Epaper – January 4 KHI 2021

Tuesday, 4 January, 2022 I 30 Jamadi-al-Awwal, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 187 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition

331 parliamentarians fail to submit assets details: eCp

Islamabad offers Delhi to attend SAARC Summit virtually g

Pak-afghan border fencing issue to be resolved diPlomatically, says Qureshi ISLAMABAD Staff report

ISLAMABAD Staff CorreSpondent

a

s many as 331 parliamentarians have failed to submit their assets details, the election commission of Pakistan (ecP) said on monday. an ecP official said that those who failed to submit their assets details within the due date include 17 senators, 102 members of national assembly, 127 members of Punjab assembly, 31 members of sindh assembly, 40 members of khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly and 14 members of balochistan assembly. he said that so far 860 parliamentarians have submitted their yearly statements of assets and liabilities for the financial year 2020-21. he said that those who submitted their assets details included 83 senators, 240 members of national assembly, 244 members of Punjab assembly, 137 members of sindh assembly, 105 members of khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly and 51 members of

Coronavirus in

pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,297,235

LAST UPDATED AT 7:30 AM ON JANUARY 3, 2022

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

2

708

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

1,257,168 28,943 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

482,826

445,445

KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

181,469

33,644

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

34,667/10,429

108,755

balochistan assembly. under section 137 of the elections act, 2017 every member of an assembly and senate have to submit to the ecP, on or before december 31 each year, a copy of statement of assets and liabilities including assets and liabilities of his spouse and dependent children as on the preceding thirtieth day of June on form b. the commission, on the first day of January each year through a press release, will publish the names of members who failed to submit the requisite statement of assets and liabilities within the period specified under sub-section (1). the ecP official said that the commission will, on the sixteenth day of January, by an order suspend the membership of a member of an assembly and senate who fails to submit the statement of assets and liabilities by the fifteenth day of January and such member will cease to function till he or she files the statement of assets and liabilities.

foreign minister shah mehmood Qureshi on monday reaffirmed Pakistan’s willingness to host the 19th south asian association for regional cooperation (saarc) summit and invited india to virtually attend the event. addressing a press conference in islamabad, he regretted that india’s continuous negative attitude has made the most effective forum for economic cooperation and development dysfunctional.

Pakistan is keen to further boost its bilateral ties with bangladesh and sri lanka, he added. about relations with india, the foreign minister said unfortunately, the prospects of durable peace and stability in the region and the great potential for economic development and regional cooperation has been held hostage by the hegemonic and hostile behaviour of india, whose bJP-rss hindutva inspired leadership has adopted a particularly irresponsible and politically motivated antiPakistan posture, and a patently anti-muslim approach at home. he said india’s unilateral and illegal actions in the indian illegally occupied Jammu and kashmir (iioJk) since august 5, 2019 aims at undermining the status of the disputed territory, perpetuating its illegal occupation, and altering its demographic structure, adding that the unabated widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and state-terrorism against the innocent kashmiris have further vitiated the environment and threatened international peace and security. “Pakistan desires friendly relations with all its neighbours, including india. but as the prime minister has said, the onus is on india to take necessary steps to create an environment conducive for dialogue. resolution of Jammu and kashmir dispute is a prerequisite for durable peace and stability in south asia,” Qureshi reiterated. the foreign minister further elaborated that in one of the biggest ever crackdowns in the

PM Imran paid more income tax than Shehbaz, Bilawal, Gilani ISLAMABAD Staff CorreSpondent

Prime minister imran khan paid more income tax than opposition leaders shehbaz sharif, bilawal bhutto Zardari, asif Zardari and others. the federal board of revenue (fbr) released its 2019 tax directory for parliamentarians on monday, which revealed that Prime minister imran khan paid rs9.8 million in tax, while opposition leaders shehbaz sharif and bilawal bhutto Zardari paid rs7.1 million and rs535,000, respectively, in taxes. former Pm yousuf raza gillani paid no tax at all, in 2019. as per the document, “the data only included income and tax declared in returns filed to fbr and did not include agricultural income tax paid to provinces, sales tax, federal excise duty etc.” the document stated that the directory was tabulated from tax returns filed manually and electronically till January 3. according to the data, leader of the opposition in the national assembly shehbaz sharif paid rs8.2m while PPP chairman bilawal bhutto-Zardari paid rs0.53m. additionally, a

iioJk, 1,400 kashmiris were arrested arbitrarily in october, 2021. since august 5, 2019, more than 502 kashmiris have been martyred by the indian occupation forces in fake encounters and extra-judicial operations, he added. the united nations security council (unsc), he said, has deliberated the Jammu and kashmir issue three times since august 5, 2019. the un secretary-general has called on all parties to refrain from taking steps that could affect the status of Jammu and kashmir, he added. the foreign minister reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue to extend all possible moral and diplomatic support to the kashmiri people in their just struggle for self-determination. he said developments in afghanistan as the immediate neighbour presented a major challenge to Pakistan, adding that the consequences of instability in afghanistan have always impacted Pakistan. in the post august 15, 2021 period, he said, Pakistan played a pivotal role in the safe evacuation of over 80,000 individuals across 42 nationalities, consisting of diplomats, international ngo (non-governmental organisation) workers, the media and many, many others. the government of Pakistan also pledged rs5 billion aid to afghanistan, the first consignments of which has already started, he added.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

MORE INSIDE

Top judge says he will summon Imran if detainee not presented STORY ON BACK PAGE

nePra reserves judgment on power tariff hike for ke consumers

STORY ON PAGE 02

Pti mna from karachi, muhammad najeeb haroon, paid a whopping rs140m.

PPP co-chairman asif ali Zardari paid rs2.2m. senior banker and incumbent finance minister, shaukat tarin paid rs26.6m while former prime minister shahid khaqan abbasi paid rs4.9m. sindh chief minister murad ali shah’s tax amounted to rs1.1m. in contrast, Punjab chief minister usman buzdar paid a measly rs2,000. current balochistan chief minister abdul Qudoos bizenjo

rs1.1m and his predecessor Jam kamal khan paid rs11.8m. khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister mahmood khan paid rs66,258. among the members of the federal cabinet, foreign minister shah mahmood Qureshi paid rs0.9m while Planning and development minister asad umer paid rs4.3m. energy minister hammad azhar paid rs29,025 in an individual capacity while his associations of persons (aoPs) tax amounted to rs18.1m.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Committee to probe financial mismanagement, illegal appointments at PSQCA STORY ON PAGE 02

kashmir to observe January 5 as right to self-determination day STORY ON PAGE 03

02

Tuesday, 4 January, 2022 | KARACHI

NEWS

NEPRA RESERvES judGMENT oN PowER TARiff hikE foR kE coNSuMERS ISLAMABAD

T

ahmad ahmadani

HE National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Monday reserved its judgment on an Rs5.50 per unit power tariff hike for the consumers of K-Electric (KE) on account of fuel charges adjustment (FCA) and quarterly adjustment.

According to the details, the authority took up the proposed adjustment request of KE regarding monthly fuel charges adjustment (FCA) for the month of November 2021 and quarterly adjustment for the quarter ending September 2021 under Multi-Year Tariff (MYT) 2017-2023.

The KE has requested an increase Rs0.32 for FCA of November 2021 and of Rs5.18 for

quarterly adjustment (July to September 2021).

The authority, after hearing objections raised by interested and affected parties, reserved its judgment which will be issued after scrutiny of records and verification of facts and figures.

Speaking on the occasion, NEPRA officials said that KE’s quarterly adjustment stands at Rs4.80 per unit instead of Rs5.18 per unit while power price for KE consumers is likely to be reduced by 75 paisa per unit instead of the 32 paisa per unit hike as requested by the KE. “Power consumers had faced an additional burden of over Rs144 million due to violation of merit order,” they said.

However, KE officials denied the same saying that power consumers did not bear any

Govt appoints Muzzammil Aslam as Energy Ministry spokesperson NeWS DeSk The federal government on Monday appointed Muzzammil Aslam as spokesperson for the Minister of Energy. Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar took to his official Twitter handle to make the announcement in this regard. “I am pleased to appoint Muzzammil Aslam as spokesperson on energy issues,” he said. He added that Aslam will be performing this role in addition to his role as spokesperson to finance minister. Senior economist Muzzammil Aslam was appointed as spokesperson of the Minister of Finance in October 2021.

Reportedly, he has over 15 years of experience in the fields of economics, equity research, business development and capital markets. Further, his work on economics has been actively pursued by key government institutions. Muzzammil Aslam holds Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Public Administration degrees, along with an MAS degree in economics from the University of Karachi and a Master of Science degree in economics from the University of Bath, United Kingdom.

PSX kicks off new year with 290 point gain kARACHI TLTP

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) started the new year trading on a positive note, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index remaining positive for the fifth straight session and gaining 290.82 points (+0.65 percent) to close at 44,886.89 points on Monday. The market opened on a positive note but took a dip soon and remained in the negative territory for the next half an hour. However, later the market remained positive throughout the session. The volumes remained low during the session. The KSE-100 Index moved in a range of 395.78 points, showing an intraday high of 44,905.35 points and a low of 44,509.57 points. A total of 375 companies traded shares in the stock exchange, out of them shares of 217 closed up, shares of 143 closed down while shares of 15 companies remained unchanged. Out of 91 traded companies in the KSE-100 Index, 58 closed up, 31 closed down and two remained unchanged. The overall market volumes decreased by 122.48 million to 195.17 million shares. Total volumes traded for the KSE-100 Index increased by 60.93 million to 92.83 million shares. The number of total trades decreased by 21,435 to 93,487, while the value traded decreased by Rs4.31 billion to Rs6.52 billion. Overall market capitalisation increased by Rs15.69 billion. Among scrips, PIBTL topped the volumes with 12.58 million shares, followed by TPLP (11.09 million) and GGL (10.81 million). Stocks that contributed significantly to the volumes included PIBTL, TPLP, GGL, FNEL, and CNERGY, which formed over 28 percent of total volumes.

The major sectors taking the index towards north were fertilizer with 58 points, cement with 54 points, technology & communication with 50 points, engineering with 39 points and commercial banks with 33 points. The most points added to the index were by SYS which contributed 33 points followed by ENGRO with 30 points, LUCK with 27 points, COLG with 22 points and ISL with 18 points. The major sectors taking the index toward south were tobacco with 23 points, power generation & distribution with 7 points, food & personal care products with 6 points, refinery with 6 points and textile spinning with 2 points. The most points taken off the index were by PAKT which stripped the index of 23 points followed by KEL with 8 points, CNERGY with 6 points, MUREB with 5 points and PSMC with 4 points.

additional burden due to the absence of gas sales and a purchase agreement.

NEPRA’s vice chairman replied that it is strange that there is no impact on gas consumers due to absence of gas sales as they are going to be hit with an impact of over Rs3 billion because of low gas pressure.

Meanwhile, the NEPRA chairman said that the authority is making efforts to revolutionise the country’s power sector and opening the local market in this regard. “The Competitive Trading Bilateral Contracts Market (CTBCM) is going to be introduced soon and it will be a game-changer for the business community,” he said.

He said the business community should not depend on a single company, adding that “KE should make future plans and leave

the past”.

Earlier on December 29, 2021, NEPRA had reserved its judgment on an Rs4.33 per unit power tariff hike on account of monthly fuel price adjustment for the month of November 2021 for the consumers of all power distribution companies (DISCOs) except KE. Meanwhile, officials of KE said that work on three agreements with the government for power purchase has been initiated.

“KE is near to inking a 2050MW power purchase agreement with central power purchasing agency (CPPA). The electric supply company has also forwarded a draft regarding tariff differential subsidy while the company will also be able to get 2050MW of electricity from National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) by 2023-24,” an

official of the KE said.

They said that power production with furnace oil remained low and

talks with Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) are currently underway.

Committee to probe financial mismanagement, illegal appointments at PSQCA ISLAMABAD GhuLam abbas

Following audit reports about massive financial irregularities and illegal appointments at the Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has constituted a committee to probe the matter.

According to documents available with Profit, MoST has constituted a two-member committee for conducting inquiry regarding financial and administrative mismanagement allegedly committed by PSQCA Deputy Director Finance Ali Muhammad Bukhari. The allegations against Bukhari are that he got two sisters, one brother and one niece appointed in PSQCA. The team, including MoST Chief Finance and Accounts Officer Shazad Naim and Assistant Accounts Officer (F&A) Adeel Ahmad, will visit the authority from January 3 to January 5, 2022 to conduct the inquiry.

Besides, it will also investigate the authenticity of the degrees of his relatives hired in PSQCA as well as

alleged financial and administrative mismanagement of Bukhari himself.

It may be recalled that Profit last month had published a report regarding an audit of the PSQCA accounts wherein the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) had found massive irregularities in the authority’s finance department.

