Epaper – February 08-2022 ISB

Tuesday, 8 February, 2022 I 6 Rajab, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 221 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

Imran becomes fIrst PakIstan leader to vIsIt russIa In over two decades ISLAMABAD

I

Staff report

MRAN Khan will become the first prime minister of Pakistan in over two decades to embark on a bilateral visit to Russia, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi confirmed Monday.

Nawaz Sharif was the last leader to tour Moscow in April 1999, months before the October coup of his army chief Pervez Musharraf, the first trip to Russia of a head of Pakistan’s government since 1974.

In recent years, the two nations have tried to broaden and deepen their relations, with Russia lifting a longstanding arms embargo in 2014 which it had imposed on Pakistan decades ago.

Khan’s visit is taking place at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin.

“Our relations with Russia have grad-

istan and held wide-ranging talks covering bilateral relations and regional and global issues.

Pakistan’s increased diplomatic engagements with Russia are understood to be part of the government’s quest to diversify its foreign policy.

In April 2018, General Qamar Javed Bajwa became the third consecutive army chief to visit Moscow. His trip resulted in the setting up of a Joint Military Commission between the two countries.

In return, Russia is also increasing diplomatic efforts to revive ties with Pakistan through the $2.5 billion natural gas project while offering to bolster anti-terrorism support.

Analysts see the moves as a bid to acquire a new energy market to offset declining business from the West and to increase regional heft as the US deepens ties with India after its withdrawal from Afghanistan.

ually improved,” Qureshi said in a statement. “Now Putin has invited Khan to visit Russia and [the prime minister] will go to Moscow this month.”

“I think our relations with Russia are undergoing a pleasant change,” he added.

On the agenda of the visit would be bilateral ties, the situation in Afghanistan, including talks of defence cooperation and commitments to take forward the 1,100-km-long Pakistan Steam Gas Pipeline.

Setting up of the pipeline is aimed at facilitating the transfer of imported gas from Karachi to the load centre in Punjab. The initiative has remained on hold since 2015 due to disagreements over cost and the United States’ sanctions against the Russian state conglomerate Rostec.

In September 2021, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Pak-

Zardari left high and dry as PML-Q refuses to support no trust move against Imran Khan

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia agree to implement treaty on release of prisoners ISLAMABAD newS deSk

LAHORE Staff CorreSpondent

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) supremo Asif Ali Zardari Monday failed to woo support of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) in no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

According to informed sources, Asif Zardari visited the residence of ailing Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. On the occasion, the sources said, the PPP leader urged the PML-Q to support the opposition parties’ motion of no confidence against National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar and Prime Minister Imran Khan.

However, the source in the PML-Q said that Chaudhry Shujaat told Zardari that the PML-Q could not go against their coalition partner, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and would stand for principles and comradeship.

The sources said that during the meeting, PMLQ leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Husain and Pervez

Elahi told Asif Zardari that the PML-Q was PTI’s ally and it would stand by it despite some issues.

Chduahry Shujaat told Zardari that his party was an ally for five year term and it did not believe in the politics of destabilizing the government.

It merits mention that PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif had held a quiet meeting with PTI’s another ally, Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM-P), on Sunday. Sources in the opposition alliance say that the PPP and PML-N have agreed to oust Imran Khan-led government and they were working to win over the coalition partners of Imran Khan.

“It was decided in a meeting held between Asif Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif last Saturday that rather than holding a sit-in, the opposition should jointly try to bring a no confidence motion against National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar. If they succeed in removing Qaisar, the alliance would go for the kill by moving no trust motion against Imran Khan,” the source added.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Monday agreed to implement a bilateral treaty on the release of Pakistanis jailed in the kingdom, an aide to the Pakistani prime minister said on Monday.

The statement comes during a day-long visit of Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif to Islamabad, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and increasing connectivity between the interior ministries of both countries.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had signed a prisoner transfer agreement in May 2021 to repatriate over 2,000 Pakistanis jailed in the kingdom.

Arab News reported that Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Pakistani PM’s aide on the Middle East disclosed both countries have agreed to implement the prisoner release treaty.

“The Saudi interior minister has assured of the implementation of all agreements, including the prisoners release treaty, signed between the two countries,” Ashrafi said.

“The interior ministries of both countries will work together for speedy implementation of the prisoner release agreement.” The agreement allows Pakistani individuals convicted in Saudi Arabia, especially for minor offenses, to complete their terms at home. It also benefits prisoners languishing in Saudi jails for not being able to pay fines.

During his visit, the Saudi interior minister also held a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed in Islamabad.

The two officials agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and increase connectivity between the ministries of interior, the Pakistani ministry said in a statement after the meeting.

It said the two ministers discussed issues of mutual interest, including the regional security situation, in the meeting. “Better liaison between the interior ministries of both countries is necessary to address different issues, including security challenges,” it added.

On the occasion, Prince Abdulaziz said relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are based on mutual trust and Islamic brotherhood, according to the statement.

Rasheed told his Saudi counterpart that Pakistan attaches great importance to its historic and brotherly relations with Saudi Arabia.

He said more than two million Pakistanis working in Saudi Arabia are their asset. “We are grateful to the Saudi government for the excellent care of Pakistani workers,” he added.

Later, the Saudi delegation met President Dr Arif Alvi and highlighted that both countries have “shared concerns” in Afghanistan. He also urged the international community to help the Afghans in their hour of need.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

CONFIRMED CASES: coronavIrus In DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

MORE INSIDE

LAST UPDATED AT 8:41 AM ON FEB 7, 2022

ICAP, ICMAP lock horns for the CA title STORY ON PAGE 02

Punjab allows military deployment for Lahore leg of HBL PSL STORY ON PAGE 03

HBL PSL brings more misery, suffering for Lahoriites STORY ON BACK PAGE

NEW CASES:

1,463,111 PakIstan 38 3,338 RECOVERED:

1,344,403

SINDH:

PUNJAB:

ISLAMABAD:

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

552,262 489,655 131,628

DEATHS: 3,338 203,110 34,819

40,741/10,896

02

Tuesday, 8 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

ICAP, ICMAP loCK HorNS for THe CA TITle

T

AHtASAM AHMAD

HE Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP) has applied for trade mark registration of the Chartered Accountant title with the Government of Pakistan’s trademark registration authority.

This action has irked many members of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Pakistan (ICAP) as they claim that the title was by default, allocated to ICAP members under the CA ordinance 1961.

As per the chapter 2 clause 7 of the CA ordinance 1961, Members to be known as Chartered Accountants, “Every member of the Institute in practice shall, and any other member may, use the designation of a Chartered Accountant and no member using such designation shall use any other designation, whether in addition thereto or in substitution therefore.”

The clause further states, “Provided that nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to prohibit any such person from adding any other description or designatory letters to his name, if entitled thereto, to

SHC orders bulldozing of Karachi illegal structure KARACHI Staff RepoRt

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday ordered the provincial building regulator to take down an illegal portion of Al-Jannat Royal Residency, a nine-floor building located in the Garden West neighbourhood of Karachi. The court took up the case after an applicant challenged the construction of three additional storeys against the approved six-floor design. It ordered the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to immediately stop further construction on the site of AlJannat Royal Residency. Further, the court while ordering not to give sub-lease to anyone, directed to raze an illegal portion of the building within 45 days and submit a progress report. The court also directed to take action against the builder and the involved officers of the SBCA and barred utility providers for giving connections of electricity, water and gas. The court in its order said strict action against the applicant would be taken if the order of the court was used for blackmailing.

Separately, the SHC after showing resentment over the non-compliance of its orders had directed the concerned authorities to raze the fourth floor of the Aliza Arcade in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal neighbourhood.

National Tariff Commission imposes new taxes to prevent dumping of steel imports GHuLAM ABBAS In order to save the domestic market, the National Tariff Commission (NTC) Pakistan has imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on various imported steel products.

The tarif has been levied mainly on imports from Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), European Union, South Korea and Vietnam. As per a notification issued by the commission, it has imposed an anti-dumping duty ranging from 6.18 per cent to 17.25 per cent on imports of iron, non-alloy steel rolled coils and sheets. The tariff will become effective from August 23, 2021 and remain in place for the next five years. Definitive duty of 6.18 per cent has been levied upon imports from Chinese Taipei, 6.50% on imports from the European Union, 13.24 per cent on imports from South Korea, and 17.25% on imports from Vietnam. However, the commission also maintained that anti-dumping duties will not be imposed on imports of steel products that are used as inputs in products manufactured for export.

Dumping is the process of selling products to other countries at a lower price than what it is sold domestically for. In this way, countries manage to get rid of excess inventory by exporting it at lower prices. In the case of Pakistan, the aforementioned countries, like Chinese Taipai, the EU, and others export their steel products at lower prices which results in less share of the market for local steel product manufacturers. It was in order to allow the local market a higher share, that the NTC decided to impose an anti-dumping duty on imported steel products. The imposition of duties comes after Aisha Steel Mills Limited (ASL) and International Steel Limited (ISL) filed an application of investigation into dumping practices of flat-rolled products of iron and non-alloy steel, and cold-rolled steel products by foreign steel exporters. In July 2015, NTC initiated the investigation against dumping of cold-roll coils and sheets from China and Ukraine.

Clad, plated, or coated products of prime and secondary quality as well as cold rolled coils/sheets exported from the European Union, Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei and Vietnam were excluded. The investigation determined a causal link between dumped imports and material injury to the domestic industry.

The dumping of steel products has harmed the domestic industry that manufactures cold rolled coils/sheets, which has resulted in a decline in market share. Dumped imports have also impacted the local industry’s capacity utilization, profitability, and return on investment. This in turn affects its productivity and sales. This means reduction in economic benefits and wages of workers employed in the industry. During the investigation, NTC did not receive any information that would have proved necessary for the determination of individual dumping margins from any of the foreign producers exporting to Pakistan.

indicate membership of such other institute of accountancy, whether in Pakistan or elsewhere as may be recognized in this behalf by the Council, or any other qualification that he may possess, or to prodhit a firm, all the partners of which are members of the institute and in practice, from being known by its firm name as Chartered Accountants.”

There were rumors circulating that some members of ICAP have been urging the institute to isolate the practicing members of ICMAP in the industry as a retaliative step.

However, the President of ICAP, Ashfaq Tola, while commenting on the issue told Profit, “I don’t think there is friction between Institutes and we don’t have any issues with practicing members of ICMAP.” Referring to the trademark issue, he added, “This is a legal issue and it will be handled legally.”

Ali Latif, a senior Chartered Accountant and member of the ICAP’s governing council commented on the issue, “ICMAP is employing deceptive practices to exploit and benefit from the reputation created in the market by ICAP. Last year they tried to

acquire audit rights through back door politics, but they failed to do so. Now this is another desperate step to revive their falling reputation amongst students and industry professionals.”

Profit reached out to President of ICMAP, Zia ul Mustafa Awan, He stated.

“The rationale behind filing the patent was to protect the CA title from being misused by foreign accountancy bodies who have entered the Pakistani market and are awarding the title at will” “Our aim is not to create friction with ICAP as the objective of both organisations aim for the betterment of the accountancy profession. If ICAP has this (CA) trademark registered for itself then our application will automatically be rejected. Therefore, ICAP members shouldn’t be concerned.” he added.

Japan second largest donor to Pakistan, says ambassador SHAHzAD PARACHA Japan Ambassador Mitsuhiro Wada has said that Japan is the second largest donor to Pakistan.

The Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan on Monday called on the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Omar Ayub Khan.

The Minister warmly welcomed the new Japanese Ambassador and assured him of the government of Pakistan’s full support to further strengthen bilateral relations.

This year Japan and Pakistan are celebrating the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations and the 68th anniversary of beginning of Japanese economic assistance to Pakistan.

The Ambassador informed that Japan is the second largest donor to Pakistan. Since 1954, the government of Japan has provided JPY1.35 Trillion to Pakistan.

Concessional loans, grants and technical assistance has been provided for polio eradication, maternal & child health, Covid-19, education, vocational training, water & sanitation, climate change & disaster risk management, energy sector, road &

transport and governance.

The Ambassador also apprised that the government of Japan is now providing grant-in-aid assistance for improvement of water and sewerage system in Multan and cultural grant assistance for the improvement of equipment for exhibition and conservation in the Taxila Museum.

It was also apprised that a project for Gravity Flow Water Supply Scheme in Haripur City is under process under JICA’s assistance. This project will help to improve depletion of underground water level and water scarcity of drinking water through efficient, sustainable and cost-effective gravity-based water supply arrangements for the residents of Haripur City.

The Minister for Economic Affairs appreciated the Japanese Government for providing continued economic and technical assistance to Pakistan.

Petroleum Division seeks amendment to Petroleum Product Ordinance to supply RLNG to K-Electric AHMAD AHMADAnI The Petroleum Division has sought amendment to Petroleum Product Ordinance, 1961 from Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in order to enable Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) to supply Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) to K-Electric’s 900 megawatt (MW) power plant.

Sources said that the Petroleum Division while seeking amendment to second schedule of Petroleum Products Ordinance, 1961 has proposed that the name of PLL may be included in the second schedule of Ordinance and OGRA may be delegated the power for establishing RLNG price on behalf of PLL as per the draft SROs duly vetted by Law Division.

The sources also said that the petroleum division in its summary for ECC’s consideration has proposed certain proposals regarding determination of sale price of RLNG including LNG DES (delivered ex-

ship) price to be taken as per contract(s) as per existing guidelines while PLL’s LNG import related costs and port charges to be taken at actual as per the existing guidelines and all the charges under Operation Services Agreement (OSA) including but not limited to capacity charges, utilization charges of terminal as well as retainage to be taken at actual as per the existing

guidelines.

Similarly, terminal management fee will be at actual as per the existing guidelines.

It is also learnt from sources that petroleum division’s summary titled ‘Determination of RLNG sale price for PLL’s supply to K-Electric’ has already been circulated to finance division, power division, Ministry of Planning and Development and Special Initiatives, Oil

Minister’s brother disqualified from KP LG elections over ECP code violations

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) barred Umar Amin Gandapur, brother of Minister for

Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur, from running in the second leg of the local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on charges of repeated violations of the election code of conduct despite warnings.

The short verdict, delivered by a three-member bench of the commission headed by its chief Sikandar Sultan Raja, dashed Umar’s hopes who was eyeing the prized office of Dera Ismail Khan mayor in the elections scheduled for February 13.

The commission also ordered that Minister Gandapur will also not be able to take part in any political activity connected to the polls in the city.

However, the minister was allowed to enter the city, Raja announced in the verdict he reserved earlier.

The minister violated the election code on December 5 by participating in a campaign and announcing development schemes in the town. Later, the ECP slapped a fine of Rs50,000 on him for the violation.

But, on December 15, the minister again addressed a public rally in the city.

The commission, while taking notice of repeated violations of its code of conduct by Gandapur, had summoned the minister in person on February 1.

He skipped the first hearing and his lawyers told the ECP that Gandapur contracted Covid-19. But, in the second hearing which he attended, the bench reserved the verdict.

and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), and Law and Justice Division for their precious comments. And, Planning Division has supported the guidelines; however, they have suggested that an amendment in the Petroleum Product Ordinance, 1961may be made as per the recommendation of the Law Division.

