Epaper – February 01-2022 ISB

Tuesday, 1 February, 2022 I 28 Jamadi-al-Sani, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 214 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

‘Under pressUre’ Gilani annoUnces resiGnation as senate opposition leader

SC suspends LHC order on Ravi Riverfront project News Desk The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday suspended the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) decision to scrap the Ravi River front Urban Development Project and allowed the government to resume work.

Earlier on January 25, the LHC had dealt a blow to the government’s plan by declaring several provisions of the Ravi Urban Development Authority (Ruda) Act 2020 unconstitutional.

Subsequently, PM Imran Khan had said that his government’s legal team could not present the case before the LHC effectively followed by his indirect announcement that the administration will approach the apex court to contest the high court verdict. While hearing the appeal filed by the Punjab government today, a three-member bench headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan set aside the LHC verdict and ruled that the construction could go ahead on land where the owners had been paid. However, it restrained the authorities from any work on any land where actual landowners were yet to be compensated.

The SC remarked that it will review whether intra-court appeals can be made, also saying that the respondents in the case could submit additional documents in the case within a month.

The bench also asked Advocate General Punjab Ahmed Owais the reason for not filing an intra-court appeal against the high court decision. To this, the AG pointed out that the Supreme Court was the ultimate forum for seeking relief.

The LHC’s Justice Shahid Karim had also declared the acquisition of agricultural land for the project unconstitutional and in violation of the fundamental rights of citizens.

He further directed the Ravi Urban Development Authority to return a loan of Rs5 billion to the Punjab government within two months and ruled that the authority had failed to comply with the laws and initiated the project without a master plan.

Justice Karim further said that the Ruda (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 also failed to cover legal infirmities in the law. The judge ruled that the notification issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act 1894 had not been released in accordance with the law. The land collectors failed to legally acquire the land for the

Bilawal rejects Gilani's resignation g Gill terms Bilawal ’s rejection of resignation as ‘ political circus’ g

IsLAMABAD

U

Staff RepoRt

nDER immense pressure from the party lawmakers and leadership of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for skipping the crucial session of the Upper House of the Parliament last Friday, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday announced to step down as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. However, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari refused to accept Gilani’s resignation as the leader of the Opposition in the Senate.

The PPP chairman appreciated Gilani’s services and called them a ‘shining example’ for the democrats and said that the representatives of PPP hold themselves responsible.

Expressing regret over the role of chairman Senate in the passing of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Amendment Bill, 2021, Bilawal said that the chairman passed the bill “in connivance with the government.”

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill called this move a “political circus” in a tweet.

Taking a swipe at the PPP chairman, he said that Gilani did not participate in the voting at Bilawal’s request,” adding that, “the bill was passed with your help, so you will obviously reject his resignation”.

Gilani was among at least eight opposition senators who had skipped last Friday’s Senate session, which allowed the Pakistan Tehreeki-Insaf (PTI)-led government to narrowly manage to get the crucial

State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill passed from the Upper House.

Gilani, however, did not elabourate what made him to step down as leader of the opposition.

However, sources within the PPP told Pakistan Today that Gilani was under immense pressure from the party’s lawmakers and leadership for abstaining the Senate session last Friday which gave the government an opportunity to get the controversial law on SBP passed from Senate.

Several PPP Senators had also publicly criticised him and other lawmakers for abstaining the key session.

A few outspoken members had also questioned Gilani’s loyalty to the party. During his speech in the Senate, Gilani alleged that due procedure was not followed in the passage of the bill by the government.

He said that debate was not allowed on the important bill, adding that it is inappropriate to put the bill on the agenda in the dead of the night. He lamented the fact that the

coronavirUs in

pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,425,039

LAST UPDATED AT 7:30 AM ON JANUARY 31, 2022

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

21

7,048

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

1,291,725 29,269 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

541,693

478,527

KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

194,166

34,390

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

38,115/10,651

127,497

agenda was not even referred to the relevant standing committee, adding that this was the democratic norm. He said that the Senate chairman and national Assembly speaker were custodian of both the houses and their role should be neutral.

He said that he has submitted his resignation as the leader of the opposition to his party leadership and does not want to continue top lead the opposition benches in the Senate. Taking the podium, Leader of the House Dr Shazad Waseem said that the government had nothing to do with the presence of the leader of the opposition in the Senate but is thankful to him for not attending the January 27 session.

He said that there is no restriction to bring any supplementary agenda in the House, adding that the argument of the opposition leader is not correct regarding the introduction of the bill.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

project, the judge added.

The petitioners had challenged the mode and manner of land acquisition proceedings undertaken for the project by Ravi Urban Development Authority. They said the land acquisition collector, despite a protest by the landowners, passed 18 awards on a single day amounting to billions of rupees.

Farmers, landowners and developers had filed petitions through lawyers Sheraz Zaka, Ahmad Rafay Alam, Azhar Siddique, Waqar A. Sheikh and others.

In a hurriedly moved appeal through Punjab Advocate General Ahmed Awais with the top court on Friday, the provincial government adopted the stance that the high court had failed to consider that the Ruda ordinance had already adopted the 2015 Master Plan of the Lahore Development Authority and encompassed almost all the schemes falling within the purview of the plan for the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project.

The petition regretted that with the stroke of a pen the high court wrapped up the $20 billion project by declaring certain sections of the Act unconstitutional. The LHC could not intervene in light of various pronouncements by the Supreme Court and thus stall the entire development process, it stated.

It had pleaded that the LHC failed to appreciate that the Environmental Impact Assessment for the project under Section 12 of the Punjab Environment Protection Act 1997 had already been granted, therefore, the case should not have proceeded on unsubstantial and vague contentions.

Meanwhile, the prime minister had recorded a video message at the site of the project on Friday, where he also got a detailed briefing about the billion dollars project. “The project is not about establishing housing societies, but creating a new planned city after Islamabad,” the premier had said.

Explaining other benefits of the project, he said it would save River Ravi as wastewater treatment plants would be installed to treat sewage before draining it into the river. Barrages would be constructed on the river bed to hold water and help increase the water table of Lahore city.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

COAS Bajwa, EU Envoy discuss regional security situation RAwALPINDI Staff RepoRt

Ambassador of European Union (EU) Ms Androulla Kaminara called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at GHQ on Monday, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

According to the military media wing, during the meeting of EU Envoy with Army Chief Gen. Bajwa, the matters of mutual interest, regional security situation including current Afghanistan situation and bilateral cooperation with the EU came under discussion.

The visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan’s role in Afghan situation, efforts for regional stability and pledged to play her role for further improvements in diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels.

MORE INSIDE

Court holds illegal buildings responsible for Murree’s worsening infrastructure

PDM finalises strategy to ensure success of long march STORY ON BACK PAGE

An era of political Punjab pharmacies run short vengeance dissipating of fever, antiviral medicines gradually: Shehbaz Sharif STORY ON PAGE 02

STORY ON PAGE 03

STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Tuesday, 1 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

Court holds illegal buildings responsible for Murree’s worsening infrastruCture RAWALPInDI

govt welcomes suggestions on law reforms package approved by cabinet: babar awan ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Babar Awan has said the government welcomes suggestions on its law reforms package approved by the cabinet recently to dispense speedy justice to the people. Talking to the media persons in Islamabad on Monday, he clarified that the law reforms package will not be enforced through an ordinance but rather will be laid before the parliament for detailed discussion at the level of standing committees. He said we are open for positive suggestions. The adviser said the law reforms were neglected by the previous governments but the PTI government will go ahead with them. He said judicial reforms are also need of the hour. Babar Awan said it is the first time in the country’s history that the process of accountability has moved forward and the powerful people were brought under the ambit of law. He said the process of reforms is continuing in every sector and efforts are afoot to make the institutions effective. Babar Awan said the economy is reviving and the fact is being acknowledged by several international institutions. He said our Sehat Insaaf Card is a landmark scheme under which every household can available medical treatment up to one million rupees even at private hospitals. He said the future of Pakistan is bright. He said the government will not only complete its mandated term but on the basis of performance, Imran Khan will also be reelected as the country’s Prime Minister.

fia ‘irks’ over pta delaying tactics to ban 1600 crypto websites ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has decided to take the issue to higher-ups after Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) did not ban 1600 websites involved in trading of crypto currency. The FIA gave multiple reminders to the website block/unblock authority—PTA—but the authority did not answer any of the reminders. Sources said that FIA will take up the matter with the higher ups of the PTA to block the 1600 websites of the crypto currency. Earlier, a committee constituted by the Sindh High Court (SHC) in its report recommended a complete ban on cryptocurrency and related activities in the country. A two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha directed the committee to send its report to the ministries of finance and law to consider it at a joint meeting and take a final decision whether cryptocurrency was allowed in Pakistan.

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Staff RepoRt

N the next five years, the situation in Murree will worsen if the construction of illegal buildings does not stop, the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench remarked Monday.

The court resumed hearing the case on the Murree disaster that took the lives of 22 tourists.

During the proceeding, the judge called for a detailed report of illegal buildings and encroachments in the hill station.

He sought information on the mechanism of buying and selling land in Murree as well.

The court stressed on educating the public on tourism in the northern areas. “Use media and keep people updated.”

It directed the Punjab tourism secretary to visit all the tourist destinations in the province and overview them. “Go to Kotli Sattian. The city is flooding with trash,” the court pointed out and ordered officials to bring a copy of the Punjab tourism act at the next hearing.

The case was adjourned Till February 7: Earlier this month, a group of citizens filed a petition stating that innocent people lost their lives due to the indifference of the authorities. “There was no traffic or any other plan despite a weather forecast.”

The petitioner added that even hotel owners in Murree charges exorbitant prices despite a blizzard.

Consequently, the court had issued notices to director of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and the commissioner and deputy

commissioner of Rawalpindi.

Meanwhile, in a separate petition filed in the Islamabad High Court, Justice Athar Minallah had declared the National Disaster Management Authority responsible for the tragedy.

It ruled that if another tragedy, like the one in Murree, takes place, the National Disaster Management Commission will be responsible for it.

Last week, Attorney General Khalid Jawed told the court that action against those found responsible for the disaster has started. “A session of the National Disaster Management Commission, too, will soon be called,” he reassured.

It might take some time because the forum is huge and members are unavailable. “If the need arises, we will conduct the session via circulation.”

Ombudsman’s Intervention: S&GAD issues final rent clearance certificates to 908 employees LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Following the directions of Ombudsman Punjab Maj (r) Azam Suleman Khan, the Rent Branch of the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) have issued final rent clearance certificates for the year 2021 to 908 employees who have used government residences. Letters have also been sent to the government employees residing in government residences to clear their rents so that they do not face any delay in getting their pensions on reaching the age of superannuation.

In a statement issued here on Monday, a spokesman

for the provincial ombudsman’s office said that Dr Muhammad Ibrahim, an associate professor at Government College University Lahore, complained to the ombudsman’s office that he has not been issued a rent clearance certificate for around eight long months, and due to it, his pension case has been delayed.

Due to effective follow up of this case by the ombudsman’s office, the S&GAD’s rent controller issued a rent clearance certificate to the applicant to process the pension case.

Taking notice of receipt of Rs.1,580,489, instead of Rs.1,493,895 as the rent of government residence, the ombudsman office has also directed the Treasurer of Government College University Lahore to reimburse the

excess amount of Rs.86,594 to the plaintiff within 30 days.

The spokesman explained that timely issuance of rent certificates is the basic condition for obtaining pensions. Delay in the issuance of rent certificates become a major obstacle in obtaining pensions which put mental and financial pressures on government employees. Recognizing the plight of government employees due to delay in obtaining rent clearance certificates, Ombudsman Maj (r) Azam Suleman Khan has further directed that S&GAD (Welfare Wing) should devise an organized system by which the relevant record would be continuously updated and government employees do not have to re-submit their record after retirement, concluded the spokesman.

ECNEC approves four road infrastructure projects valuing Rs130b for Punjab: Asad ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) at a meeting here has approved four road infrastructure projects for Punjab valuing one hundred and thirty billion rupees.

In a tweet on Monday, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said the road projects include Kamalia-Shorkot-Chowk Azam-Layyah; Hasilpur-

Bahawalnagar; Vehari-Pakpattan-Debalpur and Shorkot-Jhang. The meeting approved K-4 project based on new design at a cost of one hundred and twenty-six billion rupees. He said twenty-six crore gallons of water will reach Karachi by October next year. He said the federal government has fulfilled yet another promise under Karachi s Transformation Plan.

The ECNEC also approved a ninety-six billion rupees project of clean water and sanitation for the rural areas of sixteen tehsils of South Punjab.

Border hurdles hurt Pak-Afghan trade AzIz BunERI Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) CoChairman Khan Jan Alokozay on Monday, said that the present obstacles in trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan will have a negative impact on long term trade between the two countries.

Alokozay said that the obstacles will lead to socio-economic effects on people living on the border, widening trade gap, loss of livelihood, increasing hardships for people and unrest in border areas.

In a statement, Alokozay said that he has shared the activities and initiatives of PAJCCI in raising the voice of the business community of both sides, providing feedback to both governments and bringing issues on the table with the objective of beneficial and long-term

resolution.

He reiterated high impact issues like withdrawal of cash on counter facility, requirement of advance payments and reluctance of banks to accept third party payment in case of Afghanistan leading to halted trade across the border.

He emphasized that currently nonissuance of EIF by State Bank of Pakistan has gravely affected their transactions and requested to abolish this requirement till the appropriate procedure may be devised, as non-issuance of these forms lead to halting consignments and creating congestion at the border.

PAJCCI has also been instrumental in convincing the Afghan government to develop a mechanism for barter trade and will support all related chambers working with PAJCCI to trade equally in Afghanistan.

It was also agreed that joint investment opportunities, policy and guidelines for joint and bilateral investments will be developed, trade promotion facilitation, cooperation in agriculture sector, frequent exchange of trade & economic delegations will be undertaken.

Pakistan National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf during his visit to Kabul met with Taliban’s acting deputy Prime Minister, Abdul Salam Hanafi. During the meeting Hanafi invited Pakistani entrepreneurs and companies to invest in Afghanistan’s energy, mining, and agriculture sectors.

PAJCCI Chairman, Muhammad Zubair Motiwala considered this an important milestone and urged Government of Pakistan to facilitate visit of business delegations across the border to ensure reaping of benefits mutually.

Tuesday, 1 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

punjab pharMaCies run short of fever, antiviral MediCines LAHORE

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Staff RepoRt

HARMACIES in Punjab are facing an acute shortage of fever and virus treatment drugs at a time when the country is facing the fifth wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has instructed the authorities to take strong action against those responsible for the shortage of medicines in the market.

Punjab Health Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch has stated that there is no shortage of fever medicine in the province. The province now has 68.6 million pills still available in stock, he added.

As many as 7,048 more Pakistanis tested positive for Covid-19, keeping the country’s number of active cases above the 100,000 mark for the third consecutive day, the National Command and Operation Centre’s

(NCOC) data showed on Monday.

The new infections, detected during the last 24 hours after 61,077 diagnostic tests were performed across the country, placed Covid-19 positivity ratio at 11.53% and confirmed case count at 1.425 million.

Meanwhile, 21 coronavirus patients succumbed to the disease overnight, pushing the nationwide death toll to 29,269.

With the continuous uptick in Pakistan’s coronavirus stats, 1,423 coronavirus patients are said to be in critical condition. The NCOC has extended coronavirus curbs in the country from January 31 till February 15, as thousands continue to contract the infection amid a spread in the Omicron variant.

The forum had imposed non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on January 19, which were to be reviewed on January 27 in light of the Covid-19 situation in the country. The restrictions for the

wedding sector were already imposed till Feb 15.