According to the audit and inspection report on PSQCA for the year 2020-2021, proof of deposit of income tax amounting Rs93.047 million in a government account was missing. The audit was of the view that non-obtaining of the challan for tax deduction on profit is a lapse on part of the PSQCA management.

In another para, auditors identified that the finance department, while delaying reinvestment of Rs2.741 billion in various branches of NBP in term deposit receipts (TDRs), had caused PSQCA a loss of Rs15.839 million.

The audit, while holding PSQCA’s management responsible for the loss, had recommended that the matter be investigated and responsibility be fixed on the exact person(s) who committed the corruption.

Oil starts 2022 with rally towards $79 as Omicron impact concerns ease LONDON ReuTeRs

Oil rose towards $79 a barrel on Monday supported by tight supply and hopes of further demand recovery in 2022 spurred in part by a view that the Omicron coronavirus variant is unlikely to significantly dampen the outlook.

Libyan oil output will be cut by 200,000 barrels per day for a week due to pipeline maintenance. OPEC and its allies, known as OPEC+, are expected to stick to a plan to raise output gradually at a meeting on Tuesday.

Brent crude rose 95 cents, or 1.2%, to $78.73 a barrel as of 0923 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude added $1.03 or 1.4%, to $76.24.

“Infection rates are on the rise globally, restrictions are being introduced in several countries, the air travel sector, amongst others, is suffering, yet investors’ optimism is tangible,” said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM. “It seems that the current strain produces less severe symptoms than its predecessors,

which might just help us to struggle through the fourth wave of the pandemic.”

Last year, Brent rose 50%, spurred by the global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and OPEC+ supply cuts, even as infections reached record highs worldwide.

Some See more gainS in 20222: “Crude and oil product prices should benefit from oil demand moving above 2019 levels,” said a report from UBS

analysts including Giovanni Staunovo. “We expect Brent to rise into a $80-90 range in 2022.”

Omicron has brought record case counts and dampened New Year festivities around the world, with more than 4,000 flights cancelled on Sunday.

Nonetheless, an OPEC+ report seen by Reuters on Sunday, ahead of Tuesday’s policy meeting, said Omicron’s impact was expected to be mild and short-lived.

The auditors had also observed that the management of PSQCA headquarter in Karachi invested an amount of Rs727.256 million in TDRs of Karachi NBP High Court Branch for six months at 6.55 per cent, while the profit on investment amounting to Rs16.672 million was not realised by the bank which is another lapse on the part of the management.

Further, they observed that PSQCA made irregular and unauthorised investments worth Rs3.145 billion in violation of the instructions of the Finance Division.

In this regard, the authority’s management at the Karachi headquarter invested a total of Rs3.145 billion in TDRs with NBP from time to time whereas the audit observed that an investment beyond Rs10 million was made without the approval of the Ministry of Finance’s BoD. Similarly, another investment of over Rs10 million was made in another bank, again in violation of instructions from the Finance Division. This investment was rolled over out of the main revenue account from time to time without determining the limit of working balances and surplus funds in respect of revenue.

Telecom giants reject calls to halt 5G rollout WASHINGTON TLTP

AT&T and Verizon Communications have rejected calls by the US aviation authority to delay the introduction of 5G networks amid concerns they could interfere with aircraft electronics. The 5G networks will be put in operation in America on January 5, as originally planned, the CEOs of the two major telecom companies announced in a joint letter, RT reported. They dismissed requests made earlier by US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Steve Dickson to halt the rollout, stating it would be “an irresponsible abdication of the operating control required to deploy world-class and globally competitive communications networks.” AT&T and Verizon Communications did agree not to deploy 5G networks in the immediate vicinity of airports for six months.

However, the FAA and the aviation industry insist the exclusion zones the telecom companies have proposed are smaller than the ones initially requested. Concerns have been raised that 5G could get in the way of aircraft electronics such as radio altimeters, potentially disrupting thousands of flights daily, as claimed by the Airlines for America trade association. The president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) took to Twitter on Sunday, stressing that “safety” was the one and only reason why she and others in the industry called for the delay of the 5G rollout. AT&T and Verizon Communications parried those concerns by pointing to France where 5G networks were launched this fall, with safety zones around airports identical to those proposed by the telecom companies in the US. The CEOs’ joint letter charged that the “laws of physics are the same in the United States and France,” and hence, “If U.S. airlines are permitted to operate flights every day in France, then the same operating conditions should allow them to do so in the United States.” Commenting on the letter, the FAA said it was reviewing the message “from the wireless companies on how to mitigate interference from 5G C-band transmissions,” adding that “US aviation safety standards will guide our next actions.”

Tuesday, 4 January, 2022 | KARACHI

kAShMiRiS To obSERvE jANuARy 5 AS RiGhT To SElf-dETERMiNATioN dAy ISLAMABAD

P

aPP

EOPLE living across the Line of Control dividing Kashmir and the rest of the world will observe the Right to Selfdetermination Day on January 5 to remind the United Nations to implement its own resolutions on the dispute passed this day in 1949.

The day is observed every year to invite the attention of the international community and the United Nations towards the early grant of the right to the mountainous region through the implementation of the historic resolutions.

Official sources told the Associated Press of Pakistan that all necessary arrangements were being given final touches in Azad Jammu and Kashmir to observe the day to be followed by the public rallies, besides special gatherings and processions, in all 10 district headquarters of the liberated territory as the hallmark of the day.

The special meetings would highlight the importance of early grant

of the right to self-determination to the people of Kashmir — which was being suppressed and denied by India over the last six decades.

Speakers in these meetings will reiterate Kashmiris’ just and principled stance before the world that they (Kashmiris) would continue their

Senate body directs authorities to give protection to jokhio’s wife NeWS DeSk The Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights on Monday directed the relevant authorities to give protection to the widow of Nazim Jokhio (late). Earlier in November last year, the body of Nazim Jokhio was found inside a Malir farmhouse. The victim had died apparently after being thrashed with sticks and punches in a scuffle. Jokhio had stopped and filmed some foreigners while hunting rare houbara bustards in his native village in Thatta, according to the first information report (FIR) of the incident. “MPA Jam Awais alias Gohram, along with Niaz Salar, Ahmed Shoro, Haider Ali and Mehr Ali, killed my brother by kicking and punching, and beating him with batons close to the gate of Jam House,” the report had quoted victim’s brother Afzal Jokhio as telling the police.

On Monday, the Senate committee summoned the Sindh inspector general of police in the next round of its meeting in the case, besides directing that a weekly progress report shall be presented before the committee. The committee also agreed to constitute a fact-finding committee of senators to probe the matter. According to a news outlet, Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari, while addressing the session of the committee, said even if the family of Nazim Jokhio agrees to a “compromise” with the suspects, the state would pursue the case in court. She gave the example of Qandeel Baloch murder case, in which the state had become a complainant to bar the victim’s family from pardoning her killers.

struggle for the right to selfdetermination till the achievement of the ultimate goal.

They would particularly highlight the reality with the earnest demand about the early grant of the birthright of self-determination without further delay.

“It would be once again declared by the Kashmiris before the world, through the special meetings at both sides of the Line of Control and rest of the world that the Kashmir problem should be resolved only in accordance with the United Nations resolutions and no solution of the lingering global dispute sans the aspirations of the Kashmiris would be acceptable to them,” said former Mirpur Development Authority chairman Muhammad Siddique — one of the organisers of the special meetings scheduled for January 5 in Mirpur.

Siddique said participants of the scheduled rally would reiterate Kashmiris longstanding demand for the early settlement of the Kashmir dispute according to their wishes. A right to selfdetermination day rally will be held at district court premises in Mirpur on January 5. The procession will be taken out which will later converge into the special ceremony at the Kashmir Press Club hall under the auspices of Jammu Kashmir Free Media Association convener where speakers will highlight the importance of the day.

Pollution falls in Lahore, Dubai ranked worst for air pollution LAHORe sTaff RePoRT

The air pollution engulfed the Middle East on Monday as the port city of Dubai topped the list of cities with the worst air quality followed

by New Delhi.

Lahore plummeted to the third position after remaining on top for most of December. The air pollution levels in Bahawalpur and Mirpur Khas touched new heights.

The air quality index (AQI) levels of Lahore remained 290 while its posh neighbourhoods including Gulberg, Mall Road, Jail Road and Model Town were also not devoid of dirty air.

In Garhi Shahu, the AQI level was recorded 430, in Defence 429, Kot Lakhpat 410, Mall Road 390,

Gulberg 380, Anarkali 376, US consulate 372, and Model Town 370.

The health experts are urging people to use face masks to avoid smog-related diseases including throat, breathing, eyes and skin.

According to the metrological report, the weather will remain cloudy and there is a rain forecast for January 4-5. The temperature was recorded at 11 and humidity level was 80 percent.

NEWS

03

heavy rain expected to lash lahore ISLAMABAD sTaff RePoRT

Heavy rain has been forecast to hit Lahore as a first spell of snowfall resulted in further decreasing of the mercury in northern Pakistan including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. In an update, the Met Office said a strong westerly wave has entered western and upper parts of the country and may persist until January 7. The weather agency predicted rains in Lahore between January 4 and 7. Civic authorities have been advised to make adequate arrangements from the post-rain situations including flash flooding. Rain with isolated heavy falls is expected in Islamabad, Kashmir, GilgitBaltistan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Swabi, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Charsadda, Bajaur, Kurram, Waziristan, Kohat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Khushab, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore and Kasur until January 7. On the other hand, a large number of tourists thronged to the AJK region to enjoy the scenic views of snow-capped hills. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted the first spell of rain and snowfall in Balochistan and Sindh between January 3-5. Heavy Snowfall is also expected in Quetta, Pishin, Ziarat, Qilla Abdullah, Harnai, Chaman Murree, Galliyat, Neelum valley, Bagh, Haveli, Rawalakot, Naran, Kaghan, Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu, Astore, Chitral, Dir, Swat and Malam Jabba during the said period. Under the influence of this weather system rain with isolated heavy to very heavy falls is expected in Quetta, Ziarat, Pishin, Zhob, Qila Abdullah, Nokkundi, Dalbandin, Noshki, Turbat, Panjgur, Gwadar, Pasni, Jiwani, Lasbella, Kalat, Khuzdar, Mastung, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Jhalmagsi, Bolan, Sibbi, Kohlu, Barkhan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Rajanpur, Multan, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Okara, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan, Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Karachi, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Mirpurkhas and Khairpur until January 6.

Turkish inflation soars 36pc as lira crisis flares ISTANBUL ReuTeRs

Turkey’s annual inflation soared to its highest in 19 years, data showed on Monday, laying bare the depths of a currency crisis engineered by policies that the country’s president has espoused.

Consumer prices rose 36.08%, outstripping a median forecast of 30.6%, with staples such as transportation and food and drink – which took increasing shares of Turkish households’ incomes during 2021 – rising even faster. In December alone, CPI took a rare step into double-digits at 13.58%, the Turkish Statistical Institute data showed. Turkey’s lira shed 44% of its value last year as the central bank slashed interest rates under a drive by President Tayyip Erdogan to prioritise credit and exports over currency stability. On Monday it fell a further 4% to 13.7 against the dollar.

One economist forecast that inflation could reach as

high as 50% by spring unless the direction of monetary policy was immediately reversed.

“Rates should be immediately and aggressively hiked because this is urgent,” said Ozlem Derici Sengul, founding partner at Spinn Consulting in Istanbul.

The central bank was however unlikely to act, she added, and annual inflation “will probably reach 40-50%

by March”, by when administered price rises would have been added into the mix, including a 50% minimum wage hike. Last year was the worst for the lira in nearly two decades, while the annual CPI was the highest since the 37.0% reading of September of 2002, two months before Erdogan’s AK Party first took office. aLarm BeLLS For inVeSTorS, ConSUmerS: Erdogan, a self-declared enemy of interest rates, overhauled the central bank’s leadership last year. The bank has slashed the policy rate to 14% from 19% since September, leaving Turkey with deeply negative real

yields that have spooked savers and investors.

The subsequent accelerating surge in prices and drop in the lira have also upended household and company budgets, scuttled travel plans and left many Turks scrambling to cut costs. Many queued last month for subsidised bread in Istanbul, where the municipality says the cost of living is up 50% in a year.

The central bank has argued that temporary factors had been driving prices and forecast a volatile course for inflation, which – having been around 20% in recent months and mostly double-digits over the last five years – it said in October would end the year at 18.4%. read more Sengul suggested that, with Monday’s data, that argument had run its course. “This reflects a vicious cycle of demand-pull inflation, which is very dangerous because the central bank had implied the price pressure was from cost-push (supply constraints), and that it couldn’t do anything about it,” she said.

SBP launches licensing, regulatory framework for digital banks NeWS DeSk The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday unveiled a licensing and regulatory framework for digital banks with an aim to introducing a complete digital bank that will provide all the banking services from account opening to deposit and lending through digital means.

According to a statement issued by the central bank, “The framework for digital banks is the latest in a series of recent initiatives by the State Bank of Pakistan towards digitalisation of banking and payments solutions in the country.”

