Epaper – February 20-2022 LHR

Sunday, 20 February, 2022 I 18 Rajab, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 233 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

Cabinet approves ordinanCe to amend CyberCrime law: Fawad islamabad

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staff report

EDERAL Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said on Saturday that the federal cabinet had given the approval for a presidential ordinance to amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016.

He said the approval for the ordinance was obtained through circulation. The minister said under the amendments, defaming individuals on social media would be declared a punishable offence and courts would be obliged to give a verdict on cases registered under PECA within six months.

Chaudhry shared this earlier in a tweet as well, saying that the federal cabinet’s approval had been sought for the amendments.

PECA was passed by the National Assembly in 2016 amid the opposition’s protest.

The PML-N, which was in the government at the time, had used its majority to bulldoze the controversial bill. The opposition, meanwhile, criticised the legislation for giving the executive what it called sweeping powers that could be misused against anyone and further curb freedom of expression in the country.

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Sanaullah optimistic of winning no-trust move against govt PML-N Punjab President and MNA Rana Sanaullah on Saturday seemed confident that the opposition’s planned no-trust move against the Imran Khan-led government will be successful.

Speaking to the media after appearing before a court in a drug case, he said the government has a razor-thin majority in Centre as well as in Punjab.

“There is a difference of only five to seven numbers in Centre and Punjab. The no-trust move will be successful,” Sanaullah said.

He also condemned the murder of journalist Athar Mateen at the hands of robbers in Karachi on Friday.

Earlier, the court put off the drug recovery case against him and co-accused until March 12 due to the absence of judge Mohammad Naeem Shaikh.

Rana was arrested in July, 2020 by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF). The ANF had claimed that 15 kilogrammes of drugs were recovered from the PML-N leader’s car. He was later released on bail in December of the same year.

Though the ANF has already filed the chargesheet against the suspects, the court has yet not framed charges against them despite the passage of more than two years since the registration of the case. news desk

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Sunday, 20 February, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

Another ‘controversy’: compAny thAt desiGned peshAwAr Brt AwArded it Gold stAtus PesHAwAR

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HE Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has claimed “Gold Standard BRT Status” for Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) but the claim has stirred anther controversy as the status was awarded by the company which has designed the Peshawar BRT. The firm, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), has ranked Peshawar BRT as “gold standard”. The ITDP firm had prepared the feasibility and design of Peshawar BRT as a consultant and was the contract worth Rs160 million by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Despite repeated efforts, no PTI spokesperson was available for comments.

A loan of Rs49 billion has been borrowed from the ADB while the provincial government has also obtained a loan from other financial institutions. On page 189 of the feasibility report it is predicted – in 2016 – that if the BRT is completed according to all the components of the design, it will be the first gold standard BRT in South Asia.

But now the BRT was awarded the gold status despite the fact that several components of the design including the cycle track, Khyber Road portion and parking plazas are yet to be completed or lying inactive.

According to sources, the provincial government has “faked” the Gold Standard

Govt to provide 2.6mln scholarships to bright students: Farrukh FAIsALABAD Staff RepoRt

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib has said government will provide 2.6 million merit based scholarships, worth twenty-eight billion rupees to bright students.

Addressing convocation in Faisalabad on Saturday, he said that seven million people are getting benefit from our flagship Ehsaas Programme which is ranked on 4th position in world. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has already inaugurated Scholarship Portal.

The Minister of State said that government is establishing three technical universities in Punjab and will provide two hundred thousand scholarships for Higher Education. He said that we are upgrading the school and running them in two shifts.

Award for covering up alleged irregularities in the BRT project. In a nutshell, on the pretense of receiving an international award is aimed at preventing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate corruption in the project as directed by the Peshawar High Court.

Source said that although objections were raised against the project from the very beginning. The PHC has directed NAB to investigate the project but the PTI government had obtained stay order from the Supreme Court. Now the PHC has directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the alleged irregularities in the BRT project and complete the investigation

within 45 days.

At that time, an Additional Director of Police Services of Pakistan posted in FIA KP Anti-Corruption Circle had prepared and sent the investigation report and identified “serious irregularities” in the project.

In 2016, the firm not only prepared the feasibility and design of Peshawar BRT project but also the same firm was providing consultant services to ADB which has provided Rs49 billion for BRT project.

Who is the aWard Winning dr Walter hook?

According to sources, the Chief Executive (CEO) of ITDP Dr Walter Hook has founded a company called BRT Planning International. When the company was

awarded the contract of preparation the BRT Feasibility Report (Preliminary Design Report), ITDP along with two other firms hired Dr. Walter Hook’s company at cost of Rs160 million.

Dr Hook is also a member of the technical committee of ITDP, the awarding body of Gold Standard Award, which on February 17 presented the Gold Standard BRT Souvenir to Peshawar BRT. It was also confirmed by the ADB on February 17 by sharing a photo on its Twitter account in which KP minister for high education Kamran Bangash accompanied by former Chief Minister Pervez Khattak’s Principal Secretary and current Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah.

PESSI to register domestic workers for social security purposes LAHORe Shahab omeR

The Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI) has decided to issue social security registration numbers and cards to domestic workers while homeowners will also be required to register, Pakistan Today learnt here on Saturday.

According to details, the 155th meeting of the governing body of PESSI was held in the Labor Department presided by Provincial Minister for Labor Ansar Majeed Khan in which Secretary Labor Dr. Sohail Shehzad, Commissioner PC and other members participated.

During the meeting, the governing body approved 19 new posts including 2 consultants for the cardiology block of Social Security Hospital Multan in addition to the rules regarding providing all social security facilities to the domestic workers.

Later, the provincial minister informed this scribe that after the approval of the Domestic Workers Act rules, registration numbers and cards would also be issued to the domestic workers whereas a registered

domestic worker will be able to get social security grant and medical facilities in case of injury or any illness.

“According to the rules, no more than 8 hours of work would be taken from domestic workers.

Administrative cadres have been approved for better management of social security hospitals and officers from grade 17 to 20 have been included in the administrative cadre. Officers involved in the cadre will also be given regular financial management and office management training,” he said.

The minister further informed that the governing body has also decided to link the labor card with the Sahet Sahulat Card (Health Card) while the registered workers will also be able to avail medical services through the Punjab government’s health facility program and labor card.

“The treatment of any ailment will be provided free of cost to the worker and his family through the labor card. There is no limit on the amount of money available for the treatment through the labor card and the amount of money will also cover the cost of treatment abroad”.

“Free treatment is being provided to citizens in

emergencies of social security hospitals. All social security hospitals are being automated and paperless at a cost of RS 770 million,” he concluded.

NSMCWG holds meeting with Meta to discuss digital transformation drive News Desk The National Social Media Coordination Working Group (NSMCWG) on Tuesday met representatives of Meta, parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, to discuss initiatives by the social media giant to support the government’s digital transformation drive, according to Express Tribune.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had constituted the NSMCWG in October 2021 to streamline engagement with digital platforms and work on relevant policies related to social media.

In the meeting with the NSMCWG, Meta representatives briefed the government on their initiatives that contribute to digital literacy, inclusion and enablement.

They also discussed prospective collaboration efforts in the areas of connectivity, tools and systems

for removing harmful content, compliance with local laws, rules and regulatory framework, and ways to support local content creators.

The working group also conveyed its concerns regarding effective and timely moderation of harmful and illegal content across the Meta platforms.

Both sides showed willingness for continued engagement to improve mechanics and cooperation on content moderation and compliance with local laws.

Members of the group appreciated Meta’s future plans for increased presence on Pakistan’s digital map.

Moreover, Meta and the working group agreed to explore the idea of setting up a ‘community lab’ in Pakistan by collaborating with academia, incubation centres, startups and telecom service providers.

The lab would offer a platform to develop and test innovative technology solutions to help grow the connectivity ecosystem in Pakistan.

European Union is largest importer of Pakistani exports, more than the US and China combined; says EU Envoy News Desk Ambassador of the European Union Androulla Kaminara said that EU was the largest importer of Pakistani exports which were 35 percent of Pakistan exports while USA’s share was 16 percent and China 6 percent. She expressed these views during a webinar organized by Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR), chaired by Mr. Ikram Sehgal and moderated

by Ambassador Mustafa Kamal Kazi.

The Ambassador said that the European Union is a Unique Economic and Political Union. She added that after the Second World War, with the creation of the European Economic Community in 1958.

“The logic of creating a Union between former enemies in Europe, who had fought the World War, was that the European Union exerts towards cooperation rather than aggression; which should be well understood that cooperation always gives benefits to both sides,” she said.

“The foremost goal of the European Union is to promote peace both within the Union and in the world, through economic and monetary systems to promote

inclusion and negate discrimination, break down barriers and borders to trade and encourage technological and scientific developments, competitive global market, and social progress,” she added.

The Ambassador said that the European values are human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights that we practice both internally and externally.

The Ambassador said that EU is Pakistan’s partner since 1962 and this year, 60 years of diplomatic relationship will be celebrated.

Replying to a question, the envoy said that she was a lover of tourists’ attraction in Pakistan. The EU has also been providing grants in order to promote Pakistan tourist areas, she added.

While answering to another question, she said that the EU’s GSP is a well-established trade and development policy instrument, which has been in place since 1971. The current GSP framework, which expires by the end of 2023, is based on EU’s Regulation since 2012, she added. “By eliminating or reducing import tariffs the scheme offers easier access to the EU market for goods exported from developing countries.

Sunday, 20 February, 2022 | LAHORE

textile exports may hit $21bn in 2021-22, says Farrukh habib

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INISTER of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib has said that textile exports are expected to reach $21 billion by the end of the current fiscal year 2021-22.

In addition the minister said, “Textile industry was in tatters when Prime Minister Imran Khan came into power. Textile exports jumped to $10.9 billion with a 25 per cent increase in seven months of the current financial year due to the best policies and by the end of the fiscal year they are expected to reach $21 billion.”

He termed the prudent economic policies of Prime Minister Imran Khan as a main reason behind revival of the textile sector, which is playing a crucial role in boosting the country’s exports. He said that in January alone, the country earned $1.55 billion from textile exports, gaining a 17.3 per cent growth.

Textile exports hit a record $10.93 billion in the first seven months of the current financial year. The

woman arrested for killing husband with poisoned juice kARACHI Staff RepoRt

A friendship on social media led to the murder of a man within the jurisdiction of Karachi’s Gulshan-eIqbal police station, according to police. The East police said they have resolved the June 2021 murder case by arresting a woman who allegedly killed her husband in collusion with a Lahore man she befriended on Instagram. They said the woman’s friend has also been taken into custody. A young man, identified as 19-year-old Yusha Rizwan, along with his wife Areen went to a juice centre on June 27, 2021. Soon after having a glass of juice, his health deteriorated and he died. A first information report (FIR) was lodged at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal police station on the complaint of the deceased’s father on suspicion of murder.

During investigation, a police official said it transpired that the woman was in friendship with a Lahore resident, Salman. Both orchestrated the plot to rub out Yusha, he revealed. The police said that the woman’s friend sent her chocolate and a pair of sandals with Phosphine, a toxic substance, hidden in the heel of one of the shoes from Lahore by courier. Later, she sneaked the poison into her husband’s juice, which led to his death. A postmortem report of the deceased also confirmed that the man had been poisoned.

textile earnings showed a growth of 24.7 per cent over the corresponding period of the last fiscal year when

the country’s total textiles sales in the international market were $8.76 billion. The sector also showed a high volumetric growth, which coupled with the comparatively high prices, led to higher exports of the textiles sector.

The robust performance could be attributed to the government’s supporting policy for the sector especially, the uninterrupted and subsidised gas and electricity supply to the sector made the products competitive in the international market encouraging the industrialists to produce and export more.

During the period, the value-added textile exports pushed the total figures up, especially the knitwear exports up 33 per cent to $2.88 billion, followed by readymade garments 22 per cent to $2.16 billion, bedwear 19 per cent to $1.92 billion and cotton cloth 24 per cent to $1.35 billion.

Cotton yarn exports increased by 41 per cent to $688 million, towels 15 per cent to $615 million, and made-up articles (excluding towels and bed wears) up 10 per cent to $491 million during July-January 2021/22.

Hundreds defy ban to celebrate Basant in Rawalpindi RAwALPINDI afp

Hundreds of youth flew kites from rooftops in Rawalpindi on Friday, celebrating an ancient colourful festival despite a ban imposed by authorities in 2007 following a spate of accidents.

Enthusiasts have in the past used acid-soaked string and piano wire in kite-fighting battles, causing terrible injuries to people caught by tangles across roads — including slitting the throats of motorcyclists.

Victorious participants and their supporters firing into the air can also cause death or injury when the rounds fall back to the ground.

The ban did not stop Friday’s celebration of Basant, a kite festival that marks the arrival of spring and the blustery winds it brings.

“The festival isn’t worth a human life, but Pakistani youths don’t have too many options for entertainment,” said Raja Rameez, a 21-year-old pharmacist who invited dozens of friends to watch from his rooftop.

Hundreds of youths played cat and mouse with more than 1,500 police officers, who used binoculars and drones to try to spot the locations of the kite flyers.

AFP saw officers baton charge groups of youngsters and bundle some into the back of packed paddy wagons.

Police said at least 220 people were arrested; offenders can be fined up to 100,000 rupees (around $570).

“It is quite challenging for us as people’s lives are at stake,” said Waseem Riaz, a senior superintendent of police.

The eastern city of Lahore used to be the main centre for the Basant festival, drawing thousands

of local and foreign tourists, with railways running special trains and hotels packed.

Until the ban, the event was generally a family affair, with girls traditionally wearing yellow to mark the occasion.

“This is not half of what it was used to be when we were young,” said Murad Alam, watching proceedings from his rooftop with his children.

“I feel for my children…they have no entertainment opportunities in this country.”

Initiatives taken to strengthen linkages between industry, AzIz BuNeRI Industrialists and academics on Saturday agreed to launch joint ventures and initiatives to further strengthen linkage between industry and academia.

