM assured and directed to start Ramzan bazaars from Shaaban 25.

“I, provincial ministers and secretaries will also visit Ramzan bazaars,” he announced.

Provincial Ministers Mian Aslam Iqbal, Syed Hussain jahanian Gardezi, Sardar Hasnain Bahadur Dareshk, secretaries of industries, agriculture, food and livestock departments and others attended the meeting.

SHO remanded after 7th class student’s death in custody PESHAWAD: A local court on Monday remanded the arrested station house officer (SHO) of Peshawar’s Gharbi (western) police station in police custody in a case pertaining to the reported death by suicide of a seventh class student. The police produced Dost Muhammad before the court and requested his physical remand for questioning.

Subsequently, the court approved a 3-day physical remand of the cop and directed the investigation officer to present him before it on the next hearing. The police said that the youngster was arrested from Peshawar bazaar after he indulged in a fight and a pistol was recovered from his possession. “He committed suicide inside a lock-up by strangulating himself using a piece of cloth,” a police official said, adding that they are investigating the entire episode. The father of the seventh-grade student, Shahzaib, however, rejected the police claims and said that the cops had tortured his son and later hanged his body, claiming that he had committed suicide. The SHO was taken into custody after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan took serious notice over the death of the student by violence in police custody. In a statement, the chief minister ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. TlTP

LAHORE: Citizens disregard coronavirus SOPs despite government's warnings about the dangers of the third wave. Zubair MehfooZ

Universities to conduct online classes ‘Koi bhooka na soye’: Free meal boxes to be distributed twice a day for 2 weeks in selected cities: HEC NEWS DESK Free meal boxes will be distributed twice a day through mobile trucks at various points of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Subsidy amounts to also be credited to accounts of 30 million families, enabling them to buy essential food items.

Prime Minister Imran Khan kicked off the government's "koi bhooka na soye (no one must sleep hungry programme)" on Wednesday under which mobile food vans will roam major cities to distribute freshly cooked food to daily wage workers.

"The biggest beneficiaries of this programme will be the daily wagers, ones who dwell in big cities to earn and send some money back home," explained the official PTI Twitter account.

It said that such people often live in deplorable conditions and after the establishment of "Panahgahs" which offer shelter, these meals on wheels will be another step for their wellbeing.

Addressing the launch ceremony, the prime minister said that the establishment of "Panahgahs" is aimed at facilitating labourers and working class.

"The government's efforts are geared at providing the underpriveledged section of society dignity," he said. He congratulated

the Ehsaas programme and Baitul-Maal administration for the successful launch of the service under which free meal boxes will be distributed twice a day through mobile trucks at various points of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The prime minister said that the government must continue to set high standards for serving the poor and so quality of food must continually be monitored and remain consistent.

He termed the launch of the programme the foundation of a welfare state.

He said that many philanthropic individuals have already expressed interest in providing financial assistance to the programme. The premier also said that the government will provide 30 million families direct subsidies.

The prime minister said that through the direct subsidy programme, to be carried out under the umbrella of Ehsaas, subsidy amounts would be directly credited to the accounts of poor people enabling them to buy basic food items like wheat flour, sugar, ghee, pulses, etc.

The government, he added, would also bring a similar direct subsidy programme for the farmers to help them in getting fertilizers and other agricultural inputs on subsidised rates.

NEWS DESK The Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Wednesday announced that all universities shall continue to operate as per guidelines issued earlier except for universities in a few cities where online classes will be conducted for two weeks.

The decision was taken following the federal government's announcement related to the spring holidays across academic institutions in selected cities due to the recent upsurge in Covid-19 cases. According to a statement released by the HEC in this regard, an exception will be given to universities and higher education institutions (HEIs) in Faisalabad, Lahore,

Multan, Sialkot, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad.

"All universities and HEIs in the abovementioned cities shall remain closed for physical attendance during March 15-28, 2021," said the statement. The HEC, however, stressed that academic activities will continue online during this period. Moreover, on-going and pre-scheduled exams can be conducted as planned with the complete observance of Covid-19 health and safety protocols. "Universities are advised to ensure strict observance of the Covid-19 minimum health and safety protocols i.e., thermal scanning, wearing facemasks, social distancing, availability and regular use of sanitisers, and disinfection of buildings," the statement said.

LAHORE: Lady health workers' protest continues on fourth day. online

Tuesday, 16 March, 2021

LAhore

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Govt to induct PMS/PCS officers into 729 PAS posts ISLAMABAD SHAHZAD PARACHA

The federal government has decided to open 729 posts of Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) for promotions and induction of Provincial Management Services (PMS)/ Provincial Civil Services (PCS) officers of all provinces. Officials said that the government has also decided to induct 51 BS-19 officers of PMS and PCS into PAS against the cadre strength of Service in the federal secretariat. Overall, the government has decided to open 729 posts of PAS for promotions and induction of PMS)/ PCS officers of all provinces. Officials said that a post sharing formula was decided between the federation and the provinces in 1993 and the percentages therein were applied to the full cadre strength of the provinces. This application of percentages to the total number of posts intimated by the provinces took the sanctioned seats of PAS to almost 1739 in the provinces. However, the actual number of officers available for posting to provinces was not sufficient and there was a persistent shortage of PAS officers in provinces, officials added. Officials further said that an exercise was started in 2019 to identify the posts where PAS officers had not been posted historically but such posts were being used for the calculation of cadre strength of PAS. After identification of such posts, in consultation with provinces, it was decided that these posts should be subtracted for the purpose of application of percentages decided under the 1993 formula. After deduction of the number of seats, where PAS officers were never posted, the post sharing formula was applied on the remaining seats which brought down the cadre strength of posts in provinces to 1,061 from 1,739 in BS-17 to BS-20, they stated. This rationalisation of cadre strength will serve two purposes. On the one hand, it will reduce the shortages of PAS officers in provinces, while on the other hand, it has given the provinces leverage of 678 posts, deducted from PAS Cadre, which can be utilised for promotions of Provincial Services Officers, they also stated. Further, in addition to the above 678 seats, the federal government has decided to induct 51 BS-19 officers of PMS and PCS into PAS against the cadre strength of Service in the federal secretariat.

US assistance helps decrease electricity pilferage in Peshawar ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The United States Mission to Pakistan, along with the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), celebrated the successful completion of a pilot project to help decrease electricity theft and increase power revenue in Peshawar. Under the project, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) installed 157 kilometres of anti-theft cable and 5,000 smart meters in various areas covered by PESCO, including Chamkani subdivision, which had been reporting approximately 60pc revenue loss, or Rs1.3 billion, per year due to theft, billing problems, and power supply issues, said a press statement issued on Monday. Smart meters operating on a central wireless internet system make accurate billing easier and improve customer service. Additionally, USAID introduced an innovative online transformer monitoring system that will enable PESCO to conduct real-time energy accounting and proactively take corrective actions. This is a first-of-its-kind system for a Pakistani government-owned power distribution company, said the statement. “With the dependency on technology in today’s world, energy has become even more important to our daily lives. That’s why our partnership with the government of Pakistan in the energy sector is so important and why, together, we seek new ways to secure the country’s energy resources,” said USAID Mission Director Julie Koenen.

BUSiNeSSMeN iN iSLAMABAd defy NeW Covid ReStRiCtioNS ISLAMABAD

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GHULAM ABBAS

S the shutdowns of market and business following the spread of coronavirus have already affected the business activities last year, the business community in the country’s capital has rejected the new restrictions imposed by the government.

The business community of the federal capital has called upon the government to withdraw the new coronavirus restrictions immediately to save the businesses from further losses.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club (NPC) on Monday, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) President Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said that the decision

would badly hit the businesses that were already struggling for revival due to previous lockdowns.

Khan was flanked by business leaders of the federal capital including AllPakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran President Ajmal Baloch.

The ICCI president said that in the current tough times, businesses needed relief measures from the government in taxes, interest rates, loans and utility charges, but instead of providing any relief, the government was taking measures that would put businesses into deeper troubles. ICCI president added that the customers normally do shopping on weekends due to not finding time on working days.

However, he appreciated the role of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hamza

A new feature has appeared at smoke shops in Montana, gas stations in the Carolinas and delis in far-flung corners of New York City: a brightly-lit bitcoin ATM, where customers can buy or sell digital currency, and sometimes extract hard cash.

The machines have multiplied quickly through the United States over the past year, fueled by a frenzy in crypto trading that sent bitcoin prices over $58,000.

Kiosk operators such as CoinFlip and Coin Cloud have installed thousands of ATMs, scouring areas competitors have not yet reached, executives told Reuters.

“I just assumed there was demand and people wanted bitcoin everywhere,” said Quad Coin founder Mark Shoiket, who flew to Montana after scanning a US map for bitcoin ATM deserts.

During a week-long road trip, he found

Shafqaat and his team for playing a frontline role against the spread of Covid-19 and cooperating with the business community in running business activities.

“But closing businesses on Saturday and Sunday will not only create problems for customers; it would also cause more rush in markets on other days and lead to further increase in the Covid-19 pandemic cases,” Khan said.

He added, “On behalf of the whole community I urge that businesses should be allowed to remain open on weekends to avoid rush and curb the spread of coronavirus.”

The members of the business community said that instead of closing businesses on weekends, ICT administration should focus on enforcement of the standard operating proce-

PIA all set to start flights from Lahore to Skardu, Gilgit ISLAMABAD Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to operate weekly flights from Lahore to Skardu and Gilgit from next month, it was learnt on Monday.

Talking to this scribe, PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez said that Lahore would be added to the existing route between Islamabad to Skardu and Gilgit.

"Initially, PIA will start two flights a week from Lahore to Gilgit and Skardu. More flights can be added keeping the number of passengers in view," he added.

On a query about the earlier announced KarachiSkardu flights, the spokesperson said that flight cancellations due to uncertain weather conditions were hindering flight operations on this route.

"When a Karachi flight for Skardu is cancelled after arriving in Islamabad, the passengers get stuck in the capital. PIA faces losses in taking them back to Karachi," he maintained. "But in case a Lahore-Skardu flight gets cancelled even before landing in the mountainous region, the national flag carrier can manage the situation by flying back to Lahore."

It is pertinent to mention that PIA Chief Operating Officer Arshad Malik had last year directed the airline's sales manager to make arrangements for direct flights between Karachi and Skardu. The national carrier was to operate Airbus 320 twice a week flights between the port city of Karachi and Skardu. It was decided that in of bad weather, flights would be diverted to the Islamabad International Airport.

To another question, the PIA spokesman claimed that the minimum fare for flights between Islamabad and Gilgit/Skardu was Rs6,000. However, contrary to his claims, the fare from Islamabad to Gilgit/Skardu ranges between Rs8,000 to 13,000.

With an aim to promote tourism, PIA had recently announced that it would add new routes for its flights which included Swat, Skardu and Gilgit.

Saidu Sharif Airport in Swat was scaled down due to security reasons in 2004 and would be made operational once the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) upgrades it and makes it operational, the spokesman said, adding that the national flag carrier has decided to operate two flights a week between Saidu Sharif and Islamabad from next month to facilitate tourists.

China asks Alibaba to curtail media assets: WSJ

Govt keeps petrol, diesel prices unchanged

GHULAM ABBAS

AGENCIES China’s government has asked Alibaba Group Holding Ltd to dispose of its media assets, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Discussions over the matter have been held since early this year, the report said, adding that officials were shocked at how expansive Alibaba’s media interests have become. The company, whose mainstay business is online retail, has stakes in the Twitter-like Weibo platform and several news outlets including the South China Morning Post. Such influence is seen as posing serious challenges to the Chinese Communist Party and its own powerful propaganda apparatus, the Journal’s sources were quoted as saying. Alibaba did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

NEWS DESK: The government on Monday announced that the prices of petrol and diesel will remain unchanged for the month of March. According to the Finance Division, the price of petrol will remain unchanged at Rs111.90 per litre like last month, while that of diesel will also remain unchanged at Rs116.8 per litre. The prices of kerosene oil and light diesel, however, have been increased by Rs3.42 per litre and Rs2.19 per litre, respectively. Akin to that, the prices of light diesel oil has been increased by Rs2.19 per litre. The new price of light diesel oil, after the increase, have been set at Rs81.42 per litre. The new prices, according to the finance minster, will come into effect from Tuesday, March 16, 2021.

Bitcoin ATMs spring up across US AGENCIES

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seven places to install machines, including 406 Glass, a store in Billings, Montana, that sells tobacco, vape juice and colorful glass pipes.