It said the licensing and regulatory framework contains details for setting up digital banks as a separate and distinct category in Pakistan.

Under this framework, the SBP said it may grant two types of digital bank licenses: Digital Retail Bank (DRB) and Digital Full Bank (DFB). DRBs will primarily focus on retail customers while DFBs can deal with retail customers as well as business and corporate entities.

“The framework mainly aims to enhance financial inclusion through affordable/cost effective digital financial services and is part of SBP’s comprehensive

efforts to promote digital financial services in Pakistan,” the central bank said.

The framework includes guidance regarding licensing requirements, potential sponsors and permissible use-cases during different phases. It also sets an expectation for applicants to have sound digital governance, robust, secure and resilient technology infrastructure, effective data management strategy and practices.

Under the framework, digital banks are required to maintain a principal place of business in Pakistan to house the offices of its management, staff, other

support operations and serve as the main point of contact for various stakeholders, including SBP and other regulators.

The SBP said that setting up digital banks will also require less capital when compared to the brick-andmortar banks currently in existence, encouraging new technology oriented entrepreneurs to enter this new realm of business.

Minimum capital requirement for DRBs is set at Rs1.5 billion during the pilot phase that will gradually increase to Rs4 billion over a transition period of three years.

Tuesday, 4 January, 2022 | KARACHI

04 NEWS

Major hospitals in rawalpindi faCe budget, staff Constraints

t

staff report

HREE major teaching hospitals in Rawalpindi, the Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, the Holy Family Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi faced budget and staff constraints as the incumbent government failed to increase the budget allocations in the year 2021 as well.

It is pertinent to note that these health facilities faced multiple issues including the heavy patient load, dearth of medicine, long dates for operations, unavailability of beds and overburden on doctors. The Holy Family Hospital, the oldest health facility in the city, has 900 beds. The Benazir Bhutto General Hospital has 750 beds while the District Headquarters Hospital has 400 beds.

In the last three years, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government has failed to increase the budget for the expansion of infra-

structure, increasing the number of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff even though thousands of patients from the twin cities, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa visit these hospitals annually.

The incumbent government has completed work on the up-gradation of the gynecology department at Holy Family Hospital at a cost of Rs 250 million while a neonatal ward has been set up at the Benazir Bhutto General Hospital.

The annual budget for the three hospitals stands at Rs6 billion and of which, 60 per cent is spent on salaries while 40 per cent is spent on medicine and other necessities. Sources said that the budget remains stagnant despite a five to 10 per cent per annum increase of the patient load in the three hospitals.

At the moment, the outpatient departments of the three hospitals receive more than 6,000 patients daily while the number

of patients coming to the emergency department stands at 30,00 daily. Given the high number of patients visiting the OPDs and emergency departments, the infrastructure is not only inadequate to handle the burden but these hospitals faced a shortage of doctors and nursing and paramedical staff.

According to the sources, the three overburdened hospitals were currently failing to cater to the needs of the patients.

Rawalpindi Medical University ViceChancellor Dr Muhammad Omar said that besides the Rawalpindi division, people from other parts of the country also visit the city hospitals for treatment.

“Hospital buildings and infrastructure are very old and Rawalpindi must have a new medical city on GT Road to cater to the needs of the growing population in a long term,” he said adding that the medical city will cater to the needs of medical education and research centres.

ANF bans carrying naswar while travelling to Gulf states

Citizens warned against using compressors app The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) has advised the citizens to use its helpline 1199 to report the use of gas compressors to ensure the equitable distribution of gas to consumers. “The SNGPL has taken strict action against the use of compressors which disrupt overall gas supply. Every year during winters, the use of compressors by some consumers deprives other consumers of gas,” the SNGPL said warn consumers against using gas compressors. “The cooperation of consumers is essential for the success of the crackdown campaign and therefore gas consumers have been requested to call SNGPL helpline 1199 to report the use of gas compressors,” it said. The SNGPL Rawalpindi region is taking action per the law against the users of compressors and disconnecting their gas supply connections on the violation. According to SNGPL Senior General Manager, Rawalpindi Region, Syed Mukhtar Ali Shah, an operation against the use of compressors was launched and efforts were underway to control the illegal practice of gas theft. “The SNGPL was not only catching compressors but disconnecting gas supply connections of the consumers for three months, he said advising the citizens not to use compressors for increasing the gas pressure as it was dangerous and an illegal act. He said that they had disconnected 115 connections of domestic consumers for using compressors and caught 217 compressors from different localities including Pirwdahi, Gulistan Colony, Adiala Road, Dhamiyal, Asghar Mall, New Lalazar, Jhanda Chichi and other areas. He requested the consumers to use gas-efficient devices, adding, people should use gas timer devices and conical baffles in water geysers and avoid using gas heaters. He said that an uninterrupted supply of gas to domestic consumers is the priority of the government. The supply of gas remains the same whole year but the demand for gas increases manifold in winter, he added. The consumers of all areas could enjoy full pressure gas if the use of compressors stops, he claimed. Deputy Commissioner, Rawalpindi Muhammad Ali has also assured to start action against shopkeepers who were selling gas-sucking compressors. He said that he has already received several complaints against the open sale of compressors in markets.

staff report The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) on Monday banned carrying naswar – an addictive substance mostly con-

sumed in Pakistan and Afghanistan, to Gulf states.

The force revealed that a passenger can be penalized as per the law of the destined country if he is found carrying naswar with him.

The authority has also put up banners on display at different airports across the country in this regard.

Earlier in June 2019, The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has placed a ban on carrying naswar on all domestic and international flights.

As per the notification, carrying naswar would also be considered a crime if recovered from luggage of any Hajj pilgrims.

In 2018, officials of the Pakistan Mission in Iraq had advised Pakistani nationals travelling to the republic to not carry naswar as many carrying the tobacco snuff were arrested in the Middle Eastern country.

The arrests were reportedly made at airports for carrying naswar, mostly used by Pashtuns, after the Iraqi officials considered it something used as drugs.

It is pertinent to note that a huge number of Pashtuns in or outside Pakistan use naswar as addiction and those living in Gulf countries for job, carry naswar from Pakistan or sometimes, prepare it abroad.

The market of naswar in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is estimated at around Rs6 billion annually.

The tobacco snuff is also used by people in Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh since a huge number of Pashtuns live in other parts of the country with almost 80% of the production is traced back to Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan districts.

JI challenges Sindh LG bill in High Court News Desk Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has challenged the Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the High Court which was passed in the Sindh Assembly last month despite the protest from the Opposition.

JI Amir from Karachi Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, while challenging the bill, stated that the bill was “illegal and in violation of Article 140A of the Constitution.”

Rehman has requested the court to stop the Sindh government from implementing the new Local Government Bill.

The petition contends that “despite majority votes, legislation contrary to the Constitution cannot be enacted.”

It is pertinent to note that that JI has been staging a protest outside the Sindh Assembly for the last four days against the local government system where a large number of participants, including children and elders, are also present.

Gardezi welcomes 21 pc increase in per acre yield of cotton in Punjab LaHore Staff RepoRt

Minister for Agriculture Punjab Syed Hussain Jahania Gardezi has welcomed 21 pc increase in per acre yield of cotton in Punjab Province.

Speaking to a delegation of farmers here, Gardezi said that cotton crop had been cultivated on 31.5

CMYK

lakh acres of area in Punjab – almost 17 percent less than previous year.

“Despite less cultivation, 51.68 lakh bales of cotton production has been recorded on and the average production remained 23.9 maund per acre. So,21 percent increase in per acre production of cotton in Punjab has been recorded which is a welcome sign,” said the minister.

The Minister further stated that the government has provided approved varieties’ cotton’s seeds to the farmers this year on subsidized rates and ran an awareness campaign under the IPM program for controlling the insects which resulted in increasing the production of cotton in Punjab. Gardezi said that farmers, Ginners and textiles

industry was happy with the increase in cotton production as compared to last three years.

“The increase in cotton production is due to the farmer’s friendly policies of Government, the staff of the agriculture department and farmers who burnt their midnight oil to get this increase in cotton production this year,” he concluded.

Tuesday, 4 January, 2022 | KARACHI

NEWS

Dr. Huma Baqai, Senator (R) Javed Jabbar, Dr. Junaid Ahmed and Syed Jawaid Iqbal speaking at a Seminar “Separation of East Pakistan, The Untold Story,” hosted by South Asia Forum.

ten officials of Islamabad police selected for haj duty, Igp felicitates the selectees iSLamaBad Press releAse

As many as 10 officials of Islamabad Police have been selected for Haj duty through a lucky draw held at Police Line Headquarters on Monday. IGP Muhammad Ahsan Younas has felicitated the selected officials. According to details, IGP Muhammad Ahsan Yousas Tanoli announced the names of officials selected for Haj duty through lucky draw held Police Line HQs. The elected officials include five principle list and five reserve and in case of lack of interest of any official, the reserve will replace him. DIG Law & Order Irfan Baloch, DIG Operations Awais Ahmed, AIG Establishment Naveed Atif, AIG Fahad Ahmad, SP Headquarters Arif Hussain Shah, DSP Headquarters Sajjad Hussain Bukhari, DSP PTS Najeeb Shah and others were present on the occasion. Selected officers and officials will perform the duties of assistance and guidance to Pakistani Haj pilgrims in KSA A total 2640 applications from all divisions of Islamabad Police were included in lucky draw. IGP Muhammad Ahsan Younas facilitating the selected officials expressed good wishes for them and expressed his hope that they would use their all capabilities to perform Haj duty in best possible way.

‘Underworld don’ responsible for attack on Bilal Yasin: police newS deSk According to sources, the police suspects involvement of an underworld don of Lahore in the armed attack on PML-N MPA Bilal Yasin. According to the police, the man resides in Dubai these days. However, he managed the attack through local criminals. The police official said this was unveiled when the police arrested a local weapon dealer and a suspect who was given the pistol that was later used in the attack. He said the police were planning to get the prime suspect extradited. As per the details, the ‘underworld don’ suspected that Yasin was instrumental behind the Lahore police’s massive action against his illegal businesses in the city. It is pertinent to note that two days earlier, Yasin was shot at and injured on Friday near his home in Lahore and fled. Eyewitness of the crime Muhammad Akram told the police that after injuring the MPA, the attackers left the scene after the attack and then returned again but the bullet got stuck in the chamber of the pistol. He said they fled the scene when some locals gathered there. A police official said the police found a pistol on the street the suspects had used in the attack. The police sent the pistol for forensic analysis. Medical Superintendent Dr Iftikhar Ahmad stated that MPA Yasin was recovering fast following the timely surgeries when he was shifted to the hospital with three bullet wounds. He said the doctors removed two bullets from his body – one from the abdomen and another from his leg – during operations. Luckily, he said, the bullets left no harm on any organ. Doctors declared his life out of danger on Sunday.

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SC gIveS SISteRS RIghtfUl InheRItAnCe In fAtheR’S pRopeRtY AfteR 38 YeARS

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newS deSk

HE Supreme Court (SC) has given sisters their due share in father’s property, after they have been deprived of it for over 38 years. It is pertinent to note that the SC issued the ruling while hearing a petition filed by their brother against a high court order.

In a three-page order, Justice Qazi Faez Isa noted that it was deplorable that the appellant managed to manipulate and remain in possession of the property for such a long period, adding that out of the six sisters who filed suit against the fraud, only two survive.

He went on to state that it was a matter of great regret that the brother did not abide by the Islamic laws and deprived the legal heirs of their respective shares as prescribed.

A division bench of the SC comprising Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Yahya Afridi in its order noted that the court examined the mutation wherein the acceptance of the gift by the appellant

was not mentioned.

The bench said the burden to establish the gift lay upon the appellant, which the latter failed to discharge, adding that the fact that it was made by his father on the very day that he died makes it extremely suspect and unreliable.

The bench observed that it also came in evidence that Ghulam Haider, the father of the siblings, had transferred the

gift to his son on May 3, 1983 – the very same day he passed away.

The gift mutation was assailed by six sisters of the appellant who filed a suit which was decreed and the appeal against the same was allowed on the ground that the suit was filed belatedly.

However, the well-reasoned judgment passed by the judge of the appellate court was set aside by the judge of

PBC announces strike on January 6 for Justice Ayesha’s appointment to SC newS deSk The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has announced to observe a strike on January 6, which is the day of the Judicial Commission (JCP) meeting, where the elevation of Lahore High Court Judge Ayesha Malik to the Supreme Court of Pakistan will be considered.

In this regard, PBC Vice-Chairman Khushdil Khan said that the council would observe a strike and completely boycott courts on the day of the JCP meeting.

Khan stated that Chief Justice Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed had already said that the matter of appointing new judges should be left to the incoming top judge.

Khan went on to say that he was unable to understand

what was the purpose of appointing Justice Malik to the apex court, adding that women judges can be appointed to the top court, but seniority should be considered.

