Epaper – September 18 ISB 2020

Friday, 18 September, 2020 I 29 Muharram, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 79 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

PM iMran Considers Passing law to utilise reCovered blaCk Money for eduCation

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

P

RIME Minister Imran Khan on Thursday, while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the PakAustria Fachhochschule Institute of Applied Sciences & Technology (PAF-IAST) at Mang in Haripur city, said he was pondering the introduction of a law to direct recovered black money towards education funds.

The premier added that he wanted to divert the money recovered “corrupt individuals” through the government’s asset recovery unit towards education.

“The more we invest in education, the

more secure our children and country’s future will be,” the premier said, acknowledging that his government had failed to “focus on education” since it came to power. He further said that this failure was due to a “game of survival”.

PM Imran pointed out that the incumbent government’s first year was spent on “stabilizing the economy” while the second year was focused on dealing with the pandemic. “Now, my attempt is that we as a nation need to decide that wherever we save money from, we divert it to education,” he said.

PM Imran added that Pakistan needed to move towards becoming a knowledge economy to progress and “free our minds”

Coronavirus in

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

303,634

LAST UPDATED AT 7:18 AM ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

6

RECOVERED:

NEW CASES:

545

DEATHS:

291,169 6,399 SINDH:

132,818

PUNJAB:

98,041

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

37,185

13,798

2,451/3,336 16,005

from colonialism — something that diverted the country from its path 15-20 years after the independence in 1947.

“The dependency syndrome was put on us [after independence],” the prime minister said.

“We do not want to become good slaves [but] we want to find our way. And this will happen through knowledge economy,” he said. Pakistan was also at an advantage, he added, as the country had a young population and “a lot of talent”.

PM Imran said the setting up of a university in Haripur was a “big start” towards the goal and that Fachhochschule Oberösterreich was a “big engineering university in Austria”.

“This is a big step in the right direction for Pakistan — not just for KP and Haripur,” he noted.

The premier also thanked the people who had virtually joined the inauguration in China and Austria, adding that Pakistan looked forward to future cooperation with those countries as well.

PM Imran also pondered aloud why Pakistan did not produce its scientists or inventions and why did not have technological juggernauts such as Facebook and Microsoft — which are bigger than the country’s economy.

“That’s because the [West] have opted for technology and innovation and we have become the copies,” the PM said, adding that it was now the right time for the country to take up that path.

“The concept underlying the PAF-IAST program is to contribute towards the development of a broad-based balanced industrial economy in Pakistan,” he said on Twitter.

The official twitter account added that the institute sought to “promote expansion and enhancement of higher education quality in engineering, science and technology”.

The education facility would have a “parallel focus on the development of a hi-tech industry” in Pakistan, it added.

Foreign secretary directed to ensure Nawaz’s appearance before IHC on Sept 22 ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The foreign secretary was told on Thursday to ensure the appearance of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on September 22 by the assistant registrar of said court.

The assistant registrar stated in a letter to the foreign secretary to “cause the production of the appellant (Nawaz) through the High Commission of Pakistan in the United Kingdom” by 11 am on September 22, added that the IHC had on September 15 issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Nawaz in reply to the former premier’s application seeking exemption from personal appearance in the hearing of appeals in the Al Azizia and Avenfield Properties references.

A copy of the order issued on Tuesday was also attached with the letter. Nawaz will also have to appear on any other dates that might be fixed by the court, it added.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani had heard the appeal of three miscellaneous applications filed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo requesting to forgo the requirement of his surren-

22 educational institutions closed down for flouting coronavirus guidelines ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The government closed down 22 educational institutions across the country during the last 48 hours for failing to comply with standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) said on Thursday.

A statement issued by the authority said: “During [the] last 48 hours, 22 educational institutions across Pakistan have been closed due to non-compliance of health SOPs/protocols and disease prevalence.”

According to the statement, 16 of these educational institutions were in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one in Islamabad, and five in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K).

Millions of students across the country returned to classes on Tuesday after a break of six months, as schools and colleges reopened for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus in February. They were closed in March as the coronavirus began to spread in the country.

Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood on the day said the

der, pursue the appeal through a legal representative and exemption from a court appearance. The court had issued Nawaz’s arrest warrants during the hearing.

Last week, an accountability court had declared Nawaz a proclaimed offender in the Toshakhana vehicles reference and started the process to seize his properties, directing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to make his arrest through Interpol.

At a hearing on September 10, the court had asked whether the appeal of a person who has already been declared a proclaimed offender in a separate case could be heard and the OHC subsequently adjourned the hearing.

While separating Nawaz’s case, Judge Mohammad Azam Khan of the accountability court of Islamabad also indicted former president Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani and other accused persons in the Toshakhana reference.

Nawaz had left for London in November 2019 after getting permission to go abroad for medical treatment from the Lahore High Court (LHC).

He was also given bail in the Al Azizia Mills corruption case in which he was serving a seven-year prison sentence in Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore before he left for London.

more inside

Pakistan gets stay over $6bn fine in Reko Diq case STORY ON PAGE 02

Both motorway gang rapists identified by victim: minister STORY ON PAGE 03

government will close the educational institutions found violating the coronavirus guidelines.

Earlier on Monday, a private medical college in Islamabad was sealed after 16 Covid-19 cases were reported among students and employees.

The Islamabad district health office in a letter had stated: “It has been observed with great concern that numerous cases of Covid-19 have been reported from Riphah Medical College, Islamabad, since September 9.

“To date more than 16

cases have been reported.

This trend is very alarming as this institute is becoming a super spreader and a hotspot for Covid-19. It is advised to immediately close down the campus and hostel premises and conduct thorough disinfection activities.

“Furthermore, Covid-19 testing of all the exposed staff/students must be performed and adherence to SOPs must be ensured. In view of above, it is requested that necessary action may please be taken,” the letter had said.

Pakistan re-elected to UN committee with overwhelming majority

STORY ON PAGE 02

Amid Israel peace treaties, Pakistan reaffirms call for independent Palestinian STORY ON PAGE 12

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Friday, 18 September, 2020

NEWS

PM shoUld bE awarE of CoMMoN MaN’s Plight: JUstiCE MiNallah ISLAMABAD

i

STAFF REPORT

SLAMABAD High Court Chief (IHC) Justice Athar Minallah said on Thursday Pakistan's prime minister should know what's happening to ordinary citizens in Islamabad.

In a hearing at the IHC over the disappearance and subsequent recovery of Sajid Gondal — the additional joint director of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) who returned home on Sept 8 almost a week after he went missing — Justice Minallah told an interior ministry representative to apprise the premier

of what was going on in the federal capital.

During the hearing, Additional Attorney General Tariq Mehmood Khokhar presented a report on Gondal's recovery to the IHC on the Centre's behalf.

"Sajid Gondal has been recovered and has returned" to his home, Khokhar told the court.

"What had happened to Sajid Gondal?

What has been ascertained," the IHC's top judge asked.

"The federal cabinet took notice on the second day of the court order," the assistant AGP responded.

Noting that the credit went to Prime Minister Imran Khan for taking notice of

the matter, Minallah asked: "Where is the copy of the decision of the federal cabinet?

What has been done for ordinary citizens?

"What happened to the prosecution branch in Islamabad? Has it been established? Now that the missing citizen has returned, is the case over?"

The judge further lambasted the interior ministry official, saying the home secretary should have come to the court to apprise it of what had transpired.

"Shouldn't the interior secretary have come to the court to tell what he did to help in recovery of the missing person," he asked.

The judge observed that no action was

being taken for the protection of the ordinary citizens but that "everything is happening for the elite".

"The attitude of the police towards the common people is different," he lamented, noting that parallel courts were set up in shops in district kutcheris, warning that citizens would eventually lose faith in the system of police stations.

"A kidnapping case was brought to the notice of the prime minister, on which he took action. The rest of the issues should have been brought to the notice of the prime minister as well," he said.

Speaking of a spat between Additional Sessions Judge Jahangir Awan and the husband of Punjab lawmaker Abida Raja in Islamabad's Red Zone, Minallah asked: "If the firing incident in the Red Zone had been committed by a common person, would the SHO [station house officer] have let him go?

"Had there been civilians [involved] in the Red Zone altercation, would the police have let them go," he asked further.

Pakistan gets stay over $6bn fine in Reko Diq case NEWS DESK The World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) on Thursday granted a stay on enforcement of the massive penalty of $6 billion issued against Pakistan in the Reko Diq case.

The Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) office, in a statement, termed the positive development a "success" for Pakistan and its legal team. In July 2019, an ICSID Tribunal granted an award of nearly $6 billion against Pakistan for denying a

mining lease to an Australian company, Tethyan Copper Company (TCC). Immediately thereafter, TCC commenced proceedings for enforcement of the award. In November 2019, Pakistan challenged the penalty and initiated proceedings seeking its annulment. Reko Diq town in Balochistan’s Chagai district is famed for its mineral wealth, including gold and copper. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government considers it a strategic national asset, though instead of yielding a bonanza the Reko Diq mining project may cost the country dearly.

The World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes is considering Pakistan’s appeal against enforcing the penalty over its cancellation of the Reko Diq mining lease for Tethyan Copper Corp, a 50-50 joint venture of Barrick Gold Corp of Australia and Antofagasto PLC of Chile.

In the meantime, the Balochistan government has set up its own company to develop the mine: as prices for commodities surge, with gold recently at more than $2,000 an ounce, turning fiasco to fortune

is all the more appealing.

Pakistan and Tethyan both have signalled a willingness to discuss alternative solutions, such as a settlement, but the status of any talks on a deal is unclear. Officials on the Pakistan side said they have not been in direct contact and no specific settlement has been proposed.

Earlier, an official in the Attorney General’s office said an out-of-court settlement with Tethyan Copper Corp was possible pending a final decision on the award, which might not come until next year.

Six more die of Covid-19 in Pakistan; global tally crosses 30m NEWS DESK The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has claimed six more lives across the country during the last 24 hours, lifting the overall death toll to 6,399.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 545 more people tested positive for the infection during this period, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the country to 303,634.

As many as 291,169 Covid-19 patients have recuperated from the disease, pushing the number of active cases down to 6,066.

In the last 24 hours, 31,808 samples were tested, out of which 545 turned out to be positive.

So far, more than 3 million tests have been conducted across the country. A total of 998 patients are still under treatment at 735 hospitals of the country out of which 102 are critical, who are on the ventilators. Meanwhile, the global tally of coronavirus cases has crossed 30 million and stands at 30,076,429, while 21,828,319 patients have recovered and 945,845 have died so far. The US, the worst-hit country, has 6,829,319 cases.

It is followed by India, which has 5,122,846 cases, Brazil has 4,421,686 and Russia has 1,085,281 confirmed cases. Pakistan at present stands at number 17 among the list of countries affected by the coronavirus disease.

CIT summons Jahangir Tareen, son in person NEWS DESK A Combined Investigation Team (CIT) has summoned PTI’s senior leader Jahangir Khan Tareen in person in a money laundering and corporate fraud case. "As per information/evidence available with the CIT, you (Jahangir Khan Tareen) are cognizant of facts pertaining to the probe," read a notification served on senior PTI's leader Jahangir Khan Tareen.

A CIT of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) is conducting criminal inquiry/investigation of money laundering and financial/corporate fraud against various sugar mills, relevant entities/individuals.

The CIT has also summoned Ali Khan Tareen, son of Jahangir Khan Tareen, in the same inquiry No 134/2020. Jahangir Khan Tareen has been asked to appear before investigators on Saturday (Sept 19, 2020) while

his son was served call-up notice for Friday (Sept 18, 2020).

"Failure to comply with this legal notice will entail that you [Mr Tareen] have nothing to say in your defence and the CIT may proceed to take cognizance against you on charges of misappropriations, financial fraud and money laundering on the basis of evidence available against you," investigators wrote to Mr Tareen.

"You [Jahangir Khan Tareen & Ali Khan Tareen] are hereby called upon to appear (in person) before the Combined Investigation Team and answer such questions as many be put to you truthfully and honestly on [said dates respectively] at FIA Office Lahore," read the notification.

The (in person] CIT notice has been served on Jahangir Khan Tareen at a time when he has been living abroad by choice for months. Officials asked Mr Tareen to bring along all documentary evidence in support of claim pertaining to his said companies.

Pakistan re-elected to UN committee with overwhelming majority Pakistan on Thursday secured an overwhelming majority of 52 votes from the 54-member United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and has been re-elected to the United Nations’ Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) after. “This overwhelming support constitutes 96% of the total tally,” read a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO). According to FO, the committee is the “main subsidiary organ of ECOSOC and the UN General Assembly for Planning, Programming and Coordination of the work of the United Nations”. “Pakistan’s reelection to the CPC is a resounding validation of Pakistan’s meaningful engagement within the United Nations as well as its contributions in the areas of international economic cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” it added.

Furthermore, the CPC is tasked with reviewing UN programmes and recommending to the UN Secretary-General how “legislative mandates” can be translated into “programmatic activities”, said the statement. It noted that Pakistan has been a member of the committee since 1973 and will serve it for another three years with its reelection. “Pakistan’s presence at the Committee will help us contribute to the effective formulation of the programmes and budget planning of the United Nations,” said the Foreign Office. The statement also said that Pakistan is also currently serving as the President of ECOSOC at the UN “which is one of the principal organs of the UN and the central platform for economic and social development, forging consensus and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed development goals”. Pakistan hopes it will “continue to work hand-in-hand with the international community for promoting the shared goals of international cooperation and economic and social development, as enshrined in the UN Charter”, the statement concluded by saying. NEWS DESK

Peshawar-Jalalabad route to be made part of CPEC: Qaiser PESHAWAR: Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has said that work on the economic corridor between Peshawar and Torkham has also been initiated and Peshawar to Jalalabad route will be made part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Talking to media persons here on Thursday, Asad Qaiser said that CPEC will not only provide thousands of job opportunities in the province but will also increase trade activities in the region. He said it will promote trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said that the government is committed to resolving issues being faced by the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that completion of CPEC projects are a guarantee for generating economic activity and creating job opportunities in the country. He said that the completion of the CPEC related projects in the province, especially the establishment of industrial zones would generate economic activity, besides job creation for the Covid-19 affected people. He said that Covid19 disturbed the socio-economic pattern around the world and Pakistan is not an exception. He said that Pak-Afghan Parliamentary Friendship Group and its task forces will encourage people-to-people contacts and collaboration in industrial, trade and economic sectors. He said that the parliament would play its role in bringing Pakistan and Afghanistan closer since both the nations have shared history, culture and socio-economic interests. TLTP

Friday, 18 September, 2020

NEWS

SeNATe Body SeeKS 3Rd PARTy INSPecTIoN of VehIcleS, ASKS PM To AcT AgAINST ‘cAR MAfIA’ ISLAMABAD

T

GHULAM ABBAS

HE Senate’s Standing Committee on Industries has once again raised its concerns over the quality and prices of locally assembled vehicles, asking Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of the “mafia” in the industry, which is looting the customers.

Discussing some related and deferred agenda items during a meeting on Thursday, the committee members were of the view that prices of vehicles being manufactured/assembled in the country were much higher as compared to the vehicles even in advanced countries

IATA team expresses satisfaction after PIA’s safety audit KARACHI: A team of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has completed the operational safety audit of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), expressing satisfaction over the procedures.