As of January, there were 28,185 bitcoin ATMs in the United States, according to howmanybitcoinatms.com, an independent research site. Roughly 10,000 came within the prior five months.

Bitcoin’s growing popularity has been the primary driver for new installations.

The reasons people use ATMs rather than transacting online vary. Some get paid in cash, some lack bank accounts, some want to send remittances abroad or want anonymity, while others feel more comfortable interacting with a physical machine.

Rebecca White, a 51-year-old bitcoin investor who lives in the Pittsburgh area, makes larger investments online and uses bitcoin ATMs when her family has extra money.

“When we do our grocery shopping and we have $60 left, I will stop at the bitcoin ATM,” said White, who works in the nuclear power industry.

Some machines only offer bitcoin, while others let customers invest in various digital currencies. Few bitcoin ATMs can actually spit out cash, and they cost more than regular ATMs or transacting online.

Fees range from 6pc to 20pc of a total transaction, said Pamela Clegg, director of financial investigations and education at cryptocurrency compliance firm CipherTrace. Fees vary depending on the location and Bitcoin ATM operator.

“The growth of the ATM market – it is not even a gentle increase, it is almost a 45pc increase,” said Clegg. “The growth is quite astonishing.

Government agencies have raised red flags about some machines because of their cost and the potential for illicit activity. The

New Jersey State Commission of Investigation detailed some of those concerns in a February report titled “Scams, Suspicious Transactions and Questionable Practices at Cryptocurrency Kiosks.” None of those concerns have stopped the industry’s growth.

COAST TO COAST There are now bitcoin ATMs in every state except Alaska, as well as in Washington, D.C., according to an online map by Coin ATM Radar.

Reuters journalists spotted recent additions at gas stations, stores and restaurants in North Carolina, South Carolina, rural Pennsylvania and the outskirts of New Jersey and New York City.

Las Vegas-based Coin Cloud has 1,470 machines around the United States and expects to have 10,000 by year-end, said CEO Chris McAlary. Although there were concerns that the pandemic might hurt business, foot traffic actually rose during lockdowns.

“We expected the worst as Covid hit, but stimulus payments came out and that helped quite a bit,” McAlary said. “Some people took stimulus and bought digital currency with it.”

dures (SOPs) and assured that the business community would fully cooperate with it in the implementation of SOPs while running business activities.

Ajmal Baloch said that due to previous lockdowns and restrictions, businesses have already suffered huge losses while the government has not provided any compensation to them.

They said the closure of businesses would render thousands of people jobless, therefore, new restrictions should be withdrawn.

The members of the business community announced that the traders will not allow entry to any customer in shops without wearing a mask.

They said that the government should form a new strategy against the Covid-19 pandemic by taking the business community on board.

PML-N agrees to tender resignations before long march; PPP undecided CONTINUED FORM PAGE 01 Separately, Fazl on Monday maintained that the alliance will discuss the matter of resignations in its meeting on Tuesday, adding that the resignations are necessary for the success of the long march. “In my personal opinion, if we don’t submit resignations from this parliament then there may not be a lot of benefit to the long march,” he said while addressing a press conference in Peshawar. Fazl criticised the recently held Senate chairman and deputy chairman elections, terming them “rigged”. He claimed this was clear in light of the irregularities that occurred during the polls. He claimed that the opposition was given the message that despite being in the majority in the Senate, it would lose to the minority. He asserted that such irregularities have been happening since 2018, and questioned who had planted the cameras in the polling booth. He also questioned how votes were rejected during the Senate chairman election, and were reduced in the elections for the deputy chairman.

Rangers official martyred, 10 injured in Karachi attack CONTINUED FORM PAGE 01 TD DIG Omar Shahid Hamid said that the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) had claimed responsibility for the attack through their social media account. Mominabad SHO Gul Mohammed Awan also confirmed that the bomb was planted in a parked motorcycle in Orangi Town-5. One official of the Karachi Traffic Police and a constable of the Anti-Vehicle Lifting Cell who were passing through the area when the explosion took place were also among the injured, he added. A team of the bomb disposal squad was called to the area. Investigators were trying to obtain CCTV footage from the site of the blast as the police’s Counter-Terrorism Department launched an investigation.

Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar took notice of the “terror attack on Rangers mobile” on a main road and sought a detailed report from the West SSP, a police spokesperson said. Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, PSP Chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal and others have condemned the attack on the Rangers vehicle. Chief Minister Murad and Sindh Governor Ismail, while taking notice of the incident, sought a detailed inquiry report from the Karachi IGP. Earlier, attacks on security personnel were reported from Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on March 8 warned that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is reorganising in Pakistan, adding, “There are threats in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, and Karachi.”

Tuesday, 16 March, 2021

06 COMMENT

Mechanics of weight management

A break on no-holds-barred fight is needed The going would otherwise become nastier

A concise summary

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ne day’s delay in holding the PdM leadership’s meeting has given the alliance time to reduce the differences over the next step to be taken after PdM’s debacle in the Senate. The PPP wants to go ahead with a no-confidence move against the nA Speaker. The PML-n wants instead the opposition to resign from the national Assembly and march on Islamabad. The PPP does not possess enough numbers for a credible noconfidence move while the PML-n’s resignations without the support of other allies would turn out to be a damp squib. The situation would test the opposition’s ability to manage its differences and maintain unity in its ranks The numerous sycophants PM Imran Khan has gathered around him are enough to turn anybody’s head.

The sooner Mr Khan manages to overcome the euphoria caused by the confidence vote and the Senate victory, the better for him and the country as there are enough dangers lurking ahead. The government’s inordinate delay in buying the corona vaccine has led to slow progress in vaccination which alone is a safeguard against the Pandemic. The government has thus been led to impose hundreds of smart lockdowns and restrictions on business hours. numerous enterprises like restaurants, hotels and cinema houses have remained closed with quite a few permanently shut down. The price hike remains beyond the government’s control and is adversely affecting its political image. The policy of maintaining no working relation with the opposition is acting as a lethal factor that could only hasten the government’s end.

Tongues that had gone silent started wagging after PM Imran Khan who had lost majority in the nA managed to get a vote of confidence only days after from the same House. doubts turned into confirmed opinions when the opposition suddenly lost seven votes to a new kid on the block fighting for a Senate slot. It is understandable that those who prefer to operate incognito would not like to be dragged into politics. but when they leave a trail on the grass, and the aggrieved party is badly hit, it is bound to scream blue murder. It is time for those who matter to consider limiting their role in politics.

haSaN aFtaB SaEEd

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verybody wants to be lean and fit, and yet few succeed at it. Talk to any overweight person and the chances are that they will tell you how they eat practically nothing but keep on gaining weight. While it is true that one cannot completely rule out unusually slow metabolisms, a record of what such a person consumes during a day would invariably demonstrate how peculiar some people’s notion of ‘practically nothing’ can be. Incidentally, weight loss is the only loss anybody has ever found desirable. And fittingly enough, it is not a piece of cake. As mankind’s resolution-defying issues go, obesity probably is second only to stupidity.

What makes it so difficult is that overweight is good for business. It is an infinite loop: Ice-creams, sodas, confectionery items, and the like make people fat which results in their craving these things even more – the familiar story of a monster that grows greedier, instead of being satiated, the more it is fed. doctors, pharma manufacturers and undertakers are certainly not complaining.

The mechanics of weight loss could not be any simpler. It is merely a matter of the net difference between energy intake and expenditure. A positive difference (calorie surplus) results in weight gain, zero difference (maintenance) in constant weight,

National security dialogue Debate on foreign policy should take place in parliament

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Only time will tell

Sajjad Shaukat

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n a major development to deescalate tensions, the director Generals of Military operations (dGMos) of Pakistan and India have agreed to strictly observe the 2003 ceasefire agreement at the Line of Control (LoC) and other sectors, including Working boundary from the midnight of February 24 and 25, this year.

In this regard, director General Inter-Services Public relations (ISPr) Major General babar Iftikhar stated on February 25 that the mechanism of military contacts between Pakistan and India had existed since 1987, while an understanding on ceasefire was reached in 2003. both sides reiterated that existing mechanisms of hotline contact and border flag meetings will be utilised to resolve any unforeseen situation or misunderstanding—the two dGMos agreed to address each other’s core concerns which have the propensity to disturb the peace. dG ISPr elaborated that after the 2003 understanding, ceasefire was observed with some incidents of violation. However, there had been a spike in ceasefire violations (CFvs) since 2014. Some 92 percent of over 13,500 CFvs from Indian troops occurred from 2014 till now—a total of 310 citizens on the Pakistan side have been martyred, while 1,600 were injured—49 women and 36 children were

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Umar Aziz Executive Editor

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is no mean feat), there is the unfortunate fact that most readily available food is unhealthy. It therefore takes hard work to eat healthy, which in turn requires time – a precious commodity in the brave new world. While it is true that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop, too busy a life also needs to be reconsidered for this reason among many others.

Weight management is a war that is never completely won, even if one keeps winning many battles in a row. resting on one’s laurels is never an option. This calls for a consistent, sustainable effort. drastic weight losses are almost always temporary.

There are many fancy ideas doing the rounds about the best diet for the purpose, and some of them would even be effective; but a rule of thumb is this: the more peculiar the diet plan, the less time it is likely to last.

It is much better to stick to a balanced diet than going to any extreme.

In the end, it all boils down to the old question of eating to live or living to eat.

It used to be that with many other attractions on offer, people under thirty usually ate to live. It was only later, especially after marriage that the transition to the living-to-eat phase occurred with obvious results. In this respect, matters have gone from bad to worse because the fast-food generation starts getting its kicks from food very early in life. Spotting a delivery man every day at a neighbour’s door, my father once told the tenyear old who lived there to go a little easy on junk food. His reply: ‘Uncle, we will die without it.’ die, we all will. Still, it does not hurt to live well before the inevitable happens.

In the end, it all boils down to the old question of eating to live or living to eat. It used to be that with many other attractions on offer, people under thirty usually ate to live. It was only later, especially after marriage that the transition to the living-to-eat phase occurred with obvious results. In this respect, matters have gone from bad to worse because the fast-food generation starts getting its kicks from food very early in life.

Hasan Aftab Saeed is a connoisseur of music, literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be reached at hasanas@live.jp.

Will guns remain silent at LoC?

He Federal government is all set to hold the Islamabad Security dialogue, which being hailed as a ‘first of its kind’, aimed at promoting Prime Minister Imran Khan ‘s vision of peace, regional connectivity and development partnerships with the world. The initiative is being spearheaded by SAPM on national Security development (nSd) dr Moeed yusuf, who has in the past made foreign policy statements that echo the United States’ anti-China narrative. The dialogue that will be opened by the PM tomorrow and will have CoAS Gen Qamar bajwa as chief guest the day after is structured to take policy recommendations on matters of national security from think tanks and relevant university research departments to ‘bridge the traditional gap between public intellectuals and policy makers’.

While there is no harm in taking input from intellectuals and experts on matters related to regional and national security, the final and most important platform to debate and discuss such crucial policies has to be parliament. Unfortunately the current regime gives little importance to the regular and conventional running of both houses unless it is absolutely crucial to its survival, which is when self-serving legislation is bulldozed through parliament. Pakistan faces a host of security challenges, not least of which is getting off the FATF grey list. each consecutive review of our progress reveals inadequate focus and progress on implementation of antiterror funding laws. There are various Standing Committees in both the national Assembly and Senate having representation from both sides of the aisle that are more than equipped to review the laws that have been hastily passed and provide recommendations to make them more robust, effective and meaningful. The event this week is a positive initiative to portray an image of Pakistan as a country focused on economic security, human welfare and protecting its territorial borders. It would be better however if it were supplemented with a genuine effort to engage parliament in matters of important policy making to give the effort legitimacy and credence.

Yousaf Nizami Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

and a negative difference (calorie deficit) in weight loss. over the last few months, I managed to lose all my excess kgs. Many people ask me how I did it. Well, there is no secret as to how it is done: eating carefully and exercising is all there is to it. but this seems to drain all enthusiasm on the part of the questioner. It ought not to, because eating carefully does not necessarily mean eating less, although overeating does not belong in any fitness program either. When it comes to the intake, it is a matter of eating well – avoiding processed food as much as possible and opting for whole foods instead. on the expenditure side, it is exercise. but there is a limit to the number of calories that can possibly be burned; and with the kind of food generally consumed these days, that limit is reached rather quickly. Without controlling the intake then, the whole project is doomed. It is therefore a matter of developing a consciousness of which food item is good for you and which is not. but this consciousness has a way of deserting you just when you need it the most.