While the countrywide coronavirus situation remains critical, Peshawar is currently the most affected city by the Omicron-driven fifth wave, with 39.63% Covid-19 positivity rate. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mardan reported 31.08% positivity, the second-highest across the country.

Marriyum Aurangzeb, a spokesperson for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Sunday slammed the government over the country’s medicine shortage. The former information minister said in a tweet that the shortage of a common fever-treating tablet is “shameful” while the country is going through the fifth coronavirus pandemic wave.

She criticised the government, claiming that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s administration had cut youth employment chances, medical care for the sick, and fertiliser for farmers.

NEWS

03

terrorist killed, arms, explosives recovered in north waziristan ibo: ispr RAWALPInDI Staff RepoRt

petrol prices remain unchanged StAff REPORt The Government of Pakistan has decided not to increase the prices of petroleum products for the first 15 days of February 2021. Taking to Twitter, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill said that Prime Minister Imran Khan did not approve the summary of increasing petrol price by Rs11 and diesel by Rs14. “The prime minister has said that oil prices were rising due to increasing inflation all over the world but the government would do its utmost [best] to save the people of Pakistan from inflation. Therefore, the prime minister has deferred this summary.” Last week, sources said the price of petroleum products was expected to shoot up by Rs10 for the next month in line with the rising rates in the international market. Industry sources had told media that the price of petrol would move up by Rs7 per litre, while the rate of diesel will increase by Rs10 per litre. The government had on January 15 announced a Rs3.01 increase in the price of petrol owing to the rising petroleum prices in the international market. According to a notification by the Finance Division, besides petrol, an increase in other petroleum products was also enforced from January 16.

oiCCi elects engro Ceo ghias Khan as president nEWS DESk Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OICCI) on Monday, elected Engro Corp President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ghias Khan as its president. “We are pleased to inform you that the results of the 2022 Managing Committee election were announced in the 162nd Annual General Meeting of OICCI today. Mr Ghias Uddin Khan, President & Chief Executive Officer, Engro Corporation has taken over as president,” read a press release by OICCI. Moreover, Unilever Chairman & CEO Amir Rasool Paracha was elected as the vicepresident. Other newly elected members of managing committee include Chevron Pakistan Lubricants (Pvt.) Limited Country Chairman and Business Manager Ahmed Zahid Zaheer, FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited Managing Director Ali Ahmed Khan, GlaxoSmithKline Pakistan Limited CEO Erum Shakir Rahim, Indus Motors Company Limited CEO Ali Asghar Jamali, Nestlé Pakistan Limited Country Manager Samer Chedid, SHELL Pakistan Limited Managing Director Waqar Irshad Siddiqui, Siemens Pakistan Engineering Company Limited Managing Director Markus Strohmeier and Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited CEO Rehan Muhammad Shaikh. “The OICCI Secretariat congratulates all the above persons and looks forward to working closely with the newly elected Managing Committee for further raising the profile of the chamber and its members,” read the press release. OICCI plays a major role in promoting foreign investments in the country through facilitating foreign investors and assisting the government with policy formulation that directly impacts foreign investments. The chamber currently comprises around 200 members, representing 35 countries and 14 sectors of trade and industry.

Personal enmity led to Sanghar journalist shot dead: Nasir Shah kARAcHI Staff RepoRt

Sindh Minister for Local Bodies, Syed Nasir Shah on Monday claimed local journalist Murtaza Shar was shot dead over personal enmity.

Reacting to the killing of a local journalist associated with a private news channel, Nasir Shah in his Tweet said it is wrong to blame the Sindh government for the killing of Murtaza Shar.

Shar was shot dead in Sanghar’s Jhol by Ali Murad Shar of his own community over a marriage dispute.

Police arrested the killer within few hours after the incident. On Sunday, the unknown assailants riding a motorcycle opened fire on Murtaza Shar in Jhol. He suffered injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died during treatment.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry condemned the killing of a local journalist in Sanghar. Taking to Twitter, Fawad

seven infants die at larkana’s Chandka hospital LARkAnA Staff RepoRt

Chaudhry said that the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, chief secretary and IGP Sindh would be apprised about the federal government concerns on the security issue of journalists in Sindh.

I’m sorry and I’ll fix it, says UK’s Johnson after lockdown party report AgEncIES British Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologised and vowed to “fix it” after a report on Monday into lockdown parties held at his Downing Street residence criticised serious failures at the heart of government.

A report by senior civil servant Sue Gray into lockdown-breaking gatherings at Downing Street under Johnson condemned some of the behaviour in government as being “difficult to justify”.

“I want to say sorry,” Johnson told parliament.

“Sorry for the things we simply did not get right and sorry for the way that this matter has been handled.”

Johnson said the government had to learn from the criticisms raised, and that he would make changes to his Downing Street operation.

“I get it and I will fix it,” he said. “And I want to say to the people of this country. I know what the issue is, it is whether this government can be trusted to deliver and I say yes we can be trusted, yes we can be trusted to deliver.”

reporT criTicises lockdown parTies aT johnson’s oFFice: The inquiry said that some events at Johnson’s office and residence during a Covid-19 lockdown should not have taken place, describing serious failures of leadership and judgment at the heart of the British government.

In her inquiry into lockdown-breaking gatherings at Downing Street under Johnson, senior civil servant Gray condemned some of the behaviour in government as being “difficult to justify”.

But she also said she could not offer a “meaningful report” — an apparent acknowledgement of a police investigation into other gatherings which led to only an abridged version of the report being released. These include one in the prime minister’s flat above his Number 10 office.

Gray’s report looked into what has become weeks of a steady drip of stories about events in Downing Street during the Covid-19 lockdown, with reports of aides stuffing a suitcase full of supermarket alcohol and dancing until the early hours.

SSGCL, SNGPL asked to submit report regarding ongoing gas crisis AHMAD AHMADAnI The Petroleum Division has asked Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) to submit a report regarding the current gas crisis and formulate a comprehensive plan to control gas shortage next year.

According to sources, the petroleum division has now swung into action and asked both state-owned gas companies SNGPL and SSGCL to urgently submit details regarding the ongoing gas crisis of the country and natural gas demand and supply planning for the next year.

“Petroleum Division has moved to action only after the Prime Minister took notice of the ongoing gas crisis during a recent meeting of the federal cabinet,” said sources.

They added that the division has also asked the two gas companies to present a comprehensive gas plan to avoid gas load shedding during the next winter season.

A wanted terrorist was killed, arms and explosives were recovered in intelligence based operation in North Waziristan on Monday, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). According to military’s media wing, the security forces on an intelligence tip-off regarding presence of extremist conducted operation in Dosali area of North Waziristan district. During security forces action, a terrorist identified as Mubeen alias Majrooh wanted in terrorist target killings and kidnapping for ransom was killed besides recovery of arms, ammunition and explosives.

Petroleum Division’s Directorate General of Gas, in a letter dated 24th January 2022, has asked the managing directors (MDs) of SSGCL and SNGPL to submit a report on 25th January 2022 regarding the measures so far adopted to manage the gas shortage during this winter. The sources also said that the Energy Ministry has miserably failed to import the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to meet the gas demand of the country despite the gas shortage prediction.

Prime Minister Imran Khan while chairing a recent meeting of the federal cabinet had taken serious notice of the ongoing gas crisis of the country and directed to submit details in this regard.

It is pertinent to mention that the country has been facing the gas shortages from a long time during the peak winter season due to widening demand and supply gap as local natural gas fields have been facing a depletion of about 9 per cent each year.

The shortage of oxygen and ventilators has resulted in the deaths of seven infants in the Children Ward of Larkana’s Chandka Hospital during the last 24 hours, sources said on Monday.

On the other hand, the hospital’s Medical Superintendent (MS), Dr. Abdus Sattar Sheikh has denied that any infant has died, and has claimed that the situation in the Ward is under control.

Five of the dead have been identified as Asma Baby, Aqsa, Shah Zain, Asad and Hanif.

Following frequent incidents of deaths, people have started shifting their kids from the Children Ward to the Private Ward. Talking to reporters Javed Shah, a father, said his son Aun Muhammad Shah was admitted in the ward. “But after seeing children dying, I had to shift him to the private ward,” he said, and added, “I myself testify that the infants had died due to the shortage of oxygen as well as ventilators.”

ashrafi condemns killing of Christian priest in peshawar nEWS DESk Police on Monday launched a probe into the killing of a Christian priest — who was shot dead by unidentified attackers — in Peshawar, according to Geo News. The matter was sent to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) after a section related to terrorism was added to the First Information Report (FIR). Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, Special Representative to the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony Tahir Ashrafi strongly condemned the target killing of the priest — identified as William Siraj — and termed it a conspiracy against the country by antistate elements. He said that it was highly deplorable incident of target killing, adding that it was not the assassination of a Christian priest rather it was killing of a Pakistani, which would not be tolerated and the culprits would soon be brought to justice. He said that the incident was an attempt to sabotage peace and interfaith harmony in the society by India, who had been involved in such criminal activities in the past. He said that the Pakistan Ulema Council also condemned the killing of William Siraj and gave a strong message to the world that Muslim and minority communities are united in Pakistan. The last rites of the priest were carried out on Sunday and his funeral was attended by Pakistan Tehreeki-Insaaf MNA Jamshed Thomas. Talking about the incident, Thomas had said that the investigation would be completed soon and those involved would be brought to justice.

Tuesday, 1 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

04 NEWS two traffic police personnel martyred in hangu firing HANGU

ConservAtion of historiC nAnDnA fort fACes DelAys

Staff RepoRt

Two traffic police personnel were martyred in firing of unidentified armed motorcyclists here on Monday. This was the second terrorist attack within days in Hangu. A few days back, terrorists had attacked an oil well and had killed a guard and kidnapped a company official at an oil well. According to details, unknown gunmen riding a motorcycle sprayed bullets at traffic police personnel in Doaba area of district Hangu of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Two traffic police personnel engaged in routine duty were martyred in firing and the attackers fled the scene. The bodies of martyred cops were shifted to hospital for postmortem. The police cordoned off the area after the attack and started search operation for the assailants.

nadra to convert iD cards into digital wallets News Desk The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) is planning to make the computerised national identity cards digital wallets under the government’s Digital Pakistan vision and an update to an already existing app will likely be made available later this year. In this regard, Nadra chief Tariq Malik stated that “Translating this vision into reality, we have launched the ‘Pak Identity’ mobile app as a key building block of digital ID to facilitate applicants of national identity cards through an online portal. The app helps capture biometric fingerprints, facial recognition and scan documents needed for processing a person’s ID card using smartphones, without visiting a Nadra office or embassy” Mr Malik said that with the launch of this app, Pakistan has become the first country to implement “contactless biometric” acquisition and verification using smartphone cameras. “With successful testing on 75,000 overseas Pakistanis, Nadra will go for a digital wallet,” he said. “In a short span, 75,000 overseas Pakistanis have processed their national identity cards [called Nicop] from the comfort of their homes by using the app, which is supported by two-factor authentication,” he explained. explaining the features of digital wallet, the Nadra chairman said it would be a unique digital ID. “This innovation will revolutionise the national ID ecosystem in Pakistan by ensuring public convenience, and is a leap forward putting an end to the conventional physical ID,” he said. “The digital dividends of such technology innovation will yield positive results in contactless banking, financial inclusion, ease of doing business and e-governance initiatives by offering remote identification and e-KYC (electronic know your customer),” he added.

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Shahab omeR

Ue to the sluggishness of the Punjab Archaeology Department, the conservation and development work of the historic ‘Fort Nandna’ of the tenth century has been delayed, Pakistan Today learnt.

According to the details, the fort with the temple inside was decaying and a project was designed to provide immediate attention to preserve it and provide public facilities for the promotion of tourism.

For the purpose, the Tourism Department, Punjab, has initiated a project of the rehabilitation of the fort and fixed an amount of RS 14.881 million for the conservation of the fort.

The restoration and conservation work was to be carried out by the Directorate General Archaeology Punjab, however, the work was started in May 2021 and it was planned that the work would be completed in 18 months.

It is pertinent to mention here that Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated a heritage highway in Jhelum district in March last year, starting from Nandna fort, passing through Shiva temple, Tala Jogiyan, Khiwara mines, Qila Mulut and Takht Babri in Kalar Kahar.

It is said that famous Muslim scholar Al-Biruni had measured the diameter of the earth while sitting in the fort of Nandna about a thousand years ago and this measurement was so accurate that it has same measurement even today with the latest instruments

and there is only a difference of 16.8 km between this and Al-Biruni’s measurement.

The fort is located 12 miles east of Choasaidan Shah. Constructed in the 10th century AD with a total area of 45 kanals and 16 marlas, the fort is led inside through a narrow rocky path from Choasaidan Shah to the ruins of Fort Nandna, which is 1500 feet high.

In the 13th century, Jalaluddin Khawarizmi had captured Nandna fort. Later, Genghis Khan defeated the

Accountability court acquits Mir Shakilur Rehman in illegal land allotment case News Desk An accountability court in Lahore on Monday acquitted Jang Group editor-in-chief Mir Shakilur Rehman in a reference of a 34-year-old illegal land allotment case. Accountability court Judge Asad Ali announced the verdict in the case that also involves former PM Nawaz Sharif. Additionally, former director-general of Lahore Development Authority Humayon Faiz Rasool and its former director of land development department, Mian Bashir Ahmad, have also been acquitted in the case.

Journalist Raza Rumi stated that Rehman was acquitted in a “bogus case meant to tame him”. “The farce of accountability — or witch-hunt of political opponents, media owners, etc — gets exposed every day,” he tweeted. The development was welcomed by senior journalist Ansar Abbasi, an investigative reporter who said a “case based on lies” by the accountability watchdog was dismissed by the court.

It is pertinent to note that Rehman was arrested in March 2020 by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after failing to satisfy their answers in a hearing re-

garding the case. Later, he was granted bail by the Supreme Court after around eight months in captivity. The accountability court had in November 2020 issued perpetual arrest warrants for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif after completing the process to declare him an absconder in the same reference.

Sharif had been declared an absconder for not joining the court proceedings.

The Lahore High Court had on Nov 16, 2019 allowed the former premier to travel abroad for four weeks for medical treatment.

The former PM had left for London on November 19, 2019 after he was released on bail from a seven-year sentence for corruption. Three days later he had left the country and has not returned since then.

The accountability court had also directed the NAB to initiate further proceedings under section 88 of CrPC, which entailed attachment of the movable and immovable property owned by the absconder.

The NAB in its reference had alleged that Rehman had illegally obtained exemption of 54 plots, each measuring one-kanal, situated in BlockH, Johar Town. It alleged that the allotment of the land had been made in connivance with the then chief minister of Punjab, Nawaz Sharif, in 1986 against the exemption policy and the laws for monetary gains.

It further said that the suspects caused a loss of Rs143.53 million to the national exchequer through the land allotment in violation of exemption policy.

Terrorist commander killed in TTP infighting News Desk A wanted militant commander belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Rafiullah, was killed during infighting in Afghanistan, sources said on Monday. The sources in Afghanistan said the latest bout of infighting within Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan ranks was due to funds and positions within the militant organisation. The militant’s death comes less than a month after the operational commander and the spokesperson of the TTP, Muhammad Khurassani, was killed in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. Rafiullah, known by various codenames, was known to support the former intelligence agency of Afghanistan, NDS, Baloch militants and the militant Islamic State (IS).

The militant commander was wanted since 2011 in various incidents of terrorism and was known to facilitate suicide bombers and arrange transport and lodging for them. He had facilitated the suicide bombers who attacked Quetta Civil Hospital and Serena Hotel.

Rafiullah had also facilitated attacks on various law enforcement agencies and was said to be the operational commander of the attacks on Major Naeem, Inspector Kabir, Baaz Mohammad and Haji Gulab of Kuchlak and a bank robbery in the same town.