According to the PIA spokesman, the operational safety audit team of the IATA has completed a major part of its scrutinization process and expressed satisfaction over the procedures adopted by the national flag career. “The audit team will soon apprise PIA regarding its observations and results,” he said and that the national flag career believes in improving its standard with each passing day. He said that the PIA would completely implement the results conveyed by the audit team. Moreover, Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of the PIA Air Marshal (retd) Arshad Malik thanked the IATA team and lauded their professional expertise during the entire process. It is pertinent to mention here that the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) team arrived in Pakistan on September 5 to conduct a safety audit of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). TLTP

NAB prepares reference against Aleem Khan on assets exceeding Rs1.4bn LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) here has prepared a reference against Punjab Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan in a case of assets beyond means which has also been sent to the NAB headquarters for approval, Profit learnt on Thursday. An official of Lahore NAB informed this scribe that the accountability watchdog’s chairman had visited the city a day earlier and had also met investigation teams during which the combined investigation team (CIT) had obtained his verbal approval to prepare the reference against Aleem Khan and send it to the headquarters. The official further added that the reference prepared against Aleem Khan was for assets worth Rs1.4 billion more than his proven income. “The reference also points out the valuable assets owned by Aleem, both within the country and abroad; the sources of which are still unknown,” he said. The NAB official further revealed that during the investigation against Aleem Khan, evidence of manipulation through two of his alleged front-men Umar Farooq and Umair in Park View Housing Society has been obtained. “Through these two frontmen, plots of 400 to 500 victims were transferred to a well-known housing society and illegal financial benefits were given to Aleem Khan,” the official said. SHAHAB OMER

like the USA. The automotive companies, they claimed, were producing low quality vehicles as there was no inspection mechanism of standard and quality of vehicles and parts in the country.

Senator Asif Kirmani said people from the middle class sell jewelries and properties to buy vehicles but in return they get poor quality cars with no safety measures.

“A car priced Rs3.4 million in the USA was available at Rs4.5 million in Pakistan despite the difference of quality in both countries.”

He lamented people now cannot even afford buying Alto and other small cars due to high prices.

“There are constant reports of ‘steering jams’ in new

cars. Even the latest models of cars lack enough safety parts and facilities. There must be a policy of rec-calling the faulty cars,” he stated.

Senator Atiq Shaikh said that Prime Minister Imran Khan should take action against the car mafia. People were being forced to pay the “own money” of Rs0.2 million to Rs0.5 million to buy a new car of Rs2.5 million.

Despite decrease in sales, as claimed by the companies, the own money, an illegal selling practice by car dealers in Pakistan to exploit buyers, continues.

Committee chairman Senator Ahmed Khan said that in violation of SRO 693, the automotive companies were relying on imports of parts instead making investment for locally manufacturing them.

He said officials from FBR would be called in the next meeting to get an update on implementation on the said SRO. He said it was alarming that customers were forced to change tyres of new cars due to low quality tyres.

However, a representative of Honda Company claimed that his company has been the number one taxpayer during the past six years. He said Honda cars possess 60 to 65pc local parts while remaining are imported.

During the meeting, representatives of local companies claimed that tax composition of prices makes up to 40pc of the total price of the vehicles. They requested a committee to help reduce the high taxes and duties in order to reduce prices and increase affordability. Industry representatives also pointed out dent caused by used car imports in the country and requested the committee to play its role in promoting 'Make in Pakistan'.

Officials of the Engineering Development Board also briefed the committee about Electric Vehicles Policy. They informed that the cabinet has already approved the policy for two to three wheelers. Decision related to policy for four wheelers is also expected next week in an inter-ministerial meeting.

Both motorway gang rapists identified by victim: minister LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The Lahore motorway gang-rape victim has identified both offenders of the crime, said Punjab Information Minister Fayyaz-ul-Hasan Chohan on Thursday during a press conference.

“The lady has identified both Abid and Shafqat,” Chohan said, adding that “It was due to Waqarul Hasan’s arrest that we were able to reach Shafqat”.

Shafqat Ali was arrested on Monday for his alleged involvement in the case and was remanded into police custody for 14 days by an accountability court, while the prime suspect, Abid Ali, remains at large.

The incident has drawn nationwide outcry and anger of the evident lack of safety for women, as well as the stance of the case’s lead investigator, Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Umar Sheikh.

Sheikh was served a show-cause notice by the Punjab government after making victim-blaming statements wherein he questioned why the woman did not take GT Road or check her fuel before travelling. The chief minister of Punjab termed this as an “irrelevant” statement.

After the incident, there have been protests calling for public hangings of rapists.

Furthermore, the incident has laid bare the “failed” police patrolling system of the province, as observed by Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan. The incident itself took place when a woman’s car stopped on the Lahore-Sialkot motorway. Two men approached the car, broke the window, raped the woman in front of her children, and robbed her.

This took place near Gujranwala around 1:30 am at the Gujjarpura section of the motorway after the car reportedly ran out of fuel.

She immediately called a relative and sent him her location. He asked her to dial the Motorway Police helpline 130 in the meanwhile, but there was no response.

During a senate meeting regarding the case, the role of the motorway police was discussed as well.

National Highways and Motorway Police Inspector General (IG) Dr Syed Kaleem Imam told the committee that the victim had called the helpline at 02:01 am. The call was received by an operator named Abid, who told the woman that her location did not fall within the Motorway Police’s jurisdiction.

“The woman talked very normally during the call and did not inform about her children,” IG Imam added, saying that there was “no administrative failure” that resulted in the incident.

FATF bills’ passage buried chapter of NRO forever: Rashid RAWALPINDI STAFF REPORT

Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that Financial Action Task Force (FATF) related legislation has been carried out in the best interest of the country.

Talking to media persons on Thursday, the minister termed the successful passage of the FATF-related legislation from the Parliament, despite the opposition's hurdles, as a victory of the PTI government.

He said that former president Asif Ali Zardari is looking for a national reconciliation ordinance (NRO), adding the chapter of NRO has been buried in the country forever.

Praising Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government, the railways minister said that the government did not surrender before the opposition in the anti-money laundering bill and now NRO has been buried after the legislation.

He said the opposition parties opposed the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) bills but their 38 members were absent from the joint session of parliament.

He further claimed that the All Parties Conference

(APC) of opposition parties is bound to fail and any major decision is not expected during the conference. The opposition will only rely on processions and rallies, he added.

Sheikh Rashid once again claimed that ‘S-League’ (Pakistan Muslim League-Shehbaz) will soon leave Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The minister said an Indian plot to foment Shia-Sunni sectarian violence in Rawalpindi has been foiled as the suspects have been busted.

Earlier addressing the inaugural ceremony of a new block at Railways Hospital in Rawalpindi, Rashid said that development of education and health sectors is a priority of the present government. He said eighty percent work at Mother and Child Hospital in Rawalpindi has been completed at a cost of Rs6 billion. He said the hospital will house 14 operation theatres so that people do not face any inconvenience. He said Pakistan has overcome the coronavirus pandemic. However, India is facing a very difficult situation in this regard due to its arrogance. He said that India's economy has already suffered 24 percent decline due to Covid-19.

NEPRA seeks details of foreign contractors engaged with K-Electric ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Thursday directed K-Electric (KE) to submit details of contractors engaged with KE and also asked for details about how tariff would be reduced with Rs114 billion investment.

NEPRA’s hearing on the application of K-Electric was held under the NEPRA Chairman Tauseef H. Farooqi on Thursday as KE sought an increase in tariff by Rs1.26 per unit on account of the Rs114 billion additional investment.

The NEPRA chairman questioned how tariff would be reduced after Rs114 billion investment and asked KE to submit a detailed reply in this regard. He said K-Electric seems to be responsible for a delay in installing 900MW power plant and if foul play is proved, then NEPRA would not allow it to include a delaying cost in the tariff. He also warned KE officials not to use strict words against the

authority.

“If authority uses strict words then you will feel bad,” said NEPRA chairman.

During NEPRA’s public hearing, KE came under fire on the second day for prolonged power outages in Karachi.

Chairman NEPRA said that 0.6 million people in Karachi had been facing ninehour load shedding while the interveners lambasted KE for prolonged power outages and demanded that license of KE should be cancelled due to poor performance. Interveners belonging to Karachi have strongly criticized KE for carrying load-shedding and asked why the license of KE was not cancelled despite reports of poor performance. They asked how a company with a 9.5 per cent efficiency rate was demanding for Rs114 billion additional investments.

KE authorities, at the public hearing, admitted that it was carrying out up to nine hours load shedding in Karachi.

Aamir Ghaziani, Chief Financial Officer

(CFO) of KE, said that electricity demand was 3220MW against the power supply of 2800MW. He said KE was facing 400MW shortfall.

Aamir Ghaziani, while presenting at the hearing, emphasized that the additional investments were critical to meet KE’s service obligations, including bridging the power demand-supply gap and strengthening the network and thus were in the public interest. In addition to the impact of currency devaluation from Rs121/USD to Rs155/USD, there have also been added costs due to adjustments to the investment plan, increasing working capital requirements, and financing costs on account of burgeoning government outstanding.

KE officials also informed NEPRA that KE had invested around Rs29 billion above what NEPRA allowed in generation and distribution which has resulted in significant improvements in generation fleet reliability and availability, including efficiency improvements passed on to

03

consumers along with significant improvements at consumer level which includes a reduction in load-shedding, with over 75 per cent of the feeders being exempt today.

KE officials further apprised NEPRA with regards to future investments that it was pushing ahead with the 900MW ReLiquified Natural Gas (RNLG)-based BQPS-III and that additional 1,400 MW of electricity would also be added from the National Grid by 2023 with the construction of two new interconnection facilities. They said that this would enable the power utility to make 93 per cent of Karachi free from load-shed by the year 2023.

Furthermore, the power utility is committed investing an additional Rs46 billion towards improving the safety and reliability of its distribution network.

However, timely regulatory approval of these investments is very critical for the execution of these plans, said KE officials during NEPRA’s public hearing.

PM okays establishment of 18 markets along Afghanistan, Iran borders ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

In an effort to encourage legal business with neighbouring countries, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday accorded approval to set up 18 trade markets along Pakistan’s borders with Afghanistan and Iran. Presiding over a highlevel meeting here on Thursday, the Prime Minister gave approval to establish 12 markets along Pak-Afghan border and six markets along Pak-Iran border. The meeting decided to take effective measures to eliminate the menace of smuggling. Briefing the meeting, an official said that the border markets will be made functional by February, 2021. Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and other high officials were in attendance in the meeting. Earlier on May 14, Chairing a meeting to review the measures the government had taken to check smuggling and overpricing of essential items in the country, Prime Minister Imran Khan had stated no compromise would be made in action against smuggling.

Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar, Food Security and Research Minister Syed Fakhar Imam, Adviser to the PM on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and relevant officials were in attendance in the meeting.

Virgin Atlantic announces flight schedule for Pakistan ISLAMABAD TLTP

A Crawley-based British airline, Virgin Atlantic has announced the schedule of flights to be operated from Pakistan to the United Kingdom (UK) from December 2020. Announcing the decision to operate flights for Pakistan, the Commercial Manager of the Virgin Atlantic said that they were excited to start their operation from Pakistan. “We will provide one of the best inflight services to the passengers travelling from Islamabad and Lahore to the British destinations,” he said. According to details, the airline will have direct flights from Lahore and Islamabad airports to Heathrow Airport in London, besides operating another flight for Manchester from Islamabad. Four weekly flights will be operated from Islamabad International Airport for Manchester from December 11. Similarly, four weekly flights from Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore will be operated for Heathrow Airport in London from December 14. It is pertinent to mention here that on August 27, Virgin Atlantic announced to start new routes from December 2020 from London and Manchester to major cities of Pakistan. Other than Virgin Atlantic, British Airways on Wednesday also released a schedule of direct flights from Lahore, Pakistan to London Heathrow. According to a schedule, the airline will operate direct flights from Lahore, Pakistan to London Heathrow four days a week. The direct flights from Lahore will start from October 14, 2020. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has granted permission to British Airways to land at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore.

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Friday, 18 September, 2020

NEWS

PunjAB govt wILL SPend RS200m to ConveRt BRICk kILnS to zIgzAg teCHnoLogy LAHORE

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SHAHAB OMER

ITH an aim to reduce environmental pollution, the Punjab government has decided to launch a four-year programme to convert brick kilns to ZigZag technology. The programme will be launched under Punjab’s Industries, Commerce & Investment Department (ICID) at a cost of Rs200 million while training on the use of ZigZag technology will also be imparted under the programme.

In a meeting of the Smog Committee held on Thursday, secretaries of Punjab environment, industries, transport and additional inspector general (operations) were briefed that 2,210 industrial units have been monitored so far out of which 36 unhealthy smoke emitting units have been shut down.

During the briefing, the officials said that First In-

formation Reports (FIRs) have been registered against 29 units for increasing environmental pollution while 195 cases have been filed in the Environmental Tribunal.

Furthermore, 692 brick kilns have been brought on ZigZag technology while 111 are being converted now.

Moreover, 32,158 vehicles emitting unhealthy smoke have been checked while fines of Rs61.4 million and 11877 challans have also been issued to control environmental pollution.

The meeting of Smog Committee was chaired by the Provincial Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht, while Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam Khan, Provincial Minister for Environment Bao Muhammad Rizwan, Minister for Industries and Investment Mian Aslam Iqbal and head of Chief Minister Special Monitoring Unit Fazil Asif were also present at the meeting.

Punjab Finance Minister directed the Secretary

Industries to make a comprehensive plan for the transfer of all remaining kilns to ZigZag technology.

“The Punjab government is ready to finance the transfer of kilns to the state-of-the-art technology to deal with smog problems. Kiln owners should ensure timely transfer of kilns to Zigzag technology. Accelerate the process of installation of scrubs in factories.

A public awareness campaign should be launched to prevent public and private sector vehicles from emitting smoke on the roads. Vehicle owners should inspect vehicles and ensure fitness to avoid the hassle of challans and closures so that smog Ensure pre-season safety measures. The transport department should also develop mechanisms for the fitness of privatesector vehicles along with the public sector. Privatesector services should also be utilized to meet the shortage of buses in Lahore. Special incentives should be offered to the private sector to bring buses developed on environmentally friendly technology.

All departments should ensure effective utilization of funds provided for control of environmental pollution under the Green Punjab Programme.”

The meeting also decided to form a working group headed by the relief commissioner for immediate actions during the smog season. The minister added that keeping in view the performance of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) for locust, cove and flood control, the services of authority for smog control and protection would also be sought so that all operations would be coordinated. “Industries and transport departments will ensure long term control of smog while traffic police and PDMA will ensure immediate action,” he said.

Provincial Minister for Environment Malik Amin Akhtar directed the relevant department to focus on controlling other causes of environmental pollution instead of focusing on brick kilns. “In other countries, to control pollution, as the age of vehicles increases, the tax levied on them is also increased, while in our country, lifetime tokens are given. It is important to develop a strategy for the fitness of used vehicles. The closure of the brick kilns will not have as much of a positive impact on the environment as it will on the lives of workers and kiln owners. The most dangerous and unhealthy smoke comes from waste burning, which affects the mental health of children in particular, so it is important to control it.”

Covid-19 cases reported at IBA, Sindh colleges

Rape victim commits suicide over delay in FIR registration BAHAWALPUR TLTP

A girl committed suicide on Thursday, a day after being raped by a landlord in Bahawalpur district of Punjab province. The rape victim’s father claimed that his daughter was raped by a landlord named Luqman within the precincts of Khairpur Tamewali police station of Bahawalpur District but police didn’t register a first information report (FIR) despite several attempts and requests by the family.

He maintained that his daughter consumed pesticide spray to commit suicide. The girl reportedly wrote a suicide note to her father which read, “People will remember you for raising an honourable daughter who took her life upon denial of justice and you can now live with honour.” The suspect Luqman allegedly raped Tahira a day ago in the fields near Khairpur Tamewali but when she and her father went to the local police station, the police impeded FIR and referred them to a police check-post. Meanwhile, Punjab Minister for Information Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said that Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar immediately took notice of the incident and ordered DPO Bahawalpur to take action. “The prime suspect, Luqman, has now been arrested along with area SHO and the check-post in-charge,” Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said. He added that the police officials are responsible for delay in registering the case and will also face the music along with the culprit. Chohan was of the view that Punjab government is following a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to rape cases and police negligence and will make sure the culprits be punished.

LHC bans use of polythene bags across Punjab LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday banned the use of polythene bags in the province. Justice Shahid Kareem of the Lahore High Court heard a petition, seeking a ban on polythene bags, terming it hazardous for the environment and human health.

