CMYK
10 May, 2020 I 16 Ramzan-ul-Mubarak, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol X No 312 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition
Markets crowded as provinces ease lockdown aMid surge in virus cases g
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STAFF REPORT/AgEnciES
EoPlE across Pakistan crowded markets on Saturday after a nationwide coronavirus lockdown was eased, despite the country recording its second-highest daily infection toll. with 28,795 infections in total, Punjab and Sindh have the highest number of infections, reporting 10,471 and 10,771 cases, respectively. balochistan and khyber Pakhtunkhwa have reported 1,935 and 4,509 cases each. in islamabad and gilgit-baltistan, the infection swelled to 609 and 421, respectively. However, Azad kashmir has the lowest number of cases, with 79 infections so far. At least 636 people have succumbed to the deadly virus in the country till date. in a bid to contain the coronavirus cases after relaxation in the lockdown, the Punjab and khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments have decided to impose a blanket lockdown in the provinces for three days in a week–friday to Sunday. the decision was announced a day after the provinces and federal territories eased lockdown restrictions, in place to contain the rising number of Covid-19 in-
fections, following a meeting of the national Coordination Committee (nCC) on the issue. Addressing a press conference in lahore, Punjab information Minister fayyazul Hassan Chohan said the restrictions will be eased for four days in a week (Monday to thursday) in which all shops and markets will be allowed to remain open. but, the province will see a complete lockdown on friday, Saturday and Sunday, he added. the Punjab government also extended the partial lockdown till May 31, for which a notification has also been issued. All small shops in Punjab will remain open for four days a week. According to the notification, all major shopping malls and educational institutions in Punjab will remain closed. However, barbershops, beauty parlors and gymnasiums are allowed to open for four days a week. All grocery stores, tandoors and general stores will remain open from 9am to 5pm. According to the notification, the fruit and vegetable markets and courier services will remain open for the entire week. Marriage halls, marquees, public transport, concerts and sports activities will be restricted till May 31. it may be noted here that the Punjab government had also requested the Cen-
coronavirus in
pakistan
KARACHI
RECOVERED:
DEATHS:
SINDH:
PUNJAB:
7,809 10,771
636
10,471
KP:
BALOCHISTAN:
AJK/GB:
ISLAMABAD:
4,509 79/421
1,935 609
tre for permission to keep the lockdown intact in 8-10 major cities of the province in order to curb the coronavirus cases. ‘BETTER THAN LEAKY LOCKDOWN’: khyber Pakhtunkhawa (kP) Minister for Health and finance taimur khan jhagra announced that the province will have a four-day working week as the government seeks to ease the lockdown restrictions which were imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19. Addressing a press conference about the easing of the lockdown in the province, jhagra said: “the two things we are going to try out are that the closing time for shops and markets will be 4:00 pm and they will remain shut on friday, Saturday and Sunday.” jhagra noted that these measures might be better than a seven-day “leaky lockdown”, saying that the government is trying its best to ease the lockdown while containing the risk of virus spread.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 02
PM says situation in Pakistan under control as Covid-19 cases soar STORY ON PAGE 03
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HAfEEz SHAikH SAyS govt iS SEt to CollECt RS3.9tR in tAxES, 19PC bElow tHE downwARdly REviSEd tARgEt of RS4.8tR ISLAMABAD AgEnciES
Pakistan’s fiscal deficit will surge to nine per cent in the ongoing fiscal year, Adviser to the Prime Minister on finance dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh has said, as the economy reels from the fallout of the coronavirus crisis. with the national tally of confirmed cases of Covid-19 rising to 28,551 and 623 deaths being reported, the government has announced it will start lifting the countrywide lockdown from Saturday in a bid to restart economic activity. fear of an economic meltdown is said to be the main reason behind ending the shutdown at a time when the country’s curve, or rate of infections, is edging up sharply. “the expectation of the deficit we had prior to the coronavirus was 7.6pc. now, after corona, we think the deficit will touch 8pc plus and that it might be 9pc,” said Sheikh. in an interview with Reuters at his office, Sheikh said the country will also miss a tax revenue target that had recently been downwardly revised and agreed to with the inter-
PMA, otHER outfitS dEMAnd ExtEnSion in loCkdown until SPREAd of CoRonAviRuS SlowS down STAFF REPORT
28,795
AllowS gRoCERy StoRES, gyMS, bARbERSHoPS to funCtion fRoM MondAy to fRidAy
Healthcare system will collapse due to ease in lockdown, doctors warn g
CONFIRMED CASES:
PunjAb govt ExtEndS PARtiAl loCkdown till MAy 31, SAyS no buSinESS will oPEn on fRidAy, SAtuRdAy And SundAy
‘Pakistan’s fiscal deficit to surge, tax revenue to miss target this year’
the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and other healthcare professionals’ organisations have opposed relaxing the lockdown, saying the healthcare system will collapse if the coronavirus infection in the country increased beyond a certain threshold. demanding that the lockdown be extended for a few more weeks, until the spread of the virus slowed down, the doctors pointed out that even after the restrictions were relaxed, it was incumbent upon the government to ensure that all citizens followed the necessary standard operating procedures (SoPs). “the PMA and other health bodies have been calling for a strict lockdown from day one, as well as to educate people on the pandemic and raise awareness about precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus,” said PMA general Secretary dr Qaisar Sajjad. Criticising the government for putting the responsibility on the public, dr Sajjad said would
be difficult for people to follow the SoPs. “the government will have to discipline the population,” said dr Sajjad. “At the moment, there are just 63 beds dedicated for coronavirus patients in karachi’s five public hospitals and though the 1,200-bed isolation facility at the Expo Centre is a large one, it only delivers primary treatment,” noted dr Sajjad, adding that situation would not be too different in other cities, if not worse. “we fear that relaxing the lockdown, in the light of the low literacy rate and obstinate behaviour of citizens, will open a floodgate of Covid-19 patients in the country,” he remarked, stressing, “we must prepare ourselves for the worst.” dr Sohail Akhtar, a chest specialist who also spoke on the occasion, complained that the government had not been following Covid-19 burial SoPs as advised by doctors, “which creates panic among the public.” besides, the doctors demanded that the government set up a helpline for ambulance services so that they could be
guided where to shift the patient, introduce a relief package for the bereaved families of doctors who died battling Covid-19 on the frontlines and make the screening of health workers mandatory so that they could be protected against the virus. “we need to be extremely careful and vigilant. we must prepare ourselves for the worst situation to come. we have been demanding compensation to all Covid-19 victims, including doctors, paramedics and healthcare providers. we have been demanding PPEs for our frontline soldiers. we demand Shuhda package/support money for the families of those medics who have lost their lives while fighting the virus and saving the lives of patients.”
Outbreaks in Germany and South Korea show the risks in easing up STORY ON BACK PAGE
national Monetary fund (iMf), which gave the country a three-year, $6 billion bailout last year. the government is set to collect Rs3.9 trillion ($24.54bn) in taxes, 19pc below the downwardly revised target of Rs4.8tr ($30.20bn), he said. the iMf also gave Pakistan a $1.386bn rapid financing package last month to tackle balance-ofpayment problems amid economic fallout from the virus. the country’s economy is now projected to contract 1pc to 1.5pc in the ongoing fiscal year, Sheikh added, officially corroborating earlier iMf estimates of the extent of the effect of the pandemic on the economy.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 02
Govt urged to reduce income tax by 50pc in upcoming budget STORY ON PAGE 09
fiqah-e-hanfia lahore sehr: 3:37 aM iftar: 6:50 PM
islaMabad sehr: 3:35 aM iftar: 6:59 PM
karachi sehr: 4:26 aM iftar: 7:07 PM
fiqah-e-jafaria lahore sehr: 3:27 aM iftar: 7:00 PM
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more inside
ECC, cabinet decisions led to hike in sugar prices: Abbasi STORY ON PAGE 02
US body on religious freedom lauds Pakistan for establishing minorities commission STORY ON PAGE 05
Refineries seek bailout package as coronavirus disrupts demand STORY ON PAGE 09
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Sunday, 10 May, 2020
NEWS
eCC, CabiNet deCisioNs Led to hike iN sugar PriCes: abbasi
PML-N LeadershiP reaPiNg what they had sowN: Faraz ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz said on Saturday that Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz was reaping what they had sown. If the PML-N leaders were innocent, then they should not worry and give answers to the NAB questions, he remarked. He said long press conferences by PML-N leadership were the proof that they had no legal defense, adding those who make politics a source of business can no longer mislead the people. The prime minister was fighting coronavirus pandemic whereas the PML-N leadership was targeting Imran Khan and National Accountability Bureau, Shibli said. The focus of the prime minister’s decisions was people of Pakistan, protection of their lives and provision of facilities to them, he added. APP
EX-PM SAYS PML-N WILL NOT ALLOW REVERSAL OF POWERS GRANTED TO PROVINCES UNDER 18TH AMENDMENT ISLAMABAD
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STAFF REPORT
ORMER prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Saturday said that the decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and federal cabinet led to a hike in prices of sugar across the country earlier this year. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader was talking to reporters outside the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) headquarters, where he appeared before the wheat and sugar crisis inquiry commission head Wajid Zia to record his statement. Abbasi said that he presented all the
Balochistan’s recovery rate now at 13.8pc: spokesperson QUETTA STAFF REPORT
Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani on Saturday said that the fatality rate in the province has been 1.5 per cent for the past couple of months. Speaking to the media, Shahwani said: “The fatality rate is only 1.5 per cent, this average is the same for the last few months. The recovery rate was 55 per cent then reduced to 15 per cent now it’s 13.8 per cent, it’s a little less than before.” According to him, 30 per cent of coronavirus tests conducted in the province on Friday came back positive. It was an increase over Thursday’s results when 21 per cent of tests came back positive, he noticed. “We have also been doing random testing of which some 18 to 20 per cent results are coming back positive. In the next phase, we will conduct aggressive testing so we can have an idea of the trajectory of cases in the province,” he said.
“facts” before the commission. He said that the prime minister should ask his cabinet regarding the increase in rates of sugar, adding that the green signal to export sugar was given even though there was no surplus stock of the commodity in the country. He added that the sugar export continued for 16 months but the government did not take any notice of it. He said that there should be a tax on imports so it is not possible to import sugar. “The situation proves that the prime minister is corrupt,” said the senior PMLN leader. While speaking about PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and the recent Cholistan Development Authority case, he said that the
NAB chairman is unable to see sugar, medicine and other scandals. Abbasi said that during the PML-N tenure, the government gave a subsidy of more than Rs20 billion on sugar, which is why the prices did not rise even by a penny. Abbasi said that the commission should
First PIA flight to rescue stranded students from Wuhan on May 18
summon Prime Minister Imran Khan and the head of the ECC if it wanted to get to the bottom of the hike in sugar crisis. 18th AMENDMENT: Commenting on the 18th Amendment issue, Abbasi said his party would not allow any changes to the powers granted to the provinces under the constitutional amendment. “We are ready to discuss everything other than reversing the powers granted to the provinces under the 18th Amendment,”
he said, adding that if the government wanted to discuss any changes to the amendment, it should bring the matter to the floor of the House. Abbasi said that the government is yet to approach the PML-N over its proposals for amending the National Accountability Ordinance. “NAB has put the country on the path of devastation. It should be abolished as it has crippled the decision-making process of the government,” he said.
AJK president slams use of force on Kashmiri protesters after Naikoo's martyrdom MUZAFFARABAD STAFF REPORT
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
A day after the government announced to repatriate students from the Chinese city of Wuhan, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez on Saturday confirmed that a special flight of the national flag carrier will bring back the stranded nationals on May 18. According to Hafeez, some 250 students will be brought back on the first flight which will land in Islamabad. The schedule for three more flights will be announced next week, he added. The announcement was earlier made by Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Overseas Pakistani Syed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari on Twitter. “I’m very happy for the 1st flight going to Wuhan to bring back our Pakistani students on 18/05/2020,” he wrote. “You guys have been the bravest soldiers, PM Imran Khan & Pakistan are proud of you,” he added. Earlier in January, when the coronavirus had not spread all over the world, Pakistani students in China had said that they were terrified and were “being kept in one room.” It was learnt that a few of the students had been tested for coronavirus amid a hysteria that had spread throughout the world. When the news broke out that the students were in a difficult situation, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health, Dr Zafar Mirza had said that it was not advisable to evacuate nationals from China, noting that Beijing would demonstrate responsible behaviour and not become a part in spreading the virus.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has strongly condemned the random use of force by the Indian occupation forces against the peaceful Kashmiri protesters following the martyrdom of freedom fighter commander Riaz Naikoo in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K). “The Indian forces killed one youth and injured more than 50 peaceful protesters in a bid to prevent them from holding demonstration after killing of a top freedom fighter,” Masood said on Saturday. While expressing grave concern over growing tension between the Indian Army and the resisting youth, he said that the occupation army was indiscriminately
using power against the citizens holding peaceful demonstrations in the streets because of the fears that these demonstrations can become a well organised antiIndia campaign and may culminate in finishing India’s illegal occupation of Kashmir. “Even on the fourth day of the martyrdom of Naikoo, the Indian Army has imposed a strict curfew to prevent the youth from coming out of their homes,” he added. Meanwhile, in an interview, the AJK president said the situation in Occupied Kashmir has been very serious, and the region is undergoing the darkest period of its history. He said that the worst situation which we have been talking about, have erupted in the held territory with the start of genocide there. “The BJP-RSS regime is killing defenceless and innocent people in the occupied valley.
‘Pakistan’s fiscal deficit to surge’ ConTInUED FRoM pAgE 01 The government was targeting growth of 2.4pc in fiscal year 2019-20 as it struggled to restructure the economy, which was suffering from yawning current account and fiscal deficits and depleting foreign reserves. “Revenue has taken a hit. Exports have taken a hit. Remittances have taken a hit, and, above all, our people are suffering,” Sheikh said. Analysts say support in term of swift loans, aid and debt relief from development partners, friendly states, financial institutions and G20 countries is likely to create a fiscal space for Pakistan to keep its economy afloat. The adviser said Islamabad had applied for debt relief that had been offered by the G20 to over 70 countries, adding that it will defer a payment of around $1.8bn for Pakistan for one year. “World Bank and Asian Development Bank are giving us special packages,” he said, terming it a great breather. “If the creditors are not knocking on your door
right now then you can use this period to try and divert that money into more pressing needs at home,” he added. The upcoming budget for fiscal 2020-2021 is an uphill task Sheikh is to present in early June. “The first goal is to prevent the corona from affecting our citizens too badly or affecting our economy too badly,” he said, adding he would do his best to try to secure maximum funds for a cash handout to the poor. “We have to try to keep our industry moving especially on the export side.” The government has already introduced several packages to bail out business and industry, including over a trillion rupee ($6.31bn) stimulus to help revive the coronavirus-hit economy and the cash handout to nearly 12 million people. Although no one knows how long the coronavirus crisis is going to last, Sheikh said his government would try to slash the fiscal deficit in the next budget as well as cut expenditures, which could be anywhere including defence. “This is an ongoing discussion which is underway,” he said.
Markets crowded as provinces ease PIA to operate special flight lockdown amid surge in virus cases for Monday’s NA session ConTInUED FRoM pAgE 01 MARKETS CROWDED: Meanwhile, in spite of the federal and provincial governments appeals to people to maintain social distancing and adopting precautionary measures such as using face masks and gloves, thousands of people in cities across Pakistan rushed to markets to shop for the upcoming Eidul Fitr festival. In Karachi, shopkeepers set out their wares of shoes, clothes, bangles and fabrics, while in Islamabad and Rawalpindi shoppers stood in tightly-packed queues as they waited for stores to open. Similar scenes were played out in Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar. Omar Shirazi, a banker shopping for clothes with his daughter in Rawalpindi, welcomed the move. “Eid is approaching,” he said. “We have to buy new garments for our children. It’s the responsibility of people to comply with rules and wear safety gear.” Tehmina Sattar, who was shopping with her sister and sons, was more cautious. “We are happy with this decision but at the same time I have a fear in my heart that if this disease spreads it could be devastating. People here are not taking preventative measures.” Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz warned earlier in the day that the lockdown on businesses would be reimposed if safety guidelines were not followed, after authorities reported more than 1,700 new cases in the past 24 hours. The easing comes as many across the country have openly ignored restrictions on gatherings in public during the past month, especially during the evenings as people observe Ramzan.