According to them, mutual collaboration is essential to fully capitalize the skills of graduating students of universities, especially to overcome the increasing unemployment issue.

In this regard, a six members committee was formed, which would be headed by President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Hasnain Khurshid Ahmad, while other members of the body include HEC Executive Director Dr Shaista Sohail, from academia Dr Shahid Niaz Khan, Hina Akram and Dr Syed Asim Shah.

The agreement was reached during a roundtable conference on “Industries, universities linkages” jointly organised

by SCCI and Higher Education Commission of Pakistan here at the chamber’s house, aimed at enhancing

industries and academia linkage with mutual consensus and consultation.

The session was presided over by SCCI President Hasnain Khurshid Ahmad while HEC Executive Director, Dr Shaista Sohail acted as moderator during the day-long conference. HEC senior member, and former Deputy Chairman Planning Dr Muhammad Ikram participated in the conference through video-link.

Participants identified the gaps and hurdles comprehensively that were hampering promotion of academia and industries linkages and gave a number of ideas and proposals to address all those issues.

They emphasized the need of devising long term policy to further strengthen linkages between industries and academia.

The participants urged the HEC to take pragmatic steps to the availability of financial and technical resources to ensure quality research in universities, besides to enlarge mutual collaboration between academia and industries.

The SCCI chief during his speech emphasized that coordination should be improved between industries and

NEWS

03

pm approves mechanism for direct transfer of funds to GB GHuLAm ABBAs After decades of applying unnecessary and prolonged procedure of transfer of government funds to Gilgit Baltistan, the center has finally changed the process by adopting a direct transfer of fund system to pave the way for fast progress on development projects. Prime Minister Imran Khan has recently approved a summary forwarded by Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (PD&SI) regarding transfer of development fund to GB on the pattern of Azad Kashmir which would ultimately delete the unnecessary role of Ministry of Kashmir and other departments in the process which has long been causing delay in transfer of fund to the area. A simple procedure regarding transfer of development funds from the center to GB takes up to 40 days mainly due to unnecessary and lengthy procedures being followed for decades. As per available documents, the PM has approved the new mechanism under which the Ministry of Finance, after completing formalities, would transfer the fund to GB directly and the regional government would execute the federal PSDP projects. The Ministry of Planning and Development through the summary has given the justification that GB has an independent provincial set up having its independent consolidated fund like other provinces. This is why the mechanism of intergovernmental fiscal transfer as applicable to other provinces should be adopted in the case of GB. It may be noted that the lengthy process regarding the release of funds was only specific to GB, as all other provinces, including AJK, were being facilitated with fast-track procedures for funds transfer. As per documents available with this scribe, it takes only 10 days to transfer funds to the accounts of AJK from the Center once a release request is made. “As per the existing procedure, the AJK government directly sends release requests to the Planning Commission, which completes the entire necessary paperwork with the Ministry of Finance and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) within 10 days,” an official explained. “But for GB, the regional government needs to first make a release request to KA&GB, which forwards the same to the Planning Commission. PC then sends authorization letters back to KA&GB and the latter sends a sanction letter to the Accountant General Office in Gilgit since the ministry cannot directly send the letter to SBP. The AG office in Gilgit, after due process, sends a credit request letter to SBP.” According to documents, in the case of GB, the KA&GB ministry takes at least two weeks to issue a release sanction letter, apart from the time involved at the Planning Commission. Similarly, the Gilgit AG Office takes a minimum of 10 days to issue a credit request to SBP. The involvement of KA&GB in case of GB delays the disbursement of project funds by around 35 to 40 days. Although both GB and AJK fall under the ministry of KA&GB, the lengthy procedure was being followed only for GB. Keeping in view the unnecessary delay in transfer of funds, the GB government had requested the center to release development funds as per the AJK model so as to enable the GB government fast track development portfolio. It is pertinent to mention that the delay was being seen only in the transfer of development funds, whereas non-development funds (block allocation) of GB were already being transferred through the Finance Division without the involvement of KA&GB. On the request of the GB government, the Planning Commission had asked the concerned ministries to consider the request of GB and ensure fast track disbursement of funds of PSDP-funded GB portfolio projects.

Sunday, 20 February, 2022 | LAHORE

04 NEWS

TRain faRes seT To go up bY 15 peRcenT LAHORE

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Staff RepoRt

AKISTAn Railways (PR) is mulling over a hike of up to 15 per cent in fares of passenger and freight trains to offset the recent hike in prices of petroleum products.

The railway department (PR) has started deliberations to jack up rail fares by 10 to 15 per

cent in light of the increase in fuel prices. The ministry of railways will make a final decision on the hike.

The last time the railways jacked up train fares was on november 1. Fares of passenger trains were jacked up by 10 per cent while charges of freight trains were hiked by five per cent.

On February 15, the federal government increased the prices of petroleum products by up to

Rs12 per litre effective from February 16.

According to the notification issued by the finance ministry, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government increased petrol price by Rs12.03 per litre, high-speed diesel by Rs9.53 per litre and the price of light diesel was jacked up by Rs9.43.

The price of Kerosene oil also increased by Rs10.08 per litre, according to the notification.

VOP, CC join hands to lend free clothes to youth LAHORE NewS DeSk

Voice of Punjab (VOP) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Career Clothing in a formal ceremony in Lahore on Friday.

VOP project director, Career Clothing Founder Enem Ali Abbas and Cofounder Mohsin Mumtaz signed the agreement.

Speaking at the occasion, Mohsin said: “Career Clothing was conceived with an aim to provide rent-free formal clothes for business meetings, interviews and conferences to a small circle of people. By venturing into an MoU with VOP, Career Clothing would also provide rent-free formal clothes to

CMYK

young students soon. We would only charge dry cleaning cost and nothing else.”

Enem said: “I know many young graduates, who do not have formal clothes to wear for their job interviews.

An employer not only rates resume or expertise but also gauges that how a candidate carries himself during interview. Same happens for presentations at university level. Personality grooming is essential for career growth.”

The VOP project director said that many young graduates are in their struggling phase. “We do not take them as a challenge but as an opportunity. The potential of youth would only be unleashed by making joint efforts,” he said.

Quetta: Yar Muhammad Rind leads protest sit-in against killings QUETTA: A protest sit-in has been staged in front of the Balochistan Assembly premises, on Saturday to press for arrest of accused in killings in Kachhi. Parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in Balochistan Assembly Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind leading the sit-in.

Talking to media, Sardar Rind accused the provincial government of trying to protect the alleged killers of PTI workers in Kachhi. He warned the government to arrest the accused nominated by the families of the victims in the case, within 48 hours. In an earlier media talk, Yar Muhammad Rind said that three PTI workers were killed and two others injured in Kachhi district four months ago over a land dispute. He said the protesters who have blocked the Quetta-Sukkur highway would also join him in Quetta. It is to be mentioned here that former provincial minister Asim Kurd Gello has been among nine accused nominated by the families of victims in the FIR. Protesters blocked the Quetta-Sukkur highway against the failure of provincial government to arrest the people nominated in the FIR. Staff RepoRt

Sunday, 20 February, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

05

KaRtaRpuR CoRRidoR helpS anotheR FaMily FRoM paKiStan, india Reunite nARoWAL

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Cabinet approves ordinance to amend cybercrime law: Fawad ContInued fRom pAge 01 The legislation stated that parody or satire-based websites and social media accounts can be proceeded against on ‘spoofing’, which makes it an offence to run a website or send information with a “counterfeit source”.

It also authorised Federal Investigation Agency officers to unlock any computer, mobile phone or other device that may be required for the purpose of investigating a crime or offence, and said that defamation would be treated as a punishable offence.

In November 2020, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government framed social media laws under PECA, drawing criticism from digital rights activists, the Internet Service Providers of Pakistan and the Asia Internet Coalition, who had termed the laws draconian.

Tech companies had also threatened to discontinue their services in Pakistan if the rules were not amended, saying the regulations would make it difficult for them to continue their operations.

The rules were also challenged in the Islamabad High Court (IHC). During one of the hearings on the petition, the attorney general had assured the IHC that the government was ready to review the rules.

In March 2021, Prime Minister Imran Khan had constituted an inter-ministerial committee to review the controversial social media rules.

The committee had prepared the rules by August and they were passed by the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases on September 23.

The federal cabinet had approved the amendments to digital media rules on September 29 and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication had notified them on November 14.

The Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguards) Rules, 2021, allowed the telecom regulator in the country to block any website or platform on the directives of court and federal government or under any law.

In a statement issued at the time, IT and Telecom Minister Aminul Haque had said under the rules, social media companies would have to abide by Pakistani laws and the rights of social media users.

He had said there would be a ban on the live streaming of extremist, terrorist, hateful, obscene and violent content, and “social media companies will be liable to remove content against Pakistan’s integrity and defence.”

As per the rules, the propagation of “immoral and obscene content” will also be a punishable offence, Haque had said.

“No negative content concerning any individual will be uploaded,” Haque had said, adding that uploading material about someone’s private life would also be banned.

Other things banned under the revised rules include “content against Pakistan’s cultural and moral trends” as well as content that could “destroy” the morals and harm the mental and physical development of children.

The minister had said the rules would apply to all social media outlets including Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter and Google. He had added that after the issuance of the notification, the social media companies would be required to set up their offices in Pakistan “as soon as possible”.

Social media companies were asked to register with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) within three months of the law coming into force and to appoint an authorised compliance officer and grievance officer based in Pakistan within the same time-frame. These officers have to address complaints within seven working days.

The rules also direct social media companies to establish an office in Pakistan, preferably located in Islamabad, upon PTA’s directions “as and when feasible”. Previously, the rules required the companies to set up their offices within nine months.

Internet companies had criticised the amended version as well, noting that the most problematic provisions remained unchanged in the new draft that they said had in fact “regressed” in comparison with previous versions.

staff report

N yet another reunion at Kartarpur Corridor, members of a family from Pakistan and India reunited at the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib after 74 years of their separation.

Shahid Rafiq, who is a resident of Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, met members of his family, who were residents

of Amritsar District of India and got separated 74 years ago.

Shahid Rafiq while detailing a reunion with his cousin and paternal grandmother said that their family is settled in towns across the border both in India and Pakistan.

“Two years back, I was able to locate them on social media,” he said and added that finally, they were able to meet at the Kartarpur corridor.

Previously, Kartarpur Corridor be-

came a source of reunion for two brothers living in India and Pakistan after a period of 74 years, when the two got separated during partition.

Muhammad Siddiq, who has turned 80, lives in Faisalabad city of Pakistan and was separated from his family at the time of the partition.

His brother, Habib aka Shela, lives in the Indian Punjab and the two have been reunited after a meeting between them was arranged at the Kartarpur

Around 8,000 street criminals released on bail KARACHI inp

Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG) Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon said that most of the street criminals arrested by police have been released on bail, a day after a journalist Athar Mateen was shot dead while resisting a robbery bid.

Speaking to media before the final rites of the journalist, AIG Karachi said that the police have apprehended 12,000 criminals involved in street crime activities in the city. He, however, regretted that 7,800 of them were granted bails and released by the courts.

“No one now knows what

those released on bail are doing nowadays,” he said and added, “the police are working with the government to deal with the street crime incidents”.

The funeral prayers of journalist Athar Mateen, who was shot dead by robbers in Karachi’s North Nazimabad, was offered on Saturday afternoon.

Mateen’s funeral prayers were held at Clifton’s Al-Siddiqui mosque at 2pm. He was laid to rest at the Yaseenabad graveyard.

President Dr. Arif Alvi, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, the journalist’s family members, and leaders of various political parties attended the

funeral.

Mateen, who was working with a private news channel as senior producer, was shot dead near the Five Star Chowrangi in the port city’s North Nazimabad for thwarting a robbery Friday.

The police said that journalist Athar tried to foil a mugging bid when the incident occurred.

“Muggers were looting a citizen when Mateen hit them with his vehicle,” they said and added that the suspects after being hit opened fire on him resulting in his immediate death.

“Athar Mateen was shot three times and we have recovered two empty casings of 30bore pistol,” SSP Central Maroof Usman said.

Sanaullah optimistic of winning no-trust move against govt ContInued fRom pAge 01 On Saturday, PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb made similar comments as Sanaullah during a press conference in Lahore.

“The nation has rejected you,” she said while addressing the prime minister. “You will get to know how many of PTI’s people are left with you in the no-confidence motion. As for these remaining few rented spokespersons, not a single one will be standing with you when you lose the seat [of power].”

Aurangzeb said the time has come for Prime Minister Imran

to go home, predicting he would do so before the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s long march towards Islamabad on March 23.

She also said the opposition’s preparations and strategy

for the no-confidence move were complete.

“Today is the right time when the opposition and their own people are united and ready to send them home,” she added.

Woman arrested for killing husband with poisoned juice KARACHI: A friendship on social media led to the murder of a man within the jurisdiction of Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal police station, according to police.

The East police said they have resolved the June 2021 murder case by arresting a woman who allegedly killed her husband in collusion with a Lahore man she befriended on Instagram.

They said the woman’s friend has also been taken into custody.

A young man, identified as 19-year-old Yusha Rizwan, along with his wife Areen went to a juice centre on June 27, 2021. Soon after having a glass of juice, his health deteriorated and he died.

A first information report (FIR) was lodged at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal police station on the complaint of the deceased’s father on suspicion of murder.

During investigation, a police official said it transpired that the woman was in friendship with a Lahore resident, Salman. Both orchestrated the plot to rub out Yusha, he revealed.

The police said that the woman’s friend sent her chocolate and a pair of sandals with Phosphine, a toxic substance, hidden in the heel of one of the shoes from Lahore by courier. Later, she sneaked the poison into her husband’s juice, which led to his death.

A post-mortem report of the deceased also confirmed that the man had been poisoned. staff report

Muggers allegedly involved in killing youngster arrested in Karachi KARACHI staff report

Police claimed to have apprehended five alleged muggers, three of which were allegedly involved in killing a youngster in Karachi during a robbery bid.