“Polythene bags are creating environmental pollution”, the applicant stated in his plea. The LHC after hearing of the case, slapped a complete ban on the use of polythene bags across the province. Concerned authorities are strictly directed to ensure the implementation of the order. Earlier on February 21, the Lahore High Court (LHC) issued directives for a complete ban on polythene bags at the departmental stores and ordered the provincial authorities to submit a detailed report in this regard. During a hearing at the LHC, Justice Shahid Karim said that the world has already abandoned the use of such bags and companies in the United States (US) and other countries have moved towards eco-friendly green bags. “The plastic bags are becoming toxic especially for our marine life,” he said. He asked as to why the departmental stores are showing reluctance in abandoning the plastic bags and remarked that it is the step they should have taken on their own. “We have imposed a ban on using plastic bags at departmental stores because of big shoppers made up of more chemicals being used there,” the judge remarked.

KARACHI TLTP

LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid addresses an important meeting at Fatima Jinnah Medical University.

Location, design of South Punjab Secretariat finalised MULTAN STAFF RPEORT

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Thursday announced plans to establish the South Punjab Secretariat on Mattital Road in Multan.

Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister has visited Circuit House in Multan to chair the first session of secretaries of South Punjab Secretariat.

Usman Buzdar directed secretaries to facilitate citizens raising complaints of their issues. He also ordered concerned officers to inspect the issues by going into the field instead of restricting themselves in their offices.

The chief minister said that the provincial government adopted a zero-tolerance policy against corruption and no compromise will be made on the transparency in performing duties.

Moreover, parliamentarians have also called on Punjab CM Usman Buzdar at Circuit House Multan where he apprised him regarding the issues of their respective constituencies.

He vowed that recommendations forwarded by the lawmakers will be implemented by the provincial government besides fulfilling all legal requirements on a priority basis.

Buzdar criticised that the funds allocated for South Punjab had been transferred by the past governments and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is restoring the citizens’ rights in the region.

Later, the chief minister announced the construction site of South Punjab Secretariat on Mattital Road of Multan on 500 Kanal wide land. A five-storey building will be constructed for the South Punjab Secretariat besides establishing an urban forest.

He said that the issues of the citizens of South Punjab will be resolved on a local basis. The provincial government made the final decision for the construction site and design for the South Punjab Secretariat’s building in Multan.

Moreover, Buzdar also approved the construction of Multan Gymkhana besides releasing orders for making Nishtar Hospital Phase II operational at earliest. He detailed that a 500-bed hospital will be established in its first phase with the cost of Rs5 billion.

The classes at Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi Campus and City Campus have been suspended for two days after two students tested positive for Covid19 on Thursday. According to Institute of Business Administration (IBA) campus sources, two students at Karachi campus of the IBA have been found positive of coronavirus and shifted to quarantine. The infected students belong to Lahore and Islamabad, according to sources. The teaching classes have been suspended for two days at IBA’s Karachi and City campuses.

The coronavirus testing has been underway at IBA since September 14 in collaboration with the district health office. A spokesperson of IBA has stated that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be made further effective at the academic institution.

Moreover, the Sindh Health Department has disclosed that eight employees of Matiari, Hala and New Saeedabad colleges have been diagnosed positive in coronavirus tests. “The Principal of New Saeedabad College has been among the infected patients of novel coronavirus,” health department sources said. “Two professors and a senior clerk of Hala Girls College, have also been among the infected persons.”

Hala College, which was to be opened after six months, has been closed again after the cases of coronavirus. The authorities are also considering closing down the New Saeedabad College for an indefinite period, sources said. The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), earlier said that as many as 22 educational institutions have been sealed over neglecting standard operating procedures (SOPs) designed to control coronavirus spread.

Punjab govt to ensure gender mainstreaming in planning: minister LAHORE TLTP

Punjab Minister for Women Development Ashifa Riaz Fatyana said on Thursday that the provincial government is committed to ensuring gender mainstreaming in planning.

The minister was addressing the launching ceremony of Punjab Women Development Policy (PWDP) 2018 Implementation Framework.

Women Development Department (WDD) Punjab and UN Women Pakistan launched PWDP 2018 Implementation Framework with an objective to integrate gender focused activities in the work plans of all government departments to ensure gender mainstreaming in provincial planning.

Ashifa Riaz Fatyana expressed optimism that the framework will play a key role in changing realities in women’s favour in the province. She said that poor implementation is often

the cause for lack of success of any policy. This document spells out roles and responsibilities and provides one platform to all departments in Punjab for measuring success and chalking a way forward.

The provincial government developed the PWDP 2018 to systematically eradicate all manifestations of explicit and implicit gender discrimination across all spheres of society and address the whole range of women development concerns and challenges to pursue the goal of gender mainstreaming and women empowerment in Punjab.

The policy has seven key sectoral strategies, namely women political empowerment and rights based governance; women and education/skills development, women and health; women poverty reduction and economic empowerment; gender based violence; women and climate change and last but not the least women and ICT.

The implementation framework provides a set of activities, their monitoring and evaluation plan keeping within these strategic areas. The framework was finalized after a long process of individual and group consultations and validation workshops, repeatedly engaging with all 36 departments.

Speaking on the occasion, Sidra Minhas, Consultant UN Women, presented highlights of the framework identifying gender disaggregated data collection, capacity building and awareness as key activities for all relevant departments.

Jacqui Ketunuti, Deputy Country Representative UN Women Pakistan, said, “It is a matter of great pride for us that, with the strong and capable leadership of the WDD, 36 provincial departments came together and endorsed the integration of activities in their work plans to ensure that Punjab can make progress on gender equality in the thematic areas of political empower-

ment, education, health, economic empowerment, gender-based violence, climate change and ICT.” She said this is the first and largest such initiative for gender mainstreaming in the province.

Friday, 18 September, 2020

GroupM naMes ali Khan-Bajauri ManaGinG direcTor for Maxus in paKisTan SINGAPORE

a

BABAR KHAN JAVED

lI Khan-Bajauri has been appointed as the new managing director of Maxus in Pakistan, taking over from the nearly fifteen-year tenure of Sarwar Khan. This will be the first role taken by Bajauri on the agency side, with a three-decade track record leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands across Canada and Pakistan. Notable former employers include Nestle, Engro Corp, and Mars.

Bajauri graduated with an MBA from lahore University of Management Sciences in 1993, the same batch as Naveed Asghar, the CEO of GroupM in Pakistan.

Sources told Profit that GroupM hopes that hiring Bajauri will help Maxus retain Nestle Pakistan as a media agency client, gearing up for the upcoming media review in 2021. He will be filling the shoes of Sarwar Khan, who led the inception of Maxus in Pakistan and won Nestle as its first client, which contributes to over half its billings, sources told Profit.

Based out of lahore, Maxus Pakistan currently serves Nestle Pakistan, Packages limited, Service Industries limited, Pakistan Telecommunication Company ltd (PTCl), United Industries ltd, and MCB Islamic Bank ltd. Along with the departure of Sarwar Khan, the agency saw its head of digital Roshan Ejaz depart, with Haris Shahid from Bramerz taking his place.

While Maxus as an agency was retired by WPP globally in Q4 2017 after merging it with MEC to create Wavemaker, in Pakistan MEC was replaced with Mediacom while Maxus remained. Sources told Profit that this decision was primarily taken to avoid the loss of competing category clients, which cannot operate under one agency team, even if it all falls under GroupM Pakistan, as it is evident from all Mediacom and Maxus clients being registered on Pakistan Broadcasters Association client registry as GroupM Pakistan clients.

Global brand health of Wavemaker According to The Forrester Wave™ Global Media Agencies for Q2 2020, Wavemaker is investing in a new planning process; its Wavemaker OS interface. It is also

KSA keen to deepen trade ties with Pakistan: envoy ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Nawaf Saeed Al-Malkiy has said that Saudi Arabia wants to further deepen and strengthen its trade ties with Pakistan as both countries have great potential to promote bilateral trade in many areas.

The ambassador said this while addressing the business community during his visit to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI). Muhammad Ahmed Asiri, Commercial Attaché of Saudi Embassy, was also present on the occasion.

The ambassador said that Pakistan possesses everything for growth and has great potential for business and economic growth that needs to be highlighted more effectively to attract foreign investors.

He said that Pakistan is a very

important country for the whole Muslim Ummah as it is a nuclear power and Saudi Arabia would stand with it in every critical situation.

The Saudi envoy said that Pakistan has great potential for tourism and it needs to improve its infrastructure to attract foreign tourists.

He said that consistency in policies and conducive environment would further promote local and foreign investment in Pakistan. He said that Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman had announced to become Ambassador of Pakistan and he is playing that role.

He said that from January 2021, the process of exchange of trade delegations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would be restored that would further improve bilateral trade and economic ties between the two countries.

Speaking at the occasion, President ICCI Muhammad Ahmed

Waheed said that Saudi Arabia’s investors should explore JVs and investment in CPEC that would also provide them easy access to Central Asian markets.

He said that the cordial relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia should be transformed into growing trade and economic relations as the current volume of bilateral trade between the two countries is not reflective of their actual potential. He said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are doing trade in limited items and they should focus on direct trade with diversification of trade items to further enhance trade volume.

He said many Pakistani products including value-added textiles, surgical instruments, sports goods, organic foods, financial services, insurance & IT services and entertainment products could find a good market in Saudi Arabia.

Developing countries at odds with pharma giants over Covid-19 vaccine NEWS DESK Patent protections for Covid-19 vaccines held by some of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies are being pushed by a group of developing countries, backed by United Nations agencies and activist groups, to produce inexpensive copies for poorer nations.

Pakistan, along with countries like South Africa, Ghana, Senegal, and others say they need lowercost, generic alternatives to the vaccines so they can afford to protect

their people. These vaccines are now being tested by companies such as Pfizer Inc., AstraZeneca PlC and Moderna Inc. The pharmaceutical industry claims to support the wide distribution of the vaccines but advises that allowing drugs to be copied would undercut innovation and raise the risk of risky vaccines, which puts it at odds with the developing world.

Demands to circumvent patent protections for Covid-19 vaccine are “nonsense” and “dangerous”, says Albert Bourla, chief executive of Pfizer. The developed countries have already crafted deals worth billions of dollars to buy up as much of the potential vaccine as possible, and this campaign by developing countries is part of an intense global race to secure supplies.

The US, Japan, UK and the European Union already have placed orders for more vaccine doses than they have people.

International law allows countries to remove patent restrictions in certain emergencies and issue “compulsory licenses” to allow domestic manufacturers to copy a medicine and even export it to other nations in need.

At the World Trade Organization (WTO), South Africa called for the intellectual property barriers for Covid vaccines to be lifted.

At the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) will introduce a voluntary patents pool for the sharing of Covid-19 technology. Companies would be paid a royalty for the use of their vaccine, but that is significantly lesser than what they could earn otherwise.

Duplicating a vaccine is a more difficult process than producing a generic version of a drug like Tylenol. Dr Jesse Goodman, an in-

CMYK

fectious-disease expert at Georgetown University, said success would likely depend on drug companies sharing their knowledge and manufacturing techniques.

“Small variabilities in a protein or something like that could affect its safety or effectiveness,” said Dr Goodman.

The executive director of the Access to Medicine Foundation Jayasree Iyer added developing countries have untapped manufacturing resources that could be utilized with technical help from the big drug manufacturers. Pharmaceutical companies, however, have not yet supported this approach.

“We cannot afford to have a monopolistic approach to intellectual property for treatments and vaccines, nor maintain a system which puts profits before the lives of people,” said Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS, a U.N. agency set up to combat HIV. In the past, the U.S. and other richer nations with strong pharmaceutical trades have sought to protect patents persistently. In April, the U.S. Trade Representative’s annual report urged countries “to consider ways to address their public health challenges while also maintaining IP systems that promote innovation.”

At a press event earlier this year, Pascal Soriot, chief executive of AstraZeneca PlC, said, “If you don’t protect IP, then essentially there’s no incentive for anybody to innovate.”

A finance firm based in New York, Bernstein Research, estimates that Covid-19 vaccines now in the testing phase will bring sales of over $21 billion to six companies in 2021, including Pfizer Sanofi SA &GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Novavax Inc., according to the tally.

NEWS

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working on Momentum, a proprietary customer journey tool, and building talent in the scope of precision and data science.

“Wavemaker is a good fit for CMOs with bold ambitions and modular marketing needs across performance, brand, and transformation activity,” said Forrester analysts Jay Pattisall, Keith Johnston, Alex Sobchuk, and Rachel Birrell who authored the report. “The agency shows strength in the resources dedicated to media planning, campaign reporting, and content development.

Compared with other agencies we evaluated, it has fewer resources for technology and data management services.

We like the flexibility of the Wavemaker OS, which accounts for immediate, ongoing, and long-term transformation growth needs.” leveraging the buying scale of WPP as one the largest global media purchasers, as well as GroupM's suite of tools, the "Grow Fearlessly" philosophy of Wavemaker underscores that uncomfortable change is a catalyst for exceptional growth. The report from Forrester stated that the agency should place more emphasis on applying audience activation technology that is more coherent in the overall GroupM technology strategy.

Turkey offers to launch tram service in Karachi KARACHI TLTP

Turkey has offered to launch tram service in the port city on Thursday. Turkish Consul General Tolga Ucak called on Administrator Iftikhar Shalwani and discussed with him the matters of mutual interest and cooperation. Consul General Tolga Ucak said that his country is ready to extend cooperation for running a tram service in Karachi on MA Jinnah Road from Mereweather Tower to Numaish roundabout. Turkey could also help the metropolis for a tram service at II Chundrigar Road of the city, Turkish diplomat said. Tolga Ucak while felicitating Administrator Shalwani over his posting also offered his country’s cooperation for improvement and modernization of libraries in the city. The administrator said that Pakistan has an ideal bilateral relationship with Turkey. He also thanked Turkish Consul General for the offer of cooperation and said that re-launching a tram service in Karachi will restore the past historic prestige of the city. “Steps are being taken to transform Karachi into a tourist hub like Istanbul,” he added.

Friday, 18 September, 2020

06 COMMENT

Unsafe at any speed

The opposition and the magic wand Turning majority into minority

The Gujjarpura incident exposes the police, indeed the whole judicial system

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HERE was no attempt at consensus building over the controversial sections of the FaTF-related bills through talks outside Parliament or a debate inside the joint session on Wednesday. The procedural issues raised by the opposition were dismissed out of hand by the chair. The government simply steamrollered the opposition to get the bills through. Neither the leader of the opposition nor the chairman of the PPP was given the floor. This led the opposition to stage a walk out.

There was no customary attempt by the Speaker to bring the boycotting members back. leaving aside parliamentary decorum, a jubilant Prime Minister ridiculed the former PM Nawaz Sharif and former Finance Minister Dar over their backgrounds in his speech after the bills were passed. He maintained that the interests of the opposition leaders and Pakistan were in contrast with each other. The way the bills were passed and the remarks of the Prime Minister that followed are likely to further increase confrontation between the government and the opposition while simultaneously adding to the existing polarization in society.

The government claimed that it wanted to pass the bills only to get FaTF declare Pakistan white. The opposition fears that the authority given to police to arrest anyone without warrants would be used against its leaders, which is not what the FaTF wanted. Many will wait with fingers crossed to see if the authority is not misused against political opponents.

The opposition had numerical superiority over the government and its allies in the joint session. Had it been able to ensure the presence of all its members in the joint session, it could have turned the tables against the government. after the shock victory for the government in the Senate that foiled a motion of no-confidence against the Senate Chairman, this is the second time the opposition has been let down by its own MPs. as things stand it is unrealistic on the part of the opposition to talk about bringing a no-confidence vote against the PM. The opposition would do well to formulate more realistic tactics when it meets at the multi-party conference scheduled for Sunday.

At Penpoint M A NIAZI

T

HERE has been a strong reaction to the horrific gangrape robbery off the Motorway’s Sialkot bypass, but it was the Capital City Police officer (CCPo) lahore’s attempt to blame the victim for her plight that seems to have aroused even more ire, almost as if he was one of the guilty parties, and responsible for the incident.

The CCPo lahore is deserving of sympathy, not because he is right, but because he was merely expressing the misogyny he is acculturated to, as a career member of the police force. among the many things illustrated by this incident is the deep misogyny prevailing in the police.