CMYK
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will operate a special flight for parliamentarians willing to attend the National Assembly session in the federal capital on Monday. According to details, a PIA plane will take off from Karachi to Quetta on May 11 at 8am. The flight would then head towards Islamabad. The special flight is scheduled to carry 105 NA members from Quetta and Karachi to the federal capital. President Arif Alvi, on May 7, summoned a session of the National Assembly on Monday to discuss the coronavirus situation in the country. The assembly proceedings will commence at 3pm at the Parliament House. All transport services, including air travel, have been temporarily suspended due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in the country. STAFF REPORT
Sunday, 10 May, 2020
PM says situatiOn in Pakistan under cOntrOl as cOvid-19 cases sOar IMRAN REGRETS MISTREATMENT OF CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS ISLAMABAD
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STAFF REPORT
MID a spike of over 5,000 cases in just three days, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday reiterated that Pakistan was faring better in terms of the number of the coronavirus infections compared to the rest of the world. Chairing a meeting of the National Health Task Force, the PM said the situation in the country was “under control” and that it could be further improved if the precautionary measures issued by the government were holistically followed. With 28,551 infections in total by Saturday night, Punjab and Sindh have the highest number of infections, with 10,471 and
PUNJAB SAYS HAS DEVELOPED MOBILE APP TO KEEP TRACK OF VENTILATORS, BEDS AVAILABILITY ACROSS PROVINCE
10,771 cases, respectively. Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have reported 1,873 and 4,327 cases each. In Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan, the infection swelled to 609 and 421, respectively. However, Azad Kashmir has the lowest number of cases, with 79 infections so far. Emphasising the importance of a robust public awareness campaign over the recent coronavirus situation, Prime Minister Imran observed that people must take care of coronavirus patients with greater responsibility. During the meeting, the prime minister expressed his regret over reports regarding mistreatment of coronavirus patients, and said such attitude was unbearable. He further observed that if anyone had symptoms of coronavirus, he or she should immediately
get himself tested without any hesitation. The prime minister underlined the need for taking steps for the launch of a comprehensive public awareness campaign and directed for the formulation of a coordinated strategy in this regard. The provincial ministers apprised the meeting about the latest situation, treatment of patients in the hospitals, steps for the protection and facilitation of doctors and paramedical staff and enhancement of corona testing capacity in their respective provinces. PM’s focal person Dr Faisal in his briefing presented details about the number of patients in different provinces, deaths and the ratio of the cases. He said Pakistan had been less affected by the pandemic when compared with other countries of the world. It
was also informed that the number of coronavirus testing labs had been increased from 4 to 63 as compared to the month of March. ‘APP DEVELOPED TO KEEP TRACK OF VENTILATORS’: The National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) was informed on Saturday that the Punjab government has developed a mobile application to indicate bed occupancy and availability of ventilators in hospitals across the province. The application would help the officials of Rescue 1122 track the beds and ventilators’ availability in every district of the province, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid apprised the meeting chaired by Minister for Planning Asad Umar. Accordingly, she said, the Rescue 1122 and provincial health department staff were
Govt to launch project to contain COVID-19 in urban slums ISLAMABAD APP
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam on Monday will inaugurate the ‘Urban Slum COVID-19 Response Programme’ in collaboration with the UN-Habitat. Other collaborating partners for the initiative include Shehersaaz, National Cleaner Production Center (NCPC), Akhtar Hameed Khan Memorial Trust (AHKMT), Aman, and Rawalpindi Waste Management Company, a news release said. The decision regarding the
launch of the novel initiative, which aimed to respond to growing vulnerabilities of the urban settlements to COVID19, was made during a meeting held at the Ministry of Climate Change, chaired by Malik Amin Aslam. Addressing the meeting, the adviser explained that the project had been conceived in response to the need highlighted by the prime minister for protecting the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable segments of the society living in urban slums areas. The overall objective of the
Pakistan performing over 16,000 tests per day: WHO report NEWS DESK Pakistan has increased its coronavirus testing capacity to over 16,000 tests a day as the country reaches closer to its goal of carrying out 20,000 tests daily this month. According to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the country’s total testing capacity currently stands at 16,596. Per the report, Pakistan has 58 functional laboratories, the majority of which, 23, are in Punjab. Punjab, notes the WHO, has a capacity to conduct 5,810 tests per day. With 13 labs, Sindh trails behind with a capacity of 5,000 tests. Islamabad has seven labs and can carry out 2,756 tests in a day. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has eight labs and a capacity of 1,788 tests per day. On the contrary, Balochistan has only two laboratories with a capacity to conduct 894 tests per day. As for the administrative units, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K), they have two and three labs with a capacity of 188 and 160 tests, respectively. Last month, Dr Zafar Mirza, the prime minister’s special assistant on health, has announced that Pakistan would be enhancing its testing capacity to 20,000 tests daily by the end of April.
programme was to prevent spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in urban slums and empowering local communities to mitigate the economic impact of the virus, he added. Among others, the meeting was attended by the Secretary Ministry of Climate Change, representatives of UN-Habitat, National Cleaner Production Centre, Shehrsaaz and other senior officials of the climate change ministry. UN-Habitat’s Country Manager in Pakistan, Jawed Ali Khan briefed the meeting, saying that on the basis of the les-
Tech giant YouTube has pledged $5 million in advertisement grants to Pakistan to spread awareness about the coronavirus, according to a media report. The announcement in this regard was made by YouTube Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Susan Wojcicki in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Imran Khan. In the letter, Wojcicki outlined the work “Google and YouTube have been doing to support Pakistan’s citizens and businesses through this difficult time”. She added that tech companies are helping local authorities in the country spread information about the coronavirus through information panels and alerts. “Google has also launched a microsite which will appear when anyone searches for coronavirus. The website draws its content from the government’s Covid-19 portal,” she stated. The letter stated that the online platforms are also combating misinformation and online abuse by showing authoritative sources in top results. “We will continue to quickly remove videos … that discourage people from seeking medical treatment or claim harmful substances have health benefits,” it said.
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being provided necessary training. Asad Umar appreciated the Punjab government for taking a lead in developing an application to keep the health officials updated in real-time. He directed the other federating units to replicate the initiative for effective handling those COVID-19 positive patients who had been home-quarantined. The meeting was also given a practical demonstration of the application. Briefing the NCOC about smart lockdown mechanism in Punjab, Dr Yasmin said that the province was all set to issue detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in that regard. All-out efforts would be made to enforce the smart lockdown across the province, she added. The health minister said that Punjab had increased its testing capacity and would run extensive awareness drive on SOPs to communicate the guidelines to the citizens. A notification for home quarantine of the corona-positive patients would be issued shortly, she added. Sindh Health Minister Azra Fazal Pechuho said that the virus spread in central and northern Sindh had been increasing gradually, whereas the number of cases was showing a downward trend in the southern part of the province. She said that at least 22 areas had been under lockdown in Karachi which had emerged as a virus hotspot in Sindh, adding the virus was being transmitted to other districts due to the inter-city travel.
Shah’s PA, four other Sindh CM House staffers test positive for Covid-19 sons learnt from this pilot project would be launched on a full scale in collaboration with federal and provincial governments and other stakeholders. The UN-Habitat would seek cooperation from the interested federal and provincial governments, UN Agencies and donors to join hands in implementing the PCUSRP at the country level, he added. The meeting was also briefed that the programme was being piloted in Dhok Hassu and Dhok Mangtal areas of Rawalpindi, targeting 50,000 slum community members.
YouTube announces $5m for Pakistan coronavirus awareness campaign NEWS DESK
NEWS
Outlining resources for learning and working from home amid the coronavirus pandemic, the letter said that Google has created Grow with Google Pakistan — containing resources for “all kinds of remote workers” and Teach from Home — containing resources for educators. It has also created other learning resources for children and professionals. The letter added that Google was also publishing community mobility reports, using data collected through Google Maps. “We hope that the reports [on movement] can help public health officials in Pakistan, and governments elsewhere respond to the coronavirus,” it said. The letter also offered cooperation with the Pakistani government in creating a “credible and globally consistent digital policy and regulatory framework”. Prime Minister Imran met with the YouTube CEO in January this year on the sidelines of the 50th World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The two leaders held discussions on utilising digital platforms for building Pakistan’s image. The Pakistani entourage also discussed the possibilities of promoting tourism, education and attracting investment through digital platforms.
As many as five staffers of the Sindh Chief Minister (CM) House, including CM Murad Ali Shah’s personal assistant (PA), tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday. According to the details, the CM House staff had been tested for coron-
avirus after the CM’s special assistant, Rashid Rabbani, contracted the infection whereas now it has been revealed that a clerk, a driver, and a technician employed are also among those who have been diagnosed with the disease. NEWS DESK
Sunday, 10 May, 2020
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NASIR SHAH SAYS DECISION MAY BE REVERSED IN LIGHT OF DEVELOPING SITUATION
STAFF REPORT
INDH Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Saturday said that all the business activities which the National Coordination Committee (NCC) had decided to open in the province would be operational from Monday. However, the information minister added that these business activities would only be allowed to operate under specific guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs). "Businessmen who do not fully comply with the guidelines or SOPs would be barred from doing busi-
ness," he said. According to the details, all factories and industries would be required to fully implement SOPs, including checking employees' temperatures, maintaining social distance, and providing masks and hand sanitizers. He emphasised that it was not possible for people to live a normal life or operate a business like before until and unless until the coronavirus was completely eradicated from the country or its vaccine was developed. "If we cooperate with each other, life will start running again, otherwise, it will be
very difficult for the government to deal with the pandemic alone," he said. Speaking about large scale market activities, the provincial information minister said that although the NCC had yet not given permission to open big markets, shopping malls, and large department stores, the Sindh government would consult the federal government and other provinces in this regard. “The Sindh government is bound by the apex court’s decision directing all provinces and the federation to adopt a uniform policy to curb the spread of the coronavirus,” he
added. Regarding issues being faced by the business community during the pandemic, he said that Sindh government ministers had met with business leaders' organisations and noted complaints by around a 100 businessmen. “As far as the Sindh government was concerned, it would solve the problems of its traders and businessmen on priority basis whereas the federal government would also be informed about the problems of business community,” he assured.
Sindh coronavirus cases tally breaks record again kARACHI STAFF REPORT
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that for the first time since the eruption of the pandemic in the province on February 26, Sindh diagnosed 1,080 cases in a day, marking the highest ratio reported in any province until now. “The new cases surfaced by conducting 5,498 tests which means that 20 per cent of the tested people were infected. This seems to be the peak and it may rise further with increasing the number tests,” the chief minister said in his video message issued from the CM House on Saturday. It may be noted here that the provincial government plans to increase its daily testing capacity to 6,450 within the next few days. Giving a breakdown of the provincial virus statistics, Shah said that out of the 1,080 new cases, as many as 583 were detected in Karachi. Of these cases, he
CM SAYS OVER 50PC CASES REPORTED IN KARACHI said that 143 cases were from district South, 133 from Malir, 113 from East, 76 from Central, 61 from Korangi and 55 from the West. On the other hand, the dreadful situation seems to be erupting in Pir Jo Goth with the city situated in Khairpur district reporting as many as 246 new cases in a day. Earlier on May 4, 10 people were diagnosed as coronavirus positive after 35 people were tested while another 14 cases had popped up on May 6 when 97 other villagers were tested. The chief minister said that local spread has hit various districts but Khairpur district became the worst affected after the death of a woman who may be the area’s patient zero. “The woman who belonged to Pir Jo Goth had visited Hyderabad and had fallen
sachal sarmast’s urs celebrated online kARACHI PPI
The Urs celebrations of renowned Sufi saint and multilingual poet Sachal Sarmast which were not likely to be held this year were taken online by a group of Sachal’s followers and social activists on Saturday amid the coronavirus lockdown. Individuals from Pakistan, England, Hungary, Canada, Bahrain, Oman, Sweden, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Finland and other countries of the world participated wholeheartedly in the online celebrations. On Friday, an online lecture was simultaneously organised on the Zoom app and social media site Facebook, in which noted scholar and writer Jami Chandio delivered his talk on the life and poetry work of Sachal Sarmast, who was a great Sufi of the sub-continent and a resistance poet of Sindhi and Siraiki languages. Jami said Sachal also recited poetry in Persian and Urdu languages. “It is incorrect to say that Sachal had recited his poetry in seven languages,” Chandio revealed. In his keynote address, scholar Jami Chandio it is said that Sachal himself destroyed all his poetry during his lifetime and whatever poetry is available with us was in fact that poetry of Sachal, which was remembered by his followers. Two collections of Sachal’s Sindhi and Seraiki poetry in the book forms are printed by Sindhi Adabi Board. But a lot of poetry in Persian and Urdu languages is still unpublished but available with his followers. To a question, Chandio said the translation of Persian poetry of Sachal is also available. Jami Chandio said like other poets of Sindh, Sachal Sarmast also gave a message of religious harmony and social cohesion. Sachal condemned the clerics, who were spreading religious hatred in society. “His poetry is full of the message of Wahdatul Wujood (oneness of being or unity of existence) initiated by Mansour Al-Hallaj. Chandio expressed his disappointment that there is little research on the poetry of Sachal Sarmast available. “Even in Urdu literature and poetry circles, there is no mention of his poetry,” he remarked. He said whatever intellectual and research work on Sachal is available, is in fact, an effort by individual scholars. A little research work has been done by official Sachal Chair at Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai University Khairpure.
ill on her return before dying only two days later. I think she was a coronavirus suspect case. But since she was not tested, she was not counted in coronavirus deaths,” Shah said, adding that her funeral was offered without any observing SOPs. Expression his suspicion that the woman brought the virus from Hyderabad and infected others in the village by failing to maintain social distance, the chief minister said that the government had started testing all her family members and those who had attended the funeral. So far, the Sindh government has conducted 87,108 tests against which 10,771 cases, constituting 12.4 per cent of the total tests, were diagnosed. At present, 8,571 patients, including 7,432 in home isolation, 609 at Isolation Centers and 530 at different hospitals, remain under treatment
while 80 more patients were cured on Saturday and sent back to their homes with necessary advice and prescriptions. Four more patients lost their lives while struggling against the virus on Saturday, taking the death toll to 180 which means that the total patients who have died make up 1.7 per cent of those infected while many are still battling for their lives. “I am sorry to say that 101 patients or 17.2 per cent of the total patients are in critical condition, 23 of whom are on ventilators,” Shah said. He said that new cases had also been identified through a special drive of random testing of vendors and customers at grocery and vegetables shops. “This is a dangerous sign and speaks loud of local spread and the public’s lax attitude. This is why I have been requesting people not to go outdoors unnecessarily and take all possible precautions when they must go out,” the chief minister concluded.
Coronavirus patient delivers healthy baby in Karachi News Desk A 35-year-old coronavirus-positive woman delivered a healthy baby through a scheduled caesarean section (C-section) at the Dow University of Health Sciences’ (DUHS) Ojha Campus here on Saturday. This was the first case of a coronavirus patient giving birth via caesarean section at DUHS whereas the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital had dealt with a similar case in late April. According to the hospital administration, the baby boy was immediately shifted to the nursery after the delivery and the condition of both the infant and the mother was stable. The mother had been tested for the virus a week ago when she began showing symptoms and special arrangements were made to accommodate her at the hospital after she was diagnosed with Covid-19. The infant, meanwhile, tested negative for the virus
while further diagnostic tests are being carried out. Other family members of the woman have tested negative as well.