According to documents, as reported

by PLL, all civil,electrical and instrumentation works, laying of pipeline and metering station have been completed at the site. KE 900 MW power plant’s pipeline connecting with SSGCL’s Custody Transfer Station (CTS) as well as tie-in activity has been completed.

KE has already communicated the readiness of the facility for injection of RLNG through the said pipeline and testing of the line was taking place. It has also been reported that GSA between KE and PLL has been finalized and executed while an Interconnection Agreement (IA) between SSGCL and PLL has been initiated and sent to OGRA for approval.

MQM-P delegation calls on Shehbaz KARACHI INp

A delegation of Muttahida Qaumi MovementPakistan (MQM-P), a member of the ruling coalition at the Centre, will call on National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif at his residence in Lahore on Tuesday. The delegation — comprising party’s Deputy Convenor Amir Khan, former Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar and Sadiq Iftikhar — will discuss with Sharif the political situation in Sindh with a focus on local government elections and other matters. The burning issue pertaining to an inhouse change through a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly will also come under discussion. Moreover, the delegation will also call on the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leadership Wednesday. It will inquire about the health of ailing PML-Q patriarch and former prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. The politicians will also discuss the issue of the local government apparatus in light of the recent Supreme Court verdict. MQM-P on Monday met with the top leadership of the Awami National Party (ANP). Its delegation held a meeting with Aimal Wali Khan at Wali Bagh. ANP leaders Mian Iftikhar, Ameer Haider Hoti and other leaders were also present.

Tuesday, 8 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

Pakistan records sharp fall in daily Covid-19 infections ISLAMABAD/LAHORE

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Staff RepoRt

HE nation confirmed 3,338 new cases of coronavirus over the past 24 hours, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said on Monday, marking the second day the daily caseload remained below the 5,000-limit. The health authorities tested 44,779 samples to receive a scaled-down transmission rate of 7.5 per cent. It has remained below the critical threshold of 10 percent for a week now.

Meanwhile, the federal pandemic response agency allowed fans to fill open-air Gaddafi Stadium up to full capacity for the upcoming Lahore leg of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) In a statement, the NCOC said it has given the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) the go-ahead to allow spectators up to 50

percent of the capacity in matches until February 15 while 100 percent crowd occupancy has been allowed from February 16 onwards. The spectators must be fully vaccinated, said the body which also allowed unvaccinated children under 12 years of age to enter the premises. The spectators, however, will need to keep a distance of 1.5 meters (4.92 feet) between them and wear a face mask, and will be allowed to drink water, but not to eat or smoke.

The infections have fallen consistently since hitting a peak of 7,678 on January 21, and are expected to be fewer than 3,000 by next week, for the first time since September.

Karachi, the nation’s largest city, recorded its highest ever positivity ratio of 46.58 percent on the day.

Today, with the new infections, the total caseload has increased to 1,46 million, including 1,34 million

recoveries, the NCOC said. The number of active cases dropped to 89,192, including 1,684 those who are in critical condition.

According to the NCOC, 38 people died on Sunday while battling against the virus, increasing the overall death toll to 29,516. Sindh is the most-affected province of the country in terms of the number of cases with 552,262 infections, followed by Punjab which has reported 489,655 cases.

RAT TesTing Rolled bAck: Meanwhile, the daily meeting of the NCOC decided to end rapid antigen tests for Covid-19 for inbound international passengers on arrival at airports. “RAT test will continue to be conducted for deportees from foreign countries and for non-vaccinated individuals arriving from land border terminals,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad Healthcare

Regulatory Authority (IHRA) set new prices for the Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for the disease. The move came after Islamabad reported as many as 291 new cases in the last 24 hours, taking the positivity rate to 7.98 percent.

During a review of the situation, the agency decided to revise the prices.

Three companies — Roche, Abbot and Qiagen — will charge Rs5,000 a kit and others Rs3,500.

RAmiz lAuds ncoc’s decision: PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja lauded the NCOC’s decision to increase the capacity of spectators from 25 percent to 50 percent during the Lahore leg matches of the ongoing HBL PSL. He said he is hopeful that the stadium will be filled with a “good crowd” and Lahore leg matches will be as entertaining as Karachi leg matches. The Lahore leg matches will kick start on February 10.

Govt revokes EIF form requirement for Afghan imports AzIz BunERI The federal government has revoked the requirement of State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Electronic Import Form (EIF) for imports from Afghanistan for the next 42 days, allowing thousands of stranded vehicles to enter Pakistan.

Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry Member Shahid Hussain said that the requirement of SBP’s EIF had further tarnished exports which are already suffering due to closure of the Afghan banking system. According to sources, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) have not yet clarified whether goods will be exported from Pakistan in exchange for goods imported from Afghanistan.

Before the EIF requirement, Afghan traders would

SC turns down petition seeking increase in minority seats in Parliament LAHORE INp

Maintaining an earlier verdict of the Lahore High Court (LHC), the Supreme Court Monday rejected a petition seeking an increase in the number of seats reserved for minorities in the National Assembly and the provincial parliaments. A two-member bench, headed by Justice Ijaz ul-Ahsan, heard the petition.

The apex court, in its ruling, said a constitutional amendment was required for the purpose, and that it could not order the parliament to do so. Counsel for the petitioner argued that since there had been a massive increase in the country’s population in recent years, therefore, the parliament be ordered to increase the number of minorities’ seats not only in the National Assembly but also in the four provincial assemblies. Justice Ahsan wondered how could the court order the parliament to introduce an amendment in the constitution?

import food related items from Pakistan in exchange of their exports to Pakistan.

Earlier, the Afghan Taliban had announced the closure of banks across the country after taking control

of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, creating problems for traders and general consumers.

Moreover, due to unavailability of EIF forms, more than 10,000 cargo vehicles were left stranded on both sides of Torkham, Chaman and other borders.

However, clearance of stranded vehicles on both sides of the Torkham border has started after the requirement for EIF was abolished, clearance On December 13, 2021, the SBP imposed a Bankto-Bank Transaction or EIF for customs clearance of Afghan imports.

FBR in consultation with the Ministry of Finance plans to further streamline trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, for which clearance of Pakistani export in local currency is under consideration. Whereas Afghan Taliban only want to trade in US dollars or Afghan currency.

Two FC men wounded in Quetta explosion QuEttA Staff RepoRt

Two personnel of the paramilitary Frontier Corps agency were injured in an explosion in the Sariab Road neighbourhood of Quetta on Monday.

The men were on routine patrol when the bomb, fitted in a motorcycle on the side of the road, was detonated remotely.

The injured were shifted to the FC Hospital.

Afghanistan-based militants have waged an insurgency in the vast province for years.

Earlier this week, the Afghan Taliban again insisted foreign militant groups would not be allowed to operate inside the country.

“This is our responsibility and we have made a promise,” Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told

AFP in an interview. “We stand on this word, and we are working on it day and night — to strengthen our borders and our security.”

Cabinet meeting cancelled as PM dashes to Balochistan ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The federal cabinet meeting due today has been called off due to the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Quetta, sources said on Monday.

The Cabinet took back the agenda issued for the meeting on Tuesday.

PM Khan will meet with the Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and Governor Amanullah Khan Yasinzai.

The premier will chair an important meeting of the high ups of Balochistan where he will be briefed on the law and order situation.

PM Imran Khan will also be briefed on the progress of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

On his visit, the PM will be flanked by federal ministers, MPAs and special assistants.

In the last few days, security forces had thwarted successfully the terrorists attack FC Headquarters in Noshki.

NEWS

03

Punjab allows military deployment for lahore leg of HBl PSl LAHORE Staff RepoRt

The Punjab cabinet Monday approved the deployment of the Pakistan Army and paramilitary Rangers during the upcoming Lahore leg of the HBL Pakistan Super League. The deployment has been approved to maintain law and order and to avoid any untoward incident amid the games. The second phase of the league will kick off on February 10 when Multan Sultan and Peshawar Zalmi will face each other at 7:30 pm at Gaddafi Stadium. Moreover, the traffic police have issued a traffic advisory plan for the next phase. 11 deputy superintendents of police, 90 inspectors and over 700 wardens will be stationed along teams’ designated and alternate routes. Lahore traffic police also conducted a drill for the security of the matches.

US says Iran nuclear deal ‘in sight’ but urgent need to finalize nEwS DESK The United States said Monday that a deal was possible at Iran nuclear talks in Vienna, but that an agreement had to be completed urgently as Tehran advances its nuclear capabilities. “A deal that addresses all sides’ core concerns is in sight, but if it is not reached in the coming weeks, Iran’s ongoing nuclear advances will make it impossible for us to return to the JCPOA,” a State Department spokesperson said, referring to the 2015 framework agreement. The talks will resume in Vienna on Tuesday after negotiators in recent weeks have cited progress in seeking to revive the 2015 accord that was supposed to prevent Iran from acquiring an atomic bomb, a goal it has always denied pursuing. Parties have been negotiating in Vienna since last year with indirect US participation. Talks were most recently halted at the end of last month, and the negotiators returned to their capitals for consultations.

Former US president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the pact in 2018 and reimposed tough economic sanctions on Iran, prompting the Islamic republic to begin pulling back from its commitments under the deal and step up its nuclear activities. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the answers that “the United States brings tomorrow to Vienna will determine when we can reach an agreement.”

Tuesday, 8 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

04 NEWS

Key poliTiCAl figuRe To ‘join’ ppp Amid BilAwAl’S SouTh punjAB viSiT ISLaMaBad

nCoC to abolish rapid antigen tests for inbound passengers from february 8

A

INp

N important political figure is expected to join the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) amid PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s visit to South Punjab.

Sources in the PPP told Pakistan Today, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will visit South Punjab for three days where he will visit the Khar House in Kot Addu for the condolences with the Hina Rabbani Khar on the sad demise of her father.

PPP chairman will also address the Workers Convention in Multan on Feb 9 as part of the preparations for the

anti-government long march. Local leaders and South Punjab workers of PPP have started preparations for the convention.

It is reported that an important political personality may join the PPP during the Bilawal Bhutto trip to South Punjab.

Earlier, former president Asif Ali Zardari and his son PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had met PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif and vice president Maryam Nawaz over lunch in Model Town and discussed options to oust the PTI government.

They met after almost a year of strained relations over the issue of enmass resignations from assemblies.

NeWS deSk The National Command and Operation Centre’s (NCOC) has announced on Monday to abolish Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) for inbound passengers from February 8. As per the details, the decision has been taken during a session of the country’s nerve centre of Covid-19 response. It has been decided that the all RAT tests would be abolished, except for deportees from foreign countries and for non-vaccinated individuals arriving from land border terminals The session was chaired by Planning Minister Asad Umar, and matters pertaining to the epidemic data, national vaccination progress, inbound health protocols and the second phase of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) tournament was discussed during the session. It is pertinent to note that for PSL, the NCOC allowed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to conduct the matches in Lahore with 50 per cent stadium capacity for fully vaccinated spectators till February 15. However, from February 16 onwards, the PCB has been allowed to conduct matches with 100 per cent capacity, provided all spectators are vaccinated. Pakistan reported 38 Covid-19 related deaths and 3,338 positive cases during the last 24 hour period. According to statistics issued by the NCOC, 44,779 tests were conducted while the positivity ratio was at 7.45 per cent. It added that about 1,684 Covid-19 patients are still in critical condition. On Sunday, Umar lauded the door-to-door Covid-19 immunisation drive saying that the country had registered the highest daily vaccination records during the past three days in a row.

Earlier this month, the government had stepped up the ongoing anti-coronavirus vaccine campaign by taking it door-to-door amid a surge in coronavirus cases fuelled by the highly contagious Omicron variant. The NCOC revealed that the February 1-14 vaccine campaign would cover all people above the age of 12 years. The NCOC termed the two-week door-to-door vaccination campaign as ‘Every Pakistani Safe from Coronavirus’.

Nawabshah woman donates liver to save husband’s life NaWaBShah Staff RepoRt

A Nawabshah couple proved they are a perfect match for each other, as a woman donated part of her liver to save her husband’s life.

“He is my ‘jigar‘ that’s why I gave part of my liver to save his life,” a woman lying on the hospital bed

said with a smile on her face. Replying to a question, she said they are married for the last 10 years with no kids. Showing her bond for her husband, the woman said since they don’t have any kids, her husband is everything for her and she can donate every part of her body just to save his life.

Separately, Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre (PKLI&RC) made history by per-

forming one kidney transplant and one liver transplant the same day to save two lives in Pakistan.

The liver and kidney grafts were initially transported via helicopter to Dubai where the UAE Organ Donation and Transplantation and UAE Ministry of Health team airlifted the two organs in a specially hired five-seater commercial jet to hand over them to the PKLI&RC transplant team.

LHC bins petition seeking PUBG game ban

STZA, Chinese ZBRA sign letter of intent to promote scientific, technological knowledge Shahzad Paracha The Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) of Pakistan and the Zhongguancun Belt and Road Industrial Promotion Association of China (ZBRA) have signed a Letter to Intent (LOI) to promote high-quality science and technological exchanges. The LOI was signed by ZBRA President Zhang Xiaodong and STZA Chairman Amer Hashmi. Under the framework, ZBRA will jointly work with STZA on deepening allaround cooperation among academic institutions, R&D centers, industries and technological enterprises of both countries.

LahOreLahOre Staff RepoRt

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday dismissed a petition seeking a ban on PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), a popular online multiplayer battle game, Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza dismissed the petition filed by a citizen, Tanveer Ahmed, on January 29, days after a young man gunned down members of his family in their sleep, apparently under the influence of the shooter game.

Police said Ali Zain shot dead his

mother, two sisters and a brother on January 18, and claimed under questioning at the weekend that the game had driven him to violence.

“This is not the first incident of its nature,” police investigator Imran Kishwar told reporters in Lahore Monday, adding: “So we have decided to recommend a ban”.

PUBG is an online multiplayer “battle royale” game in which the winner is the last survivor.

The court binned the petition after Ahmed’s counsel failed to appear in the second consecutive hearing.

Hyundai suffers backlash in India after Pakistan partner tweets on held Kashmir ISLaMaBad/NeW deLhI ReuteRS

South Korea’s Hyundai Motors faced calls on Monday for a boycott of its cars from Indians incensed over a tweet from the account of its Pakistan partner that expressed solidarity for the people of the occupied territory of Kashmir.

The row erupted on Sunday, a day after Pakistan marked the annual Kashmir Solidarity Day and the posts on behalf of Hyundai’s partner Nishat Group appeared on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram commemorating the sacrifices of the people of Kashmir struggling for self-determination.

Hundreds of social media users in India, which claim the whole of Kashmir as an integral part of the country, backed calls for a boycott, saying Hyundai must apologise for being insensitive to India’s position on the decades-old dispute.

Dozens of Indians posted their intention to cancel orders for Hyundai cars in order to punish the company while urging support for homegrown brands like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra.