It is pertinent to note that the CJP had proposed Justice Malik’s name for appointment to the Supreme Court for the second time last month.

Her elevation had remained inconclusive earlier in September due to a divide in the JCP, with four members opposing and four others supporting her elevation.

The matter was then deferred by the judicial commission. The JCP will reconsider elevating Justice Malik to the Supreme Court on January 6, 2022, despite opposition from the legal community, which believes judges should be appointed based on seniority.

the high court in the civil revision filed by the sisters.

The bench noted that since possession is with the appellant, execution has been filed.

“This is most unfortunate. First, retaining by fraudulent means the property and then compelling his sisters/their legal heirs to retrieve their God-ordained share by filing execution proceedings”, the order reads.

“Upon the death of a Muslim his/her legal heirs become the owners of the estate left by him/her and possession of any one of the co-owners is deemed to be the possession by all,” the order read.

“This coupled with the fact that the sisters themselves had filed a suit in their lifetime was sufficient to sustain it and the reason given by the learned Judge of the Appellate Court for setting aside the judgment of the Civil Judge was not sustainable, which was rightly set aside through the judgment. Neither the judgment of the Civil Judge nor that of the learned Judge of the High Court can be faulted”, says the order.

Islamabad offers Delhi to attend SAARC Summit virtually Continued from page 01 Talking about the fencing of PakistanAfghanistan border, he acknowledged that there are “some complications” pertaining to the fencing but added that the matter is being discussed with the Afghan Taliban government. Separately, talking to a news outlet, he said: “Certain miscreants are raising this issue unnecessarily, but we are looking into it and we are in contact with the Afghan government.

Hopefully, we would be able to resolve the issue diplomatically.”

PM Imran paid more income tax than Shehbaz, Bilawal, Gilani Continued from page 01 Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan Senator Faisal Subzwari, Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas and Punjab Prisons Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan were among several lawmakers that paid Rs2,000.

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Yousuf Raza Gillani and PML-N’s Azma Zahid Bokhari did not pay anything in taxes.

In the foreword, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin said that the FBR has been publishing the directory for the last six years.

However, this time special efforts were made to make the directory more informative “which will help not only in educating taxpayers but also in encouraging compliance with tax laws as a national duty,” he stated.

He went on to add that “the directory embodies

the government’s policy of better governance, accountability and transparency through public access to information” While addressing a ceremony held for launching the tax directory, Tarin said that it was important for parliamentarians to make their tax returns public as it would ensure transparency and set an example for others.

“The government is unable to help the common man because we are unable to fulfil our current expense from this revenue. So, for development expenditure we have to take loans,” he said.

He went on to highlight the importance of paying taxes, adding that it was imperative that everyone in the country paid taxes and that there should be no “sacred cows”.

Tarin also called for simplifying the tax system.

“We take withholding taxes because we are unable to collect it from other means. We should have two kinds

of taxes: income tax and consumption tax. There should be no other taxes apart from this.”

The minister said that the country should move towards “progressive taxation”.

He said that the government was focusing on increasing the tax net, adding that there were three million taxpayers in the country. He said that the FBR will now send notices to those who are not paying taxes based on the information from their ID cards, bank accounts and utility bills.

“This will not be harassment but we will put the facts and figures in front of them,” he said, adding that this will be done in a “knowledgeable, organised and objective” manner.

The minister also said that the taxation system in Pakistan had a lot of “distortions”. “Some are taken at a federal level, some at a provincial level [but] we do not speak to each other,” he said, adding that authorities were now moving towards “tax harmonisation”.

Senior journalist Fawad Awan dies in Jaranwala road mishap faiSaLaBad APP

Senior journalist Fawad Azam Awan lost his life in a road mishap in Jaranwala on Saturday, police and rescuers said.

The accident took place between Adda Awagat and Chak No. 68/GB Jaranwala in morning hours. The victim was riding a bike and was trying to overtake a trailer loaded with sugarcane at the time of the mishap.

Due to the mishap, 37-year-old Fawad lost his life. The dead body was shifted to THQ Hospital Jaranwala.

Fawad Azam, the younger brother of Farooq Azam Awan, Managing Editor, Daily Times, was associated with the Associated

Press of Pakistan as News Reporter and was council member of Lahore Press Club. He was considered a hardworking and upright journalist in Lahore’s media industry.

Journalist community from Lahore expressed deep sense of sorrow over the tragic demise of Fawad and sympathies with the bereaved family.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar also expressed a deep sense of sorrow and grief over the sad demise of council member of Lahore Press Club and senior reporter APP. He extended heartfelt sympathies and condolence with the bereaved family and prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and strength to the

bereaved family members with fortitude.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and Minister of State Farrukh Habib on Saturday expressed grief and sorrow over the demise of Associated Press of Pakistan’s (APP) senior journalist Fawad Azam in a traffic accident in Lahore.

In their separate condolence messages, they sympathized with the family of Fawad Azam and said journalistic services of the deceased would be remembered long.

They prayed to the Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to members of the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.

CmYk

06-07 Comments - 4th January 2022_Layout 1 1/3/2022 10:17 PM Page 1

Tuesday, 4 January, 2022

06 COMMENT

Iqbal’s ‘reconstruction’ project

Eliminating corruption and sex crimes Islamic scholars advise PM Khan

And four areas of study in Islam

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MRAn Khan believes that the Muslim countries in general, and Pakistan in particular, confront two major problems i.e., corruption and sex crimes against women and children. He took up the issue while speaking at an online dialogue with global Muslim scholars, under the purview of the national Rehmatul-lil-Aalameen Authority (nRAA). Imran Khan has gone back on his preelection claims of putting an end to corruption in a few months after coming to power. He maintains now that while it might be possible to curb corruption at a limited level but not when it thrives in the lower ranks of bureaucracy. Similarly widespread sex crimes against women and children cannot be controlled by the government. PM Khan has finally concluded that society itself must fight sex crimes and corruption. This amounts to a confession that the PTI government is unable to put an end to what it considers to be the two major problems facing the country.

Religious scholars belonging to Muslim countries who spoke at the online dialogue took no notice of corruption as if this was not a matter of major concern. A scholar from the United Kingdom agreed that mobile phones and internet played a major role in disseminating obscene and pornographic material. He conceded however that internet was not something that could be regulated by individual nation states.

Every scholar presented a unique solution. The way out suggested by a UAE scholar was to raise the spiritual level of the youth so that they could attain ‘Sakinah’, which means peacefulness of mind. Another scholar advised guiding the youth through teachings of Islam that were authentic and pertained to the challenges they faced. A Turkish academic advised encouraging the youth to develop intellectual independence by following Sunnah. A prominent intellectual wanted Muslim countries that possessed tremendous resources to utilize these to revive and preserve their culture on the basis of faith. PM Khan concluded the discussion saying that such thought-provoking sessions would be held once a month or two months. Maulana Tariq Jamil’s motivational lecture to FBR officers had failed to produce the desired effect. Whether these lectures will make government officials follow a righteous path or reduce crimes against women and children remains to be seen.

HASAN AFTAB SAEED

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n the late 1920s, Allama Iqbal gave a series of three lectures on Islam at Madras and Hyderabad. He then wrote three more lectures, after which a series of six lectures was delivered at the Aligarh University. During his visit to England for the Round Table Conference, he delivered a seventh lecture to the Aristotelian Society entitled ‘Is Religion Possible’. In book form, the ‘Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam’ consists of these seven lectures. There are any number of details where one could agree (and disagree) with the contents of these lectures, especially after so much time has passed since their publication. However, there is much misunderstanding regarding the very premise and goal of these lectures – which could not have been any more justified and noble. This needs to be addressed.

The distinction some people fail to appreciate is between reconstruction of Islamic thought and reconstruction of Islam itself. To understand this distinction is to go a long way towards the reconstruction itself.

Of course, Iqbal could never have presumed to improve upon the foundations of Islam. He merely aimed at improving the application of those principles to contemporary challenges, to the dismay of those who were (and always are) looking for a ‘new’ Islam; and to the

Fifth wave begins

W

ITH Pakistan reporting over 700 new cases in a day yesterday for the first time since October, it seems that the fifth wave of Covid-19 is now upon us. The fresh spike in cases is driven by the latest variant of the virus, Omicron, which evidently spreads much faster than its predecessor Delta, that has infected major cities across the globe forcing some to enter partial or full lockdowns. Karachi is fast emerging as the epicenter of the new variant where the highest number of Omicron cases in the county have been detected. Although Pakistan was quick to restrict inward flights from countries where it had already spread early on when the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Omicron as a variant of concern, it was only a matter of time that the virus would penetrate through those defenses. That the uptick, which is being experienced currently, was being expected later in the month by the national Institute of Health, proves just how unpredictable Covid-19 is and Omicron even more so.

With confirmation from the nCOC that the fifth wave has not only begun but is spreading at a fast pace, there are measures that must be taken immediately to avoid a scenario that cripples the health system and the death rate increases. Apart from a general preparation of special health facilities, including plans to convert large closed spaces, such as exhibition centres, into isolation wards, there must be a special effort to procure required quantities of oxygen. The country was spared some of the worst aspects of the delta variant, which ran amok all over the world, but especially in our Eastern neighbor. It is good to see there has been no let-up in the vaccination programme, for while it seems the omicron variant is not invulnerable to the vaccine, it does afford a degree of protection, though a booster shot has been recommended. This momentum should continue, with a focus on ensuring that the older section of the population that is most vulnerable and likely to end up in hospital is fully vaccinated and receives the booster shot as well. Timely implementation of partial lockdowns and enforcement of mask wearing and social distancing protocols is critical to stop the spread as well. As always, there is a limit to how much the government can do and it is the social responsibility of the citizenry to exercise caution, for their sakes and others.

Crucial lessons for 2022 hand, the coming of Pandemic Covid-19 motivated us to give more to others and inspired us for kindness and charity for needy people across the world.

Dr rAjkumAr SiNgH

F

OR the last two years since the eruption of Pandemic Covid -19 our life activities remained paused due to changes that it brought in the daily life of the people almost across the world and new physical and mental stamina is yet to come to make the living fully normal as it was in pre-disaster phase. In fact, it was a human disaster which affected more than two hundred countries and locked all human wish by putting them in a state of house-arrest with utmost in-house precautions and we were bound to live with anxiety, isolation, and frequent loss of love ones forever, who till recent lived with us attached in the beautiful chain of individual, family and social relationships. In the phase of Pandemic nothing appeared permanent as plans of everyone stood cancelled or constantly changing because of influence of this health emergency. During the periods we all were immunity conscious to live with good health in all the time irrespective of their age, climate and place and it became undeniable fact of life to protect our body against viral invaders. The major problem of the time was how to eat, how much to sleep and what type of exercises to complete. Physical apart, there were several mental issues like, depression, isolation, loneliness, mental stress and psychological problems while, before the daily bread earners, shortage of cash and other household goods remained at the top of priorities. Closure of schools and colleges and several restrictions in public places minimised children’s outer activities. Suddenly, people learnt how to live simply with life-supportive activities, such as, more sleep, meditation, eating well, feeling lighter despite external chaos. On the other

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perament even if nothing of the sort is there in the text.

Many a rationalist tends to declare various verses of the Quran (pertaining to miracles, for example) allegorical or figurative when the context clearly does not allow it. The rationalist finds it impossible to believe in ‘unscientific’ occurrences of any kind when one of the first things the Quran invites men to believe is the greatest ‘unscientific’ event of all: the Judgment Day. One gets a completely different (and a much more consistent) religious worldview if one makes it a point to understanding everything else in the light of the Quran. now, every Muslim, at least in theory, claims to do that. Unfortunately, it is the practice that leaves much to be desired. And this is not a recent phenomenon either, by any stretch of the imagination. There is a long history of Muslims not granting the Quran the central and governing position that it deserves. It was the accumulated confusion in the resulting religious thought of Muslims that prompted Iqbal to stress the need of a reconstruction.

It is often lamented by those sympathetic to Iqbal’s project that he could not finish the project to anybody’s satisfaction. It is easy to overlook the fact that much of this reconstruction has already taken place, mainly by the efforts of the Farahi school. Even here, Iqbal’s contribution goes much beyond pointing out the need of the project. For he is one of the very few prominent personalities in the entire history of Islam (along with Maulana Farahi and his disciples) who were vigorous advocates of giving the Quran the pride of place (not merely in words but in practice) when it came to the overall understanding of the religion.

Again, if you are of a philosophical outlook and have studied Western philosophy’s criticisms of Islam and the kalam arguments aimed at refuting them, you will be apt to read into the Quran what suits your temperament even if nothing of the sort is there in the text.

Covid-19 pandemic

Sooner than expected

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

alarm of those who thought there was nothing wrong whatsoever with religious thought as it was. A deeper understanding of what Iqbal meant by reconstruction would necessitate a brief survey of Islamic thought and what it is composed of.