However, he warned that concrete decisions cannot be made during the current situation given that it was very difficult to say how long the coronavirus pandemic would last and to what extent it would spread. "According to the federal government’s decision, if the pandemic starts spreading rapidly, we will have to go for a complete lock down again. There is no doubt that reviving business activity is important, but saving lives has more importance," he said while concluding that the Sindh government had allowed a large number of industries to operate in order to improve the economic situation and keep the unemployment rate at a minimum.
sindh govt announces new hospital to treat infectious diseases KARACHI: The Sindh government on Saturday announced to establish a 400-bed infectious diseases hospital in Karachi. Confirming the news through a video message, Sindh Government Spokesperson Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that the hospital would be first of its kind which would begin working by dealing with coronavirus. Claiming that the Sindh government was subjected to a propaganda campaign by its political opponents to portray the province’s healthcare system as substandard, the spokesperson said that the critics should be aware that Sindh is the only province in the country where kidney, liver and cornea transplants are done free of cost. “We are not abandoning public service projects out of fear of propaganda. The Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) government believes in serving humanity without any discrimination and is taking various steps to tackle the coronavirus. Our critics are afraid to mention the good deeds of the Sindh government,” he added. APP
bilawal lauds sindh govt for setting up coronavirus testing lab in Larkana KARACHI: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday lauded the Sindh government for establishing a free coronavirus testing lab in Larkana. According to a press release issued here, the PPP chairman said that the establishment of the coronavirus testing lab which would serve people free of cost in three cities of the province was commendable. He said that the development was a result of the provincial government’s efforts being taken in the right direction and hoped that it would also establish the same facility all across the province, including Gambat and Sukkur. APP
Sindh CM approves funds for spray operation against locusts kARACHI STAFF REPORT
Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved Rs286 million, apart from de-freezing Rs132 million of the Agriculture Department, to start a pesticide spray operation against locusts which have already damaged crops standing over 166,701 acres in the province by now. The decision was taken by the Sindh CM while presiding over a meeting here at CM House through video link here on Saturday. The meeting was attended by Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahu, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Finance Secretary Hassan Naqvi, Agriculture Secretary Raheem Soomro, senior officers of the Plant Protection Department (PPD) under the federal government and officers of the agriculture extension. Rahu briefing the chief minister said that locust swarms had first been reported in Jacoabad on April 25, 2017 and added that the other affected districts included Shikarpur, Larkana, Kashmore, Ghotki, Sukkur, Khairpur, Matiari, Dadu, Gadap and Malir of Karachi, Jamshoro and Hyderabad whereas hooper bands were also
present in desert areas of Tharparkar, Umerkot, Sanghar, Shaheed Benaziarabad, Khairpur, Sukkur and Ghotki. The chief minister said that the information meant that the locusts could move to healthy crops at any moment and directed the agriculture department to continue the control operation to prevent this. So far, over 17,372 acres of land in
Ghotki, Kashmore and Khairpur has been sprayed with the coordination of the Sindh government and representatives of the PPD whereas agriculture extension teams also sprayed all districts, covering an area of 24,867 acres. Overall, a total area of 41,500 acres in all 18 districts of the province has been protected against locusts with the use of vehicles mounted with 45 sprayers. In this regard, the agriculture minister requested the chief minister to ask the federal government for the provision of six aircraft, ULV sprayers, pesticides, including ULV, and Lamba Cyhalothrine Emulsified Concentrate (LCEC) as well as the deployment of field teams. The chief secretary told the chief minister that he had held a number of meetings on locust control and had come to the conclusion that at present, the agriculture department needed Rs286 million for purchasing of 25 more sprayer mounted vehicles, chemicals, and pesticides. The chief minister approved the release of Rs286 million and directed finance department to release another Rs132 million it had frozen under coronavirus emergency measures. The chief minister was told that partial
damage occurred in pockets due to locust attack but most of the cropped area was saved due to regular sprays. The crops that are partially damaged include wheat standing over 35,751 acres or 1.3 per cent of the total crop, oils seeds sown over 1,552 acres or 2.5 per cent of the total land, and pulses grown over 111 acres or 3.2 per cent of land. Similarly, fodder over 3,656 acres or 2.6 per cent land, vegetables over 4,247 acres or 2.5 per cent land and other minor crops standing over an area of 76,067 acres or 1.7 per cent land have also been partially damaged. At this, the chief minister observed that over all 166,701 of cropping area, constituting 13.8 per cent of the total cropping area, was damaged. Rahu told the chief minister that there would also be a loss to sugarcane, cotton and other crops presently sown over an area of 1,751,130 hectares if the locusts were not sprayed with pesticides on time after which the chief minister directed chief secretary to chair a joint meeting of the Agriculture Department and federally administered PPD to evolve a new pesticide spraying strategy.
Sunday, 10 May, 2020
NEWS
US body on ReligioUS fReedom laUdS PakiStan foR eStabliSHing minoRitieS CommiSSion ISLAMABAD
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HRCP demands statutory powers for minorities commission
STAFF REPORT
He US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has welcomed the Pakistani government’s decision to establish a National Commission for Minorities, calling it a step in the right direction. USCIRF Commissioner Anurima Bhargava in a statement said, “We are encouraged by the formation of the National Commission for Minorities as a governmental body promoting the rights of religious minorities within Pakistan.” The USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan US federal government commission created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) that monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad. The USCIRF said that in a June 2014 ruling, the Pakistani Supreme Court directed the government to form a commission “to monitor the practical realisation of the rights and safeguards provided to the
LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Saturday expressed its reservations over the formation of the National Commission for Minorities through a cabinet decision based on a summary moved by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony. “The proposed composition smacks of partisanship and, above all, as a non-statutory body, the commission is no substitute for the national council for minorities’ rights envisioned by the Supreme Court’s historic Tasadduq Jillani judgement of 2014,” the HRCP said in a statement. It added that in the current composition, the number of serving bureaucrats and representatives of the majority community undermine minority representation. “Besides, to deny the Ahmadiyya community even the option of being represented is to willfully ignore a long and sorry history of faith-based persecution,” said the statement. It said that the HRCP has long demanded that a statutory national council or commission for minorities be set up in the spirit of the 2014 judgement. “While we call on the government to enact such a body as soon as possible, we also urge the government to heed the latest report submitted to the Supreme Court by the Shoaib Suddle commission, which has alleged that the Ministry for Religious Affairs has been less than forthcoming in implementing the 2014 judgement. The onus is on the state to deliver through a suitable Act of Parliament,” it concluded. STAFF REPORT minorities under the Constitution and law.” “USCIRF encourages the Pakistani
government to empower the Commission with the proper authority to meet its in-
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47 prisoners in Punjab infected with Covid-19, SC told NEWS DESK The Federal Ombudsman has told the Supreme Court that so far 47 inmates in different jails of Punjab have been tested positive for coronavirus. The ombudsman secretariat made this revelation in its sixth report about status of implementation of jails reforms in Pakistan. The report did not reveal whether Covid-19 affected any inmates in the other three provinces. The report quoted prisons department spokesperson Amir Rauf Khawaja, who said 29 prisoners and five jail staff at Lahore District Jail were infected. “Those who were infected by coronavirus elsewhere include 17 prisoners, one jail employee and 17 others.”He said 17 other cases were reported in five jails. These include three employees in Gujranwala Central Jail, five prisoners in Jhelum District Jail, two prisoners in Bhakkar District Jail and one employee in Shujaabad Sub Jail. Six prisoners in DG Khan Central Jail had also tested positive. Lodhran Jail Superintendent Ali Gohar Chauhan said that 450 prisoners were shifted to the prison to keep other healthy prisoners safe after the virus spread in Camp Jail, Lahore. The Supreme Court on April 7 set aside all orders of the high courts and the provincial governments for release of prisoners in view of coronavirus pandemic and ordered authorities to re-arrest people released in compliance with such directives.
tended purpose as defined by the Supreme Court,” said USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore said. “We regret that the March visit scheduled for Commissioner Bhargava and myself to Pakistan had to be postponed because of COVID-19. We welcomed the invitation to visit and are grateful that Pakistan has actively engaged with USCIRF on issues of religious freedom,” USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore said. “The establishment of the National Commission for Minorities is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, though more steps are certainly required. The prime minister, and his government, have the ability to move Pakistan forward, if they so choose, and we will look forward to seeing it,” said Moore. In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended Pakistan to be re-designated as a “country of particular concern” for religious freedom violations due to “the systematic enforcement of blasphemy and anti-Ahmadiyya laws, and authorities’ failure to address forced conversions of religious minorities.
KP CM pushes for timely completion of CFC projects PESHAWAR APP
RAWALPINDI: People busy in Eid shopping at a market on Saturday a day after the government announced an easing of the lockdown. PPi
ICCI hails govt’s decision to reopen businesses ISLAMABAD: The business community on Saturday announced its relief over Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan's announcement to lift the countrywide lockdown in phases as well as reopening of all construction related industries and shopping centres for five days in a week. According to the details, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) President Muhammad Ahmed Waheed while giving a statement on the government's decision on Saturday said that the move would help businesses and industrial units to revive activities and play a role in
reducing the miseries of jobless labour by providing them with a chance to earn some wages. He said that due to continuous lockdown, the economy was getting weak day by day, which was not viable for a developing country like Pakistan. The ICCI president said the government had played its part and now it was the business community's responsibility to take all required precautionary measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 and strengthen the government’s hands in combating this deadly virus. Further, lauding the government's launch of Se-
cured Transactions Registry (STR) to facilitate micro, small and medium enterprises in getting access to financial services as a positive move, the ICCI president stated that Small and Medium enterprises (SMes), which play a vital role in the economic development of the country, were facing problems in accessing funds due to which their share in total lending of banks was just 6 per cent and hoped that Secured Transaction Registry (STR) would pave way for better growth of the SMe sector by facilitating it in accessing finance. APP
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Mahmood Khan has ordered authorities concerned for timely completion of Citizens Facilitation Centres (CFC) projects in the provincial capital launched under the provincial government's Digital Access Initiative (DAI). He issued these directives while presiding over a meeting to review the progress on various initiatives of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB) here on Saturday. Adviser to CM on Science and Information Technology Ziaullah Bangash, Principal Secretary to CM Shahab Ali Shah, Secretary Science and Information Technology Mukhtiar Ahmad, and the KPITB managing director were present in the meeting. The meeting was given a detailed briefing on various components of the KP Digital Policy, including digital skills, digital economy, digital governance and digital access as well the progress made so far on various initiatives under the digital regime. The chief minister directed the high-ups of KPITB to come up with a workable strategy within one week to streamline all matters related to the establishment of CFCs so that online provision of all facilities offered by various departments and organisations of both the provincial and federal governments, including
SOPS ISSued fOr ISlamabad reStaurantS ISLAMABAD: Islamabad authorities have issued a list of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for operating restaurants in the federal capital. In this regard, the district authorities on Saturday directed restaurant owners to ensure coronavirus tests of all their employees before opening the establishments whereas a notification issued in this regard demands that safety and health requirements pertaining to all food items and ingredients be checked thoroughly and quality standards upheld at all times.Restaurants providing home delivery service of edibles will be checked for quality and safety by the authorities today. STAFF REPORT
Health system to be upgraded in upcoming fiscal budget, says Jhagra PESHAWAR APP
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Minister for Health and Finance Taimur Saleem Jhagra has said that the provincial health system would be upgraded to deal with coronavirus, dengue, and polio by allocating a huge amount for the health sector in the upcoming fiscal budget. Talking to media and doctors at Civil Secretariat here on Saturday, Jhagra said
the government is easing lockdown to facilitate the public but not to compromise on their health. “The entire health system was being monitored and in just two months, equipment and safety equipment worth Rs4 billion have been procured. Protective gears have been provided to all hospitals in the province while the shortage of doctors and paramedics has been dealt with accordingly. Personnel on duty at the frontlines are our heroes and their sacrifices would not go waste,” he added.
birth, death, marriage and domicile certificates, driving license, arms license, issuance of CNIC, issuance of stamp papers, mutation of land etc. would be made possible. He further directed the relevant authorities to take all the required steps to ensure the establishment of these CFCs at divisional level by 2021 and also asked them to fix realistic timelines for setting markers for progress and coming up with workable proposals to ensure that the timelines are followed. He termed the present time as the era of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and said the promotion of ICT in the province was one of the top priorities of the present government. "The provincial government is committed to promoting ICT in the province in order to provide maximum online facilities the nation is entitled to as citizen to create maximum employment opportunities for the youth, bringing transparency in official business to enhance the working capacity of government departments and ultimately, to move towards a completely digital economy. The KP CM added that the government has launched a number of IT initiatives for the purpose and there would be no compromise on the timely completion of all those initiatives, adding that he wanted to see actual progress and not just work on paper as there was no room for delays or laxity during the current circumstances.
He said that the lockdown had been eased but the virus had not yet disappeared, therefore, the nation would have to change its lifestyle to fight against the pandemic. He said that keeping in view that doctors' organisations are working day and night against coronavirus pandemic, the health sector would also be paid first in the next budget Thanking the federal government for its support to the province in the current situation, the health minister said that 1,000 tests are being conducted daily in Khyber
Medical University (KMU). Later, while addressing a news conference, the health minister said all markets and shops in the province would be closed after 4 pm every day and would remain closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as part of precautionary measures. He said the government would monitor the statistics of coronavirus cases during the relaxed lockdown and would have no option but to enforce stricter measures if the virus spreads at a rapid pace. He urged masses and traders’ community to follow SOPs issued the government to prevent the outbreak of coronavirus, adding that the government’s top priority was to protect the lives of people. Appreciating the services of frontline forces especially doctors and paramedics, Jhagra lauded the paramedics and doctors for rendering great services to fight the pandemic.
Sunday, 10 May, 2020
06 COMMENT
Easing the lockdown
Politicking over sensitive issues Leading the country to a cul-de-sac
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hE government’s opponents accuse it of trying to keep the business lobby sweet to gain its political and financial support even at the expense of human lives. it is claimed that in sindh the PTi MPs incited the business community to defy the PPP government that had closed shopping centres during the lockdown. When the issue cropped up at the NCC, Prime Minister imran Khan took recourse to ambivalence, maintaining that he supported the reopening of small businesses, without precisely defining who constituted small businessmen. Despite owing allegiance to the PTi, its provincial governments are wary of hasty steps that could lead to tragic consequences for the population, thus weakening them politically. On Friday the Punjab information Minister said the issue is yet to be decided. On saturday, all markets were allowed to open in the province for four days a week only, with traders made responsible for implementing the sOPs. The sindh Chief Minister however maintained that the decision taken at the NCC allowed only small shops in residential areas to open while the major shopping centres in Karachi will remain closed as before. he was however willing to meet the business community to discuss its problems. The display of religiosity by Mr Khan is partly aimed at silencing the religious parties who are critical of his Westernized past. Display of religiosity is however also meant to garner the support of the backward segments of population which are superstitious, believe in conspiracy theories, hate minorities and are generally xenophobic. Realising the dangers posed by mass gatherings in Ramzan, a number of Muslim countries had advised people to offer prayers at home. Mr Khan however continued to allow taraveeh and other prayers in the mosques despite reports that sOPs were being widely violated. The leaders of the shia community have now told the government that they too would take out the traditional mourning processions on Youm-e-Ali all over the country. As was the case with taraveeh congregations, it would be difficult to persuade the milling crowds to observe the sOPs. imran Khan opened the dykes to please one section of the clergy. he cannot deny permission to others. The country will have to bear the consequences of an unreasonable policy.