According to police, five alleged muggers were arrested from Shafiq Mor area in Karachi after a police encounter and after interrogation, it emerged that three of them were involved in killing a

Corridor in Pakistan.

The video showed the two coming to greet each other with tears in their eyes while being accompanied by their relatives. It showed the two aged men hugging each other with tears in their eyes.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor; a border corridor between Pakistan and India, connecting the Sikh shrines of Dera Baba Nanak Sahib and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

youngster named Usama on resistance during a robbery within the remits of Sir Syed police station. The weapon recovered from one of the suspects identified as Abdul Rahim had matched with the bullet that hit the youngster.

“The CCTV footage of the incident had also revealed the presence of suspects during the robbery bid,” they said.

It is pertinent to mention here that rising incidents of mugging and killings during robbery bids in the city have

raised serious questions on the performance of the LEAs in overcoming street crime activities in the business hub of the country. Friday, unidentified armed men opened fire on a vehicle in Karachi’s Nazimabad area, killing a local journalist identified as Athar Mateen as he tried to foil a mugging bid.

The police said that the journalist Athar Mateen tried to foil a mugging bid when the incident occurred.

“Muggers were looting a citizen

CmYK

when Mateen hit them with his vehicle,” they said and added that the suspects after being hit opened fire on him resulting in his immediate death. “Athar Mateen was shot three times and we have recovered two empty casings of 30-bore pistol,” SSP Central Maroof Usman said and added that a team of crime scene unit has also been dispatched to the spot.

The deceased journalist was currently working at a local news channel owned

by PTI leader Aleem Khan.

MQM’s Khwaja Sohail Mansoor resigns from Rabita Committee KARACHI staff report

Former MQM MNA Khwaja Sohail Mansoor has tendered his resignation from the party’s Rabita Committee.

Khwaja Sohail Mansoor, who was elected as Member of the National Assembly from Karachi in general elections held in year 2008 and 2013, has sent his resignation letter to Convener Rabita Committee Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.

Talking to media, Sohail Mansoor said that he has developed differences with the party over some of its policies.

“We are coalition partners of the federal government but getting no relief for the people,” he said, adding “In this situation, I could not remain the member of the party’s coordination committee,”.

Sohail Mansoor further said that the party has to go to the people and it did not have answers to the questions of the people in streets.

“What we have received from the federal government and the province in past four years,” he questioned.

“We couldn’t resolve Karachi’s problems despite being allies of the federal government,” he added.

“Karachi’s sense of deprivation is further deepening. I have no right to sit on the chair of the Rabita Committee,” he added.

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06 COMMENT

Challenges before Afghanistan

Pak-Gulf relations: lack of realism Foreign relations need sensitive handling

The Taliban face a triad of challenges

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major shift is taking place in the Gulf countries’ South Asia policy. The process started during the last few years. One country after another is getting closer to India economically, diplomatically and strategically. The latest expression of the shift is the first ever visit by a Saudi army chief to India followed soon after by the UAE and India signing a milestone economic pact.

The Saudi General’s three-day visit would add a strategic angle to closer economic relations. The India-UAE pact aims at gradually cutting all tariffs on each other's goods to increase bilateral annual trade to $100 billion within five years. The UAE has also undertaken to provide 140,000 employment visas to highly skilled workers from India by 2030. The closer ties explain why Saudi Arabia and the UAE failed to condemn India over atrocities in Kashmir.

As the initial signs of the shift in the Gulf countries’ policy appeared the PTI government reacted undiplomatically. In 2019 when UAE invited the Indian Foreign Minister to address the OIC foreign ministers meeting, an irate Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced he would boycott the meeting, thus isolating Pakistan as no other OIC member supported its stand.

A year later, when Saudi Arabia declined to call an immediate meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) on Kashmir and instead showed willingness to play its role in resolving the issue and easing tensions between Pakistan and India, Mr Qureshi threatened that if Saudi Arabia did not convene the CFM, Pakistan could call a meeting of the Islamic countries that are ready to stand with the oppressed Kashmiris, which was an empty threat.

Mr Qureshi forgot that when one is dependent on others, realism requires that instead of putting up demands one should be content to get whatever is offered. The show of bad temper resulted in Riyadh calling in a $1 billion loan.

The government continues harping on the common bond of faith as being the rationale for closer ties with the Gulf countries without realizing that relations between countries are now dictated by common economic and strategic needs rather than commonality of faith. Pakistan needs to concentrate fully on reviving its economy and trade if it wants to play an important role in the region.

This is not possible unless there is social peace and a national consensus on a long term economic policy.

Dr QaiSar raShiD

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n 15-16 February 2022, representatives of the Afghan Taliban met representatives of the USA and the European Union in Doha, Qatar. Led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Afghan delegation sought to retrieve the frozen funds belonging to Afghanistan. On the other hand, the EU, steered by Thomas niklasson, who was the EU’s special representative for Afghanistan, expressed the EU’s commitment to deliver Euro €500 million (equivalent to $560 million) through humanitarian organizations and the Un. That is, the channel to funnel money would be private– to the displeasure of the Afghan guests.

Recovering frozen funds to run the country is the first challenge the Afghan Taliban have been facing since they took over Kabul on 15 August 2021. The next challenge is to get the Afghan government recognized by the international community. nevertheless, the third challenge has also surfaced: devise a strategy to deal with the peace anxieties of Pakistan.

The first challenge is of paramount importance.

Presently, Afghanistan is fund-starved and the circulation of money, especially through the banking sector, is trifling. On 22-24 January 2022, led by Amir Khan Muttaqi, a 15-member (all-male) Afghan delegation held meetings with diplomats of both the US

Government and judiciary

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Better sense prevails in Mohsin Baig case

OLLOWInG the arrest of Mohsin Baig, Islamabad’s Additional Session Judge Zafar Iqbal ruled that the FIA raid was illegal, which was met with a surprising announcement by the Advocate General Islamabad that the government would be filing a reference against Judge Iqbal, deeming his ruling unlawful.

Thankfully, better sense has prevailed and the Attorney General Pakistan (AGP) has clarified that no such complaint will be made against the judge and the government will take the more rational route of filing an appeal. Criticising or going after the judiciary when an unfavorable decision is given while praising it when the decision suits the government is not a pragmatic approach towards managing and improving an important intra-institutional relationship.

The reference against Mr Justice Qazi Faez Isa is a case in point; it was largely perceived as a reaction to his Faizabad Dharna case decision. What is more, the Asset Recovery Unit (ARU), an arm of the government whose legality is questionable, breached privacy laws when it acquired Justice Isa’s tax information illegally.

Mohsin Baig’s case reflects an over-enthusiasm and highhandedness that seems to infect the FIA, which seems to be vying with nAB to show itself more able at persecuting opponents of the government. The altercation of Mohsin Baig with an FIA team attempting to arrest him, and the arrest that followed by the Islamabad police after he fired upon the FIA team does not mean any undue reprieve is mandated and Mr Baig should not escape unpunished for his remarks about Communications Minister Murad Saeed, made on a TV programme. At the same time it is imperative that the government must be on the right side of things. Its highhandedness through the use of the FIA against the accused without seemingly not having fulfilled all procedural and legal formalities does nothing to further its case, rather takes away from it.

The overly aggressive knee-jerk reaction to a decision that supported Mr Baig’s version of what transpired on the day of the arrest by almost issuing another reference against a judge was ill-conceived. One hopes that the case from here on in proceeds in a less controversial manner for which the government will have to take more calculated decision for which it should perhaps rely more on its federal legal counsel than anyone else.

Idea, Current Market, Developments, Investments, and the Future

Salman Sabir

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ODERn technologies like Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality have given new meaning to the world everyone lives in. It is an era where the concept of multiple universes and creating colossal energy that’s 400 times more powerful than the sun, are realities. Indeed, technology is now on a never-ending journey and the idea of the metaverse is one of its most highlighted examples.

In the quest to draw a thorough understanding of this new idea, you will have to combine multiple ideas. From Microsoft and Meta (Facebook) to VISA and P&G, leaders from almost every market-leading company have got their definition of the metaverse.

In a broad perspective, each of them strives to explain it as ‘Spatial Internet’ or ‘Spatial Web’. In other words, they call it an era of gamification, the virtual universe, collective virtual shared space, and AR Cloud.

So, the metaverse is a combination of reality and virtuality. Sounds too fictional, but that’s true. Most of you have already experienced Virtual Reality in the form of attending remotely held conferences, playing virtual games, using virtual mobile apps that provide any type of virtual and immersive experience. That’s exactly what metaverse is, which was introduced by a 1990s fictional story Snow Crash.

According to an article on Wired, Author Eric Ravenscraft defines it as:

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami M. A. Niazi

Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

In short, it is yet to be seen whether or not the Afghan Taliban are up to the challenge triad.

Email: qaisarrashid@yahoo.com

Getting into the Metaverse

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

and the EU in Oslo, norway. The agenda was to discuss Afghanistan’s simmering humanitarian crisis which emerged from monetary dispossession.

The western diplomats made it clear that they tied humanitarian aid to an improvement in the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. For the Afghan Taliban, to fathom the definition of human rights and practice the same in their country is an arduous task, though there are instances wherein they have articulated compassion and clemency compared to squelching and stringency they exercised during their despotic rule from 1996 to 2001.

Releasing certain women right activists and accommodating an optional use of the Burqa are two recent examples. On the first day of the meeting, the Afghan delegation had to meet women activists and journalists from Afghanistan to comprehend their concerns. These are the two groups who are weathering the Taliban brutality since August 2021.

Of the intentions of the Afghan Taliban, both women activists and journalists are apprehensive.

They want the Afghan Taliban to do more on human rights violations such as arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, and crackdown on journalists. Prevailing in these demands, there is a message for Pakistan. It is not only the local people who have grown into custodians of their rights, but it is also the international scenario which inspires these demands. Generally speaking, there is a growing concern in the world about fast deteriorating democratic values in the countries which yearned for democracy after they got independence. Any system anchored in populism has undermined democracy all over the world. The tyranny of post-truth has jeopardized internal peace and stability in many countries. Even established western democracies failed to evade such crises.

In Afghanistan, both women activists and journalists consider that once the financial crisis is over, the Afghan Taliban would listen to no one. The Afghan Taliban made efforts to get $10 billion of the Afghan Central Bank back, besides getting restored financial help from international donor agencies. On February 11, however, the US President Joe Biden signed an executive order to split $7 billion of the frozen Afghan money held in the US into two halves: one half to be doled out to humanitarian organizations working in Afghanistan and the other half to be withheld as financial reparation to the victims of 9/11.

Retrospectively, once the Afghan Taliban agreed (as

they did in the peace agreement of 29 February 2020 with the USA) that they would not let the Afghan land be used by the al-Qaeda in the future, they admitted that the Afghan land was misused in the past, hence paving the way for the recompense.

Seeking financial restoration and getting recognized by the international community are two intertwined challenges Afghanistan is confronted with.

Headed by the USA and the EU, the international community demands that the Afghan Taliban deliver on their commitments such as fostering an inclusive government, respecting female rights and purging the country of international terrorist groups, before any legitimacy through recognition is offered to them. non-recognition by the international community has rendered the Afghan Taliban dissociated from international finance institutions which otherwise could extend monetary help. This is a double-whammy: neither can the Afghan Taliban salvage the suspended funds from the USA and the EU nor can they seek loans from international financial benefactors.

The third challenge upsetting the Afghan Taliban is how to develop means to cope with the anxieties of Pakistan, which is wary of the deeds of the Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the activists of which have sought refuge in south-east Afghanistan. The situation is tense and terrible between Pakistan and the TTP, as the latter is bent on attacking from Afghanistan on Pakistan’s border forces. The leftover weapons of the foreign forces have boosted the resolve of the TTP to antagonize Pakistan. Perceivably, the relationship between Pakistan and the TTP would deteriorate further. An added exasperating factor could be the discontent of the Pashtun youth with Pakistan, whether the issue is of forced disappearances or state coercion.

The Pashtun youth are raising their voice in their own (tribal) way, disapproved by the authorities. At the Islamabad High Court, the recent revelation that there are present (illegal) internment centres which have consumed lives of the internees is adding fuel to the fire. Instead of dealing with the local disgruntlement which is opening a window of opportunity for the TTP to assert itself, Pakistan is leaning on the Afghan Taliban to rein the TTP in. Apparently, on this account, Pakistan is getting indignant at the insouciance of the Afghan Taliban, who have prioritized controlling Kabul, consolidating victory, and arranging funds for running Afghanistan.

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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“Mentally replace the phrase “the metaverse” in a sentence with “cyberspace.” ninety percent of the time, the meaning won't substantially change.”

While taking a closer look at the current market insights, it is quite evident that the metaverse industry has already witnessed millions of dollars in cash flows. There were a lot of market speculations, driving forces, and consequences that resulted in a sudden and massive surge in sales.

According to a recent CnBC article, Sales of real estate in the metaverse topped $500 million last year and could double this year, according to investors and analytics firms. The article further reveals some staggering facts byMetaMetric Solutions reporting four major metaverse platforms to reach an unimaginable $501 million sales in 2021. It all happened after Facebook announced to rebrand as Meta with a focus on excelling in the metaverse domain.

Janine Yorio, the CEO of Republic Realm which is a famous metaverse real estate investor and advisory firm, says, “There are big risks, but potentially big rewards”. This highlights the huge growth potential that’s still hidden behind the metaverse industry.

On the other hand, BrandEssence Market Research concluded that “The Metaverse Real Estate Market is valued at a CAGR of over 31.2% over the forecast period (2022-2028).” The report tells that countless people are willing to invest millions in the metaverse real estate segment. It is a unique platform where people can experience the virtual world and do whatever they want from creating societies to building stores.