This is not simply a desire to have crime passed on to someone else. That was shown by the alacrity with which the Motorway police denied having responsibility. This is a sharing of the view that it is the fault of the victim. The CCPo is theoretically right: a woman who goes out of the house is likelier to be criminally assaulted, compared to a woman who never stirs from home. However, even such as woman can be assaulted by a criminal who invades her home.

Pakistanis would do well not to forget that in 1947, on a mass scale, ‘good girls’ as would meet the most stringent criteria the CCPo could set, were criminally assaulted in their homes. Some were such ‘good girls’ that they committed suicide rather than submit to the enraged rioters bent on criminally assaulting them. Is that what the CCPo proposes ‘good girls’ should do?

The investigation is not entirely clear whether the criminals were traced because one of them had a previous arrest and trial for a criminal assault in the course of a robbery, or because of the criminals being stupid enough to use the credit cards that they had taken in the robbery. If it’s the former, it shows the justice system in a poor light. If the latter, it shows an unhealthy reliance on another staple belief of the Punjab police (shared with all other police forces around the world), that criminals are stupider than them. This is dangerous because in the case of the Punjab police, that stupidity must be immense to beat theirs.

To be fair, the misogyny is not solely a police thing. Policemen have got it from society as a whole, and usually bring it into the police. It should not be

Wheat crisis deepens Importing may do more harm than good

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HE recent meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet failed to finalize a wheat import plan amid a rise of two percent in the price in the last week because Punjab is refusing to pay the price of import, and insists on not paying more than Rs 1400 per 40 kg. The plan is to import 1.5 million tons of wheat to overcome the shortage created when Punjab and Sindh failed to achieve their wheat acquisition targets in 2019, but wheat export was still permitted by the federal government, which then faced a public outcry after the staple became short in the market.

The refusal of the Punjab to pay more than a certain price is based on the simple fact that it doesn’t have the money. The federal government says it doesn’t either. In that case, if the wheat is imported at high prices, it will not lower the price of wheat. The federal government does not seem to have thought the importation out, for it was announced, perhaps to give the impression that the federal government was doing something about the crisis, but without thinking through to issues like who would put up the Rs 75 billion needed for the import, who would pay the Rs 22.5 billion needed to bring the price down to local levels, or the demand and supply position.

The PTI government has developed an attitude of kicking the can down the road, of announcing solutions involving future action, and only when the time comes for finding out there are objections to be met and fresh problems to be solved. This amateur method of dealing with issues of governance cannot go on for all that much longer, not without coming unstuck. While this is not a sound method of approaching any problem of governance, it is absolutely dangerous when handling a national staple.

It might be politically galling for the present government, but there is no credible method in this crisis for the government to indulge in its favourite pastime of blaming its predecessors. after all, it itself made all the decisions in this case. assumptions of dishonesty or incompetence cannot be avoided.

MUHAMMAD ALI HUSSAIN DOGAR

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lobal politics will always retain its relevance and global powers are always in a search for a platform to vie .Indian ocean has become such a platform for the global leadership. Global shift from geo-politics to geo-economics and use of sea lanes for global trade and energy transportation have rendered the importance of ports and seas more discernible.

“Whoever controls the Indian Ocean dominates Asia” —Alfred Thayer Mahan The above quote of the american naval strategist depicts the significance of the Indian ocean very succinctly. Indian ocean, the world’s third largest ocean and bounded by africa and the arabian peninsula, provides critical sea trade routes that connect the Middle East, africa and South asia. Presence of strategic chokepoints; including the Straits of Hormuz and of Malacca, through which 80 percent of the global oil trade passes; in its realm further increases its significance and makes it the venue for the Next Great Game ,while making it a cynosure in world politics. Furthermore, China’s expandable global influence and India’s rapid economic proliferation have heightened the ocean’s strategic value.

Three major powers ; India, China and USa ; are vying for political clout in the Indian ocean arena, while viewing the region through their own geostrategic lenses. India with its “ look East” policy , China with its “belt and Road Initiative” and the USa with its “Indo-Pacific strategy” have buffeted the Indian ocean region. China and India are dependent on energy resources transported via the secure sea lanes in the Indian ocean to fuel their economies and both are competing hard to gain the upper hand. Regionalism has become a key factor in gaining success in the asia Pacific region. Each country is seeking to strengthen ties with regional states to secure their respective security and economic intrigues. New Delhi and Washington share a common goal of curbing the Chinese sway in asia , as the USa bolsters India as a coun-

Editor Umar Aziz

Asher John

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

its relations with regional countries to proliferate its political influence. China has been involved in the funding and building of commercial ports in South asian countries. China has improved its relations with terweight to China.

The China-India strategic rivalry in the Indian bangladesh, owing to its geographical proximity to ocean region is a result of a number of factors: China’s bay of bengal which occupies a very imperative place cordial relationship with Pakistan and setting up the in Indian ocean strategy, and has become the largest China-Pakistan Economic bahawalpur, a key project supplier of military equipment and both have enhanced in China’s bRI; China’s trade, investment and diplo- their business and tourism. last but not least, China’s matic advancement in central asian states; China’s ex- relations with Myanmar and Nepal are also considerpanding naval and military presence in the Indian ably increased because of the presence of Strait of ocean region; increasingly maritime-focused rivalry Malacca in vicinity.

The USa is also between the two; border playing its influential disputes between both part in curtailing the countries and lastly the hegemony of China in two nations’ starkly differasia. Diplomatic ties Cold war among major ent political systems. with India and strengthCountering beijing is powers, which collectively ening its partnership with one of New Delhi’s Chinese rivals, like Taigoals. India initiated the account for nearly half of global wan and South Korea are “look East policy” to build trade and commereconomy, has already been started lucid manifestations that it does not want China to cial ties with East asian and will have scathing economic, flourish in the region. states, which have been Furthermore, QUaD crucial in stimulating technological and military (Quadrilateral security India’s economic growth dialogue), a diplomatic and its geopolitical rise. repercussions for the regional and military partnership India has also forged countries, including Pakistan among USa, australia, closer trade and ecoJapan and India to curb nomic ties with Saudi China’s economic and arabia, the UaE and political influence, was oman for the security of re-established by Trump energy resources for its growing economy. New Delhi has also redirected its regional foreign policy in 2017 and further elevated to ministerial levels for by building closer ties with friendly countries in the discussion. These countries are affirmative to coopIndian ocean region, including bhutan, Mauritius erate on maritime security and regional connectivity. and Maldives. Military and security factors are also The USa has massive military presence at different gaining significance, as the Indian Navy is increas- bases in the regional countries and occupied islands, ingly focused on countering its Chinese counterpart. like Diego Garcia in Indian ocean and Guam in Paon the other hand, China has come with its bRI cific. The USa is also busy streamlining the naval caproject to counter India. bRI is an ambitious program pacity of India to nullify the modernistic China. a cold war among major powers, which collecunveiled in 2013 to connect asia, Europe and africa through a network of roads and sea routes to revamp tively account for nearly half of global economy, has regional integration and boost economic growth. China already started and will have scathing economic, has also undertaken endeavours to modernize its mil- technological and military repercussions for the reitary, particularly its naval deployment capabilities, and gional countries, including Pakistan. has also built naval facilities in Karachi, Myanmar, Sri Muhammad Ali Hussain Dogar is a freelance lanka and Maldives to counter the growing military leverage of the USa and India. China is accentuating columnist

The USA is backing India so as to counter China

Arif Nizami

Joint Editor

The writer is a member of staff.

Power dynamics in the Indian Ocean

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

forgotten that policemen very often come from rural backgrounds, and are usually more conservative than average. The problem is that even educated policemen from urban background are not able to resist this misogyny, and indeed adopt it. It must not be ignored that policemen have a view on human psychology, and a dim view it is. This view has to be shared, otherwise the police cannot function, and the IGP and constable must have the same view of what motivates a murder, a robbery or a rape.

The problem is that the view taken is judgmental, and can divert the case of the investigation. one example is that of honor killings. These are an invention of the police, rather than clever defence lawyers, and allow the killer to claim that he was so infuriated by the sight of his female relative involved with a paramour that he killed her. This allows the crime to be declared one of provocation, and result in an acquittal. of course, now that murder has become compoundable, the police are more interested in being the mediator in the compounding, and thus skimming off the cream in any deal made.

The justice system has failed, not just the police, because the suspect is shown as having committed a crime again after being acquitted for the first. The acquittal occurred presumably because not enough evidence was brought forward. The crime, again a robbery-cum-rape, was not one the police would connive at. Either inefficiency or a suitable inducement from the accused led the police investigators to leave lacunae in the evidence provided to the prosecutors, which let the defense lawyer claim an acquittal. That the police kept the case on file was an admission that it had failed to get its man. It did help in tracing the culprit, but it also showed that an important reason for punishment, preventing a recurrence, was not fulfilled.

This was particularly important in this case, because the criminal assault in the course of a robbery is the result of a psychological aberration, and is not subject to deterrence. one method of dealing with such crimes is the police encounter. There are many other problems associated with it; not least that it is murder. However, it does have the advantage of preventing that particular criminal doing it again.

However, it does not stop that crime recurring. It is because the same kind of mindset that the CCPo showed will produce this type of crime. If the criminal was to admit his crime, he would also probably claim that the victim was “asking for it.”

The police do not countenance rapists, even if they think that it was really the victim’s fault. How-

ever, they do countenance robbery. This is sometimes done as a method of control. one person mentioned being stopped by robbers on the highway, and when he produced what was on him, the robbers returned the loot, saying that they were only permitted by the police to commit three robberies, for which they had to pay a hefty fee, and this robbery was not worth their while. Now the SHo responsible had hit two birds with one stone: he had not only guaranteed an income for himself and his men, but he had also ensured that robberies remained within a level acceptable to the public, and hence to his superiors.

Such accommodations are possible with professional criminals, but not with sex offenders, who are usually not entirely rational. The police should notice that the crimes which capture public attention are sex crimes. apart from this robbery-cum-rape, there was the Zainab murder in Kasur, and before that in Kasur was the revelation of a gang of criminal assaulters who made underage porn videos for export. Javed Iqbal, the lahore mass murderer who kidnapped and killed more than 1000 young boys, criminally assaulted them first.

The traditional police explanation, that the victim was at fault, does not work anymore, and if for no other reason, should be jettisoned. The police has always dealt in the realm of the abnormal. Now, though, matters seem to be getting worse, and it is no longer possible to get along with policing methods more suited to rural areas. Even apparently rural areas are no longer immune. Muzaffargarh is as rural an area as any in Pakistan, but there too a shooting of a boy who resisted criminal assault, shows that such crimes are on the rise.

The CCPo lahore made his remarks in the knowledge that those who had appointed him not just in defiance of the IGP, but at the cost of transferring him, would not remove him, because he was too useful. He was right, and he has been issued a showcause notice. He has issued an apology, which should get him off the hook, but will because he is thought valuable by those who matter. The police does not need officers like him, but psychologist and psychiatrists. one of the assumptions of police culture is that criminals are sane people. This is no longer so.

Police culture cannot be expected to change until all society changes, particularly rural areas. only then will the police change. but maybe the people do not want a change, but like the paternalism (missing in this case) inherent in an SHo’s anger that anyone dared do such a thing in his area. That paternalism will go when the misogyny does, for the roots of the latter are in the former.

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Friday, 18 September, 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

Rationalising the PHA Housing Scheme balloTING of plots of different areas was conducted in august by PHa Foundation, Peshawar. These plots were to be offered to the federal employees. It was a successful balloting. The mode for the payment of money is either on monthly basis or quarterly basis for three years. The houses would be constructed by the authorities and be handed over to the winners after three years.

The stipulated amount of monthly/quarterly payment mentioned in the plan for the Government employees is too hefty. Potentially, it is manifold higher than the salaries of these employees. It is quite irrational and impracticable. It shows that the planners of this scheme for the Government employees are either mindless or anti-pathetic. The scheme of the payment is mind-boggling.

How can an honest Government employee, who solely depends on his salary for the family expenses pay such a huge amount for three years?

Where will the family eat from and, how would the family affairs be managed? There is every need to rethink and revisit the whole plan to make it feasible and affordable for these employees.

In my opinion, the planners of the scheme must ponder on the plan meticulously to rationalize it. They can mitigate the amount of payment to a reasonable level as is easily affordable for these people and extend the time period for this payment.

MoHAMMAD AHMAD ISlAMAbAD

Education for all: The broken promise Universal education is not just a nice thing, it is a solemn commitment by the government DR HAZIR ULLAH

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INCE 1967, International literacy Day (IlD) celebrations have taken place annually around the world.

Their aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. Despite the progress made, about 258 million children and youth are still out of school the world over. The total includes 59 million children of primary school age, 62 million of lower secondary school age and 138 million of upper secondary age. These numbers must be a serious concern for the world community.

Pakistan has the world’s second highest number of out-of-school children. Data shows that Pakistan is facing a serious challenge to ensure education for all. according to UNICEF, an estimated 22.8 million children (aged between five and 16) are out of school in Pakistan. This is the world’s second highest number of out-ofschool children. It represents 44 percent of the total population in this age group. The country is facing a serious challenge to enroll and retain disadvantaged children, particularly rural girls, in schools.

Nearly 10.7 million boys and 8.6 million girls are enrolled at the primary level and this drops to 3.6 million boys and 2.8 million girls at the lower secondary level. This means that after primary-school age the number of out-of-school children doubles. Disparities based on geographical location, gender and socio-economic status are significant. 32 percent of primary school age girls are out of school, compared to 21 percent of boys. These statistics show high numbers of out-of-school children, with significant gender disparities, across the country, but Sindh and balochistan are much worse than other parts of the country. These statistics show that Pakistan as a state has failed to fulfil its promise of education for all. let me remind the people in power about the stance of Quaid-i-azam Muhammad ali Jinnah about education. The Quaid-i-azam, stressing the importance of education for Pakistan, sent a very vivid and powerful written message to the participants of the all-Pakistan Education Conference in 1947. In his written message he said: “There is no doubt that the future of our state [Pakistan] will and must greatly depend upon the type of education we give to our children, and the way in which we bring them up as future citizens of Pakistan….We should not forget that we have to compete with the world which is moving very fast….We have to see that they are fully qualified and equipped to play their part in the various branches of national life in a manner which will do honor to Pakistan”. The Quaid stressed that education is a matter of life and death for Pakistan. The all-Pakistan Education Conference recognized “Universal Primary Ed-

ucation” as imperative. In 1959, the Commis- and government dependence on donor agencies sion on National Education recommended qual- are not enough to have all children between five ity compulsory education for children. article and 16 years old in schools. The current budget 37-b of the 1973 Constitution states “The State allocation and efforts are not enough to retain shall remove illiteracy and provide free and the most disadvantaged in school. The Governcompulsory secondary education within mini- ment of Pakistan needs targeted and concerted mum possible period”. article 38-D of the 1973 efforts to reach the disadvantaged children, especially girls who constitution states are forced by social “The State shall and cultural forces provide basic necesto stay home. The sities of life, such as To realize the promise of universal number of out-offood, clothing, school children and housing, education education for every child, the the ratio of dropand medical relief, government of Pakistan needs to ping out from for all citizens, irreschools serve as a spective of sex, make a serious commitment and wake-up call that caste, creed or those responsible race”. In 2010, artiprovide a sufficient budget must mobilize the cle 25-a of the 1973 allocation. The government of resources needed to constitution was guarantee basic edcreated. article 25Pakistan must enroll all children ucation for every a outlines that “The child in Pakistan, State shall provide between five and 16 years old in once and for all. free and compulsory school. This should be done To realize the education to all chilpromise of univerdren of the age of religiously; the disadvantaged sal education for five to sixteen years every child, the in such a manner as families must be assessed and government of may be determined by law”. besides motivated to allow their children to Pakistan needs to make a serious these national comstay in school through the commitment and mitments, Pakistan provide a sufficient is under many intersecondary level; and improving the budget allocation. national obligations and commitments to quality of the children’s schooling The government of Pakistan must enprovide free and and the learning they receive roll all children becompulsory educatween five and 16 tion to all her citithroughout that schooling. The years old in school. zens.