Business as usual
aRif Nizami
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hE lockdown has been somewhat easedperhaps at the expense of more vulnerable sections of the populace-in order to save the tottering economy. The announcement was made by the Prime Minister ominously the very day the pandemic at its deadliest peak, took 46 lives. he with his point-man Asad Umar have been crowing for some time now that the economy has to be revived come what may. Otherwise the poor and the dispossessed majority will die of hunger. The other day Umar made the specious argument that more people on the average die in road accidents every year than owing to coronavirus pandemic. Perhaps it did not occur to him that road accidents do not spread like a virus. Perhaps Khan has been advised to go by the now much talked about Yale study that contends whether shuttering the economy for weeks or months and mass unemployment are reasonable costs to pay? it sounds heartless. Nonetheless, it talks about saving lives but not at the expense of entirely compromising economic growth. That is why countries like the Us and the France, Germany, italy and spain are going towards a gradual easing. Perhaps the Us is the only exception where President Donald Trump, despite an exponential increase in those affected and dying owing to the deadly virus, is insisting the states to open up. Most countries are doing it only after the Covid19 graph has plateaued and number of affected is declining by the day. Pakistan is unique in the sense that we are opening up at a time when the pandemic graph is shooting up. That is why both Punjab and sindh that witnessed a record number of Covid-19 cases in single day have decided to extend the lockdown for some more time. As usual our hukamrans (leaders) are banking on the benevolence of Allah. But this is like playing Russian roulette with the nation. This could result in a huge increase in number of those affected and deaths in the coming weeks. The kind of mass demoralisation this will create, we might end up with the worst of both worlds – massive human depredation as well as a tottering economy. On the other hand, despite difficult times for the entire nation, it is largely business as usual. Take the
Kashmir continues to bleed With no end in sight
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hiLE the world fights against the novel Coronavirus, trying to contain the human and economic cost of the pandemic, india has shown no signs of any let-up in its campaign against the indigenous population of Jammu and Kashmir. iOK (indian Occupied Kashmir) has been under a state of strict lockdown for the past nine months, not in some severely paranoid early anticipation of a highly contagious pathogen, but to quell the justified outrage of the people of the region after revocation in August of Article 370 of the indian Constitution that gave them the status of a semi-autonomous state, which was successfully operationalized in October last year. Despite multiple calls from human rights groups and Western countries to ease restrictions, there is still no freedom of movement, a communications blackout persists and widespread detentions of politicians, business leaders and residents of Jammu and Kashmir continue unabated. india has instead upped the ante, killing 36 freedom fighters since late March, most significantly, the killing of hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo, a former math teacher and a close aide to Burhan Wani who was killed in 2016 leading to severe unrest and rebellion in in the valley. Naikoo’s body will not be handed over to his family but will be buried by authorities at an undisclosed location to avoid the sort of funeral processions and anger that was seen following Wani’s killing. The cowardly decision shows how india realizes that it has taken the conflict too far and another significant trigger could very well result in a lot more bloodshed on both sides. simultaneously, in order to peddle its unsubstantiated self-serving narrative of ‘cross-border terrorism’, india continues indiscriminate firing along the LOC resulting in civilian deaths, all the while claiming that Pakistan initiates such attacks. Last year the two nuclear-armed countries came to the brink of war following a suicide bombing in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, even though the attacker was a local. india should heed the call of the international community to lift the inhumane lockdown and let the people of iOK realize their right to self-determination. short of this, by keeping them caged in their homes and in detention centres, india is providing a breeding ground for more freedom fighters who will take that right through force.
Last-minute panic The Centre and provinces must stop quarrelling with each other
Rabia ahmed
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his episode of covid-19 has yet again highlighted one thing above all others throughout the world, and certainly in Pakistan. it has shown that the poor are the least equipped to enter quarantine, or to deal with a pandemic. They have tiny homes (if they have homes) ill-suited to staying indoors long-term. And they have almost no resources to withstand a break in their ability to earn. There are some things that can be done to enable the disadvantaged to handle such events a little better. An issue that has been highlighted is that, as a result of the pandemic, children are even more likely to miss out on their immunization vaccines, something that was already happening as a result of ignorance and misinformation. Around a third of the children born every year in Pakistan have not had crucial childhood vaccinations by the time they are a year old, even though the initial stage of these vaccinations ought to be completed by the age of 15 months. These vaccines prevent tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus,
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case of NAB (National Accountability Bureau). Perhaps completely oblivious of the present environment it has redoubled its efforts to hound politicians. The PML-N (Pakistan Muslim league-Nawaz) and the PPP (Pakistan People’s Party) leadership were already on NAB’s radar. But now in its quixotic pursuit it has nabbed the Chaudhrys of Gujrat. Their party PML-Q is an ally of the ruling party at the federal level but most crucially in Punjab where the Pakistan Tehreek e insaf (PTi) has a very thin majority. Both Chaudhry shujaat hussain and Pervez Elahi have challenged before the Lahore high Court NAB’s decision to re-open a 19 years old inquiry against them. Usual allegations about misuse of authority, having assets beyond means and wilful default have been made against them. however, the petitioners argue that the cases had been instituted with mala fide intentions. They are meant for political engineering and to “contain and cage” them, they claim. The Chaudhrys are not the only one complaining. The PML-N leadership has been saying the same thing ad nauseam. Recently PML-N president and leader of the opposition shahbaz sharif, was summoned thrice by NAB. After refusing twice on the pretext of being venerable to Covid-19 infection, the third time he had no option but to attend. According to NAB he could not satisfy their interrogators regarding charges against him of money laundering and assets beyond his known sources of income. however according to his spokesperson, he was asked frivolous questions like: why he came to the NAB headquarters in his son’s car. Later NAB recanted the presser issued on its behalf. But these kinds of shenanigans have become standard operating procedure of the accountability watchdog. it makes selective leaks to the media to tarnish the reputation of the defendants and then conveniently claim later that it had nothing to do with it. The humiliating manner in which incarcerated publisher Mir shakil-ur-Rahman was photographed behind bars is another case in point. The question that still begs an answer is why the Chaudhrys? They are staunch allies of the PTi and essentially unequivocal defenders of the ubiquitous establishment. The other day i saw an old clip of a TV interview of former dictator Pervez Musharraf. in his signature candid style, he admits that without a little help from NAB he could not have created his house of cards. According to him the PML-Q was carved out of PML-N with the able assistance of his intelligence sleuths and a major general (a crony of the former dictator) who was at the time DG Rangers Punjab. The so-called Patriots were created courtesy ace
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haemophilia, influenza type B, hepatitis B, diarrhoea, pneumonia, and measles. A national daily has quoted Dr D. s. Akram. a pediatrician working with an NGO dealing with immunization and child health, as saying that the largest city Karachi is “seeing a mini epidemic of measles, polio cases are on the rise, and TB is killing more people than Covid-19. All these infections are preventable, and we have vaccines available in Pakistan to combat them,” said Dr Akram. it is a question of combating the ignorance that leads to this neglect. The government provides these shots free of charge. Yet around 500,000 persons are diagnosed with TB in Pakistan every year. Personnel administering polio drops are assaulted on a regular basis because local wisdom says they are in some way doling out disease rather than preventing it. When there is a situation such as the current lockdown, even those who wish to get their children vaccinated may be unable to do so. Vaccines are unavailable and it is not easy to access the points where they are administered. immunisation must be facilitated otherwise while a cure for covid-19 may be found, the world will be inhabited by even more patients of preventable diseases. Now with people in quarantine, they are under great stress both financial and emotional. This has led to a great increase in domestic violence, but that is not all. Being cooped up together in small homes and being unable to go out into the open is likely to cause an increase in TB which will also increase when people are unable to visit clinics for treatment. There is also likely to be an increase in the birth rate at this time. More than seven million children are born in Pakistan every year into a population that is already much greater than the country’s resources. in all times, but particularly now, there is an urgent need for better awareness regarding birth control, access to which must be facilitated when people are less able to make it to sale points and clinics, and much less able to afford it. it is fine to say we need to maintain social distancing, but guidelines for home isolation for example have only just been finalized in the Punjab and pre-
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quisling Faysal saleh hayat from the PPP when Musharraf belatedly realised that despite PML-Q’s support, he did not have the requisite numbers to from a government. The NAB played a crucial role by reading the riot act to those politicians with skeletons in their cupboards. But why rub the Chaudhrys the wrong way at this juncture? Perhaps for quite some time the duo’s flirtation with the sharifs is an open secret. shahbaz sharif in a recent interview admitted that the PML-N relations with their erstwhile nemesis are no longer hostile but neutral. Notwithstanding sharif’s cautious remarks, the two parties are not only in touch but they are coordinating with each other within the parliament. The Chaudhrys, on a number of occasions have deviated from PTi’s official line if not actually criticising the government. Pervez Elahi the other day expressed dissatisfaction with the Punjab government’s shoddy management of quarantine facilities in Lahore. Ch. shujaat recently remarked that the PTi rank and file should leave the PML-N alone. “We will handle them”, he remarked. Nonetheless, it remains a conundrum why the powers that be are worried about the Chaudhrys? As long as the going remains good they will keep on signing on the dotted line. Various government spokesmen keep on brazenly claiming that NAB is an independent and autonomous institution and that the PTi government has nothing to do with its accountability drive. They rightly contend that if NAB was such a bad idea, why did the sharifs resist moves to abolish or reform it? in fact, its present chairman was appointed by the PML-N government in consultation with the opposition. But when the enigmatic sheikh Rashid Ahmed, in his signature style, claims that ‘after Eid NAB will become a Tarzan’, he further punctures the already thin facade of the accountability czar’s so-called independence. The ruling party and the opposition in the parliament both claim that they intend to amend the NAB law. But practically speaking the PTi government has no intentions of doing so in a way that deprives it of the tool it uses to victimise the opposition in the name of accountability. ideally speaking, NAB should be scrapped and replaced by an across the board and transparent accountability body with a modicum of parliamentary or judicial oversight. But in the present milieu this is tantamount to asking for the moon. Arif Nizami is Editor, Pakistan Today. He can be contacted at arifn51@hotmail.com.
sented to the Chief Minister for approval. These guidelines advise that PCR-positive patients and those with mild or no symptoms should be isolated at home rather than in hospitals which are overstretched, and it is advises on the care for such persons. Aren’t these guidelines a bit overdue? You would think that once the pandemic hit, the first thing that would be done would be to set up a committee that would (aside from drawing a salary) come up with such guidelines. Coordination, organisation and honesty do not seem to be strong points in this country, although there is no reason except for a lack of commitment for this to be the case. Educational institutions have been shut down to maintain this distancing all over the country. students enrolled in private schools and colleges are able to attend tutorials online while this is the case. But the great majority of the young people of Pakistan have no access to water and soap, much less computers and internet facilities. With the chasm between government and private institutions already almost unbridgeable, this hiatus in education has deepened that chasm to formidable depths. Computers and online facilities are no longer a luxury these days, they are a necessity. if a home does not possess online facilities, and most homes do not, there should be another way for its members, particularly students, to access computers. At times like these when schools are shut down, poor students should not be left behind their more affluent contemporaries. Lack of education, and the pervasiveness of ignorance, makes everything much worse than it would otherwise be. Most of the people in Pakistan are uneducated. They cannot be blamed if at this time they resort to strange remedies and ignorant methods to combat illness, such as injecting themselves with disinfectant or resorting to chants and other things to drive away the troubles besetting them. it is time the federal and provincial governments identified these problems and took measures to deal with them rather than quarreling among themselves and being on the backfoot when the need arises. Pandemics and quarantines have happened before and will happen again. Unless we are committed to the cause we are likely to be caught unprepared every single time. Rabia Ahmed is a freelance columnist. Read more by her at http://rabia-ahmed.blogspot.com
Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk
Sunday, 10 May, 2020
COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively
Coronavirus affects Tourism
Merchants of deceit A web of promises, a story of betrayal
Candid Corner Raoof Hasan “Politics is not an end, but a means. It is not a product, but a process. It is the art of government. Like other values, it has its counterfeits. So much emphasis has been placed upon the false that the significance of the true has been obscured and politics has come to convey the meaning of crafty and cunning selfishness instead of candid and sincere service.” –Calvin Coolidge
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n the wake of the latest confessions by the crafty aspirant, come sneakily back from London, that he had been offered the office of the Prime Minister by the powers that be and even the prospective cabinet had been finalised, I am reminded of the nowforgotten hoarse-throated vows to reclaim the honour of vote. The entire GT Road and the body of an innocent child, run over by the cavalcade, were witness to the deceitful adherents of democracy bemoaning their departure from the seat of power. The story of politics in Pakistan is a story of betrayal. From the product of daddy dictator and the co-architect of Pakistan’s break-up to the ones pretending espousal of democratic norms, we have seen them all preaching virtue and chastity before an illiterate and impressionable people. There has been an unending trail of these charlatans climbing the stage, playing their role and departing under a thick cloud of ignominy, only to chastise the wrong done to them and proclaim their resolve to come back. The promise of ‘Roti, Kapra aur Makaan’(Food, Clothing and Housing) or reclaiming the honour of vote were tactics used to exploit the deprivations of marginalised communities and rally them along on the road to the oft-promised salvation. That salvation never came. What did come, however, were aggravating circumstances with the advent of every new fabrication, making lives even more difficult than before. ‘Roti, kapra aur makaan’ remains an elusive dream, but the real tragedy is that the poor people who were enamoured by this slogan are now much farther removed from that goal than they were over 50 years ago when it was first raised. The ones who were sold the original dream may have died, as may have their next generation, but the architect of the coinage is kept politically alive, as is his
daughter and the Bhutto/Zardari clan which in- the clan of absconders hailing from his close family. Then he makes a dash back on board the herited the mantle through a fake will. So far as the ones who had set out to reclaim last flight that he could catch due to restrictions the honour of vote are concerned, the very word imposed in the wake of covid-19. This could be democracy is anathema to them. They virtually because of two possible reasons: one, that the took birth in the lap of dictatorship and were fed leadership of the party was gradually slipping and nurtured by the very same masters. Their as- out of his hands and, two, a hoax offer was made cent to power is the result of this patronage to- to trick him. Obviously, there were people used gether with the lavish use of money– the one to make it possible. He refers to them as the two commodity the Sharifs looted and showered in journalists. I suspect that there were others, too, abundance. It would not be inappropriate to say in this sting operation to lure him back. With the that they virtually bought every inch of the way busting of the gambit, he is unable to disclose to the coveted offices– the Chief Minister House either the people in the establishment who apin Lahore and the Prime Minister House in Is- proached him with the offer, or those who were lamabad. They had no integrity, capability or ca- used as conduits for communication. His misery pacity for any of these offices, but they served a is monumental and there is no way he can adpurpose. Along the way, they forgot that they dress it logically without coming out with the had been bought as puppets whose strings would entire truth. I don’t expect any of always be pulled by quarthat to happen. It is obviters beyond their ambit of ous that his chances, as reach. also those of other family So, what of ‘Roti, Pakistan is no longer the members, are all but over. kapra aur makaan’? What What they are left with of democracy? These same country where they had now are a host of corrupleaders felt no shame in tion cases with each worth feeding this crap to the spread out the web of their a few years behind bars. people with the sole intendeceit, neither will it ever be. Virtually his entire family tion of exploiting them to escaped the clutches get into power and then The benchmarks of politics has of law to be declared abstay there, building fiefsconders. He, too, would doms that they and their do not suit their game plan have been notified as one progeny would command which is based on rampant if he had not returned. into the future. In the That could be yet anprocess, every time they loot and plunder. Those times other reason to come secured power, making back – to carry on the money through foul and are now history. No matter fake fight in the hope filthy means was their how turbulent the beginning that times may change, sole infatuation. These ilyet again, in their favour. licit billions were not even may have been, the process But, will they? kept in the country. Innot really. Pakistan stead, these were laun- cannot be reversed. With each is no longer the same dered out and invested in country where they had varied businesses and day, transparency and spread out the web of properties in the name of accountability in governance their deceit, neither will some off-shore companies it ever be. The benchowned and operated by will increasingly gauge the marks of politics do not members of their families. now, this merchant measure of leadership which suit their game plan which is based on ramof deceit sneaks back to these clans of traditional pant loot and plunder. make a public confession Those times are now histhat he had been ‘sefraudsters would not be able tory. no matter how turlected’ as the Prime Minbulent the beginning may ister. If that be so, he to relate to have been, the process should renounce his demcannot be reversed. With ocratic pretensions and each day, transparency come out clean regarding and accountability in the deal and why it did not work out in the end. He should also disclose governance will increasingly gauge the measure the names of the go-between journalists and of leadership which these clans of traditional fraudsters would not be able to relate to. what were the terms of his anointment. This is the new paradigm. It may have come So far, he has escaped the censure that anyone else, making such ludicrous claim, would late, but it is here and will only become more relhave been subjected to. The reason is also obvi- evant with time, paving the way for the making ous: the bags of money that exchange hands at of a compassionate and caring Pakistan, dedisuch junctures to promote the narrative that he cated to facilitating genuine welfare at the grasscan still be crowned– not by the votes of the peo- roots level. That is also when the dead will finally ple, but by the will of the establishment, the very be put to rest who have been kept politically alive same establishment that his party leader and his to facilitate continuing deceit and fraud. associates have been abusing venomously. The writer is a political and security strategist, So, what is the game? He had gone to London upon permission granted by the court to ac- and heads the Regional Peace Institute – an Islamcompany his ‘ailing’ brother. It was generally abad-based think tank. Email: raoofhasan@hotexpected that he, too, would stay there to join mail.com. Twitter: @RaoofHasan