The sudden shift towards the concept of metaverse started just a few years ago. To give you a clearer idea, start thinking from the ‘avatar’ with its unique user name you used on Twitter to the virtual name, skin, and tools that you use in modern games.

So, it is an era when tech giants like Microsoft and Facebook have started including metaverse in their business model. It will be a form of consortium between developers, users, and platforms to create unique digital experiences that can interoperate and give rise to a healthy creative economy.

Microsoft: Microsoft is striving at its best to compete and win the metaverse crown by introducing virtual workspaces, VR headsets, and avatars. This includes a huge focus on providing unique team and game updates to its Xbox gaming console services, and its all-new Dynamic 365 Connected Spaces.

Facebook: next to Microsoft, Facebook or Meta,

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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as it is now called, is also in the quest to lead the industry with its unique developments in the metaverse space.Owner Mark Zuckerberg stated,“From now on, we will be metaverse-first, not Facebook-first.

That means that over time you won't need a Facebook account to use our other services”. The company first acquired VR Hardware company Oculus and then introduced ‘Horizon Workrooms’ a VR Remote Work Collaboration App. Both moves highlight the company’s aggressive inclination towards metaverse.

Roblox Corporation: Roblox Corporation is the industry’s top game giant that has been the forerunner to promote metaverse. The company has invested huge time and money in manufacturing tools that can be used in metaverse gaming. The company’s officialsat the Roblox Developers Conference 2021 stated that they expect consistent growth in their 43million active user base from almost every country around the world. Apple: Apple being the world’s most creative and futuristic tech giant is also putting huge time and effort into the metaverse industry. It has been reported by multiple sources that Apple is now focusing on this segment as the ‘new reality’. As a result, it is highly expected that Apple will soon introduce a new line of glasses that can outperform the Oculus headsets. The company has taken several other steps in the quest to take the lead and rank among the top leaders to introduce new developments in the metaverse space. nike: nike, the world leader in sports goods, apparel, and equipment, is also among the top companies that are making mind-blowing developments in the metaverse space. The company came into the lens when it recently acquired RTFKTand submitted trademarks for use on its downloadable virtual items like sports bags, eyewear, headwear, sports equipment, and accessories.

The metaverse is a huge and complex network of virtual spaces where real people from the real world interact with each other in augmented reality. This whole new technology which is built around the concept of computer-generated 3D simulations is the future of the internet and ideas like the creative economy will soon be witnessed by the world. Along with that, there is huge business potential for those at the manufacturing and services end. And last but not the least, the growing demand for digital currency, digital arts, and digital spaces is a strong indicator of great opportunities for investors.

The writer is freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

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

E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Hydro storage

Balochistan: Left-Wing Terrorism and its Apologists There is no justification for any terrorism, whether from left or right aaDerSh hamza malghani

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AnY of us have grown through the last decade where Pakistan fought a decisive war against the right-wing terrorism. We as a nation had our own ups and down in that phase but we finally overcame the menace of terrorism in an unprecedented show of unity.

Pakistan is facing yet another wave of terrorism, this time by left-wing ethno-fascists, who disguise themselves as the champions of rights and ironically snub the rights of others by killing them or threatening their existence. The point here, however, is about our response. Are we dealing with them in a same way we dealt with the right-wing terrorists? This is a serious question that begs an introspection.

A conventional war is always easier to be fought, with a known enemy and clear targets in sight, but the one that the state is up against in Balochistan is far from conventional. We have been put into an equation where we have a very fine line drawn between the masses with some genuine, some perceived grievances and the foreign-backed militants, some mercenaries, some misled ideologues. The latter however, continue to exploit the former as well. This exploitation continues at multiple levels. From media to educational institutions, political parties and pseudo-intelligentsia, the voices are emerging in defence of this left-wing terrorism that is out on a limb in Balochistan.

Some of our elite universities have become the breeding ground of left-wing terrorism.

There is that section of radical academia who exploit the grievances of the students from peripheries, intoxicate the minds of innocent youth, lure them into the armed clashes, who end up dying in a clash that serves no purpose at all.

Take an example of the two students of Quaidi-Azam University Islamabad, who after getting all the possible privileges from the state, joined militants to fight the same state. One wonders, for what purpose? Did the state bar them to achieve any feat that they would have wanted in any dignified society? no. In fact, educated Baloch have been rising to every possible height of public office in the state of Pakistan. From Prime Minister to President, Generals to Judges and Bureaucrats, the sky's the limit for them but there is that false sense of pessimism fed into their minds which result in their radicalization.

There is no denial that Balochistan has historically been left behind and faced the disparity in development; the HDI of the province speaks for itself. However, this lack of development in the region has had multiple reasons. Geographical gross disadvantage and corrupt ruling elite (both at provincial and federal level) played a major role in that.

To imply that the state has deliberately downplayed Balochs on ethnic basis is not just being ignorant but a total fabrication to say the least. It is a propaganda that is rife in different educational institutions which normally goes unchecked by the state. Interestingly, Balochs living outside the province of Balochistan are more in number than those living in Balochistan.

The current CM of Punjab is an ethnic Baloch

who is ruling the province of majority Punjabi population, and another Baloch is calling all the shots in the province of Sindh as a Chairman of the ruling party. This completely denies the idea of ethnic injustices to Balochs, which is wrongly portrayed by some.

From the 1970 KGB-sponsored London meeting for creating a ‘Greater Balochistan’ to the arrest of Kulbhushan Yadav in 2016, foreign elements have always played a big role in inciting the people of Balochistan against the state, however, the means have changed this time. We are dealing with 5th generation warfare in which there comes an extra responsibility on the media which should be to create awareness about the measures that the state has taken up in recent years. In recent years, the state has mostly gone an extra mile in helping out the Balochs and Balochistan, be it in shape of paying Balochistan’s share of heavy penalty on Rekodiq, going out of way to increase the province’s share in the nFC or in shape of different federal government packages like the Aghaz-e-Haqooqe-Balochistan and Southern Balochistan packages.

However, the media in Pakistan is predominantly occupied by the left-wing apologists.

These media persons overtly or covertly support the nationalist, left wing ideas including those of the extremists by continuously peddling onesided, agenda-driven pictures in their shows and write-ups which paint the state of Pakistan in a negative way.

This in a way builds up and strengthens the half-cooked narrative of the people that they were taught in their school, college or university.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, these media groups also promote the likeminded people as the intelligentsia who addup to the already biased voices echoing from these media chambers. This as a result multiplies the flawed narrative that is fed to the masses, while the voices from the other side are completely ignored. When Pakistan was dealing with the right-wing terrorism, none of their apologists could dare to appear on tele-

vision and tell us about the ‘concerns’ of Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP). This however, is not the case this time. In the wake of recent attacks in nushki and Panjgur, we have seen apologists appearing not only on television screens but on social media spaces as well, where they blame the state for this terrorism and try to justify the reasons of these extremists in taking up the arms and choosing the path of terrorism with their self-conceived lame explanations.

Then, to add up to all this, we have the ethno-sub-nationalist-political parties in Balochistan who blame the state and federal government for all the mess in Balochistan despite being the stakeholders themselves numerous times now.

The leadership of these political parties has shied away from openly condemning the terrorist attacks is nushki and Panjgur.

Interestingly, most of these left-wing political parties and their supporters used to accuse the state of Pakistan as a right-wing terror apologist, and that too by rubbing salt on the wounds of the state, when it was facing heavy human and economic losses at the peak of militancy. It is probably the time to question the ethno-nationalist leadership in a similar way now, who seem to be reluctant in condemning this leftwing terrorism. Shouldn’t they be condemning this left-wing terrorism openly without any ambiguity?

Why do we have different standards this time?

What was preached through Mullah Fazlullah’s radio is being preached through their Twitter spaces today, the fatwas are replaced by the columns and the role of madrassahs is taken by the elite universities. It is about time that the state wakes up to this emerging threat and nips it in the bud before it spreads more. It should be made loud and clear to everyone that there can be no justification of violence no matter how grave one considers one’s concerns to be. An unambiguous stance is needed to curb this menace before another APS shakes up our conscience.

Why do we have different standards this time? What was preached through Mullah Fazlullah’s radio is being preached through their Twitter spaces today, the fatwas are replaced by the columns and the role of madrassahs is taken by the elite universities. It is about time that the state wakes up to this emerging threat and nips it in the bud before it spreads more. It should be made loud and clear to everyone that there can be no justification of violence no matter how grave one considers one’s concerns to be. An unambiguous stance is needed to curb this menace before another APS shakes up our conscience.

The writer is freelance columnist

SOLAR and Wind power produce intermittent energy. Therefore they require large energy batteries that can store full days of energy and provide it to the user at peak time to be truly effective.

Similarly in Pakistan, during summer peak time, there is excessive demand for electricity but during the rest of the year, the demand is normal. To overcome this high peak energy demand in Pakistan, we need to increase energy storage to cover the peak demand.

Storing energy can be very expensive if using batteries. Energy nowadays is also stored by using blocks conserving potential energy by storing them at heights. The cheapest and most efficient method of storing energy is Pumped Hydro.

In Pumped Hydro, water is pumped from a lake at a lower elevation to a lake at a higher elevation, using excess renewable energy during early daytime. When energy demand peaks, the water from the higher lake is released to the lower lake, passing through turbines that produce energy that is supplied to the grid.

Unfortunately finding suitable locations for Pumped Hydro energy storage was always a challenge until now. Using satellite images suitable locations can easily be mapped.

The Australian Government has released a worldwide database of all potential sites for Pumped Hydro called the national Map. The sites show over a hundred suitable locations for Pumped Hydro in Pakistan.

I, therefore, request the Government of Pakistan to use the national Map database to construct Pumped Hydro Power stations in Pakistan, especially near big cities. These large energy storage systems will help Pakistan overcome the peak time load shedding and also reduce the stress on Pakistan’s power system.

SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER P.ENGR., PESHAwAR.

Austerity THE word “austerity” refers to moderate economic conditions created by the government to reduce public expenditure. The first austerity measures were introduced in the UK in late 2008.

Pakistan is a developing country where the dire need for austerity cannot be overemphasized. Austerity measures act like contractionary fiscal policy. It slows down the economic growth which makes it even more difficult to raise revenue which is needed to pay off sovereign debt.

The austerity measures circular issued following the Federal Budget for the financial year 2020-21 is pretty short. It bans the purchase of new cars, motorcycles and other vehicles, it also uses paper on both sides to maximize the usage of official stationery. neither there are restrictions, nor actions taken against antagonists to austerity measures who are leading corridors of power at national and provincial levels.

While talking about austerity measures none other but PTI chairman/Prime Minister Imran Khan following a free, fair and transparent general elections in July 2018 vowed to set an example of austerity in the utilization of public funds by the Prime Minister’s house and Prime Minister’s office.

Pakistan is already under a heavy dose of inflation where low economic growth and internal state affair have been posing threat to its prosperity. Adoption of austerity measures may solely cause economical catastrophe that surely will invest in poverty.

SAJID ALI NAICH, KHAIRPuR.

Ban earphones EARS are a big blessing from Allah Almighty but we are destroying them by the excessive usage of wired earphones or wireless earphones. Wireless earphones are more dangerous because they consist of rays that can affect our ear and internal organs. Hearing songs loudly using earphones is damaging to our hearing capacity. Youth nowadays have damaged hearing capacity and when they get older they might have a chance to lose their remaining hearing capacity.

Our grandfathers and grandmothers had sharp hearing capacities because they don’t use earphones excessively. Earphones not only reduce our hearing capacity but also our mind gets used to it. We did not enjoy hearing the songs on loudspeakers through earphones. As we get used to earphones we play songs with high volume when we use speakers because the low volume doesn’t give us the same feelings as that of earphones. The government should spread awareness of the drawbacks of using earphones, especially among the youth so that our youth will enjoy the real taste of the blessing things given by Allah Almighty.

MOHAMMAD ABDuLLAH, Islamabad.

Honouring Dr Parveen Rehman Google Doodle has honoured Dr Parveen Rehman on her 65th birthday.

She was a lady of courage, bravery and a brilliant architect and urban planner. She was born on 22 January 1957 in Dhaka, East Pakistan now Bangladesh. She belonged to a Bihari family, which moved to Karachi in 1971 during the civil war in East Pakistan following a debacle of Dhaka.

Parveen Rehman joined the Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) in 1983 as a joint director and after its split, she became the director of OPP in 1988.

Her efforts are countless in research and training, education, youth training, water supply and secure housing. Dr Rehman also worked as a social activist and in 1989 she founded an nGO; Urban Resource Centre. She had a number of publications and works on some critical subjects of concern- including community working, katchi abadis and their smooth functioning, issues in water supply and managed urbanization. Her notable work is with prominent architect Mr Arif Hussain in 2008 named as “Lessons from Karachi”.

She was honoured with Sitara-i-Shujaat conferred by then President of Pakistan Mr Asif Ali Zardari on 23 March 2013. She raised a strong voice against the mafia of the city and her works are commendable for the betterment of the crippled infrastructure of Karachi. She was assassinated on 13 March 2013 in Karachi. Dr Rehman was considered as a sign of deterrence for mafias- land, water, and for their political bigwigs. Verily, she was a lady of knowledge and her tireless efforts are laudable, which will have been remembered always.

ENGR ASAD JABBAR, HYDERABAD.

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08 WORLD VIEW

PuTin WArned The WesT, buT The WesT didn'T lisTen LIKE IT OR NOT, THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT IS DOUBLING DOWN ON HIS CRUSADE AGAINST AMERICAN HEGEMONY

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Paul roBinson

IFTEEN years ago in Munich, Vladimir Putin shook the West with a sharp attack on its efforts to bend the world to its will. The West chose not to listen. As the clouds of war gather over Europe, one has to ask if that was wise.

With Us officials anonymously briefing journalists that russia will invade Ukraine within days, one wonders how things came to this. The optimism that prevailed after the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the soviet Union some 30 years ago has been replaced by very real fears of war in Europe. something went badly wrong.