This is where regular exercise comes in handy over and above its role in burning a certain number of calories every day. because when you are putting effort in regular exercise and can be forgiven for getting outside a pastry or two occasionally, you generally resist the temptation. but when you are making no such efforts and cannot afford to exacerbate matters any further, you invariably yield to all temptations that come your way. This consciousness goes hand in hand with practice. And the results keep one motivated. The proof of the pudding is not in eating in this case – or eating in moderation, to be precise.

Careful eating is easier said than done though.

More than overcoming the unhealthy urges (which

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amongst those martyred in CFvs only during the last four years. The highest number of CFvs was recorded in 2019, while the highest number of casualties occurred during year 2018.

According to a Foreign office (Fo) count, “in 2020 alone, “Indian small arms, and mortar fire and artillery shells killed at least 28 civilians and wounded 257 more in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)…Since January 1[2021], Indian troops have violated the ceasefire at least 175 times”. nevertheless, tensions escalated between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Indian false flag terror attack at Pulwama in the Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIoJK), when on February 27, 2019, in response to the Indian so-called air strike in the town of balakot, close to the border with Pakistan’s sector of Kashmir, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down two Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets and launched aerial strikes at six targets in the IIoJK. After the episode, without any inquiry, India’s top civil and military officials accused that the militants who targeted Pulwama came from Azad Kashmir. new delhi created war-hysteria against Islamabad and started mobilization of troops near the LoC. In the recent revelations, the eU disinfoLab disclosed the leaked WhatsApp chats of Indian Channel republic Tv-Arnab Goswami who exposed Modiled government’s sinister designs to blame Pakistan for the false flag Pulwama attack of February 14, 2019 in which 40 soldiers were killed. regarding balakot, Goswami added that Modi ventured into dangerous military adventurism to win the 2019 general election”, while he was aware of the Indian plans well in advance.

And Modi-led government unilaterally abrogated the special status of the IIoJK on August 5, 2019 when Indian Parliament revoked articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution. The act split the IIoJK into two territories to be ruled directly by new delhi. The purpose was to turn Muslim majority into minority.

Since then, India has continued military lockdown in the IIoJK. In order to divert attention from the drastic situation of the IIoJK, Indian perennial state terrorism on the Kashmiris, including Indian other internal crises, Indian forces had accelerated shelling inside Pakistani side by violating the ceasefire agreement of 2013 in relation to the LoC and had compelled Pakistan Army to give a matching reply. nonetheless, calling a political initiative, the majority of Kashmiris, their leaders and some for-

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eign entities like the US have welcomed the new ceasefire agreement between the two neighbouring countries by remaking that it would lead to a broader settlement of issues between the two countries, especially on Kashmir, as the original 2003 ceasefire agreement was followed by direct dialogue between the two countries.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on national Security dr Moeed yousaf stated that Prime Minister Imran Khan time and again had expressed Pakistan’s desire for peace in the region by explaining that it was due to Pakistan’s efforts for peace that India had agreed to peace at the LoC. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi termed it a positive development. However, he said it would largely depend on India’s good intentions to observe ceasefire.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said that the move was taken to deescalate the violence.

Indian former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Tirumallai Cunnuvakum Anandanpillai raghavan stated that both the countries derive that “prolonged instability is not in either’s interest—the agreement is a limited one, aimed only at maintaining the 2003 ceasefire, reinforcing it.” defence analyst Lt. Gen. (r) naeem Khalid Lodhi opined that it could be a positive step, but observed that peace in the region was not possible till India stopped state terrorism in Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and resolution of the long standing issue.

A Pakistan’s national security official also pointed out that the ceasefire was a positive development and warned the gains were fragile. notably, Indian fanatic Prime Minister narendra Modi-the leader of the extremist ruling party bJP had got a land sliding victory in the Indian general elections 2014 and 2019. during the election-campaigns, Hindu majority was mobilized on ‘hate Muslim’ slogans and ‘anti-Pakistan’ jargons. Hence, Modi continues anti-Muslim policies. So, he is unpredictable and can, again, take a u-turn, which could result into violation of the recent ceasefire agreement, as Indian past records also shows.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations and can be reached at: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Tuesday, 16 March, 2021

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

We're all in this together

National carrier in a shambles Where were successive boards of PIA when this mess was brewing?

SalmaN muNir

P

IA is in trouble. Has been in trouble for some decades now. PIA’s boards almost always comprised the “usual suspects”, the faces and names changed but the backgrounds remained pretty consistent over the years. Most of the time the defence Minister nominated the board members, while some other powers that be, not the board, parachuted-in the Ceos. As a result, the two almost equal forces did not have the cohesion to run a large organization like PIA. We have seen the fallout from this internal battle a few times in the past. In my view the two always lacked the “social contract” between them to form a strong and effective partnership, inevitably resulting in the downward slide of the organization. Whenever things went terribly wrong, Ceos alone were held responsible. The boards went scot-free as if they had nothing to do with it. no accountability means, no engaged and responsible decision making. A case in point is that of the missing PIA Airbus A310, allegedly taken to Germany by its former Ceo bernd Hildenbrand. It is inconceivable that the board at the time did not know of this incident or did not acquiesce to it. While we were quick to start criminal investigation against the Ceo, no one bothered to investigate the role of the board in it. during the financial crisis of 2008, Lehman brothers, a financial institution founded in 1847, the fourth largest investment bank in the United States with 25,000 employees worldwide went down too. At the time, the question raised by the Wall Street Journal was, “Where was Lehman’s board?” The world wondered how and why did the board allow the Ceo to preach hope and stay in power instead of removing him? board, after all is the real boss of the Ceo. The current Ceo and the PIA board are taking, again, the easy way out to get out of the red. red has been there for so long that it has become a cliché and now when I see PIA’s color green I find blemishes of red in it. The poor employees have again been held responsible for dragging PIA in the red and offered a voluntary Separation Program. In fact, the first payments after a lapse of some three months have started to pour in just last week. The question that needs to be answered is how did the successive boards allow the Ceos and management teams to run a successful airline into the ground?

It is easy to blame the political governments but

I have never heard that a board member left because of disagreement on hiring or induction of new employees. So the question arises, what were they doing during all their meetings to oversee the running of PIA and why should they not be held responsible for this disaster?

Today, the Management team of PIA as shown on their website comprises 16 gentlemen, eight, including the Ceo are or were in Pakistan Air force. This in itself is a pathetic situation for a state-run organization in a country with over 220 million people. Some of the Pakistanis have run organizations in responsible positions worldwide. even Fortune rated companies at times, but they do not qualify to be a part of the management team of PIA. It seems only the present or retired PAF officers can fix the problem. And, by god, fixing they are by so-called rightsizing. not surprisingly, PIA boasts of seven, rather longish, organizational values. even the current management will be hard pressed to remember these values by heart. According to management experts and common sense any organization with more than three or four values is looking for trouble. Seven values sum up to having no values in my view. because values are not for employees alone, they equally apply to all stakeholders—investors, owners, governing boards, management, clients, third parties and in this case much more. The founder of the nation, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, gave the new state of Pakistan just three values— Unity, Faith, discipline, in that rank order. We made a mess of even these values, just imagine if he had given us seven values. What would have happened? Let’s leave values of Pakistan and it’s people for another time.

The problem with organizations here is that while they like to own MISSIon (what we do), vISIon (why we do this), they consider that vALUeS (we succeed because we believe) are only for employees to follow and this has nothing to do with the owners or management. For example, Integrity, as a value, is found in 90 per cent of companies. And the companies expect employees to be above board in all matters, but it is fair game if they themselves fudge numbers, do not fulfill their promises to employees, evade taxes or do not follow the laws or accounting standards or make under the table payment to the government functionaries. This is especially true of our local companies, more “affectionately” known as “Seth companies.” Although, personally I do not subscribe to this definition and I think all companies in the world started as “Individual or Seth run companies.” It was only much later that they transformed into corporations or multinationals with great management systems. And that is why they progressed and are respected. I am sure one day, sometime in the near future, we will boast of several forward looking professional companies started by Pakistanis and transforming lives and livelihoods here and abroad.

Talking about values and their application, a case narrated by the great management guru Ken blanchard in the book “Leading at a Higher Level” comes to mind. After 9/11 attacks in USA, businesses suffered unexpected losses.

The Ken blanchard Companies were impacted the same way and lost $1.5 million in sales in September 2001. To end the year in the black, the company needed to cut about $350,000 a month in expenses. The Leadership team sought to take tough decisions and suggested to cut 10

per cent of staff. A typical knee jerk reaction, when faced with a situation like this. However, in this case and as with all major decisions, the leadership team “checked the decision to cut staff against rank-ordered organizational values of ethical behavior, relationships, success and learning.” They discussed “Was the decision to let people go at such a difficult time ethical?” To several of the team members the answer was no.

Then “does the decision to let people go honor the high value that the organization placed on relationships?” Again the answer was no. but what could the company do as it was bleeding?

Following the principle that “no one is as smart as all of us,” the leadership team invited all employees and opened their books to show them how much the company was bleeding and how. This open-book policy at an all employee meeting opened a floodgate of ideas and suggestions to increase revenue and cut costs. This participation by the employees found great ways and means to support the company during this difficult time. over the next two years the company started turning around and by 2004, the company produced the highest sales in its history. So in March 2005, as promised by the owner and Chief Spiritual officer of the company, Ken blanchard took 350 employees to Hawaii for a four days celebration. This underscores that when important information is shared with people, they act like owners and solve seemingly insolvable problems.

There are some similarities between this case and PIA. I am not sure if the current board and the management even considered PIA’s values which include, among others, “Integrity: business ethics, accountability and transparency.” did they look at accountability of the management and especially the board? Is the process of voluntary Separation Scheme transparent? Was their any other way to deal with the situation?

Then there is the next value “Cohesiveness: respect for individual, team work, effective communication.” Well was this considered too before proposing the vSS decision? How will vSS or other such steps planned for the later phase increase cohesiveness or respect for the individual?

There are many unanswered questions. values are organizational values and are applicable equally to employees, owners, management, board, customers and even the community.

So owners, the board and management must tread carefully when establishing values because they have to walk the talk and be role models to employees. otherwise do not expect employees to believe in and follow the organizational values.

The big question still unanswered is “Why did the successive boards of PIA allow it to bleed?” The buck stops with the board and the board is the boss of the Ceo. So when an organization goes down we should look at the members of the board too as they have an equal or a higher responsibility. So let us look at the successive boards of PIA and hold them responsible for its current condition.

Then turn towards the employees. Also this seems to be the right time to reexamine the role of the board members of PIA and all other such organizations to explore how can they be more effective in achieving their role as the Ceo’s boss?

The writer is a management consultant and innocence lawyer. He can be reached at as1236m@gmail.com

CoronAvIrUS has unambiguously been viewed as a global catastrophe. It has claimed more than eighty thousand lives worldwide as per the reports. The whole panorama is constantly inculcating in us a sense of frighten and insecurity . The circumstances that we are encountering these days are ,without the shadow of a doubt ,unprecedented ones .

Coronavirus has been declared a global emergency by the intelligentsia of WHo. even the economies of the politico-economic superpowers are in the verge of collapse as the dwindle in the economic slopes is imminent and self-evident. The socioeconomic conditions of Pakistan are also on the decline. However the state officials ought to tackle it with an unprecedented cautiousness and care. The situation was somewhat under control but this recent announcement made by the central government to lessen the strictness is deplorable and pathetic. A tremendous amount of hustle and bustle was seen on the thoroughfares today throughout the whole spectrum of metropolises and villages of Punjab as a result of the recent announcement by the government. Strict precautionary and remedial measures should be adopted immediately by the federal government like those adopted by the Sindh government. Moreover the government's decision to let barbers conduct their business can make the situation alarming for such areas are notorious for the spred of lethal diseases.

Henceforth the state officials should resort to the precious conditions i.e the full lockdown status rather than this 'partial lockdown ' because this 'partial freedom ' can prove life threatening and may deprive many people from 'complete freedom' in the near future. Henceforth strict actions should be taken like those of the Sindh govt. otherwise it would aggravate the situation drastically leading to the death of thousands. The 'partial lockdown' phenomenon needs to end as soon as possible , at all cost because if it doesn't happen we may get to witness an uncontrollable scenario where millions of lives would be at stake. The number of reported cases in Pakistan as per the government are 6919 and it would easily cross the ten thousand figure if 'the sovereign' decides not to resort to the previous conditions.