I would like to shed some light on the Pakistan’s domestic tourism industry. After extensive four decade battle of terrorism in Pakistan, domestic tourism industry besides other industries restores its breath in a country. Majority countries who declared Pakistan as terrorist state are now declaring Pakistan as the best holiday destination for 2019. Even Pakistan topped Forbes and Conde nast Traveller’s list of best holiday destinations for 2020. Stable security situation, road improvements (extension of KKH and motorways under CPEC project), and intense promotional campaigns at national and international levels (by involving famous vloggers and bloggers and social media activists) contributed constructively to the growth in tourism. However, visit of the royal couple Prince William and Kate Middleton (UK), the maiden visit of the Buddhist Monks, and visit of thousands of Sikh pilgrims to nankana Sahib birthplace through Kartarpur Corridor on his 550th anniversary attracted the international media attention. After the announcement of the online visa facility for travellers also boost the domestic tourism in Pakistan. Almost 50 million tourists including domestic tourists visited different places of Pakistan. Even Balochistan and Waziristan received special attention of worldwide famous vloggers and bloggers. Unfortunately by the end of Jan 2020, coronavirus pandemic change the situation of the entire world. The World Tourism Organization (UnWTO) has alerted that “the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to a loss of $ 300-500 billion in tourism receipts globally”. Focus on forced lockdown, staying at home, social distancing, and self-imposed quarantine affected social, economical and educational development poorly and significantly. Tourism is one of the global economic sectors severely affected by a coronavirus pandemic. Pakistan’s tourism and transportation sectors are also affected poorly as public transportation got n including flights, markets closed, public places closed, restaurants and hotels closed, as well as economic crisis is going on especially for poor, daily wagers, or who involved in low salary employments. In major cities, hotels are transformed into quarantine centres for abroad returned Pakistanis with positive cases of COVID-19 whereas mostly restaurants are now doing home delivery or takeaways. Due to coronavirus pandemic, thousands of international tourists cancelled their reservations and bookings that have negative impact on tourism community even porters, tour guides, street vendors, - all those who rely on tourist spending are suffering and affecting now. In this pandemic situation, the exact number of affectee / sufferers is uncertain. Thus, Govt. of Pakistan conducts a quick COVID-19 socioeconomic impact assessment to assess and evaluate to overcome the sufferings of tourism and affiliated sectors. AHmAd NAdEEm Lahore
The covid conundrum COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a new virus. This virus is very dangerous for everyone in this world. The number of confirmed cases in Pakistan are 28551 including 623 deaths. But in Balochistan the number of confirmed cases are 1873 including 300 hundred deaths. Public is facing lots of difficulties specially the poor families for treatment. Unfortunately, in Balochistan masses have numerous problems regarding health sector. There is no good mechanism of hospitals and poor people are facing lack of facilities which are required to be amended. There is also shortage of modern machineries in hospitals. It is mandatory upon government to provide health facilities in Balochistan. There is no good mechanism of hospitals and poor people are facing lack of facilities which are required to be amended. There is also shortage of modern machineries in hospitals. HANEEF BALocH SAJIdI Awaran
Suggestions for parents THE government decided to open the Educational institutions in the month of July. Due to pandemic the school going children are following the isolation routine from the mid of March. This will cause the major issues from sociological aspects among the children & creating tensions between the parents. There are some suggestions for the parents to eliminate the tension from the atmosphere. First of all, the parents must involve the children in interactive indoor activities. They can engage their children to learn new creative things i.e Painting, calligraphy, language learning, smooth exercises etc. As the books shop is open now, the parents can purchase storybooks, Drawing copies etc and engage their children. They are focused to design a productive way to manage the time of children in a productive way. The entire syllabus books are their hand now they can learn it with the help of a tutor. Every child has its own psychological treatment toward activities and its the responsibility of the parents to understand the needs and nature of the child so they can nourish in an effective way. dANISH mALIk Rawalpindi
Common culture FROM the inception of the 21st century, the world of film production is dominated by Indian and English production houses. As a being nation, we mostly spend our leisure on streaming standard movies instead of book reading, and the absence of standard movies on Muslim culture adds insult to the injury. At the end of the day, Muslims also tend towards Indian and English movies. As a result, our youth is so influenced by their culture, because they perceive charm from them. I would love to write a letter of gratitude and affection to the team "Dirilis Ertugrul" and President Erdogan for introducing Muslim youth to their Islamic norms and their forefathers by creating a masterpiece of Ertugrul. Because of this, it is the very first time that Muslims around the globe feel proud to present their heroes from Muslims instead of Indian or white ones. In the end, I would express my wishful thinking about the PTV. They should also go for the creation of such a masterpiece to make Muslims familiar with Islamic culture and their forefathers. So that we feel proud of our Islam. FARI AHmEd Havelian
Sunday, 10 May, 2020
08 WORLD VIEW
‘The discussion is basically over’: Why scienTisTs believe The Wuhan-lab coronavirus origin Theory is highly unlikely TRUMP AND MIKE POMPEO’S FAVOURITE BLAME-CHINA THEORY MAKES GREAT PROPAGANDA—BUT DUBIOUS SCIENCE
VaNitY Fair
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JOe POMPeO
VER the past couple of weeks, the theory that SARS-CoV-2 might have accidentally leaked from a lab inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology has become a heavily touted casus belli in President Trump’s new cold war with China, as administration officials build their case to blame the whole catastrophe on Xi Jinping’s Communist Party. The lab theory was pushed hard by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, even as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff declared that in all likelihood, the virus did not originate in a lab. American allies, meanwhile, appear to be freaked out by the rumor-mongering. “We can’t repeat the mistakes of the past. The WMDs fiasco was not that long ago,” a former senior Australian security official told the Sydney Morning Herald. The lab-accident scenario seems the
stuff of Hollywood thrillers—and perfect as propaganda, which operates on principles similar to those of thrillers—but there are a few facts that give it a surface plausibility. The Wuhan lab happens to conduct bat-coronavirus research, and it also happens to be located not that far from the seafood market where an early cluster of cases first emerged in late 2019. But, appealing and useful as it is in certain kinds of narratives, the lab theory leaves many virology and epidemiology types highly skeptical. To get a sense of scientists’ reservations, I spoke with Kristian Andersen, a professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at Scripps Research. He was the lead author on a March 17 paper, published in the journal Nature Medicine, that is seen as the definitive research supporting a natural virus origin. “We do not believe that any type of laboratory-based scenario is plausible,” Andersen’s team, which compared the available genome sequence data for known coronavirus strains, concluded. To laypeople, the research is esoteric, if not inscrutable. So I asked Andersen to debunk the lab theory for me in the simplest, most straightforward terms. First point: The virus’s ability to bind to human receptors is a feature that is also found in, say, viruses from pangolins. These once-obscure but now world-famous scaly mammals of the Pholidota order are one of the animals theorized to have picked up SARS-CoV-2 from
a bat before passing it along to humans, perhaps at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. Additionally, said Andersen, the so-called “cleavage” site that enables the virus’s entry and infection is a feature that actually diminishes in a lab-culture setting, which “disproves the hypothesis that this was the result of someone having cultured a bat virus and made it into a human virus.” Second point: “The likelihood that a bat researcher was looking at bats, magically finds SARS-CoV-2 in a bat, and either sprays themselves, or forgot to put on the right personal protective equipment, or grows it in a lab and infects themselves—the likelihood of that is super low compared to the scenario that happens all the time, where people come into contact with these viruses out in the world. It goes down to what is the likelihood of one scenario over another, and this is where the chain breaks, because in the lab scenario, it would be something like one in a million. What’s important here is that we have exactly zero data suggesting it came from the lab, only speculation, and a lot of data showing it came from nature. Unless somebody can present any type of data that would suggest there is actually a link to a lab, the discussion is basically over.” What sort of data might that be? “Some whistleblower in the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Somebody who committed suicide and wrote a letter saying, ‘This was my experiment.’ If somebody could produce a
vial and show, ‘Here’s the pre-virus, which I found in a freezer in the lab.’ None of that has come forward, because it doesn’t exist.” (Of course some would argue that China would have taken any measures necessary to disappear such evidence, but that’s another story.) As I reported earlier in April, the lableak theory cropped up in January, spread through conservative media circles, invited a robust debunking from the mainstream press, and then resurfaced last month in a drumbeat of reports—from the Washington Post, the New York Times, CNN, the Mail on Sunday, and elsewhere—that intelligence agencies here and in Britain were probing it. On Thursday the Chinese-lab theory reached a new level of cultural awareness when the Times featured it on that day’s episode of The Daily, in which Michael Barbaro’s signature whisper-intro teased out: “the absence of a clear explanation for how the coronavirus started.” The origins of the virus and its initial spread are a mystery that has captured the public’s fascination, especially as our understanding of how the crisis began continues to evolve with the emergence of new evidence. In one of the more riveting developments this week, a French doctor revealed that a patient treated for suspected pneumonia in a hospital near Paris on December 27 actually had SARS-CoV-2. That means the virus, believed to have originated in or around Wuhan as early as November, was actually in France three days before Chinese authorities first reported its existence on New Year’s Eve. Where else could it have been lurking by then, before the world had even heard of it? British researchers this
Has Trump reached the lying-to-himself-andbelieving-it stage of the coronavirus pandemic? THE REALITY—IN BOTH PUBLIC-HEALTH AND CRASS POLITICAL TERMS—DOESN’T LOOK GOOD FOR THE PRESIDENT
New Yorker SuSan B GlaSSer
On Tuesday afternoon, Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, came on the line with a breaking-news bulletin. Just before our interview, Whitmer had heard that President Trump was talking about dismantling the coronavirus task force he had assembled to oversee the national response to the pandemic. Whitmer seemed stunned by this information—U.S. infections from covid-19 were well over a million, the daily national death toll was often more than two thousand, and, in Whitmer’s hard-hit state, the crisis had already claimed more than four thousand of her constituents’ lives. “It’s just shocking,” she said, as we both tried to absorb the news. “Something new happens every day.” By the next morning, Trump had, once again, changed his mind. He told reporters that he had no idea how “popular” the coronavirus task force was, and that it would remain in operation while shifting its emphasis toward reopening the economy and away from a public-health catastrophe that has already caused more U.S. deaths than the wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq combined. These are crazy times in American politics. What’s a governor, or anyone trying to make sense of Trump’s on-again, off-again war on the virus, supposed to say? Whitmer, a first-term Democrat in a swing state that helped Trump win the Presidency in 2016, has become such a lightning rod for Trump and his supporters that the President has given Whitmer her own derogatory Twitter nickname. After longgun-toting protesters opposing her stay-athome order entered the Michigan capitol last week—some of them wearing Trump campaign regalia, and some carrying Confederate flags, nooses, and swastikas—the
President praised them as “very good people.” As Democrats nationally celebrate Whitmer’s unyielding response, and as Joe Biden considers her as his running mate, both the Republican-controlled state legislature and a Republican member of Congress have now sued her for using her emergency powers to keep the state closed during the crisis. Meanwhile, in heavily Democratic, heavily African-American Detroit, healthcare workers are struggling to contain one of the worst outbreaks in the country. Public polls show that the vast majority of Michiganders support social-distancing measures to combat the pandemic (as is true nationwide), and also Whitmer’s handling of the situation. In a state that Trump needs to win this fall, his approval ratings have dropped, while Whitmer’s have risen. Whitmer told me that Trump’s hyper-partisan approach did not make sense in terms of either public health or crass politics. “The enemy is a virus, and it doesn’t care what party you’re in, it doesn’t care what state you’re in,” she said. Trump, however, has not only persisted in his critiques of “that woman from Michigan” but nationalized his combative approach, with one policy for “Democrat states,” as he recently called them, that are the worst-affected by the virus, and another for Republican ones. A fleeting image, captured on C-span inside the U.S. Capitol this week, highlighted the divisive absurdity of the moment: Mitt Romney, wearing a mask, walked out of the Senate Republican Conference weekly lunch meeting toting a large placard with a graph on it. “Blue states aren’t the only ones who are screwed,” the headline on the placard read. Romney, though, is a minority of one. The lone Republican in either the House or Senate to support convicting Trump in his recent impeachment trial, Romney, who was the Republican Presidential nominee in 2012, is now an outlier in a Party with a devotion to Trump so strong that it has not faltered even in the face of the President’s reality-defying response to the pandemic. Romney’s pitch, in fact, appeared to be so unpersuasive that, by Wednesday evening, Politico reported that “Senate Republicans are settling on their pandemic message as they fight to save their majority:
President Donald Trump did a tremendous job.” This, not at all coincidentally, is the theme of a new ad being run nationwide by the Trump campaign, in which the President is portrayed as a heroic leader who defied Democrats and media pundits, shut off the country from the “Chinese virus,” and will lead America’s cratering economy to recovery. In case the message is too subtle, the ad spells it out in big all-capital letters on the screen: “the greatest comeback story.” When I went to college, we used to joke during exam period that you were really in trouble when you started to lie to yourself and believe it. The President and at least some of his most fervent supporters appear now to be in the lying-to-yourself-and-believing-it stage of the pandemic. Truth has become so inconvenient that it’s better left aside for some alternate, less inconvenient reality. This is, of course, not the first time in the Trump Presidency, or even the first time during this pandemic, that there has been such a gap, but it appears to be a moment when there is a widening and very likely unsustainable gulf between Trumpian truth and what is actually happening. That’s because the numbers are the numbers and, for Trump and for America, they look terrible. On Wednesday, there were some twenty-six hundred deaths in the United States from covid-19, and, on Thursday, there were even more: around twenty-seven hundred. Leaked predictions from government scientists show an increase, by June 1st, to three thousand deaths, on average, every twenty-four hours. As Whitmer noted to me, that amounts to essentially a 9/11’s worth of victims per day. Even after some seventy-five thousand deaths and a couple months of social-distancing public-health measures, the charts demonstrate clearly that the national curve has not flattened, with sharp declines registered only in New York and New Jersey—which have already gone through the country’s worst ordeal—and a handful of other states. More than half the states have at least partially lifted strict stay-athome orders, although none of the states that announced reopenings—not one—met the criteria established by the Trump Administration for doing so. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week, a detailed, seventeen-page guide for how to return safely to