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Khwarizmi forces at this place.

However, the directorate general monitoring and evaluation has issued a monitoring report regarding the conservation of the fort and expressed its reservations over the project.

The report stated that the work was started on the project site in May 2021 and it was running behind schedule.

“During FY 2020-21, Rs12 million were released against an allocated amount of Rs6 million, which is a discrepancy. The mentioned discrepancy may be justified by the department. The foundation of one out of eight gazebos was laid down and masonry work of the ground floor of Al-Biruni research center was in progress. The conservation works for the temple have not started yet and a tender opening for work award will likely be held on on 18th January, 2022,” report stated.

Imran Zahid, Sub-Divisional Officer, Directorate General of Archaeology, informed Pakistan Today that there was no financial constraint on the project.

“However, the contractor who was overseeing the project died in a road accident. Instead of re-tendering it, we gave his widow a certificate and it took two to three months. We received the PC-I approval and administrative approval for this project in May last year and we had only one month to start work here”.

“That’s why we called for funds for Rs 12 million whereas the conservation work has begun on the temple inside the fort. We completed the excavation work here in June-July last year and since then the restoration work has started,” he maintained.

Asad Umar urges private sector to help digitize CDA land records IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Asad Umar has urged Code for Pakistan, a technology-focused nonprofit organization, to help the Capital Development Authority (CDA) digitize its land records. During a meeting with the Country Head of Code for Pakistan, Ms. Samina Rizwan, who called on the minister here on Monday, Asad Umar also asked the organization to work closely with Ali Awan, SAPM for CDA, whose priority is to achieve transparency in land records digitisation. During the meeting, Ms. Samina Rizwan briefed the minister on the work Code for Pakistan undertakes as a technology-focused nonprofit. She told that her outlet works with the government on creating digital solutions to improve the quality of life across Pakistan and to meet the needs of every citizen – a vision that aligns very closely with the Ministry’s Vision 2025, which is to create a globally competitive and prosperous country providing a high quality of life for all its citizens. In addition, the Code for Pakistan team spoke about how they create impact through their programs and provide open source technology solutions, detailing, in particular, their work on a Healthcare-Associated Infections (HCAI) app, which is surveillance of infections during medical treatment.

Tuesday, 1 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS CORPORATE CORNER

CoRonaviRuS outbReak: FouR eduCationaL inStitutionS CLoSed in PeSHawaR peSHaWar

Faysal Bank Limited appoints Nustshell Communications as its Strategic Comunications Partner. An agreement was signed by both organizations at Faysal Bank Limited head office by Raheel Ijaz, Chief Operatiing Officer, Faysal Bank, and Rabia Ahmed, Director & Chief Operating Officer, Nutshell Communications. The signing ceremony was withnessed by Yousaf Hussain, President & CEO Faysal Bank Limited, and senior officials from both organizations.

Ghias khan elected President of oiCCi – the largest business Chamber in Pakistan based on economic contribution KaraCHi pReSS ReleaSe

Mr Ghias Khan, President & Chief Executive Officer, Engro Corporation Limited has taken over as the President of the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) for the 2022 term. This was announced at the 162nd Annual General Meeting of the OICCI held at the Chamber on Monday, January 31, 2022. Mr. Amir Rasool Paracha, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Unilever Pakistan Limited, was elected as the Vice President. The other elected members of the OICCI Managing Committee for 2022 are Mr. Ahmed Zahid Zaheer, Chevron Pakistan Lubricants (Pvt) Limited, Mr. Ali Ahmed Khan, Frieslandcampina Engro Pakistan Limited, Ms. Erum Shakir Rahim, Glaxosmithkline Pakistan Limited, Mr. Ali Asghar Jamali, Indus Motor Company Limited, Mr. Samer Chedid, Nestle Pakistan Limited, Mr. Waqar Irshad Siddiqui, Shell Pakistan Limited, Mr. Markus Strohmeier, Siemens Pakistan Engineering Company Limited and Mr. Rehan Muhammad Shaikh, Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited. In his message to the members, Incoming President Ghias Khan said he strongly believes that Pakistan offers considerable growth potential for existing and new foreign investors. He lauded OICCI’s role in promoting Pakistan to potential foreign investors.

islamabad police taking steps to provide better policing services to the citizens, says iGP iSLamaBad pReSS ReleaSe

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Muhammad Ahsan Younas said that Islamabad police is taking every possible step to provide better policing services to its citizens. While listening public complaints, he said that the purpose of holding khuli kacheries on daily bases is to resolve public issues on merit and priority.

During the khuli kacheri, the IGP also directed all zonal police officers to remain present in their offices to listen and resolve public grievances Muhammad Ahsan Younas issued explicit directions not to leave any stone unturned in eradication of drugs, liquor and exclusively crackdown against gambling dens. He reiterated resolve of Islamabad Police to go all out against the land grabber without any fear or favor. He also directed to arrest the nominated accused involved in different cases and recover the looted items.

Islamabad police chief said that it is our prime responsibility to provide protection to the lives and property of the citizens and resolve their problems on priority. He said that citizens at `Open Court’ should be behaved in a respectful manner and their trust on police department to be won through resolving their issues. The Such interaction with citizens are aimed to promote community policing, resolve the issues of people at their door steps through merit and curb activities of anti-social elements, he added.

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Staff RepoRt

OUR educational institutions in Peshawar have been closed from Monday due to increasing cases of coronavirus across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.

According to details, one girls’ hostel has also been sealed to prevent further spread of the virus. The local administration has told that the educational institutions have been closed for a

week.

On the other hand, Pakistan has reported 21 deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 1,425,039. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 29,269.

According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) 7,048 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

Punjab remains the worst-hit province in terms of deaths followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Till now 13,160 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab, 7,821 in Sindh 5,998 in KP, 980 in Islamabad, 755 in Azad Kashmir, 367 in Balochistan, and 188 in GB. Furthermore 541,693 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 478,527 in Punjab 194,166 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 127,497 in Islamabad, 38,115 in Azad Kashmir 34,390 in Balochistan and 10,651 in GilgitBaltistan.

Pakistan has so far conducted 25,018,383 coronavirus tests and 61,077

Another 4.7 million doses of Pfizer land in Pakistan iSLamaBad Staff RepoRt

In the wake of eliminating coronavirus pandemic, around 4.7 million doses of Pfizer have reached Pakistan Monday. So far, United States has provided 4.74 crore doses to Pakistan.

On the other hand, Pakistan has reported 21 deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 1,425,039. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 29,269.

According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) 7,048 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

Punjab remains the worst-hit province in terms of deaths followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Till now 13,160 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab, 7,821 in Sindh 5,998 in KP, 980 in Islamabad, 755 in Azad Kashmir, 367 in Balochistan, and 188 in GB. Furthermore 541,693 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 478,527 in Punjab 194,166 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 127,497 in Islamabad, 38,115 in Azad Kashmir 34,390 in Balochistan and 10,651 in Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan has so far conducted 25,018,383 coronavirus tests and 61,077 in the last 24 hours. 1,291,725 patients have recovered in the country whereas 1,423 patients are in critical condition.

Powdered milk production to discourage reliance on imports: Fakhar Imam iSLamaBad Staff RepoRt

Local production of powdered milk in Pakistan is non-significant and there is a need for more focus and investment to increase its production to discourage reliance on imports.

Federal Minister of National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam said this on Monday during a meeting with a delegation that led by Ambassador of Netherlands Wouter Plomp called on him.

The delegation comprised global leadership of Frieslandcampina NV, which is the largest dairy company in the Netherlands. It also owns 51% of Engro Foods Limited. The delegation included CEO of Frieslandcampina NV Hein Schumacher, President of Frieslandcampina NV Roel van Neerbos and Managing Director of Frieslandcampina Engro Pakistan Ltd Ali Ahmed Khan. Imam said that during the last two years, a total of 88 million tonnes of powdered milk

was imported by the private sector, worth $160 million. He said that around 6-10 percent of total gross milk production of the country is being processed in the country which is inadequate. He said that one of the main reasons for low production of processed milk dairy products is the imported costly packaging material. Local production of packaging material will improve and enhance the affordability and consumption of processed dairy milk products in Pakistan.

The locally produced packaging material will be less expensive as compared to the imported material.

Moreover, locally manufactured packaging material can also be exported in the regional and international markets, he added. Imam said that Pakistan’s estimated annual gross milk production was 63.7 million tonnes during 2020-21. He said that the contribution of milk in the national economy can be gauged by the fact that the annual value of fresh milk exceeds the combined annual value of four major cash crops like wheat, rice, maize and sugarcane.

‘Under pressure’ Gilani announces resignation as Senate opposition leader Continued from page 01 He said that the Senate chairman, being the custodian of the House, should run the House as per the rules and using personal vote is his right.

He said that the House cannot be run by picking and choosing but as per the rules. He thanked all the senators for voting in favour of the bill and those who were not present in the House that day.

Taking part in the debate, Senator Faisal Javed Khan said that there is no need of explanation from the leader of the opposition as he did a great job to skip the Senate meeting on January 27.

He said that whenever Prime Minister Imran Khan got victory, the opposition parties were facing issues like division in Pakistan Democratic Movement. Pakhtoonkhwa Mili Awami Party Senator Shafique Tareen said that he also missed the session due to his party-related activities in Quetta.

He said that he was conveyed about the session

lately and it was not possible for him to return from Quetta and attend the meeting.

He said that he has been serving as senator for four years and his party is a part of the opposition.

Awami National Party Senator Haji Hidayatullah Khan said that his party was also criticised despite that the fact that two members of his party voted against the bill. Senator Dilawar Khan said that he is not part of the government but the government requested his independent group for support in the passage of the bill, which they accepted in the best interest of the country. Meanwhile, in a tweet, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that Gilani is an “honourable” man. He said that it made more sense for PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari or co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to resign.

“The senior leaders of the PML-N and PPP are embarrassed and upset at the behaviour of their leadership,” he said, adding that the change in the attitude of the opposition parties is a welcome development.

SSGC takes strong view of industries stance preSS reLeaSe SSGC has taken strong exception towards the aggressive attitude of certain trade associations despite the Govt of Pakistan and SSGC’s efforts to mitigate the gas supply situation.

It must be understood that with the advent of winter as gas demand increased manifold, SSGC started implementing Cabinet Committee on Energy’s (CCOE) Load Management Plan by disconnecting

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non-export industrial and captive power connections.

SSGC, however, was able to suspended gas to only 225 industrial units due to stay orders from the industrial units and ultimately there was issue of line-pack and gas pressure. Consequently, SSGC tried to implement a framework along with the industries to rotate industrial areas every 5th day to generate 90 mmcfd gas. This arrangement did not work as industries continued to remain unhelpful and SSGC could only get 15 mmcfd available to the sector.

in the last 24 hours. 1,291,725 patients have recovered in the country whereas 1,423 patients are in critical condition.

The COVID-19 positivity ratio was recorded at 11.53 percent. So far, 104,228,089 people have received their first dose of coronavirus vaccine including 223,230 in last 24 hours. 80,748,105 citizens have been fully vaccinated while 322,467 received their second dose in last 24 hours.

The number of total administered doses has reached to 174,085,175 with 605,450 in the last 24 hours.

nuSt institute of Policy Studies holds high-level roundtable on Gilgit-baltistan iSLamaBad pReSS ReleaSe

NUST Institute of Policy Studies (NIPS) organised a high-level roundtable on Gilgit-Baltistan here the other day. The participants discussed G-B’s strategic significance, its rich history, critical placement in the Belt and Road Initiative, constitutional and political evolution, linguistic diversity, socio-ethnic harmony and resourceful human capital. Prof Atta Ullah Shah, Vice Chancellor, Karakorum International University (KIU), G-B, highlighted the region’s importance as the gateway to CPEC. He stressed G-B’s immense development potential, and stated that the region’s natural, linguistic, social, cultural, and culinary diversity presented a huge business potential. He remarked that small business development, high-altitude porter services, supply chain management, e-commerce, green mining, up-skilling women artisans, renewable energy, tourism, agri-business, tech-based ventures, and trade and commerce were major areas of further expansion and growth, provided challenges like climate change, water scarcity, shortage of cultivable land, ecological fragility, lack of proper institutional framework, physical infrastructure gaps, and the absence of good policies could be resolved on an immediate basis. Talking about the culture of Gilgit-Baltistan, author and historian, Mr Muhammad Hassan Hasrat, emphasised the linkage between geography and cultural mores of the region. He highlighted the organic link between the region’s mountain ranges, glaciers, rivers, valleys, and flora and fauna and its arts, crafts, languages, architecture, heritage food, sports, cultural pastimes, music, and history. Mr Faiz Ullah Faraq, spokesperson of G-B government and faculty member at KIU, emphasised the critical role of youth in the development of Gilgit-Baltistan. He said that the youth of G-B represented the intellectual and moral force that could prove to be the decisive driver of growth in the region as well as the rest of the country. He highlighted the crucial role that G-B’s young adults were playing in different walks of life like armed forces, civil service, sports, education, entrepreneurship, and community service. Veteran law enforcement professional and senior columnist, former IG Sindh Mr Afzal Ali Shigri, talked about the historical and political evolution of G-B.

SC suspends LHC order on Ravi Riverfront project Continued from page Imran had claimed the riverfront project would turn around the economy and benefit some 40 industries, offer hundreds of jobs and bring in much-needed foreign exchange. “Around $1.5 billion foreign investment has already reached Pakistan for this project,” he announced. The PM had asserted that the $20 billion project had been planned with minute details in line with modern cities in Malaysia and Dubai.

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Tuesday, 1 February, 2022

06 COMMENT

The Farahi school

Pak-Afghan relations Need to remove major irritants

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S always Pakistan again went out of its way to help its Afghan brethren after the recent take over by the Taliban. Pakistan called for unfreezing Afghan assets, pledged $28m in Afghanistan humanitarian support and donated 50,000 tonnes of wheat to ward off the imminent food crisis. On the diplomatic front, Pakistan called for support for Afghan people at ScO summit, held a meeting of the intelligence heads from Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries, and hosted the OIc’s council of Foreign Ministers to help bridge the gap between Taliban and the world. A number of high-level officials from Pakistan have visited Afghanistan, the latest delegation led by NSA Moeed Yusuf returned on Sunday after holding ‘productive meetings’ with Afghan leadership.

Despite the bonhomie displayed by Pakistan, the Taliban government has still to resolve some of Pakistan’s serious concerns. The ongoing work on the border fencing had to be stopped after resistance by Taliban fighters. The Taliban government has yet not acknowledged the Durand Line as international border with Pakistan. Despite Afghanistan and Pakistan having emphasised their commitment to ensuring peace and stability in both countries, there is still no end to terrorists using the Afghan territory as a launching pad for attacks inside Pakistan. We are told that the Taliban administration has forced the Baloch terror groups to flee Afghanistan. Other groups like TTP, al-Qaeda and IS however continue to launch attacks and have in fact extended their range from bordering Balochistan and tribal districts of KP to Islamabad and Lahore.

Pakistan hopes to resolve the crucial issue through indirect means like deepening the economic engagement through early completion of major connectivity projects like cASA- 1000, TAPI, and the Trans-Afghan Rail project. An agreement has also been reached to establish a national-level coordination mechanism for enhancing facilitation at border crossing points and to expedite the ongoing negotiations to conclude a new trade agreement.

Terrorist attacks inside Pakistan’s provinces neighbouring Afghanistan meanwhile continue to take place. The day Moeed Yusuf led delegation returned, a christian priest was shot dead and another injured in Peshawar while two cops were among 17 injured in grenade attack in Balochistan’s Jaffarabad. Unless the Afghan Taliban govt reins in the terrorist groups operating from its territory incidents of the sort can delay the implementation of the long-term projects.