Responding to the furore, Hyundai’s India unit said that it has a “zero-tolerance policy towards insensitive communication and we strongly condemn any such view”.

“The unsolicited social media post linking Hyundai Motor India is offending our unparalleled commitment and service to this great country,” @HyundaiIndia said, adding that it stands firmly behind its “strong ethos of respecting nationalism”.

Reuters requested comment from Hyundai’s headquarters in Seoul and from Nishat Group, the nation’s largest business

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conglomerate, but did not receive any immediate response.

Hyundai is India’s second-largest car seller after Maruti Suzuki selling close to half a million vehicles in the country last fiscal year and exporting over a million units, making it India’s largest car exporter.

Ashwani Mahajan, an official at the economic wing of the radical but influential Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) group with close ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government said Hyundai should clarify its position on Kashmir.

“While not criticising @HyundaiPakistan Indian arm of @Hyundai_Global is not even saying that Kashmir is an integral part of India. Speaks tons about their commitment to India. Doesn’t this call for #BoycottHyundai?”, he said.

Indian Twitter user Ashutosh Soni said

he has cancelled his booking for Hyundai’s Verna sedan which was due to be delivered this month and purchased a car from rival Honda Motors. “#BoycottHyundai, that’s it!”, Soni tweeted from his handle @CA_AshutoshSoni on Sunday, along with a photograph of himself taking delivery of a new Honda car.

“Let’s make them bankrupt. India is one of the biggest market for cars,” filmmaker and social activist, Ashoke Pandit said on Twitter with a screenshot of a fall in Hyundai’s share price on Monday.

While Hyundai’s share fell 1.25 percent on Monday, weakening more than Seoul’s benchmark index, the main factors behind the drop were concerns over record numbers of Covid-19 cases in South Korea, and ongoing worries that a global chip shortage could hit production and sales.

The trouble over the social media post highlights the risks global companies face amid rising nationalism in the region.

Pakistan and India have twice gone to war over Muslim majority Kashmir and Modi’s government has pursued an aggressive policy to combat a pro-freedom movement that it accuses Pakistan of stoking.

Islamabad denies the charge but says it provides moral and diplomatic support to the locals. Twitter users in India have made similar calls in the past, seeking to boycott Chinese goods in 2020 after a border clash between the two Asian nations which disrupted automobile supply chains and other industries.

Amazon.com Inc. has also faced social media backlash in India after its overseas website was found selling goods with faces of Hindu gods and other sacred symbols.

Tuesday, 8 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

05

PM To lead PTI’s Mass ConTaCT drIve To MobIlIse worKers: FarrUKh APP Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had decided to launch a mass contact campaign to mobilise party workers at grassroots level. The decision was taken in the PTI’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is also the chairman of the ruling party, he said while addressing a news conference in Islamabad.

The minister said the prime minister would himself lead the mass contact campaign on the desire of PTI parliamentarians who wanted him to directly inform the masses about the PTI’s mega initiatives and priorities.

It was only the PTI which had held largest public meetings in the country, he said, adding the provincial presidents have been asked to arrange party conventions as it was their responsibility to mobilise workers at grassroots level.

According to the plan, he said PM Imran would address large public gatherings across the country.

On February 9, Farrukh added, the prime minister would be in Faisalabad to launch the ‘health card’ which

lhC grants bail to rambo in ayesha TikToker’s blackmailing case LAHORE Staff CorreSpondent

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday accepted the bail application of Amir Sohail alias Rambo, alleged blackmailer of TikToker Ayesha Akram Beg, in lieu of a surety bond of Rs0.1 million. Justice Shahram Sarwar Chaudhry heard the bail petition filed by Rambo, in which the suspect stated that he had been arrested in connection with the blackmailing of the female TikToker. “And now when the police have finished its questioning, I have again be sent to the jail despite the fact that I am no longer needed for further grilling,” read the petition. Rambo further said that the allegation that he had blackmailed Ayesha was totally false, and there was no substance in it.

“There is no justification for keeping me in jail until the case of TikToker’s harassment at Greater Iqbal Park on August 14, 2021 is decided,” the petitioner added.

IhC reserves decision in Monal restaurant case nEws dEsK The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reserved its judgment on a plea against the seizure of Monal Restaurant without granting respite to pick up items from the building, Geo News reported Monday. While hearing an intra-court appeal, Justice Amir Farooq remarked that many things will come to light after the single bench gives its detailed decision, adding that “once the items are picked, the restaurant will be sealed”. “It is certain that no commercial activity could take place on the land where the restaurant is built,” he added. During the hearing, the lawyer of restaurant insisted on maintaining the building’s current status. In this regard, Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb said that “you can get the facility to get the goods out, however, an appropriate written order will be issued in this regard”.

would provide free medical treatment of up to one million to the masses.

The minister said the health card was already launched in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, KhyberPakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.

He said by March 31, the entire population of Punjab would be covered under the flagship ‘health card’ initiative for which an amount of Rs450 billion was allocated by the provincial government.

Divulging other details of the meeting, he said all the presidents of provincial chapters of PTI presented their reports on the party’s reorganisation. The party chairman had directed the provincial presidents to complete reorganisation of the party at district level by February 15, he added.

Farrukh said the party had notified its Permanent Parliamentary Board to look after matters pertaining to the upcoming local government elections in different provinces.

He said the CEC had praised and congratulated Prime Minister Imran Khan and his team for ‘highly successful’ visit to China. The joint communique issued by

both countries after the meeting between PM Imran Khan and Chinese President Xi Jinping reflected timetested and strong relations between the two countries, he noted. Lashing out at the critics of the visit, he said national interest should be given preference over personal interests. He said those who propagated against the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPECP needed to know that the mega project was in full swing.

Farrukh said that major work on the CPEC was completed during the present government. “You will soon see that the fruits of CPEC will benefit the common man,” he remarked.

He also commented on reconciliation between two major opposition parties – PPP and PML-N — saying they united once again to stop the government from retrieving the looted wealth stashed in the foreign countries. “The ongoing accountability process will go unhindered as the opposition cannot blackmail the government,” he maintained.

Responding to a question, he said the oppositions’ conspiracies and nefarious designs posed no threat to the government. “We are not afraid of their resignations, no

Wheat prices in Karachi witness Rs8/kg decline in a week KARACHI Staff report

The wheat prices in Karachi have witnessed a decrease of Rs8 per kg in the last week, it was reported on Monday.

The wheat prices continue to decline in Karachi’s open market. The commodity is being sold at Rs63 per kg after the recent decline of Rs2 per kg.

On the other hand, the flour millers have not transferred the benefit to the end-users, as the Fine Flour of the flour mills is being sold at Rs74 per kg and dhayee number at Rs70/ kg.

It may be noted that the flour mills were provided one lac tonnes of wheat at the government rate. Last week, the Sindh Cabinet in a session decided to fix the support price of wheat in the province at Rs2200 per maund.

A session of the cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, approved procurement of 1.4 million metric tonnes of wheat and allocated Rs. 4450 million funds for procurement of the grain, which is used as staple food. The chief minister also directed for procurement of wheat in northern Sindh from 1st March. “The procurement centres will be opened in the last week of February,” he said.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia agree to implement treaty on release of prisoners COntInuEd fROm PAgE 01 According to Radio Pakistan, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also reiterated the importance of further strengthening and diversifying bilateral cooperation in various areas of mutual interest.

President Alvi said that the two countries have an excellent relationship which

needs to be “further cemented for the mutual benefit of the two countries”, the report said.

He expressed the hope that the Saudi government would give “positive consideration” to release Pakistani prisoners in the kingdom who had completed their sentences.

“The president also expressed gratitude to the Saudi leadership for launching the

Road to Makkah pilot project and stated that the government of Pakistan is looking forward to its expansion to other cities of the country,” the report said.

Earlier in the day, the Saudi interior minister arrived in Islamabad along with a delegation, where he was received by his Pakistani counterpart at the Noor Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi.

Former MNA and author Bushra Rehman passes away in Lahore MRS FARRUKH KHAN EXPRESSES HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES OVER THE SAD DEMISE LAHORE Staff report

Former MNA and novelist Bushra Rehman passed away here in Lahore.

The funeral prayers of the deceased Bushra Rehman were offered at 4pm today at Garden Town. She belonged to Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q).

Bushra Rehman served MNA on a seat reserved for women from 1988 to 2008. She was elected to the Provincial Assembly of Punjab on a reserved seat

confidence motion and long marches,” he added.

He also accused PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and former president Asif Zardari of laundering money through telegraphic transfers and fake accounts.

“There is no comparison of other political parties with the PTI which is a symbol of federation,” he remarked.

for women in the 1985 elections. She was the recipient of the Sitara-i-Imtiaz for her achievements in the literature.

MNA Mrs Farrukh Khan, President of the PML-Q Women’s Wing, has expressed heartfelt condolences over the sad demise of Bushra Rehman.

Paying rich tributes to late Bushra Rehman, Mrs Farrukh Khan said that Ms Rehman throughout her political career remained aligned to the politics of principles and worked untiringly for the welfare of the womenfolk.

“She was a very learned woman and always wrote about the human issues with a specific angle to women,” she added.

Bushra Rehman wrote novels including Allah Mian Ji, Bahisht, Barah e Raast, But Shikan, Chaand Say Na Khelo, Chara Gar, Chup, Ek Aawara Ki Khatir, Khubsurat, Kis Morr Par Milay Ho, Laazawal, Lala Sehrai, Lagan, Pyaasi, Sharmeely, Tere Sung Dar Ki Talaash Thi and Tuk Tuk Deedam Tokyo.

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KU teachers’ boycott of work enters seventh day KARACHI Monitoring report

The protest of the teaching and nonteaching staff of the University of Karachi entered a seventh day on Monday, with academic activities at Sindh’s largest educational institute remaining suspended since February 1, Geo News reported. Differences emerged between Universities and Boards Department secretary Mureed Rahimo and the Karachi University Teachers’ Society when the latter declared the selection board null and void on grounds that the vice chancellor needed to take prior permission for the process from the government. As per the union, Rahimo misbehaved with the KU vice-chancellor and other senior teachers during a meeting of the selection board. They demanded of the authorities to remove the official from his position. “The protest will be extended to other universities of Sindh if demands are not accepted,” warned the teachers. Academic activities will remain suspended in the university till their demands are not fulfilled, the protesters added. Examinations have also been postponed at the university due to the teachers’ protest. Protesting teachers also spoke of the financial difficulties university across Sindh had been facing for a long time, calling on the government to release suspended funds.

‘True Colours’: MQM-P questions ruling party’s performance LAHORE Staff report

Showing its true colours, ruling party’s ally MQM-P leader Aamir Khan on Monday questioned how they could be satisfied with Prime Minister Imran Khan when the people were not. Addressing a news conference along with party leaders Waseem Akhtar and Chaudhry Abid in Lahore, Khan maintained that MQM-P was already concerned about the rising inflation in the country. “The doors of MQM-P are open for everyone. We are the government’s ally and have complaints about bad governance against everyone,” he said. Censuring the PPP, Khan said despite being in power for the last 15 years, the party had not carried out any development work in the province. “The feudal mindset has destroyed the entire system in Sindh. MQM-P is continuing its struggle in a peaceful manner.”

Khan regretted that the police resorted to shelling and baton charge on MQM-P workers outside the CM House in Karachi during their “peaceful” protest against the recently passed amendments to Sindh Local Government Act of 2013.

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Tuesday, 8 February, 2022

06 COMMENT

Farewell, Lata Mangeshkar!

PM’s China visit People judge government from domestic performance

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The queen is dead!

eSPITe no spectacular announcements making headlines PM Imran Khan’s meeting with Chinese leadership has been productive. There was a mutual agreement to fast track the second phase of the China-Pakistan economic Corridor. China agreed to import food and agricultural products from Pakistan provided quality control was maintained. It was agreed to launch health, industry, trade, green and digital corridors. The two sides agreed to jointly accelerate the so far neglected construction and operation of Gwadar Port. There was an agreement to continue the momentum in defence cooperation at various levels between the armed forces of Pakistan and China. President Xi did not directly comment on PM Khan’s reiteration of Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir because Chinese have supported Pakistan all along on the issue but Xi underscored that a peaceful and prosperous South Asia was in the common interest of all parties and emphasized the importance of pursuit of dialogue for the resolution of all outstanding disputes to promote regional cooperation.

Despite their long-term significance, the agreements brokered and MOUs signed would not help resolve PM Imran Khan’ immediate worries like current account deficit, rising prices of goods and services and rampant unemployment.

It will take a few years before Chinese investment in the Special economic Zones, Special Technology Zones and agricultural sector start producing results.

China is also trying to help Pakistan resolve its concerns emanating from Afghanistan. The trilateral forum involving Pakistan, China, Afghanistan is being revived to help and encourage the Taliban regime to abide by the promises they made soon after assumption of power like forming a government genuinely representing various ethnic groups in the country and respecting human rights. Beijing is also hosting a conference of the immediate neighbours of Afghanistan comprising China, Pakistan, Iran, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

PM Khan is reportedly keen to visit Russia soon. It is a good move to have friendly relations with Russia but this must not lead to losing old friends like the US and western countries. He must not forget that while Russia and China have evolved systems of governance that suit them, people in Pakistan support a democratic and federal system. While Pakistan should have friendly ties will all, the tendency to be easily fascinated by others has to be kept in check.

HASAN AFTAB SAEED

W

e are all guilty of overusing adjectives such as ‘great’ and ‘genius’, for it is an extremely rare breed of individuals that answers to these descriptions. every once in a long while, however, comes along somebody for whom even these superlatives are little more than understatements. Lata Mangeshkar was one such individual. The only way to describe her is to call her Lata Mangeshkar.

‘She will always be with us’, ‘The void she has left will never be filled’, ‘Nobody can possibly replace her’, ‘The world will never ever be the same again’ and similar platitudes are often heard on the occasion of a death, especially that of a well-known individual. For the immediate survivors, these sentiments are, of course, true because their loss truly is irreparable and for them life is indeed never the same again. But for others, these are clichés, albeit fitting ones for the occasion. When it comes to Lata Mangeshkar however, these are literally true for millions upon millions of her fans.

My own introduction to Lata was in the late seventies when I was all of four years old, via one of two

TTP on the loose

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INCe the Afghan Taliban’s successful and swift takeover of Kabul in August last year, Pakistan has tried to facilitate the new regime in Afghanistan to make a smooth transition from being in an active state of war against US troops for over two decades to a government that wants to be recognized and legitimized both regionally and internationally. To that end Pakistan has advocated for the world to give Afghanistan a chance and not allow it to fail by providing much needed aid while sending crucial food and medical supplies to the country where there is not enough to eat. In return, there was an expectation that Kabul would address Pakistan’s security problems that emanate from terrorist outfits like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) that continue to find sanctuary in Afghanistan to plot and execute attacks from across the border, especially targeting security personnel.