workplaces and schools was quashed by the White House, and its authors were told it would “never see the light of day,” the Associated Press reported on Thursday. Testing capability is nowhere near the millions of additional tests needed to resume regular daily life, according to experts, nor is there widespread capacity to conduct contact tracing, another prerequisite. Yet many states are reopening anyway, and Trump is not, at least for now, even bothering to hide the fact that more Americans may die as a result of these decisions. On Tuesday, he flew to a mask factory in Arizona for a photo op, where he appeared not wearing a mask, as the Guns N’ Roses version of the song “Live and Let Die” blasted over the factory’s loudspeakers. In an interview taped at the factory, Trump said, “I’m viewing our great citizens of this country to a certain extent, and to a large extent, as warriors. They’re warriors. We can’t keep our country closed. We have to open our country. Will some people be badly affected? Yes.” On Wednesday, he elaborated as to what he meant by “badly affected.” Asked if more Americans might die as a result of reopening too soon, he said, “Hopefully that won’t be the case.” But, he added, “It could very well be the case.” He also argued against more testing. “In a way, by doing all this testing, we make ourselves look bad,” he said. On Thursday, it was reported that, even as Trump was saying this, one of his personal valets, who delivers his meals, had tested positive for the virus. In response, Trump said he would now be tested every day. Reality, it turns out, is not just a matter of political optics. In the past, when Trump has got too far away from what is actually happening and into his personal hall of mirrors, the press of events has forced him to abandon his position. He is adept enough at self-survival to make wild course corrections where necessary. This is a man, after all, who said in late February that coronavirus cases would soon be down to zero and, just two weeks later, declared a national emergency and vowed to wage war on the deadly “invisible enemy.” I’ve seen many possible explanations for Trump’s bizarre, reality-defying behavior in recent days. He’s bored. He’s clueless. He’s panicking about his reëlection. He doesn’t care about anything other than the stock market. He’d rather talk about his border wall or vanquishing the “deep state.” All of them might be correct. It’s also possible that Trump really is the greatest of all time at something: believing his own hype. On Sunday, he stared
week said they had found genetic evidence suggesting the virus was infecting people in Europe, America, and elsewhere possibly months before the first confirmed cases in January and February. “All these ideas about trying to find a patient zero are pointless because there are so many patient zeros,” one of them told CNN. Andersen agrees with that assessment. “The individual might still be walking around somewhere in Wuhan,” he said, “but if we go sample them now, the virus is long gone. What we know from the genetic data is that all of this got started in mid-November to early December. It’s possible that if we got some early historical samples sitting in a freezer somewhere, we might be able to get a more accurate estimate of exactly when this got started, but it still wouldn’t enable us to find patient zero.” More likely but still somewhat improbable, Andersen believes, is the possibility of identifying which animal the virus jumped to humans from, pangolin or otherwise. “That is not impossible to figure out,” he said. “The problem is, because there are so many animals out there and only a really small subset are actually infected, it could have been a very temporary infection of an animal host, and there might not be any animals at all out there that are actually still infected by this, and if there was one, the odds of randomly finding them would be so low. That type of research, I assume, is ongoing, but very likely, it’s going to be unfruitful. It would be nice because then there is definite proof of an animal source. But then I’m sure some people would still say, ‘They just took a sample from that animal and grew it in a lab!’” right into a Fox News camera and declared that he had been treated worse than Abraham Lincoln—while speaking at the national memorial to the slain President. Either Trump is the most brazen politician in the long line of brazen American politicians or he somehow had been brainwashed by his own B.S. Still, Trump appears to me to be increasingly terrified at the very real prospect of losing in November, as both national polls and surveys in battleground states currently show him doing. Overnight Monday and again on Tuesday, he let loose about an ad being run against him by a group of Never Trump Republicans called the Lincoln Project. The ad, “Mourning in America,” shows haunting scenes of a devastated country, “weaker and sicker and poorer” after four years under Trump’s leadership. The President responded by calling the group “the losers project” and railing about its founders, among them George Conway, the Trumpbashing husband of the White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway. This did not exactly seem like a confident performance by the most powerful man on the planet. It seemed like the scared rant of someone who knows that, eventually, he might finally be called on his most bullshit of performances. Even Corey Lewandowski—Trump’s 2016 campaign manager and as blustery a loyalist to the President as exists—is now publicly acknowledging that Trump has set an extraordinarily risky political course in declaring victory over a still-raging pandemic. “It’s a huge gamble,” Lewandowski said in an interview, released on Thursday, with Christian Broadcasting Network’s David Brody. He added, “If there is a resurgence . . . not just in the next four weeks or six weeks, but as the weather turns again, if, come the fall in September, in October, we see an uptick again in the covid-19 pandemic coming back because we didn’t handle it right the first time—we still don’t have testing and we don’t have a solution—that is devastating as an incumbent President of the United States.” More than three decades ago, in his astold-to memoir, “The Art of the Deal,” Trump bragged about the sheer, addictive effectiveness of lying—he called it “hyperbole”—in service of his goals. Yet he also acknowledged, “You can’t con people, at least not for long. You can create excitement, you can do wonderful promotion and get all kinds of press, and you can throw in a little hyperbole. But if you don’t deliver the goods, people will eventually catch on.” On November 3rd, we’ll find out if they did. For now, the scary prospect is sure to keep Trump up for many more nights to come, hate-tweeting in the dark. Susan B. Glasser, a staff writer, was the founding editor of Politico Magazine. In May, she will publish, with Peter Baker, “The Man Who Ran Washington.”
Sunday, 10 May, 2020
BUSINESS 09
RefineRieS SeeK bailoUT pacKaGe aS coRonaviRUS diSRUpTS demand ISLAMABAD
‘Uzbekistan desires utilisation of Karachi, Gwadar ports’ ISLAMABAD APP
Uzbekistan Deputy Prime Minister Sardor Umarzakov has expressed his country’s desire to utilise Karachi and Gwadar ports. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Saturday, Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood and Uzbekistan Deputy PM Umurzakov recently held a video conference wherein both sides agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a ‘Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment’. Uzbek Ambassador to Pakistan Furqat Sidikov was also present on the occasion. The agreement would be ready for signatures following necessary approval from the federal cabinet, the statement read. During the meeting, both the sides expressed the desire to enhance bilateral trade relations by signing joint ventures in the fields of agriculture (fruits and vegetable), textile, pharma, tourism and construction. The countries also agreed on greater utilization of institutions like ‘intergovernmental commission’ and ‘joint business council’ for giving impetus to government-to-government and businessto-business cooperation. The deputy PM also requested Pakistan to support its cause in accession to Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement (QTTA), and share its experience with regard to achieving GSP Plus status.
Tobacco exports surge 60pc to $28.7m
BUSINESS DESK The export of tobacco from the country witnessed an increase of 60.67pc during the first three quarters of the financial year 2019-20, as compared to the corresponding period of last year. Tobacco exports from the country were recorded at $28.716 million during July-March FY20, as against the exports of $17.873 million during July-March FY19, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). In terms of quantity, the export of tobacco increased by 37.41pc, from 7,875 metric tonnes last year to 10,821 metric tonnes. Meanwhile, on a yearto-year basis, tobacco export surged 399pc during the month of March 2020 when compared with the same month of last year. The export of tobacco during March 2020 was recorded at $2.790 million, as against $0.559 million in March 2019. On a month-on-month basis, the tobacco export witnessed a decreased of 66.35pc in March 2020 when compared to the exports of $8.291 million in February 2020.
o
AHMAD AHMADANI
IL refineries have asked the government to announce a bailout package for them since the country's oil and gas sector was struggling to survive amid COVID-19 crisis. According to sources, the Petroleum Division would soon present financial constraints/losses being faced by the country's refineries before Prime Minister Imran Khan. During the meeting, likely to be held in the coming week, the division would also raise issues pertaining to the uplift of refineries. Representatives of oil refineries were also expected to attend the important meeting. According to documents available with this scribe, the country’s gas department had lost around Rs51 billion during the months of March and April, 2020, of which Rs15.5 billion were lost on account of drilling and production of gas. Similarly, Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) incurred a loss of Rs9.4 billion while Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) took a hit of Rs12.9 billion due to reduction
in gas demand after the spread of COVID-19. Meanwhile, oil marketing companies (OMCs) and refineries lost over more than Rs34 billion, whereas the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) industry incurred Rs70 million loss during the months under review. Sources informed that the country’s refineries had recently written to the Petroleum Division, asking for a bailout package to run their operations. It was informed that due to the sudden decline in demand post coronavirus outbreak, losses of Attock Refinery have surged to over Rs7.75 billion, while that of National Refinery were recorded at Rs4.35 billion, BYCO Rs40 million, PARCO Rs6.52 billion and Pakistan Refinery Limited Rs2.69 billion. “Since the pandemic has badly affected our profitability, the government should be urgently address financial constraints faced by the refineries whose survival is currently at stake,” the letter read. “Refineries are also carrying huge inventories, as oil was acquired at higher cost before reduction in prices on March 25, 2020.” Further losses are expected during the months of May and June 2020, it maintained.
Railways reduces transportation of commodities by 10pc
According to documents, total inventory losses suffered by five major refineries including ARL, NRL, PRL, BYCO and PARCO during March 2020 were recorded at Rs16,120 million while projected inventory losses for April 2020 (except PARCO) stood at Rs9,729 million. As per details, ARL faced inventory losses of Rs3,01 billion, NRL Rs2.52 billion, PRL Rs2.05 billion, BYCO Rs2.01 billion, and PARCO Rs6.52 billion, while expected inventory losses of refineries for April 2020 stood at Rs9,729 million, including ARL Rs7.75 billion, NRL Rs4,525 million, PRL Rs2.69 billion, and BYCO Rs4.35 billion. “The government is required to provide temporary monetary support to individual refineries which shall be subsequently returned in the following proposal: Payment of monthly PDL which is due on 15th of every month is deferred for a period of six months, starting from May, 2020; i-e payment of May 2020 shall be paid in November, 2020 and so on. For transparency purposes, refineries’ claim for inventory losses may be audited by statutory auditors of the respective refineries.”
Services trade deficit shrinks 30pc in nine months
LAHORE
ISLAMABAD
SHAHAB OMER
APP
Pakistan Railways (PR) has decided to reduce the transportation of coal, fertiliser, electricity, cement and other commodities by 10pc, said Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed while talking to media on Saturday. Following the reduction in harmonized sales tax, he said the department has also decided to reduce the fare by Rs5,000 per container wagon with effect from May 10 (tomorrow). On a query, he said the department recently held a meeting with the energy secretary wherein it was decided that the Lahore Electricity Supply Company (LESCO) would install electricity meters in railways' residential colonies, and that the project would be completed by the end of this year. He said that the PR, with complete support from the federal government, had planned to run 30
passenger trains on Sunday. "But some provinces were not on the same page and they did not support us on the issue. Now, in the next 23 days, we will again present our case in front of the provinces as we understand the problems faced by the people due to closure of passenger trains,” he added. Talking about the opening of factories, the minister said, "If the transportation activities don't re-
sume, it will directly affect the performance of factories." He continued, "The department has 77,000 employees and 200,000 pensioners and we have no other means to pay their salaries without starting the train operations. Hopefully, we will be able to run the trains before Eid. There were 142 trains running before lockdown, but we will resume 30 trains before Eid."
Karachi traders seek clarity over lockdown situation KARACHI: All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders and Cottage Industries (APSTCI)-Karachi President Mahmood Hamid has said that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah should make a clear announcement regarding opening of markets in Sindh. In a statement issued on Saturday, Mahmood Hamid said that the traders were disappointed as they were being forced to starve despite the peak season season of Eid-ul-Fitr. He said that the announcement of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to open smalls shops only in neighbourhood areas disappointed the traders. The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) should also be taken into confidence with regard to opening of markets in Sindh, he added. APP
The country's services trade deficit witnessed a reduction of 30pc during the first three quarters of the current financial year as compared to the corresponding period of last year. During the period under review, the country's services exports declined by 6.98pc, whereas services' imports narrowed by 16.96pc, according to trade statistics released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The exports were recorded at $4.247 billion, as against the exports of $4.566 billion during the same period of last year. Similarly, services' imports went down from $8.053 billion to $6.688 billion. Based on the figures, the country's services trade deficit during the period under review was recorded at $2.441 billion, as against the deficit of $3.487 during last year. On a year-on-year basis, the country’s exports decreased by 17.11pc in March 2020 as compared to the same month of last year. The exports during March 2020 were recorded at $449.04 million, as against the exports of $541.75 million in March 2019. The imports also witnessed a decrease of 24.72pc, from $828.97 million in March 2019 to $624.08 million in March 2020. On a month-onmonth basis, the services' exports from the country decreased by 2.37pc in March 2020 when compared to the exports of $459.95 million in February 2020. On the other hand, imports into the country decreased by 27.34pc in March 2020 when compared to the imports of $858.96 million in February. Meanwhile, the country's merchandise trade deficit witnessed a significant reduction in the first ten months (July-April) of the current financial year, declining by 25.68pc when compared with the corresponding period of last year. During the period under review, the country's exports registered about 3.92pc decrease, whereas imports witnessed a sharp decline of 16.50pc.
Govt urged to reduce income tax by 50pc in upcoming budget LAHORE HASSAN NAQVI
The country’s leading tax consultants and economic experts on Saturday urged the government to reduce income tax rate by 50pc for people earning up to Rs3 million, “but it should not give income tax relief to the rich in the upcoming federal budget”. Talking to Pakistan Today, leading tax consultant and an economic expert Huzaima Bukhari said that the federal and provincial budgets under the prevailing circumstances should concentrate more on reviving the economy without worrying about fiscal deficit etc. She added that the Centre and provincial governments must provide maximum tax and other concessions to the public so that they spend the money as the lockdown will gradually be relaxed. The tax consultant stated that more spending by the public alone could create the demand which at present is at its lowest ebb. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) must release refunds to all, even where tax was
not due but withheld and no return is received, she said. Bukhari maintained that this data could be taken from Ehsaas as those adjudged eligible for cash were also mobile users and paying 12.5pc advance income tax. “FBR must act as a stimulant for revival. If it fails to do so, there will be more shortfall in collection as revenues come from transactions and not stagnation,” she added. However, sales tax rate should be reduced across the board by 50 percent both on goods and services. She maintained that for this, both federal and provincial governments need to take joint decisions under the National Economic Council in terms of Article 56(2) of the Constitution. Bukhari stressed that before the finalisation of federal and provincial budgets, Prime Minister Imran Khan should call the meeting of National Economic Council as well as that of National Development Council (NDC), established by him on June18, 2019 (its mandate includes approving long-term planning in relation to national and regional con-
nectivity), to tackle a challenge that requires federalised approach and not centralised or provincial approach. She recommended that all oppressive taxes should be withdrawn by the federal and provincial governments due to extreme hardships faced by the weaker segments of society. For example, about 95 million unique mobile users (as per website of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) total cellular subscribers as on December 31, 2019 were 165 million, but many have multiple and/or dormant SIMs), after vacation of stay by Supreme Court on April 24, 2019 in Human Rights Case (HRC No. 18877/2018), are paying 12.5 percent advance income tax, the tax consultant shared. She maintained that the detail of indirect taxes paid by them is 19.5 percent sales tax on services to all the four provinces, for users in Islamabad Capital Territory, 17 percent federal excise duty, plus 10 percent service/maintenance charges. Bukhari added that millions of these mobile users, some of whom are even declared
eligible for Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme, are brazenly subjected to extortion by the federal government in the name of advance income tax and by provinces charging sales tax as high 19.5 percent. “These taxes should be waived in the case of those having no taxable income using the database of Ehsaas,” she said. According to ‘Impact of Covid-19 on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)’, an online survey by Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), conducted through April 3, 2020 until April 14, 2020, “Annual Sales Turnover of respondents indicates that majority (81.1 percent) of the respondents were from small sized businesses with up to 30 million annual sales turnover. She shared that 32.8 percent of respondents indicated to have less than Rs 1 million annual sales turnover. They, while immensely suffering due to lockdown, are still compelled to pay advance income tax on mobile and commercial electricity use under sections 235 and section 236 of the
Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 and those in the service sector, by exorbitant sales tax on services. She opined that these taxes should be waived for all those having income below taxable limit. Meanwhile, economist Dr Farida Faisal said that in the throes of COVID-19 pandemic, budget 2021 will most likely be based on highly optimistic Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of more than two percent, justified by incentives being given to industry like lowering of policy rate etc. She maintained that the budget deficit would probably be inflated to around nine percent to factor in corona-related revenue losses to the tune of more than Rs 1 trillion and emergency relief measures for the poor and unemployed of around Rs 700 billion. Dr Faisal shared that on the bright side due to debt rescheduling and easing of macroeconomic conditions by International Monetary Fund, heavy taxation will be postponed. “In fact budget outlays to jumpstart sectors such as construction and agriculture are very much on the cards,” the economist opined.