What, precisely? roughly at the mid-point between the end of the cold War and today, russia’s President Vladimir Putin gave a speech which provides an explanation, and which historians may well look back to as something of a turning point. Delivered to the Munich conference on security Policy on February 10, 2007, that’s 15 years ago last week, the speech was interpreted by many as a declaration of war on the West. This was a misinterpretation. Putin didn’t threaten the West with anything. Instead, he simply gave it a warning – if it continued along the same path, it would sow the

seeds of its own destruction. Time has perhaps proven him right.

In his speech, Putin made a number of specific complaints. First, he objected to the idea of a unipolar order in which one country, the Us, has dominated all others.

This model, he said, “is not only unacceptable but also impossible in today’s world.” on the one hand, power was shifting; on the other hand, the unipolar model provided “no moral foundations for modern civilization.” second, Putin complained of “an almost uncontained hyper use of force – military force – in international relations.”

While he didn’t mention any specific examples, it is likely that the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq was high on his list.

And third, the russian president spoke of “a greater and greater disdain for the basic principles of international law. … one state and, of course, first and foremost the United states, has overstepped its national borders in every way.” The result was that “no one feels safe … because no one can feel that international law is like a stone wall that will protect them.”

These complaints have formed the basis of russian foreign policy discourse ever since, with similar statements cropping up time and again in speeches and official documents. Anybody who had been paying attention at Munich 15 years ago should not have been surprised by subsequent russian behaviour, as Putin had laid out his objectives very clearly.

These included the ending of the unipolar system and a return to a global order at whose center would lie not a single country but rather the United Nations. At Munich, Putin demanded a rethink of “the architecture of global security.” This would mean a system that provided “a reasonable

balance between the interests of all participants in the international dialogue,” the use of force “should be a really exceptional measure,” and “the only mechanism that can make decisions about using military force as a last resort is the charter of the United Nations.”

It is sometimes said that Putin is an ideologically flexible pragmatist, willing to shift his public position in accordance with what suits his practical objectives at any given moment. In fact, when it comes to international affairs, he has been extraordinarily consistent over time. The basic outlines laid out in the Munich speech haven’t changed and can be seen, for instance, in Putin’s recent joint statement with chinese president Xi Jinping. This includes a call “to protect the United Nations-driven international architecture and the international law-based world order, [and] seek genuine multipolarity with the United Nations and its security council playing a central and coordinating role.”

The demand in Munich for a new “global security architecture” is also the primary element of russia’s recent diplomatic offensive, with Moscow insisting that Ukraine is not its primary concern. rather it desires a complete overhaul of the way in which international security is governed. russian commentators have been somewhat dismissive of Western claims that the country is poised to invade Ukraine, arguing that the West is entirely missing the point.

In light of all this, it’s worth noting what a russian invasion of Ukraine would actually mean. For the past 15 years, ever since the Munich speech, russian officials have been arguing against the unilateral use of force and demanding a UN-centered security system founded on international law.

Spying on Americans? We've seen this CIA movie before.

Usa today

T

Eric lichtBlau

HE cIA isn't supposed to be spying on Americans. But a major new disclosure suggests that the spy agency, which has a long history of stretching well past its legal authorities on American soil and off, is at it once again.

The disclosure came late Thursday from Democratic sens. ron Wyden of oregon and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, both members of the senate Intelligence committee who are privy to classified information. They warned ominously about the existence of a secret bulk collection program that the cIA has operated "outside the statutory framework that congress and the public believe govern this collection," and without oversight by the courts or congress.

The secret program appears to be related to bulk data swept up by the cIA in terrorism operations, including information on an unknown number of Americans, according to a heavily blacked-out report from a cIA oversight board that was declassified at the urging of the two senators. The

program still seems to be in operation. But beyond that, we're left with far more questions than answers about the secret program – an information vacuum that demands quick action by congress to hold public hearings about what the cIA is and isn't doing. Wyden, in particular, has a track record that establishes his bona fides on surveillance issues like this.

LARGELY UNCHECKED SURVEILLANCE POWERS: Prior to public disclosures in 2013 by whistleblower Edward snowden about the remarkably broad scope of the National security Agency's surveillance operations, Wyden had hinted for years – in maddeningly cryptic but persistent ways – that Americans would be alarmed to learn what the government was really doing. only when snowden went public did we learn what Wyden was hinting at – NsA bulk-surveillance operations that, among other things, required phone companies through secret court orders to turn over virtually their entire record of call logs in the name of national security. That was happening even after legal restrictions were put in place over the prior disclosure eight years earlier of a secret NsA program to conduct wiretapping operations without court orders, which produced a huge public outcry in its own right.

We may be on the verge of another public reckoning over the government's vast and largely unchecked surveillance powers.

And we've seen the previews for this movie before, whether it was the cIA's surveillance of anti-Vietnam War protesters in the 1960s and other programs investigated by the church committee, or more recent vintage surveillance operations.

From the limited amount we knew about the latest cIA program, it could be related to a controversial secret operation started by the cIA and the Treasury Department after the attacks of sept. 11, 2001, to

sift through vast troves of international banking transfers in search of possible terrorist financing. That program, first revealed publicly in 2006, produced howls from civil liberties advocates within the European Union and led to an international treaty governing and limiting such surveillance, but related financial tracking programs have continued for years with few checks or oversight in place.

The cIA, under its original charter in 1947 and executive orders since then, is generally prohibited from spying on Americans, with the FBI given legal authority for conducting virtually all intelligence operations on U.s. soil. But spymasters at Langley, Virginia, have found ways time and again to stretch and break through those limitations under the guise of national security. Too often, terrorism and national security have been used by the cIA and other intelligence agencies as a pretext for trampling on Americans' civil liberties.

SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS: With so much information about this latest revelation still blacked out, we don't know how far the cIA might have gone this time in pushing those boundaries.

What type of information was the cIA collecting, and how many Americans were affected? What role did private companies play? What did cIA analysts and operatives do with the troves of information they swept up, and what controls were in place to prevent abuses?

Those are all questions that the cIA should have to answer. As Wyden and Heinrich themselves said in a newly declassified letter that they sent to the cIA last year, these are matters that "the public deserves to know."

Eric Lichtblau, a Pulitzer-winning journalist and author who has written extensively on surveillance and national security issues.

Were we to wake up one day and find that russian tanks were rolling towards Kiev without any kind of excuse, it would amount to a complete abandonment of 15 years of argumentation as well as a negation of the entire legal/moral position built up by the russian Federation in that period, a position reinforced just this month in the Putin/Xi statement.

It would also be very odd. For you can hardly achieve the objective of a multipolar world based on the principles of UN supremacy and international law by means of a massive breach of those very same principles. It would be extraordinarily self-defeating. A certain skepticism about the allegedly “imminent” russian invasion of Ukraine is therefore due. It’s not impossible, but one has to wonder why, after so many years of consistency, Putin would suddenly change his position in such a drastic way.

As for the West, looking back at its self-destructive errors in recent years, one might consider Putin something of a prophet. But if so, it’s a prophet in the guise of the Trojan princess cassandra who was fated to be always right but never believed. rather than taking heed of Putin’s warning, Western leaders have bludgeoned onwards, toppling colonel Gaddafi in Libya, aiding rebels in syria, attempting (and failing at) regime change in Venezuela, fighting and losing against the Taliban, sanctioning Iran, supporting revolution in Ukraine, and so on. It has not turned out well. We can’t say we weren’t warned.

Paul Robinson, a professor at the University of Ottawa. He writes about Russian and Soviet history, military history and military ethics, and is author of the Irrussianality blog.

Who will be president?

FROM THE STABLE OF THE RULING BJP, DEFENCE MINISTER RAJNATH SINGH SEEMS TO BE THE FIRST CHOICE open Magazine

W

Jayanta Ghosal

ITH the presidential election round the corner, tongues have started to wag on the next first citizen. From the stable of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Defence Minister rajnath singh seems to be the first choice, and if the rumour holds true, he may accept the proposal if there is consensus and no opposition to his candidature—since there is a shortfall of BJP votes in rajya sabha and BJP has to rely on the support of regional parties to make the grade. Besides, if the outcome of the ongoing Uttar Pradesh (UP) Assembly polls reduces the number of Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) for BJP, it could spell trouble for the party. But with singh as the choice for president, BJP may still approach the chiefs of Ysr congress and Trinamool congress (TMc) since he shares a chemistry with them. Again, if the straws in the wind are to be believed, BJP might even part with the vice president’s post in favour of its supporter. There is even talk that a woman could take that chair.

OPPOSITION’S CHOICE opposition leaders are busy trying to put up a candidate for the president’s election. There is room for one common candidate from the opposition if there is consensus. Now, who can that be? Telangana rashtra samithi’s (Trs) K chandrashekar rao (Kcr) has taken the initiative and spoken to rashtriya Janata Dal’s (rJD) Tejashwi Yadav and Lalu Prasad, TMc supremo Mamata Banerjee and shiv sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

There is gossip that Bihar chief Minister Nitish Kumar may be a consensus candidate, with rJD proposing his name and BJP seconding it. But the question remains whether Nitish is willing to leave Patna.

Deeper solutions to Africa’s Islamist violence PEACE DIALOGUES BETWEEN NIGERIA’S FEUDING COMMUNITIES COULD PRODUCE FEWER RECRUITS FOR RADICAL MILITANT GROUPS Christian sCienCe Monitor

A

Editorial Board

cross Nigeria, tensions between farmers and nomadic herders keep escalating, driven by a competition for land and water made worse by population growth and climate change. These skirmishes receive less attention than the region’s violent Islamist insurgencies.

Yet they take a greater toll in killings and village disruptions, according to the United states Institute of Peace (UsIP). They may also be one key to bringing peace in this region of Africa.

In at least two Nigerian states, new local peace agencies are quietly working with traditional leaders to stitch communities back together. Instead of security by military force, they are building what a mediator in the state of Kaduna calls “an atmosphere of understanding” through dialogue and reconciliation. Their successes show a way forward at a fragile turning point in efforts to suppress groups like Boko Haram and Islamic state.

For more than a decade, villages across the scrubby lower band of the sahara desert called the sahel have been caught in the crossfire between extremist factions and the military forces fighting them. schools have been prime targets for jihadis looking for wives and conscripts.

But civilians have also experienced violence from those who were supposed to protect them, according to human rights groups. And despite the presence of 12,000 United Nations troops and thousands of American and European forces, the problem has continued to spread.

The traumatic disruption of communities has created conditions that make people, particularly young men, more susceptible to radi-

calization. It is also causing a crisis of faith in democracy. In Mali, for example, the failure of international forces to contain extremism has turned popular opinion in favor of a ruling military junta even though 75% of the people say they favor democracy, according to the polling firm Afrobarometer.

The crisis deepened at a summit of European and African leaders in France this week.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced he was withdrawing the 4,600 French troops based in Mali as part of an international counterterrorism operation. critics called it an admission of failure. France has had troops in Mali to fight Islamist insurgents since 2013.

But Mr. Macron said he could no longer side with “de facto authorities” that have lately embraced the arrival of some 800 russian mercenaries. Denmark, Germany, and Norway are withdrawing their military support as well.

African leaders at the summit sided with Mr. Macron. Their opposition to the military junta in Mali reflects a shared conviction that lawlessness through military rule is not the answer to lawlessness. But it leaves unresolved how best to fix a security problem that has defied the use of international forces. In Nigeria, communities responding to ethnic and religious strife from within may hold part of the answer. Peace initiatives like the ones bringing herders and farmers together “are an instrument worth adapting elsewhere to strengthen democracies against the erosions of violence and extremism,” UsIP notes.

They start slowly. state-sponsored mediators bring traditional leaders together to begin defusing suspicions. Gradually others are involved. storytelling helps participants find common ground.

Sunday, 20 February, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

corporate corner Second cohort of UndP JaZZ SdG Bootcamps concludes KARACHI: UNDP Pakistan and Jazz conclude the second cohort of the SDG Bootcamps—on themes of Education, Health, Climate Change, and Digital Transformation.

Implemented by School of Leadership Foundation (SoLF), in the second cohort, 131 social enterprises participated, including 42 women-led initiatives. Four social enterprises emerged victorious. The winning social enterprises included—Bechlo.pk from Sindh, a multivendor app store created for and by women to sell new and preloved products online; Perwaz from Sindh, a healthcare company that provides drone services to deliver medical aid; Crop Care from Sindh, a mobile app that helps farmers detect crop diseases and recommends solutions; and Edibles from Punjab, working to reduce single use plastic cutlery by introducing sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. This second round of bootcamps also included one regional bootcamp in Islamabad with a total of 25 social enterprises, including participants from Jammu and Kashmir and GilgitBaltistan. Malook Enterprise won the regional bootcamp.