What distinguishes it in its outlook

HASAN AFTAB SAEED

T

he noise made by our liberals belies their comparatively small numbers considering the overall national population. especially on the social media, one could easily be excused for overestimating their percentage.

That is because they consistently punch above their weight on the social, and now on the traditional media as well. Last week’s brouhaha on the media over the unsympathetic reception of the news of the first pigto-human transplant was therefore typical.

Last week also saw Javed Ahmad Ghamidi finally getting on the wrong side of liberals. Knowing our liberal friends and their propensity to quarrel with anybody and everybody, it was only a matter of time.

Not that Ghamidi would have done it on purpose, any more than he would earlier have tried to go out of his way to please the liberals. It probably took so long for things to come to a head because Ghamidi’s unflappable temperament, calm demeaner, calculated expression and the tone of his voice often act as a foil for his firmly independent views. Be that as it may, even if the liberals were never exactly enamoured of him, they had traditionally found his opinions much

Amidst a fifth wave, availability must be ensured

Is narrative a “need based” element?

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S if the stress and dangers of contracting covid19 during the ongoing fifth wave of the pandemic were not enough, where the most viral variant of the virus yet is the most dominant, those infected now also have to worry about finding the necessary medication to treat it. An acute shortage of medication used to treat fever, a common symptom in covid-19 patients, persists in Punjab and the provincial government is evidently clueless over how to deal with the matter that has now been lingering on for close to three months. Punjab health Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch has stated that there is no shortage of fever medicine in the province and 68.6 million pills are available in the market. If that were the case then why is it that pharmacies are rationing out the medication in order to maintain a minimum level of inventory? This contradiction suggests that either the shortage is artificial or it is genuine and the government is denying it.

While many who have had the Omicron variant are asymptomatic, there is a considerable number of active cases in the province currently who are having symptoms, and fever is a prominent one. Additionally, there are a plethora of other illnesses that result in fever that only responds to medication such as paracetamol, the main salt used in making pills to treat fever. The wave of dengue last year could also be a source of the shortage as its only treatment was to manage fever that would persist for many days requiring up to four doses being taken daily.

With a covid-19 positivity rate that is stubbornly stuck at 11.5% and is expected to rise in the coming weeks the requirement for these medicines will only increase. Rather than issuing warnings and denying the existence of the problem the Punjab government should look for an inventive solution. engaging private pharmaceutical companies would be a good place to start. Issues related to health of the citizenry should not be taken so lightly.

SHAziA ANwEr CHEEmA

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IchAeL Laban Walzer who is an American political theorist believes that surprise is the essential feature of unconventional war (guerrilla war, terrorist attacks); thus the ambush is the classic tactic. hybrid wars have a mix of everything that Pakistan has been fighting against for decades.

The martyrdom of 10 brave soldiers of the Pakistan Army in a single terrorist attack in Balochistan last week indicates that war is yet not over rather building up further.

Media reports suggest Balochistan is again the target as it was when anti-Pakistan NDS and unfriendly Ashraf Ghani were in power in neighboring Afghanistan. In the past, Pakistan had a strong case against foreign intelligence agencies that they used Afghan soil against Pakistan. Now who to blame when Pakistan-friendly Taliban are ruling Afghanistan?

According to media reports, since August 15, 2021, terrorist attacks against Pakistan Army had increased, resulting in the martyrdom of over 35 soldiers.

Data available about blasts in Pakistan after August 15, 2021, till the last week of January 2022 indicates that 12 civilians were killed while 105 civilians got injuries.

Last December, just before the anniversary of the gruesome incident of Army Public School Peshawar, the Pakistan government said it was engaged in negotiations with terrorist outfit TTP, and negotiations were followed by a ceasefire. When a State negotiates with any terrorist outfit, it sends a

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While one may agree or disagree with this line of reasoning, one must give it to Ghamidi that in the best tradition of Imam Hamiduddin Farahi and Maulana Amin Ahsan Islahi, he takes a completely Quran-centric, holistic view of religion

The author is a connoisseur of music, literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be reached at www.facebook.com/hasanaftabsaeed

Who we can blame now?

Covid-19 medicine shortage

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

more palatable than those emanating from the more traditional religious quarters. But all that went down the drain last week. They are calling Ghamidi a Muslim apologist now. One emerging liberal opinionmaker went as far as wondering how they (‘we’) could have ever been so blind as not to see him as anything other than the traditional mullah that he is.

To understand why Ghamidi’s views on the pigto-human heart transplant have so irked the liberals, it is necessary to examine the Farahi school’s understanding of Islam and why consumption of some animals is forbidden to Muslims. Islam, according to this understanding, is all about purification of self.

This purification has three domains: purification of thoughts (which includes articles of belief and the modes of worship), purification of the body, and purification of food and drinks.

The last category consists of certain prohibitions; for example, animals of prey are forbidden to eat. Pigs have traditionally received a lot of bad press from the Muslims. The Quran had singled it out, not because there was anything especially wicked about eating pig meat, but because many peoples, who had never shown any inclination of eating lions and tigers, had started eating pork. The Quran therefore interfered where it saw a mistake being committed. For the Muslim therefore, lion meat is as forbidden as is pig meat. So much for pig’s ‘special’ status or lack thereof.

Ghamidi argues that if animals of prey are forbidden (whether it is because consuming them could potentially make men ferocious or considering the unwholesome feeling one would have upon eating them), it stands to reason that their organs should not be made part of the human body either. Mind you,

there is nothing wrong, according to his understanding, of using their skins etc for clothing or ornamental purposes.

While one may agree or disagree with this line of reasoning, one must give it to Ghamidi that in the best tradition of Imam hamiduddin Farahi and Maulana Amin Ahsan Islahi, he takes a completely Quran-centric, holistic view of religion. The uncompromising stance on the governing position of the Quran (not merely in words but in practice as well) in all religious discourse, and the emphasis on the application of fundamentals to specific issues (as opposed to dealing with individual questions as isolated problems on a case-by-case basis) are the distinguishing features of the Farahi school. So, it is that not only on the matter of pig-to-human heart transplant but on any other issue as well, anybody who feels inclined to disagree with their opinions has two legitimate avenues open to him: either disprove the principle (fundamental) itself; or demonstrate that while the principle is sound, its application to the problem at hand is faulty.

Those belonging to the traditional religious schools of thought have typically struggled to successfully take either route. That is because they are so used to thinking of religion as a combination of isolated dos and don’ts that any integral, comprehensive view of religion based on a small number of fundamentals whose application spans the whole religious domain is alien to them. They rarely have the capacity to comprehend such a view, and do not know what to do when confronted with one. So, it was the traditional religious folks who first had a problem with the Farahi school.

Now it is the liberals’ turn to have similar problems. Interestingly, their reaction to the situation, much like the mullahs before them, is to resort to insults and name-calling. Tells you how fine a line separates the two, apparently diametrically opposed, camps.

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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message that “all is not well” and overlooking the blood of thousands of innocent persons who sacrificed their lives for their country is necessary for averting further disasters. historically, state-level negotiations always enhance the confidence of terrorists, and that apparently also happened recently and now terrorists are engaging law enforcing agencies in Waziristan and deep into Balochistan. Prof David B. carter of Princeton University USA believes that States always have considerable advantages in resources and capabilities over terrorists and terrorism-related tactics are often employed by groups because they are “weapons of the weak”.

In his study titled “Provocation and the Strategy of Terrorist and Guerilla Attacks”, Prof David further says that terrorist tactics are usually weaker than the states they target and groups strategically choose tactics in anticipation of how the state will respond. however, the balance sometimes goes in favor of terrorists when States show weakness and start negotiations.

Last October reported five incidents (October 2, 18, 20, 22, 27), resulting in the martyrdom of 10 soldiers. November had two incidents and December had three incidents. August 2021 had three incidents and the only month that had no incident was September 2021 since the Taliban took over Kabul. I do not wish to infer that the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan is linked with rising terror incidents in Pakistan but it is pertinent to observe that Pakistan cannot blame any more Afghan government as Pakistan had been blaming in past.

The Islamabad-based Think Tank Pakistan Institute for conflict and Security Studies (PIcSS) indicates in its report published in the first week of January that Pakistan witnessed a 56% surge in militant attacks during the year 2021 after a consistent decline in the attacks during the previous six years.

The PIcSS statistics showed that the militants have carried out 294 attacks in 2021 in which 395 people were martyred, including 186 civilians and 192 security forces personnel. At least 629 people were injured, including 400 civilians and 217 security forces personnel. Security forces also killed 188 militants and arrested at least 222 suspected militants during the year, the PIcSS report had added.

The year 2020 had witnessed 188 militant attacks in which 266 people were killed and 595 injured. comparison of both the year shows that there was a 56% increase in the number of attacks, a 48% increase in the total number of deaths, and a 66% increase in the casualties of Pakistani security forces.

The number of militant attacks in 2021 was the highest after 2017 in any year while the number of deaths was the highest in any year after 2018.

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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The government promotes Pakistan as a peaceful destination for foreigners and you can find thousands of vlogs and blogs promoting Pakistan as “Your Destination”. Such vlogs can be an individual attempt of those foreigners who loved Pakistan once they were here. however, can tourism and terrorism go side by side? Of course not. A fragile economy, almost totally dependent on lending for running the house, and rising terrorism would multiply an already grave situation because terrorism would not only harm the tourism industry but would also halt long-term investments.

Pakistan Army is doing its job with uncountable sacrifices and there is a dire need to review what we have done in reference to National Action Plan? historians who have been documenting “unconventional warfare” believe the State must not ignore certain social and psychological circumstances being used by anti-state elements (social faultlines) against the State. historians suggest that while designing a strategy to win over non-state actors, the State must target the motivation of the combatants by nullifying “ideology” being used by the State. This ideology is in simple words is the “narrative” being used by antistate elements to recruit youth. The narrative building has always been a serious problem in Pakistan because we have been changing our priorities and consider narrative as a “need based” element. From a Liberal Pakistan of the 60s to a Jihadi Pakistan of the 80s, our journey has gone through phases of moderate enlightenment of the first decade of the 21st century and so on so forth.

Building a solid narrative needs intellectual work but we try to develop narrative through statements and political moves. Steven Arthur Pinker who is a canadian-American cognitive psychologist indicates that cognitive psychology has shown that the mind best understands facts when they are woven into a conceptual fabric, such as a narrative, mental map, or intuitive theory. Disconnected facts in the mind are like unlinked pages on the Web: They might as well not exist.

Like Steven, I also believe nothing gives life more purpose than the realization that every moment of consciousness is a precious and fragile gift. We still have time to build whatever we think is better for the country instead of keep doing experimentations.

The writer Shazia Cheema is an analyst writing for national and international media outlets. She heads the DND Thought Center. She did her MA in Cognitive Semiotics from Aarhus University Denmark and is currently registered as a Ph.D. Scholar of Semiotics and Philosophy of Communication at Charles University Prague

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

06-07 Comments - 1st February 2022_Layout 1 1/31/2022 11:03 PM Page 2

Tuesday, 1 February, 2022

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

The issues of education in present times

Attacking Iran is a recipe for a catastrophe Regardless of a success or failure to reach a new agreement with Iran, Israel must not attack Iran’s nuclear facilities

Righting the WRong: Israel’s repeated threats to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities irrespective of any outcome in the negotiations in Vienna between the P5+1 (France, the United Kingdom, Russia, china, the US, and Germany) and Iran is a recipe for disaster. Prime Minister Bennett’s argument that Israel will not abide by any agreement, not only because Israel is not a party in the negotiations but because Israel alone will determine what’s best to safeguard its national security, is a fallacy. Given the complexity and the far-reaching implications of a potential Israeli attack, the only proper path to address Iran’s nuclear program is by fully coordinating and developing a joint strategy with the US to deal with Iran’s nuclear ambition to acquire nuclear weapons while seeking an end to the conflict.

It is critical that the Bennett-Lapid government not repeat Netanyahu’s disastrous mistake of opposing the JcPOA, which subsequently Netanyahu persuaded Trump to withdraw from altogether. As a result of the US’ withdrawal from the deal, Iran has only advanced its nuclear weapons program—enriching a significant amount of uranium to 60 percent, which is only a short leap to enriching it to weapons-grade 90 percent, and in enough quantity to produce one nuclear weapon in short order. White house National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said recently, “The reason we’re in the situation we’re in right now is because the previous administration pulled out of the Iran deal and we are paying the wages of that catastrophic mistake.”

Bennett’s repeated threats to attack Iran could lead to miscalculation and dire unintended consequences that Israel cannot possibly cope with on its own. Israel must work hand-in-hand with the US to address Iran’s nuclear program now and in the future, and must not resort to a military option without the full support of the US. The Bennett government must carefully consider the ominous outcome such an attack could precipitate, from which Israel as well as the entire region will suffer unimaginably.

even if Israel is planning such an attack, advertising it repeatedly in advance drastically undermines its effectiveness.

Iran is already fortifying its air defenses, especially around its nuclear facilities, and putting in place offensive capabilities that can exact a heavy price from Israel should such an attack materialize. Indeed, Israel can inflict a devastating blow on Iran’s nuclear facilities, but it cannot destroy all of them nor the Iranian knowhow. Such an attack, however overwhelming, would only set back Iran’s nuclear program for two to three years.

It is a given that an Israeli attack would force Tehran to retaliate directly against Israel by firing ballistic missiles that can reach major Israeli cities, potentially causing widespread destruction and thousands of casualties. Iran will also ensure that hezbollah, which is in possession of 150,000 rockets, will enter the fray and fire thousands of rockets that can reach every corner of the country. Regardless of how effective Israel’s air defense may be, its Iron Dome and Arrow interceptors cannot possibly intercept tens of thousands of short, medium, and long-range rockets.

Moreover, hamas too may well join the fight, in addition to a third front with Syria, from where Iranian proxies will attack Israel. Israel’s economy will be shattered, and past conflagrations with hamas alone attest to this fact.

Many Israeli military experts believe that Israel does not have the aerial capability to attack Iran more than once, nor can it destroy all of Iran’s nuclear facilities, as they are scattered around the country and several are built a hundred or more feet underground. It will require several days and multiple attacks, which Israel does not have the capability to conduct.

Although all the Arab Gulf states would like to see Iran’s nuclear facilities eliminated, they want to avoid a war because even a limited Israeli attack could engulf the entire region and beyond.

In many conversations I had with officials from the Gulf, nearly all of them prefer containment of Iran’s nuclear program and deterrence spearheaded by the US to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to ensure that Iran will be unable to threaten or intimidate its neighbors.

Finally, whereas Israeli attacks on Iraq’s and Syria’s nuclear facilities (in 1981 and 2007, respectively) did not spread radioactive material into the atmosphere because no uranium was present, Iran has a stockpile of uranium purified to various degrees. Thus, an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities would have disastrous environmental consequences.

From the Iranian perspective, acquiring nuclear weapons would deter any aggressor, including the US, from attacking it. Iran wants to stand on equal footing with Sunni Pakistan to its east and Jewish Israel to its west, both of whom are nuclear powers. This partly explains why Iran does not bend easily and why it is assuming such a hard position at the negotiations in Vienna, even though it wants badly to have the sanctions lifted to salvage its ailing economy.

the ominous RepeRcussions of an isRaeli attack: Israel’s repeated threats are unwise and do nothing but provide Iran ample time to prepare for any contingency.

Mossad director David Barnea recently stated that “Iran will not have nuclear weapons—not in the coming years, not ever.