Sunday, 10 May, 2020
10 FOREIGN NEWS
US AccUSeS chinA, RUSSiA of cooRdinAting on ViRUS conSpiRAcieS WASHINGTON
t
AGENCIES
HE United States on Friday accused China and Russia of stepping up cooperation to spread false narratives over the coronavirus pandemic, saying Beijing was increasingly adopting techniques honed by Moscow. “Even before the COVID-19 crisis we assessed a certain level of coordination between Russia and the PRC in the realm of propaganda,” said Lea Gabrielle, coordinator of the State Department’s Global Engagement Center, which tracks foreign propaganda. “But with this pandemic, the cooperation has accelerated rapidly,” she told reporters. “We see this convergence as a result of what we consider to be pragmatism between the two actors who want to shape public understanding of the COVID pandemic for their own purposes,” she said.
The Global Engagement Center earlier said thousands of Russian-linked social media accounts were spreading conspiracies about the pandemic, including charging that the virus first detected last year in the Chinese metropolis of Wuhan was created by the United States. China outraged the United States when a foreign ministry spokesman tweeted a conspiracy that the US military brought the virus to Wuhan, but the two countries reached an informal rhetorical truce in late March after telephone talks between President Donald Trump and his counterpart Xi Jinping. Tensions have again soared as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pushes the theory that the virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory, a stance that Beijing, in turn, calls disinformation. Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US government’s top epidemiologist say there is no evidence the virus came from a lab, with most scientists
Britain to introduce two-week quarantine for arrivals: reports LONDON: Britain plans to introduce a 14-day mandatory quarantine for most international arrivals, reports said Saturday, despite growing pressure on the government to relax virus lockdown measures. It comes as the UK, which has the world’s second-highest coronavirus death toll after the US, cautiously charts a way forward after imposing strict stay-at-home orders in late March. Apart from those entering the country from neighbouring Ireland, all people coming into Britain by air, sea and rail will be required to self-isolate for a fortnight, The Times reported. The newspaper said the new rule would be enforced by spot-checks on the address given by travellers, with possible penalties including fines of up to £1,000 ($1,200, 1,100 euros) or deportation. It said Prime Minister Boris Johnson would announce the measures on Sunday. The BBC reported that the twoweek quarantine restriction was set to be brought in at the end of May, citing government sources and aviation industry body Airlines UK. Ahead of Johnson’s televised address later this weekend, the government has warned not to expect any major changes to the nationwide coronavirus lockdown. The devolved government in Wales has unveiled plans to re-open garden centres and libraries but said the wider lockdown would remain for another three weeks. More than 31,000 people who have tested positive for coronavirus have now died in Britain. AGENCIES
Spain to ease lockdown restrictions from Monday after death toll drops MADRID: Spain’s daily death toll from the coronavirus fell to its second lowest since mid-March on Saturday, as half the country prepared to move to the next phase of an exit from one of Europe’s strictest lockdowns. Spain began to loosen its lockdown this week, but Phase 1 will include a considerable easing of measures that will allow people to move around their province as well as attend concerts and go to the theatre. Gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed. Spain’s daily death toll from the coronavirus fell to 179 on Saturday, down from 229 the previous day and a fraction of highs above 900 seen in early April. The cumulative death total rose to 26,478 while the number of diagnosed cases rose to 223,578 from 222,857 the day before, the health ministry said. Some 51% of the population will progress to Phase 1 of a four-step easing plan on Monday after the government decided the regions in which they lived met the necessary criteria. In regions that made the cut, such as the Canary and Balearic Islands, bars, restaurants and shops will open at reduced capacity, and museums, gyms and hotels will open their doors for the first time in nearly two months. The country’s two biggest cities – Madrid and Barcelona – do not currently meet the criteria for easing and will remain on Phase 0. The government will still encourage homeworking where possible and companies will have to implement staggered start and finish times to ensure distancing measures. In a positive step for Spain’s tourism industry, which contributes around 12% of economic output, hotels will be allowed to open all rooms and nature tourism will be allowed for groups of up to 10. Scores of joggers and cyclists poured down Madrid’s sixlane Castellana Avenue on Saturday morning, one of several major transport arteries closed off to vehicles for the weekend. “I think it’s really good, what they’ve done with the Castellana is fantastic,” said Madrid resident Carlos de la Torre, out for a morning jog. Madrid’s city hall pedestrianized 29 roads over the weekend to prevent crowds from building up where runners and walkers are forced to share pavements and walkways. AGENCIES
saying it emerged at a Wuhan meat market that butchered exotic animals. China’s ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, recently bemoaned what he said was an effort to brand “objective facts as disinformation and propaganda.” “Behind the mind-set of ‘always blame China’ is a kind of dirty politics, championed by a few people who shift the spotlight for political gain,” Cui wrote in The Washington Post. Xi on Friday discussed cooperation over the pandemic in a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia “opposes the attempts by some forces to use the epidemic as a pretext to blame China and will stand firmly by China’s side,” Putin told him, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency. China and Russia often find common cause and clash with the United States on issues from Venezuela to the use of economic sanctions to disarmament.
SUSPICIOUS RISE IN TWITTER FOLLOWERS: According to the Global Engagement Center, China has again intensified its online campaign to defend its handling of the pandemic, which has killed some 270,000 people worldwide and criticise the United States. “Beijing is adapting in real-time and increasingly using techniques that have long been employed by Moscow,” Gabrielle said. China has increasingly used bot networks to amplify its message, Gabrielle said. She said that official Chinese diplomatic Twitter accounts suddenly witnessed a surge in late March, going from adding around 30 new followers daily to more than 720, often
China admits coronavirus exposed ‘shortcomings’ in healthcare system BEIJING AGENCIES
The coronavirus outbreak exposed “shortcomings” in China’s public healthcare system, a top health official admitted Saturday, saying that reforms are underway to improve the country’s disease prevention and control mechanisms. China has faced criticism both at home and abroad for downplaying the virus and concealing information about the outbreak when it first emerged in the central city of Wuhan in December. The virus has since infected nearly four million people worldwide — claiming more than 270,000 lives — and crippled the global economy. Beijing has insisted it has always shared information with the World Health Organisation and other countries in a timely manner. But on Saturday Li Bin, deputy director of China’s National Health Commission, made a rare admission when he said the healthcare system had not been adequately prepared, which had left holes in China’s response. “The novel coronavirus outbreak was a big test that revealed China still has shortcomings in its major epidemic prevention and control system, public health systems and other aspects of responding (to an emergency),” Li told reporters at
a press briefing. China’s health authority will build a “centralised, unified and efficient” leadership system that would allow it to respond more quickly and effectively to any public health crisis in the future, Li said. Officials were also discussing how to “modernise” the disease control and prevention system by using big data, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and other technologies that will help to predict outbreaks more accurately and enhance preparedness, Li said. The commission was also considering ways to revise public health laws, strengthen international ex-
changes and “actively participate in global health governance,” Li added. On Friday Beijing said it would support a World Health Organisationled review into the global response to the coronavirus outbreak — once the pandemic is over. The comments came after US President Donald Trump ramped up criticism of China this week, saying the virus “could have been stopped in China.” Although it was the first epicentre of the pandemic, China has not reported any coronavirus related deaths for 24 consecutive days, and the country is gradually reopening schools and urging workers to return to work.
from freshly created accounts. She said China was first observed using such online methods to “sow political discord” in its autonomous territory of Hong Kong, which has witnessed major prodemocracy demonstrations. Gabrielle said Russia and China found a “convergence of narratives” on the coronavirus, although it was not possible to know the extent of coordination. “I think there are some examples where we have basically seen a narrative pushed out by a state actor then repeated by another one,” she said. “So we’re certainly seeing them bounce off of each other and essentially play together in the information space.”
Venezuela charges Americans with terrorism, conspiracy VENEZUELA: Venezuela has charged two former US soldiers with terrorism and conspiracy for allegedly taking part in a failed bid to topple President Nicolas Maduro, the attorney general said on Friday. Luke Alexander Denman, 34, and Airan Berry, 41, were among 17 people captured by the Venezuelan military, which said it had thwarted an attempted invasion by mercenaries in the early hours of Sunday. Attorney General Tarek William Saab said they had been charged with “terrorism, conspiracy, illicit trafficking of weapons of war and (criminal) association,” and could face 25-30 years in prison. Eight attackers were reportedly killed in the incident. Saab said Venezuela had requested an international arrest warrant for the capture of former US army medic Jordan Goudreau, who allegedly organized and trained the mercenary force. Maduro has accused President Donald Trump of being behind the alleged invasion — and Saab said Friday the Venezuelans involved would be tried for “conspiracy with a foreign government.” Trump has roundly rejected the accusation, telling Fox News on Friday: “If I wanted to go into Venezuela I wouldn’t make a secret about it.” “I’d go in and they would do nothing about it. They would roll over. I wouldn’t send a small little group. No, no, no. It would be called an army,” he said. “It would be called an invasion.” Venezuela said on Monday it had arrested the two former US special forces soldiers and on Wednesday Maduro, who showed the pair’s passports on state television, said they would be tried. The US army has confirmed they were former members of the Green Berets who were deployed to Iraq. AGENCIES
Russia virus surge mutes WWII celebrations as world economy reels WASHINGTON AGENCIES
Rising coronavirus infections forced Russia on Saturday to curtail its celebrations marking the end of World War II, as deaths from the pandemic surged past 270,000 worldwide and the global economy reeled from the disease and lockdowns. Economic figures point to the most acute downturn in nearly a century — the United States being particularly hard hit with 20.5 million jobs lost in April. The figure was the highest ever reported and represented the biggest percentage increase since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Despite the dire news, President Donald Trump insisted next year would be “phenomenal” for the economy in a country where the virus has killed more than 75,000, telling reporters: “I think it’s going to come back blazing.” He is determined to reopen the US economy even though the virus has reached the White House’s inner circle, with confirmation that an aide of Vice President Mike Pence had tested positive. Some European countries are already attempting to manage an easing of their lockdowns — German Chancellor
Angela Merkel planning an almost complete return to normality within a month. Italy and Denmark both plan to reopen some public buildings soon and Britain is expected to offer a roadmap out of lockdown on Sunday. UNITY ADN ENDURANCE: The pandemic, which has already infected almost four million worldwide, continues to wreak havoc on cultural calendars with celebrations to mark the end of World War II in Europe being the latest to fall victim.
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Across Europe, events marking 75 years since Nazi Germany’s surrender were due to be held on Friday, but were cancelled or scaled down. Russia, which usually hosts grand military parades for the event a day later than the rest of Europe, finds itself at the centre of the pandemic crisis. A Red Square parade was postponed and President Vladimir Putin instead gave a speech at a war memorial outside the Kremlin walls on Saturday, making
no mention of the coronavirus. “Our veterans fought for life, against death. And we will always be equal to their unity and endurance,” Putin said, highlighting the sacrifices made by the Soviet Union in what Russians call the Great Patriotic War. “We know and firmly believe that we are invincible when we stand together.” Russia is now the fifth hardest-hit country with nearly 200,000 confirmed infections and its caseload is rising rapidly with more than 10,000 new ones confirmed every day this week. Elsewhere in the former Soviet Union, parades were held only in Turkmenistan and Belarus — where President Alexander Lukashenko said he had “no choice” as “the eyes of those Soviet soldiers who perished for our freedom are watching”. ECONOMIC COLLAPSE: As many Americans and Russias faced up to an intense barrage of deaths and new cases, Brazil also emerged as a potential global concern. The country is the centre of the outbreak in Latin America and announced a record number of deaths on Friday, with 751 deaths bringing its toll to almost 10,000.
Sunday, 10 May 2020
Inter, AC MIlAn resuMe trAInIng In CoronAvIrus epICenter
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TALIAN football giants Inter Milan and AC Milan were both back training on Friday two months after a strict lockdown which has hit the northern Italian city hard. Inter said all their players and staff had tested negative for the coronavirus on Friday, clearing the way for them to return to individual training. Captain Samir Handanovic led the way in the afternoon as players, including Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, wearing face masks and some in gloves, arrived at the team's Appiano Gentile training centre, 35km northwest of Milan. Temperatures were taken on arrival with three groups of players alternating in the afternoon to respect social distancing rules. Their city rival resumed earlier in the week with club technical director Paolo Maldini warning "not going back on the pitch would be a disaster." Former captain Maldini, together with his 18-year-old son Daniel, a Milan youth team player, have both recovered from COVID-19, but the San Siro outfit revealed on Friday that some squad members are still not negative. "You have to be careful, but not to resume would be a disaster from all points of view," 51-year-old Maldini said during an Instagram Live chat on Friday. "France were wrong to decree the end immediately, but we will accept what will be the verdict of the government. There is so much uncertainty." The city in the northern Lombardy region is the epicentre of Italy's outbreak, one of the worst in Europe in terms of deaths and infections. It has suffered some 15,000 deaths, around half of Italy's 30,000 coronavirus fatalities, since the outbreak first erupted in early March. NEGATIVE SIGNALS: One by one stars have returned to Italy with Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo in two weeks'
ricciardo braced for 'chaos' when Formula one starts PERTH AGENCIES
coronavirus quarantine as his team got back to training on Tuesday. Milan are awaiting the return of Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic early next week. But opinions are divided on whether to follow France and the Netherlands and end the season or the Bundesliga and return behind closed doors. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) met on Thursday with the government's technical scientific committee to discuss details of the medical protocol for a return to group training. "Tell us what we need to do to return to play," FIGC president Gabriele Gravina was reported to have told government officials. Italian Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora said afterwards he was "hope-
ful" group training could resume on May 18. "I don't want to risk forecasts at this time, we must be careful," said Spadafora. "If it is to be resumed, it will be behind closed doors." Almost at the same time as the meeting two clubs, Fiorentina and Sampdoria, announced ten positive tests - seven players and three staff members. In addition, a Torino player tested positive on Wednesday, giving "extremely negative signals for a restart of the championship," according to newspaper Il Messagero. Italian football bosses want to follow the example of Germany, which returns to action on May 16 and where only positive cases would be put into isolation. But the scientific committee insisted football must comply with the general rule
Ronaldo Souza's positive coronavirus test hangs over controversial UFC return LOS ANGELES AGENCIES
The controversial mixed martial arts card scheduled for Saturday in Florida will go ahead as planned despite one of the undercard fighters testing positive for coronavirus. Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza was dropped from the Jacksonville event after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Friday. He arrived in Florida earlier in the week. Two of Souza's cornermen also tested positive. "UFC's medical team examined Souza and his two cornermen and found them to be currently asymptomatic, or not exhibiting the common symptoms of COVID-19," organizers said in a statement late Friday night. "All three men have left the host hotel and will be selfisolating off premises." Middleweight Souza, of Brazil, was scheduled to fight Uriah Hall on the undercard of the televised Ultimate Fighting Championship 249 event which is being held without spectators. Souza attended the weigh-in wearing a protective mask and was kept at a distance from Hall who also had a mask and gloves on. Although Souza -- who is not showing symptoms -will not fight, the other 11 bouts will go ahead. Officials said the other 23 fighters on the card have tested negative. "Brother I know it sucks. I'm sorry you have to go through this. I am beyond devastated for the missed op-
portunity," Hall tweeted on Friday night. The card is UFC chief Dana White's attempt to drag the mixed martial arts series out of coronavirus quarantine. White, who has also announced cards for May 13 and 16 in Jacksonville, insisted before Souza tested positive the
that those who have been in contact with positive cases should be isolated. In this scenario, any positive screening after the resumption of collective training on May 18, would sideline the entire team. Another obstacle is the scientific committee protocol requires regular repeated screening for each player, which means clubs would need to acquire a considerable number of testing kits, which could prove difficult in regions such as Lombardy. There is also the problem of individual regions which could refuse to host teams from highly-infected areas. Serie A, meanwhile, has called an emergency assembly next Wednesday to take stock of the situation, and also to discuss TV rights.
production won't put anyone at risk. "Listen, we have families, too," White told CNN Sport. "I have a family; I don't want to hurt my family. I don't want to die. "This isn't just some crazy, this is a well thought-out plan. We've had very, very smart people, doctors and people that have been involved with the UFC for a very long time working on this thing non-stop since it started. "We believe that we have this thing in a place where it can be as safe as it can possibly be." White's controversial plans to stage a fight card in April on an Indian tribal reservation in California were thwarted. But he got the green light in Florida to hold bouts without spectators from Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jacksonville, headlined by an interim lightweight title bout between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. Both fighters made weight on Friday at a weigh-in where media members and most UFC staff were kept at a distance, those closer to the fighters wore masks and the scale was sanitized. Bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo and former champ Dominick Cruz both made weight for their title bout as well. With the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer all on hold -- along with the US PGA Tour and LPGA -- White touts the return of UFC as a step toward normalcy and a boon for sport-starved fans. And he said US President Donald Trump would be watching, in a conference call with US sports league leaders back in April. "The president's take on it was we have to get live sports back first," White told the Los Angeles Times. "Show everybody how to do it safely. Give people who have to stay home some entertainment so they're not bouncing off the walls."