The latest example of this is TTP killing five Pakistan army soldiers, firing on them from across the border in Kurram District of KP. There has been an uptick in violence domestically as well, with an incident in Islamabad involving TTP militants who shot down a policeman. What is more, the TTP is actively supporting groups like the Baloch Liberation Army, which was able to carry out a blast in Lahore’s Anarkali area that killed at least two while injuring dozens. A few month ago, there were reports of a peace deal being negotiated with the TTP but that fell through as their demands were simply to ridiculous to be considered. The message being sent through such attacks is therefore quite clear, that the TTP and its allies can easily infiltrate and stage attacks and blasts in key Pakistani cities, not just far flung areas up north, unless its demands are met and a ceasefire is agreed upon.

That the interim government in Afghanistan has been asked to intervene and persuade the TTP to stop its activities several times but to no avail, means that they are indirectly supporting such violence and mayhem against Pakistan. Unless Pakistan makes it abundantly clear that for a quid pro quo, Kabul must do all it can to rein in the terrorists operating from its soil. If it is unwilling or unable to do so, that should be made clear to Pakistan so that a different strategy can be formulated and executed to secure its borders and cities.

SyED MuzAMMil SHAH

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DUCATION is perceived to be a fundamental human right in the twenty first century but in war torn countries like Afghanistan, it is nothing less than a luxury; a bliss, unfortunately. The reminiscence of the havoc inflicted upon the civil liberties and specially the education sector in the nineties by the last Taliban regime is still lurking around, however, the Afghan youth is dreading to witness its return, anew. After seizing power in the mid-nineties, Taliban made sure they strictly enforce a moratorium on all kinds of institutional education for women. The entire female population of the country was subjected to domestication and their future was defined by orders implemented through the barrel of a gun. It was only after 2001 when the Taliban regime was toppled by America and Afghan girls had the long-waited respite to return to schools and resume their basic education. As per the statistics of UNeSCO, forty percent of the school enrollment by 2018 was comprised on girls, which certainly indicated hope for the country’s future.

With Taliban’s walkover victory against the Afghan Defense Forces in 2021 followed by the formation of their government, it was suggested by their spokespersons that this time around, there won’t be a ban on school education for girls. It hinted a softening in their hardline approach towards civil liberties and human rights since they understood the international liberal order and the prerequisites to engage with the West. However, what is being materialized isn’t as promising as it was proclaimed to be. According to The New York times, many of the girl schools are yet to be resumed, which speaks for their plight.

To look into the theocracy’s treatment of women before they could get back to schools is of prime concern. Firstly, most Afghan girls have never seen armed Taliban policing the streets in their entire lives so they are petrified by the notion of stepping out of their house each morning to get to the school in such garrison like environment. The theocracy doesn’t take it into account that education could only be ensured in an environment which is friendly towards liberty and free inquiry. It cannot be pursued under fear in an effective way, since education for children is certainly more than literary inculcation in a classroom.

Strict dress codes are another hindrance. Taliban earlier proclaimed that girls would be allowed to go school only in accordance with the laws of Islam. But

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

It is true that Lata never saw even a momentary slump in a career spanning six decades. That is an amazing fact, but what is commendable about her life is her uncompromising and meticulous concern for excellence in her work.

In that, there is much to learn for the rest of us, even if we do not possess Lata’s gifts.

Potential limitations imposed by theocracy

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

M. A. Niazi

Lata, like Kishore Kumar, was simply a freak of nature. Like Kishore, it is impossible to imagine her going off-key even if she attempted to do so. But there were occasions when even Kishore would refuse to sing a song before listening to Lata’s rendition of the same song. If there can be a bigger tribute that can be paid to any singer, I am unaware of it. R.D. Burman’s Mere naina sawan bhadon sung by Kishore became infinitely more popular than Lata’s version, but it was Lata who, on Kishore’s insistence, had sung it before him, and which Kishore had listened to multiple times before he could be convinced to record his own version.

It is true that Lata never saw even a momentary slump in a career spanning six decades. That is an amazing fact, but what is commendable about her life is her uncompromising and meticulous concern for excellence in her work. In that, there is much to learn for the rest of us, even if we do not possess Lata’s gifts.

Lata’s death has again sparked that all-too-familiar debate on the social media.

On one side are those who would enthusiastically try and make her some sort of a saint for bringing happiness and joy to millions of her listeners.

(Whether she herself was interested in sainthood is beside the point as far as this group is concerned.) On the other side are those who maintain that a Muslim must not even wish ‘Rest in peace’ to non-Muslims. All I can say on this issue is that it would be altogether a different – and much better – world if people focused on their own fate in the Hereafter instead of worrying about the fate of everybody else.

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

Education in Afghanistan

New Afghan government unable or unwilling to help?

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Sony C60 tapes with a selection of my father’s favourite Lata songs on both sides: Kitne din aankhen tarsen gi, Chhor de saari dunya kisi ke liye, Pandit ji mere marne ke baad, Ab to hai tum se zindagi apni, Dil dhoondta hai phir wohi and other gems. (The other tape had Kishore Kumar classics.) Down the years, many more tapes would follow. Over time, cassettes gave way to CDs, which in turn were replaced by the dish antenna, USB flash dives and YouTube, but the love affair thus started has yet to come to an end. Charles Darwin famously remarked that he would make it a rule to listen to some music every week if he had his life to live over again. I am glad I had the good sense to listen to music much more frequently than that and that Lata was always a major part of it, as I am sure she has been a big part of every Urdu/Hindi speaking music lover’s life.

Girls participating in singing competitions have, for decades now, been facing a familiar dilemma: Almost inevitably they choose Lata’s songs, what with their undying popularity among the audiences (masses) and the judges (connoisseurs) alike. But on the flip side, these songs are notoriously difficult to sing, as they all find out. The seeming effortlessness with which Lata sings the most difficult of songs often hides how impossibly difficult they are to negotiate for other mortals. Her ease with the low as well as the high notes and her flawless rendering of Urdu words – out of the thousands of songs that she has sung over a long career, one would be hard pressed to put one’s finger on an instance where she has mispronounced a word – are astounding. This latter fact becomes even more impressive considering her Marathi upbringing.

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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the clarification this assertion deemed never came out.

Dupattas are replaced by Niqabs and female students have this challenge of adaptability under the new regime, apart from the academic challenges they are yet to face ahead in their careers. Parents are also not very motivated to encourage children to go to school in such environment in numbers preceding the Taliban rule.

Under the theocracy, gender segregation is getting mainstreamed in all social spaces. Since women are told not to leave their houses without a male guardian, how can educational institutions be spared?

Perhaps the most destabilizing and denting policy regarding the education sector coming from the Taliban regime is its enforcement of barring male teachers to teach Afghan girls. It is instructed that only female teachers are allowed to teach in girl school without taking into account that the country already is light years behind the developed countries in terms of educational gender gap and there is a disastrous scarcity of female teachers in the country after the recent warlike turn of events.

This gender segregationist policy is further making the future appear bleak since the availability of mentors has a huge question mark on it. Also, on the young minds, it is leaving an impression that no healthy interaction is ever possible with the opposite gender for literary and official purposes.

Moreover, the theocratic regime has clearly asserted that women won’t be allowed to work unless it is for the medical profession. In such circumstances, Afghan girls are losing all meaning in getting an education that would never lead them to financial independence or professional experience. They would never be having the opportunity to translate their literacy and learning into practical execution since a popular discouragement of women to work for the government is also pretty apparent.

This factory model of education is going to be proved counterproductive since its stress is not to create a skillful and literate citizenry but to produce a disciplined and moralized, segregated class of men and women. Taliban regime is hardly differentiating

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

between religious education and modern education.

There is no particular difference between the two for the regime which is why, parochialism is adopted in all educational institutions as for now.

But then what are the possible solutions of this grave problem? One thing is clear that this deterioration of educational standards in Afghanistan cannot be fixed from within. While the Taliban regime is craving to be bailed out by the International Organizations like IMF and other banks, their survival and the survival of Afghan people against famine, bankruptcy, communal violence and other disasters depend on the global community. It might sound ironical but after their victory against America (as they claim it), their sustenance without the American aid is seeming farfetched.

The global community has to persuade them in all capacities to facilitate the full functionality of education in general and women education in particular. The persuasion must come with binding insistence against monetary aids so that it might produce effectual results. With almost no funds left to run the affairs of the state, managing remunerations for teachers is already a challenge for Taliban.

Talking about Pakistan, they have their role to play as well. Pakistan recently held an OIC Conference in Islamabad to stress upon the importance of assisting the Afghan people. The Pakistani foreign office also seems very active to raise funds by influencing the international community for the Afghan cause. Think tanks in Pakistan should come forward to influence Pakistan’s foreign policy engagement with Afghanistan so that it could also hold talks with the Taliban regime to facilitate women education on their soil. Statements like the one Prime Minister Imran Khan gave last month when he asserted that women education is looked down upon in Afghanistan because it’s their culture, is not the answer to the question. Stigmatizing a basic human right in the garb of culture is the last thing Afghan girls would be needing at this hour. Most of them wish to escape the country but for those who cannot afford to, they must be looked after by the international community.

Statements like the one Prime Minister Imran Khan gave last month when he asserted that women education is looked down upon in Afghanistan because it’s their culture, is not the answer to the question.

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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The writer is a freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

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Tuesday, 8 February, 2022

COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

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Digitalisation

Serbia can never reverse Kosovo’s independence It’s time for the Serbian government to wake up to the reality that under any circumstances Kosovo’s independence is irreversible positions on Kosovo, several of those derecognitions are disputed, according to Balkan Insight, and those who did are mostly small African and Pacific states who enjoy little or no sway on the international scene, including Suriname, Burundi, and Papua New Guinea. Currently, Kosovo is recognized by 115 countries, the latest of which is Israel.

Dr AloN BEN MEir

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T’S time for Serbia to recognize Kosovo’s independence, not only because it does not have the power and the means by which it can reverse what over 100 countries have recognized, but because Kosovo will make any sacrifice to preserve what it has gained in sweat and blood. President Vucic should put himself in the shoes of Albanian Kosovars and ask: Why would they ever surrender their independence and freedom to a country that has systematically discriminated, abused, and treated them as second-class citizens not worthy of equality before the law?

Why would they subjugate themselves to the whims of a country that has waged merciless war and rained havoc and destruction on them from which they have yet to recover?

Why would they forfeit their independence to a country that has committed horrifying war crimes—summarily executing more than 10,000 innocent boys and men, raping over 20,000 girls and women, and inflicting untold pain, agony, and shame on their families—from which they still suffer?

Why would they abandon their independence to a country that still refuses to reveal the burial sites of nearly 2,000 missing men, women, and children; a country that lacks the moral courage to admit to committing war crimes which were blatant and clear for everyone else to see?

Why would a people with a different religion, cultural heritage, history, and language agree to subordinate itself to a country with which it has little—values and aspirations—in common?

These painful feelings toward Serbia and the indelible psychological scars the war left on every Kosovar only deepened their rejection of Belgrade. Neither Vucic nor any of his successors will ever be in a position to mitigate these deep-seated impediments unless Serbia recognizes Kosovo’s independence and understands that it cannot change what has become an irreversible reality.

The failure To wiThdraw recogniTion: Over the years, successive Serbian governments embarked on a campaign to persuade many countries to withdraw their recognition of Kosovo. This has been a dismal failure. While Serbia’s Foreign Ministry last March claimed that 18 countries had either fully withdrawn recognition or were redefining their

There is no miliTary opTion: President Vucic knows only too well that there is no military option to force Kosovo to forsake its independence. Although every Albanian Kosovar will fight to their last breath to deny Serbia such a victory, NATO would immediately step in and conduct an aerial onslaught as it did in the 19981999 war, which ended after a 78-day bombing campaign. The war also ended President Slobodan Milosevic’s horrifyingly repressive rule over the then-Yugoslav province. NATO continues to guarantee Kosovo’s national security, and Vucic is not about to test NATO’s commitment. inabiliTy To exerT economic pressure: Kosovo does not depend economically on Serbia and hence no Serbian government can now or at any time in the future exert economic pressure to force Kosovo’s hand. Kosovo can import any products from other countries, including the eU, Turkey, China, and many others. This being the case, Kosovo can even impose tariffs on goods imported from Serbia, as it has done in the past. Therefore, the lack of Serbian economic leverage allows Kosovo to play hard ball without risking weakening its economy, as we have seen previously.

the future to restore Kosovo as a Serbian province.

If he is true to himself, he would know that there is no such prospect. It is time for him to muster the moral courage and demonstrate statesmanship by charting a new path that would advance the causes of both his country as well as Kosovo.

There are several measures Vucic can take before recognizing Kosovo to prepare the public to accept the inevitable: end the public narrative that promotes the idea that Kosovo is a Serbian province; Formally terminate the campaign to persuade countries that have recognized Kosovo to withdraw their recognition; Begin a normalization process with Kosovo in many fields, including trade, cultural exchange, free movement of goods and services, academic exchanges, and religious discussions between Serbian Orthodox priests and imams, among other measures; Cooperate in the search for missing persons to bring closure to the thousands of families who are still agonizing over the loss of their loved ones; Initiate and maintain regular contact between Serbian and Kosovar officials, beginning with inviting Kosovo’s Prime Minister Kurti to Belgrade for discussions.

Following a period of two to three years of reconciliation, Vucic or his successor should follow the German example and admit to war crimes to allow for a national healing of both peoples. Only then can both sides tackle other conflicting issues, mainly the state of affairs of Serbians living in Kosovo, water distribution, and borders, as long as it is all done in the context of an independent Kosovo that Serbia will come to recognize.

Many will say that regardless of how cogent this argument may be, Serbia will never embrace it. Well, this may well be so for now. But I challenge any Serbian to show me how the dynamic of the conflict will change to advance a new realistic alternative that Kosovo can accept, short of recognition of its independence?

It is time to end this agonizing conflict that does nothing but needlessly deepen the schism between the two countries. Instead, they should live, grow, and prosper as good neighbors in peace, allowing the next generation of Serbians and Kosovars to blossom together and leave the ugly chapter of their parents’ experience behind.

Many will say that regardless of how cogent this argument may be, Serbia will never embrace it. Well, this may well be so for now. But I challenge any Serbian to show me how the dynamic of the conflict will change to advance a new realistic alternative that Kosovo can accept, short of recognition of its independence?

d e p r i v i n g Kosovo of eu inTegraTion: It is true that Serbia’s refusal to recognize Kosovo prevents the latter from joining the eU, as integration is contingent upon ending the conflict and reaching mutual recognition—but that also prevents Serbia from joining the eU. As a result, Russia’s President Putin is seizing the opportunity to lure Serbia into the Russian orbit by selling arms, which of necessity requires Russian military trainers on Serbian soil. Ironically, though Vucic knows that Serbia’s future growth and prosperity rests with the eU, he is still risking his country’s national interest by refusing to recognize Kosovo’s independence. Meanwhile he is trapping himself in Putin’s web, who is determined to weaken the eU and prevent Serbia from ever becoming a member state in the alliance.

Vucic should look at himself in the mirror and ask if there is any prospect now or at any time in

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

AROUND the world, countries have adopted digitalisation in most fields to speed up the process of growth and development. We have already witnessed the benefits of digitalisation through social media applications that have helped connect people without physical contact. even e-businesses have changed the marketplace and economics.