This is my personal commitment: This is the Mossad’s commitment.” Knowing the Iranian mindset, such a statement is counterproductive and does nothing but stiffen Iran’s position.

the need foR a full us-isRaeli collaboRation: Attacking Iran without the US’ acquiescence, if not outright support, will seriously undermine Israel-US relations which Jerusalem cannot afford. collaboration and coordination between the two countries is and will remain central in dealing effectively with Iran. This is particularly important because the Iranian clergy wants to avoid any military confrontation with the US, fearing a disastrous outcome. Indeed, a US military assault on Iran

Dr AloN BEN mEir

could precipitate regime change, which the Iranian leadership fears the most and wants to prevent at any cost.

For this reason, to deter Iran, it is critical for the Bennett-Lapid government to work closely with the Biden administration and support any new agreement that may be reached between Iran and the P5+1. The Biden administration is committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and Israel must trust the US to do whatever necessary to that end, especially because Israel cannot and must not act alone. the failuRe oR the success to Reach a neW agReement: Should the P5+1 fail to reach a new agreement, the US and Israel must develop a joint strategy to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons based on containment and deterrence. This includes the imposition of additional crippling sanctions, cyber-attacks on vital Iranian installations, and sabotaging its nuclear facilities, among other disabling measures. In addition, the US should make it clear that all options are on the table, including military force, which could pose a significant risk of regime change, which terrifies Iran. In addition, the US should seriously consider a strategic game-changer move by providing a nuclear umbrella to cover Israel and the Gulf states.

Should a new agreement be reached, which seems increasingly likely, it will be expected to include rolling back the number of operational centrifuges and reducing the quantity and the enrichment quality of uranium, while extending the sunset clauses beyond the original dates to prevent Iran from resuming its nuclear weapons program within a few years. In addition, a new deal will obviously restore the most stringent and infallible monitoring system to thwart Iran from cheating.

Beyond these measures, however, the US must strive to end the conflict with Iran on a more permanent basis. The Biden administration ought to initiate back-channel talks to address Iran’s nefarious regional activity, its arming and financially aiding of extremist groups such as hezbollah and hamas, its ballistic missile program, and its hegemonic ambitions.

In addition, due to Israel’s profound and legitimate concerns about its national security, the Biden administration must make it unequivocally clear to Iran that it must end its repeated existential threats against Israel. Iran’s clergy must understand that such threats could precipitate a disastrous conflagration—intentional or unintentional—that could engulf the entire region from which Iran will suffer greatly.

In return, if Iran embraces such a moderate path, the US should promise publicly that it will not seek now or at any time in the future regime change, which for the clergy is a do-or-die proposition. Moreover, the US would embark on a gradual normalization of relations on all fronts.

To be sure, when there is a breakdown in any conflict there is often an opportunity for a breakthrough. Iran does not want to remain a pariah state and always be on the defensive, and the US and Israel will be much better off if Iran joins the community of nations as a constructive player on the international stage.

Dr Alon Ben-Meir is a professor of international relations at the Centre for Global Affairs at NYU. He teaches courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies. alon@alonben-meir.com

INFLATION is a situation when an ordinary man cannot buy basic/indispensable commodities owing to worsened prices rates of essential goods and lowered income. A constant hike in inflation diminishes purchasing capacity badly. Inflation leaves adverse influence everywhere, but mostly a poor family undergoes its merciless onslaughts.

Above all, the education of their children’s is heavily distracted. The study is becoming tougher and tougher in this costly era. Inflation is at its pinnacle and the unemployment arena are sadly scarce. A sole member of a family cannot meet its expenditures. Such situations compel even exceptional students to relinquish their studies or start earning after the learning gap. They either quit their studies or start off earning in leisure time. The impact is that their study performance is badly impaired. education/study demands ample quality time to furnish/gain ace results. It is an unquestionable reality that getting an education is becoming intricate each passing day. It can pose a grave threat to the future of the upcoming generation and the safety of Pakistan. A country is empty without a standard literacy rate. Pupils are consequential assets for their country. They defend, care and protect it against any calamities. Their participation is integral and indispensable to attain remarkable development.

Thus, the existing government should necessarily spend time on helping the students to secure their schooling. Furthermore, important measures should be launched to confine surging inflation. Apart from this, employment opportunities should be enhanced. Otherwise, inflation and unemployment menace exposes the peace of a country to wreckage and collapse.

MUHAMMAD AFZAL SHAIKH GAMBAT

Prioritizing national interest PAKISTAN is going to host the Organisation of Islamic cooperation Summit on March 23, 2022, in Islamabad. Meanwhile, Pakistan Democratic Movement has announced a country-wide protest, a long march against PTI, the ruling party, on the issue of rising inflation on the same day.

In addition, Pakistan Peoples Party has also vowed to launch a protest in the next month. No doubt, a peaceful protest is the democratic right of every individual as well as an opposition party, especially for the national interest. contrarily, in recent days, the country has faced heinous incidents of terrorism in Islamabad and Lahore. however, in the context of the OIc convention, the opposition should reschedule their sit-ins. Because in demonstrations, whether peaceful or violent, the black sheep and extremist outfits get a chance for terrorist activities. however, if any such incident happens before or on the day of the OIc meeting, it will raise a question on the country’s security and tarnish Pakistan’s image internationally. The OIc meeting of Foreign Ministers will also be affected worst and might be possible the meeting will be cancelled. That’s why, rather than launching a long march on Pakistan Day, the opposition should reschedule it.

Apart from that, the government should arrange a joint session of the National Assembly in which Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the representative of Pakistan in the OIc, present the key points of the OIc summit and his agenda regarding national interest. hence, it is imperative that both the government and the opposition make this debate a cordial one by critically discussing the core issues faced by the Islamic world out of their personal and political interest, especially PM Imran Khan, who vowed to completely boycott the leader of the opposition.

ENGR. ALI HAIDER LAHORE

Meth addiction hIGhLY addictive crystal meth, also known as ice, is growing in popularity among rich students and young people in Pakistan. Drug treatment is complicated by many families keeping addiction issues a secret. A rising number of people in Pakistan are using crystal methamphetamine, and addiction specialists say more students and members of the educated, upper class are being attracted to the drug.

Around 27 million people struggle with drug abuse in Pakistan, according to Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF).

The recent emergence of meth abuse in a younger, educated demographic is alarming addiction. crystal meth can be ingested orally, smoked, snorted or injected. effects include feelings of euphoria and a reduced appetite. It is also one of the most addictive drugs of abuse. crystal meth, if consumed consistently, can be a more addictive stimulant than others, its users become risky, violent, and prone to anger and being hostile. It’s unfortunate that this is more common among the educated classes. Peer pressure is the biggest factor contributing to the addiction and has become a big concern for members of the middle and upper classes of the country. The vast majority of crystal meth seized by narcotics forces in 2018 was found at educational institutions.

Meth dealers are well connected. Some dealers get new addicts admitted into educational institutions so they can peddle drugs to students. Punishment for selling crystal meth can be two years in prison and a hefty fine or both, if the person is caught carrying 100 grams or less. The weight of the drugs caught has a direct influence on the length of jail time.

It is also difficult to estimate the exact number of crystal meth users, the number is quickly rising, but as many people keep addiction a secret, it is difficult to ascertain the exact number. One reason why there is such little data on addicts is that parents and family members conceal information fearing social backlash, the number of meth users could be in the tens of thousands. Data suggests that both men and women use meth. however, it is harder for women to receive drug abuse treatment in conservative areas in Pakistan. As more young people turn to drugs like meth in Pakistan, the tendency of families to keep addiction a secret threatens to create a big dilemma for Pakistani society.

MIRZA BURHAN LAHORE

08 WORLD VIEW 1st February 22_Layout 1 1/31/2022 10:07 PM Page 1

Tuesday, 1 February, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

THe inTernATionAl culT of VlAdiMir PuTin IF THE RUSSIAN LEADER TRIUMPHS IN UKRAINE, HIS THUGGISH STYLE WILL GAIN NEW FOLLOWERS

FINANCIAl TImES

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GIDEON RACHmAN

HE western world may be divided about how to deal with Vladimir Putin. But we can surely all agree on one thing? Russia’s president is the bad guy in this particular drama. Actually, no.

One of the more revealing and depressing features of international politics is the existence of a Putin cult. There is a significant group of world leaders and influential political figures who greatly admire Putin. His fan club is global, spanning Asia, the Middle East, the Americas and Europe.

Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, was on to something when he remarked in 2018: “There’s a demand in the world for special, sovereign leaders, for decisive ones ... Putin’s Russia was the starting point.”

When Putin first emerged as leader of Russia in 1999-2000, he looked like an anomaly — a strongman nationalist in an era of technocratic globalists. Angela Merkel, Germany’s former chancellor, once suggested that Putin was trying to apply the techniques of the 19th century to a different era.

But, with democratic values under challenge across the world, Putin looks increasingly like a man who foresaw the future of global politics rather than a relic from the past. The Russian leader has attracted fans and emulators who admire his ruthlessness, his willingness to use violence, his macho defiance of “political correctness” and his autocratic style of leadership. As the Russian commentator Dmitri Trenin put it last week: “Putin is a pre-communist leader...He is a tsar.”

One great danger of the current Ukraine crisis is that if Putin emerges looking victorious, his style of leadership will gain even more prestige and imitators across the world. Land grabs, military threats, lies and assassinations will look like the techniques of a winner.

Putin has already served as a model for a new generation of autocratic leaders and populists, including in Europe and the Us. Donald Trump had to be a little coy about his admiration for Putin. But some of the former Us president’s close aides were more open. After the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Rudy Giuliani praised Putin: “He makes a decision and he executes quickly...That’s what you call a leader.” During the current crisis over

How much has the pandemic cost the world?

RICH AND POOR NATIONS FACE THE SAME DILEMMA: WEIGHING COVID DEATHS AGAINST ECONOMIC GROWTH PROJECT SYNDICATE ANDREW SHENG AND XIAO GENG

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s the COVID-19 pandemic entered its third year, the United states was enjoying a protracted stock-market boom and China’s global trade surplus had reached record highs. There is reason to believe these trends will not last: notably, with the U.s. Federal Reserve set to tighten monetary policy in the face of rising inflation, the U.s. stock market has tumbled.

But even if market ebullience or strong exports in the world’s biggest economies were to persist, most people are experiencing hardship and angst. We must not lose sight of that, let alone of the imperative of systemic change.

In responding to the pandemic, policymakers have faced an awful dilemma: keep the economy open and risk more COVID-19 deaths, or impose lockdowns and destroy livelihoods. As the Vanderbilt University economist W. Kip Viscusi points out, one way to simplify the trade-off between the benefits of reducing health risks and the costs of economic dislocations is to “monetize” COVID-19 deaths.

Using the value of a statistical life (VsL) as the metric, Viscusi found that the cost of COVID-19 deaths in the first half of 2020 amounted to $1.4 trillion in the U.s. and $3.5 trillion globally. Although the U.s. accounted for 25% of deaths, its share of the global mortality cost was 41%, because richer countries have a higher VsL. An American is valued at $11 million and an Afghan at just $370,700.

If one applies the same measure to officially reported deaths through the end of 2021 — which total about 5.6 million — the mortality cost would be $38 trillion, or 40% of global GDP. If one takes the Economist’s estimate of actual deaths — close to 17 million — that figure soars to $114 trillion, or 120% of GDP. China approached the trade-off very differently from the U.s., choosing to protect lives with strict lockdowns, even at the expense of greater economic dislocations. If China had the same infection rate as the U.s., and the same mortality rate (slightly more than 2.9%), its total COVID-19 deaths would have reached 4.1 million, rather than the 4,849 it has officially recorded. China’s VsL of $2.75 million implies that this would have meant additional losses of $11.3 trillion, or 67% of 2021 GDP. Given that China’s economy has performed relatively well during the pandemic despite lockdowns, it seems fair to conclude that China’s approach led to lower overall costs.

In any case, the actual costs of the COVID-19 pandemic are higher than VsL scores indicate. Aggregating mortality, morbidity, mental-health conditions and direct economic losses, former U.s. Treasury secretary Larry summers and Harvard economist David M. Cutler estimate that the U.s. bore losses of $16 trillion — the equivalent of 90% of GDP — in 2020.

Despite these high costs, the dilemma faced by a country like the U.s. or China is less stark than that faced by poorer developing economies. With large debts and limited ability to borrow, these countries’ governments have had few options for propping up their economies.

Vaccine shortages and weak health systems have left them even more vulnerable.

The International Monetary Fund recently warned that, because of the pandemic, incomes in 40 fragile and conflict-affected states are falling even further behind the rest of the world. It is not difficult to discern why: such countries lack the institutional capacity or resources to manage or mitigate social, economic, political, security, or environmental risks effectively. Already, violence is at a 30-year high globally. Fragile states — home to nearly 1 billion people — may account for 60% of the world’s poor by 2030.

All of this is taking its toll on the global economy. The latest edition of the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects report cautiously predicts that global growth will slow from 5.5% in 2021 to 4.1% in 2022 and 3.2% in 2023. Behind this forecast are the threats posed by new COVID-19 variants, rising inflation, mounting debt, widening inequality and worrying security challenges.

Economists like Viscusi, summers and IMF and World Bank staff measure policy options and their consequences in terms of monetary costs or GDP. But the dilemma policymakers face is fundamentally a moral one, rooted not least in the question of when individual preferences should prevail over collective interests.

Moreover, despite the apparent straightforwardness of cost-benefit calculations, the pandemic is ultimately a systemic challenge that is entangled with others, from inequality to climate change.

There are no simple solutions. As Minouche shafik, the director of the London school of Economics and Political science, recently argued, the pandemic has made plain the need for a new social contract fit for contemporary challenges.

The old social contract had its roots in the Domination Code, embodied in Genesis 1:26, when God said: “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the Earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” And yet, not all people were granted the same authority. In 1493, the Catholic Church’s Doctrine of Discovery granted Christians the right to enslave nonChristians and seize their property.

That doctrine was echoed in the U.s. in 1823, when the supreme Court ruled that the state had more rights than indigenous people. As the late anthropologist David Graeber and his co-author David Wengrow show, the ideas of freedom and equality that guided the European Enlightenment were shaped by Europeans’ first contact with American Indians in North America.

The social contract we need must reflect the forces and values shaping the world we live in today, including the deep interconnections among our economies and societies, the inherent value of all humans and the shared existential challenge of climate change. Today, the choice is not to dominate or be dominated; it is to work together or perish together.

Andrew Sheng, a distinguished fellow at the Asia Global Institute at the University of Hong Kong, is a member of the UNEP Advisory Council on Sustainable Finance. Xiao Geng, chairman of the Hong Kong Institution for International Finance, is a professor and director of the Institute of Policy and Practice at the Shenzhen Finance Institute at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen.

Ukraine, Tucker Carlson, the most influential commentator on Fox News, has been openly supportive of Putin.

Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister and the selfstyled champion of “illiberal democracy” in the EU, is visiting Putin this week. In the past, Orban has argued that the EU needs to recognise that “Putin has made his country great again”. Like Putin, Orban has positioned himself as the champion of a minority in Ukraine — in his case, ethnic Hungarians.

Putin’s other prominent fans in western Europe include Nigel Farage, the pro-Brexit campaigner, and Matteo salvini, leader of Italy’s hard-right League and former deputy prime minister. Commenting on Putin’s dispatch of troops to the Middle East, Farage gushed: “The way he played the whole syria thing. Brilliant.” salvini once posed for photos in Red square wearing a Putin T-shirt.

The Putin fan club extends into Asia and the Middle East. Rodrigo Duterte, leader of the Philippines, has been widely accused of sponsoring death squads during his time as president. When Duterte was asked which world leader he most admired, he replied “my favourite hero is Putin”.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s former prime minister, another self-styled tough guy, relished trips to Russia to discuss geopolitics with Putin. His 2019 re-election campaign featured a poster of the Israeli leader shaking hands with Putin, under the slogan “Netanyahu: In a league of his own”.