This social enterprise is creating income opportunities for communities in Gilgit Baltistan by harvesting and selling local organic produce, like herbs, dry fruits, vegetables, etc. UNDP Pakistan Resident Representative, Mr. Knut Ostby, spoke during the conclusion of second cohort, “It’s truly inspiring to see the youth, especially young women, opting for social entrepreneurship as a viable career option. The UNDP-Jazz SDG Bootcamps are helping aspiring entrepreneurs to navigate and develop business models. Enhancing the social entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pakistan will not only empower the youth of the country but will also contribute towards achieving Pakistan’s SDG targets.” Mr. Syed Fakhar Ahmed, Chief Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Officer, Jazz commented, “I would like to congratulate the winners, and I am confident that the insights gained through the bootcamps will help social enterprises scale their businesses. We look forward to upcoming cohorts empowering the youth, especially from rural areas, to make a positive impact on the society.” The winner of the national bootcamp will be provided with an opportunity to join Youth Co:Lab, the largest youth social entrepreneurship movement in Asia and the Pacific co-created by UNDP and Citi Foundation, along with access to mentorship opportunities by Jazz. Jazz and UNDP Pakistan launched the SDG Bootcamp in December 2020 to promote social entrepreneurship and strengthen the start-up ecosystem in Pakistan. Under this, 20 bootcamps will be conducted across the county to train 800 young social entrepreneurs, including 50 percent women, by December 2022. pr

Seizure of smuggled cloth worth millions by directorate of customs intelligence (fBr), rawalpindi Building further on the incessant drive against smuggling, this morning on a credible information of smuggled fabric dumped in godowns located in a market at Golra Road Islamabad, Directorate of Customs Intelligence Rawalpindi, after obtaining search warrants under section 162 of the Customs Act, 1969, conducted raid with assistance from Islamabad Police (PS Shams Colony). Huge quantity of alleged smuggled fabric worth millions has been recovered and taken into custody. During the operation unidentified assailants attacked official vehicle of Assistant Director and damaged it. Legal proceedings are already underway. This seizure is in line with the stated policy of the present government to curb illegal goods and thereby promote local industry. Ms. Kanwal Ali Additional Director,Mr. Naveed Bugvi Deputy Director and Rao Fahad Iqbal, Assistant Director, led the crackdown. It is pertinent to mention that Federal Board of Revenue is following a policy of zero tolerance against smuggling and thereby has increased vigilance and surveillance of cargo movement across the border. Finance Minister, Shaukat Tarin, has commended FBR for its successful anti-smuggling drive across Pakistan.

Likewise, Chairman FBR/Secretary Revenue Division, Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed has appreciated Member Customs (Ops) FBR, Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda, in ensuring zero tolerance against smuggling of all shades and grades. He further reiterated his unflinching resolve to fight the menace of smuggling across the country in order to maximize tax compliance. pr

09

Sindh CM vowS to eliMinate Street CriMe froM KaraChi S

INDH Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that with the support of the people of Karachi, his government had eliminated terrorism from the city and now his government has taken street crime as a challenge and would eradicate it to restore writ of the government.

He said this on Saturday while talking to media just after proposing Sindh PPP President Nisar Khuhro for the Senate seat that had fallen vacant after disqualification of PTI leader

Faisal Vawda.

The CM said that street crime has increased in the city due to the economic downturn but being head of the provincial government, it is his responsibility to maintain law and order in the province.

“I have made some changes in the city police and guided them to take drastic measures to control law and order,” he said and added that the killers of journalist Athar Mateen would be arrested soon.

Shah said that the police with the support of Rangers and other law en-

forcement agencies had crushed terrorists in the city and brought terrorism activities under control by rendering sacrifices in the line of their duty and now they are taking drastic measure to eliminate street crime.

Replying to a question about some recent incidents in different universities, the chief minister said that he has brought changes in the administration of two universities and more actions are being taken. “Our universities are important and I would never allow deterioration of the educational atmos-

PPP nominates Nisar Khuhro for vacant senate seat KARACHI staff report

Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday announced that Pakistan People’s Party has awarded a ticket to its Sindh President Nisar Khuhro for the seat vacated after the disqualification of PTI Senator Faisal Vawda.

“The elections on the vacant Senate seat from Sindh will be held on March 09 and PPP has decided to nominate Nisar Khuhro for it,” he said and added, “Nisar

Khuhro has submitted his nomination papers for the slot today.

He shared that Gul Muhammad Jakhrani and Aajiz Dhamrah will be the covering candidates for the PPP ticket holder. It is pertinent to mention here that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the schedule for election on the Senate seat vacated after disqualification of PTI’s Faisal Vawda.

The ECP had disqualified Faisal Vawda for a lifetime under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution in its decision last Wednesday.

“The polling for the vacant senate seat will be held on March 09 in the Sindh Assembly building,” the ECP announced.

“The candidates can submit their nomination papers from February 17 to 19,” the ECP said.

“The lists of the candidates will be displayed at the office of the election commission on Feb 21”.

“Scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on Feb 24, while appeals against the scrutiny decisions will be heard on Feb 28,” the ECP stated.

University of Okara bans student over objectionable social media videos OKARA staff report

The administration of Okara University has banned the entry of a student, Arsalan Ahmed, for harassing female students to film videos and put them on social media.

The Okara University administration took strict action against a student, Arsalan Ahmed, after he was

found involved in filming videos of female students being subjected to harassment by him and his friends.

A video has surfaced in which he was harassing a female student. The vice-chancellor told the media that an inquiry committee has been constituted to probe into the incident.

The VC said that Arsalan Ahmed violated the code of conduct of the varsity and a decision will be taken after the report of the disciplinary committee.

phere there,” he vowed.

Replying to a question about proposed amendments in the local bodies law, the chief minister said that the commitments made with opposition parties would be fulfilled.

“We would discuss the proposed amendments in the cabinet meeting on Monday and then refer the draft law to the assembly.

Earlier, Khuhro filed nomination papers for the Senate seat that had fallen vacant after disqualification of PTI leader Faisal Vawda. news desk

Special squads to curb one-wheeling, road stunt activities in Capital formed ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has erected constituted special squads to curb one-wheeling and road stunt activities in the city. Following the directions of Inspector General of Police Islamabad Muhammad Ahsan Younis, these special squads have been erected to check practices of one wheeling, car racing and rash driving which not only put the lives of violators in danger but also of other road users.

Various teams and special squads of ITP would continuously patrol in various areas of the city especially in 7th avenue, 9th avenue, Margallah Road, Kashmir Highway, Expressway, Murree Road to take action against speedsters who play stunt on roads. The policemen of these teams and squad performing in these areas would ensure special vigilance and stopping youngsters to get involved in these stunts putting their lives on risk. SSP (Traffic) Mazhar Iqbal said that strict action would be taken against onewheelers and rash drivers. He appealed the parents to ensure strict vigilance of their children and do not allow them to play stunt on the roads and risk their lives. "Such steps by the ITP have the only purpose to ensure safe road environment for the citizens of Islamabad," he said but termed the cooperation of the parents vital to stop such life-threatening stunts. The SSP (Traffic) said that bikes of one-wheelers would be impounded and heavy fine tickets will be delivered to them. No laxity will be tolerated in this regard, he added. pr

Power suspension schedule for today

Safety ambassador initiative took the center stage at Pakistan's Pavilion of Dubai Expo 2020, with two women from the first batch sharing their inspirational journey at the “Women of Pakistan: Leading a Change” event organized by the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP). pr

According to Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO)’s spokesman, System Maintenance/Development Work is in process.

Therefore power supply of below mentioned feeders/areas will be temporary suspended as per given schedule: On 20th February, From 09:00 am to 02:00 pm, Holy Family, F Block, Katarian, Bani, SBP, Humayun Road, Jhanda, Rawalpindi-3, CNC, VIP, X-Lair Colony, AOWHS, Wilayat Complex, Mehboob.

Shaheed, Morgah, FF Hospital, Pindi Board, Park View, Sihala College, Chowk Pandori Feeders, From 09:00 am to 01:00 pm, Jabi, Sajjad Shaheed, Microwave, Mari Time, Kanda, Fateh Jang, Karima, Gul Muhammad Shaheed Tanza Dam, Bahtar, Mort, Qutbal, Laniwala, Fateh Jang City-2, Gagan, Ahmadal, Dharnal, Khor, Mahfooz Shaheed, Kamrial, Galyal, Gharibwal, Pindi Gheep, Nika Kalan, City, Tut Oil, Kharpa, Malhwali, Sony New, Jund City, Jund-II, Bhandar, Pind Sultani, Pari, Nara, Beetot, Kasran, Chhaji Mar, Maniwala. pr

Bank of Punjab earns profit of Rs.18.4 billion during year 2021 registering growth of 54 percent LAHORE pr

A meeting of the Board of Directors of The Bank of Punjab (BOP) was held on February 18, 2022. During the meeting, annual audited Financial Statements of the Bank for the year ended December 31, 2021 were approved by the Board.

During the meeting, the Board reviewed Bank’s financial performance and appreciated the efforts of Management for exhibiting tremendous financial results in line with strategic business plan. Owing to prudent

management of resources and aggressive business expansion, the Bank has been able to post highest ever before tax profit of Rs.18.4 billion during year 2021 showing a growth of 54% over last year. During the year 2021, Bank’s Balance Sheet grew by 9% and remained at the level of Rs. 1.2 Trillion. First time in its history, as on December 31, 2021, Bank’s deposits also crossed the level of Rs.1.0 Trillion mark. Keeping in view robust Business Plan envisaging aggressive business growth and CAPEX commitment in the areas of Information Technology & Digitalization, requiring strong capital base, the

Board announced and recommended a Stock Dividend of 12.50% for Shareholders for the year 2021 as against 10.0% Cash Dividend announced for the year 2020.

During the year 2021, Net Interest Margin (NIM) improved to Rs. 29.9 billion as against Rs. 23.3 billion showing an increase of 28%. Non-Markup/ Interest Income (excluding gains on securities) increased to Rs. 6.1 billion as against Rs. 4.6 billion showing a substantial increase of 34%. During the year, Bank’s NPLs reduced by Rs. 5.2 billion on account of recovery/regularization. Further, a general provision of Rs. 2.5 Billion

has also been maintained by the Bank.

The Bank posted After Tax Profit of Rs. 12.4 Billion as against Rs. 6.9 Billion during year 2020 showing a significant increase of 79%. Earnings per Share (EPS) for year 2021 also improved to Rs. 4.71 per share against Rs. 2.63 per share during year 2020.

On Deposits side, the Bank registered a growth of 20% and reached the level of Rs. 1,003.0 billion as against Rs. 835.1 billion as on December 31, 2020. Investments and Gross Advances were recorded at Rs. 531.7 billion and Rs. 534.2 billion, respectively.

Book Value per share (excluding surplus on

assets) improved to Rs. 21.26 as against Rs. 17.52 as on December 31, 2020. As on December 31, 2021, Bank’s Equity improved to Rs. 54.8 billion. In recognition of Bank’s strong financial position, The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (PACRA) has upgraded Bank’s long term entity rating to “AA+” with short term rating being already at the highest rank of “A1+”.The Bank currently has a countrywide network of 662 online branches, including 114 Taqwa Islamic Banking Branches. Further, Bank also has a vast network of 647 ATMs providing 24/7 banking services to the customers.

Sunday, 20 February, 2022 | LAHORE

10 FOREIGN NEWS

‘In SIkh-domInated IndIan Punjab, communal PolItIcS haS no takerS’ CHANDIGARH

n

AnAdolu Agency

early 75 years ago, when India and Pakistan gained freedom from the British, large swathes of Punjab province across the newly created borders witnessed bloody rioting between Sikhs and Muslims, forcing one of the largest migrations in history.

Such was the scale of animosity and rioting that the Muslim population in the Indian side of Punjab was drastically reduced from 33% to 0.5%. a similar story played in western Punjab also became part of the newly created Pakistan.

a visit to the ground in Indian Punjab reveals that much has changed over the past 75 years.

In villages after villages, the majority Sikh population has been helping revive mosques left abandoned seven decades ago due to migration or killing of Muslims.

In June last year, a Sikh family from Jitwalkalan village donated its ancestral land to build a mosque for a small number of Muslim families living in the Sikh-dominated village.

The mosque is now in the final stages of construction.

“We used to visit nearby villages to offer prayers. Because of the Sikh brothers, we have a mosque now in our village. It means a lot to every-

one here and we are extremely thankful to our fellow Sikh brothers,” Mohammed anwar, one of the Muslims in the village, told anadolu agency.

He added that the number of Muslim families is just around a dozen, and it was the Sikhs who helped their dream of constructing a mosque. “90% of the contribution came from the Sikhs. First land, and then financially as well. They made it possible to have a mosque for few Muslim families living here,” said anwar.

Jitwalkalan village is not a lone example. There are similar stories in different parts of the state, which indicates a further boost in the communal amity and relationship between the Sikhs and minuscule minority Muslims – in India’s Sikhmajority state.

Project to renovate and recover mosques: Speaking to anadolu agency, Shah-

baz ahmed Zahoor, who is associated with Punjab-based Idara Taameerey Masaajid (organization of building mosques), said that since 2017 they have undertaken a project to renovate dilapidated mosques left abandoned since 1947. He said that many mosques that were in the custody Sikh community are also being returned to Muslims.

“We have renovated over 200 mosques in different parts of the state. around 100 new mosques have come up,” he said.

“Several mosques, which were with Sikh brothers post-1947, have been handed over to us. I think without the support of our Sikh brethren, it would not have been possible,” he said. a mosque is also being constructed in the village of Bhaloor in the ludhiana district with the help of Sikhs. “We have five Muslim families living here and they didn’t opt to go to Pakistan at the time of partition. a religious place was needed for

them and the whole village came forward and decided to construct a mosque,” village head Sardar Pala Singh told anadolu agency.

Several mosques have come to life in many areas, which was left abandoned since 1947.

In 2010, in the Samrala district of the state, a mosque in Sarwarpur village was renovated for just two families.

“Two families stayed back during the partition and Sikhs helped to build the mosque again,” Gurdeep Singh, the village head, told anadolu agency. “Our village is an example of great values of people and their belief in communal harmony,” he said. against divisive Politics: as the northern Punjab state is electing its provincial assembly on Sunday, Sikhs and Muslims in one voice say they are against the divisive politics spread by politicians.

“Those parties who spread hate and divide people are not welcomed

here. In Punjab, Sikhs, Muslims or others, vote for the secular parties,” Maulana Mohammad Usman rehmani ludhianvi, the chief cleric of Punjab, told anadolu agency.

“I believe in Punjab the relationship between Sikhs and Muslims is like an elder and younger brother. It will continue and we have seen the examples of communal harmony frequently,” he said.

Unlike in the Uttar Pradesh state, India’s populous province, where anti-Muslim rhetoric has found space in the election campaigning, Punjab looks an exception. experts say that the growing relationship between Sikhs and Muslims has helped to keep the divisive forces out of power. “Politicians are trying to invoke religion in the elections, people are not falling into it,” said Jaspal Kaur Kaang, a Chandigarh-based expert in Sikh studies who ascribed Punjab’s communal harmony to the secular characters of Sikhism.