Scholars of Islam have traditionally studied four broad areas, although to be able to access these four areas, many other branches of scholarship are necessary – language, syntax, morphology, rhetoric, textual analysis, and study of chain of transmission and biographical evaluation, to name but a few. Those who are not scholars but who think of their religion as more than a list of dos and don’ts also, of necessity, find themselves having to deal with these four areas. These four areas are the Quran, hadees (prophetic narrations), fiqh (jurisprudence) and kalam (philosophy). now, it so happens, that emphasis on any one area grossly affects how one understands the others as well.

If, for example, you are influenced by hadees more than the other areas, you may take as final the pronouncements of a narration that in your opinion satisfies the conditions of correct transmission, even though an explicit Quranic verse may state the exact opposite. Of course, you would not dismiss the Quranic verse in so many words – instead, you would take the position that the verse could not possibly mean what it appears to mean.

Similarly, if you are one of those who put their unshakable faith in the work of the jurists who maintain that the punishment for this or that crime is such-and-such, you are likely to conclude that a Quranic verse that is incompatible with that stance must mean something else. Again, if you are of a philosophical outlook and have studied Western philosophy’s criticisms of Islam and the kalam arguments aimed at refuting them, you will be apt to read into the Quran what suits your tem-

OmicrOn: The new varianT: Despite vaccination of Covid-19 single dose to most of the people of the world and second dose to near fifty percent of global population along with beginning of buster or precautionary dose in developed countries including India in January 2022, the fear of its spreading looms large all over the globe and it’s a matter of close concern for nations of the globe.

In European countries including the US and Britain and other advanced countries, still there id no respite from the disease and waves of infections continuously occurring affecting lakhs of people with significant death rates while in many Asian nations due to increase of cold the second/third wave approached and many states/ regions have started imposing Covid-19-related precautions, particularly in South Indian states it relaxed hardly specially in Kerala and Tamil nadu which registered significant number of Covid patients on regular basis. The current variant of the Pandemic called Omicron. The World Health Organisation (WHO), on 26 november 2021 designated the variant as B.1.1.529 and named Omicron and issued advisory on the basis of evidences presented in its different forms. As per the decision of WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAGVE), it has several mutations that have an impact on behaviours and it spreads easily with severity of illness. There onwards, it has expanded in many countries of the world like Covid-19 and nation’s governments are revamping their health systems to fight the virus and check/control it at the earliest. Beginning in South Africa first, the new variant is more transmissible compared to other variant, like Delta, and today can be found in most countries of the world with difference in number and severity of illness, but people with the history of Covid-19 infection more likely to be its easy prey than others and recovery periods may prolong for days or weeks.

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showed its presence and also spreading with speed are facing both types of infections simultaneously. In many countries of the globe Covid-19 infected people are coming in number of lakhs and the new variant has also registered its presence. Although, people with both doses of vaccines are safer than others but still they are facing the after effects of Covid-19 and fearful about this new variant. In most countries’ booster dose have also been initiated to avoid further infection of virus and make people healthy and fit, it is taking more time than assumed by many and likely to continue the whole of the year 2022. In the situation, the new normal of post-Covid phase is something different to which we are not yet accustomed. In earlier days we don’t take self-care seriously, moving more frequently, least care about immunity, no mask no distance no sanitation or washing of hands by habit. now, in the same kind of situation, we try new things and pandemic-related precautions like more focus on reducing stress, boosting immunity, getting more rest, different ways of connecting others, socializing outside, maintaining safe distance and to be more acquainted with social media.

In addition, apart from physical precautions there are number of mental or psychological tips that must be followed in the coming year.

Again, if you are of a philosophical outlook and have studied Western philosophy’s criticisms of Islam and the kalam arguments aimed at refuting them

Presence Of bOTh: cOvid-19 and OmicrOn: In most of the countries where Omicron has

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hOPes and exPecTaTiOns: With the presence of both types of infectionsCovid-19 and Omicron, people all over the world are fearful about its severity as they have witnessed in last two years, however, the availability of different vaccines and most of the people taken the required dose its effects are hoped to be less, if not least. At the same time the WHO and its entire team of experts are busy day and night in getting the rid of this deadly disease which took the costly life of lakhs of people across the world. The intensive and extensive way of studying the virus with its new variants- delta and Omicron etc., are on to suggest preventive as well as curative methods for the welfare of whole humanity. In the context, several developed countries of the world are also busy in making the perfect/long lasting vaccines and medicines to defeat the infection at the earliest in a short span of time to save human life, money and resource as well. Despite all odds it is clear that the worst has become the thing of past and a better future is in the pipeline which will see the light of the day in 2022.

The writer is head of the political science department and dean of the Social Sciences faculty of the B.N.Mandal University, Madhepura, Bihar, India.

He can be reached at rajkumarsinghpg@gmail.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

06-07 Comments - 4th January 2022_Layout 1 1/3/2022 10:17 PM Page 2

Tuesday, 4 January, 2022

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

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

Modernization doesn’t mean westernization

Challenges for the US (Part 2) the pillars of America’s unique enterprise.

America faces a fateful crossroad in 2022

Dr AloN BEN mEir The scOurge Of guns: The scourge from which Americans suffer greatly is the pervasiveness of guns. This year upward of 40,000 Americans were killed by a firearm. Just imagine, as of 2018, Americans possess 120.5 firearms for every 100 residents—translate that to 400 million guns in the United States, enough to provide 8 firearms to every soldier in the world. nearly five million children live in a home where a firearm is loaded and unlocked, and women are five times more likely to be murdered by an abusive partner when the abuser has access to a gun. But there is no outrage. We shout and scream about the need for gun control laws. Gun advocates and the nRA say cynically, guns don’t kill people. But guns do kill people when there is easy access to a gun.

How many more school shootings must we endure? How many innocent children must die in vain? When will we wake up from this nightmarish, uniquely American reality? Tragically, as many if not more people will be killed by a gun in 2022, and all of our best wishes for the new year will not save any lives. We must legislate gun control now, before another 40,000 innocent persons are shot to death. Their blood is on the hands of every lawmaker that refuses to support sensible gun control laws, as one more person killed by a gun is one too many.

We must engage in massive and continuing peaceful demonstration and civil disobedience until lawmakers come to their senses and enact gun control law. racial and eThnic discriminaTiOn: The racial wage gap is the same as it was in the 1950s, with Black workers receiving 22 percent less in salary than whites. Even where racial discrimination should not occur, in medical treatment, doctors regularly prescribe fewer pain medications for Black patients, believing that they feel less pain than whites.

Blacks are incarcerated at more than five times the rate of whites; while they are 13 percent of the total US population, they constitute 40 percent of the total male prison population.

Roughly one out of every three Black boys and

one of every six Latino boys born today will go to prison in his lifetime, while for white boys it is approximately one in seventeen. The average white family’s net worth is more than ten times greater than a Black family.

The pandemic has affected Americans disproportionately by race and ethnicity. American Indian, Alaska native, Hispanic, and Latinos are 1.6 times more likely to contract COVID than white Americans and over twice as likely to die from the disease. And when it comes to the right to vote, leave it to the Republicans to enact any archaic rule or law to reduce the number of people of color exercising their right, as they deem them illegitimate voters in white America. This continuing and willful discrimination is destroying our social cohesiveness and the values that that we hold so high. Discrimination will not end in 2022, but we must begin to address this scourge, which fundamentally erodes the social fabric of our society.

media under aTTack: Although America still largely enjoys freedom of the press, the media is under serious threat. Trump’s attacks on the media were routine, calling them the “enemy of the people” and coining the phrase “Fake news,” as he viewed the media as a threat to his authoritarian design. Unregulated social media contributes significantly to the dissemination of misinformation and promotion of violence, and major news stations such as Fox news spread lies and conspiracy theories galore. Police continue to target journalists, such as freelance photojournalist Jeremy Portje, who was arrested and charged with two misdemeanors and a felony last month while documenting a homeless encampment in Sausalito, CA. At a Portland, OR protest, independent photojournalist Grace Morgan said she was shoved by a police officer with his gun.

Following last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests, where journalists were handcuffed, shoved, and shot at with less-lethal ammunition, at least 110 journalists were arrested or criminally charged in relation to their reporting.

Around 300 journalists were assaulted in 2020, and there were more than 930 total incidents in 79 cities. next year will not be a banner year for American journalists unless we use our own tools and fight with the might of our pens, allowing no one to tamper with our freedom to unveil the corrupt politicians who feel menaced by the press.

After all is said and done, my faith in America will never wane. The challenges in 2022 may well be insurmountable, but then again, we have overcome so many adversities before, and can do it again and emerge ever stronger, as long as we put America’s national interests above any political partisan agenda. America’s star will never fade away, and we will always rise to the call of the hour. This is the America that I know.

And so, with pride and a deep sense of gratification I wish a happy new year to all, and may God bless America.

Police continue to target journalists, such as freelance photojournalist Jeremy Portje, who was arrested and charged with two misdemeanors and a felony last month while documenting a homeless encampment in Sausalito, CA. At a Portland, OR protest, independent photojournalist Grace Morgan said she was shoved by a police officer with his gun.

cOnTemPT fOr immigranTs: This is a country of immigrants, who made America great—enriching our cultural diversity, contributing momentously to our scientific endeavors, and enhancing every walk of life. They farmed the land, built houses and roads, and made the land of plenty richer and better.

What happened under Trump’s tenure is beyond contempt— children separated from their parents, held in cages unfit for domestic animals, and asylum seekers removed by brutal force. All migrants are entitled to dignity and respect for their human rights. Though we all want to believe that Trump’s treatment of immigrants was an aberration, to this day we still do not have a sound immigration policy. not when at least 650 immigrants died this year, attempting to cross the US-Mexico border. not when smugglers are forcing immigrants from Mexico and Central America to live in camps and work on farms in the state, an illegal enterprise akin to modern-day slavery. not when some died, and others were repeatedly raped.

Sadly, what was once the spring of American pride, our treatment of immigrants became the source of disgrace and shame. As 2022 rolls around, no amount of wishful thinking will change this sad reality. We need a comprehensive immigration policy to bolster once again

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

WE all have been familiar with modernization. It means to have or do everything in accordance with the present era, carrying out as all as society is doing can be defined as modernization. It is the process of bringing things to the current state of the art. On that account, it makes our lives easy and comfortable. Through modern techniques and processes quality of life is maximized and possibilities of risk are minimized. With modern education, we can advance in science and technology. With modern means of transportation, we can fly around the world in hours. Although there are also many drawbacks and faults within the modern world, its complications and troubles are of no matter as compared to its services and satisfactions.

We are adopting everything of west except somewhat morals. The morals of the west are risky and threatening, we must not make use of western morals otherwise we would go beyond the margins and perimeters of our religion. We have been already given the code of life, which is perfect. Therefore, we should not adopt western culture instead we can be modern in our own way.

There is one best example of ‘modern but not western’, it’s Japan.

Japan is a developed country which is modern but not western. It had made advancement on scientific grounds. Take notes that they hadn’t adopted western-based values and cultures. Their food, dressing, way of life and everything is in keeping with their own Japanese civilization.

There are a family and community system, unlike other Western countries. It is the real definition of modernization, from the example of Japan it is believed that modernization is possible without adopting western culture and civilization.

In our community, the use of western products and tools is considered a symbol of status. It is fine to be modern but firstly we ought to understand the difference between modernization and westernization.

Modernization means to follow the society you are living in and if you are not adopting things according to your society and embracing western culture in your daily life then it is defined as westernization.

MUZAFFAR KHOSO SUKKUR

Empiricism EMPIRICISM has been one of the most influential movements in the evolution of western philosophical thought. The founding fathers of western empiricism were John Locke in general and David Hume in particular. David Hume, an English philosopher, who took birth in the era of brutality and the dark ages of the west was deeply averse to the Church authorities.

He believed that human experience is an unparallel source of getting knowledge of the world. He was the one who denied the concept of casualty which was a benchmark of his predecessors. He reasoned that if we believed that there was some kind of a connection between the events followed by one another, the cycle would keep going on unstoppably. He raised the question that why did man decide on the basis of his habit, memory and experience that every incident of human life is interrelated with his past one? now, if we take a glimpse over that claim we can easily find some faults. If the past event has no connection with the present one, the whole concept of cause and effect is wiped out. For instance, how does fire engulf the whole forest if there is no cause behind it? How does a ball turn back whenever hit on the wall?

Moreover, Hume also negated the existence of God. He said that if God were there, man should not have relied on his help. A man should be able to use his empiricism in order to weather the storms of his life. He himself was a mysterious and doubtful human being. He once said, “There is no certain knowledge of anything.” Despite him being in a state of denial about God, he would sometimes say, “There is someone who is God.” If it were the case, would he be talking about the inner conscience of man? That remains undefined. Once he was asked about the life after death, to which he responded, “Is it possible that the coal is put in the fire and the fire doesn’t catch it up?” nonetheless, David Hume was the one who rendered the world an impactful philosophical idea of empiricism.