Putin has bonded with strongman leaders elsewhere in the Middle East. He presented Abdel Fattah al-sisi, Egypt’s president, with a gift of a Kalashnikov rifle. sisi, whose security forces have killed hundreds of demonstrators on the streets of Egypt, appeared enraptured by the gift.

Mohammed bin salman, saudi Arabia’s crown prince and de facto leader, is another Putin fan. As he rose to power, some British advisers to MBs noted his awestruck admiration for Putin, commenting: “He was fascinated by him....He liked what he did.”

The fellow feeling between the saudi and Russian strongmen took on a new dimension, after MBs was accused of ordering the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a saudi journalist. For a while, it seemed as if MBs risked becoming an international pariah. It was Putin who made a point of welcoming him back into the club of world leaders. At MBs’s first G20 summit after the Khashoggi killing, the saudi leader was high-fived by a grinning Putin. Putin himself was later accused of authorising the attempted murder of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader.

That exuberant handshake between Putin and MBs goes to the heart of the international cult of Putin. The Russian leader’s biggest admirers are often those, like Duterte, who share his taste for violence and his contempt for human rights.

That is why the current confrontation between Russia and the west is about more than Ukraine’s independence, important though that is. The outcome of the crisis may also determine the tone of world politics. If Putin faces down the western democracies, his thuggish strongman style of leadership will look like the wave of the future.

Pegasus scandal: Three questions the Modi government must answer AN INVESTIGATION BY THE NEWSPAPER LINKS THE SALE OF THE POWERFUL SPYWARE DIRECTLY TO THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

SCROll IpSItA CHAkRAvARty

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recent New York Times investigation seems to confirm something that has been widely speculated all along: Pegasus spyware entered India through a deal between governments. The newspaper alleges that the weapons-grade surveillance package was part of a $2 billion-dollar deal signed in 2017 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel.

With that, India joined the distinguished company of Hungary, Poland, saudi Arabia and other authoritarian countries that bought Pegasus to hack into phones and spy on dissidents.

The article suggests that former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traded in cyber weapons made by the NsO Group, an Israeli firm with close ties to the country’s intelligence apparatus, to gain diplomatic leverage and concessions. In India’s case, this meant voting in favour of Israel at the United Nations and walking back on New Delhi’s previous support to Palestine.

Both Israel and India have denied allegations of a quid pro quo. But that still leaves the Centre with a lot of explaining to do.

The Indian government used the argument of “national security” to remain vague about whether it bought Pegasus, to fob off discussion in Parliament and to get out of providing a detailed affidavit to the supreme Court. As the court observed in a damning judgement in October, national security cannot be used as an alibi to evade accountability.

The government had to “plead and prove the facts which indicate the information sought must be kept secret as their divulgence would affect national security concerns”. This was not done. It was also not clear whether the government had balanced the demands of national security with an individual’s fundamental right to privacy, laid down by the Ks Puttaswamy judgement and reiterated in several supreme Court rulings since.

As the New York Times article points out, when NsO introduced the spyware in the market over a decade ago, it was argued that this was a necessary weapon for law enforcement and intelligence agencies because terror groups and organised crime rackets had devised technologies to escape surveillance

by investigators. That rationale has long fallen by the wayside, with Pegasus being instrumental in state repression and human rights abuses in several countries. With the Centre now directly linked to the sale of Pegasus, the government needs to answer several pressing questions.

First, what compulsions prompted the purchase of spyware that has been called a “weapon”, far more intrusive and powerful than traditional surveillance mechanisms? second, what “national security” concerns justified hacking hundreds of phones, including those belonging to journalists, opposition leaders, a woman who accused a former supreme Court judge of sexual harassment, an election commissioner?

Third, did the use of Pegasus have any legal backing? Indian intelligence agencies operate in a regulatory wilderness, screened from legislative oversight in Parliament, and the bar for sanctioning the surveillance of private individuals is notoriously low. The use of Pegasus would have to be backed by the Telegraph Act, an antiquated law dating back to 1885, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Bureaucrats may sign off on phone tapping under the Telegraph Act in a “public emergency” or in the interests of “public safety” – both concepts that have been loosely interpreted in the past. The Information Technology Act does away with these requirements, enabling the surveillance of electronic communication “for the investigation of an offence”.

Were even these feeble regulations followed?

NO TRIVIAL MATTER: The Pegasus revelations cast grave doubts on the government’s credibility.

Exactly how grave these are was made apparent by the fact that the supreme Court appointed an independent committee to look into the allegations in October. After all, the government has shown a marked lack of enthusiasm to investigate such data breaches in the past.

Members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party had opposed a probe in 2019, when it emerged that WhatsApp accounts had been hacked using Pegasus.

Two parliamentary standing committees headed by Congress leaders eventually did look into it but the inquiry appears to have gone nowhere.

While the supreme Court-appointed committee’s findings are awaited, the government must do more to address the growing concerns around Pegasus. so far, it has worked to trivialise the allegations.

When the extent of Pegasus hacking was revealed by an investigative reporting project in July 2021, the government accused the Opposition of raking up the matter to disrupt the monsoon session of Parliament. Now, a Union minister has dismissed the New York Times report as the work of “supari [hit job] media”.

Contrary to what the government would have us believe, the Pegasus revelations are not trivial. They tap into fundamental questions about an individual’s right to liberty and privacy, about the duties the state has towards its citizens, about the basic conditions of life in a democracy.

Tuesday, 1 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

09

HBL eNABLeS e-COMMeRCe tRANSACtiONS ON DARAz FOR UNiONPAY CARDHOLDeRS KaraCHI

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Press release

BL and Daraz join hands to enable all UnionPay cardholders to conduct e-commerce transactions from Daraz online marketplace.

With this enablement, UnionPay cardholders can now perform seamless and secure transactions on Daraz.

HBL has always been at the forefront of expanding its digital footprint in Pakistan through its technology-driven initiatives. In line with its vision to becoming a ‘Technology Company with a Banking License’, HBL is focused towards expanding its role in the e-commerce industry, by enabling all UnionPay cardholders to shop on Daraz, empowering them with an optimized online shopping experience.

Kamran Mehdi Jaffery, Head Digital

Channels & Solutions – HBL, commented, “HBL empowers its customers with increased choices, and thus accelerating the pace at which our economy digitalizes. Our collaboration will directly benefit UnionPay cardholders who can now make online transactions on Daraz.

This will level the playing field and increase opportunities for the card holders.

The overarching goal for HBL is to enable a sustained economic ecosystem powered by digital inclusion.”

James Yang, General Manager of UnionPay International Middle East Branch, said in a statement, “UnionPay is a customer-centric card scheme and we keep developing and bringing the best available payment options and experiences to the market. We are excited to partner with HBL to enhance the customer journey at Daraz for our cardholders, accelerating digital

Careem maps over 600 Govet Vaccination Centres (Recognised by NCOC) on its Super App Press release With the mission of simplifying and improving the lives of people in the regions, Careem, the Super App for the greater Middle East and Pakistan has partnered with National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) to map 600 government vaccination centres on its Super App. People can now book a ride to and from the centres to get their vaccination or boosters shots, following the outbreak in the Omnicorn variant of Covid-19. The feature ‘Vaccination’ entails detailed information on more than 600 vaccination centres mapped across the country, including the centre timing, locations and eligibility. As the number of cases surge in the country, Careem extends its support to the government, encouraging Customers and Captains to get vaccinated or get booster shots by providing safe and convenient travel options to and from their destinations to the nearest centre. Using this tool, Customers can call centres from the Careem Super App and book a hassle-free ride, avoiding all traffic and parking issues. Asad Umar, Chairman NCOC commented, “Currently Pakistan is experiencing the 5th wave of COVID19 with an extremely highly contagious variant Omicron. Today, we are in a much better position to fight this pandemic by ensuring everyone gets vaccinated and if it has been over 6 months since vaccination, getting the booster shot. This is a commendable step taken by Careem, and I hope others’ will follow as well)” Feroz Jaleel, Country Head of Careem Pakistan, commented while encouraging Customers to get vaccinated: “The new variant is spreading fast and we need to take measures to contain it. With that being said, I am happy that the government has worked tirelessly towards getting the vaccines available to the masses and we, as an organization, just wanted to play our part in helping people get their vaccination or booster shots and combating this contagious variant”. Careem has always been at the forefront of extending its support to the government by arranging vaccination drives for its Colleagues and Captains and by introducing a similar tool to encourage people to get vaccinated and helping them travel to and from the vaccination centres. Amongst these initiatives, Careem has always instructed its Captains to strictly follow the Covid-19 SOPs during the ride by wearing a mask, frequently using sanitiser, maintaining social distancing and also encouraging its Customers to follow the same, keeping everyone safe and protected from the Covid-19.

FFC Announces Final Results for the Year 2021 Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC) has announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2021 in its Board of Directors meeting held on January 31, 2022. The Company achieved net profitably of Rs 21.89 billion translating into an EPS of Rs 17.21 which was 5% higher than the last year. The Company also declared the final dividend of Rs 4.65 per share, with an aggregate distribution of Rs 14.50 per share for the year 2021. During the year FFC produced of 2,507 thousand tonnes of Sona Urea and registered aggregate sales revenue of Rs 108.65 billion. Other income of the company also increased due to higher return on investments and increased dividend distribution by associated companies.

transformation to meet demands and longterm growth in the community.” Commenting on the partnership, Syed Zeeshan Ali, Director Digital Payments – Daraz said, “Daraz has a strategic focus on digital payments growth in Pakistan and has worked relentlessly with stakeholders to bring new digital payment solutions to its customers.

We are delighted to launch acceptance of UnionPay cards at the Daraz online marketplace as it will enable a major segment of customers to pay digitally. Over half of the customer spend on Daraz is acquired through digital payments, and with the addition of UnionPay as a payment option, we look forward to further expanding digital payment adoption on Daraz.”

The partnership between HBL, Daraz and UnionPay will create an enabling environment for a more rapid and inclusive growth of the Pakistani economy. It will

serve as a milestone for not just UnionPay cardholders, but also for Pakistan’s

digital payments and e-commerce landscape as a whole.

Kamran Mehdi Jaffery, Head Enterprise Solutions & Digital Channels – HBL (second from right), Syed Zeeshan Ali, Director Digital Payments – Daraz (third from right) and Nadeem Haroon, Country Manager – UnionPay International (5th from right) along with other senior members from the organizations were also present on the occasion.

TPL Life Insurance launches “Fortune Shield” KaraCHI Press release

TPL Life Insurance (Window Takaful Operations) (TPLL); Pakistan’s 1st InsurTech enterprise in innovative insurance business, has launched “Fortune Shield” – a Term Life Takaful Plan for distribution through the Auto Dealerships – a Pakistan’s First.

Following the launch, customers can now avail “Fortune Shield” from all main Auto Dealerships of Karachi. This will be expanded to other parts of the country within this year to ensure availability for all Pakistani’s across the country. Customers will have access to a financial ambit through the Auto Dealerships whereby they will be able to provide a financial security ambit for their beloved families in case of an unforeseen event. By availing this coverage, customers will also have access to TPLL’s Tele-health platform which will enable customers to have access to PMD Certified General Physicians, Specialists, Medicines, Lab Tests & Doctor’s at home along with a host of other features through TPLL’s Mobile Application.

The event was attended by Senior Members of TPL Corp & TPL Life along with city’s top dealerships comprising of 3S & Non-3S dealers.

This partnership is in line with TPLL’s strategy to evolve as a dominant player by exploring profitable niches through the deployment of cutting-edge technology. With disruption at its core, TPLL continues to invest in platforms that will grow its reach & Insurtech persona within the country.

Commenting on the occasion, Saad Nissar, Executive Director, TPL Corp who has been the pioneer in setting up this model in Pakistan earlier in the years said, “Auto Dealerships has always been a strong proponent of TPL Corp’s philosophy of execut-

TPL Life Insurance (Window Takaful Operations) Launches Pakistan’s First Auto Dealership Distribution Model for a Term Life Takaful Cover!

ing innovative models and products, and have always supported and facilitated TPL Corp’s businesses to grow & be a success. We are certain that the dealership fraternity will support TPL Corp yet again to ensure that TPLL’s product is also a success just like how TPL Insurance & TPL Trakker have been through this distribution model.”

Faisal Abbasi, CEO TPL Life, said, “This launch and collaboration will further cement TPL Life’s vision & mission of introducing the most innovative, unique and advanced products & distribution models for the people of Pakistan to increase penetration with in the country and to further disrupt the sector. We look forward to scaling this distribution model by continuing to offer low price & high value products for our customers.”

ReMIT program launches series of seminars, workshops Press release The Revenue Mobilization for Investment and Trade (ReMIT) program has initiated a series of Seminars and Workshops aimed at equipping the public sector Cross-Border Regulatory Agencies in Pakistan with a comprehensive knowledge of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) with a view to identify ‘obstacles being faced by businesses in cross-border trade’ and to jointly devise a mechanism for their removal. The training is being implemented through a donation by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)/UK Aid. The latest two-day seminar was conducted in Lahore on 26 & 27 of January, 2022 at Marriott the Pearl Continental Hotel Lahore which focused on promoting adherence to Pakistan’s commitments under the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement in it’s true sense by the different government organizations and stakeholders. The TFA, which champions the simplification, modernization and harmonization of export, import and transit procedures and formalities, has thus become a key issue for the global trade system, and for countries like Pakistan, to create new opportunities for promoting businesses that are operating in regional and international markets.

A cross section of public sector organizations including the Customs department , Postal services, Animal and Plant Quarantine department, Punjab Revenue Authority, Drug Regulatory Authority, Terminal operators and Airline operators and Ground Handlers represented the enforcement agencies along with private sector stakeholders partici-

GO announces increase in salary of its employees by up to 50% in response to PM’s appeal Press release

pated to benefit from the Trade Facilitation component of the ReMIT program by gaining comprehensive knowledge of the Trade Facilitation Agreement with a view to speed up clearances and making business environment more cost effective.

The discussion in the Seminar was opened by the Advisor Facilitation of ReMIT, Dr. Jawwad Agha explaining the project and highlighting the global experiences of TFA accession, ratification and implementation reforms. He stressed the need for implementation of Trade Facilitation Agreement as it was important for Pakistan’s economic progress. Dr. Tauqir Shah the Project Coordinator highlighted the changing environment of International Trade which called for continuous reform to tap the potential of gaining economic benefits in the international value chain.

Dr. Javed Iqbal, Member Punjab Revenue Authority, who was the Chief Guest at the Opening Ceremony enlightened the participants about the importance of the Trade Facilitation in enhancing and development of trade and its positive effect on growth of Economy. He thanked the International Trade Centre and the ReMIT Team for this initiative and hoped

that it would help in improving the trade environment After the inaugural session Mr Irfan Sarfraz and Ms Arooj Mehwish Rizvi, the TFA Master Trainers conducted the Seminar/Workshop on Trade Facilitation Agreement and discussed the need and provisions in details. The participants took part in every activity and a healthy debate was generated. The issues of Border Inefficiencies and the solutions provided by TFA were also discussed during the Seminars/Workshop. The trainers explained at length the need and utility of the Trade Facilitation Agreement of WTO which catered to the needs of entrepreneurs who wanted to grow in size and include foreign markets which were a key to their business development.

At the end of the Seminar/Workshop, Dr. Jawwad Agha, Advisor ReMIT Program, appreciated the participants and the interest taken by them to make the event successful and useful .

All the guests and participants appreciate the ReMIT/ITC team for their efforts in explaining the ITC training module and hoped that such events would continue in the future.

Gas & Oil Pakistan Limited (GO), Pakistan’s fastest growing oil marketing company has announced that it has decided to increase the salaries of its employees by up to 50%. Making the announcement, CEO, Mr. Khalid Riaz stated that “GO is the fastest growing oil marketing company and as a responsible corporate citizen, and in response to the appeal by Prime Minister Imran Khan, we are implementing a revised salary structure that will involve increases of up to 50%.