Pakistan should also consider the digitisation of the economy on a larger scale through technology as it will lower the costs of storing, sharing and analysing data and create a link between consumers and suppliers without middlemen.

Digitalisation will help businesses within Pakistan to expand in the international market. Businesses can analyse economic trends more effectively and help consumers to make better choices. It will be more time-friendly because the overall process is much faster. even the government can benefit through e-governance and increase political participation through e-voting.

The digitalisation of industrial sectors will help Pakistan’s economy.

The use of accounting software, maintenance of computerised records, automation, and artificial intelligence can increase the productivity and efficiency of industrial sectors. Transactions through e-banking and digital payments will be easily documented and draw more taxpayers.

The economy can be strengthened by greater e-commerce opportunities as it will generate more revenue. Digital technologies can also promote Pakistan’s agricultural sector. Given that most people now have access to mobile phones, an agriculture information portal can be set up. It will inform agriculturists about price, weather, water quality, and supply data from agricultural markets. Pakistan’s administrative system is still chained with an old manual system.

People have to travel long distances and wait for hours in queues just to get documents such as domiciles, driving licences, etc. The government should consider transitioning towards digitalisation as it will overcome several hurdles and ensure smooth procedure, which will significantly benefit the country.

Subhan Shahzad LahorE

Weak education system ONe of the reasons for Pakistan’s poor literacy rate is the absence of educational reforms and the lack of decorum in institutes. Cheating, deception, fraud are commonplace in most examination boards of the country — especially amongst the high schoolers during board examinations. even university students are promoted based on forged results.

Although rote learning, memorising and cheating allow students to progress from one academic level to another, they cannot achieve much in life without any real knowledge or skills. Often students cheat or rotelearn because of lackadaisical teaching. Teachers either simply read the content of the textbooks or assign tasks to students without any proper instructions. Resultantly, students’ grasp of concepts is weak and quells their creativity and curiosity. Poor teaching outcomes often compel students to opt out of education and start working to support their families. However, they usually end up in low-skilled jobs and cannot move up the social ladder later.

Our weak education system is the chief reason behind Pakistan lagging in overall societal and economic development. There are fewer individuals that are equipped with the knowledge and skills to contribute back to the economy, which will continue shrinking if the education system is not reformed. The government must overhaul the entire system from primary schooling up to the university level. Strict measures should be enforced to alleviate cheating and bribes in institutes. There should be regulatory checks on administration and teaching faculty to ensure that they are fulfilling their duties. zakir uLLah Mardan

Violence against women THe rising cases of violence against women in Pakistan speak volumes about the maltreatment of women in our society. Although measures have been taken to empower women and laws have been passed to protect women from violence and abuse, the reality remains bleak. Across the country, women are subjected to different forms of violence and abuse daily. Unfortunately, most cases go unreported due to retrogressive societal norms. Most people act as bystanders and avoid lending support to the victims. The government itself has resorted to victim blaming and shaming in many instances. Instead of working on the reformation of people’s mindsets, the Prime Minister blames westernisation, and social media for rising violence against women.

The current leadership seems uninterested in empowering women in the country, which is evident through the ever-widening gender gap in the country. Many women are no longer willing to work or visit public spaces because of the deteriorating safety conditions and absence of support. every day we come across a new story of cruelty and barbarity with women. Approximately 1,000 to 5,000 women are killed each year in the name of honour. About 30% of women are killed by their husbands and 20% by their fathers or brothers.

Several international organisations have claimed Pakistan to be one of the most dangerous countries for women. According to one report, more than 60,000 cases of violence against women have been registered from January 2011 to 2019. During this period, 18,469 incidents of domestic violence occurred. This situation is unlikely to change until there is an overhaul of people’s mindsets.

The first step to alleviating violence against women is to let go of misogynistic ideology. Those accused and found guilty of violence or abuse against women must be given exemplary punishment. Without strict measures and punishments, people will feel further emboldened and continue their oppression and brutalities. haSSan zaid hub

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Tuesday, 8 February, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

SeIzINg peAce fROm the jAwS Of wAR IN UkRAINe AMERICAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RUSSIA’S VIEW DOES NOT EQUAL ACQUIESCENCE, BUT IT COULD CREATE THE TRUST NECESSARY FOR LASTING PEACE

moScow tImeS MaxiMiliaN hEss

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ENEWED war in Ukraine is no one’s preferred policy outcome. however, the Kremlin is a willing aggressor, given the geopolitical and domestic successes President Vladimir Putin has wrought from deploying troops in Ukraine, Georgia, and Syria.

The West is not willing to put up the guarantees that would indelibly deter Russia from aggression. Only NATO membership would likely suffice, hence Moscow’s use of it as a MacGuffin to push Ukraine to the top of the U.S. agenda.

But the Biden administration has not been unwilling to engage in this escalatory dance, most recently sending 3,000 troops to Eastern Europe where they can potentially have front row seats for a war in Ukraine they will do nothing to affect.

The U.S. and Russia are both using Ukraine and the

risk of war to their advantage. For Washington, the threat of renewed war has enabled wide-ranging discussions with Moscow on a new security settlement, though Washington’s political environment had been outright hostile to even raising such ideas just months ago. it behooves both Washington and Moscow to do their utmost to seize the opportunity from the crisis they have generated. There may already be reason for optimism, given the spate of U.S.-Russian diplomatic engagement witnessed over the last two months, in stark contrast to 2013-2014. however, in order for these to be successful, the two sides must recognize that they have been employing wholly different frames of reference for the conflict. The Kremlin sees the White house’s as rooted in a post-Cold War triumphalism abusing its guiding hand over international order to bolster its position, while the White house sees the Kremlin’s as ensconced in a revisionist revanchism seeking to undermine the institutional order of international affairs.

That the Kremlin is unhappy with the way the international order in its near abroad is structured is no revelation. Putin has long made little secret of his desire to re-establish Russia’s place in the region, and wider world, famously labelling the Soviet collapse a tragedy.

But he is not alone among Russians as seeing a special historical bond with Ukraine — the late novelist Alexander Solzhenitsyn, so beloved in the West for his anti-

Big oil is living on borrowed time OIL MAJORS’ PROFITS AMID THE CLIMATE CRISIS SEEM LIKE A SICK JOKE, BUT IF THEY DON’T INVEST WISELY THE JOKE WILL BE ON THEM

New StateSmaN PhiliPPa Nuttall

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il companies are having an excellent start to 2022. A post-pandemic rebound means oil supplies and prices are ticking up nicely, and ExxonMobil, Chevron and Shell have all unveiled tidy profits in recent days. Yet in a notoriously volatile market, analysts suggest the tide will eventually turn against these companies unless they clean up their operations. Oil demand must decline by 75 per cent if the world is to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the middle of the century, according to the international Energy Agency (iEA). in the past week ExxonMobil and Chevron reported combined net annual profits of nearly $38.6bn for 2021, the highest since since 2014, as reported by the Financial Times.

Meanwhile, Shell’s earnings for 2021 rose to $19.3bn from $4.8bn the previous year, the company announced today. in a world struggling with a climate crisis and where net zero and an end to fossil fuels are evoked at every turn, this money-making by some of the most polluting companies in the world seems like a sick joke. it looks even sicker when these fat profits by big oil are compared with the fate of consumers facing historically high energy bills.

“The long-term picture for the oil and gas industry is clearly downwards,” says Michael Coffin, the head of oil, gas and mining at Carbon Tracker, a think tank. “But there will undoubtedly be short-term price volatility through the energy transition. This will include periods of higher and lower pricing. Whether companies can predict these to take advantage of or insulate themselves from them is a different matter.”

A report published by Carbon Tracker in January considers the financial implications of oil demand peaking in 2026 and the industry winding down in line with the goals of the Paris climate agreement. “To preserve value under such a scenario, it’s imperative that companies do not invest for the long term based on short-term price signals, and that investors hold them to account,” says Coffin. “if they don’t, companies may find that assets they sanction become stranded.”

Companies could waste as much as $530bn on unneeded assets this decade as climate action ramps up, demand for fossil fuels declines and the oil price falls back to around $40 a barrel from its current heady height of $90, the report says.

Coffin is confident that the requisite pressure to reduce oil output will come from a “rapid acceleration of policy

action in response to climate change”, but also from investors as they realise the risks of financing infrastructure, such a pipelines, that is likely to become obsolete fairly quickly. “The increasing out-competition of fossil fuels by renewable energy sources and enabling technologies such as hydrogen and batteries” will also speed up the pace of change, insists Coffin. The rise of electric vehicles could significantly depress demand for oil in the coming years and “negatively impact prices and profits”.

Passenger EV sales are expected to increase sharply in the next few years, rising from 3.1 million in 2020 to 14 million in 2025. Such a rise would mean EVs taking a 16 per cent share of passenger vehicle sales globally in the next three years, with this figure reaching 40 per cent of total sales in Germany and 25 per cent in China.

Mat lawrence, the director of Common Wealth, a UK think tank, believes governments must “take much stronger action to reduce the profitability of investment in fossil fuel assets through regulation, taxes and prohibitions, and reduce demand for hydrocarbon-based power and products”. Unless the state steps in, recent profits “won’t be a blip”, he fears.

For all their fine words and slogans about climate action, in 2020 clean energy investments by the oil and gas industry accounted for only around 1 per cent of total capital expenditure, says the iEA. This figure was expected to rise to about 4 per cent last year. “it is progress at a rate that will kill the planet,” says lawrence bluntly.

“We need to shift how we organise the energy transition,” he adds. “Market-led co-ordination, delivered by for-profit companies, will lead us to disaster. We need public planning and co-ordination. We need regulation that brings companies in line with 1.5C, including taxes that sharply reduce profitability, and to shift the demand side by rapidly expanding electric public transport and insulating homes, for example.” lawsuits against fossil fuel companies can help to drive this change, says lawrence, “and they have made huge advances recently, but they are reactive”.

Market forces will lead the way, believes Kingsmill Bond from RMi, the American non-profit organisation previously known as the Rocky Mountain institute, but the energy transition won’t happen overnight, he warns.

“The bottom line is that the super profits fossil fuel companies are generating right now are the result of unusual circumstances and unlikely to be sustained in a steadier state environment,” says Bond. “Over time, profits in the oil and gas sector will come under sustained pressure from the combination of declining demand and the supply of cheaper alternative sources of energy.”

The main pressure will come from the rise of renewables that are less expensive than their fossil fuel counterparts, he insists. “But even growing at 20 per cent a year it takes time to displace the old. And when renewables are big enough, governments will start to tax fossil externalities more. Companies should make sure to take the super profits from this period and use them to reinvent their business model before it is too late.”

This reinvention should take into consideration both climate concerns and consumer needs. “The interests of consumers are not aligned with oil and gas companies who are delighted to see oil prices this high,” comments Euan Graham from the think tank E3G. “We need to put consumers first in the energy transition.”

Communism, long bellowed the same sentiment.

Neither Putin nor Solzhenitsyn fulminations bear any semblance to present reality in Ukraine, of course, where the Kremlin’s aggression has increasingly turned the population toward the U.S. and West in recent years. But the West must appreciate where the Kremlin’s view emanates from, and its understanding of history, if it is to have any hope that the current talks will prove fruitful.

Another important factor in this is Putin’s assertion after Crimea’s 2014 annexation that post-revolutionary Ukraine was a “new state” with which its previous agreements such as the Budapest Memorandum no longer held. This is of course an extreme affront to Western ideas on international law and the succession of states that on first view will support Western criticisms of the Kremlin’s assault on international institutions.

But it is not so shocking as a negotiating position for Russia, which less than 25 years ago had to negotiate with the United States over its status as the Soviet successor state, with its permanent United Nations Security Council seat in the balance. The failure of the end of the Cold War to improve Russian-Western relations over the long term also highlights Moscow’s failure to understand Washington.

The George h.W. Bush-administration feared more from Soviet collapse than it did from a rump Soviet Union.

This was not necessarily popular. Bush was famously lambasted in the New York Times for his August 1991 socalled ‘Chicken Kiev’ speech over his trepidation regarding

Ukraine’s attempts to divorce itself from the Soviet Union. however, Bush’s speech did little to calm fears among reactionary forces in the Soviet establishment. if anything, the address of a U.S. president to a sub-national legislature did the opposite. Then-KGB chief Vladimir Kryuchkov noted the agency was full of fear that Western leaders expected a Soviet collapse. Just 18 days after Bush’s speech, Kryuchkov would join the failed August coup attempt against Gorbachev.

An alternative history may well have been possible.

Yeltsin — and even Putin, briefly — flirted with pursuing NATO membership. But Moscow did not see NATO as Washington did and the U.S. was never willing to offer a unilateral concession to Moscow that would have been necessary to build lasting trust.

Washington need not abandon its sanctions threats in response to a Russian response, in fact it is central to ensuring the success of any such strategy. however, the U.S. should offer a carrot that demonstrates an appreciation for Russia’s view of regional and institutional power. Offering Moscow a veto on Ukraine’s security arrangements is rightly excluded, but failure to recognize that Russia has a different view of the regional settlement rights would be irresponsible too.

Putin has already hinted he can acknowledge the West’s views, even if most Western commentators failed to notice.

Peace in Ukraine and stability in the Russian “near abroad” would be in the U.S.’ self-interest, arguably more so than in the Bush i era, given the rise of China and Europe’s internal challenges. it has the added benefit of being in Ukrainians’ interests too. Acknowledgement of Russia’s view does not equal acquiescence, but it could create the trust necessary for lasting peace.

Maximilian Hess is head of Political Risk Advisory at AKE International and a Eurasia Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

India’s northeast: An integral piece of the puzzle

INterpreter aaRti BEtiGERi

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OWhERE does india’s complex web of identities coalesce as much as in the country’s northeast, where the politics of identity and self-determination have led to internal and external security challenges.

While security discussions usually focus on india’s western border, it is the northeast that is home to of a tangle of issues which, if viewed collectively, represent a serious threat to long-term regional stability. in recent months this threat has escalated with a series of incidents, some deadly, that have rocked the already fragile peace, and led to revived calls for the indian government to rein in military powers. At the same time, trouble on india’s borders with Myanmar and China has led to separate issues that underscore the general sense of insecurity.

The northeast, a collection of seven states – Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya – is connected to the rest of the country by a narrow land corridor. its citizens are ethnically, linguistically and culturally distinct from the so-called mainland, and the region is home to several long-standing separatist insurgencies. it is also resource-rich, with supplies of limestone, coal, natural oil and gas, uranium, copper, rare herbs. And it is also home to scores of ethnic groups, traditional tribes and languages. long-running insurgencies have ravaged large parts of the area, and as a result, many people move to india’s big cities for education and employment opportunities, but can face considerable racism, particularly in Delhi.

While things had been looking somewhat peaceful in recent years, particularly since the signing in 2015 of the Nagaland Peace Accord between the Modi government and the insurgent National Socialist Council of Nagaland, the security situation has nosedived in recent months. The Accord has hit snags, with a final agreement still not reached despite a deadline. in July last year, seven people died in clashes at a border point separating Assam and Mizoram, as part of a long-running border dispute. in November, seven people died after insurgents attacked a military convoy in Manipur. And in December, eight civilians in Nagaland died after indian soldiers attacked a pickup truck, swiftly followed by the deaths of seven others in ensuing violent protests.