China slams U.S ‘notorious markets’ list as irresponsible NeWS DeSk China’s Commerce Ministry has said it does not agree with the U.S. decision to include some Chinese firms on the so-called “notorious market” list.

The ministry said the list is not based on conclusive evidence or sufficient proof. China firmly opposes such irresponsible U.S. behavior, the ministry said in a statement. The U.S. Trade representative (USTr) office put

Why Singapore Premier called out half of Indian lawmakers as ‘criminals’?

ISLAMABAD StAff correSpondent

Singapore Prime Minister lee Hsien loong has said that almost half of the Indian legislators are facing criminal charges including rape and murder as the democratic norms in India were constantly on the wane. “Nehru’s India has become one where, according to media reports, almost half the MPs…. have criminal charges pending against them, including charges of rape and murder,” the 70-year-old prime minister lee was quoted by media as saying.

One may argue why did Singapore prime minister expressed these views during the debate on Committee of Privileges’ report on complaints about untruths told by former Workers’ Party lawmaker raeesah Khan. lee, who referred to the parliamentary standards, mentioned India, suggesting a decline there since its first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was in charge. India’s main opposition Congress party, led by Nehru’s great-grandson, rahul Gandhi, took a dig at Modi’s government by feeling pity over the government’s response to such remarks. according to last year’s report published by the Financial express, an Indian daily, a total of 363 MPs and Mlas had declared criminal cases against them, an analysis of 2,495 candidate affidavits by the association for Democratic reforms (aDr) found. These lawmakers faced charges framed against them by the court for offenses falling under Section 8(1), (2) and (3) of the Indian representation of People act, 1951. “as per the aDr report, these 363 include 296 Mlas and 67 MPs. With 83, BJP tops the list of parties whose members (both MPs and Mlas) have declared criminal charges against them,” the report said. The offenses listed under these sub-sections included murder, rape, dacoity, robbery, kidnapping, crimes against women, bribery, corruption, money laundering and many more. The Congress stood second on the list with 47 and aITC third with 25 of its lawmakers facing criminal cases. The 2019 lok Sabha polls saw the participation of 67 MPs who had declared criminal charges against them, followed by Bihar assembly elections 2020 where 54 Mlas were facing criminal charges. “Surprisingly, four Union Ministers and 35 Ministers of State assemblies have declared criminal charges against them. all four Union Ministers – Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Satyapal Singh Baghel, Kailash Choudhary and ashwini Kumar Choubey – are from the BJP and face charges as serious as abduction, dacoity and attempts to cause death or grievous injury,” the report further said. On average, the criminal cases faced by the Indian MPs, against whom charges have been framed, have been pending since 7 years while those faced by Mlas have been pending since 6 years.

alibaba’s aliexpress and Tencent’s WeChat on its annual “notorious markets” list on Thursday, saying that they have “reportedly” facilitated selling counterfeit goods.

The USTr noted that the list serves to raise public and governmental attention on the issue but doesn’t reflect findings of legal violations of intellectual property rights (IPr). The list involves 42 online markets and 35 physical markets. aliexpress declined to comment. Tencent said that

it strongly disagreed with the inclusion on the list and noted that the company actively deals with violations across its platforms.

China has always attached great importance to IPr protection, and has made marked achievements in recent years, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference on Friday.

He called on the U.S. to objectively and fairly comment on the effort Chinese enterprises have made in IPr

protection and their outcomes.

China has pledged to achieve stricter IPr protection, a high level of public satisfaction, and a greater IPr market value by 2025.

More than 110,000 patent applications were filed in China by foreign entities in 2021, an increase of 23 percent from a year ago, which demonstrated companies’ firm confidence in China’s business environment and IPr protection, Wang said.

Putin launches nuclear drills as US says Russia poised to invade Ukraine MOSCOW reuterS

russia’s President Vladimir Putin launched exercises by strategic nuclear missile forces on Saturday and Washington said russian troops massed near Ukraine’s border were “poised to strike”. as Western nations fear the start of one the worst conflicts since the Cold War, US Defence Secretary lloyd austin said russian forces were beginning to “uncoil and move closer” to the border with its former Soviet neighbour.

“We hope he steps back from the brink of conflict,” he told a news conference on a visit to lithuania, saying an invasion of Ukraine was not inevitable. russia ordered the military build-up while demanding NaTO to stop Ukraine from joining the alliance but says predictions it is planning to invade Ukraine are wrong and dangerous. It says it is now pulling back while Washington and allies insist the build-up is mounting.

russian-backed separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine earlier declared a full military mobilisation, a day after ordering women and children to evacuate to russia, citing the threat of an imminent attack by Ukrainian forces.

Kyiv flatly denied the accusation and Washington said it was part of russia’s plan to create a pretext for an invasion of Ukraine.

Multiple explosions could be heard on Saturday morning in the north of the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, a reuters witness said.

The origin was not immediately clear.

Ukraine said earlier that one of its soldiers had been killed. US President Joe Biden, who has given regular warnings of an impending invasion, said on Friday he now believes the capital Kyiv would be targeted by russia but that he does not think Putin is even remotely contemplating using nuclear weapons.

“We have reason to believe the russian forces are planning to and intend to

attack Ukraine in the coming week, in the coming days,” Biden told reporters at the White House. “as of this moment, I am convinced that he has made the decision.”

The exercises by russia’s nuclear forces on Saturday involve the launch of ballistic and cruise missiles, the defence

ministry said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the exercises were part of a regular training process and Putin was likely to take part from a “situation centre”. russia’s ria news agency quoted the Kremlin on Saturday as saying the exercises had started.

China calls for rejecting new ‘Cold War’ as Ukraine tensions escalate MIAN ABRAR Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang yi on Saturday urged the international community to reject attempts to start a new “Cold War” and called for efforts to build lasting peace in the world. addressing a session on China at the 58th Munich Security Conference (MSC) via video link, Wang said the security of one country should not be achieved at the expense of the security of other countries, and that regional security should not rely on strengthening military blocs.

“The world is facing the risk of division and confrontation again,” he warned, adding that “certain major countries” are reviving the Cold War mentality and stoking confrontation between blocs.

“We must strengthen solidarity and cooperation under the banner of multilateralism,” he said, calling for joint efforts to tackle challenges and usher in a bright future. To make the world a better place, major countries must take the lead to uphold multilateralism, honor their commitments to the world, adhere to the purposes of the United Nations Charter, and contribute to world peace and development, he said.

Underscoring the importance of “true multilateralism,” Wang said no country – not even a superpower – can put its own will above international rules.

He called for joint efforts from China and europe to inject more stability and positive energy into the world, and called on the two sides to stay firm to their comprehensive strategic partnership.

China will continue to support the european integration process and the strategic independence of europe, he said. On the other hand, he called on europe to stay committed to dialogue and cooperation with

China and be steadfast in developing mutually beneficial relationship between the two sides.

Wang also commented on the expansion of NaTO, security in europe and the Ukraine tensions in response to questions raised by MSC Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger during the session. as a product of the Cold War, which has ended long ago, NaTO should make necessary adjustments, said the Chinese diplomat. “If NaTO keeps expanding eastward, is it conducive to maintaining peace and stability in europe?” Wang asked.

He reiterated China’s stance that all countries’ sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity should be respected and safeguarded, adding that Ukraine is no exception to the principle.

He urged relevant sides to adhere to the Minsk II agreement reached in 2015 and work out a roadmap and timetable to implement the deal. all sides need to “shoulder their responsibilities and work for peace” rather than hyping up tensions and sensationalizing the risk of war, he said. all sides can raise their concerns on security in europe, and russia’s legitimate security concerns should be respected, he added.

Sunday, 20 February, 2022 | LAHorE

SporTS 11

ChIneSe duo SuI and han wIn paIrS fIGure SkatInG Gold at BeIjInG 2022

C

MiAn AbRAR

HINESE duo Sui Wenjing and Han Cong won the gold medal in the pairs figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, which took place at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing on Saturday night.

Sui and Han received 155.47 points in the free skating part, which in addition to their short program score of 84.41 points, placed the Chinese pair on the top of all 16 couples in competition.

Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov, Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Gal-

liamov of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) claimed the silver and bronze medals respectively.

The other Chinese pair Peng Cheng and Jin Yang finished fifth with 214.84 points.

Sui and Han performed in the same group along with three ROC pairs – the top 4 scores during the short program. All three ROC pairs delivered incredible performances with Sui and Han hitting the ice last.

Performing to “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” the duo exuded beauty and grace as they smoothly navigated through their routine. Time seemed to have frozen until their performance came to an end.

Indian batsman Sakibul Gani hits first-ever triple ton on first class debut

Previous Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China perform in the pairs figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, February 19, 2022.

Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China perform in the pairs figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, February 19, 2022.

Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China perform in the pairs figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, February 19, 2022.

New Zealand end 18-year-long drought, thrash South Africa in first Test REutERs

AFP India’s Sakibul Gani became the first batsman in world cricket to hit a triple century on his first-class debut when he made 341 in the Ranji Trophy tournament. The 22-year-old walked out to the crease for Bihar against Mizoram in Kolkata on Friday, the second day of their four-day match in the country’s premier red-ball competition. By the time he was out 405 balls later, he had plundered 56 fours and two sixes. The right-hand batsman surpassed fellow Indian Ajay Rohera’s record of 267 not out for Madhya Pradesh in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season. Another Indian Amol Mazumdar stands third with his 260 for Bombay, now Mumbai, in 1994. Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim — who comes from Bihar himself — lauded Gani’s effort and tweeted: “Scoring a triple ton is always special. It becomes an extraordinary innings when someone gets it on debut.” Batting at number five, Gani put on a marathon stand of 538 with Babul Kumar, who made an unbeaten 229 — giving them a world record for the highest fifthwicket partnership in first-class cricket. Bihar declared their innings on 686 for five. The first-class competition — named for Maharaja Ranjitsinhji, an Indian prince who played for England in the 1890s — had a delayed season start on Thursday due to the coronavirus pandemic.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham hailed a “perfect performance” after his team completed a one-sided demolition of a pitiful South Africa, winning the first Test by an innings and 276 runs before lunch on day three day on Saturday.

Tim Southee took five wickets as New Zealand bowled out South Africa for 111 in their second innings, a paltry total that was nonetheless more than their first innings haul.

The result ended a 16-match winless streak by the Black Caps in Tests between the two nations, stretching back to 2004.

The reigning world Test champions have never won a series against South Africa but will break their duck barring a major turnaround in the second Test of the two-match series.

Pace bowler Matt Henry was named Player of the Match after picking up nine wickets overall, including 7-23 in the first innings at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

He also made a swashbuckling 58 not out batting at No. 11.

“You’ve got to give credit to the bowling group,” Henry said, deflecting praise. “We created pressure at both ends for a long period and I was the one that got the rewards at the other end.” toss CruCiAl: Latham, captain in the absence of injured Kane Williamson, acknowledged that the toss had been crucial, but heaped praise on the way his

bowlers had clinically exploited the helpful conditions.

“Winning the toss was a big part of it, but from there, guys put the ball in the right area,” he said.

“To back up the performance with the bat on a wicket that was a little tricky, you look back and it was probably the perfect performance really.

“You look at a blueprint and putting a big first innings total on the board obviously allowed our guys to come out and we put the ball in the right area again in the second innings.”

South Africa endured a 10-day lock-

down on arrival in New Zealand, but captain Dean Elgar refused to use that less-than-ideal preparation as an excuse.

Not a single South Africa batter made a half century in the match, with Temba Bavuma’s knock of 41 in the second innings the best of the bunch.

The bowlers were hit at nearly four runs an over, and the fielders dropped numerous catches, several of them regulation chances. “(We were) pretty much outskilled in all three departments of Test cricket, failed to execute the basics,” said opener Elgar, who almost made a pair, scoring

PCB not to draft James Faulkner in future over ‘gross misconduct’ LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Veteran Australian cricketer and the Quetta Gladiators’ all-rounder James Faulkner pulled out from the ongoing PSL season and blamed the PCB for not “honouring” his “contractual agreement”.

The Australian cricketer apologised to the Pakistani cricket fans for his withdrawal from the team’s last two matches — against Multan Sultans on Friday and Sunday’s fixture against Karachi Kings.

“I apologise to the Pakistan cricket fans.

But, unfortunately, I’ve had to withdraw from the last 2 matches and leave the PSL due to the PCB not honouring my contractual agreement/payments,” he said in a tweet.

Faulkner blamed the cricket board for continuing to “lie” to him despite his fulltime presence in the tournament.

The Australian all-rounder said it “hurts” to leave as he wanted to “help” get international cricket back in Pakistan.

“It hurts to leave as I wanted to help to get international cricket back in Pakistan as there is so much young talent and the fans are amazing,” Faulkner said.

He claimed that despite his attempts to do so, the treatment he received from the PCB and the management of the PSL had been a “disgrace”.

“I’m sure you all understand my position,” he added.

PCB resPonds strongly: Responding to the allegations, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Quetta Gladiators

unanimously decided not to draft Australia’s James Faulkner in future tournaments due to his “gross misconduct”.

Later, in a detailed press release from PCB and Quetta Gladiators, the board said it had taken serious note of Faulkner’s “gross misconduct” and termed it an attempt to bring the PCB, Pakistan cricket, and the PSL into disrepute. “…it has been unanimously agreed by the PCB and the franchises that Mr James Faulkner will not be drafted in future HBL Pakistan Super League events,” the statement said.

“The PCB and Quetta Gladiators are disappointed and dismayed with the reprehensible behavior of James Faulkner, who was also part of the Abu Dhabi-leg of the HBL Pakistan Super League in 2021, and, along with all participants, has always been treated with utmost respect,” the statement said.