We are not only covering our own employees but will also ensure that our dealer partners and contractors do the same, a move that will impact more than 20,000 frontline workers.” As a result of the initiative, it is expected that all the frontline workers associated with the company whether as direct employees or through contractors, will earn at least Rs. 30,000 per month. The company will bear the incremental costs of this revision. The company will also work with its dealer partners to ensure that the initiative is cascaded throughout the GO retail network. We expect this initiative to result in higher earnings for more than 100,000 people. GO operates more than 950 retail outlets and has the 2nd largest upcountry storage network. The company also has the largest network of Company Owned Company Operated (COCO) retail outlets in the country with presence on M4 and M5 Motorways.

Tuesday, 1 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

10 FOREIGN NEWS

US cAllS for TAlkS AS NorTh koreA coNfirm TeSTiNg of hwASoNg-12 bAlliSTic miSSile seOuL

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News Desk

ORTH Korea confirmed on Monday it had launched a Hwasong-12 ballistic missile, the same weapon it had once threatened to target the U.S. territory of Guam with, sparking fears the nuclear-armed state could resume long-range testing.

The launch of the intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) was first reported by South Korean and Japanese authorities on Sunday. It was the seventh test conducted by North Korea this month and the first time a nuclear-capable missile of that size has been launched since 2017.

The United States is concerned North Korea’s escalat-

ing missile tests could be precursors to resumed tests of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and vowed an unspecified response “designed to show our commitment to our allies,” a senior U.S. official told reporters in

Washington.

“It’s not just what they did yesterday, it’s the fact that this is coming on the heels of quite a significant number of tests in this month,” the official said, while urging Pyongyang to join direct talks with no preconditions.

North Korea has said it is open to diplomacy, but that Washington’s overtures are undermined by its support for sanctions and joint military drills and arms buildups in South Korea and the region.

Amid a flurry of diplomacy in 2018, including summits with then-U.S. President Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared his nuclear force complete and said he would suspend nuclear testing and launches of the country’s longest-range missiles.

Kim said he was no longer bound by that moratorium after talks stalled in 2019, and North Korea suggested this month it could restart those testing activities because the United States had shown no sign of dropping its “hostile

policies.”

It is unclear if IRBMs such as the Hwasong-12 were included in Kim’s moratorium, but none had been tested since 2017.

North Korea analysts said the tests appear aimed at securing global acceptance of its weapons programmes, whether through concessions or simply winning tired acquiescence from a distracted world.

“The world’s distraction on other issues actually seems to be working to North Korea’s benefit right now,” Markus Garlauskas, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council think tank and former U.S. national intelligence officer for North Korea.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the recent

flurry of North Korean missile tests was reminiscent of heightened tensions in 2017, when North Korea conducted multiple nuclear tests, launched its largest missiles, and drew threats of “fire and fury” from the United States.

South Korean Defence Minister Suh Wook visited his country’s Army Missile Command on Monday to check its readiness in the face of the North Korean launches, the ministry said in a statement.

“North Korea’s series of missile test-fires, including intermediate-range ballistic missiles, pose a direct and serious threat to us and a grave challenge to international peace and stability,” Suh said after being briefed. “We will maintain a full military readiness posture that can respond im-

mediately to any situation.”

Japan’s Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi told reporters North Korea was escalating its provocation of the international community and said its “remarkable improvement” in missile technology “cannot be tolerated”.

BoostiNg missile capaBilities: Sunday’s test “confirmed the accuracy, safety, and operational effectiveness of the produced Hwasong-12 type weapon system,” North Korean state news agency KCNA reported.

State media coverage of the launch made no mention of the United States, and Kim was not reported to have attended. North Korean officials said this month the tests are for self defence and not targeted at any specific country.

Ahead of key polls, India’s ruling BJP revives Hindu-Muslim dispute ReuteRs In the streets around a revered religious site in the Indian city of Mathura where a temple and mosque stand side-by-side, the handful of Muslim restaurants that remain are mostly empty or shuttered.

A ban on meat last year by the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, a Hindu monk who issued the order on religious grounds, has decimated their trade.

Now the saffron-clad Yogi Adityanath, up for reelection in key state polls next month, has turned his attention to the temple itself, suggesting he will champion the Hindu cause in a long-running dispute with Muslims over who owns the site.

The issue has become a central part of the ruling party’s campaign to extend its grip on power in Uttar Pradesh, home to 200 million people and the bellwether of national politics.

Hindus and Muslims have argued for decades over who should control the site, echoing other disputes in India that have, on occasions, flared into deadly riots between the two communities.

While communal violence in India is sporadic, clashes erupted across the country in early 2020 over a citizenship law that Muslims said was discriminatory.

Dozens of people died.

Now mention of the Mathura dispute during campaign rallies and on social media has the city’s Muslims worried, according to interviews with more than 20 residents.

“An old case which has been settled … is being revived because we have a new, triumphalist Hinduism,” said Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, author of several books

on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Hindu nationalist movement.

“There is a greater emphasis on playing the temple card.”

Opinion polls suggest that the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to which Adityanath belongs, will win the vote in Uttar Pradesh, despite broad discontent over the economy and the government’s handling of the pandemic.

The chief minister, seen by some analysts as a potential successor to Modi, has cast the ballot as “80 per cent versus 20pc”, figures he did not fully explain. The percentages closely match the Hindu and Muslim share of the population across the state.

Adityanath’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the situation in Mathura.

‘NothiNg to fear’: The BJP swept to power in Uttar Pradesh on a Hindu-first agenda in 2017 and did not field a single Muslim candidate. Indians vote for powerful state legislatures separately from nationwide parliamentary elections.

That victory reflected the party’s dominance nationally since Modi stormed to power in 2014 after appealing to the Hindu majority.

The main opposition Congress party complains that by putting Hindus first, he and the BJP discriminate against minorities and risk stoking violence. Modi has defended his record and says his economic and social policies benefit all Indians.

Jamal Siddiqui, head of the BJP’s minority commission, said the party was working to increase the number of minority candidates in Uttar Pradesh and the four other states going to the polls next month.

“I hope the minority community will participate both in elections and in government,” he told Reuters.

“The Modi government has protected religious sites for all religions. Now, instead of being afraid of saffron, Muslims are coming closer.”

Suspicion of the BJP among Muslims in Mathura had been caused by misleading claims from opposition parties, Siddiqui added.

‘No compromise’: Among the holiest cities in Hinduism, Mathura, some 150 km south of New Delhi, is believed to be the birthplace of Krishna, one of the most important Hindu deities.

A temple standing on the reputed site of his birth was razed and replaced by a mosque, known as the Shahi Eidgah, in the 17th century during the Islamic Mughal empire. A Hindu temple complex built in the 1950s now backs onto the mosque.

An agreement was brokered in 1968 to settle the use of the land, and the two structures stood like “two sisters” until legal action to demolish the mosque began in 2020, said Z. Hassan, president of the trust that runs the Eidgah.

“I have been here for 55 years. I have not felt tension between Hindus and Muslims,” he said. “Only in the last few years, this idea has come that there are two communities.”

The case, brought to a local court by several Hindu priests, says the 1968 agreement was fraudulent.

“This land is very important to us,” said Vishnu Jain, the lawyer acting for the petitioners. “I don’t believe in any kind of dialogue. There is only one compromise which can happen — that they will be out of this property.”

China to contribute more to safeguarding world peace, prosperity in new year MiAn AbRAR China will join hands with “all countries that love peace and uphold justice” to make new and greater contributions to safeguarding world peace and prosperity this year, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

Wang made the remarks in a Chinese Lunar New Year message to diplomatic corps in Beijing, which was published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Saturday. The Chinese Lunar New Year, Spring Festival, falls on February 1.

Describing 2021 as a year “full of turbulence and challenges,” Wang reviewed the spread of COVID-19 across the globe, difficulties faced by the world economy and the complex international situation.

“A certain country attempted to draw lines based on values and ideologies, and stoke division and confrontation in the name of democracy and human rights, casting clouds of a new Cold War over the whole world,” he said.

“Meanwhile, peace and development remained the theme of the times. Solidarity over division and cooperation over confrontation became the shared aspiration and choice of the majority of countries,” he added.

The diplomat underscored China’s contributions to

the world last year in terms of fighting the pandemic, promoting economic recovery, and defending international fairness and justice.

China had provided more than two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to over 120 countries and international organizations by the end of last year, he noted.

China made joint efforts with the majority of countries in the world to advocate true multilateralism and uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, he said. In 2022, China will “celebrate the Winter Olympics with all countries in the spirit of solidarity and cooperation,” he said.

The Beijing Winter Olympics will take place from February 4 to 20, followed by the Paralympic Winter Games from March 4 to 13.

“We have the confidence and capability to overcome distractions and make the Winter Games a grand global event that enhances mutual understanding and friendship and brings the whole world ‘together for a shared future,'” Wang said.

China will continue to contribute to the global fight against COVID-19 and “support other developing countries in closing the immunization gap,” he said.

Moreover, China will “strengthen friendship and cooperation with all countries in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual trust,” he added, calling on all countries to strive for greater cooperation and mutual trust and less friction and division.

China will also advance the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and boost high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with relevant parties, he said.

Afghan Taliban to reopen public universities, no word on female students Agencies Afghanistan’s public universities, closed since the Taliban seized power in August, will reopen in February, the Taliban acting higher education minister said on Sunday, without specifying whether female students would be able to return. Universities in warmer provinces will reopen from Feb 2, while those in colder areas would reopen on Feb 26, the minister, Shaikh Abdul Baqi Haqqani, told a news conference in Kabul.

He did not say what arrangements if any would be made for female students. In the past, Taliban officials have suggested that women could be taught in separate classes. So far, the Taliban government has reopened high schools for boys only in most parts of the country.

Some private universities have reopened, but in many cases, female students have not been able to return to class. On January 15, Zabihullah Mujahid, who is also the Taliban’s deputy minister of culture and information, had said their education departments were looking to open classrooms for all girls and women following the Afghan New Year, which starts on March 21. “We are not against education,” Mujahid had stressed, speaking at a Kabul office building in an interview with The Associated Press.

However, a day later Taliban forces had fired pepper spray at a group of women protesters in Afghanistan’s capital demanding rights to work and education.

UN report claims Taliban have killed over 100 ex-Afghan govt officials, others since takeover AFP A United Nations report seen Sunday says the Taliban and its allies allegedly killed more than 100 former Afghan government members, security personnel and people who worked with international forces. The report, an advance copy of which was seen by AFP, describes severe curtailing of human rights by Afghanistan’s new fundamentalist rulers. In addition to the political killings, women’s rights and the right to protest have also been curbed. “Despite announcements of general amnesties for former members of the Government, security forces and those who worked with international military forces, UNAMA continued to receive credible allegations of killings, enforced disappearances, and other violations towards these individuals,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s report said. Since the Taliban seized Kabul on August 15, the UN mission in Afghanistan has received more than 100 reports of such killings that it deems credible, the report said. More than two-thirds of those killings were “extra-judicial killings committed by the de facto authorities or their affiliates.” Additionally, “human rights defenders and media workers continue to come under attack, intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrest, illtreatment and killings,” it said.

Tuesday, 1 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

SPORTS 11

EngLAnD’S DECISIOn tO CAnCEL PAkIStAn tOur mADE ‘zErO SEnSE’: HALES kARACHI

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News Desk

SLAMABAD United’s Alex Hales feels that England’s decision to cancel their tour to Pakistan made ‘zero sense’. Talking to media, the 33-year-old cricketer spoke about the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and his plans.

Hales is among the 24 English cricketers playing in this year’s PSL. Just three months before this tournament, the England Cricket team had backed out of a short tour to Pakistan. When asked what message the presence of English cricketers was sending, the flamboyant batter said that it shows that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decision to cancel the tour made no sense.

“I think after Pakistan came to England during COVID, helped out the ECB massively, so for them to cancel that tour made zero sense to me whatsoever,” he said. “[It was] only a short tour. So, it didn’t make any sense to me,” Hales added. While talking about his experience in Pakistan, the former England opener said that the country is a great place to play cricket.

“I’ve been here four or five times now and get looked after really well. Every time we come here, the people are very hospitable and cricket is always really good. The fans here are crazy for it. So, it’s a great place to come and play cricket, I absolutely feel safe,” he added.

Hales said that even though he has visited Pakistan several times, he is yet to get the opportunity to ex-

plore the country.

“The first two years they were quite strict with security and in the last couple of years, it’s been COVID and bubbles and stuff like that. So, unfortunately, I’ve not really had much of a chance to explore but hopefully in the next two or three years, if I come back, [I may] get a chance to explore, if COVID chilled out and security settles down then certainly [I would] love to see the country, I’ve heard it’s beautiful,” Hales added.

‘I hold PSl In hIgh regard’: The England batter said the PSL is a great tournament, and he holds it in high regard.

“It’s a tournament that I hold in high regard. The standard of cricket is really good, especially as a batter coming here. The standard of fast bowling is as good as anywhere in

the world, you have guys bowling at express pace and more often not good pitches to bat on. So, if you play well you feel like you can score runs but you have to earn those runs,” he said.

“It’s certainly up there in terms of the world tournaments, I’d rank it right up there, close to the IPL and certainly alongside the Big Bash,” he mentioned.

Hales was part of the Karachi Kings squad that won the PSL in 2020. But in the next season, he was traded to Islamabad United. The batter appreciated the team’s environment and termed it a significant factor for its success.

“I think the environment is probably our main contributing factor to our success over the years. We’ve played some really solid cricket over

the last few seasons and a lot of that comes down to a very relaxed environment,” said Hales. The English batsman said that there is no fear of failure in the United dugout and everyone backs each other.

“I think the main thing is having that relaxed environment that allows everyone to thrive under pressure,” Hales said.

Replying to a question, Alex Hales said that he has not set any personal goals and would prefer to win the tournament.

“I’d love to be part of a winning team and lift that trophy again. I was lucky to do it with Karachi a couple of years ago and I think winning trophies is more important than personal success,” he said.

Hales was regarded as one of the best batters in white-ball cricket but last donned England’s colours in 2019 when he was suspended for recreational drugs. He said missing the World Cup at home was disappointing and frustrating, but there’s nothing much he can do.

Canada stun US to close in on World Cup berth HAMILTON News Desk

PSL 2022: Shahid Afridi recovers from COVID-19 News Desk Quetta Gladiators’ manager Azam Khan announced on Monday that Shahid Afridi has recovered from COVID19. Khan stated that Afridi will arrive at the team hotel tomorrow (Tuesday) where his rapid antigen test (RAT) will be conducted and if the test comes back negative, he will join the team in their match against Islamabad United on February 3. It is pertinent to note that Afridi’s PCR test returned negative on Sunday for the second time. A few days ago, Afridi had tested positive for COVID-19, after which he had to isolate himself following the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) COVID-19 protocols. On Saturday, the Gladiators had requested the technical committee to be given Hassan Khan as a replacement for Afridi. The Gladiators’ source confirmed that the request has been approved. As per sources, Hassan will also be available for selection for Quetta’s game against Multan Sultans today. “We also need players for training and so we requested for Hassan,” the source was quick to add. The source further revealed that if Afridi cleared his rapid antigen test, he will join the team and Hassan would return to the bubble.