Pakistan, under article 28 of achievement of these goals needs This should be done religiously; United Nation Congenuine political will and sufficient the disadvantaged vention on the must be Rights of Children budget allocation. There should be families assessed and moti(UNCRC), has vated to allow their promised for the no alternative opinion on these children to stay in provision of free school through the primary education priorities as education and secondary level; to all the children success of every child is essential and improving the and access to scienquality of the chiltific and technical for the future of Pakistan. dren’s schooling knowledge through and the learning modern teaching they receive methods in the throughout that country. Pakistan could not provide primary education to all chil- schooling. The achievement of these goals dren as per commitment under the Millennium needs genuine political will and sufficient Development Goal. Similarly, Goal 4 of Sustain- budget allocation. There should be no alternaable Development Goals obligates Pakistan to tive opinion on these priorities as education “ensure inclusive and equitable quality educa- and success of every child is essential for the tion and promote lifelong learning opportunities future of Pakistan. for all”. Despite these national and international Dr Hazir Ullah is Associate Professor of Socommitments, education never received central priority and place in Pakistan. Political rhetoric, ciology and Director, Quality Enhancement fancy meeting in luxury hotels, distribution of Cell, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He free textbooks, discourses of uniform curriculum can be reached at hazirullah@qau.edu.pk

Jinnah’s vision lost in the air IT is very painful to state that we have not found any leader after Jinnah who would have been of indomitable courage, irresistible logic and exemplary principles which jinnah possessed and especially who would have carried out the legacy of Jinnah’s dreams and vision to make Pakistan a stable, prosperous and develope.

What Jinnah envisioned, was to make pakistan a pure parliamentary Democratic country consisting of strong and unite federating units, Minorities freedom and principles of social justice be ensured and human rights be fully guaranteed in this state of pakistan. but we have witnessed everything opposite of jinnah’s dream of pakistan. We saw every where sectarian violence, racial and linguistic clashes ,terrorism , flagrant violation of human rights , Forced conversion of minorities , interference and abrogation of constitutional institution and constitution itself many times , conflicts between Provinces and Federation on political, economical administrative interests.

Right now we are on verge of destruction, but Still we have time to keep the words and revive Jinnah’s vision and as to lead the country toward stabilization and prosperity .

GHulAM HyDEr MuGHErI lArkAnA

Post corona plans RIGHT now the international community has been witnessing enough of coronavirus threats, almost most countries having been affected by the outbreak. Countries and people have suffered a lot economically, physically and emotionally so far.

What next? What could be the next course of action against the corona curse? It is time to answer many more such questions.

First and foremost, the economic growth of the countries should be accelerated. Yet again, it is also a matter of improving the infrastructure and upgrading the present education levels in the region.

In fact, all these factors will result in a sudden drop in the migrant influx. This phenomenal happening will stop the people making contact with other countries unnecessarily. of course, going abroad for work/education is appreciable. However, unnecessary immigration could be averted to a larger extent. local economic boom is yet another good step. Filled with enough water from the River Thamirabarani and fertile soil, my native areas like Korkai, Tiruchendur, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu have long been under agricultural activities like paddy, banana, betel leaves cultivations. I [too] am confident of starting such activities in my areas after turning 50 or so. Similarly, such economic activities should be largely encouraged for the people to stay home in their region.

P SEntHIl SArAvAnA DurAI MuMbAI

Curbing sexual violence THE unfortunate incident at motorway has deeply shattered the sentiments of hoi pollis and has ignited a discourse about finding ways to put an end to such heinous crimes. While discussing the solutions one must first try to understand the causation factors of this evil. The chief cause is the turbulent psychological state of mind that gets its impetus from the movies depicting the extreme intimate scenarios hailing the dominance of male partner. Such movies ignite the fantasies in the amateur minds of the viewer and affect those people the most who are far from education. In many instances the highly educated individuals are involved in sexual assaults too. The second factor adding fuel to fire is the laxity in the prosecution and loopholes in the legal system. The process from catching a rapist, collecting the evidences and bringing the culprit to justice is often so stretched that it takes years, if not decades, to reach a sensible verdict. The painful case of mukhtaran Mai is a case in point here, that took 8 years to dispense her justice. The third and maybe the most important factor is the ridiculous mindset of masses to blame the victim for the incident. Instead of providing emotional support and asking for some workable and strict laws, what our society actually do is the moral schooling of the victim. To curb the heinous crimes as rape, a concentrated and holistic approach is needed that covers the various areas from censoring the movies glorifying intimacy, reporting of crime, evidence collection to perfection of the culprit. Presence of laws won’t scare the rapists, the implementation of laws will surely bring about the positive results. uSAMA MAnzoor lAHorE

Friday, 18 September, 2020

08 WORLD VIEW

Sinophobia, the new iSlamophobia JUST AS SEPTEMBER 11 PROMPTED A RESURGENCE OF ISLAMOPHOBIA, THE PANDEMIC HAS CATALYSED A NEW WAVE OF SINOPHOBIA

al Jazeera

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alY KassaM-ReMtulla

WAS a graduate student in Oxford when the planes crashed into the Twin Towers in New York. After hearing the news, I met up with a friend. We had been planning to attend a book reading, but instead, we held each other tightly and sobbed.

At that moment, I did not understand that I was about to face even more heartbreak. In the ensuing days, Americans of Muslim, Arab and South Asian backgrounds - who were still grieving for their compatriots - were themselves assaulted, killed and blamed for the attacks.

On the 19th anniversary of that devastating day, a similar tragedy is unfolding for Americans of Chinese and East Asian ancestry. These communities are facing the challenges and uncertainties of the global pandemic compounded by a "second pandemic" of anti-Asian violence.

Almost 2,600 incidents were reported between March and early August, including attempted murder, death threats, verbal assaults, and a huge spike in online racism across the United States. During this pan-

demic, 31 percent of Asian Americans report being the subject of slurs or jokes and 26 percent worry about being threatened or physically attacked. These numbers are higher than for any other racial group.

Just as September 11 prompted a resurgence of Islamophobia, the pandemic has catalysed a new wave of Sinophobia. Historians have chronicled American Sinophobia dating back to the 1850s and its government sanction in numerous laws including the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. While much has rightly been made of US President Donald Trump's jingoistic emphasis on the origin of the coronavirus and the tepid response of the Justice Department to anti-Asian violence, focusing solely on these actors detracts from an uncomfortable truth.

Millions of liberals and conservatives across the country - consciously or unconsciously - harbour anti-Chinese sentiments.

They view those of Chinese ancestry and other Asian Americans, as competent and hard-working but also cunning, unidimensional and clannish. After all, if the virus had originated in Sweden, would we be seeing the same kinds of attacks on Scandinavian Americans?

The prevalence and intensity of Sinophobia has shifted with the changing political, economic, and social relationship between the US and China. According to a recent report from the Pew Research Center, 73 percent of Americans hold an unfavourable view of China, up from 47 percent in 2018. The escalating trade war, China's human rights abuses, and Trump's rhetoric have triggered the shift.

Given the longstanding perception of Chinese Americans as alien, policy positions against China often lead to negative actions against Americans of Chinese ancestry. A similar fate plagues other immigrants and people of colour who are considered perpet-

ually foreign, despite their allegiance to and investment in the US. One of the most egregious examples is that of the 120,000 Japanese Americans who were interned during World War II due to suspicions about their loyalties.

Sinophobia is a byproduct of a racialised state. While the history and experience of the Chinese in America is different from other racial groups, anti-Asian sentiment forms a powerful, self-perpetuating foundation that undergirds the violence we are witnessing today. Most of us readily denounce antiAsian bias, but we have not acknowledged our tacit complicity in it. Nor have we taken seriously the power and responsibility we have to prevent it.

Acknowledging Sinophobia cannot come at the expense of the overdue focus on anti-Black racism. Addressing both of these as part of a broader agenda exposes the shared origins of racial oppression. It also cuts against the dominant narrative that pits minority groups against one another rather than uniting them in solidarity.

Confronting bias against Asian Americans or any other racial minority is a daunting task. Doing so requires three things: acknowledging biases and recognising that they can be altered; engaging friends, family, and co-workers who make disparaging remarks and confronting hate in public settings; and identifying institutional racism and demanding changes from schools, media organisations, and employers.

As the events of the last few months have so tragically demonstrated, raciallybased violence remains pervasive in the United States. Not all forms of racism are the same, but they share a goal to subordinate and dehumanise a group of people.

It is time to recognise and confront the forces that seek to perpetuate inequality, regardless of the group affected. This requires us to end the silence at our dinner tables, in our classrooms, and at the (virtual) water cooler. As risky as it feels to step into the fray, our continued inaction is even riskier.

Aly Kassam-Remtulla is Associate Provost at Princeton University.

How Trump’s Middle East plan could boost the region Remembering my father THE UAE-ISRAEL DEAL SIGNED COULD NUDGE MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES INTO TAKING MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFINING THE REGION’S FUTURE

Politico MaGaziNe MaDeleiNe K alBRiGHt aND stePHeN HaDleY

Four years ago, in the midst of a divisive U.S. presidential election, we led a bipartisan task force taking a renewed and comprehensive look at the Middle East. In addition to the region’s many problems, we identified “green shoots” of promise: a surge in entrepreneurial activity, especially among young people and women, a more active civil society, and some forward-thinking leaders beginning to envision a more dynamic and politically open future.

Now, in the middle of another divisive American campaign, the Middle East remains mired in difficulties, and many Americans understandably have become fatalistic about its future. At the same time, the “green shoots” continue to mature.

In one consequential development, President Donald Trump will host a signing ceremony for a deal that the United Arab Emirates, with U.S. support, agreed to last month with Israel. In exchange for Israel suspending plans to annex portions of the West Bank, the UAE became the first Gulf state to decide to normalize relations with Israel. Just last week, Bahrain did the same. These agreements preserve at least a slim hope of an eventual two-state solution between Israel and its Palestinian neighbors. They might also do much more.

Although Palestinian groups generally have been unhappy with these deals, we believe they could eventually benefit other Arab states and the Palestinian cause as well. The next U.S. administration, whoever leads it, should encourage these developments, but the nations of the Middle East will need to take the central role.

The Middle East is rich in natural resources and also in human capital, as we found from visiting the region during our years in government and in our recent work on the task force. What is lacking is accountable and effective governance, which Amer-

ica must do all it can to support. Equally essential is regional economic and social integration. This would be helped by an Arab reconciliation that allows for a comprehensive and productive relationship with Israel.

Israel’s decades-old peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan began with much promise but then failed to deepen. Ultimately, they rarely extended beyond government officials. The agreements with the UAE and Bahrain envision exchanges and joint enterprises across virtually all social and economic sectors. If other Arab states follow suit and join in expanding trade, investment, cooperative building projects and people-to-people exchanges with Israel, the resulting regional integration could be an engine for economic growth, job creation and enhanced prosperity.

For this to happen, Middle Eastern countries will also need to make progress on political and security issues. The UAE’s historic decision reflects its heightened alarm at Iran’s disruptive activity throughout the region. A growing alignment between Israel and the Gulf States could do much to deter future Iranian adventurism and possibly lead to an eventual reduction in tensions. It could even result in tacit cooperation between Iran and regional Arab states in winding down the dangerous conflict in Yemen and promoting a much-needed restoration of stability in Lebanon.

If the government of Iran is hoping that the U.S. presidential election will reduce pressure on it to act responsibly in world affairs, it is likely to be disappointed. American leaders in both parties have made clear their opposition to any Iranian attempts to build nuclear weapons or to dominate the region through military threats, subversion or aggression. The next U.S. administration will want to test whether Iran is willing to resume serious discussions on a full range of issues that concern not only the United States but the whole region and, indeed, the entire globe. In this sense, the election is an opportunity for a fresh start.

It is no secret that both Presidents Barack Obama and Trump have wanted to reduce American engagement in the Middle East. If the UAE and Bahrain initiatives lead to the kind of evolution we envision, they would not

only advance the prospects for peace and prosperity in the region but also could begin a strategic shift in which the countries in the region take more responsibility for defining its future. This is to be encouraged, but success will continue to require American participation and support. The next administration, whether under Trump or Joe Biden, will need to stay engaged, primarily with tools of diplomacy and development, if it is to help the region realize the potential we see for it.

It is not surprising that Palestinian leaders and citizens are unhappy with the UAE-Israel agreement. It went against the prevailing assumption that there would be no further Arab recognition of Israel until the Palestinians had a state. While arguably reducing Palestinian leverage, such agreements also provide Arab political support for the Palestinians to make peace with Israel. Palestinian officials would be wise to reengage Israel, return to negotiations, put forward their own — realistic — proposal for peace and concentrate on building honest, effective and responsive institutions that will be critical to the future of an independent state.

Other Arab countries can help advance prospects for such a state in how they make their own peace with Israel. They can condition their recognition not only on “no annexation” of the West Bank but also by asking Israel to reaffirm its commitment to the twostate solution, restrict settlement activity to areas likely to become part of Israel in any final peace agreement, avoid further militarization of the Jordan Valley and give the Palestinian Authority greater freedom to develop areas expected to be part of a Palestinian state. The UAE and other Arab governments can design their economic engagement with Israel to ensure that the resulting private sector-led prosperity includes the Palestinians as well.

We understand that many Americans remain pessimistic. But these actions, should they come to pass, would offer a muchneeded platform for progress toward a more peaceful and prosperous Middle East.

Madeleine K. Albright served as U.S. secretary of state from 1997-2001. Stephen J. Hadley served as national security adviser from 2005-09.

GatesNotes Bill Gates

My dad passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family.We will miss him more than we can express right now.

We are feeling grief but also gratitude.

My dad’s passing was not unexpected— he was 94 years old and his health had been declining—so we have all had a long time to reflect on just how lucky we are to have had this amazing man in our lives for so many years. And we are not alone in these feelings. My dad’s wisdom, generosity, empathy, and humility had a huge influence on people around the world.

My sisters, Kristi and Libby, and I are very lucky to have been raised by our mom and dad. They gave us constant encouragement and were always patient with us. I knew their love and support were unconditional, even when we clashed in my teenage years. I am sure that’s one of the reasons why I felt comfortable taking some big risks when I was young, like leaving college to start Microsoft with Paul Allen. I knew they would be in my corner even if I failed.

As I got older, I came to appreciate my dad’s quiet influence on almost everything I have done in life. In Microsoft’s early years, I turned to him at key moments to seek his legal counsel.

(Incidentally, my dad played a similar role for Howard Schultz of Starbucks, helping him out at a key juncture in his business life. I suspect there are many others who have similar stories.)

My dad also had a profound influence on my drive. When I was a kid, he wasn’t prescriptive or domineering, and yet he never let me coast along at things I was good at, and he always pushed me to try things I hated or didn’t think I could do (swimming and soccer, for example).

And he modeled an amazing work ethic.

He was one of the hardest-working and most respected lawyers in Seattle, as well as a major civic leader in our region.

My dad’s influence on our philanthropy was just as big. Throughout my childhood, he and my mom taught me by example what generosity looked like in how they used their time and resources.

One night in the 1990s, before we started our foundation, Melinda, Dad, and I were standing in line at the movies. Melinda and I were talking about how we had been getting more requests for donations

in the mail. Dad simply said, “Maybe I can help.”

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation would not be what it is today without my dad. More than anyone else, he shaped the values of the foundation. He was collaborative, judicious, and serious about learning. He was dignified but hated anything that seemed pretentious.

(Dad’s given name was William H. Gates II, but he never used the “II”—he thought it sounded stuffy.) He was great at stepping back and seeing the big picture. He was quick to tear up when he saw people suffering in the world. And he would not let any of us forget the people behind the strategies we were discussing.

People who came through the doors of the Gates Foundation felt honored to work with my dad. He saw the best in everyone and made everyone feel special.

We worked together at the foundation not so much as father and son but as friends and colleagues. He and I had always wanted to do something concrete together. When we started doing so in a big way at the foundation, we had no idea how much fun we would have. We only grew closer during more than two decades of working together.