Since then, there have been renewed calls for the army to prosecute those involved, reviving vocal

opposition to the much-reviled Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The Act gives the indian army wide-ranging powers, including the ability to operate with impunity – something that has led to documented rapes and extrajudicial killings over the decades. it was in protest over the AFSPA that a Manipuri woman, irom Sharmila, launched a hunger strike in 2000 which continued for 16 years. it appears that the fallout from the Nagaland violence will continue, with some groups, including the state’s largest tribe, indicating they might stop cooperating with the central government if no action is taken. There have been more anti-government protests, and local government members are starting to voice their own disaffection.

The border with Myanmar is a separate issue, but a factor in the declining regional security nonetheless. india and Myanmar share a border that is almost 1,650 kilometres long and very porous.

With the change of government in Afghanistan and the expected rise in islamist militancy, india is feeling extra vulnerable, knowing that its eastern region is equally subject to cross-border terrorist activity. in addition, there is ongoing concern over the potential for increased refugee flows into india.

New Delhi also has reason to be uneasy about its other border neighbour, China. Beijing recently claimed a portion of territory in Arunachal Pradesh, referring to it as “South Tibet”, and reportedly sent its army to patrol the northeastern region. in December 2021, Beijing announced it had decided on names for 15 more places in the state, giving them standardised names in Chinese characters, as well as the Tibetan script. india responded angrily, underlining that Arunachal remains part of its territory.

“Assigning invented names to places … does not alter this fact,” said a spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs. New Delhi believes the names are part of China’s expansionist moves, similar to those in ladakh in the northwest.

While disconnected, all of these issues add up to a general feeling of uncertainty and insecurity in the northeast. The seven states are home to almost 50 million people, and are part of india’s Act East policy, which aims to engage Southeast Asia in trade and strategic relations. This is part of New Delhi’s overarching plan to counter China’s growing might, and although it is strategically important, the policy remains an afterthought in the minds of many policymakers.

But change is afoot. last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the northeastern states, particularly Manipur, would become major drivers of india’s growth in coming years, while inaugurating various development projects, including roads.

And efforts to gain wider recognition for the city of Kohima’s pivotal role in the Second World War – it has been referred to as the “Stalingrad of the East” for its course-changing battle – are expected to reinvigorate cultural and historical interest in the region.

As the country develops a better understanding of how vital the region is strategically, economically and historically, it will hopefully benefit from more investment and recognition. As well as helping northeastern citizens remain in their home states, it may also aid the central government in better securing its most vulnerable borders.

Tuesday, 8 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

09

UFoNE 4G oFFErS AN iNdUSTry FirST UNLiMiTEd FrEE iNTErNET ISLAMABAD

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Press release

AKISTANI telecom company, Ufone 4G is offering unlimited free internet every day to help customers experience its superior data quality and blazing speeds. ‘Muft Mornings’ brings Ufone 4G users unlimited data from 9AM to 12 noon every day as a limited time promo without any underlying charges.

Ufone 4G acquired 4G spectrum re-

cently to fulfill its long-time commitment of delivering top quality data services to its customers. As promised, the transition has significantly improved the network quality and internet speeds, thereby bringing Ufone 4G customers a superior user experience, which the ‘Muft Mornings’ offer seeks to extend to more customers, so that they can also relish true enablement.

‘Muft Mornings’ is the first and only offer in the industry to provide data entirely free of cost and without any hidden charges, at time when most customers can actually

National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) condole demise of Lata Mangeshkar KARACHI Press release

Chairman, National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), Syed Jawaid Iqbal, Members Board of Directors, President Emeritus and Chief Executive, have expressed heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of Lata Mangeshkar, one of the greatest playback singers in South Asia. In a statement issued on behalf of the Academy, NAPA Chairman paid glowing tribute to Lata Mangeshkar. He said with the passing of Lata Mangeshkar, a glorious era of music has come to an end. Lata Mangeshkar rendered thousands of songs in her illustrious career spanning over six decades where she lent her voice to generations of heroines. Her timeless melodies earned her millions of fans in the sub-continent and across the world where Urdu is spoken and understood. Her passion for excellence led her to learn Urdu professionally at the onset of her career with the objective of perfecting her pronunciation and accent. She set the standards for singers and inspired many new singers to follow her lead.

Hysab Kytab’s white-labelled PFM is Now Available on Temenos Exchange KARACHI Press release

Hysab Kytab, a leading provider of financial management solutions today announced that Hysab Kytab’s White Labelled PFM solution is now available on Temenos Exchange, the open marketplace for fintech solutions. The Hysab Kytab PFM’s out of the box integration with Temenos Infinity is aimed at offering banks the ablity to understand their customers financial dreams and identify non-intrusive cross-selling/up-selling opportunities for new revenue streams through hyper-personalization. With Hysab Kytab as an integral part of Temenos Infinity solution, banks’ customers will be able to gain 360-degree view of their finances putting them in the driving seats of their financial wellbeing by helping them make informed financial decisions. Temenos Exchange brings open innovation to market faster, and at scale. The marketplace offers pre-integrated and approved fintech solutions that can be easily deployed on top of Temenos open platform, enabling banks to accelerate the creation of new financial services, while reducing the costs of development.

Temenos Exchange acts as an accelerator for fintechs and software developers, helping them develop, validate and monetize new banking solutions. Joining Temenos Exchange means Hysab Kytab can write once and sell its solution across a vast banking audience of more than 3,000 clients in 150 countries. Collectively, this community serves the banking needs of 1.2 billion people worldwide. ‘’It is increasingly becoming important for Fintechs to collaborate with organizations that can extend their reach and improve their technical expertise. I believe this integration with Temenos will enable Hysab Kytab to scale by boosting its current reach in previously untapped markets, including millennials and tech savvy customers. This kind of collaboration will also help fintech industry as a whole to work collectively for the common goal of boosting digital financial inclusion of customers.” said Mohammad Yasir Ilyas, Head of Hysab Kytab. “Hysab Kytab participation in Temenos Exchange further extends our commitment to the banking community and enables Temenos customers to easily reap the benefits of Hysab Kytab’s PFM solution.

use internet. It not only ushers in top quality connectivity to customers but also brings superior 4G experience within the grasp of low-income groups, students and youngsters to enjoy unlimited free internet for education, entertainment and all communication needs.

With Muft Mornings offer, Ufone 4G users can explore endless possibilities including enjoying unlimited downloads, Internet browsing, YouTube, online streaming, gaming, social media or can even replay the entire match of their favourite PSL team if

they feel like.

The offer highlights Ufone 4G’s long term pursuit to raise the bar in network quality, seamless connectivity and internet speed in the telecom industry to generate a cascading effect for data users in general. The company’s continuous innovation and investment in network up-gradation and modernization spurs health growth and innovation trends in the industry.

All prepaid Ufone 4G users are eligible for the free data offer and can enjoy unlimited downloads and streaming by simply di-

aling *4200# from their handsets. The offer will allow subscribers to use internet for the next 14 days.

The unique offer consolidates Ufone 4G’s image as a customer-centric Pakistani brand that is always on the lookout for opportunities for enabling and empowering its customers. The company’s endless pursuit and long-term commitment to deliver the best value to its customers are beautifully captured in its cherished slogan, signaling its deep customer focus, ‘Tum Hi Tou Ho!’

MMBL’s celebration of a milestone year under Women Inspirational Network (WIN) commended by SBP ISLAMABAD Press release

Women make up almost half of Pakistan’s total population, but their contribution to measured economic activity is far below its potential due to limited access to quality and affordable financial services.

Women’s financial inclusion has emerged as a priority for Pakistan’s largest digital bank, Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited (MMBL). Addressing the urgency to ensure equal economic p articipation of the women, coupled with the need to foster their financial inclusion by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), MMBL launched Women Inspirational Network (WIN) program in February 2021.

The program focuses on uplifting women entrepreneurs through end-to-end partnerships, design thinking and business fundamentals upskilling, provision of women-centric products & services, as well as resources enabling women to set up digital shops while ensuring online safety. Furthermore, the initiative aims at empowering women through thought leadership on gender sensitivity, and their financial inclusion. Just within 2021, over 100 women urban startups were upskilled on design thinking through collaboration with Google and National Incubation Centre, over 400 rural women businesses were upskilled through a Learning man-

agement system and in person sessions covering business fundamentals through CARE, end to end support was given to women borrowers for establishing digital shops without cost through DARAZ, and students and academia were sponsored to promote solutions for Women Online Safety through hackathon with National University of Sciences and Technology.

Last year, the Bint-e-Hawwa deposits and saving accounts- a unique offering for women entrepreneurs, closed on the yearend with a total of over PKR 136 Million, while an amount of over PKR 1.8 Million was disbursed, under the same. Furthermore, the disbursement ratios to women grew by 25% YoY and the overall active women borrower ratio grew by 21.17% YoY. During the same tenure, MMBL also witnessed a 100% growth in female headcount across its extensive network of branches, thereby facilitating the seamless provision of its exclusive products for female borrowers.

While addressing the unique financial needs of women, MMBL launched its ‘9Point Agenda for Financial Inclusion’ to promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth, highlighting key recommendations under the domain of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) while identifying and investing in innovative digital financial solutions in product design and policy-making to promote women em-

powerment at all tiers.

Commenting on MMBL’s role in financially uplifting women, its Chief Finance & Digital Officer, Sardar Mohammad Abubakr said, “MMBL is committed to the cause of fostering financial inclusion through its diverse portfolio and offerings. Apart from providing digital financial products and services, the bank also trains its high potential women borrowers in various areas including but not limited to Financial Management, Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies, and Business Planning through dedicated Learning Management Systems with our strategic partners. With the help of its expansive network, MMBL has not only trained over 400 women borrowers and 100+ urban entrepreneurs but has financially empowered more than 350,000 women across the nation. Our key partnerships with multiple stakeholders including SBP, Care International in Pakistan, Google Developer Groups (GDG) Islamabad, National Incubation Center (NIC), Daraz, National University of Sciences & Technology, and IBTIDA have further enhanced women-owned SME’s by providing them appropriate platforms for their businesses' sustainable growth.”

“Women’s financial inclusion is not only a critical part of national development, but the bedrock of financial sector

AIOU sets 14th Feb. as last date of merit-based admissions ISLAMABAD Press release

Allama Iqbal Open Universityhas commenced admissions in merit-based programs offered in the first phase of spring 2022 semester including BS, MSc, MS/MPhil and PhD and the deadline for the submission of admission application form is February 14, 2022. According to admission department of the University, prospectuses and admission forms for these programs are available online on the university website (www.aiou.edu.pk) and admission can only be applied via online mode. Online admission procedure is presented in the prospectuses in detail. Admissions to BS programs will be granted purely on merit basis whereas the candidates will appear in entry test to qualify for admission in MSc, MS/ MPhil and PhD. These entry tests will be conducted in university’s academic complex from February 17-24, 2022. First and second merit lists will be displayed on the university website on February 25 and March 4 respectively. On the other hand, deadline for depositing fee for first and second merit lists will be March 3 and March 11 respectively. Transparency in the entire admission procedures will be

strictly ensured on the special directives of Prof Dr Zia Ul -Qayyum, VC, AIOU. Moreover, the deadline for the submission of admission application form for FA and I.Com is February 22. Admission can be applied via online as well through manual procedure. In case of online submission of admission form, there is no need to dispatch printed form to the university.

Tarin meeTs wiTh represenTaTives of GovT employees special persons: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Mr. Shaukat Tarin held a meeting with representatives of Government Employees Special Persons Forum at Finance Division. The representatives of Government Employees Special Persons Forum apprised the Finance Minister of their issues especially related to special pay and packages for the government employees disabled persons and sought support of the Government to address their issues. Finance Minister Mr. Shaukat Tarin said that the Government is aware of the issues and problems being faced by the disabled persons and is providing maximum opportunities to the persons with disabilities at all levels. He further assured them of resolution of their issues relating to relief in pay and packages to the government employees with disabilities.

Nur International University observed Kashmir Solidarity Day on 4th February, 2022 LAHORE Press release

Nur International University Lahore organized Kashmir Day on 4th February, 2022 in NIU Auditorium.

The event was organized by the collective effort of Dramatics Society and Psychology Department of NIU. The theme of the event was to promote greater understanding of “Kashmir” among university students. The day was marked to express solidarity with the people of Indian held Kashmir who continue to suffer the denial of basic human rights and their self-de-

termination in accordance with UN resolutions which remained as relevant today as they did decades ago.

Mr. Malik Siddique Mahmood (Patron Dramatics Society) hosted the event. He welcomed the students and guest speakers and explain the purpose of the Kashmir day and why we celebrate it. A documentary was shown to the students about the history of the Kashmir which reflects its beauty and demogeographic importance. Mr. Hassan-bin-Saadat (Faculty of Ecology) delivered a very powerful speech relevant to the event which elevated the emotions of the audience.

development in Pakistan", said Sima Kamil, Deputy Governor, State Bank of Pakistan. “Gone are the times when we aimed for a gender-neutral focus in financial inclusion. Now, we are focusing on gender-intentional policies that stimulate women empowerment at all tiers and allow them to participate in the economic sphere. In this regard, SBP’s Banking on Equality policy launched in 2021 is a landmark initiative to embed a gender lens in the financial institutions’ policies and practices. I am pleased to see that MMBL's WIN program strongly resonates with SBP's agenda under Banking on Equality policy, and the contributions of the program during the last year are valuable and well-acknowledged by us.” she added.

While celebrating its yearly accomplishments, MMBL builds on the success of the past and renews the sense of passion and ambition around dedicated resources targeted towards empowering its female borrowers. With its groundbreaking partnerships with several likeminded stakeholders, the bank aims to unlock the digital financing needs of women in both urban and rural areas.

Going forward, MMBL strives to promote digital initiatives and will continue to collaborate with its strategic partners to ensure that the banking ecosystem is gender-responsive.

Pakistan Single Window launches new helpline, enhances support for traders ISLAMABAD Press release

Responding to the business community’s needs for a dedicated 'Trader Support Centre’, the Pakistan Single Window has launched a new Helpdesk to serve as the PSW Users first point of contact for support and assistance on PSW system or its allied components. The users can access the Helpdesk through dialing 021-111111-PSW (779) or sending email at support@psw.gov.pk. for immediate resolutions of the issues related to the PSW system. The newly launched Helpdesk has an incident management feature for resolving all complaints as quickly as possible, either through education, resolution, or a workaround and is based on comprehensive complaint lodging procedures that records, resolves, and archives all complaints/suggestions and allows the Users to track the reported issues through a ticketing system. In addition to providing email/phone support to the business community, the Helpdesk allows PSW to build a knowledge base and consistently improve the scope of its services based on customer feedback. Going forward, the Centre will offer integration with PSW social media handles, PSW website and SMS, 24x7 multi-lingual, multi-channel support, and training and guidance on any end-user errors.