He is rightly called “the Voltaire of England.”

AWAIS AHMED LAHORE

The future of newspapers THE oldest medium of mass communication we are historically conscious of is the print media. The human experience offers us an example of the first use of signs, banners and pictures to communicate messages. The handmade press was first founded in the 10th century.

Book printing began in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. Since social media developed at the time of imperialism, mass media at first faced a number of constraints.

However, in history, the print media, particularly newspapers, are considered revolutionary because when they began they brought a revolution there. In the minds of the rulers, the advent of print media produced doubts and they took it as a challenge to their rule. The rulers believed that citizens would become conscious of their rights and question their authority. So most of Europe’s rulers took it as a rebellion and declared the citizens participating in mass media capital punishment.

Without a doubt, newspapers will survive with a further decline in market shares. There are likely to be little literacy shifts or other variables linked to possible readership increases in the near future. All digital features such as the internet, four-colour offset printing, electronic newsrooms and many such devices are available in newspaper publishing houses today.

A tablet newspaper with an LCD screen where the content can be collected via telephone lines or cables may be the future of the newspaper.

It was possible to view anything on the screen at the click of a button.

Another big change may be that it is possible to customize a newspaper, and people will just get to read the items that concern them. In this way, readers can exert a lot of influence over the newspaper’s content, although only a few individuals would have access to such electronics.

MUHAMMAD USMAN ISLAMAbAD

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Tuesday, 4 January, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

QAssem soleimAni’s AssAssinATion hAs bAckfired on The Us And isrAel Middle east eye MArco cArnelos

T

wO years have passed since Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of iran’s islamic revolutionary Guard corps (irGc), was killed by a US drone strike on the tarmac of Baghdad airport.

Soleimani was the brain behind iran’s shadow war in the middle east, and for years the counterpart of US central command (centcom) leaders and cia directors, as he boasted about in a text message he allegedly sent to General David Petraeus, the former US military commander in iraq. in the process, Soleimani became a local hero against western hegemony in the region, the main enabler of the resistance for large Shia constituencies spread around iran, iraq, Syria, Lebanon, afghanistan, Yemen and Gaza. But he also crossed the sectarian divide, garnering significant support from the Kurds and other Sunnis. millions turned out onto the streets of Tehran and his hometown of Kerman to see his coffin, in a collective show of grief not seen since the funeral of ayatollah Khomeini in 1989.

For the west, israel, their arab partners, the Syrian opposition to Bashar al-assad, and the Yemeni opposition to the Houthis, he was the mastermind of iran’s many acts of terror. But has his assassination significantly

altered the middle east’s strategic landscape? Has his removal fulfilled the purpose for which it was conceived?

NO IMMINENT THREAT: more has come out about the assassination. at the time, the Donald Trump administration claimed that Soleimani was killed to preempt a major strike that he was planning.

This has now been debunked. There was no imminent threat from iran against US personnel in the region to justify the strike carried out in Baghdad on 3 January 2020. more recently, Trump has hinted about israeli manipulation behind his decision to eliminate the top iranian strategist, adding unequivocally, however, that ″the israelis are willing to fight iran until the last american soldier″. Trump’s statement was ambiguous, but major General Tamir Hayman, former chief of israeli military intelligence, was not.

He confirmed israel’s role in the killing. if Jerusalem had then nurtured any hope to remain shielded from Tehran’s wrath, Trump’s and Hayman’s words have dashed it. israeli decision-makers should keep in mind that, as observed previously, Tehran’s response to Soleimani’s killing could take years to unfold.

The then prime minister of israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, thought he was being clever in persuading Trump to withdraw from the iran nuclear deal, the Joint comprehensive Plan of action (JcPOa), in 2018, and apparently twisted his arm in doing the dirty work of Soleimani’s elimination for israel. However, it is becoming clear that neither decision served israel’s national interest, not to mention that of the US. Thanks to washington’s withdrawal from the JcPOa, Tehran is now closer than ever to the nuclear threshold.

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS: as far as the strategic landscape of the region is concerned, it is doubtful that the relative position of israel or the US has improved. True, israel has carried out a smart engagement policy with some arab states, which has pro-

duced significant economic results, mainly with the Uae. important developments are also forthcoming with Bahrain and morocco, but it is still too early to say if they will have a strategic impact. Until Saudi arabia, jewel in the crown of israeli normalisation with the arab world, joins the abraham accords, the judgment remains suspended.

On the other hand, and enlarging the perspective, there have been some other important developments: The US has humiliatingly withdrawn from afghanistan, losing the game in central asia, with potentially serious repercussions in western asia, too; the iraqi parliament has voted for the US’s complete withdrawal from the country; the Syrian government maintains and consolidates its grip on the useful part of its country, as once-hostile arab leaders are now increasingly going back to Damascus; and Hezbollah continues to hold sway over the Lebanese political landscape.

Further, the Houthis, no matter how heavily Saudi arabia is bombing Yemen, are close to winning the strategic city of marib, one of the most important Saudi strongholds in the country. Hamas still holds Gaza - last spring israel, for the first time in its history, saw its arab citizens siding with the Palestinians protesting in the street of Jerusalem, leaving the chilling sensation of a possible civil war inside the country. if the principals behind Soleimani’s killing bet on iran’s self-deterrence, they miscalculated, as the bombing of the US alasad base in iraq has proven - a far more damaging and accurate attack than it was initially considered. in addition, US and israeli naval warfare against Tehran, intended to stop oil supplies to Syria, has now ceased after iran’s reprisals; joining the abraham accords has not prevented delegations from riyadh and abu Dhabi from going to Tehran - these Gulf states both know how vital a non-aggression pact with their neighbour is. They also know

Why prices will keep soaring in 2022

CNN Anneken TAppe

A

merica is finishing the year with decades-high inflation. That doesn’t bode well for 2022. Prices have climbed so high it will take some time for them to come back down to earth. in other words, the uncomfortable inflation numbers of 2021 will likely stay with us well into the New Year.

The most recent price data we have is from November, when two of the most watched inflation measures — the consumer price index and the personal consumption expenditure index — each climbed to a 39-year high. The latter index is what the Federal reserve pays the most attention to when assessing the nation’s inflation.

There’s some room for optimism: The central bank, which is tasked with keeping prices stable, is rolling back its pandemic stimulus and is expected to raise interest rates next year to tame inflation and stop the economy from overheating. and last month’s data actually showed that prices increased at a slower rate in November than in October for both the cPi and the Pce indices. That’s good news, even though the slowdown was small at only 0.1 percentage points.

But here’s the thing: economists prefer to look at price movements over a period of time, usually 12 months. So a small slowdown like November’s won’t move the needle just yet. in fact, it might take months for these incremental slowdowns to show up in the data. after a year of prices soaring on high demand and supply chain chaos, a lot of big numbers are baked into the 12-

month data set. even if inflation suddenly falls off a cliff, it would take time for the leading indices to reflect that. This is what Fed chair Jerome Powell is talking about when he mentions “base effects.”

WHY WILL INFLATION REMAIN HIGH? Several factors are keeping prices elevated. One is the supply chain chaos that came to a head last summer. even though some bottlenecks have eased, the issues are not fully resolved. and as long as it’s more expensive — and takes more time — to move goods around the world, higher transport costs will likely be passed down to consumers. another big contributor is the high cost of commodity prices, leading to surging energy and food costs. Prices in both sectors have soared this year and added a good chunk to the inflation we have already seen. in the case of food, high prices have forced some consumers to buy less or switch stores. economists don’t expect that to get any better next year. aside from high demand and shipping costs, rising prices for fertilizer and continued bad weather could keep food prices high even as other pandemic fueled inflation pressures ease. rising rents also remain a concern.

This is important because housing represents a big percentage of what people spend money on. if rents eat up a bigger piece of the pie, consumers might wind up spending less, which would be bad news for the recovery. in November, rent rose 0.4% for the third month in a row, according to economists at Bank of america, and that points to higher and more persistent inflation going forward.

The “recent broadening of inflationary pressure has coincided with a notable pickup in rental inflation,” said Peter B. mccrory, economist at JPmorgan, “which jumped to its highest monthly rate in 20 years in the September cPi report and has stayed firm since then.” and then there’s Omicron.

Several countries, including the United States, have seen record high covid-19 infections in recent weeks because of the rapidly spreading variant. if this leads to a new round of lockdowns, it could once again change the way consumers spend and boost demand for stay-at-home goods.

Perhaps more importantly, Omicron could impact energy prices: if restrictions return and people travel less, the lowered energy demand would mean prices ease, and that would help bring inflation back down.

that israel cannot fill the vacuum left by the US partial withdrawal from the region, and they are increasingly at odds with washington over the depth of the US security commitment. and, finally, a new iranian leadership is changing the country’s attitude to nuclear negotiation, as it casually disregards any western pressure against it. Put it all together and it is difficult to argue that iran is more deterred than it was before Soleimani’s killing.

HIS AUTHORITY WAS UNDISPUTED: Soleimani represented a reliable interlocutor to call to de-escalate moments of crisis. He was the equivalent of the famous telephone number in europe that Henry Kissinger searched for in the 1970s. in a region that is so volatile, secure and confidential communication channels should be maintained. The irGc’s commander was a master of the region’s highly complex and over nuanced dynamics. when it was necessary, he kept his turbulent proxies under control. Finding a worthy successor has been difficult for iran, as the latest developments in iraq have shown. any professional involved in the shadowy world of intelligence in the middle east will tell you that a person as important as Soleimani should not have been eliminated His authority was undisputed, as was his ability to present effectively and quickly any case to his top decision-makers in Tehran.

The void he left has not been filled. any serious professional involved in the shadowy world of intelligence and asymmetric warfare in the middle east will tell you that a person as important as Soleimani should not have been eliminated. His intrinsic value in maintaining a modicum of stability, and in avoiding dangerous miscalculations and escalations, outweighed any benefits that could arise from his death.

Only neophytes like Trump, or israelis who had a short-term interest in conflict generation like Netanyahu, could go that far; and, if the intent was to push iran back, they

have failed abysmally. The man who is talked about as Soleimani’s protege, Hossein amir-abdollahian, is the new foreign minister of iran, in the more hawkish ebrahim raisi administration.

‘IRAN’S STRATEGIC CAPACITY IS NOW ENORMOUS’ in the words of US centcom commander General Kenneth mcKenzie: “iran’s missiles have become a more immediate threat than its nuclear programme… they hit pretty much where they wanted to hit… can strike effectively across the breadth and depth of the middle east.” mcKenzie chillingly added that iran had achieved an “overmatch″ capability, that is it can fire more missiles than its adversaries can shoot down or destroy, making it extremely difficult to check or defeat. “iran’s strategic capacity is now enormous,” the commander concluded.

The room for a compromise on both sides to save the JcPOa is narrowing to months if not weeks, and the new iranian leadership does not appear particularly concerned about such a perspective.

No matter how many times the israelis “mow the grass’’ of the iranian nuclear programme with sabotage and the killing of iranian scientists, the research and development iran has gained over the past two years cannot be reversed.

Former top israeli air Force commander, General isaac Ben-israel, recently said that up to 10 years ago israel could probably have hit effectively the iranian nuclear facilities, but added: “Today, all the technology needed to produce a bomb is already in iranian hands. The only question is whether iran will decide to go ahead or not. and that’s just a matter of time.” it must have been very tempting to kill Qassem Soleimani, but sometimes, especially in the middle east, the more tempting option is not necessarily the best one. marco carnelos is a former italian diplomat. He has been assigned to Somalia, australia and the United Nations.

The good news in 2022 will be the economy

iNsidesourCes.CoM DeAn BAker

T

HiS is probably a minority position, but i feel confident in saying that 2022 will be a very good year for the economy. we are looking at a situation where we have low unemployment, falling inflation and rising real wages. it is likely to be the best economy we have seen in many decades. in recent weeks, inflation has been front and center in people’s minds as the media have given us endless stories about higher prices for gasoline, milk and other items. many have been convinced that inflation will only get higher, outstripping wages and leaving most workers worse off. This is not going to be the case. we now see inflation driven by supply chain problems associated with reopening. This is demonstrated by the fact that we see big jumps in inflation almost everywhere. The United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and many other countries have all seen a rise in prices similar to what we see in the United States.

The reason this matters is because we will get through these supply chain problems. when we do, inflation will slow, and in many cases, be reversed. we are already seeing this in some cases. The price of gasoline has risen by almost 50% over the past year.

This was the result of a surge in oil prices following a pandemic plunge. Oil producers who had shut down in the pandemic were surprised by the economy’s rapid growth. They are now catching up, and the world price of oil has fallen by 20% from its November peaks. Gas prices will soon follow oil prices down.

There is a similar story with cars. New- and usedcar prices have soared primarily because a worldwide shortage of semiconductors forced auto manufacturers to cut back production. Several manufacturers are back

up to capacity now, and the others are likely to be soon.