Finally, my dad had a profoundly positive influence on my most important roles—husband and father. When I am at my best, I know it is because of what I learned from my dad about respecting women, honoring individuality, and guiding children’s choices with love and respect.

Dad wrote me a letter on my 50th birthday. It is one of my most prized possessions. In it, he encouraged me to stay curious. He said some very touching things about how much he loved being a father to my sisters and me. “Over time,” he wrote, “I have cautioned you and others about the overuse of the adjective ‘incredible’ to apply to facts that were short of meeting its high standard. This is a word with huge meaning to be used only in extraordinary settings. What I want to say, here, is simply that the experience of being your father has been… incredible.”

I know he would not want me to overuse the word, but there is no danger of doing that now. The experience of being the son of Bill Gates was incredible. People used to ask my dad if he was the real Bill Gates. The truth is, he was everything I try to be. I will miss him every day.

Friday, 18 September, 2020

BUSINESS 09

IndIA APPlIes FOr exClUsIve GI TAG TO BAsmATI rICe In eU As PAKIsTAn lAGs BehInd ISLAMABAD GHULAM ABBAS

Covid-19: Pakistan seeks $2.5tr for developing countries ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has urged the need to mobilize at least $2.5 trillion for the developing countries against the financing required to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking at a virtual symposium on partnership solutions at the United Nations, Pakistan's Permanent Representative Munir Akram said that as President of UN Economic and Social Council, his priority is to focus on finding ways to finance the pandemic, said a press statement. He also called for close collaboration of all stakeholders across key sectors to build collective solutions and to help for Covid-19. TLTP

FATF October review to go well for Pakistan: Yao Jing ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing discussed matters related to Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the latter said that October review will go well for Pakistan. The Chinese ambassador made a farewell call on the advisor here at the Finance Division on Thursday. Shaikh said that China-Pakistan relations will further strengthen in future.

He appreciated the commitment with which Jing worked for the progress of the Pak-China relationship. He acknowledged the contributions of Ambassador Jing and China’s leadership for Pakistan and expressed hope that his predecessor will work on the same lines. Ambassador Jing thanked the adviser for his support and expressed desire to further strengthen the two country’s relationship.

He said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a project that is an inspiration for the rest of the world.

The ambassador also appreciated the strategy adopted by the government of Pakistan during the Covid-19 crisis and said that the rest of the world could follow and learn from Pakistan’s experience. At the end of the meeting, the adviser presented a shield to the outgoing ambassador as a token of the Finance Division’s acknowledgement for his valuable services and said that his successor will be welcomed with the same spirit. TLTP

Baliochistan govt opens another trade terminal at Pak-Afghan border QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan has said that the provincial government is making a comprehensive plan to promote economic activities in the province for welfare of the people. The chief minister expressed these views while inaugurating trade terminal at Pak-Afghan Border near Bodini area of Balochistan.

The chief minister said that business activities would be increased from establishment of Trade Terminal while it would also create job opportunities for the people in the area. Jam Kamal said that all parties should work together to move the development process forward and mutual trust is essential for forwarding of growth schemes. He said in the last two years, a number of development schemes have been started and some of them are completed, and credit for it goes to the provincial and federal governments, Pakistan Army and FC. The business community, Chamber of Commerce and Industry and importers and exporters had been demanding the opening of a new terminal for trade between the two counties at Badini for a long time as the Chaman gateway was overburdened due to the Afghan transit trade, import and export and NATO supply for the US troops stationed in Afghanistan. TLTP

W

HILE Pakistan is yet to implement the Geographical Indications (GI) law promulgated in March this year, India has applied for an exclusive GI tag to Basmati rice in the European Union (EU).

The EU has subsequently published the application of India in its official journal on September 11, 2020, showing Basmati rice as an Indian origin product, despite the fact that similar rice is widely produced in Pakistan.

Interestingly, officials of the Ministry of Commerce, when contacted, were unaware of this major development which could ultimately damage Pakistan’s exports, such as the aromatic rice, to European countries.

Earlier last month, Adviser to the Prime Minister (PM ) on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood had directed the officials to implement the GI as it was promulgated as a law over five months ago.

Pakistan, after a delay of almost 18 years, had enacted Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Act in March this year.

According to EU’s official journal, any country can oppose the application for registration of a name pursuant to Article 50(2) (a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs within three months from the date of

INDIA IS ALSO REGISTERING HIMALAYAN SALT, MULTANI MITTI WITH INDIAN NAMES IN INTERNATIONAL MARKET publication.

As per the Indian application, basmati is special long grain aromatic rice grown and produced in a particular geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. In India, this region is a part of northern India, below the foothills of the Himalayas forming part of the IndoGangetic Plains (IGP). The special characteristics of basmati are its long slender kernels with a high length to breadth ratio, an exquisite aroma, sweet taste, soft texture, delicate curvature, intermediate amylose content, high integrity of grain on cooking, and linear kernel elongation with least breadthwise swelling on cooking.

Further, India has claimed that basmati is grown and produced in all districts of the states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, as well as in specific districts of western Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

Interestingly, to support its claim, India has also referred various dictionaries such as Oxford Dictionary which defines basmati as ‘a kind of long-grain Indian rice with a delicate fragrance’, the French dictionary, Larousse, which defines basmati as an ‘Indian, long grain rice, very appreciated’ and the Cassell food dictionary which defines it as ‘a superior type of Indian white rice which is long grained and slender’.

India has also referred other reports

to show that the basmati rice is of Indian origin without mentioning that the same is produced in Pakistan.

Leading rice exporter and former office bearer of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Taufiq Ahmed says that the Indian application at EU must be opposed immediately as it would badly damage Pakistani products’ exports to European countries.

He said that despite repeated requests and reminders, concerned authorities in Pakistan have been ignoring this serious issue for years and now if the problem is not handled swiftly then we would be left with no option but to sell basmati rice with an Indian name/brand.

“Apart from opposing the GI tag from the EU, Pakistan must also consult international dictionaries to rectify the definition as the same rice is largely produced in Pakistan. Unfortunately, India is also registering Himalayan salt and Multani Matti with Indian names in the international market,” he said.

According to an official at Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO), an attached department of the Ministry of Commerce which drafted the GI law, the Indian application would definitely be opposed in the EU. He said that since the GI law has been promulgated, Pakistan would take up the issue of all GI products of Pak-

MARKET DAILY

Stocks post modest gains despite selling pressure KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed another session of volatile activity on Thursday as selling pressure eroded most of the gains accumulated by indices in early trade.

Global equity markets, on the other hand, displayed a negative trend, whereas crude oil prices headed south from the previous close; WTI oil price falling 0.02pc to $40.15 while Brent crude price declining 0.02pc to $42.21.

In line with this week’s trend, the benchmark KSE-100 Index moved in a narrow range, touching its intraday high at 42,632.41 (+350.13 points) and intraday low at 42,276.59 (-5.69 points). It settled higher by 52.48 points at 42,334.76.

Among other indices, the KMI30 Index gained 236.10 points to close at 67,899.03, while the KSE All Share Index added 23.06 points, ending at 30,065.22.

The overall market volumes surged from 489.60 million shares in the previous session to 508.69 million shares (+4pc). Average traded value also increased by 3pc, from $87.9 million to $90.8 million. Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTC +8.83pc),

Unity Foods Limited (UNITY +3.19pc) and (HASCOL -1.38pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 78.66 million, 45.25 million and 35.00 million shares, respectively.

Sectors that kept the benchmark in green included chemical (+22.98 points), technology & communication (+16.55 points) and oil & gas exploration sector (+14.15 points). Among the companies, Engro Polymer and Chemicals Ltd (EPCL 19.35 points), Pakistan Oilfields Ltd (POL 14.23 points) and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (12.72 pts) remained the top contributors.

Adding 22.87pc to its cumulative market capitalisation, the technology & communication sector emerged as the session’s top gainer, with NetSol Technologies Ltd (NETSOL 8.83pc), Worldcall Telecom (WTL 2.38pc) and TPL Trakker Ltd (TPLT 1.69pc) posting decent gains.

Meanwhile, DG Khan Cement Company (DGKC +0.88pc) reported a loss for the first time since 2008. The company’s sales declined by 6pc YoY in FY20, while the cost of sales inflated by 3.67pc, pushing the gross profit down by 70pc YoY.

istani origin with the EU. According to officials, Basmati was already recognised as a product of both India and Pakistan in the European Rice Regime and its Duty-Free Regime, making it illegal for India to claim exclusive rights of Basmati in the EU. “The Cambridge dictionary and Wikipedia also show the product as originating from Pakistan and India,” he added.

It may be recalled here both India and Pakistan have approved the GI law which includes basmati as a product of their respective origin. The protection of geographical indications is aimed at boosting exports, helping support rural development in the country, and enhancing the livelihood of agriculture producers and skilled craftsmen.

Furthermore, the marketing of GI products also enhances secondary economic activities and boost regional economic development in various regions boosting economic development. GI law protects local products such as the Peshawari chappals, Multani blue pottery, Hunza apricots, Hala ajrak, Kasuri methi, Chaman grapes, Turbat dates etc.

Member countries of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) need to give protection to GIs under Article 22-24 of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) agreement.

Unless Pakistan provides GI protection, it cannot obtain the same for its own goods in other countries that have the GI law. The GI law covers a wide variety of industrial, agricultural, and horticultural products among others.

Pak-UK trade volume to reach £3bn soon: envoy ISLAMABAD TLTP

British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner has said the United Kingdom (UK) has increased its trade volume with Pakistan and it would reach £3 billion soon. In an interview to a private television channel the other day, Dr Christian Turner said that the restoration of British Airways operations in Pakistan is a significant development between the two countries. He stated that Virgin Airline is also looking at commencing its Pakistan operations from December. He said that he has visited various areas of Pakistan which he found to be spectacular. He said Pakistan has “rich potential for the tourism industry”. Struggling to speak in the Urdu language, he admitted he loved chatting in the local language notwithstanding the efforts.

“I like talking to people here in Urdu,” he said, adding modestly that he has yet to learn a great deal. The British diplomat suggested that Pakistan has plenty of room to invest in the fields of healthcare, education and technology. He commended the efforts and investment Pakistan assigned to its state of security. On the containment of Covid-19 spread and the situation in the wake of the pandemic outbreak in the country, the high commissioner said the world needs to learn so much from Pakistan. “The forming of NCOC [National Command and Operation Centre] was a prompt idea,” he said adding that such a coordination mechanism is the need of every country fighting Covid-19. Turner commended Pakistan’s role in the materialization of Afghan peace talks. He noted the economic strategies Pakistan has formed and practised have worked out in the country’s favour; however, he said that he shall visit more of Pakistan to get a better idea of the country.

Major loss-making SOEs to undergo forensic audit ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI

The Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises(CCoSOEs) has directed the Finance Division to consult the relevant ministries/division to select major loss-making SOEs under their control for a forensic audit of the last ten years and the federal cabinet has ratified this decision.

According to sources, previous federal cabinet meeting had ratified the directions of CCoSOEs to Finance Division including obtaining information from auditor general of

Pakistan (AGP) about the availability of expert auditors to carry out a forensic audit of major loss-making SOEs in pursuance of PM’s directives, obtaining information from audit firms regarding the estimated cost of the forensic audit and estimated time during which the forensic audit would be completed and to consult relevant ministries/divisions to select major loss-making SOEs under their control for the forensic audit which should not be confined to a particular sector.

“Finance Division will submit its compliance report on the above decisions to the CCoSOEs in its next meeting for considera-

tion,” said sources.

The sources said that the finance division through a summary dated August 31, 2020 had proposed the CCoSOEs to approve selection of major loss-making entities for a forensic audit on the basis of either the total loss accrued during fiscal year (FY) ending June 2014 to FY2018 or may be based on the accumulated losses as of FY2018.

The forensic audit may be undertaken by the AGP to ensure consistency and availability of the results. The draft scope of forensic audit is that it may be undertaken initially for a period of last five years (FY2016 to

CMYK

FY2020) and be extended to cover the last ten years for selected SOEs on case to case basis by CCoSOEs once the initial report is received. Henceforth, the AGP may be advised to complete the forensic audit of selected SOEs within a time of 90-120 days and submit its report to the CCoSOEs for further directions.

Finance Division further informed CCoSOEs that in order to obtain the forensic audit report it needs to identify the SOEs to be audited, decide if forensic audit be undertaken by AGP or by reputed firms of chartered accountants, and decide the timeline of

the forensic audit.

The top 15 loss-making entities had consistently contributed to more than 90 per cent of the overall losses of SOEs for FY2014 to FY2018. Prime Minister Imran Khan had earlier directed Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh to get forensic audit of the major loss-making SOEs conducted for the last ten years.

It is pertinent to mention that ratification of the federal cabinet on the decision taken by the CCoSOEs was sought in pursuance of rule 17 (1) (C) of the Rules of Business, 1973.

Friday, 18 September, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS don’t turn cvid-19 into ‘political football’, Who expert says GENEVA AGENCIES

The World Health Organisation’s top emergency expert, asked on Thursday about contradictory remarks by President Donald Trump and US health officials on COVID-19, said it was important for all countries to have “consistent messaging” for their public. Trump took exception on Wednesday to comments from the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Redfield, who said a vaccine could be broadly rolled out in mid-2021 and masks might be more effective. Trump, at a news conference, said he believed a vaccine will be rolled out much sooner. He said he called Redfield after his testimony to question him about it, and that Redfield appeared to have been confused by the question. “It is important that we have consistent messaging from all levels, and it’s not for one country or one entity; consistent messaging between science and between government,” the WHO’s Mike Ryan said in response to a question about the exchange. The science around the coronavirus was “complicated stuff”, with data and new evidence evolving, Ryan said. “So it isn’t easy and it isn’t easy for everyone to be on message all of the time.” “What is important is that governments, scientific institutions, step back, review the evidence, and give the most comprehensive easy-to-understand-and-digest information so that people can take the appropriate action.” Ryan, a veteran of Ebola outbreaks in Africa and other epidemics, said authorities must engage with communities to address anxieties. “It’s understanding the confusion, it’s understanding their concern, it’s understanding their apprehension. And not laughing at it and not turning that into some kind of political football,” he added. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead for COVID-19, said it recommended a comprehensive package of measures including physical distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. “Masks are part of it,” she added.

emissions may add 40cm to sea levels by 2100, experts warn PARIS AGENCIES

Sustained greenhouse gas emissions could see global sea levels rise nearly 40 centimetres this century as ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland continue to melt, a major international study concluded Thursday. The gigantic ice caps contain enough frozen water to lift oceans 65 metres, and researchers are increasingly concerned that their melt rates are tracking the UN's worst case scenarios for sea level rise. Experts from more than three dozen research institutions used temperature and ocean salinity data to conduct multiple computer models simulating the potential ice loss in Greenland and Antarctic glaciers. They tracked two climate scenarios -- one where mankind continues to pollute at current levels and another where carbon emissions are drastically reduced by 2100. They found that under the high emissions scenario ice loss in Antarctica would see sea levels rise 30 cm by century's end, with Greenland contributing an additional 9cm.

Such an increase would have a devastating impact worldwide, increasing the destructive power of storm surges and exposing coastal regions home to hundreds of millions of people to repeated and severe flooding.

Even in the lower emissions scenario, the Greenland sheet would raise oceans by around 3 cm by 2100 -beyond what is already destined to melt due to the additional 1C of warming humans have caused in the industrial age. "It's not so surprising that if we warm the planet more, more ice will be lost," said Anders Levermann, an expert on climate and ice sheets at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. "If we emit more carbon into the atmosphere we will have more ice loss in Greenland and Antarctic," he told AFP. "We have in our hands how fast we let sea levels rise and how much we let sea levels rise eventually."

Trump dispuTes healTh officials, sees mass vaccinaTions soon WASHINGTON

o

AGENCIES

PENLy contradicting the government’s top health experts, US President Donald Trump predicted Wednesday that a safe and effective vaccine against the coronavirus could be ready as early as next month and in mass distribution soon after, undermining the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and calling him “confused” in projecting a longer time frame.