MUhaMMaD ahMaD QaSMI ChInIot

Salute our doctors THroUGH the columns of your esteemed newspapers, I would like to draw the kind attention to the duty of our doctor. We know that entire world is facing corona virus and Pakistan is also including. We should salute to our doctor that how they are there to helping corona patients.

All the people are self-quarantine at their homes and these doctors are out of the house for us to help and to look after the coronas patients.

These doctors do treatment of these patients. but still some people don’t follow the rules and they are out of their house. doctors give advice to all the people that please stay at homes we are here for you. but still people don’t follow them.as we hear the news two doctors who were there in hospital and were treating coronas patients and had died. In Pakistan there are still some people who don’t believe in this virus.

Kindly please those who don’t take this seriously please take it seriously. our doctors are our heroes, they are there to help us .We should follow our doctors. They say that to sanitize your hands every time, wash your hands regularly,dettol spray on your door handles, and use a mask if you are sick. Social distance also at your homes, avoid yourself to go in public places, stay 1 meter away from a other people if u are outside .We should follow these which our doctor says because day by day coronas patients are increasing .if the situation would be like this so the doctor had told if the situation didn’t control so then we will treat patients at roads please stay at your homes.

FatIMa GUl ISlaMaBaD

Corona trap AS everyone knows Corona virus is hunting people’s lives all over the world. but as Corona’s spread increases day by day, It also Hunts world economies.And the crude oil market crash is a live example of this economy hunt by CovId-19.Pakistan’s economy is also in Corona virus trap. The trap which is created by coronavirus lock down. And due to this trap, Poverty in Pakistan is increasing day by day. Country is going in loss, in a great loss. Which is affecting growth rate directly. People are losing their jobs and the unemployment rate is increasing.

Poverty as compared to the past is much more and unemployment as well. The Government should take some serious actions to take control of this hunt otherwise we will pay for it. And our country in this situation is not ready for this. So please consider this issue. The issue about which we have to think and make suitable solutions for it.

Sincerely SyED kaShIFUllah Shah ISlaMaBaD

Quarantine centers THe recent decision to turn educational institutions into quarantine centres has left the people highly concerned. While Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has turned 231 schools into quarantine centres, balochistan and Punjab has also turned school colleges and universities too into quarantine center.

Although utilising educational institutes as medical centres is a normal practice during disasters, it should have been the last option in a situation such as the Covid-19 outbreak which is highly contagious.

I urge the federal and provincial governments to ensure that parents are informed of the steps that will be taken to ensure that schools that are turned into quarantine centres are adequately disinfected before they are re-opened.

It might be more helpful if the government shifts quarantine centres to public-owned buildings so that once the pandemic is over, there is no delay in the re-opening of schools and children can immediately resume their education.

Finally, I urge the government to ensure that in the future during a highly contagious health emergency, schools and other educational institutes are not turned into health facilities, and planning in this regard is carried out beforehand.

ZIll-E-hUMa RawalPInDI

Tuesday, 16 March, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

SAudi ArAbiA And irAn hAve not AlwAyS been foeS THE SAUDI-IRANIAN COMPETITION FOR REGIONAL HEGEMONY HAS BEEN WRONGLY INTERPRETED AS A SUNNI-SHIA RIVALRY

al Jazeera

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Mustafa Menshawy and siMon Mabon

HE outbreak of the Arab Spring triggered a number of conflicts and regional tensions in the Middle East, which over the past 10 years, have acquired an increasingly sectarian tinge.

At the forefront of what some analysts have identified as “Sunni-Shia conflict” have been Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Emboldened by the fragmentation of states across the region, Riyadh and Tehran have sensed an opportunity to increase their own standing in the Middle East and have entered a fierce competition for regional influence. The frequent use of religious rhetoric and loyalties in proxy conflicts has led some observers to conclude that this competition is mainly sectarian in nature and stems from a historical Sunni-Shia struggle.

But a closer examination of recent history demonstrates that this is by far not the case. In this article, we challenge the “ancient hatreds” thesis and contend that the present sectarian tensions are predominantly a political construct serving the domestic and regional agendas of the two countries.

RELATIONS BEFORE REVOLUTION: Tensions between Sunni and Shia groups and countries have often been portrayed as deeply ingrained and a consequence of historical and theological antagonism.

The roots of today’s “Sunni-Shia conflict” are often sought in the disagreements over the succession of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the leader of the Muslim community (whether it should have been kept within his family or not). The subsequent killing of his grandson, Hussein ibn Ali, at the hands of forces loyal to the Umayyad caliph Yazid in the Battle of Karbala of 680 AD is seen as having solidified the split between the Shia and the Sunni.

The Shia are said to perceive the Sunni as supporters of power usurpation by the Umayyads and responsible for the death of a succession of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) true heirs, while the Sunni perceive the Shia as “apostates”, deviating from “true Islam”. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Safavid dynasty gradually transformed Sunni Iran into a bastion of Shia Islam. Then, in the 18th century, the House of Saud embraced the ultraconservative Sunni Wahabiyya doctrine. These two developments are considered by some to mark the onset of sectarian Saudi-Iranian rivalry.

In recent years, both Tehran and Riyadh have actively used religious language in their hostile rhetoric towards each other. They have also sought to channel their influence through proxies, seemingly along sectarian lines, prompting some to talk about a “rebirth of the Shia-Sunni divide”.

But to look at the tensions between the two countries solely through the prism of sectarianism would yield flawed conclusions. The line between Sunni and Shia

Islam has been historically and theologically blurred at times and has not always been such a divisive element.

Furthermore, historical events and developments of the past 60 years demonstrate that religious sentiments are by far not the main factor in decision-making in Riyadh and Tehran.

The main considerations on both sides of the Gulf have been regional influence and internal stability. Both countries have had the resources and ambition to seek regional security and hegemony and both have had a weak spot – a religious/ethnic minority based in their oil-rich provinces.

And whenever their interests have not clashed directly, there have been quite a few moments of positive engagement and collaboration between the two countries.

COLD WAR POLITICS AND COLLABORATION: With the onset of the Cold War, the United States looked to regional powers in the Middle East to establish a solid front against the expansion of Soviet influence and secure the export of oil from the Gulf region. As a result, Iran – under the Pahlavi dynasty – and Saudi Arabia became part of the United States’ “twin pillar” to provide regional security. In the 1960s and 70s, the two countries collaborated closely and enjoyed good relations.

The Egyptian army’s intervention in the Yemen War (1962-70) to back the coup led by Arab nationalist officers also brought Riyadh and Tehran together, as they backed the forces fighting to preserve the rule of the Zaidi King-Imam. Some fighters loyal to the imamate travelled from Saudi Arabia to Iran to receive training.

Sharing long borders and historical and tribal ties with Saudi Arabia, Yemen represented a “red line” for the Saudis. The Iranians, for their part, feared the influence of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s panArabism, which was stirring anti-Shah sentiment in Iran’s Arab-populated oil-rich province of Khuzestan.

The Iranian revolution of 1978-79 shook the region and soured Iran’s relations with the House of Saud.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini directly called for the overthrow of American-backed Arab rulers and sought to export revolutionary activity under the banner of an “uprising of all Muslims” guided by his leadership.

Of particular concern for Saudi Arabia was the outbreak of protests in its Eastern Province, home to the majority of its Shia population and its oil reserves. Riyadh launched a bloody crackdown to end the upheaval, which resulted in the death of dozens of civilians. Meanwhile, the clerical establishment issued a flurry of anti-Shia publications portraying the protests not as Muslim but as a Shia conspiracy in an attempt to blunt the revolutionary appeal of the Iranian Revolution. Meanwhile, Iran itself faced ethnoreligious upheaval, as Arab communities in Khuzestan province – where 80 percent of the country’s onshore oil reserves are located – rose up to demand autonomy and an end to their marginalisation.

The Arab uprising was violently suppressed by the security forces, with more than 100 people killed.

After the death of Khomeini in 1989, relations between the two countries began to improve. In January 1990, when a devastating earthquake in the Iranian city of Manjil took the lives of tens of thousands, Riyadh rushed in to send aid to the ravaged areas. In 1991, the two countries resumed their diplomatic relations, just as the United States launched the First Gulf War against Iraq, whose Baathist regime was a nemesis to both the House of Saud and the Islamic Republic.

In May 1997, Iran’s newly elected reformist President Mohammed Khatami undertook a tour of Arab countries and paid a visit to the Saudi port city of Jeddah, where he met King Fahd. At the end of the meeting, they issued a joint communique in which they pledged “noninterference in each other’s internal affairs, respect for national sovereignty and independence and peaceful coexistence derived from the ties of religion and heritage which bind the states of the region”.

In December 1997, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah travelled to Iran to attend a summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and was greeted by Khatami, who symbolically kissed him on both cheeks. The Saudis made it clear that “if the two governments have the political will, there are no limits to cooperation with Iran”.

THE US INVASION OF IRAQ AND THE ARAB SPRING: The US invasion of Iraq and the fall of the Baathist regime in 2003 opened a new chapter in Iranian-Saudi relations.

Under the leadership of the more hawkish President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was elected in 2005, Iran was quick to use its extensive links to the anti-Baathist opposition – part of which it had long hosted – to establish a strong foothold in weakened and fragmented Iraq. Reeling under heavy US and UN sanctions, the Islamic Republic sought to curb US presence and influence on its western border and become the main player shaping Iraqi affairs. Over the next few years, Tehran managed to establish extensive influence over the security sector and various political forces (both Shia and non-Shia) in Iraq.

Elsewhere in the Arab world, it sought to gain the support of ordinary Arabs by emphasising its commitment to the Palestinian cause and opposition to Western imperialism. As one Shia scholar put it, at the time the Iranian foreign policy was “Sunni”.

In Saudi Arabia, however, Iran’s growing influence in Iraq was perceived as a major threat. Saudi officials repeatedly urged the US to stay engaged in the region and even asked Washington to launch military strikes on the Iranian nuclear programme to “cut off the head of the snake”.

A few years later, the outbreak of the Arab Spring pushed the hostility between Saudi Arabia and Iran to a new level. Each of them sought to shape the outcomes of the Arab uprisings to favour their interests, and in doing so adopted seemingly contradictory policies.

They backed some uprisings while opposed others.

Iran supported the protests in Bahrain in the name of respecting the “will of the people”, but was quick to send military support and personnel to Bashar al-Assad in Syria, as he tried to crush nationwide protests against his regime. Saudi Arabia did the opposite. It dispatched its army to help the Bahraini monarchy regain control of the streets, but in Syria, it backed the armed opposition, providing it with generous military and financial assistance.

In pursuing these goals, Saudi Arabia and Iran embraced the use of sectarian rhetoric and allegiances, to complement the deployment of military force in Bahrain, Syria and Yemen. While the conflicts in these three countries easily lend themselves to a Sunni-Shia rivalry interpretation, the reality in all three is much complicated.

The example of Yemen perfectly illustrates the fallacy of the sectarian argument. Just as in the 1960s, “Wahhabi Riyadh” and “secular Tehran” backed the proimamate Zaidi Shia forces out of political considerations rather than religious ones, after 2011, they supported var-

ious political players depending on their current interests.

After supporting Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh (himself a member of the Zaidi sect) for years, Saudi Arabia, along with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries brokered a deal for him to step down in 2011. By 2014, Saleh had made a comeback to Yemen and allied with the Houthis, a Zaidi armed group, who he had previously tried to obliterate, only to betray them as an opportunity to reconcile with Riyadh emerged.

And even though Saudi Arabia launched a war against the Houthis in 2015, declaring them an Iranian proxy, it did engage with the group in the months after Saleh’s overthrow, as it tried to shape the outcome of Yemen’s political transition. Iran, for its part, approached leftist forces and separatists in the south, trying to expand its influence in Yemen.

CAN IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA MAKE UP? The Arab Spring and the Iranian-Saudi escalation of tensions have also inevitably spilled over onto the domestic scene in both countries. In Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, protests broke out inspired by the Arab uprisings. The monarchy felt threatened and again launched a bloody crackdown, claiming the protesters were “terrorists”, “Iranian agents” and “fifth column”.

Iran has also witnessed similar disturbances by ethnic minorities in Khuzestan and Sistan-Baluchestan provinces and by disaffected youth and ordinary citizens in Tehran and other big cities. The Iranian government has repeatedly accused Saudi Arabia of agitating unrest among its Arab population and sponsoring violence, such as the 2018 attack on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ parade in Ahvaz.