The PCB said in the last seven years of PSL, no player has ever complained about the board not fulfilling its contractual obligations. It noted that all have only praised and appreciated the efforts of the PCB to make their stay, appearance and participation as comfortable as practically possible.

James Faulkner threw his bat and helmet onto a chandelier after a discussion with a PCB official.

James Faulkner threw his bat and helmet onto a chandelier after a discussion with a PCB official. The PCB, without going into the history of Faulkner’s misconduct over the past many years that had also resulted in his fallout with other teams, provided a brief summary of some of the “undisputed facts”: In December 2021, Faulkner’s agent

confirmed the United Kingdom bank details to which his fee payments should be transferred. This was noted for action.

In January 2022, for reasons best known to Faulkner, his agent sent revised banking details of his onshore account in Australia.

However, the contracted 70% of Faulkner’s fee payment was transferred to his offshore UK bank account. The receipt of this payment was acknowledged by him.

Accordingly, his payments as per his contract are fully up to date.

The remaining 30% of his contractual payment only becomes due 40 days after the completion of the PSL 2022, which now remains a matter to be reviewed in line with his contract.

Despite the money being transferred and received in his account, Faulkner continued to insist that a second duplicate payment of the same amount be made to his account in

Australia. This meant Faulkner would have been paid twice.

He further threatened and refused to participate in his side’s match against Multan Sultans on Friday afternoon until his money demands were met.

The PCB, as a responsible organisation, engaged with Faulkner early Friday afternoon in an attempt to reason with him. Despite his reprehensible and insulting behavior during the conversation, Faulkner was assured that all his grievances would be addressed.

He refused to reconsider his decision to take the field in a crucial match for his side, let his team down and demanded that his travel arrangements be immediately made.

During this time, the PCB was also in constant contact with his agent, who was regretful and apologetic.

Prior to his departure on Saturday morning, Faulkner caused deliberate damage to the hotel property and as a result had to pay damages to the hotel management.

The PCB later received reports and complaints from the immigration authorities that Faulkner had acted inappropriately and abusively at the airport.

AlCohol ConsumPtion: Meanwhile, sources in PCB told that Faulkner had damaged the property of the hotel the PSL teams were residing in and was also demanding additional money from the Gladiators.

“Before departure and under the influence of alcohol, he damaged PC hotel’s property and had to pay damages at the time of check-out,” the sources said.

Why no ACtion AgAinst

one and zero.

“Not a very good show considering what we’ve built up prior to coming to New Zealand. Extremely disappointing the way the last few days have gone.

“It boils down to intensity. Test cricket demands intensity. I don’t think we were there the last two-and-a-half days.”

The second Test, also in Christchurch, starts on Friday, leaving South Africa with nearly a week to regroup from their shocking performance and somehow find a way to draw the series.

FAulkner?

When asked why did they refrain from taking action against the all-rounder, to which, well-placed sources in the board said: “We did not take action as he was a guest.”

The cricketer could have been punished under two separate sections — 353, and 427, of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). seCtion 427: Whoever commits mischief and thereby causes loss or damage to the amount of fifty rupees or upwards, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. seCtion 353: Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any person being a public servant in the execution of his duty as such public servant, or with intent to prevent or deter that person from discharging his duty as such public servant, or in consequence of anything done or attempted to be done by such person in the lawful discharge of his duty as such public servant, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

JAmes FAulkner’s Psl 2022 PerFormAnCe: Faulkner has not been up to his best in this edition of the PSL for Quetta Gladiators.

The all-rounder has failed to deliver with the ball and has bowled some expensive spells.

In the last match against Islamabad United, he gave away 47 runs and took two wickets.

He has taken only five wickets in six matches for the Gladiators, while with the bat, he has 49 runs in six matches.

Faulkner’s best performance came against Multan Sultans, where he took a wicket at the expense of 22 runs and scored 30 runs.

Sunday, 20 February, 2022

prAyer timings

NEWS

FRoM aRMy ChIEF to soldIER, all bEhINd PM IMRaN KhaN: Fawad ChaUdhRy I

NFORMATION and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Saturday that everyone — from Chief of Army Staff General Qamar (COAS) Javed Bajwa to a common soldier — stands behind Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“The citizens of Pakistan stand behind PM Imran Khan as well,” the confident information minister said while speaking in Geo News’ programme “Naya Pakistan“.

The federal minister said a person should have the tendency to resolve issues amicably and work along with the institutions.

“If soldiers are being martyred in

Kargil and the if then PM (Nawaz Sharif) goes to India to expand steel business, who will stand by him?”

Chaudhry said when the PML-N was in government, they were unpopular and their ties with the institutions were not good as well. The information minister claimed the Nawaz Sharif-led party had failed to rule Pakistan.

“Institutions want to see a person in charge who is loyal to Pakistan,” Chaudhry added.

Campaign to Counter noConfidenCe motion: The statement comes in the backdrop of the ruling party, PTI, launching a campaignin order to counter the Opposition’s efforts to

Electricity price likely to increase by Rs6.1 per unit After a massive hike in the prices of petroleum products, electricity prices are likely to be jacked up by Rs6.1 per unit on account of monthly Fuel Price Adjustment (FPA) for the month of January 2022.

As per details, Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), on behalf of power distribution companies (DISCOs), has requested National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to approve Rs6.1060 per kilowatt (kWh) increase in the power tariff under the head FPA of the month of January 2022 for all consumer categories of distribution companies, except for lifeline and K-Electric consumers. NEPRA is scheduled to hear the CPPA plea on February 28.

According to sources in the power sector, power consumers of all DISCOs except K-Electric will bear an additional burden of approximately Rs60 billion if NEPRA grants its approval to increase the power tariff by Rs 6.1 per unit on account of FPA of January 2022. “Collection of additional Rs 60 billion from the electricity consumers is expected during the next month’s electricity bills if NEPRA grants approval to jack up the power price,” said sources.

The CPPA, in its application, informed that 5.83 per cent electricity was produced with water/hydel source, 33.15 per cent from coal, 6.73 per cent from high speed diesel (HSD), 14.37 per cent from natural gas, 7.12 per cent from imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), 14.37 per cent from nuclear power, wind 2.22 per cent, baggasse 1.22 per cent, import Iran 0.36 per cent and with solar source was 0.53 per cent. Similarly, total energy generated was 8,797 Gigwhatt (GWh).

It is also learnt from CPPA request that the most expensive electricity was generated from highspeed diesel during the month of January 2022 as the cost of the electricity generated from diesel (HSD) was registered at Rs25.98 paisa per unit while the cost of power generation from coal stood at Rs14.10 per unit, furnace oil Rs22.80 per unit, LNG Rs16.70 per unit, gas Rs7.74 per unit, nuclear Rs1.07 per unit, bagasse Rs 5.98 per unit.

NEPRA, in a public hearing notice regarding fuel charges adjustment for the month of January 2022 for DISCOs, has invited all the interested parties to raise written as well as oral objections as permissible under the law at the public hearing. AhmAd AhmAdAni

bring a no-trust motion.

In his address in the first campaign rally in Mandi Bahauddin on Friday, PM Imran said that letting PML-N supremo Nawaz leave Pakistan was a “major mistake” made by the incumbent government.

“I have a message for the Sharif family: The captain is ready for all your plans. You will not only face defeat, but all of you will go to jail,” the prime minister vowed.

Meanwhile, senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah claimed Friday the Opposition has achieved the required numbers to oust the PTI governments in the centre and Punjab through no-confi-

dence motions.

Talking on Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzaib Khanzada Kay Saath”, Sanaullah said that the government has started releasing development funds to PTI lawmakers after the Opposition announced to table a no-trust motion against PM Imran Khan.

“However, the government is pretending as it’s not worried about the current situation and the Opposition’s no-trust move don’t have any strength to topple the government,” he added.

The government is not yet able to trace the ruling party’s lawmakers who are in contact with the Opposition, he added. stAff report

Daily Covid-19 infections witness significant drop below 2,000 ISLAMABAD stAff report

The number of daily coronavirus infections has dropped to below the 2,000 mark ever since the latest Covid-19 wave fueled by the Omicron variant hit Pakistan a couple of months ago.

According to the statistics released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday morning, Pakistan has registered 1,983 coronavirus cases and 26 deaths during the last 24 hours (Friday).

As per the latest NCOC data, after the addition of 26 new deaths, the overall toll has now surged to 29,976 whereas the number of total infections now stood at 1,498,676 after adding the fresh 1,983 cases.

During the last 24 hours (Friday), 47,780 tests were conducted throughout Pakistan whereas the positivity ratio stood at 4.15 percent. The number of patients in critical care was 1,439.

During the last 24 hours (Friday), as many as 2,782 patients have recovered from the virus whereas the total recoveries stood at 1,399,000. As of

Saturday, the total count of active cases in the country was recorded at 69,700.

As many as 563,314 coronavirus cases have so far been confirmed in Sindh, 498,322 in Punjab, 214,277 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 133,702 in Islamabad, 35,206 in Balochistan, 42,535 in Azad Kashmir and 11,320 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Moreover, 13,430 individuals have lost their lives to the pandemic in Punjab so far, 8,020 in Sindh, 6,182 in KP, 1,002 in Islamabad, 780 in Azad Kashmir, 373 in Balochistan and 189 in Gilgit Baltistan.

State reviewing legal options in Qandeel Baloch murder case: Maleeka

Parliamentary Secretary for Law Maleeka Bokhari on Saturday said that the state is undertaking a review of legal options in the light of laws and Supreme Court judgements in the murder case of social media star Qandeel Baloch, whose brother was acquitted by the Lahore High Court (LHC) earlier this week.

She said that honour killings of women and girls are a “black mark on our society”, and that the law has been amended to ensure that the murderer[s] of women “whether

a celebrity or ordinary woman” does not walk free.

Before her murder, Qandeel garnered fame on social media through her posts and videos, which were deemed immoral by some.

Qandeel had posted Facebook posts in which she spoke of trying to change “the typical orthodox mindset” of people in Pakistan. She faced frequent abuse and death threats but continued to post pictures and videos seen as provocative.

In 2016, her brother Muhammad Waseem drugged and then killed her, later admitting in a media conference organised by the police that he strangled his 26-year-old sister due to her social media activities.

Earlier on Monday, the LHC acquitted Waseem, abolishing the life imprisonment awarded to him by a sessions court.

The LHC’s Multan bench cancelled life imprisonment of the accused after witnesses deviated from their statements in the trial court and Qandeel’s mother submitted a reconciliation agreement stipulating parental pardon.

Waseem was accused of strangulating his sister in the name of honour. He was arrested in July 2016 and awarded life imprisonment on September 27, 2019, by a court in Multan. news desk

FAJR SUNRISE

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ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

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China says UN human rights chief can visit Xinjiang UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet can visit Xinjiang, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday, but added that China does not welcome any investigation based on the presumption of guilt.

Bachelet has long sought access to the western Chinese region to investigate accusations of abuse against ethnic Uyghurs. The issue has strained ties between Beijing and the West, sparking accusations of genocide from Washington and a US-led diplomatic boycott by some countries of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. “(China) rejects all kinds of biases, prejudices and uncalled-for accusations,” Wang, who is also a Chinese state councillor, said at the Munich Security Conference when asked if Bachelet would have unrestricted access in Xinjiang.

Western media accuses China of widescale abuses against Uyghurs and other minority groups, including torture, forced labour and detention of one million people in internment camps. China says the camps are re-education and training facilities and denies any abuse, saying it is fighting religious extremism.

The so-called systematic forced labour or education camps are all lies and fabrication, said Wang.

“I hope you can believe the Chinese government, and trust what the Chinese government has said and the information that we have been releasing,” he concluded. news desk

PM Imran’s visit to Russia to be ‘gamechanger’: Fawad Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Saturday highlighted the significance of Prime Minister Imran’s Khan upcoming visit to Russia, terming it ‘great and gamechanger for bilateral relations of the two countries.

“It will be a great and game-changer visit and now after China, Pakistan’s relations with Russia are going to get further strength,” he said while addressing media persons in Pind Dadan Khan on Saturday.

He said that it is happening after a gap of 23 years that Russia is inviting any Pakistani leader to Moscow, which reflects Prime Minister Imran Khan’s highstature and leadership qualities.

He said Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended great respect and regard to PM Imran Khan, which was rarely given to any leader.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan is of such a highstature that his stance is always acknowledged at the world level whether it is on Islamophobia, regional or international issues.

The minister said prime minister and public representatives should be the ones who could enhance the dignity of the people and the country.

He said there is no leader of Imran Khan’s stature in the country, terming all political opponents including Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Maryam Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif ‘dwarfs’ in front of the PM. He said opposition leaders have no credibility within the country and abroad due to their corrupt practices, and ‘no one is ready to listen to them.’

The minister said the opposition has no guts and political prowess to bring no-trust motion against the prime minister. “Those who are trying to bring noconfidence against us do not have trust of their own family.” inp

PM Khan set to meet leaders of allied parties after Russia visit PM IMRAN KHAN LIKELY TO VISIT MQM-P'S BAHADURABAD OFFICE ISLAMABAD miAn AbrAr

In wake of the no-trust motion to be moved by the opposition parties, Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to meet meet the leadership of the government’s allied parties

during next few weeks.

According to sources, Prime Minister Khan is likely to visit the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM-P) headquarters in Bahadurabad, Karachi.

The sources said that the PM would be visiting the MQM-P headquarters after conclusion of his Russia tour. Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and PTI leaders will also accompany the premier during the visit.

The sources said the MQM-P leadership has been apprised of the planned visit of the premier. The sources said that the prime minister agreed on visiting the MQM-P head-

quarters in a meeting with federal ministers linked to MQM including Dr Faroogh Naseem and Aminul Haq. The ministers invited PM Khan to visit their party’s office, the sources said, adding the prime minister is expected to pay the visit in the first week of March.

Matters related to development projects for Karachi and issues facing the port city will come under discussion in the meeting, the sources said, adding that the MQM-P leaders will also apprise the premier on their demands and reservations.

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