Trump also disagreed with Dr. Robert Redfield about the effectiveness of protective masks — which the president recommends but almost never wears — and said he’d telephoned Redfield to tell him so.

Earlier in the day, the CDC sent all 50 states a “playbook” for distribution of a vaccine to all Americans free of cost when one is proven safe and effective — which is not yet the case. Redfield told a congressional hearing that health care workers, first responders and others at high risk would get the vaccine first, perhaps in January or even late this year, but it was unlikely to be available more broadly, again assuming approval, before late spring or summer.

Redfield, masked at times in a Senate hearing room, also spoke emphatically of the importance of everyone wearing protective masks to stop the pandemic, which has killed nearly 200,000 Americans. He floated the possibility that a vaccine might be 70pc effective in inducing immunity, and said, “I might even go so far as to say that this face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against Covid than when I take a Covid vaccine.”

Trump would have none of that from the CDC director.

“Vaccine is much more effective than the mask,” he declared.

As for vaccinating Americans, Trump said Wednesday, “We think we can start sometime in October.” One of his recently added advisers, Dr. Scott Atlas, said as many as 700 million doses could be available by the end of March.

Trump made the prediction even though the vaccine is still being tested in human subjects, and some health experts have said they believe a safe and highly effective vaccine is several months way, if not much longer.

CDC sent a planning document on Wednesday to US states, territories and some big cities. Adding to logistical complications, vaccines likely will have to be given in two doses spaced weeks apart and will have to be refrigerated.

Redfield said states are not ready to

deal with the demand for such a distribution and some $6 billion in new funding would be needed to get the nation prepared.

Unswayed, Trump said, “We’re ready to move, and I think it will be full distribution.”

Redfield said any vaccine available in November or December would be in “very limited supply,” and reserved for first responders and people most vulnerable to Covid-19. The shot wouldn’t be broadly available until the spring or summer 2021, he estimated.

On Wednesday night, after Trump’s comments, CDC officials initially sent an email claiming Redfield thought he was answering a question about when vaccination of all Americans would be completed. But then they called back that statement, and did not immediately provide additional comment.

The entire vaccine enterprise faces continued public skepticism. Only about

Moderna reveals detailed plans for Covid-19 clinical trial WASHINGTON AGENCIES

US biotech firm Moderna, one of two companies currently holding phase 3 trials in the United States for a Covid-19 vaccine, took the unusual step Thursday of publishing its trial protocols after calls for more transparency.

The race for a vaccine has taken a political turn in the run-up to the November 3 election, with President Donald Trump regularly promising to have one brought to market by October, raising questions about possible pressure on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to move quickly.

Experts and even officials from his own administration say the outcome of ongoing trials cannot be predicted, and that they are unlikely to yield actionable results before the end of the year or early 2021.

Available doses would be very limited in the first few months and given to priority populations such as senior government officials, essential workers and the elderly.

Moderna said it had recruited 25,296 participants of its goal of 30,000, of whom 28 percent were from minority communities.

Having a sufficient number of black and Hispanic participants, in particular, is seen as crucial to obtain a statistically representative results for these groups, which have been disproportionately hit by the pandemic.

Among the participants, 10,025 have already received their second dose, which has to be injected 28 days after the first.

The protocol of a trial is the document negotiated with the FDA, marked "confidential," which describes in detail how the testing will be conducted.

This includes, most crucially, the conditions under which a committee of independent experts can look at the data and stop the trial because the medicine is either working or is too dangerous.

"This has the key information for stopping rules, interim analyses and efficacy assumptions. Applaud their transparency," Eric Topol, an independent expert who has been sounding the alarm on the need to guard against political interference, told AFP. The other ongoing phase 3 trial in the United States is being led by Pfizer.

A third was being led by AstraZeneca, in partnership with the University of Oxford, until global trials of this vaccine were stopped last week.

They have since resumed in Britain, Brazil and South Africa, but not in the United States, for reasons that so far remain unclear.

half of Americans said they’d get vaccinated in an Associated Press-NORC poll taken in May. Since then, questions have only mounted about whether the government is trying to rush treatments and vaccines to help Trump’s reelection chances.

The Health and Human Services Department announced Wednesday that political appointee Michael Caputo would take a leave of absence to “focus on his health and the well-being of his family.”

The news followed revelations that Caputo had tried to gain editorial control over the CDC’s scientific publications on Covid-19, which he contended were hurting the Trump administration.

Redfield said the “scientific integrity” of his agency’s reports “has not been compromised and it will not be compromised under my watch.” He also rejected questions about whether the CDC’s timeline for states to be ready for a vaccine by Nov. 1 was politically motivated.

“The worst thing that could happen is if we have a vaccine delivered and we’re still not ready to distribute,” Redfield told Senate lawmakers. “There was absolutely no political thinking about it.”

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the committee’s top Democrat, said political interference from HHS had damaged public trust in the government’s health information. “The Trump administration needs to leave the science to the scientists immediately,” Murray said.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said while campaigning that he trusts what scientists say about a potential vaccine — but not Trump.

Biden has said he would take a vaccine “tomorrow” if it were available but he would want to “see what the scientists said” first.

TikTok says fate of US operations hangs in balance BEIJING: The Chinese company TikTok said on Thursday that the arrangement with US tech giant Oracle still requires the official approval by both Chinese and US authorities.

“We are indeed discussing a cooperation plan with some companies to address the US government's concerns over the security of US users' data. The plan does not involve the sale of business and technology, and a final deal has not been signed yet,” ByteDance said as cited by China’s Global Times newspaper.

The statement comes shortly after President Trump said that he is not “going to be happy” if parent company ByteDance keeps a majority in the embattled social media app. It was earlier reported that under the latest proposal, Oracle, the main bidder for TikTok’s US assets, would only have a minority stake.

“We don’t like that. I mean, just conceptually, I can tell you I don’t like that. That has not been

told to me yet,” Trump told journalists on Wednesday evening.

Trump expects to receive a more detailed report on the deal later on Thursday.

The Trump administration has maintained that Chinese tech companies, including Huawei and TikTok, can pose a national security threat as they allegedly share data with the Chinese government. While the Chinese firms have repeatedly denied those claims, the US has threatened to ban TikTok on its territory unless it is acquired by an American company.

Last month, Trump said the US government should get a “very big proportion” of the sale price if the deal proceeds. It turned out that no one knows how that could work and that such a payment may have no legal grounds.

“Amazingly I find that you’re not allowed to do that,” Trump said, referring to the idea of receiving money for the deal. “What kind of a thing is this?” TLTP

New Zealand plunges into recession as economy shrinks record 12pc New Zealand plunged into recession for the first time in a decade on Thursday, as data confirmed a record-breaking economic collapse that forced Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to defend her pandemic response ahead of next month's general election.

The 12.2 per cent contraction in AprilJune was “by far the largest” since records began, national data agency Stats NZ said, with the country put into a strict lockdown for almost two months and the country's borders closed.

Ardern rejected opposition accusations that the tough measures had pushed the economy “off a cliff”, saying the restrictions helped contain the virus, which allowed business to resume far earlier than in many

other countries.

The centre-left leader, who will go to the polls for re-election on October 17, also pointed out that New Zealand had recorded just 25 Covid-19 deaths, out of a population of five million.

“Success for me is saving people's lives, supporting and saving people's businesses, coming out the other side [of the crisis] faster, quicker and with more activity,” she told reporters.

“I back our results.”

She said the economic pain of lockdown in the June quarter would be followed by a rebound in July-September, when virus-related restrictions were eased significantly.

Ardern retains a strong lead in opinion

polls and is expected to retain office, despite the ugly pre-election economic figures.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said it could have been much worse, with budget papers in May predicting a 23.5pc quarterly decline and Treasury forecasting a 16pc drop just this week.

“There is no way that any political party could claim that there would not have been a recession in New Zealand during this period,” he said.

“This is a one-in-100-year global economic shock.”

'THIS WAS TRAUMATIC': The opposition National Party said the figures showed a change of government was needed because Ardern's administration could not

properly manage the economy or the pandemic response.

“It is now official that we are in the deepest recession in living memory and it's proof that New Zealand needs a National-led government now that has a very clear plan,” National leader Judith Collins said.

She said New Zealand “compares very unfavourably” with neighbouring Australia, which recorded an economic contraction of 7pc in the June quarter after adopting a more flexible approach to lockdowns and border controls. New Zealand's most recent recession was in 2008-09 and until the first three months of this year it had recorded non-stop quarterly growth since 2010.

The second-quarter decline follows a

1.6pc contraction in the first three months of 2020, confirming widespread expectations that New Zealand is in recession.

Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr said the figures were unprecedented.

“We've never seen anything like this. It was traumatic,” he said. “Service exports were stonewalled, and down 40pc in the quarter, consumption was down 12pc, and investment was slashed by 20pc.”

But he said the figure was a one-off that was set to be followed by a growth surge of 10pc in the September quarter, which would also be a record.

“Businesses and households have clearly adapted to trading in a world with limited face-to-face contact,” he said. AGENCIES

Friday, 18 September, 2020

GlEnn MAxwEll, AlEx CAREy tuRn tIdE to SEAl thRIllInG SERIES foR AuStRAlIA

t

AGENCIES

WIN tons to Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey carried Australia past a precarious start to ensure a match and series victory against England in the final ODI at Emirates Old Trafford. Their 212-run partnership rescued the tourists from 73 for 5 and resigned England to their first bilateral ODI series defeat at home since 2015.

Both fell in the dying stages, leaving it to Mitchell Starc to bring up the winning runs with a cool head and a swinging bat.

The result overturned Jonny Bairstow's powerful century, which had lifted England to a commanding total from their own troubled beginning.

Going into the last international men's fixture of a belated English summer, the

hosts teetered on 2 for 0 within the first two balls of the match.

But Bairstow's authoritative 112 from 126 balls, combined with half-centuries to Sam Billings - with whom he shared an innings-saving 114-run stand for the fifth wicket - and Woakes, allowed England to reach 302 for 7.

Australia wobbled when Woakes had Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis out cheaply, the latter holding his place in the side after Steven Smith was left out again still feeling the effects of the blow to the head he took in training six days prior.

The tourists visibly slumped when Root dismissed David Warner with his fifth ball, which ripped off a middle-and-leg line to clip the top of off stump. Root then had Mitch Marsh out in his next over to a deflection onto his knee-roll which looped up and

SPORTS 11 landed safely in the gloves of Jos Buttler.

Australia were 73 for 5 after Carey dabbed a Root delivery to the off-side and dashed off for a quick single, leaving Marnus Labuschagne exposed to Billings' sharp throw to Jos Buttler.

Australia should have been six down when Carey, on 9, holed out to Adil Rashid at third man, but it turned out that Jofra Archer had over-stepped and Carey was reprieved. Maxwell was also let off on 44 when he edged Rashid to Buttler, who failed to gather behind the stumps.

Carey and Maxwell brought up their 100-partnership off as many balls. By the end of the 35th over, Australia were 186 for 5 compared to England's 184 for 4 and Maxwell did his best to up the tempo when he thumped Rashid for a huge six into the second tier wide of long-on.

The sides were level after 39 overs - both 216 for 5 - and, as Morgan went to his seamers in the closing stages, the Australian duo dug in deeper. Maxwell brought up his second ODI hundred with a six off Tom Curran, taking him to 101 off just 84 balls, including four fours and seven sixes.

Carey moved to 99 heaving Woakes over the square-leg boundary and brought up his century with a single off the next ball.

PCB announces stringent Covid-19 protocols ahead of domestic season NEWS DESK

Babar Azam hits career-best 114 not out as Somerset cruise to victory CARDIFF AGENCIES

Babar Azam's career-best 114 not out from only 62 balls set up a convincing win for Somerset in Cardiff, maintaining their outside chance of qualifying for the quarterfinals. They also improved their net run rate, with Glamorgan losing ten wickets with 25 balls of their innings remaining. The Glamorgan bowlers weren't at their best, and the fielding was sub-standard, with Babar dropped twice. He then made the home team suffer as he guided his team to a total far beyond the par score at Sophia Gardens this season. Glamorgan's reply was a pitiful affair from the moment they lost their first two wickets in nine balls balls, with the game over as a contest when they collapsed to 47 for 5, and then 62 for 6 at the halfway stage.

Afghanistan’s Rashid names Indo-Pak cricketers he grew up idolising AGENCIES It’s tough to be a budding cricketer in Afghanistan and it was even tougher when Rashid Khan was growing up.

Young Afghan boys now have Rashid, Mohammad Nabi, Asghar Afghan and a host of other stars to look up to but it was different when these cricketers were growing up. With there being no role models in the country, Rashid had to look elsewhere to draw inspiration for cricket, and it came from two neighbouring countries India and Pakistan. Rashid said he learnt a lot by watching former India captain and coach Anil Kumble and exPakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi while growing up. “It was tough for me because we didn’t have any role models in cricket because we didn’t have a team that was playing international cricket. Since childhood, I was a big fan of Shahid Afridi and Anil Kumble. I loved watching their bowling. I learnt a lot by watching them.”

Rashid told Ravichandran Ashwin in his YouTube show DRS with Ash. The Afghanistan leg-spinner, one of the biggest cricketing stars of the country, said Kumble and Afridi’s bowling motivated him and gave him the energy to represent his own country someday. “It motivated me and gave me the energy that one day I will represent my country,” Rashid, who will play for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2020 said. Rashid believes Afghanistan have the talent and skills to win ICC tournaments and only needs regular cricket against top nations to get there. “I think the biggest achievement (for Afghanistan) should be, right now, what the team is looking for, what the country is expecting is, to win the T20 World Cup,” he said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced stringent Covid-19 protocols for the 2020-21 domestic season which kicks off later this month with the National T20 Championship.

The PCB said squad members, match officials, duty doctors and security managers will be placed in bio-secure zones from the beginning of the season to ensure health and safety of players, officials and all other stake-

holders.

All of them will be required to have two negative Covid-19 results before joining the bio-secure zone, which is in line with the practices carried out at present in international cricket.

According to PCB, members of the First XI and Second XI provincial squads are required to submit the results of their first Covid-19 test by September 16 and 18 respectively.

The PCB will reimburse the cost of the first test and conduct all following

tests during the course of the season.

Those returning negative results will be invited to PCB designated central stations, where they will undergo second Covid-19 test under the supervision of the Board medical team. The second test of the First XI and Second XI squads will be conducted on September 18 and 21 respectively.

While travelling to the central stations, the players and support staff personnel will not be allowed to use public transportation, except for air travel.

Djokovic meets ATP chief, says players body moving ahead AGNECIES Novak Djokovic had a chat with ATP chief Andrea Gaudenzi ahead of the Italian Open in Rome regarding his breakaway players body, the world number one said, reiterating that the new association could be a "positive addition" to the men's Tour.

In a stunning move Djokovic stepped down as head of the ATP player council last month along with members Vasek Pospisil, John Isner and Sam Querrey and announced the formation of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA).

"I did meet Andrea. We had a player meeting and he did a presentation for us. It was about two days ago," the Serb told reporters

after moving into the third round in Rome with a win over Italian wildcard Salvatore Caruso.

"We stayed for about two and a half hours and I stayed all the way through. I had a chat with him as well privately. We don't have any issues. "We always had a very transparent and open relationship, Andrea and myself. We have known each other for many years. I respect him a lot."

Djokovic has described the PTPA, which he said has already attracted the support of more than 200 players, as a platform for the views of the athletes that can coexist with the ATP. Tennis governing bodies have, however, opposed the move and called for unity now that the sport has resumed after a

lengthy shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "We never said we want to boycott or separate ourselves from the ATP or anything like that. We want to work together in this ecosystem with ATP and everyone else," Djokovic said. "The Players Association is going forward, it's very important for us to have a 100pc players representation."

Djokovic's move has met opposition from Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal while acting player council president Kevin Anderson failed to see how the PTPA could co-exist with the ATP under the current structure.

Djokovic said he had exchanged greetings with Nadal in Rome but was yet to chat with the Spaniard about the PTPA.

Upon their arrival at the central stations, they will undergo a disinfection process and will be given separate accommodation.