Despite this hostility, however, there is a glimmer of hope that the situation can improve. Since the dynamics of Iranian-Saudi relations have been highly influenced by the intervention of third parties, mostly the US, it is possible that the new administration in Washington could have a positive effect and alleviate tensions. Indeed, Washington might realise that some form of collaboration between Iran and Saudi Arabia might be beneficial to its regional interests.

President Joe Biden has already signalled that he is looking into rejoining the Iran nuclear deal, which his predecessor pulled out of. This has provoked a mixed reaction in Tehran and alerted some US allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia. However, a nuclear deal could be an opportunity to get both countries on the negotiating table. There are already proposals to include Riyadh in any future talks with Tehran. Finding a way of balancing the competing interests – and fears – of Riyadh, Tehran and Washington is not an easy task but understanding the ways in which the rivalry plays out is essential. One thing is certain, while religion has a role to play, this rivalry is more about politics and regional security than “ancient hatreds”. That is why, peace – or at least some degree of normalised relations – is quite possible.

Dr Mustafa Menshawy is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Lancaster’s SEPAD, the Sectarianism, Proxies and De-Sectarianization Project.

He authored two books and several articles, including Leaving the Muslim Brotherhood: Self, Society and the State (Palgrave 2020) and ‘Constructing State, Territory, and Sovereignty in the Syrian Conflict’ (Politics journal 2018).

Professor Simon Mabon is Chair in International Relations at Lancaster University where he is also Director of the Richardson Institute. He is Director of SEPAD, the Sectarianism, Proxies and DeSectarianization Project.

How World Bank misreads Africa THE WORLD BANK IS COMPLICIT AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENGENDERED POVERTY ACROSS AFRICA

NatioN, KeNya

A

Kennedy Chesoli

recent report by the World Bank proclaims that global poverty is going to essentially be an African problem. Whereas other regions are eliminating poverty and hunger, the number of Africans living in poverty is rising. There are more poor people in the continent than ever before.

It further observes that Africa’s poverty rate has not only been higher than in other regions; it has also declined more slowly.

This awful projection is as much an indictment on Africa’s leadership as it is on the World Bank — a multilateral institution that exists to ostensibly end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity.

Africa’s dire circumstances reflect a failure of its political and intellectual class to find sustainable paths for economic growth. However, the World Bank is just as complicit and responsible for the engendered poverty

across the continent.

The bank maintains a large contingent of highly paid experts and expatriates in all 54 countries who supposedly work with and advise national and local governments on development strategies. Its policies and interventions are evident all over Africa, and this is how it has been since the founding of independent African states.

The bank’s policies are largely responsible for persistent and rising poverty in Africa. In its 2019 report, “Accelerating poverty reduction in Africa”, it wants African governments to pivot their efforts towards family planning and population control.

It deems macroeconomic stability and growth to be critical yet insufficient for reducing poverty and improving well-being. It has also identified food systems, mitigating fragility and addressing poverty financing gap as other priority areas.

Many will find its focus on Africa’s “low” population of 1.3 billion people misplaced. Comparatively speaking, Africa is underpopulated and generously endowed with adequate resources for a healthy and prosperous people. There are as many Africans as there are Chinese or Indians, yet Africa is 24 times bigger than India and about 10 times bigger than China. The World Bank does not make a big deal about these countries — which are the world’s growth engines, fuelling global trade, development finance, research and innovation.

The study is authored by 12 individuals, none of whom is African. It is troubling that, in this age, foreigners continue to tell Africans what to do. The recommendations reflect “new knowledge” and are likely to inform the bank’s interactions with and activities on the continent.

HIGHLY DESTRUCTIVE: Thirty years ago, in 1989, non-Africans at the bank published another study, “SubSaharan Africa; From crisis to sustainable growth”.

It called for a long-term development vision for Africa that was both “credible and energising”. While declaring in the pages that “Africa’s future could only be decided by Africans”, the bank imposed its own development priorities on the continent through the Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs).

The polices were highly destructive; they accelerated poverty, unemployment and deindustrialisation. Africa lost an entire decade.

Ironically, the bank does not acknowledge this misjudgement and continues to intentionally misread Africa’s unique situation. Africans are unbothered with their population; they are focused, instead, on the demographic dividend, continental free trade and healthy competition emerging in global markets of its agricultural products and minerals. They are aware that an assertive Africa can negotiate fair compensation for its resources, which foreigners continue to steal.

It does not matter how well Africa plays; it must al-

ways lose, for the rules governing global trade and financial markets are skewed against it. Ending illicit financial flows, which haemorrhage Africa’s critical resources, should, arguably, be a top priority for the bank and anyone interested in seeing a more prosperous Africa.

In 2013, it was estimated that $1.2-1.4 trillion (Sh120140 trillion) was siphoned from Africa in illicit financial flows between 1980 and 2009. This was roughly equal to its gross domestic product and exceeded, by far, foreign aid, foreign direct investment, and diaspora remittances.

We cannot stop others from theorising our conditions, but we can certainly challenge those who wish to impose their vision and agenda on us. Africa, and indeed, black people, must remember that we live in a highly competitive world.

In his book Destruction of Black Civilization, Chancellor Williams calls for the liberation of the mind of the black people, who find themselves as the lonely face of poverty. Citing the Civil Rights movement in the US and its role in inspiring and fuelling the fight for independence across Africa, Williams suggests that poverty among black people can only end when they unite to demand equality and dignity. This is beyond what the World Bank can offer.

Mr Chesoli is a New York-based development economist and global policy expert.

Tuesday, 16 March, 2021

BUSINESS 09

LAHORE CORPORATE CORNER Bank Alfalah, State Life Insurance ink accord for efficient cash management KARACHI: Bank Alfalah and State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan have recently signed an agreement to maximize customer facilitation and extend Bank Alfalah’s portfolio of services. Under this agreement, Bank Alfalah is opening its banking network of over 700 branches across Pakistan for cash management of premium and loan instalments on behalf of State Life. SLIC is among Pakistan’s largest insurance policy providers, and this facilitation will go a long way to support its customers in making easy and smooth payments. Atif Bajwa, President and CEO Bank Alfalah represented the Bank, and was joined by Dr. Muhammad Sohail Khan Rajput, Chairman of State Life Corporation of Pakistan. Senior management from Bank Alfalah and State Life were also present at the ceremony.

UnILEvEr PAkIStAn Among foUr ComPAnIES ISSUEd notICES for ‘dECEPtIvE PrACtICES’ ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

HE Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has issued show cause notices to four companies for, prima facie, violating the Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010.

According to details, a show cause notice was issued to Unilever Pakistan Limited for prima facie violation of Section 10. Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan Ltd sent a formal complaint that UPL was distributing false/misleading information by making absolute claims regarding its products,

Lifebuoy soap and hand wash.

The inquiry report concluded that Unilever Pakistan was harming other undertakings' business interests and misleading consumers by making absolute claims regarding the aforementioned products. Some of the claims were: "100pc guaranteed protection from germs'', "World's No. 1 germ protection soap", and "99.9pc germ protection in 10 seconds." The disclaimers about these claims were printed in tiny fonts and were hardly noticeable.

In another case of deceptive marketing practices, a France-based company, Kennol Performance Oil, sent a

formal complaint to CCP against three Pakistani firms -- Kennol Petroleum (Pvt) Limited, Dewan Oil Store, and Japan Lube Petroleum -- for copying the packaging of its product, Kennol Ultima 20w60.

Kennol Performance Oil stated that its product ‘Kennol’ is registered in France and with the Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) in Pakistan, and it has not authorized any other firm to use it in Pakistan. Hence the respondents, Kennol Petroleum, Dewan Store and Japan Lube, were misleading consumers about their products.

The CCP's inquiry concluded that the trademark belonged to Kennol Per-

MARKET DAILY

Stocks rise as political tensions ease KSE-100 GAINS 978 POINTS TO STORM PAST 44,000 LEVEL KARACHI STAFF REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh presents a memento to Etisalat Group CEO Hatim Dowidar following their meeting in the federal capital.

RAWALPINDI: Winners of M.P. Bhandara Memorial Murree Brewery Club Final 2021 in a group photo with Ambassador of Sweden H.E. Henrick Persson.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended its rally on Monday, with the benchmark index surpassing the 44,000 mark amid ease in political tensions.

Global equity markets also displayed a positive trend, whereas crude oil prices inched up from the previous close; crude prices appreciating 0.43pc to $65.89, while Brent crude price rising 0.40pc to $69.50 (as at 3:48pm PST).

"The stock market went uphill today, as investor sentiment remined positive following the government's victory in Senate election. Buying was witnessed across the board, mainly in cement, steel and tech sectors," a report issued by Arif Habib Ltd read.

SUMMARY Reminiscent of the previous session, the benchmark KSE-100 Index remained in the green throughout the day, registering its intraday high at 44,839.19 after accumulating 1,051.11 points. It settled higher by 978.51 points at 44,766.59.

Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index gathered

1,737.57 points to close at 74,262.20, while the KSE All Share Index added 634.52 points, ending at 30,647.57.

The overall market volumes improved from 442.52 million shares on Friday to 455.36 million shares (+3pc). Average traded value also increased by 2pc, from $137.5 million to $139.9 million. TRG Pakistan Ltd (TRG +7.49pc), Unity Foods Ltd (UNITY +7.49pc) and Fauji Cement Company Ltd (FCCL +1.94pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 24.90 million, 23.63 million and 21.09 million shares, respectively.

Sectors that drove the benchmark index north included cement (+169.78 points), technology & communication (+151.38 points) and oil & gas marketing (+99.83 points). Among the companies, TRG Pakistan Ltd (TRG +96.32 points), Pakistan State Oil Company ltd (PSO +70.36 points) and Lucky Cement Ltd (LUCK +57.40 points) remained the top contributors.

Adding 7.85pc to its cumulative market capitalization, the tech & communication sector as the session's top performer, with Systems Ltd (SYS 7.49pc), NetSol Technologies Ltd (NETSOL 7.50pc) and Avanceon Ltd (AVN 7.49pc) posting significant gains.

Envoy stresses transformation of Pak-Turkey ties into economic partnership ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul has said it is time to transform historically good bilateral relations between Pakistan and Turkey into closer trade and economic relations.

The Turkish envoy said this during a meeting with a delegation of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), led by Capital Office Chairman Qurban Ali, on Monday.

The ambassador said that Turkish businessmen are keen to visit Pakistan to explore new business and investment opportunities. A large Turkish trade delegation will visit Pakistan once the pandemic situation improves, he added.

He also invited the FPCCI delegation to visit Turkey and assured his full support and cooperation to make it fruitful for them.

He said that the vision and ideology of Pakistan and Turkey are similar and the friendship between the two countries is

considered best and ideal in the world.

“The private sector of both countries have come closer through FPCCI and Turkish Chamber of Commerce, which are playing their pivotal role in stabilising and enhancing bilateral trade relations between both the countries,” he maintained.

Speaking on the occasion, Qurban Ali stressed on further strengthening of bilateral trade and relations between the two brotherly countries. He highlighted various investment opportunities in oil and gas, mines and minerals, gemstones, tourism,

information technology, food processing, agriculture, dairy products, furniture, and hoteling sectors of Pakistan.

“The experience of Turkish tourism sector can be utilised for the development of the tourism sector. As half of the world's highest peaks are in Pakistan and the current government is also paying special attention to the promotion of tourism, the Turkish technology in various fields may lead to Pakistan’s various sectors being developed and beneficial,” he added.

Sehat Kahani raises $1m pre-Series A to expand its telemedicine network in Pakistan NEWS DESK Founded by two female doctors turned entrepreneurs, Dr Sara Saeed Khurram and Dr Iffat Zafar Aga, Sehat Kahani has raised a $1 million pre-Series A round from leading global investors, including Saudi Arabia-based Islamic Development Bank; Washington-based 10Pearls Ventures; Silicon Valley-based Mentor’s Fund; Singapore-based Korean Impact Collective Funds and Impact Investment Exchange (IIX).KASB; and Din Group from Pakistan.

The announced was made during an event held at a local hotel on Monday in Karachi. Federal Information & Communication Minister Syed Aminul Haque, State Bank of Pakistan Governor Dr Reza Baqir, Member National Assembly Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, along with the senior leadership and business partners of Sehat Kahani, were

present on the occasion.

Addressing the audience, the IT minister stated, "It is very heartening to see female entrepreneurs coming forward in tech and I wish to see more events where such organizations are raising foreign investment for Pakistan. The country’s IT sector has shown substantial growth in the last few years, with IT exports growing 40pc in the last six months alone.

Local smartphone manufacturing has begun in Pakistan thanks to efforts made by the current administration, whereas 5G services are also expected to be launched by the end of the year."