PSW’s core mission is to provide the highest level of services and support to the traders. “We are thankful to the entire business community for their patience and understanding as we transition towards the new system,” Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Single Widow Mr. Syed Aftab Haider stated. “We have listened to your suggestions and hope that the new Trader Support Centre will help provide support for resolution of queries, issues or complaints in a professional and timely manner,” he added. The PSW system rolled out the online subscription module in July 2021 and has recently begun the phased wise integration of authorized dealers/commercial banks for electronic exchange of trade related financial information.

K te siz se tio de ki ex

Tuesday, 8 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

10 FOREIGN NEWS

MusliMs to vote against hate, ‘insecurity’ in india’s crucial state polls

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S campaigning for provincial elections in India’s politically significant state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) takes a feverish pitch, Mohammad Islam, 65, a resident of Nahid Colony in the outskirts of Muzaffarnagar town 90 kilometers (55 miles) from capital New Delhi, waves to a campaign vehicle that passed through the main road.

As Anadolu Agency hit the road to follow the election campaign trail in the most populated province with a population of 204 million, political leaders of different political parties were seen going door to door to lure voters. The Election Commission of India has banned big rallies and gatherings in the wake of COVID-19.

For Mohammad Islam, who belongs to the minority Muslim community, which comprises 38 million (19.3% of the population), the elections hold considerable significance.

“We were thrown out of our village in 2013 and the fear is still running in our minds,” a frail Islam told Anadolu Agency.

He has since then moved to Nahid Colony, which was constructed by incumbent Muslim legislator Naheed Hassan for the affected families following a deadly communal riot in the region in 2013.

“On Feb 10, I will vote for the party that will end the growing hate against the Muslims and will help my sons get employment,” he said.

The state with 403 assembly seats is going to the polls in seven phases. The first

russian attack on ukraine possible ‘any day’ but diplomacy still an option, White house says AGeNcIeS Russian President Vladimir Putin could order an attack on Ukraine within days or weeks, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned on Sunday, as Washington and its European allies continued efforts to offer Putin a diplomatic way out of the crisis. “We are in the window. Any day now, Russia could take military action against Ukraine, or it could be a couple of weeks from now, or Russia could choose to take the diplomatic path instead,” Sullivan told the “Fox News Sunday” program. Sullivan made the comments in television interviews after two US officials on Saturday said Russia, which seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, has in place about 70% of the combat power it believes it would need for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As Russia masses more than 100,000 troops near the border, Moscow has said it is not planning an invasion but could take unspecified military action if its security demands are not met. Those include a promise that NATO will never admit Ukraine, a demand the United States and the 30-nation Western security alliance have called unacceptable. US President Joe Biden spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, the White House said. That call came ahead of a visit by Macron to Moscow on Monday, the culmination of days of French contacts with Russia and Ukraine to try to de-escalate tensions.

The 40 minute-long call between Biden and Macron allowed the two leaders to coordinate ahead of the trip, a French Presidency source said. If Putin is not deterred by the diplomatic push, possible Russian action could include annexing Ukraine’s Donbass region, where Russian-backed separatists broke away from Ukrainian government control in 2014, cyberattacks or a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sullivan said. “We believe that there is a very distinct possibility that Vladimir Putin will order an attack on Ukraine,” Sullivan told ABC’s “This Week” program. “It could happen as soon as tomorrow, or it could take some weeks yet. He has put himself in a position with military deployments to be able to act aggressively against Ukraine at any time now,” Sullivan added. us troops lAnd in polAnd: Ukraine, while seeking more military aid, has also sought to calm fears of an invasion. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday urged people to ignore “apocalyptic predictions,” saying his country was strong and had unprecedented international support. Washington has made clear it would not send US soldiers to defend Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO. However, Washington has given Kyiv arms and last week said it would send nearly 3,000 extra troops to Poland and Romania to shield Eastern Europe from potential spillover from the crisis. A plane carrying US troops landed in Poland on Sunday, a Reuters witness said. On Wednesday, the Pentagon said around 1,700 service members, mainly from the 82nd Airborne Division, would deploy from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Poland. Biden sent a message to the troops as he arrived at the White House after a weekend at his Delaware home. ‘direct impAct of sAnctions’: The United States, with its allies, has threatened extensive economic sanctions against Russia should it invade. These could include financial sanctions as well as export-control measures. US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo on Sunday said any sanctions would hit Putin and Russian elites hard given their reliance on Europe, which is Russia’s largest trading partner, and the US dollar. “By the United States and Europe acting together, we put ourselves in a position where we not only would have an impact on the overall Russian economy but we’d have a direct impact on President Putin, who is tied to the Russian economy,” he told CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”

phase will take place on Feb 10 and the last on March 7.

The sense of insecurity that Islam is referring to is rampant among the minority community across the province, perpetuated by different acts and incidents. In 2015, 50year-old Mohammad Akhlaq, a farm worker, was allegedly lynched in this region by a mob over rumors that his family had been storing and consuming beef at home. religious diVide: Earlier in 2013, clashes between the Hindu and Muslim communities in Muzaffarnagar resulted in at least 62 deaths and left more than 50,000 people displaced, according to details gathered by different media outlets.

In 2016, ahead of assembly elections that were swept by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its leaders alleged that

Hindu families were being forced to migrate from the Muslim-dominated town of Kairana. Since then the residents feel the religious divide has been further sharpened in the region.

“We want a government which will provide development, puts an end to unemployment. A political dispensation which tends to the injuries and bridges the gap between majority and minority,” said Shahzad Ahmad, 37, a resident of Karaina town.

Many in the town believe that since the Hindu nationalist BJP took over power in New Delhi in 2014, the hostility towards minorities has increased. They refer to Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s election gatherings, where he again raked the issue of the alleged exodus of Hindus.

Local police which had probed the exo-

dus had punctured this argument in 2016. A spot verification of 150 addresses of the list had revealed that this migration had taken place due to the search for better business and job prospects and not due to Muslims. It also found that many of such migrations had taken place even eight or 10 years ago.

While the communal divide is creating unease among Muslims, the issues like unemployment, economic meltdown find echo across the religious divide.

At a roadside in dusty down of Kairana, where vehicles associated with different political parties were moving past blurring songs, Imdad Ahmed, a farmer, said people may this time vote based on economic issues.

“The unemployment issue continues to persist. People travel to a neighboring state for jobs. Condition of roads are bad, there is no transport and even no proper education institutes as well,” he said.

Karina’s BJP candidate Mriganga Singh, however, said that the region has seen significant development over the past five years. She said people who had left the town are returning, and “everybody is feeling safe now”.

China urges US not to go further down the wrong path AGeNcIeS The recent irresponsible, groundless and biased remarks against China by the U.S. related to the Beijing Winter Olympics, Xinjiang and Taiwan have seriously poisoned the China-U.S. relations, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Zhang Jun said in a press statement.

He resolutely refuted the groundless accusations against China made by Linda Thomas Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to UN, in her interview with CNN. Noting that many heads of state and organizations sent messages or called Chinese President Xi Jinping to wish Beijing Winter Olympics success and extended greetings on Chinese New Year, Zhang said the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which was attended by around 170 official representatives from nearly 70 countries and

international organizations, fully showed the international community’s firm support of China.

“The U.S. attempts to make an issue of the Olympic Games has won no sup-

port and met with complete failure,” he said. The lies by the U.S. about “genocide” in Xinjiang have been proved a preposterous lie of the century, while people in Xinjiang are living a peaceful and ful-

Diplomatic flurry to avert Russia-NATO clash over Ukraine PARIS AFP

With war clouds gathering over Ukraine, international diplomacy goes into overdrive on Monday with the French and Russian presidents to meet in Moscow and the German chancellor heading to the White House to meet with US leader Joe Biden.

Also on Monday, the German, Czech, Slovak and Austrian foreign ministers were expected in Kyiv, which has played down dire US warnings that Moscow had stepped up preparations for a major incursion into Ukraine.

US officials have said the Kremlin has assembled 110,000 troops along the border with its pro-Western neighbour but intelligence assessments have not determined whether President Vladimir Putin has actually decided to invade.

They said Russia is on track to amass a large enough force — some 150,000 soldiers — for a fullscale invasion by mid-February.

Such a force would be capable of taking the capital Kyiv in a matter of 48 hours in an onslaught that would kill up to 50,000 civilians, 25,000 Ukrainian soldiers and 10,000 Russian troops and trigger a refugee flood of up to five million people, mainly into Poland, the officials added. On top of the potential human cost, Ukraine fears further damage to its already struggling economy.

And if Moscow attacks Ukraine it could face retaliation over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline — set to double natural gas supplies from Russia to Germany — with Berlin threatening to block it. Russia is seeking a guarantee from NATO that Ukraine will not enter the alliance and wants the bloc to withdraw forces from member states in eastern Europe.

‘ApocAlyptic predictions’: Moscow denies that it is planning to invade Ukraine, and Kyiv’s presidency advisor said the chances of a diplomatic solution to the crisis remained “substantially higher than the threat of further escalation”.

On Twitter, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba sought to calm tensions, saying: “Do not believe the apocalyptic predictions. Different capitals have different scenarios, but Ukraine is ready for any development.”

President Emmanuel Macron of France, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, will be in Moscow on Monday and Kyiv on Tuesday to spearhead efforts to de-escalate the crisis.

He is expected to push forward a stalled peace plan for the festering conflict with Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. The trip will be a political gamble for Macron, who faces a re-election challenge in April.

Also on Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will meet with Biden in Washington.

Biden has reacted to the Russian troop buildup by offering 3,000 American forces to bolster NATO’s eastern flank, with a batch of the troops promised arriving in Poland on Sunday. But US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told Fox News Sunday that Biden “is not sending forces to start a war or fight a war with Russia in Ukraine”. “We have sent forces to Europe to defend NATO territory,” he said.

Scholz said Sunday that Berlin was prepared to send extra troops to the Baltics in addition to 500 soldiers already stationed in Lithuania under a NATO operation. While he is in Washington, his foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, will be in Kyiv along with her Czech, Slovak and Austrian counterparts for a two-day visit. Scholtz will be in Moscow and Kyiv next week for talks with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

filling life. In Team China, there are 20 athletes from nine ethnic minorities, including Uygur and Tibetan ethnic groups, the ambassador said.

Taiwan is an inseparable part of the Chinese territory and the settlement of the Taiwan question is China’s internal affairs and allows no interference by the U.S. or any other external forces, Zhang said.

The future of Taiwan lies in national reunification and the U.S. should stop emboldening and supporting the “Taiwan independence” forces, he added.

“Here is my advice to the U.S. — Do not go further down the wrong path. It will not only make your own people suffer, but also create more trouble for other countries and even the whole world,” said Zhang. Claiming to care about human rights, yet the U.S. has left disgraceful human right records, he stated in his statement.

Fearing junta, hundreds of Myanmar parents disown dissident children YANGON ReuteRs

Every day for the last three months, an average of six or seven families in Myanmar have posted notices in the country’s state-owned newspapers cutting ties with sons, daughters, nieces, nephews and grandchildren who have publicly opposed the ruling military junta. The notices started to appear in such numbers in November after the army, which seized power from Myanmar’s democratically elected government a year ago, announced it would take over the properties of its opponents and arrest people giving shelter to protesters. Scores of raids on homes followed. Lin Lin Bo Bo, a former car salesman who joined an armed group resisting military rule, was one of those disowned by his parents in about 570 notices reviewed by Reuters. “We declare we have disowned Lin Lin Bo Bo because he never listened to his parents’ will,” said the notice posted by his parents, San Win and Tin Tin Soe, in state-owned newspaper The Mirror in November. Speaking to Reuters from a Thai border town where he is living after fleeing Myanmar, the 26-year-old said his mother had told him she was disowning him after soldiers came to their family home searching for him. A few days later, he said he cried as he read the notice in the paper. “My comrades tried to reassure me that it was inevitable for families to do that under pressure,” he told Reuters. “But I was so heartbroken.” Contacted by Reuters, his parents declined to comment. Targeting families of opposition activists was a tactic used by Myanmar’s military during unrest in 2007 and the late 1980s but has been used far more frequently since the Feb.1, 2021 coup, according to Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, senior advocacy officer at rights group Burma Campaign UK, which uses the old name for the former British colony.

Violent crAcKdoWn: Hundreds of thousands of people in Myanmar, many of them young, took to the streets to protest the coup a year ago. After a violent crackdown on demonstrations by the army, some protesters fled overseas or joined armed groups in remote parts of the country. Known as People’s Defence Forces, these groups are broadly aligned with the deposed civilian government. Over the past year, security forces have killed about 1,500 people, many of them demonstrators, and arrested nearly 12,000 people, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a monitoring group. The military has said those figures are exaggerated. Journalist So Pyay Aung told Reuters he filmed riot police using batons and shields to break up protests and livestreamed the video on the Democratic Voice of Burma, a news website.

Tuesday, 8 February, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

SpORTS 11

TICkETs FOr IndO-Pak 2022 T20 WOrld CuP MaTCh sOld OuT WIThIn hOurs

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S expected, the tickets for the 2022 T20 World Cup Group stage match between India and Pakistan at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 23 are sold out within five hours.

According to details, MCG has a seating capacity of approximately 1 lakh, making it one of the biggest stadiums in the world. The tickets went on sale at 6:00 pm

(PST) on Monday and by 11:00 am, the ICC stated that ‘public ticket allocation’ for India Vs Pakistan ‘has been exhausted’. No more people would be able to buy more tickets for the India vs Pakistan match.

Australian newspaper Sydney Morning Herald reported that “over 60,000 presale tickets for the India v Pakistan group match at the MCG on October 23 have already been sold.”

Sydney Morning Herald, an Australian

daily, reported that “over 60,000 pre-sale tickets for the India v Pakistan group match at the MCG on October 23 have already been sold.”

Meanwhile, fans can join waitlist for tickets. “Tickets may still be available through the Official Hospitality and ICC Travel and Tours Programmes. Alternatively, you can join the Waitlist for this match and receive email updates with details of any ticket releases for a specific match,” ICC added in its statement.

Ronaldo becomes world’s first person to reach 400m Instagram followers News Desk

Murray to skip clay-court season, including French Open LONDON AFP

Andy Murray has confirmed he will not play on clay in the coming months to give him the best chance of competing at Wimbledon later in the year. The threetime Grand Slam champion will miss the French Open, which he also skipped last year. Murray, currently ranked 102 in the world, has struggled to rekindle his former glories since major surgery in 2019 on a career-threatening hip problem. “I am not planning on playing through the clay, the past couple of years, the clay has made issues worse, I don’t want to take that risk,” Murray was quoted as saying by the BBC. “Last year, I almost missed Wimbledon and was close to not playing the grass season. “I had a busy end of last year and the next couple of months. I won’t take any risks and hopefully get a good build-up to the grass season.” Murray will return to action at the Rotterdam Open next week for the first time since losing in the second round of the Australian Open. The 34-year-old reached the final of the Sydney International in January, losing out to Russia’s Aslan Karatsev.

Portuguese star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first person in the world to reach 400 million followers on Instagram.