This means the price hikes of 2021 will be largely reversed in 2022. with inflation coming down rapidly, workers’ pay will go further. and, many workers should be in a position in 2022 to secure pay increases well in excess of inflation. The 4.2% unemployment rate reported for November is already low by historical standards, but it will get still lower in 2022. we are likely to see an unemployment rate close to 3.5% by the middle of the year, putting us at a 50-year low.

Low unemployment primarily benefits the most disadvantaged workers. Black and Hispanic workers, workers with less education, and people with criminal records get opportunities in a tight labor market that they would not typically see. we are also likely to see mortgage interest rates remain low. This is good news for both home buyers and those who have not yet refinanced a mortgage. Low mortgage interest rates should also help fuel the sort of relocation process that started during the pandemic with increased opportunities for people to work from home. with many employers now making work-from-home options permanent, people are moving from high-priced cities like New York and San Francisco to lower-priced towns and cities.

This process will continue and pick up speed in 2022. a huge wild card in any forecast for the economy for 2022 is the path of the pandemic. This is obviously uncertain, but there are some grounds for optimism, even as we see cases and deaths skyrocket in this holiday season. Vaccination rates continue to rise, and the evidence shows that fully vaccinated people are largely protected from serious illness or death.

The other factor that could potentially be very good news is the spread of the omicron variant. we know that omicron is far more transmissible than delta or other cOViD-19 variants. But, the evidence to date indicates that it is considerably less severe. even though cases have skyrocketed in South africa, the first country where omicron was identified, there has been no corresponding increase in hospitalizations and deaths. it’s still early, and more data may give us a different picture.

However, from what we see to date, if omicron becomes the dominant variant, we may have much less to fear from the pandemic.

That’s my story for 2022. it’s mostly good, but some very big uncertainties are coming from the pandemic.

Dean Baker is an economist and co-founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

Tuesday, 4 January, 2022 | KARACHI

NEWS

09

Six moNthS oN, KP’S locAl Govt dePtt FAilS to coNStruct 11 develoPmeNt ProjectS PesHAwAr

SSP awards best performing officials of traffic police IsLAMABAD Press release

Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Rai Mazhar Iqbal on Monday reviewed the performance of traffic policemen during the last one month and awarded those showing excellent performance. Following the directions of IGP Islamabad Muhammad Ahsan Yunus, SSP (Traffic) Rai Mazhar Iqbal reviewed the performance of traffic policemen during the last one Month.

He awarded cash prizes and commendation certificates to those showing good performance and also issued Show Cause Notices those involved in sluggish policing. Those policemen awarded for showing good performance include Sub-Inspectors Sher Ahmed, Muhammad Wazeer, Assistant Sub-Inspectors Muhammad Tariq, Younus Rehman, Head Constables Waris Ali, Muhammad Irfan, Shahid Hussain and Constable Muhammad Saeed. SSP (Traffic) said that accountability process would remain continue in the department and those showing good performance to be encouraged while poor performers to face disciplinary action.

Ntdc enhanced capacity of 500 kv Grid Station rawat & 220 kv Grid Station WAPdA town lahore LAHOre Press release

National Transmission and Despacth Company Limited (NTDC) has successfully enhanced the grid capacity of 500 kV Grid Station Rawat and 220 kV grid station WAPDA Town Lahore by augmenting its previously installed 220/132 kV Transformers of 160 MVA capacity with a new 250 MVA Transformers. The NTDC spokesman said that the projects were completed and energized successfully. Addition and replacement of transformers was planned under NTDC Constraints Removal Scheme to provide uninterrupted power supply to end consumers as per increased load demand during summers 2022. This will also bring improvement in voltage profile and will minimise overloading & tripping of system in respective areas of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) and Lahore Electricity Supply Company (LESCO). NTDC completed both projects before their deadlines. The spokesman further said that besides the commissioning of transformers, NTDC also energized 3x37 MVAR 500 kV Shunt Reactors for 500 kV Rawat - Nokhar Transmission Line. The equipment helps to avoid trippings of transmission line which occurs due to low load conditions during Winters. The spokesman added that NTDC team is working ambitiously on transformers augmentation and addition projects across the country, which are expected to be completed before summers. Chairman, Members BoD and MD NTDC appreciated the efforts of NTDC team for early completion of transformers installation and Shunt Reactors.

ANF bans carrying naswar while travelling to Gulf states News Desk The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) on Monday banned carrying naswar – an addictive substance mostly consumed in Pakistan and Afghanistan, to Gulf states. The force revealed that a passenger can be penalized as per the law of the destined country if he is found carrying naswar with him. The authority has also put up banners on display at different airports across the country in this regard. Earlier in June 2019, The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has placed a ban on carrying naswar on all domestic and international flights. As per the notification, carrying naswar would also be considered a crime if recovered from luggage of any Hajj pilgrims. In 2018, officials of the Pakistan Mission in Iraq had advised Pakistani nationals travelling to the republic to not carry naswar as many carrying the tobacco snuff were arrested in the Middle Eastern country. The arrests were reportedly made at airports for carrying naswar, mostly used by Pashtuns, after the Iraqi officials considered it something used as drugs.

t

aziz Buneri

HE Local Government Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province failed to construct eleven important development projects worth Rs16bn even after the lapse of six months in the current financial year.

The Local Government Department has summoned the heads of subsidiaries responsible for the projects.

According to sources, Local Council Board is responsible for construction of roads in merged districts at a cost of Rs2.5 billion, construction and rehabilitation of roads in rural areas at a cost of Rs1 billion, provision of facilities at tourists sites at the cost of Rs500 million and construction of

Janazghah in Mardan at the cost of Rs300 million. However, none of the above project have been approved yet.

Similarly, Rs3 billion worth project for protection of canals of Peshawar from drainage water in Peshawar which was a joint project of the Water and Sanitation Company Peshawar (WSSP) and Public Health Engineering, is still waiting for approval.

The Rs1.5 billion plan of setting up of TMS offices in the merged districts, Rs500 million plan for construction of bridge in Hayatabad and Rs50mn plan of recycling of waste in Peshawar is also waiting for approval.

The government sources said the local government department all the concerned institutions on Monday to further discuss the projects.

Qatar Airways Launches a Global Sale Campaign in Celebration of its 25th Anniversary DOHA QAtAr Press release

Qatar Airways celebrates its 25th Anniversary by launching a Global Sales campaign for passengers in Pakistan, offering great savings of up to 25 per cent on flight tickets. This is in addition to special savings on seat selection, extra baggage allowance, hotel bookings and car rental, for a seven-day campaign period starting 4 January 2022.

Passengers joining the airline’s award-winning loyalty programme, Privilege Club, using the enrolment promo code FLYQR22, will instantly earn an additional 2,500 bonus Qmiles in celebration of Qatar Airways 25th Anniversary.

Travellers can experience Qatar Airways’ award-winning services and utilise the special promotion with guaranteed flexibility* on Business and Economy Class with savings of up to 25%* on an expanding network of more than 140 destinations across Asia, Europe, Middle East and the Americas.

The Global Sale 25th Anniversary Campaign is valid on all Qatar Airways flights for travel until 31 October 2022 To take advantage of this offer, passengers must book on qatarairways.com/25Years or visit any local Qatar Airways sales office or visit their preferred travel agents.

Qatar Airways marks its 25th Anniversary and celebrates its achievements by offering passengers around the world a great saving on their next travel. The award-winning airline was established in 1997 by his Highness The Father Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who

outlined a vision to turn Qatar Airways into a leading international carrier with the highest standards of service and excellence. Since then, Qatar Airways has earned many awards and accolades, and was recently announced as the ‘Airline of the Year’ by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax, for the sixth time.

Privilege Club, the official Frequent Flyer Programme of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, has recently launched an initiative to continue honouring the loyalty of its valued members by extending their tier status. This will benefit all Silver, Gold and Platinum members whose tier status is due for renewal between December 2021 and December 2022.

Privilege Club has also launched multiple partnerships over the past year to provide members with increased opportunities of earning Qmiles, including the recent launch of reciprocal loyalty partnership with JetBlue. Privilege Club members can earn Qmiles when flying

with Qatar Airways, oneworld® airline partners, and other airline partners, as well as with a number of financial and lifestyle partners. Qmiles can be redeemed towards a range of rewards including award flights, cabin upgrades, extra baggage and much more.

The national carrier of the State of Qatar continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 140 destinations. With more frequencies being added to key hubs, Qatar Airways offers unrivalled connectivity to passengers, making it easy for them to change their travel dates or destination as required.

Earlier this month, Qatar Airways earned the title of ‘World Class’ airline and ‘2022 Five Star Global Airline’ at the APEX/IFSA Awards, in addition to securing two additional awards including APEX Passenger Choice Awards® for Best Food & Beverage and Best Seat Comfort. Throughout the pandemic, the airline has been recognised for its continued emphasis on innovation and an un-

paralleled commitment to creating the most premium passenger experience in the industry.

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was announced as the ‘Airline of the Year’ by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax, in addition to securing five additional awards including ‘World’s Best Business Class’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Seat’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering’ and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’. The airline continues to stand alone at the top of the industry having won the main prize for an unprecedented sixth time (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021). The airline’s hub, Hamad International Airport, was also recently recognised as the ‘Best Airport in the World 2021’, ranking at number one in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2021.

In addition to this, Qatar Airways has become the first global airline in the world to achieve the prestigious 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by Skytrax. This follows the success of Hamad International Airport (HIA) as the first airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating. These awards provide assurance to passengers across the world that the airline’s health and safety measures are subject to the highest possible standards of professional, independent scrutiny and assessment. For full details of all the measures that have been implemented on board and at HIA, please visit qatarairways.com/safety.

Ministry of Human Rights Holds a Sensitization Workshop for Journalists on Gender Sensitive Reporting Press reLeAse Ministry of Human Rights conducted a workshop for journalists (beat reporters) today in the ministry for sensitizing and awareness raising on reporting of human rights issues and gender sensitive cases.

Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen Mazari, Shafqat Munir,Senior journalist, Director General (International Cooperation) and other officers of ministry attended the workshop.

While addressing the audience, Federal Minister for Human Rights said that journalists should be well equipped and vigilant while reporting cases of human rights violation as subject of human rights is central to all other social concerns but standard procedures and rules for balanced reporting are neglected most of the times to cover such stories.

She said that ministry of human rights

is mandated to deal with international covenants, treaties and agreements among which commitments under GSP+ status are very much significant. These agreements are deemed to be central to governance everywhere and Ministry of Human Rights is acting as a little outpost of government of Pakistan to fulfill its international obligations.

While answering the questions of journalists, Federal Minister said that after devolution of numerous subjects under 18th amendments, many hindrances are yet to be removed in the way of effective coordination with provinces especially to deal with human rights issues.

She stated that Legal Aid and Justice Authority, established under Legal Aid and Justice Authority Act 2020, is providing pro bono assistance across Pakistan to needy and deserving individuals. In addition to this, Ministry of Human

Rights is persistently working on establishing a Human Rights Management Information System with the help of UNDP to address human rights issues in a more effective manner as well as ministry is arranging to conduct Child Labor Survey that hasn’t been conducted for more than twenty years.

In response to a question she said that educating masses and changing the mindsets, with the help of mass media, academia and opinion leaders are the only

solutions we have to avoid Sialkot mob lynching like incidents in future.

At the end, she invited suggestions and feedback from participants for follow-up workshops and said that sensationalism in reporting put an adverse effect even on cases under trial and social media has made it more difficult these days to draw a line between laws and freedom; therefore, reporters must be responsive enough while reporting atrocities and brutalities in society.

Ehsaas and CDA to run capital wide Ehsaas Rashan Registration Drive: Sania IsLAMABAD Press release

Senator Dr. Sania Nishtar, SAPM chaired a briefing together with Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA), Amer Ali Ahmed on Ehsaas Rashan Registration.

The briefing discussed the registration drive plan with CDA to expedite the enrollment of Kiryana retailers and families across all fifty union councils of the federal capital. “Currently, the Ehsaas Rashan Registration Drive is in full swing with

district administrations of Punjab, KP, GB and AJK. Under the stewardship of Ehsaas, Chief Secretaries of participating provinces and district administrations are steering massive awareness campaigns to raise cognizance on Ehsaas Rashan. An engaging Rashan workshop will be held with CDA this week to kick off the drive across Islamabad”, said Dr. Sania.

Chairman CDA richly praised the Rashan programme of Ehsaas and reassured full cooperation to run a capital wide registration drive.

Under Ehsaas Rashan, 20 million families will be served a monthly subsidy of Rs.1,000 on flour, ghee, cooking oil and pulses. Currently, families are being registered through 8171 and Kiryana retailers through the website: https://ehsaasrashan.pass.gov.pk/.

Nationwide, Kiryana retailers need to have a bank account for Rashan registration. Retailers without bank accounts can reach out to the nearest branch of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) for account opening.

The government will give subsidy

amount and 8% specialized commission to Kiryana retailers directly in their bank accounts.