In his address, Dr Reza Baqir said, "I would like to congratulate Sehat Kahani for this milestone achievement. This shall be a case study for many other female entrepreneurs that how gender should never be a barrier on the way to success. For SBP, entrepreneurship

and especially female-owned businesses has held utmost priority.

Over the years, we’ve introduced a variety of initiatives which include but are not limited to offering incentivized loans at 5pc markup. We are also allowing startups to form holding companies abroad to enhance our foreign remittances. This is a model that is followed worldwide to empower local economies and businesses."

Meanwhile, Dr Sara Saeed Khurram said, "The investors trust could be seen through the massive success of Sehat Kahani that has achieved a massive 425pc growth in the last 12 months alone."

Dr Iffat Zafar, Co-founder and COO, said, "We are grateful to all investors for trusting Sehat Kahani and we are thrilled to replicate our successful business model towards the mass consumer retail market in 2021and beyond."

formance Oil, and no one in Pakistan was authorised to use it. The enquiry further concluded that Kennol Petroleum, Dewan Stores, and Japan Lube were engaged in copycat packaging of Kennol performance oil's product to deceive consumers and harm its business interest. Both these actions were a prima facie violation of Section 10 of the Competition Act. The CCP is mandated under the Competition Act to ensure free competition in all spheres of commercial and economic activity, to enhance economic efficiency and to protect consumers from anti-competitive practices including deceptive marketing practices.

Hafeez Shaikh for provision of basic commodities at fair prices ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has reiterated the government’s commitment to provide maximum relief to the general public through provision of basic commodities at fair prices. He said this while chairing the weekly meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) at the Finance Division.

Overall, the NPMC reviewed the weekly price trend of essential commodities, especially wheat flour, sugar, tomatoes, vegetable ghee, chicken and eggs. It was observed that the weekly Sensitive Price Index (SPI) recorded a decrease of 0.57pc, wherein prices of seven basic items registered a decline while 18 commodities remained stable. The overall release position of wheat was reviewed during the meeting. The committee directed the food secretary to hold a meeting with chief ministers of all provinces to keep a check on the prices of wheat flour to avoid any artificial price hike. The finance minister directed the secretary to ensure the smooth supply of wheat at affordable prices across the country. The Ministry of Industries and Production updated the committee that the sugarcane crushing season has ended, and that the overall production remained higher as compared to last year. The finance minister directed provincial governments and other stakeholders to provide estimates regarding additional demand for sugar to the Ministry of Industries & Production for effective planning during the current year. Industries and Production Minister Hammad Azhar apprised the forum that the ministry was already working on various measures for the provision of ghee/oil at reasonable prices.

Moreover, the Utility Stores Corporation would ensure the availability of ghee at a subsidized price under the “Ramadan Relief Package” through its chain of outlets during the holy month, he added. The finance minister appreciated the provision of basic items by the USC outlets at subsidized rates and directed MD to ensure the availability of essential items at respective outlets across the country.

Circular debt management plan gets CCoE’s nod ISLAMABAD TLTP

The Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCOE) has approved the Circular Debt Management Plan (CDMP) 2021 to ensure effective management of the rising debt. Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Minister Asad Umar chaired the CCOE meeting on Monday. The meeting discussed the summary of the comprehensive Circular Debt Management Plan which covers the three-year period from the fiscal year 202021 to FY2022-23 and describes the mechanisms and initiatives to address the issue and suggests an action plan to control the flow of circular debt with a monitoring matrix. The committee also discussed the need for fast-tracking action for implementation of Renewable Energy Policy approved by the government. The committee directed the Ministry of Energy to expedite action for the auction of renewable energy projects to ensure greater use of renewable energy resources. The meeting was attended by Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan, Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Petroleum Nadeem Babar, Special Assistant to PM on Power Revenue, and officials of various Ministries/Divisions.

Tuesday, 16 March, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

LAHORE

Gunmen kidnap primary school pupils in niGeria's kaduna state KADUNA

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AGENCIES

UNMEN on motorbikes stormed a primary school in the northwestern Nigerian state of Kaduna and kidnapped pupils and teachers, a state official and residents said on Monday - the fifth school abduction in three months of escalating violence.

Kaduna state’s security commissioner, Samuel Aruwan, said its government has received reports of the latest abduction on Monday in the Birnin Gwari area.

“The Kaduna state government is currently obtaining details on the actual number of pupils and teachers reported to have been kidnapped and will issue a comprehensive

statement as soon as possible,” Aruwan said in a statement.

It was the first abduction of elementary school children in a proliferating wave of attacks on educational institutions by armed gangs that has seen abductions of more than 700 people since December.

Birnin Gwari headteacher Ma’aruf Ibrahim told Reuters he was en route to the school when he was alerted by phone by a teacher who escaped the kidnappers. He said around 50 pupils were in class when the incident occurred around 8:50 a.m.

(0750 GMT).

Residents, some of whom are parents of pupils taken away, described how gunmen on motorcycles, shooting sporadically, stormed the school and seized children and

martial law in parts of myanmar’s main city after deadliest day since coup YANGON AGENCIES

Myanmar activists planned more anti-coup rallies on Monday, a day after at least 39 people were killed in clashes with security forces in the commercial hub of Yangon where Chinese-financed factories were torched. Security forces killed at least 22 prodemocracy protesters in the Hlaingthaya suburb of Yangon on Sunday, an advocacy group said. A further 16 protesters were killed in other places, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said, as well as one policeman, making it the bloodiest day since the February 1 coup against elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Martial law was imposed in Hlaingthaya and in the Shwepyitha districts of Yangon, state media announced. The Chinese embassy said many Chinese staff were injured and trapped in arson attacks by unidentified assailants on garment factories in Hlaingthaya, and that it had called on Myanmar to protect Chinese property and citizens. China is viewed as being supportive of the military junta that has taken power. As plumes of smoke rose from the industrial area, security forces opened fire on protesters in the suburb that is home to migrants from across Myanmar, media and witnesses said. “It was horrible. People were shot before my eyes. It will never leave my memory,” said one photojournalist on the scene who did not want to be named. Army-run Myawadday television said security forces acted after four garment factories and a fertiliser plant were set ablaze and about 2,000 people had stopped fire engines from reaching them.

Protests were planned for Monday in the country’s second city of Mandalay, activist Myat Thu said, while residents in Yangon said demonstrations were planned in two areas of the city. Violence also broke out in other parts of Yangon as protests ran late into Sunday night. “Three people died in my arms. We rescued about 20 injured people last night,” said Zizawah, 32, a resident and protester in the Thingyunkyun district of Yangon. Another resident, May Myat Noe, 21, said there were three fatalities and scores of people were injured in the South Dagon district after they came out to protest. “They used machine guns and were constantly firing at the people,” she said. A junta spokesman did not answer calls requesting comment.

SUU KYI TO FACE COURT: The latest deaths would bring the toll from the protests to 126, the AAPP said. It said more than 2,150 people had been detained by Saturday. More than 300 have since been released. Tom Andrews, the United Nations human rights investigator on Myanmar, appealed for UN member states to cut the supply of cash and weapons to the military. “Heartbroken/outraged at [the] news of the largest number of protesters murdered by Myanmar security forces in a single day.

Junta leaders don’t belong in power, they belong behind bars,” he said on Twitter. China’s embassy described the situation as “very severe” after the attacks on the Chinese-financed factories. Marking the strongest comments by China about violence up to now, it urged Myanmar authorities to “stop all acts of violence, punish the perpetrators in accordance with the law and ensure the safety of life and property of Chinese companies and personnel”. No group claimed responsibility for burning the factories. Anti-Chinese sentiment has risen since the coup that plunged Myanmar into turmoil, with opponents of the army takeover noting Beijing’s muted criticism compared to Western condemnation. Only two factories had been burnt, for now, protest leader Ei Thinzar Maung posted on Facebook.

teachers.

Sarkin Mota, a resident, said his son was kidnapped along with three of his teachers.

Another resident, Yahaya Usman, said the gunmen snatched some pupils and put them on their motorbikes, while ordering others to trek on foot into the bush.

A parent who did not want to be named for fear of endangering his child’s life said he saw gunmen arrive on 12 motorcycles and watched “helpless” as they grabbed his 8-year-old son.

RAMPANT KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM: Nigeria’s kidnapping scourge began with the seizure of 270 girls from a school in the northeastern town of Chibok by the terrorist group Boko Haram in 2014. Around 100 of the schoolgirls have never been

found. Armed criminal gangs in Nigeria’s widely lawless north have since carried out many copycat attacks seeking ransom.

The presidency said late in February that President Muhammadu Buhari had urged state governments to “review their policy of rewarding bandits with money and vehicles, warning that the policy might boomerang disastrously”.

Attempts by the military and police to tackle the gangs have had little success, while many worry that state authorities are making the situation worse by letting kidnappers go unpunished, paying them off or providing incentives.

Nigeria’s federal government has said it will “take out” abductors after criticising local deals to free victims.

A presidency spokesman said he did not have the details of the kidnapping.

Armed men attempted to kidnap more students in Kaduna state overnight on Sunday, as 39 others from an earlier attack in the state remain missing.

The rampant banditry has become a political problem for Buhari, a retired general and former military ruler who has faced mounting criticism over the rise in violent crime, and replaced his long-standing military chiefs earlier this year.

Buhari held talks with security officials and regional elders last week about Nigeria’s multiple security challenges. Afterwards, national security adviser Babagana Monguno said the government would take a tough stance against criminal gangs.

Iran says compromise needed to end nuclear deal deadlock BRUSSELS AGENCIES

Iran's foreign minister said on Monday that now was the time for the United States to decide if it will "compromise" to break the deadlock to revive the nuclear deal with Tehran.

"Europeans are used to compromise.

Iran and the United States are not. The Americans are used to imposing, and we are used to resisting," Mohammad Javad Zarif said during a videoconference with the Brussels-based European Policy Cen-

tre think tank.

"So now is the time to decide. Will we both compromise and go back to the JCPOA? Or will we go back to our own paths?" he said, using the initials for the 2015 accord between Iran and world powers.

The deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, has been hanging by a thread since former US president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018 and reimposed punishing sanctions on Tehran.

Following Joe Biden's US presiden-

tial election victory in November, the US, the European parties to the deal -- France, Germany and Britain -- and Tehran have been scrambling to find a way to salvage the pact. Biden has signalled his readiness to revive the pact that has been largely left in tatters by his predecessor's decision to pull out. But the new US leader insists Iran first return to its nuclear commitments, most of which it suspended in response to US sanctions, while Tehran demands Washington take the first step by scrapping them.

Zarif repeated the Iranian position

that the US needs to return to full compliance before Tehran will roll back steps it has taken that breach the deal.

"We are ready to go back to the JCPOA immediately after the United States goes back to the implementation of the agreement. It is as simple as that. We don't need any further negotiations," he said. Tehran's top diplomat said that any agreement "involves a give and take", but insisted that despite its flaw the existing deal was the "best agreement we could have". "The current US administration or the next administration will not be able to achieve a better deal with Iran than the JCPOA. Not with this government and not with any future government. This is the best possible deal," he said.

The European Union -- which serves as mediator for the agreement -- has been seeking to broker fresh talks between Washington, Tehran and the other signatories, but so far those efforts have been rebuffed by Iran.

Flights canceled during China’s worst sandstorm in a decade BEIJING AGENCIES

China’s capital and a wide swath of the country’s north were enveloped Monday in the worst sandstorm in a decade, leading to the cancelation of hundreds of flights.

Skyscrapers in the center of Beijing appeared to drop from sight amid the dust and sand. Traffic was snarled and more than 400 flights out of the capital’s two main airports were canceled before noon.

Such storms used to occur regularly in the springtime as sand from western deserts blew eastwards, affecting areas as far as northern Japan.

Massive planting of trees and bushes in fragile areas has reduced the storms’ intensity, but the expansion of cities and industries has put constant pressure on the environment throughout China.

The National Meteorological Center forecasted the sand and dust would affect 12 provinces and regions from Xinjiang in the far northwest to Heilongjiang in the northeast and the eastern coastal port city of Tianjin.

“This is the most intense sandstorm weather our country has seen in 10 years, as well as it covering the broadest area,” the center said in a post on its website.

It wasn’t clear if the storm was related to a recent

general decline in air quality despite efforts to end Beijing’s choking smog.

The ruling Communist Party has pledged to reduce carbon emissions per unit of economic output by 18 per-

cent over the next five years. Environmentalists say China needs to do more to reduce dependency on coal that has made it the world’s biggest emitter of climatechanging gasses.