Kohli says magic of playing in packed stadiums will be missed MUMBAI AGENCIES
Indian skipper Virat Kohli says cricket will be robbed of its "magical moments" if games are forced into empty stadiums when the sport emerges from its pandemic lockdown. "It might happen. I honestly don't know how everyone's going to be able to take that, because we are used to playing in front of so many passionate people," said the star batsman. "It will be played at a very good intensity, but that feel of the crowd connecting with the players, every-
one feeling that tension around the stadium, those emotions are difficult to recreate," he told the Star Sports television channel on Friday. The coronavirus pandemic has halted all major sports and cricket is suffering without its cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) which should now be reaching its final stages. "We will play the sport how it's supposed to be played but those magical moments would be very difficult to come by," Kohli said. Some European football leagues are already making plans to restart in empty stadiums. But the IPL has not announced its intentions and there are now
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major doubts on whether the T20 World Cup will start in Australia in October. The International Cricket Council has said it is "exploring all options" for the tournament. Australia's wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey, who was to play for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL, said it would be a "hollow feeling" if games are played in front of empty stands. "Cricket as we're used to is going to be different for a bit. There's the T20 World Cup and the IPL that we're all looking to play, but it's hard to picture anything without the fans," Carey said in an instagram session with Delhi's official website.
Australia's Daniel Ricciardo anticipates "chaos", "rust" and "adrenaline" should the 2020 Formula One season start at last. The global spread of the coronavirus has already led to 10 races, of what was to have been a record 22-event championship, being either cancelled or postponed. Officials at the FIA, motorsport's world governing body, are hoping to launch the season behind closed doors in Austria on July 5. "(It will be) some form of chaos, hopefully in a controlled manner," the Renault driver told BBC Radio Five Live. "I am not really referencing cars everywhere. But there is going to be so much rust, a combination of emotion, excitement, eagerness." Ricciardo, waiting out the crisis on his farm near Perth, Western Australia, believes a dramatic season-opener is in prospect at the Red Bull Ring. "Everyone is going to be ready to go," he said. "You are going to get some guys who perform on that level of adrenaline and others who might not. "So you're going to get some bold overtakes, some miscalculated ones. "You're going to see a bit of everything, I'm sure." Even though the pandemic means it has been several months since Ricciardo was on a race track, the 30-year-old believes his experience of eight full seasons of Grand Prix racing means he will be in the right physical condition should the 2020 campaign finally get underway. "If this was my first year or two in F1, if I was still not completely adapted to it, my answer would be yes (it would take me time to get used to driving again)," he said.
us women's national team files appeal after legal setback NEw YORk AGENCIES
The US women's national team on Friday filed an appeal against a legal setback in their equal pay lawsuit, saying they are being paid less than the men even though they win twice as much. In dismissing their equal pay claim last Friday, Judge Gary Klausner said the case was unwarranted because they had previously turned down an offer in the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations to be paid along the lines of the US men's team. "The argument that women gave up a right to equal pay by accepting the best collective bargaining agreement possible in response to the Federation's refusal to put equal pay on the table is not a legitimate reason for continuing to discriminate against them," said USWNT spokesperson Molly Levinson on Friday night. She listed a series of grievances in the motion to appeal which was filed in a federal district court in California and is part of a larger lawsuit for equal pay. Levinson said the women are being discriminated against because they are not getting as much as the men on a per game basis and that making "close to the same amount" is not valid. "Equal pay means paying women players the same rate for winning a game as men get paid," Levinson said. "The argument that women are paid enough if they make close to the same amount as men while winning more than twice as often is not equal pay. "The argument that maternity leave is some sort of substitute for paying women players the same rate for winning as men is not valid, nor fair, nor equal.
Sunday, 10 May, 2020
NEWS
US reverSal preventS Un vote on pandemic trUce US OFFICIAL SAYS CHINA ‘REPEATEDLY BLOCKED COMPROMISES THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED UNSC TO MOVE FORWARD’ WASHINGTON
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HE United States on Friday stunned other members of the UN Security Council by preventing a vote on a resolution for a ceasefire in various conflicts around the world to help troubled nations better fight the coronavirus pandemic, diplomats said. Washington’s reversal came a day after it agreed to the text, negotiators said under cover of anonymity. “The United States cannot support the current draft,” the country’s delegation declared, without further detail, to the 14 other Security Council members, after nearly two months of difficult negotiation over the text. The latest stalemate continues to leave the global peace and security body largely mute in the face of a once-in-acentury pandemic that has killed more
than 270,000 people and raised further fears for the world’s most vulnerable. When asked for an explanation of the US move, a State Department official told AFP that China had “repeatedly blocked compromises that would have allowed the Council to move forward.” Diplomats told AFP that the language used in the draft to describe the World Health Organization was behind the US move to prevent the vote. But other sources said Washington wanted the Council to return to an initial draft of the resolution which highlighted the need for “transparency” in global cooperation in tackling the pandemic.
trump, Saudi King Salman reaffirm defence ties amid tensions WASHINGTON AGENCIES
President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman spoke by phone on Friday and “reaffirmed the strong United States-Saudi defence partnership,” the White House said, amid tensions over Saudi’s oil output. The conversation came a day after a variety of reports said the United States plans to withdraw two Patriot anti-missile batteries from Saudi Arabia that have been a defence against Iran. Trump had worked last month to persuade Saudi Arabia to cut its oil output after an increase in production during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic put heavy pressure on US oil producers. “The two leaders agreed on the importance of stability in global energy markets, and reaffirmed the strong United States-Saudi defence partnership. The president and King Salman also discussed other critical regional and bilateral issues and their cooperation as leaders of the G7 and G20, respectively,” said White House spokesman Judd Deere. The statement did not make clear what the fate of the Patriots is. The White House declined further comment. Asked about the issue on Thursday, Trump told reporters, “We’re making a lot of moves in the Middle East and elsewhere. We do a lot of things all over the world, militarily we’ve been taken advantage of all over the world.” Saudi Arabia said in a statement about the phone call that Trump confirmed the United States is committed to protecting its interests and the security of its allies in the region and is determined to face whatever destabilises it. Trump also reiterated US support for efforts aimed at reaching a political solution to the crisis in Yemen, the statement said.
“In our view, the Council should either proceed with a resolution limited to support for a ceasefire, or a broadened resolution that fully addresses the need for renewed member state commitment to transparency and accountability in the context of COVID-19,” the State Department official said. US President Donald Trump has accused the WHO of downplaying the seriousness of the outbreak in China. The procedure blocked by the United States would have allowed the sponsors of the resolution, France and Tunisia, to put it to a vote. The latest version of the text — ob-
tained by AFP — called for a cessation of hostilities in conflict zones and a 90day “humanitarian pause” to allow governments to better address the pandemic among those most suffering. It called on all nations to “enhance coordination” in the virus fight and highlighted the “urgent need to support all countries, as well as all relevant entities of the United Nations system, including specialized health agencies, and other relevant international, regional, and sub-regional organization.” This wording, which implicitly refers to the WHO without explicitly mentioning it, was the compromise obtained from US and China on Thursday night, according to diplomats ‘VERY BAD NEWS’: Washington had threatened to use its veto if there were any explicit reference to the WHO, while Beijing brandished its own veto if the global health body were not mentioned, before in the end accepting that it would not be. Diplomats said the US had let go more than a week ago of its demand for mention of transparency in the FrenchTunisian text. The “ball was in the Chinese camp” now, one of them said previously. The US turnaround “is a very, very bad news for United Nations, the Security Council and multilateralism,” said one ambassador from a Security Council member.
India patronising terrorism in Balochistan, seeks regional instability: FM Qureshi
100-year-old British muslim raises more than £70,000 for covid-19 victims while fasting NEWS DESK A 100-year-old Muslim man in UK has raised over £70,000 by walking laps in his garden while fasting during the month of Ramzan to raise funds for coronavirus victims in the United Kingdom, Bangladesh and other countries, according to a report. According to Al Jazeera, Dabirul Islam Choudhury was inspired by Tom Moore, a fellow British centenarian and WWII veteran who raised almost £33 million for the National Health Service by walking garden laps. Born on January 1, 1920, in British Assam, now modern-day Bangladesh, Choudhury moved to London to study English literature in 1957. Choudhury had a target of 100 laps when he started his mission on April 26, but said he hit his goal within days and will now continue with the garden laps to raise more funds. His JustGiving page has raised more than £73,000 for the Ramadan Family Commitment (RFC) COVIS-19 crisis initiative, run by British-Bangladeshi television broadcaster Channel S, according to the Evening Standard. His son, Atique Choudhury, told BBC London, “When we started, we started at a small pace but he’s been increasing his number of laps he’s doing. “The problem we have is that we have to try and stop him because he wants to carry on.”
two cops among six killed in clash at afghanistan food distribution event HERAT AGENCIES
SAYS INDIAN SUPPORT TO TERROR ELEMENTS IN BALOCHISTAN IS AN OPEN SECRET ISLAMABAD APP
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday said that Pakistan has categorically explained to the world India’s designs to force the region into instability. Commenting on India’s aggressive posturing against Pakistan, Qureshi said that forums like the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) have already been briefed on Indian designs for the region and Pakistan. “Indian support to terror and separatist elements in Balochistan is not a secret. Pakistan and its sovereignty were threatened without impunity on Indian television and after a few days Indian-supported militias and proxy elements martyred Pakistani soldiers in Balochistan,” he said. Qureshi said that impetus must be paid to resolving the underlying problems in Balochistan. “I invite Baloch and Pakhtun
leaderships to visit the Foreign Office and hold dialogues with us to communicate the problems they might be facing at the moment. I am ready, willing and able to travel to Quetta if the local leadership allows me to and we can hold dialogue there,” added Qureshi. Qureshi further said that unity among stakeholders of the country is imperative to stop outside intervention in Balochistan. “India is deathly scared of the dissension within Kashmiris against them. It even refuses to return their dead after they become victims to Indian brutality,” he said, adding that New Delhi is trying to divert the world’s attention from human rights violations that it continues to carry out against their minorities and Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir by making baseless accu-
sations against Pakistan. He said that India is itching to find a possibility of a false flag operation inside its own territory to make Pakistan the scapegoat and find pretext to escalate tensions between the two nuclear armed countries further. “Every political party in Pakistan is united behind the cause of Kashmir and they are determined to play their part in getting Kashmir their due rights promised to them in multiple UN resolutions over the years,” said Qureshi. The minister also said that India has unveiled its atrocious Hindutva face for the world to see and now everyone has taken note and is turning away from India, appalled at how it behaves under the Modi government and its supremacist racist ideology.
Two policemen and four other people were killed in Afghanistan on Saturday after a deadly clash at a public food donation in central Ghor province, officials said. Hundreds of people had gathered outside the governor’s office in the provincial capital Firozkoh, where a Qatari group was distributing aid. It was not immediately clear why the gathering turned violent, but officials blamed armed men in the crowd. “The protesters opened fire on the police,” the provincial governor’s spokesman Aref Haber said. “Four civilians, including an employee of a local radio and two policemen were killed,” he said, adding that 19 people were also wounded. He said the protesters also beat security personnel and an investigation into the incident was underway. The interior ministry confirmed the death toll in a statement, saying “some illegal armed men in the mob attacked the government building”, which prompted police to fire into the air to disperse the crowd. Abdul Rahman Akshan, the deputy head of Ghor’s provincial council, also confirmed the incident and the death toll. Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh said the attack was “shocking” and announced that the “government was seriously investigating the incident” in a Facebook post. The aid group was distributing food to about 1,000 local families. Food drives are a common practice in the country during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Afghanistan is battling a growing coronavirus outbreak that has exacerbated problems with food access in the impoverished country.
Outbreaks in Germany and South Korea show the risks in easing up SEOUL AGENCIES
South Korea’s capital Seoul closed down more than 2,100 bars and other nightspots on Saturday because of a new cluster of coronavirus infections, Germany scrambled to contain fresh outbreaks at slaughterhouses and Italian authorities worried that people were getting too friendly at cocktail hour during the country’s first weekend of eased restrictions. The new outbreaks — and the fears of a second wave of contagion — underscored the dangers authorities face as they try to reopen their economies. Around the world, the US and other hard-hit countries are wrestling with how
to ease curbs on business and public activity without causing the virus to come surging back. Elsewhere, Belarus, which has not locked down despite increasing case numbers, saw tens of thousands of people turn out to mark Victory Day, the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in 1945. That was in contrast to Russia, which skipped the usual grand parade in Red Square. Germany and South Korea have both carried out extensive testing and contact tracing and have been hailed for avoiding the mass deaths that have overwhelmed other countries. But even there, authorities have struggled with finding the balance between saving lives and saving jobs. In South Korea, where a decline in new
cases had prompted the government to loosen up, Seoul shut down thousands of nightclubs, hostess bars and discos after dozens of infections were linked to clubgoers who went out last weekend as the country relaxed its social distancing guidelines. Many of the infections were linked to a 29-year-old man who visited three nightclubs before testing positive. Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said health workers were trying to contact some 1,940 people who had been at the three clubs and other places nearby. The mayor said gains made against the virus are now threatened “because of a few careless people”. Health officials in Germany faced outbreaks at three slaughterhouses in what was seen as a test of the government’s strategy
for dealing with any resurgence of the virus as the restrictions are eased. At one slaughterhouse, in Coesfeld, 180 workers tested positive for the virus. Germany’s food, beverages and catering union, which represents food industry workers, said the outbreaks were the result of “a sick system”. Freddy Adjan, a senior union official, said the meat industry has for years been relying on “dubious subcontractors” that exploit workers. US authorities are likewise watching for a second wave, more than two weeks after states began gradually reopening, with Georgia largely leading the way. Meanwhile, governments came under fresh scrutiny over their handling of the crisis. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas
said Europe must acknowledge that it “wasn’t well-prepared” for the outbreak. In the US, internal government emails obtained by The Associated Press show that a decision to shelve detailed advice from the nation’s top disease control experts for reopening communities during the epidemic came from the highest levels of the White House. Worldwide, the virus is confirmed to have infected over 3.9 million people and killed more than 275,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University based on data reported by governments. Hard-hit Italy saw people return to the streets for their traditional aperitivos and revel in fine weather as restrictions there eased. In some cases, people went too far for the authorities.
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