The Manchester United footballer crossed the 400 million mark just a day after he celebrated his 37th birthday with his partner Georgina Rodriguez.

As an accompanying caption to his post, Ronaldo wrote: “Life is a roller coaster. Hard work, high speed, urgent goals, demanding expectations…But in the end, it all comes down to family, love, honesty, friendship,

values that make it all worth it. Thanks for all the messages! 37 and counting!”

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has 3,242 posts with an average of 10 million likes for each post. The celebrity himself follows only 500 Instagram accounts.

His posts are mostly about family, football and the occasional promotion of his label, CR7.

After Ronaldo, American celebrity Kylie Jenner is the second most-followed person on Instagram with over 308 million followers.

The top footballer Lionel Messi ranks third with 306 million Instagram followers.

CAS open golf championship concludes

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Ace Golfer Muhammad Shabbir won the title on the

final day of 41st CAS Open Golf Championship with a gross score of 268 (20 Under par), 2nd position was taken by AnsarMehmood with the gross score of 281 (7 under par), while third position was clinched by Khalid

Teenage figure skater first woman to land quad jump at Olympics BeIJING AFP

Russian teenage star Kamila Valieva made figure skating history Monday, becoming the first woman to land a quadruple jump at the Olympics — and not content with one, she landed two.

The 15-year-old landed the quadruple jumps — when a skater rotates four times in the air — as she once again demolished the competition in the freestyle programme team event in Beijing.

Despite finishing 30 points ahead of second-placed Kaori Sakamoto, Valieva looked distraught at the end of her performance — she had fallen attempting a third quad jump.

She is part of a team trained by coach Eteri Tutberidze expected to take the podium in the women’s individual event in Beijing, and Valieva is the favourite for gold.

All three skaters have comfortably landed quad jumps in competition before — but it has never been done at an Olympics.

A quad jump has been attempted at the Games before, according to the Olympics news site — Surya Bonaly tried it in 1992 but it was considered not fully rotated on landing and so was downgraded.

Khan with the gross score of 284 (4 under par). Closing Ceremony of 41st CAS Open Golf Championship was held at Airmen Golf Club & Recreational Park, Korangi Creek, Karachi. Air Vice Marshal Syed Sabahat Hassan, Air Officer Commanding, Air Defence Command, PAF was the Chief Guest at the occasion. Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Guest congratulated the winners on behalf of Chief of the Air Staff.

He also appreciated the management committee and officials of Airmen Golf Course for making this event a huge success. He further said that Pakistan Air Force would continue to promote golf along with other sports.

The Championship featured over 300 golfers, including 106 professionals from all over the country. Rupees 10.5 Million prize money Championship was played over 18 holes for four days at one of the most difficult golf courses of the country. Chief of the Air Staff Open Golf Championship was introduced in 1977 and ever since has been a regular feature in PGF and PAF annual sports calendars.

Collingwood appointed as England’s interim head coach for West Indies Test series News Desk England Men’s Assistant Coach Paul Collingwood on Monday has been appointed Interim Head Coach for next month’s three-match Test tour of the Caribbean, said a statement issued by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Collingwood, who took charge of England’s T20 tour of the West Indies last month, is currently taking a break in Barbados before joining the touring party when they arrive in Antigua on February 25. The series starts on March 8. The departures of head coach Chris Silverwood and assistant coach Graham Thorpe following England’s humiliating 4-0 Ashes defeat in Australia left Collingwood as the highest-ranked member of the backroom team. He said: “I am genuinely excited to be leading the Test team for the tour of the Caribbean. I can’t wait to get started. “Having a challenging Test series against the West Indies straight off the back of the Ashes disappointment gives us a chance from now to reset and rebuild.” “Playing Test matches for England is the highest accolade in the game. My objective is to give players clarity, direction and encouragement for them to start building something special,” he added. Collingwood also said: “I have spoken to Joe Root and Ben Stokes, and both are excited and passionate to take the team forward in this new cycle. Although they know it won’t be easy, they have the desire and bravery to do things differently to ensure the team can prosper. “We have an opportunity to get back on track.” The touring party is to be announced on Tuesday afternoon and will depart the UK on Thursday, February 24.

Tuesday, 8 February, 2022

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FAJR SUNRISE

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ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

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HBL PSL BringS More MiSery, SuFFering For LAHoriiteS WORST TRAFFIC JAMS, MISMANAGEMENT SEEN IN ACROSS LAHORE LAHORe

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NCE a reason for fanfare and amusement, the HBL PSL’s Lahore Leg has brought suffering and misery for Lahoriites – thanks to poor planning and handling of traffic mess created due to security arrangements made by the management.

The provincial capital was hit by the worst traffic jam even before the teams arrived in the provincial capital for the second round of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season seven.

Long queues of vehicles were remain stuck in Ferozepur Road, Gulberg, Jail Road, Mozang, Canal Road and other areas and the citizens continued to be disgraced on the roads whereas during all this time the traffic wardens also disappeared from duties and in many places the wardens were engaged in gossip.

According to details, a day earlier (on Sunday) in connection with PSL matches, Lahore DIG Operations Abid Khan, Chief Traffic Officer Montazir Mehdi, SP Security Rashid Hidayat and divisional officers attended PSL rehearsals regarding security.

However, the rehearsals were conducted from the airport to the PC Hotel and Qaddafi Stadium, during which all security and traffic arrangements were reviewed in detail.

The rehearsals were attended by rescue personnel including police, rangers, dolphins and Peru forces and during this, traffic was suspended on Mall Road, Jail Road, Canal Road and Gulberg Main Boulevard.

Unfortunately, on Monday, the traffic situation had started deteriorating even before the arrival of the teams and the traffic pressure had increased on every main and connected road in Lahore.

Speaking to Pakistan Today, Amir Ali, a resident of DHA, informed that he had to travel from Mall Road to DHA in two hours

Army, FC rescue people after intense snowfall in Dir NeWs Desk Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps (FC) on Monday cleared the snow off the road and rescued several vehicles stuck on Rawalpindi-Chitral highway near Lowari Tunnel after at least 250 people, including women and children, got stranded in their vehicles due to intense snowfall in the region, according to a news outlet. The troops distributed food among those stranded in the snow and partially opened roads for traffic with the use of heavy machinery. The passengers were traveling from Rawalpindi to Chitral. The district administration had started the rescue operation at noon to clear off the roads. The army and FC troops soon arrived to assist the local administration, clearing the roads for traffic with the help of heavy machinery. It is pertinent to mention here that last month 23 tourists trapped in their vehicles during a snowstorm in Murree had lost their lives due to the negligence of the local authorities.

PM’s visit to China highly successful, says Qureshi NeWs Desk Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has termed Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent visit to China as timely and highly successful. A day earlier, the PM had concluded his visit to China. The premier had held a meeting with President Xi Jinping and welcomed increased Chinese investment in the CPEC Phase-II, which focuses on industrialisation and improving people’s livelihoods.

In a statement issued on Monday, Qureshi said the joint statement issued on the conclusion of the visit reflects its success. The minister said the two sides held detailed discussions on bilateral cooperation and regional situation, including Afghanistan. He said the two countries are committed to early completion of the second phase projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He said spoilers do not want to see CPEC progressing; however, they will never succeed in their designs. He said it was decided that a meeting of the neighboring counties of Afghanistan will be convened in Beijing by the end of the next month to discuss the future strategy. He said the Afghan interim government will also be invited to the meeting. He said Pakistan’s relations with Russia are also on the positive trajectory, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited PM Imran to visit his country and the premier will visit Moscow this month.

while no traffic warden was seen working for the flow of traffic.

“It happens every time during PSL matches and we face the worst traffic jams.

No traffic plan of any kind was seen and no warden could reduce the traffic pressure.

However, the matches have not started yet and when these matches start, it is not known what the traffic situation will be like”.

“Outside the Pearl Continental Hotel, traffic on one side of the Mall Road was closed, causing all traffic coming from the Civil Secretariat from AnarKali Bazaar to the Governor’s House to be jammed. Similarly, this traffic pressure was not only on one road but I also faced severe traffic pressure from crossing Fortress Stadium to Abid Majeed Road,” he said.

Hina Gul, another resident of Jail Road, said her office was located near Liberty and it took her about an hour to reach her home.

“I covered four kilometers in one hour.

The first problem is that even on normal

days, people do not follow the traffic rules, which leads to rush hour and when unannounced diversions were made on the roads in connection with the matches, the traffic situation became very bad,” she said.

“I usually travel back from Gulberg Main Boulevard but before 5pm today (Monday) the traffic was so heavy that I had to take an alternative route. I turned towards Ferozepur Road but there was not only a traffic jam but also severe mismanagement,” she added.

“From Kalma Chowk to Qartaba Chowk I saw only one traffic warden and that warden was not clearing any traffic but was busy chatting with someone on his mobile phone.

However, I turned towards Jail Road but the traffic on Ferozepur Road was getting jammed till MAO College,” she added.

Omar Farooq, a resident of Canal Road, said it was difficult to turn from the canal to Jail Road and Mall Road because the entire traffic system was chaotic.

“Whenever traffic is mismanaged on a road, the effect will be felt on all the roads connected to it. The diversion on Mall Road

7:00

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increased the traffic pressure on Davis Road, Jail Road and Canal. There are two major government and several private hospitals on Jail Road. Our traffic police did not have any plan to clear the traffic in case of any emergency. They should consider whether sports activities are for the entertainment of the people or for the sake of trouble,” he said.

What is the traffic plan?

According to the plan issued by the traffic police in the name of public convenience, efficient flow of traffic and awareness, more than 700 wardens will be deployed on the routes and alternative routes of cricket teams and shuttle service from parking stands will allow cricket fans to reach Qaddafi Stadium.

The intersection from Ichhra Bridge to Kalma Chowk will be closed for traffic during the matches. The CTO Lahore informed that as many as 11 DSPs and 90 inspectors will be on duty during the cricket matches.

“20 forklifts, 5 breakdowns will also be deployed to eliminate wrong parking. Similarly, five parking stands have been allotted to facilitate cricket fans and easy access to the stadium. Canal Road, Jail Road, Wahdat Road, MM Alam Road will remain open for traffic”.

“The Citizens will be kept informed of the changing traffic situation through Rasta app, Rasta FM 88.6. The intersection from Davis Chowk to Governor House Chowk will be closed for traffic while Barkat Market, Kalma underpass, center point, Firdous Market, Cantt and DHA will remain open,” CTO said.

CPEC Phase-2: China pledges investment of billions of dollars in seven new sectors CPEC AUTHORITY PROVIDING ONE-WINDOW FACILITY TO THE CHINESE INVESTORS IsLAMABAD Mian abRaR

China has pledged investment of billions of dollars in seven new sectors in the second phase of the China, Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) besides creating thousands of jobs for Pakistani youth.

Addressing a press conference here at the PID, Advisor to Prime Minister on CPEC Khalid Mansoor said on Monday that the phase-2 of the corridor involved multi-billion dollar investments in Pakistan as most of Chinese companies had shown their interest to investment in country. Mansoor said that during his two-day historic visit to China, Prime Minister Imran Khan held around 20 back-to-back

meetings with representatives of around 500 companies to help bring investment into the country. He said the Prime Minister listened to the representatives of these companies patiently and assured them of full cooperation of his government for investing in the country. The advisor said that the PM presented a pitch book to Chinese leading companies which included detailed information and investment opportunity in various sectors of economy including textile, pharmaceutical, footwear, information technology, agriculture, cottage industry. He said that it had been thoroughly elaborated in the book why Chinese investors should prefer Pakistan for investment over other regional countries, adding that Pakistan offered win-win

situation for the benefit of the country as well as investors. He said that 65% population of Pakistan was under 40 years of age and Pakistan had skilled labor force and cheaper as compared to China.

The adviser said that the Chinese companies had been facilitated with compliance regime and they were not required to obtain NOCs from 37 different departments before launching any investment project in the special economic zones.

He said the CPEC Authority provided one-window facility to the Chinese investors adding that if there issues still remain unresolved, then PM house was there to address the issues.

He said that under the Phase-2, Chinese companies would support in setting

PM stresses significance of strengthening people-to-people connection with Saudi Arabia NeWs Desk A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office stated that Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday stressed the need for further strengthening people-to-people linkages with Saudi Arabia, during a meeting with Saudia Arabia Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

PM Imran Khan further noted the conclusion of the agreement on the transfer of offenders between the two countries.

The PM expressed hope that a large number of Pakistani prisoners in Saudia

Arabia would be repatriated to Pakistan through this framework.

PM Imran Khan went on to praise the leadership role of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in promoting Islamic unity, and acknowledged the endeavours of Saudia Arabia for peace and security in the region and beyond.

He also lauded the vision of Prince Mohammad bin Salman for Saudia Arabia’s progress and prosperity and his invaluable contribution to the abiding fraternal relations between Pakistan and Saudia Arabia.

PM Imran Khan particularly

thanked the Kingdom for its steadfast support to Pakistan, “especially in challenging times”. He thanked the Saudi leadership for the recent “financial budgetary support extended to Pakistan.”

Condemning the Houthi militia attacks targeted towards Saudia Arabia, the premier reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support for the Kingdom’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Speaking on the occasion, Prince Abdulaziz conveyed cordial greetings of the Crown Prince to the Prime Minister and reaffirmed the close fraternal relations between Pakistan and Saudia Arabia.

up Steel and Metal Recycling Plant in Gwadar within three years, which would produce metals worth $4.5 billion for exports besides creating 40000 jobs. He said that Chinese companies would also help develop agriculture of the country on modern lines to enhance per acre yield and seed quality. He said some companies were interested to grow maize and soybean in Pakistan. He said a Chinese company would invest in building LNG storage at Karachi port whereas a factory for value added products would be set up on Lahore-Kasur road in the textile sector. The adviser said that another Chinese company Royal Guru was interested to invest $50 million in auto-sector of the country. Chinese companies want to invest $200 million in making medical devices whereas as investment of $2 billion by the Chinese companies would be made for laying optical fiber.

Shehbaz tells govt to ‘fear wrath’ of inflation-hit people LAHORe Staff RepoRt

National Assembly Opposition Leader and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif said Monday the “incompetent” government should fear the wrath of people whose livelihoods had been ruined by inflation and unemployment. Speaking outside an accountability court where he had gone in connection with the hearing of Ramzan Sugar Mills’ reference along with his son and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Hamza Shehbaz, he said corruption had broken all records under the present government. “This is not what I am saying.

Saudi Interior Minister calls on COAS Bajwa, discusses regional security, Afghan situation RAWALPINDI Staff RepoRt

Interior Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Abdulaziz Bin Saud Bin Naif called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Monday.

According to a statement released by the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR), during the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security, the current situation in Afghanistan, and bilateral defence

relations between the two countries came under discussion.

On the occasion, the COAS said that Pakistan values its historical and brotherly relations with the Kingdom and acknowledges its unique place in the Islamic world.

The Saudi minister appreciated Pakistan’s role in the Afghan situation, special efforts for border management, role in regional stability, and pledged to play his part for further improvement in diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels, the statement said.

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