Born into conflict, 10-year-old Syrian child is family's breadwinner ALEPPO AGENCIES

Mohammed Abu Rdan has known nothing but conflict throughout his short life. Born in rural Aleppo in 2011 when peaceful protests against President Bashar alAssad’s government began, his childhood is anything but typical.

The protests quickly turned into a multi-sided conflict that has sucked in world powers, killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions more and with it upended Abu Rdan’s life.

Now living in a displaced peoples’ camp in northern Aleppo, Abu Rdan has become his family’s main breadwinner after heart disease rendered his father unfit to work. Like for many other Syrian children, school has become a distant dream.

“We had a house and I used to go to school everyday.. but we came here... they destroyed our house and our school,” Abu Rdan said. The United Nations’ Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said earlier this month that 90%

of children in the country are in need of humanitarian assistance, a 20% increase over the past year alone.

‘GRAVE VIOLATIONS’: Ten years into the conflict, almost 2.45 million children in Syria and an additional 750,000 Syrian children in neighbouring countries are out of school, UNICEF figures show.

Abu Rdan wakes up at dawn every day and braves the cold to stand by the side of the highway and hitch a ride for the 10 kms (6.2 miles) to the cleaning products factory where he works.

His long working days, mostly up to 10 hours, earn him 100 Turkish liras ($13) a month. It is all the income his family makes.

Abu Rdan is paid in Turkey’s currency as he lives and works in an area controlled by Turkish-backed rebels, having fled from his hometown, the village of Marshoureen which is now government-held.

Assad now holds sway over many parts of the country, helped by Russia’s military and Iran’s Shi’ite militias but Turkey, which backed rebels who sought to overthrow him, has power over swathes of territory in

the northwest.

UNICEF says more than 75% of grave violations against children recorded in Syria in 2020 - including killing, maiming, recruitment into fighting, sexual violence and attacks on schools - were in the northwest.

Packing goods into large sacks, some of them twice his size, Abu Rdan is so exhausted by the time he goes back home he can do nothing but eat and sleep.

“When I come back from work I’m so tired, I just put my head down and I’m out,” he said.

He shares a tent with his parents and three sisters that does little to shield them from Syria’s harsh winter that includes torrential rain and snow.

To keep warm, he has become an expert at making his own cup of tea, working the gas cylinder with the confidence of a grown up.

Having been propelled into responsibilities far beyond his age, the 10-year old handles a lot of daily chores with the expertise of a much older man.

But he is still a child, giggling and playing with his three sisters in the tent.

Tuesday, 16 March, 2021

SPORTS 11

LAHORE

SoMe SPuRS PlAyeRS hiding in fiRSt hAlf, SAyS MouRinho AfteR deRBy loSS LONDON

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AGENCIES

OTTENHAM Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho accused some of his players of hiding during the first half of their 2-1 London derby defeat by Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

Spurs had a great chance to boost their top-four hopes with a win at the home of their arch-rivals and got their noses in front with a wonderful Erik Lamela goal. But Arsenal deservedly equalised on the stroke of halftime through Martin Odegaard and Alexander Lacazette’s second-half penalty sealed the points for the Gunners.

Arsenal hit the woodwork twice in the first half and dominated a lacklustre Spurs side who were strangely timid despite winning their last three Premier League games and starting with Harry Kane, Son Heungmin and Gareth Bale in a formidable look-

A BAD DAY FOR TOTTENHAM STAYS SEVENTH, SIX POINTS BEHIND FOURTH-PLACED CHELSEA WITH A GAME IN HAND ing forward line.

“We played really bad in the first half.

The 1-1 score was not a fair reflection of the first half. We were poor. Defending bad. No intensity or pressing. Some important players hiding,” Mourinho, who could be heard bellowing his disapproval at times inside the empty Emirates Stadium, told Sky Sports.

“I don’t want to speak about commitment, it was the same from both teams but they were much better in the first half. In the second half we recovered control of the game.” Asked to explain further, Mourinho later told reporters: “Playing in a London derby you are a big player. Playing in the Premier League you are a big player.

“It’s not that I’m pointing the finger to

Ramos returns amid doubts over future as Madrid face Atalanta Captain turns 35 and a parting this summer would offer immediate relief for a club now seeking financial recovery MADRID AGENCIES

Sergio Ramos returned for Real Madrid on Saturday but the bigger question is whether he is back for good. After two months out with a knee injury, Ramos played an hour in Madrid’s win over Elche, with the plan to blow away the cobwebs ready for a start against Atalanta in the second leg of the Champions League on Tuesday. His availability should be a significant boost for Madrid, who have a 1-0 advantage from last month’s first leg in Italy and will be confident of being Spain’s first, and perhaps only, survivor in the tournament’s quarter-finals. And yet Ramos’s reemergence has been pinpointed less as a boost to his team than a bolstering of his case to stay, every week he was absent another blow to his hope for a contract extension beyond the summer.

Madrid president Florentino Perez has reportedly offered Ramos a two-year deal with a 10 per cent pay cut or a second option, the continuation of his current wages but for only one more year. Ramos wants two more years on the same wages, with the possibility to add a third. “There is a lot of uncertainty,” Ramos said on Thursday. “I would like to be able to say something but there is nothing new. I’m only thinking about coming back from injury and to finish the season in the best possible way. There is nothing new about the renewal.” Ramos’ pedigree is not in doubt given he is probably the greatest defender of the modern era, certainly the most successful, and while there have been lapses in recent years, his contribution to Real Madrid is still considerable. When they marched to the La Liga title last season, Ramos was their most important player. “I hope the Ramos thing will be fixed as soon as possible,” Zinedine Zidane said last week. But he also turns 35 at the end of this month and a parting this summer would offer immediate relief for a club now seeking financial recovery. Real Madrid’s revenue last season fell by almost 50 million euros, a figure that is expected to worsen again for the current season, when the absence of fans will have lasted an entire campaign. There has been a political tension too between Ramos and Perez, a power battle that has erupted in moments of crisis. Neither will want to lose face in this fight. But perhaps most importantly, Real Madrid find themselves again facing a question of how to evolve, of where the balance lies between retaining current stars and making space for new blood.

Player A, B or C, even pointing the finger to myself because we are a team.”

SENSATIONAL GOAL: Lamela’s ‘Rabona’ just past the half-hour mark was the one moment of quality from the visitors before their late siege, after the Argentine had been sent off, almost rescued a point. “The goal was sensational no doubt.

But the most important thing is the result and we lost the game,” Mourinho said.

Bale and Tanguy Ndombele were substituted in the second half with Mourinho explaining the reason in blunt terms.

“Intensity. Gareth and Tanguy, we need more intensity in that game. We need to press more. We need to get more depth.

We need to be more intense in the game,” he added. “We needed initially (substitute

Moussa) Sissoko to give us that intensity in midfield that Tanguy was not bringing.

Even with 10 players, I think it was proven that our team improved significantly. The second half was our half.”

Mourinho took issue with referee Michael Oliver for awarding the penalty for a foul by Davinson Sanchez on Lacazette. Lacazette made a mess of a volleyed attempt at goal before Sanchez then took down the Frenchman.

“I don’t want to call it a penalty, because it’s an offence to the penalty,” Mourinho said. “Players get tired, coaches get tired, maybe referees get tired too. My record with Michael Oliver on penalties with Chelsea, (Manchester) United and Tottenham is unlucky.”

A bad day for Spurs who remained seventh, six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with a game in hand, was compounded by a muscle injury to Son that saw Lamela come on in the 19th minute.

McTominay left with title race regret as Man Utd close in on top-four finish MANCHESTER AGENCIES

Manchester United tightened their grip on a return to the Champions League next season with a 1-0 win over West Ham on Sunday, but midfielder Scott McTominay lamented letting Manchester City storm clear at the top of the Premier League.

Victory over the fifth-placed Hammers moved United back above Leicester into second in the table and closed the gap on the runaway leaders to 14 points. City have won 17 of their last 18 league games with their only defeat in that run coming against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men last weekend.

But United eased their local rivals’ route to a third title in four years with a run of just two wins in eight games in prior to winning the Manchester derby.

“It’s difficult to look at top four at the minute because we had a time when we were looking at the league,” said McTominay, who was the closest United player to Craig Dawson when the West Ham defender headed into his own net for the only goal at Old Trafford. “It was the chance for all of us to have a big push and show really what good players we are, but Man City have had a terrific run of games and we’re just trying our best to keep on them.”

Despite also having a game in hand on City, the Red Devils are unlikely to haul in Pep Guardiola’s men but do

VICTORY OVER THE WEST HAM MOVED UNITED ABOVE LEICESTER INTO SECOND IN THE TABLE; CLOSED THE GAP ON CITY TO 14 POINTS now enjoy a nine-point cushion over West Ham in the battle for Champions League places. “It was a big weekend for us,” said Solskjaer as Chelsea, Everton and Tottenham also lost ground in the top-four race over the past two days.

“This is a big three points because we know West Ham are challenging to get into the top four.” Former United boss David Moyes has failed to win in 15 attempts as the visiting manager at Old Trafford and the Scot was left to rue an overly cautious approach before falling behind early in the second half. Without the ineligible Jesse Lingard, who is on loan from United, Moyes also dropped Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma as club captain Mark Noble returned with fullback Ben Johnson playing in a more advanced midfield role. “The way we set up didn’t quite work,” said Moyes. “We never really got up the park.”

The home side were without the firepower of Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani due to injury, so Mason Greenwood got the chance to lead the line and came closest to opening the scoring in a first half of few chances.

Greenwood’s fierce left-footed shot was brilliantly turned onto the post by

Lukasz Fabianski as the 35-year-old Pole showed why he was handed a new one-year contract this week. There was nothing Fabianski could do to stop the only goal as Dawson’s header flashed into his own net from Bruno Fernandes’s corner eight minutes into the second period. Fabianski produced another fine save to deny Fernandes doubling United’s lead shortly afterwards. Moyes sent on Manuel Lanzini and Benrahma for the final 28 minutes and West Ham finally came to life as an attacking force.

As the visitors pushed forward, though, United became more dangerous on the counter-attack and Greenwood smashed against the post for a second time after a lung-bursting run from inside his own half. The second goal did not come for the hosts, but an improved defensive record has been key to another season of progress under Solskjaer, which is reportedly set to see the Norwegian rewarded with a new contract. United held out for a fourth consecutive Premier League clean sheet to close in on the much-needed resources of Champions League football next season after a full year without crowds at their 75,000 capacity home.

Ronaldo hails Pele after eclipsing the Brazilian’s goal-scoring haul Portuguese claims he was now on top of the scoring pile after surpassing the Santos striker’s tally of 767 goals TURIN AGENCIES

Cristiano Ronaldo hailed Pele after he surpassed the Brazilian great’s goal-scoring haul in official matches by netting a hattrick in Juventus’ 3-1 Serie A win over Cagliari on Sunday.

Since soccer’s world governing body FIFA does not keep an official record of who is on top of the all-time scoring list, it is a benchmark that is hotly disputed.

Several media outlets previously hailed Ronaldo for breaking the record when he reached 760 goals as he had supposedly surpassed the record set by Austria and Czechoslovakia striker striker Josef Bican.

However, the Czech FA subsequently said in January that Bican’s total was actually 821 goals, following a review of his statistics during a career spanning from 1931 to 1955.

On Sunday, however, Ronaldo ignored Bican’s revised total to claim he was now on top of the scoring pile after surpassing Pele’s tally of 767.

“My everlasting and unconditional admiration for mister Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele), such is the respect that I have for mid-20th century football, led me to take into account his 767 score, assuming his nine goals for Sao Paulo State Team, as well as his single goal for the Brazilian Military Team, as official goals,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram.

“Today, as I reach the 770th official goal in my professional career, my first words go straight to Pele.

There’s no player in the world who hasn’t been raised listening to stories about his games, his goals and his achievements, and I’m no exception.

“And for that reason, I’m filled with joy and pride as I acknowledge the goal that puts me on top of the world’s goalscoring list, overcoming Pele’s record, something that I could never have dreamed of while growing up as a child from Madeira.”

Pele, who helped Brazil to win the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970, states on his own Instagram page that he heads the alltime scoring list with 1,283 goals.

The 80-year-old former Santos striker and his compatriot Romario scored in excess of 1,000 goals during their careers, but those statistics include strikes in amateur, unofficial and friendly matches.

Nevertheless, Pele congratulated Ronaldo on Sunday.