Eriksen signs for Brentford months after cardiac arrest LONDON News Desk

Christian Eriksen has completed a remarkable return to the Premier League, signing for Brentford just seven months after suffering a cardiac arrest at last year’s European Championship. The Denmark international left Inter Milan in December by mutual consent as the implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD, he had fitted meant he was not allowed to play in Italian football. But the Premier League does not have the same rule and Brentford issued a statement on Monday confirming they had signed the former Tottenham playmaker until the end of the season, subject to international clearance. Eriksen, 29, who has been training with young players at another of his former clubs, Ajax, said he was raring to go in a short video on Brentford’s Twitter feed. “Hi everyone, it’s Christian Eriksen,” he said. “I’m happy to announce that I’ve signed for Brentford Football Club and I can’t wait to get started and hopefully I’ll see you all very soon.” Brentford manager Thomas Frank, who worked with Eriksen while in charge of Denmark’s Under-17s squad early in his coaching career, welcomed his compatriot, saying it was an “unbelievable opportunity” to bring a world-class player to the club. “He is fit but we will need to get him match-fit and I am looking forward to seeing him work with the players and staff to get back towards his highest level,” he said. “At his best, Christian has the ability to dictate games of football. He can find the right passes and is a goal threat…. I expect him to have an impact in the dressing room and at the training ground.” Inter tweeted: “Good luck for your new adventure, @ChrisEriksen8. We are happy to see you back out on the pitch! Forever.” Spurs tweeted: “It’s good to see you back in the Premier League, @ChrisEriksen8”. Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest in Denmark’s opening game at Euro 2020 against Finland in Copenhagen on June 12 and had to be resuscitated on the pitch.

Canada took a giant step towards their first World Cup qualification in 36 years on Sunday after scoring an upset 2-0 victory over arch-rivals the United States in CONCACAF qualifiers.

A Cyle Larin goal after just seven minutes and an injury-time effort from Sam Adekugbe secured all three points for the Canadians at a frigid Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton to extend the home side’s lead at the top of the CONCACAF standings. The unbeaten Canadians now have 22 points from four games with four fixtures remaining, pulling four points clear of the USA who are second with 18 points.

Canada has emerged as the surprise package from Central America, North America, and the Caribbean qualifying region, and are now firmly on course for only their second trip to the World Cup after reaching the Mexico finals in 1986. “We’re turning into a football country,” Canada’s jubilant English coach John Herdman said afterward. “(The USA) are a great team, a very good team, they had great quality today. But we matched their spirit. “And that’s what I said to our lads – we’ve got our own quality, and it came through.”

Goalscorer Larin admitted a World Cup berth was within reach. “We’re almost there,” he said. “But we never settle for anything. We’ll keep pushing.”

Mexico are third in the standings level with the USA on 18 points after drawing 0-0 with Costa Rica in Mexico City on Sunday.

The top three sides in the eight-team round-robin table qualify automatically for this year’s finals in Qatar.

But the defeat piles pressure on USA coach Gregg Berhalter, whose team faces Honduras at home on Wednesday before a tricky final three games in March which includes away trips to Mexico and Costa Rica and a home game against Panama.

“It’s hard for me to remember a performance away from home this dominant without getting a result,” Berhalter said afterward. “The result hurts, the performance doesn’t hurt.”

The United States, aiming to atone for their shock failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, dominated

possession and territory on Sunday but fell behind after a defensive lapse that allowed Turkey-based striker Larin to fire the hosts into the lead.

A Matt Turner goal kick was won by Kamal David who headed forward. Larin gathered all too easily just outside the US penalty area and played a neat one-two with Lille forward Jonathan David before brushing off US defender Miles Robinson and rifling a finish past Turner. It would be Canada’s only meaningful chance on goal for the rest of the half with the USA enjoying the lion’s share of possession thereafter.

But for all the US territorial dominance the Americans were unable to make it count, failing to find the incisiveness in attack to trouble the Canadian defence.

Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic looked the likeliest source of invention for the USA but was often isolated and on the receiving end of some rugged Canadian

tackling. The Americans finally got a shot on goal two minutes before half-time.

A Pulisic corner was met with a firm glancing header from Weston McKennie but Canada keeper Milan Borjan reacted superbly to tip the effort onto the underside of the bar.

The similar half followed a similar pattern, with the US having plenty of the ball without really testing the Canadian defence.

As the game wore on, the US became more ragged and deep into injury time the hosts broke clear, with defender Adekugbe skipping clear and racing towards goal before blasting past Turner for 2-0. In other games on Sunday, 2018 World Cup qualifiers Panama moved into the qualification reckoning with a 3-2 home win over Jamaica. Panama are fourth in the standings with 17 points, one behind the USA and Mexico.

Rooney calls for ‘sensible’ ruling after Derby draw LONDON News Desk

Derby County manager Wayne Rooney has urged Middlesbrough and Wycombe Wanderers, as well as the English Football League, to be “sensible” in their treatment of his struggling side after the cash-strapped club’s last-ditch 2-2 Championship draw at home to Birmingham on Sunday.

Both Middlesbrough, who also play in English football’s second-tier, and third division side Wycombe are mounting legal challenges arguing they have been disadvantaged in both economic and sporting terms by Derby breaking the EFL’s financial fair play rules in previous seasons. Boro argue had Derby not done so they would have made the Championship play-offs for lucrative promotion to the Premier League.

Wycombe’s case is that they would have avoided relegation to League One last season.

Derby, who are just seven points from safety despite a 21-point deduction, went into administration in September. This week the East Midlands club, twice champions of England in the 1970s, were given a one-month extension by the EFL to prove they have sufficient funds to complete the season.

An already emotional afternoon, which started with 1,000 fans marching from Derby city centre to a sold-

out Pride Park ended with a spectacular stoppage-time equaliser through Rams substitute Krystian Bielik’s overhead kick.

Derby had been 2-0 down before Luke Plange reduced the deficit in the 87th minute. Lyle Taylor and Scott Hogan had scored for Birmingham.

England great Rooney, who on Friday announced he had turned down the opportunity to manage former

club Everton, was delighted by the vocal support Derby received on Sunday.

“Things happen for a reason and – with there being no Premier League games today – it was a chance for us and the fans to show the country and the world what a massive club this is,” he said.

The former Manchester United and England captain added: “I also think Middlesbrough, Wycombe and the EFL have to be sensible now because people’s livelihoods are at stake and people have to come to the right decisions.”

Bielik’s brilliant strike came exactly a year to the day after the Poland defender suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

“As a team, I think we have been writing our own scripts this season and at half-time I said we’d score a goal in the 92nd minute today, whether it be the winner or an equaliser,” Rooney said.

“It was actually a bit later than that, but what a way it was for Krystian to come back. He then hurt his shoulder in the celebrations and it will be frustrating if we lose him again but, hopefully, it’s not too serious.”

In Sunday’s other Championship match, Cardiff eased their relegation fears by winning for the first time in seven games courtesy of a 2-1 victory at home to Nottingham Forest, a result that dented the play-off aspirations of Derby’s local rivals.

Tuesday, 1 February, 2022

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PDM finalises strategy to ensure success of long March IsLAMABAD

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Mian abRaR

AKISTAN Democratic Movement (PDM), an opposition parties’ alliance, has chalked out a strategy to make its long march against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government, scheduled to reach Islamabad on March 23 successful, it has been learnt on Monday.

Sources said that under the plan, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and Vice President Maryam Nawaz will leave for the federal capital from Lahore while Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who is also the

ihc rejects plea against auction of ishaq Dar’s house

PDM president, from Karachi.

Sources added that bombproof containers had already been readied for both the leaders.

Participants of the march will reach Islamabad’s DChowk where they will hold a long sit-in.

Similarly, they explained, JUI-F Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ameer Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Sherpao, another JUI-F leader Akram Durrani will lead rallies from Peshawar.

Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai, National Party President Abdul Malik Baloch and Balochistan National Party (BNP) Chairman Akhtar Mengal will leave for the capital city from Quetta.

An era of political vengeance dissipating gradually: Shehbaz Sharif

News Desk The Islamabad High Court (IHC) dismissed a plea filed by the wife of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Ishaq Dar on Monday, against an accountability court’s order to put his house on auction. The spouse of the former finance minister who’s absconding in corruption cases, in her plea said Dar had gifted the house in Lahore’s Gulberg 3 to her on Feb 14, 1989. “I am the owner of Gulberg 3 house,” Tabassum Dar pleaded. She said the accountability court issued its order for the auction in November last year without taking her claim into consideration.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Saman Riffat Imtiaz dismissed her petition. A stay order regarding the house stands withdrawn after the dismissal of the plea.

After the ruling, the government will be able to auction off the residence. It is pertinent to note that the Punjab government advertised the auctioning of the house.

nePra to consider rs3.12 per unit hike in power tariff The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) on Monday has requested the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to consider a Rs3.12 per unit increase in power tariff on account of Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) for December 2021. The proposed increase in power tariff will result in an additional burden of Rs30 billion on power consumers of all distribution companies except K-electric. During December 2021 a total of 8,529.01 Gigawatt per hour (GWh) was produced including different sources of fuel. From the total generation, 20.04 per cent of the electricity was produced through hydel source, 23.83 per cent through coal, 2.84 per cent through high speed diesel, 4 per cent through furnace oil, 13.77 per cent through local gas and 13.5 per cent through imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Nuclear and wind comprised 17.55 per cent and 2.38 per cent respectively of the total electricity produced.

LAHORe Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has hailed the acquittal of 16 accused including his party leader Raja Qamaul Islam in ‘Saaf Pani’ corruption reference on Monday.

Lahore’s accountability court earlier in the day acquitted 16 accused in the corruption case worth millions of rupees.

“I thank Allah Almighty for the acquittal of former MPA Raja Qamarul Islam, Waseem Ajmal along with 16 accused in the ‘Saaf Pani’ case,” the PML-N president wrote on his official Twitter handle. “The fog of political vengeance is gradually dissipating and the light of truth is spreading,” he added.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had claimed that the accused persons in connivance with each

other caused loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer. They installed 116 water filtration plants at exorbitant rates in Bahawalpur and mentioned false estimates of the plants in documents, the anti-corruption watchdog had alleged.

Islam, a former PML-N MPA, had served as the chief executive officer of the Punjab Saaf Pani Company (PSPC). The PSPC is one among 56 public limited companies, formed by the Punjab government in 2013 led by then chief minister Shehbaz.

During proceedings of the case, it was revealed that despite spending millions of rupees, the company could not produce even a single drop of water. It also transpired that important hiring was made in the company contrary to merit and unjustified perks and privileges were provided to some individuals. Afterwards, NAB started investigations into the case and arrested several individuals.

at least 14 opposition lawmakers ‘secretly’ support PM, reveals rasheed

Huge coal reserve discovered in Thar News Desk The Sindh government announced on Monday that massive three billion tonne coal deposits were discovered in Sindh’s Thar.

The discovery was made during the exploitation at Thar Coal Field Block 1.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, while expressing his pleasure over the ‘good news’, said in a statement that they used to say that Thar will change the fortunes of Pakistan and that slogan is now becoming a reality. “After digging 145 metres in Block 1 this morning, coal was discovered. It is the second such major

achievement of the Sindh government,” he added.

CM Sindh said that the discovered reserves were equivalent to five billion barrels of crude oil.

Provincial Minister for Energy Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh, while congratulating the nation, said that the annual production of coal will be 9 billion tonnes in the first phase.

He further said that the discovery will help Pakistan tackle its energy needs, adding that it will benefit the national treasury by billions of dollars.

The minister also conveyed good wishes for the Pakistani team and Chinese experts working on the project.

News Desk Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Monday revealed that at least 14 to 15 members of the opposition are “secretly” supporting Prime Minister Imran Khan, according to Geo News. Talking about the government’s decision to seek funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he said that going to the IMF is not a choice, but rather a necessity. He also acknowledged the rise in terrorism in Balochistan and said that the country would fight terrorism perpetrated by the BLA and TTP together. He further said that anything related to presidential system was not discussed in the meeting of the federal cabinet.

Fawad urges parliament to consider constitutional amendments for appointments of SC judges News Desk Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Monday urged the parliament to consider amendment for the appointment of judges of Supreme Court.

Fawad took to his official Twitter handle, and stated that “It would be a huge undertaking if [the] parliament ensured that appointments to the Supreme Court are free and transparent,” he said, adding that political parties should set aside their difference and work on this amendment.

He further stated that in light of the fact that five judges will be retiring from the top court this year, the parliament should consider a constitutional amendment.

Fawad further lauded the outgoing chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed for his “historic stand” on minorities’ worship places.

“At a time when India’s judiciary seems helpless at the hands of extremists, judges like Justice Gulzar supported minorities and ruled independently,” he added.

Fawad praised the retiring chief justice

of Pakistan, Gulzar Ahmed, for “supporting minorities” in the country as well as “authoring independent judgements”.

In another tweet, the minister noted that five Supreme Court judges are set to retire in 2022, therefore, parliament should focus on introducing an amendment in the Constitution regarding judicial appointments.

If the parliament can make the process of appointments to the Supreme Court independent and transparent, it would be a huge accomplishment, he added.

He urged all political parties to set aside their differences and consider the idea of a constitutional amendment. It is pertinent to note that Justice Gulzar is retiring on Tuesday, after two years and 42 days in office, by leaving behind the legacy of an anti-encroachment drive in the biggest city of the country, Karachi.

He had taken oath as the country’s top judge in December 2019. His tenure was adversely affected on account of the Covid-19 pandemic. It merits mention that Justice Umar Ata Bandial will take over as the chief justice on February 2. Justice Umar Ata Ban-

dial will take over as the chief justice on February 2.

The notification for the appointment of Justice Bandial as the next CJP was issued by the law ministry of Jan 17. When elevated to the office of CJP, Justice Bandial will face a veritable mountain of around 51,766 cases that are pending before the Supreme Court alone. The overall backlog of cases in Pakistan’s judiciary, including the superior courts as well as district courts, stands at a whopping 2.1 million. Justice Bandial will serve in the top judicial office until Sept 16, 2023, when he is due to be replaced by Justice Qazi Faez Isa. It merits mention that a day earlier, the information minister urged the judiciary to take stock of its rapidly declining reputation in the world rankings and stated that it would be a big challenge for the next chief justice.

He had highlighted a question raised by Minister for Law Farogh Naseem while commenting on the Sarina Isa case judgement: “If the judges are not responsible for the assets of their wives and children, then how is it possible to hold politicians and bu-

reaucrats accountable?”

“The judiciary needs to take stock of its rapidly declining reputation in the world rankings. It will be a big challenge for new chief justice when he swears in,” Chaudhry tweeted in an apparent reference to a report released last year by the World Justice Project (WJP), according to which Pakistan ranks 130 out of 139 countries on the rule of law index. The country ranks five out of six in the South Asian region, according to the WJP Rule of Law Index 2021 released in October 2021. It is pertinent to note that during his tenure as the CJP, Justice Ahmed took notices of attacks on temples, reprimanding police for failing to prevent them and assured minorities that their rights and places of worship would be protected as long as he served the top judicial office.

Speaking at a seminar in August last year, Justice Gulzar had recalled how he felt pain when he learnt about the desecration of temples both at Hindu Samadhi in Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and at Ganesh Mandir in Bhong, Rahim Yar Khan.

“That was the reason why prompt suo

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

motu notices were taken on the desecration of the worship places because such tragic and unfortunate incidents of desecration of the holy places of the minority communities were neither tolerable nor acceptable in the country,” the CJP had said.

“Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras and churches are as important and sacred to me as my own religious places,” he had observed. He was referring to the attack on a century-old shrine in KP’s Karak in 2020.

Justice Ahmed had taken notice of the incident and on his orders, not only was the shrine restored to its original condition by the KP government, but the apex court also ordered the KP government in October 2021 to recover Rs33 million from the culprits involved in vandalising and destruction of the Samadhi. He later also celebrated the festival of Diwali at the temple to express solidarity with the Hindu community.

He also took notice when a temple in Rahim Yar Khan was vandalised, summoning the Punjab police chief and censuring the force for its failure to safeguard the temple.