The Board said those who return positive in the tests conducted at the central stations will be isolated for five days and tested twice. If these players or support staff personnel continue to test positive, they would have to undergo a two-week self-isolation and return two negative results before their integration in the bio-secure zone.

It said the players who toured England for three Tests and three T20Is will travel to Multan on September 23 and after their second negative test will join their respective domestic teams on September 25 as they have been granted a period of relaxation following their 10week-long tour.

England’s bio-secure bubbles a blueprint for others, says Morgan AGENCIES The England and Wales Cricket Board’s successful completion of their summer schedule inside bio-secure ‘bubbles’ is a blueprint for other countries to stage matches amid the Covid-19 pandemic, one-day international (ODI) skipper Eoin Morgan said. England returned to action following the Covid-19 stoppage in July with three tests against the West Indies in bio-secure venues at Southampton and Manchester before matches across all three formats against Ireland, Pakistan and Australia. “From where we were five months ago to have had a full set of international fixtures and to have cricket back on the TV is huge for the game,” Morgan told reporters. “I think we’ve pioneered and mapped out exactly how to get cricket back on. Given we’ve had no positive cases within the bubble I think it’s a very good example and one every team around the world will look at. “Whether they can model it exactly like that might be a bit more challenging but I think the ECB has done an outstanding job.”

Buzz missing but IPL aims to bring normality amid pandemic AGENCIES After months of uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the delayed season of the popular Indian Premier League will kick off in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday with a clash between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.

The 2020 edition of the world's richest Twenty20 league was originally scheduled to begin on March 29 in India but had to be postponed indefinitely by the country's cricket board (BCCI) due to worsening situation of the pandemic.

IPL's cancellation would have meant a potential $534 million loss in revenue, leading the board to shift the tournament out of India, which is the world's second-worst affected country with over five million cases of coronavirus infections. The postponement of this year's Twenty20 World Cup in Australia because of the pandemic also helped. It presented a window in the international cricket calendar for the

eight-team league, which is attended by most of the world's top players.

The matches will be held in bio-secure bubbles in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi in front of empty stands but organisers are hoping to allow some fans during the later stages of the tournament, which will end on November 10.

While it will be impossible to create the usual carnival-like atmosphere in the stands, BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly felt organising the event was an attempt to bring normality to people's life in India, which has been battered by the virus.

“Crowds will watch it on television [...] they (broadcasters) are actually expecting the highest rating of IPL this season because they believe if (people) don't turn up in the ground, they will be actually watching on their television sets,” former India captain Ganguly said.

“There is a positive in everything.”

It will not be the first time that the competition has had to be held outside India. The 2009 edition took place in

CMYK

South Africa as it coincided with India's general elections and the UAE hosted the early matches of the eight-team tournament five years later for the same reason. But finding a host country was not the only challenge in organising the IPL for the powerful Indian board as the tournament lost its title sponsor a month before its scheduled start.

Amid a growing backlash against Chinese companies in India and a weak business environment following the pandemic, smartphone maker Vivo pulled out of this year's edition.

Fantasy gaming company Dream11 came in as a replacement, paying the league 50 per cent less than Vivo, which had secured the 2018-2022 rights for nearly $293m. “When you encounter such challenging times and the tournament faced such impediments, you are bound to lose on certain revenues,” BCCI treasurer Arun Sigh Dhumal told Reuters. “Looking at the overall picture, one should be happy that at least something is happening in this environment.”

NOTABLE ABSENTEES: There will, however, be some notable absentees at this year's event. The English duo of Chris Woakes and Jason Roy, Sri Lanka pace spearhead LasithMalinga and the Indian pair of Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh have all pulled out of the tournament citing personal reasons.

The Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians, who beat Chennai by one run in last year's final to win their fourth title in seven years, once again look the team to beat with a balanced squad.

Chennai, led by their charismatic captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will have to find a way to compensate for the absence of experienced Raina and Harbhajan if they are to win a fourth title and match Mumbai as the most successful side in the IPL. Captained by India skipper Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore remain one of the three existing franchises never to have won the tournament but seem to have their addressed bowling woes to complement batting strength.

Friday, 18 September, 2020

Prayer Timings

NEWS

AmId IsrAel PeACe treAtIes, PAkIstAn reAffIrms CAll for IndePendent PAlestIne

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NEWS DESK

AKISTAN on Thursday reaffirmed its call for an independent Palestinian state under the United Nations' (UN) resolutions, a few days after Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates inked peace deals to normalise ties with Israel.

Pakistan reaffirms stand on Palestine of [two] state solution as enshrined in UN resolutions," Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in a tweet.

"Palestinian's right to self determination is inalienable [and] we renew call for

establishment of independent State of Palestine on basis of internationally agreed parameters with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as capital," he added.

According to the normalisation deal, Israel has pledged to suspend its planned annexation of Palestinian lands in exchange for normalisation of ties with the UAE. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that did not mean Israel was abandoning plans to annex the Jordan Valley and Jewish settlements across the occupied West Bank.

The agreement was the product of

lengthy discussions between Israel, the UAE and the United States that accelerated recently, White House officials said.

A joint statement issued by the three nations said US President Donald Trump, Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed had “agreed to the full normalisation of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates”.

The statement said that “as a result of this diplomatic breakthrough and at the request of President Trump with the support of the United Arab Emirates, Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty”

over areas of the West Bank that were envisioned in a US plan announced by Trump in January. However, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader said the UAE, by signing an agreement to normalise relations with Tehran's arch-foe Israel, has betrayed the whole Muslim world.

"The UAE betrayed the world of Islam, the Arab nations, the region's countries, and Palestine," Khamenei said in a speech, excerpts of which were broadcast by state television. "Of course, this betrayal won't last long but the stigma will stay with them," he added.

Shahbaz asks lawyers not to politicise Justice Isa case, urges accountability of all BILAWAL ASKS OPP TO UNITE AND GET RID OF ‘HYBRID REGIME’ OF PTI ISLAMABAD mian aBrar

Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly (NA) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday urged against politicising the case of Justice Qazi Faez Isa. Addressing the All Parties Conference (APC), the PML-N president said that the nation appreciated the “exemplary” sacrifices made by the Bhutto family for democracy.

He also criticised the judges who spoke of the doctrine of the necessity for the first time. “We will also remember judges like Justice Kayani and the judge who said that Bhutto's decision was made under pressure,” he said.

He added that “the constitution unites us all”.

Shehbaz said that a special campaign was launched against political parties in two and a half years.

"We are going through the mill of revenge, not accountability," he remarked.

He said that more than half of the people in the federal cabinet would not be able to survive if they were held accountable.

The PML-N leader added that accountability should not be pick-and-choose but everyone should be held to the same standard without discrimination. Criticising Prime Minister Imran Khan, Shehbaz said, “[Imran] does not realize that every part of the country is sacred.”

Referring to Balochistan, he said that more investment was needed to solve the problems of the province. He said that even during the rule of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Punjab took over the financial difficulties of other provinces. “Can we not bring the four provinces to-

gether?" he asked.

Citing the example of Europe, Shahbaz said that millions of people died in the wars in France and Britain, but today they have common markets.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari called upon all the opposition parties to formulate a joint strategy to get rid of what he called the "hybrid regime" of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, liberate the parliament and then liberate this country.

Bilawal made a veiled attack on the former chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and said that after the 18th Amendment in the Constitution, an institution got 19th Constitutional Amendment passed by threatening the then elected government.

“We must now demand that this amendment be repealed,” said Bilawal, adding that the people, bar councils and parliament should have the biggest role in the process of appointment of judges.

“If you have to run every politician of this country through sticks and courts, then this company will not run,” he said.

Bilawal said that PPP and PML-N had prepared a framework for the independence of the judiciary in the Charter of Democracy and both did their part in it.

“What the rest was up to the judiciary, which has not been done yet,” he said, adding that his party had upheld the public opinion, representation of provinces and parliament in the appointment of judges but "one institution" took the procedure of appointment of judges as a threat.

“If the procedure for appointment of judges is not changed, the 1973 constitution will be wrapped up,” he argued. Criticising the accountability process in the country, Bilawal said, "I have been watching accountability,

judiciary and jails with my mother Benazir Bhutto since I was a two-year-old. Benazir Bhutto was acquitted in all cases but unfortunately she is not with us today”.

Bilawal said that civil liberties, political and human rights, media and judiciary have been deprived in Pakistan.

“In the 'State of Medina', no one can write a book in the year 2020; no one can tweet, no politician can give interviews. Interviews are cut off during broadcast. This is not the way of humans and living nations,” he said.

Bilawal said that today, all the conscious sections of the country should come up with the same position that we are not ready to compromise on civil liberties, human rights, media, parliament and independence of the judiciary. Bilawal asserted that PPP and Bhutto family have made many sacrifices for democracy and constitution in Pakistan.

“Now we want a blood count. This constitution is made of blood and we will protect it. First, the parliament and then the country will be liberated,” he said.

Referring to the passage of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-related bills on Wednesday, Bilawal said that the bills were forcibly passed by disenfranchising the parliament.

"Mr speaker [Asad Qaiser], you are not ready to accept the right of a recount of votes. We will also be forced to think about how long parliament will remain a rubber stamp. Even today there are deadly attacks, character assassination but we stand firm. Whatever democracy and freedom of media today we have is a result of our sacrifices,” said the PPP chairman.

"We are not ready to compromise on human rights.

My family has made many sacrifices. Now we want accountability. Whether it is the 18th Amendment, the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award or human rights, we are not ready to compromise," Bilawal concluded.

Emirates airline to produce kosher meals as Israel beckons DUBai agenCies

The Emirates airline group unveiled plans Thursday to produce kosher meals in keeping with Jewish dietary rules, two days after the UAE and Israel signed a deal to normalise ties.

Dubai-based Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, is expected to start flying to the Jewish state by the end of the year, Israeli and Emirati officials have said.

Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC) was already offering kosher meals to its passengers via an outsourced supplier, but now it says it will "set up a dedicated production facility" expected to be up and running by January 2021 at its premises in the UAE.

The new facility will be set up as a partnership with CCL Holdings dubbed "Kosher Arabia", EKFC said in a statement. "With recent developments we expect that demand for kosher food in the UAE and region will grow quickly," Emirates Flight Catering CEO Saeed Mohammed said in the statement. "We will also explore opening restaurants across Dubai and the GCC (the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council)."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed US-brokered agreements at the White House on Tuesday to normalise relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The UAE is the first Gulf country to reach such an accord with the Jewish state and only the third Arab country, after Jordan and Egypt.

On August 31, an El Al airliner carrying a joint Israeli-

US delegation landed in Abu Dhabi on the first direct commercial flight from Tel Aviv to the UAE capital.

Hard hit by the coronavirus, the UAE and Israel expect rapid dividends from their normalisation deal.

Dubai, which has the most diversified economy in the region, saw its GDP contract 3.5 percent in the first quarter following two years of modest growth. Its Emirates airline was forced to downsize and cut thousands of jobs.

Tourism has long been the economic mainstay of Dubai, which welcomed more than 16 million visitors last year. Before the pandemic crippled global travel, the aim was to reach 20 million this year.

Currently most of the millions of Israelis who travel abroad each year head to Europe or the United States, but that could now change.

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56 Indian fishermen held from Pakistani territorial waters KARACHI TLTP

Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) on Thursday captured at least ten Indian boats and arrested 56 fishermen for violating and entering Pakistani territorial waters. The boats violating the sea border and breaking into Pakistani waters were carrying around 56 fishermen, the PMSA confirmed as they acted swiftly against the transgressors on information conveyed to them. The PMSA has taken into custody all the ten boats and the 56 passengers, who happen to be fishermen, for violating the international border. All the captured boats brandished Indian flags, the maritime agency said. Amongst the Indian fishermen who trespassed into Pakistani territorial waters, 12 had been arrested before for the same violation, PMSA confirmed. The PMSA said it responded to a concrete report it received of the violation and acted on it with its waters and air teams assigned to the case. Earlier in July, the government of Pakistan shared with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad a list of 324 Indian nationals incarcerated in Pakistani prisons, including 270 fishermen and 54 civilian prisoners. This step is consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on 21 May 2008, under which both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice a year, on 1st January and 1st July, respectively, a statement issued by the Foreign Office said.

Coronavirus epicentre Wuhan re-opens for international flights BEIJING agenCies

China's Wuhan, ground zero for the coronavirus outbreak sweeping the globe, has reopened for international flights, ending an eight-month moratorium since the deadly disease first emerged.China stopped international flights in March as global alarm increased about the spread of Covid-19, but has now largely brought the disease under control at home through travel restrictions, testing and lockdowns.A flight operated by South Korean carrier T'way landed at Wuhan's Tianhe International Airport Wednesday morning with 60 passengers, state broadcaster CCTV reported.Officials in white hazmat suits, masks and visors were seen checking the passports of arriving passengers.All international passengers arriving in Wuhan have to pass a test within 72 hours of departure, Li Yizhuo, director of Wuhan's Civil Aviation Office, told CCTV.China still bans most foreigners from entering and those allowed have to undergo two weeks of quarantine.South Korean budget carrier T'way will operate one weekly round-trip flight between Wuhan and Incheon International Airport, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).Other major Chinese cities -- including Beijing and Shanghai -already allow direct international flights, but have tightened visa processes and health checks.

Showdown set as US to declare UN sanctions on Iran are back WASHINGTON agenCies

n defiance of overwhelming opposition, the United States is preparing to declare that all international sanctions against Iran have been restored. Few countries believe the move is legal, and such action could provoke a credibility crisis at the United Nations.

Virtually alone in the world, the Trump administration will announce on Saturday that UN sanctions on Iran eased under the 2015 nuclear deal are back in force. But the other members of the UN Security Council, including US allies, disagree and have vowed to ignore the step. That sets the stage for ugly confrontations as the world body prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary at a coronavirus-restricted General Assembly

session next week.

The question is how the Trump administration will respond to being ignored. It already has slapped extensive sanctions on Iran, but could impose penalties on countries that don’t enforce the UN sanctions it claims to have reimposed. A wholesale rejection of the US position could push the administration, which has already withdrawn from multiple UN agencies, organizations and treaties, further away from the international community.

In the midst of a heated campaign for reelection, President Donald Trump plans to address Iran in a speech to the General Assembly on Tuesday. Officials say he will also touch on his brokering of agreements for Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to normalize relations in part to so-

lidify a regional bulwark against Iran.

And, as he seeks to demonstrate statesmanlike credentials ahead of the election, Trump has injected another element of uncertainty into the mix by threatening to retaliate “1,000 times” harder against Iran if it attacks US personnel overseas.

His tweeted warning came earlier this week in response to a report that Iran is plotting to assassinate the US ambassador to South Africa in retaliation for the US killing of a top Iranian general at the beginning of the year. Neither Trump nor any other senior US official has confirmed such a plot exists, although they have said Iran has a long history of political assassinations.

Amid uncertainty over that, the other 14 members of the Security Council and all but about five of the UN’s 195 member states

say the US lost its legal standing to act on sanctions when Trump withdrew from the nuclear accord more than two years ago. The U.S. argues it retains the right to enact the “snapback” of sanctions because the council resolution that endorsed the deal refers to it as a participant.

“These will be valid U.N. Security Council (actions) and the United States will do what it always does, it will do its share as part of its responsibilities to enable peace,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday. “We’ll do all the things we need to do to ensure that those sanctions are enforced.”

Pompeo traveled to the United Nations on Aug. 20 to formally notify the Security Council that the US was triggering snapback because Iran is not complying with the nu-

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

clear deal. He dismissed suggestions that the administration was engaged in anything legally questionable or even controversial.

He said the snapback mechanism was the “one thing that the previous administration got right” in the nuclear deal that Trump has denounced as the worst deal ever negotiated. The agreement was a signature foreign policy achievement of President Barack Obama and gave Iran billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on it nuclear program.

Yet, aside from Israel and the Gulf Arab states, almost no country in the world agrees with the US Russia and China, along with American allies Britain, France and Germany, who often disagree but remain parties to the 2015 agreement, are united in declaring the US action “illegal.”