“Life is a solo flight. Each makes his own journey. And what a beautiful journey you are having. I admire you a lot, I love watching you play and this is no secret to anyone,” Pele wrote on Instagram.

“Congratulations on breaking my record of goals in official matches. My only regret is not being able to give you a hug today.”

Man City’s rich resources make ‘impossible’ quadruple quest a reality LONDON AGENCIES

Two seasons ago as Manchester City won the first ever domestic treble of trophies in England, Pep Guardiola branded the possibility of ever doing a quadruple “almost impossible”.

A season characterised by injuries, fixture congestion, player fatigue, coronavirus infections, and for City no preseason, should have made the feat more improbable than ever. Yet, City remain on course to prove Guardiola’s prediction wrong. A commanding 14-point lead at the top of the Premier League means it is a matter of when not if a third title in four years is sealed.

On Tuesday, Guardiola’s men head to Budapest for what should have been the home leg of their Champions League last 16 tie holding a 2-0 first leg advantage over Borussia Monchengladbach. Next weekend they travel to Everton in the FA Cup quarter-finals, while a League Cup final with Tottenham awaits in April.

City’s 23rd win in 24 games in all competitions at Fulham on Saturday exemplified how Guardiola has managed his side into this position.

Fresh from beating Liverpool at Anfield and just one defeat in six games, Fulham were swotted aside 3-0 despite City making seven changes.

That took Guardiola’s tally of changes in the Premier League this season to a league high 94.

Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez were among the star names to spend the full 90 minutes resting on the bench, while Raheem Sterling was not even included in the matchday squad.

“What we have done the last two, three, four months, everybody is involved,” said Guardiola. “Sometimes it is difficult but everyone has to make a contribution to win games and we will arrive at the end of the season fighting as best as possible.”

As the crunch of a year without fans through the gates due to Covid-19 restrictions has hit even European football’s wealthiest clubs, it is perhaps no surprise that backed

by Abu Dhabi state wealth, City have proved more pandemic proof.

After being thrashed 5-2 at home by Leicester in their second game of the season, Guardiola was afforded the funds to splash out £62 million ($86 million) on centreback Ruben Dias from Benfica. City had already previously spent over £300 million on defenders in Guardiola’s reign on Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy, Joao Cancelo, Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Nathan Ake. On top of the arrivals of Dias and Ake, the signing of Ferran Torres took City’s summer spend over £120 mil-

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lion. But it is Dias’ presence that has had a transformational impact. The Portuguese international is one of the few men Guardiola refuses to rotate, starting all but one Premier League game since he joined the club in September. Dias has also brought the best out of John Stones after two poor seasons since a starring role at the 2018 World Cup for the England international.

“We all know our roles and responsibilities,” said Stones after opening the scoring against Fulham.

“We’ve all played so many games. We know the squad’s rotated because of the schedule or whatever it might be the manager decides.”

For all City’s domestic success, Guardiola’s team selection at the weekend made it perfectly clear that the Champions League remains the priority. The only major trophy to escape the Catalan since he arrived in Manchester five years ago is the one the club’s owners brought him to the club to deliver. But rarely have City’s resources also given them such an advantage in Europe.

With Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris SaintGermain still involved in tight title races and Barcelona and Juventus already out of the competition, City can afford the luxury of cruising towards the finishing line in the Premier League, while saving their energy for the Champions League.

Tuesday, 16 March, 2021

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RePORt RAnkS PAkiStAn AmOng wORld’S lARgeSt ARmS imPORteRS BETWEEN 2016-2020, CHINA ACCOUNTED FOR 74 PER CENT OF COUNTRY'S MILITARY IMPORTS IsLAMABAD

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Agencies

AKISTAN was among the biggest importers of major arms in Asia and Oceania regions from 2016-2020 while globally it ranked 10th, accounting for 2.7 per cent of major arms imports, a report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said on Monday.

During the period, China remained Pakistan’s main supplier for military technology, accounting for 74 per cent of the imports, followed by Russia and Italy with 6.6 per cent and 5.9 per cent, respectively.

In what appears to be the first development of its kind, Pakistan, compared to the previous period, saw a 23 per cent decrease in arms imports.

In comparison, India remained dependent on technology from Russia, France and Israel.

Russia accounted for 49 per cent of its arms needs and was followed by France and Israel who contributed 18 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively. New Delhi also witnessed a 33 per cent decrease in its total imports from 2016-2020 against the first five years of the decade.

“For many states in Asia and Oceania, a growing perception of China as a threat is the main driver for arms imports,” Siemon Wezeman, a senior re-

REPORT REVEALS INDIAN DEPENDENCE ON RUSSIAN TECHNOLOGY searcher at SIPRI, said. The United States, France and Germany — three of the world’s biggest exporters — increased deliveries, but falls in exports from Russian and China offset the rise, SIPRI said.

It was the first time since 2001-2005 that the volume of deliveries of major arms between countries — an indicator of demand — did not increase from the previous five-year period, it added.

While the pandemic has shut down economies across the world and pushed many countries into deep recessions, SIPRI said it was too early to tell whether the slowdown in arms deliveries was likely to continue.

“The economic impact of the Covid19 pandemic could see some countries re-

assessing their arms imports in the coming years,” Pieter Wezeman, a senior researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme, said in a statement. “However, at the same time, even at the height of the pandemic in 2020, several countries signed large contracts for major arms.”

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), for example, recently signed an agreement with the United States to purchase 50 F35 jets and up to 18 armed drones as part of a $23 billion package. Middle Eastern countries accounted for the biggest increase in arms imports, up 25 per cent in 2016–20 from 2011–15.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest arms importer, increased its arms imports by 61 per cent and Qatar by 361 per cent.

Pakistan, Iran voice concern over IS presence in Afghanistan IRANIAN FM STRESSES REGIONAL COOPERATION FOR AFGHAN PEACE PROCESS IsLAMABAD TLTP

Pakistan and Iran have stressed the need for regional cooperation to help establish peace in Afghanistan.

Pakistan Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq visited Tehran along with a delegation to discuss the latest developments in Afghanistan with Iranian higher authorities. He called on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday evening.

Expressing satisfaction with the consultations made in the meeting, Mohammad Sadiq explained Pakistan’s views on the developments in Afghanistan.

Emphasising the vital importance of establishing peace in Afghanistan, the Iranian foreign minister stressed the need for regional cooperation to help establish peace in Afghanistan and preserve the achievements of the people of that country.

This is Sadiq’s first official visit to Iran as Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan. Earlier, special envoys from Iran and Pakistan held meetings on the sidelines of Zarif’s visit to Islamabad in October.

Earlier, Sadiq held a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araghchi. Both voiced their concerns over the presence of the IS terrorist group in Afghanistan and its threats to peace and security of the region.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged their views on the latest developments in Afghanistan, espe-

Afghan peace talks should rotate among countries, envoy says amid stall ABU DHABI

Professional excellence, extensive training ensure effective response against all challenges: COAS RAWALPInDI

cially the peace process in this country.

Turning to the influence of the two countries of Iran and Pakistan on the developments in Afghanistan, Sadiq called for greater cooperation between the two countries in establishing lasting peace in Afghanistan.

The Iran’s deputy foreign minister expressed hope for taking advantage of the opportunities of peace, and added, “Peace will be supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran while respecting the fundamental rights of Afghan people and maintaining achievements gained over the past two decades.”

Araghchi welcomed the position of the Pakistan special envoy to Afghanistan regarding the close cooperation on issues related to Afghanistan and announced that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to take a giant stride in this respect.

The two sides agreed to continue consultations regarding developments in the Afghanistan peace process.

APP

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday said that professional excellence and extensive training ensure effective response against all challenges. The COAS visited troops of Lahore Corps in the field and was briefed about operational preparedness of the formation, interacted with troops carrying out maintenance of defences and also witnessed small arms firing, said Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release. Speaking on the occasion, the COAS appreciated troops for their professionalism and high training standards. The COAS also advised officers and men to stay focused in their professional pursuits and keep abreast with changing nature of the threats faced by the country. Corps Commander Lieutenant General Muhammad Abdul Aziz accompanied the COAS during the visit.

Top US officials head to Asia to boost alliances in first foreign trip

Agencies

AgencIes

Afghan peace talks, now stalled in Qatar, should be rotated to other venues, Afghanistan’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAR) said, indicating the Qatari hosts had not pushed hard enough for the Taliban to reduce violence. Talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban have been held in Qatar since last year after the United States agreed to withdraw its troops. But violence has increased and the government accuses the militants of failing to meet obligations to reduce attacks. Ambassador Javid Ahmad told Reuters peace talks should not be held in one fixed location, but rotate among venues in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, or Afghanistan itself. The Taliban, which opened an office in Qatar in 2013, were too “comfortable” there, he said. “We want the Taliban to get out of their comfort zone.” “The Qataris could have used its role as a host to play a more active and decisive role in pushing the Taliban to reduce violence or declare a ceasefire,” Ahmad said. “They have not properly used their leverage, as a host to the Taliban […], to push the group’s leaders to declare a ceasefire or to visibly reduce violence.” Qatar’s government communications office said Doha was committed to supporting Afghans by hosting the talks and would like to see a reduction in the violence leading “to continued peace and security in the country”. “The fact that representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban are still at the table shows that the negotiations are working,” it said.

Russia will hold a conference on Afghanistan this week, while Turkey hosts talks next month as the United States seeks to shake up the process, proposing an interim administration.

Ahmad said Afghanistan’s “participatory government” had “the capacity to absorb the Taliban and ex-combatants” but that the only way to achieve a transition of power was through elections. The Taliban have said they are committed to the peace negotiations. Former US President Donald Trump’s administration signed a troop withdrawal deal with the Taliban in February 2020 under which all international forces were expected to leave the country by May 1. However, violence has risen and NATO officials say some conditions of the deal, including the Taliban cutting ties with international militant groups, have not been met, which the Taliban disputes.

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin arrive in Tokyo on Monday on their first overseas trip, looking to rally key Asian allies as a bulwark to China.

The pair, travelling separately, will meet in Japan for the first leg of their trip, holding talks with their counterparts as well as Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

They will both continue on to South Korea, before Defence Secretary Austin heads separately to India and Secretary of State Blinken holds talks back in the United States with Chinese officials.

President Joe Biden’s team has been deliberately slow to start the usually hectic pace of diplomatic travel that marks a new administration, hoping to set an example discouraging travel during the pandemic.

But the administration has also made clear it wants to reset US relations with the rest of the world, particularly traditional allies, after the tumult of the Donald Trump era.

In a joint opinion piece in the Washington Post on Monday, Austin and Blinken said they would be looking to “revitalise our ties with friends and partners”.

The visit will also be about presenting a united front on the challenges posed by China.

“Our combined power makes us stronger when we must push back against China’s aggression and threats,” they wrote.

“Together, we will hold China accountable when it abuses human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet, systematically erodes autonomy in Hong Kong, undercuts democracy in Taiwan or asserts maritime claims in the South China Sea that violate international law.

“If we don’t act decisively and lead, Beijing will.”

TALKS WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS: Speaking in Hawaii before heading to the region, Austin said he and Blinken would be “listening and learning”.

Washington was seeking to en-

hance US military capacity with its allies, he added, warning that the “competitive edge that we’ve had has eroded” as China rapidly modernises its army.

“We still maintain that edge. We are going to increase that edge going forward,” he told reporters at the seat of the US military command for the Indo-Pacific region.

“Our goal is to make sure that we have the capabilities and the operational plans […] to be able to offer a credible deterrence to China or anybody else who would want to take on

Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

the US.” The pair arrive in Asia after an unprecedented summit of the leaders of the so-called “Quad” — an informal alliance of the United States, Japan, India and Australia seen as a counterbalance to China’s increasing influence.

Blinken’s events in Tokyo and Seoul will be largely virtual, with addresses to Japanese business leaders and journalists by video conference, though his talks with officials will be in person.

In Seoul, he will consult on Biden’s review of policy towards Pyongyang in the wake of Trump’s summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The Pentagon said Austin will meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi and seek a deepening partnership with India, whose relations with China have worsened following a deadly Himalayan clash last year.

Blinken will return from Seoul to the United States and join Biden’s national security advisor Jake Sullivan for talks in Anchorage with their Chinese counterparts.

Blinken said last week he expected to “lay out in very frank terms many concerns that we have with Beijing’s actions and behaviour”.

Any future engagement would “really have to be based on the proposition that we’re seeing tangible progress and tangible outcomes on the issues of concern to us with China”, he told the House Foreign Affairs Committee.