Muhammad Ali Shahzada, Secretary Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division (PASSD), Captain (Rtd) Saeed Ahmed Nawaz, Additional Secretary of the Division, Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Hamayoun Sajjad, Chief Digital Officer, NBP and other senior officials of NBP and CDA also joined the briefing.

Tuesday, 4 January, 2022 | KARACHI

10 FOREIGN NEWS

US SPent $14tR on waRS In afghanIStan, MIddle eaSt In two decadeS

t

News Desk

HE US military enriched arm manufacturers, dealers and contractors during 20 years of war in Afghanistan and the Middle East, by spending nearly $14 trillion.

As per the details, since September 11, 2001, US military outsourcing pushed up Pentagon spending to $14 trillion. One-third to half of that sum went to contractors.

According to a report published in The Wall Street Journal, it has been revealed that there are numerous examples of how American tax-payers’ money was wasted on projects that never came to fruition. On one such

project, “the Pentagon spent $6 million on a project that imported nine Italian goats to boost Afghanistan’s cashmere market. The project never reached scale.” Five defence companies — Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co, General Dynamics Corp, Raytheon Technologies Corp and Northrop Grumman Corp — took the lion’s share, $2.1 trillion, for weapons, supplies and other services.

The WSJ report also includes story of a California businessman running a bar in Kyrgyzstan started a fuel business that brought in billions in revenue. Two Army National Guardsmen from Ohio started a small business providing the military with Afghan interpreters. It grew to become one of the US Army’s top contractors, collecting

Bollywood takes stand for Indian Muslim women being listed for ‘sale’ News Desk Bollywood has recently taken a stand for Indian Muslim women being listed for ‘sale’ online. The listings of Indian Muslim women for sale have sparked outage in the country. It is pertinent to note that this is the second time that such cases have been reported. Six months prior, a website called ‘Sulli Deals’ put up photographs of Indian Muslim women, listing them for “sale”. Now, a similar website and app by the name of ‘Bulli Bai’ reportedly carried pictures of 100 Muslim women up for auction. An Indian Muslim journalist Ismat Ara lodged an official complaint about the same. On January 1, Ara brought attention to the issue after sharing a screenshot from the app where she was listed for ‘auction.’ “It is very sad that as a Muslim woman you have to start your new year with this sense of fear and disgust,” she tweeted. “Of course, it goes without saying that I am not the only one being targeted in this new version of #sullideals. Screenshot sent by a friend this morning.” She then shared screenshots of the FIR she had filed against Bulli Bai and penned, “A complaint has been filed by me with the Cyber Cell of Delhi Police for immediate registration of FIR and consequent action against people behind the auctioning of Muslim women on social media.” Another Indian Muslim journalist shared that she has been going through the same ordeal. “Today I visited my grandmother’s grave for the first time since I lost her to Covid. As I sat in the car to go home, concerned friends told me that once again, my pictures were being auctioned off (along with those of other Muslim women) by Modi’s India,” Hiba Baig wrote on Twitter. “You did nothing to stop this the last time, and here it is again. I have censored myself, I hardly speak here anymore, but still, I am being sold online, I’m being made “deals” out of.” She went on to tag her school, Columbia School of International Public Affairs (Columbia SIPA) and wrote, “Your student is being sold online, twice in a matter of half a year.” In her last tweet, she directed her attention towards the Hindus in India and added, “When I ask my privileged Hindu friends to speak, I don’t do it out of cautionary plans. I do it because it is screaming in my face.” She concluded, “I am not safe in this country.

Muslim women like me are not safe in this country.

How many online deals will it take for us to see action? Help us.” Bollywood actors Farhan Akhtar, Swara Bhaskar and Richa Chadha extended support to the Muslim women and lauded Ara for her courage. Farhan Akhtar expressed his disgust and shared, “This is sickening! Request authorities to take swift and strict action against the people behind this grotesque act.” Swara Bhaskar stated that “at that point where we’ve to remind ourselves that it’s not okay to sell Muslim women online,” Bhaskar tweeted. She went on to add, “Remind ourselves that it’s not kosher to rally and call for genocide!

That it’s not okay to disrupt people’s prayers. This is happening in our name, in the name of our Gods.

It’s on us!” She went on to comment, “Vomit worthy people! This is what impunity does. Impunity and total lack of accountability. We are making ourselves monsters!” The Veere Di Wedding star then extended support to Ara and wrote, “Stand strong Ismat. I’m sorry for what you and others are going through.” Chadha, too, lauded Ara and penned, “Ismat, I salute your courage. In solidarity.” The Gangs of Wasseypur star retweeted several tweets about the case.

nearly $4 billion in federal contracts.

It is pertinent to note that the Biden administration has now ordered an inquiry to determine how the reliance on battlefield contractors multiplies the war cost.

The US Agency for International Development gave $270 million to a company to build 1,200 miles of gravel road in Afghanistan. The USAID canceled the project after the company built 100 miles of road in three years of work that left more than 125 people dead in insurgent attacks.

The US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), created to monitor the almost $150 billion spent on rebuilding the country, collected hundreds of reports of waste and fraud. A

SIGAR survey released in early 2021 found that, of the $7.8 billion earmarked for projects, only $1.2 billion, or 15 percent, was spent on new roads, hospitals, bridges, and factories. At least $2.4 billion was spent on military planes, police offices, farming programs and other development projects that were abandoned, destroyed or used for other purposes.

In 2008, the US had 187,900 troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, the peak of the US deployment, and 203,660 contractor personnel.

When President Barack Obama ordered most US troops to leave Afghanistan at the end of his second term, more than 26,000 contractors were in Afghanistan, compared with 9,800 troops.

By the time President Donald Trump left office four years later, 18,000 contractors remained in Afghanistan, along with 2,500 troops.

More than 3,500 US contractors died in Afghanistan and Iraq and more than 7,000 American service members died during two decades of war.

The contractors often used Afghans to do their work but paid them only a fraction of what they would pay an American or a European employee. Average monthly income for Afghan linguists fell from about $750 in 2012 to $500 in 2021. Some Afghan linguists working alongside US soldiers in the toughest parts of the country were paid as little as $300 a month.

New Covid-19 cases in India rise sharply for fifth consecutive day New DeLHI Agencies

India reported more than 27,000 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday, with infections sharply rising for a fifth consecutive day, but the chief minister of the capital New Delhi said there was no need to panic, citing low hospitalisation rates. The country’s largest cities, including Delhi and the financial capital Mumbai, have seen a recent spike in Covid-19 cases, including those of the Omicron variant, which has triggered a fresh wave of infections in other parts of the world. Although the number of active cases in Delhi has tripled in just the last three days, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that hospitalisations had not gone up.

“This means that most people who are coming down with (Covid-19) are not requiring hospital care.

They are mild cases,” Kejriwal said in an online briefing. “Cases are going up but there is no reason to worry.

There is no need to panic,” he said.

US-led coalition in Iraq targeted two years after Soleimani killing

Delhi was among hardest-hit cities during the second wave of the pandemic in India last year, with hospitals running out of beds and life-saving oxygen, leaving patients gasping for breath.

India has recorded a total of 34.88 million Covid19 infections, with 27,553 new cases in the last 24 hours, health ministry data showed on Sunday.

The country’s total death toll stands at 481,770.

Local government authorities in Mumbai city said thousands of people were conducting Covid-19 rapid antigen tests at home.

“We are noticing that people are self-quarantining if they test positive and at the same time many are also seeking support from the government-run isolation centres if they are finding less space at home to quarantine,” said Srikant Deshmukh, a senior health official with Mumbai’s municipal commissioner’s office.

Israel’s Jerusalem Post website hacked on Soleimani assassination anniversary JerUsaleM: Israel’s Jerusalem Post newspaper said on Monday its website had been hacked, in what it declared was an apparent threat to the country. Instead of displaying a main news page, the website showed an illustration that appeared to recall top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US drone strike in Iraq on this day in 2020. The illustration showed a bullet-shaped object shooting out of a red ring worn on a finger, an apparent reference to a distinctive ring Soleimani used to wear. The Jerusalem Post, an English-language daily, tweeted it was working to resolve the issue. “We are aware of the apparent hacking of our website, alongside a direct threat (to) Israel,” it said. ReuteRs

BAGHDAD AFP

The US-led coalition against the Islamic State group in Iraq on Monday shot down two armed drones targeting a compound at Baghdad airport hosting its personnel, a coalition official said.

The incident, which was not claimed by any group, came two years after a US drone strike near the airport killed Iran’s revered General Qassem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant. “Two fixed-wing suicide drones, or improvised cruise missiles, attempted to attack Baghdad Airport this morning at approximately 4:30 am (0130 GMT),” the official told AFP. A counter-rocket, artillery and mortar, or C-RAM, system “at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center engaged them and they were shot down without incident,” added the source, speaking on condition of anonymity. The BDSC compound houses “a very small number of coalition troops who are not in a combat role,” the source said, describing them as logistical troops, contractors and civilian personnel.

The January 3, 2020, US strike killed Soleimani — who headed the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards — and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy leader of the Hashed alShaabi coalition of armed groups. Photos obtained by AFP from the coalition official show remains of one of the projectiles from Monday’s attempted strike, with the message “commanders’ revenge operations” written on it. “The Iraqis have opened an investigation,” the coalition source said.

“There is no damage, but this is a civilian airport,

it is very dangerous to launch this type of attack.”

Missile and drone attacks: The nighttime strike two year ago, ordered by then-US president Donald Trump, hit a car in which Soleimani and Muhandis were travelling on the edge of the airport.

The Hashed — a coalition of former paramilitary groups now integrated into the Iraqi state security apparatus — held a candle-lit vigil Sunday at the airport for the two men killed.

The US said at the time that Soleimani was planning imminent action against US personnel in Iraq, a country long torn between the competing demands of its principal allies Washington and Tehran.

Five days after his killing, Iran fired missiles at an air base in Iraq housing US troops and another near Arbil in the country’s north.

Since then dozens of rockets and roadside bombs have targeted US security, military and diplomatic sites across Iraq.

Western officials have blamed hard-line pro-Iran factions for the attacks, which have never been claimed. The Hashed has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of US troops deployed in Iraq as part of the coalition. The US-led coalition on December 9 declared it had finished its combat mission in Iraq and that its around 2,500 troops would shift to a purely training and advisory role. IS, which established a so-called caliphate across swathes of Syria and Iraq from 2014, was defeated in Iraq in 2017 by national forces and the coalition that has included more than 80 countries.

However, IS remnants still carry out attacks against security forces and civilians.

Biden tells Ukraine’s Zelensky US will ‘respond decisively’ if Russia invades WasHinGton: US President Joe Biden told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in telephone talks on Sunday that Washington and its allies would “respond decisively” if Russia moves to invade its pro-Western neighbour, the White House said. In a readout of the Biden-Zelensky call, White House press secretary Jen Psaki also said the US leader expressed support for diplomatic efforts including planned talks between high-level US and Russian officials set for January 9 and 10 in Geneva. “President Biden made clear that the United States and its allies and partners will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine,” Psaki said in a statement. Biden also “reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she said. The show of US support for Ukraine comes days after Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of severe consequences if Moscow invades the former Soviet country. Washington and its European allies accuse Russia of threatening Ukraine with a new invasion.

Some 100,000 Russian troops are massed near the border of the country, where Putin already seized the Crimea region in 2014 and is accused of fomenting a pro-Russian separatist war which erupted that same year in the east. Moscow describes the troop presence as protection against the expansion of NATO, although Ukraine has not been offered membership in the military alliance. AFP

Tuesday, 4 January, 2022 | KARACHI

SPORTS 11

‘PRofeSSoR’ HAfeez quitS inteRnAtionAl cRicket IsLAMABAD

A

The AssociATed Press

ll-ROundER Mohammad Hafeez has retired from international cricket after representing Pakistan in 392 matches over 18 years.

Hafeez, 41, quit Test cricket in 2018 and played his last OdI in the 2019 World Cup at lord’s. He was recalled in 2020 for T20 matches and finished the year as the world’s leading run-scorer in the calendar year in the shortest format.

“Today I say goodbye to international cricket with pride and satisfaction,” Hafeez said at a media conference in lahore on Monday wearing the Pakistan team’s green blazer and tie.

“In fact, I have earned and accomplished more than I had initially envisaged and for that, I am thankful to all my fellow cricketers, captains, support staff and the Pakistan Cricket Board who helped me out during my career.”

He said the most painful moment of his career was when his stance on match fixers was refuted by the then PCB chairman, who told him that “they will play, but you can decide for yourself whether you want to play or not.”

Hafeez, in a statement, said that on a matter of match fixing, his “stance was

clear and he will not move away from his “principles.”

“I will never forget that moment. For me, that was the lowest point.”

Hafeez said that it was painful to hear how the then PCB chairman turned down his stance. He stated that he has always worked hard to keep his country’s name on top, and that it was terrible to hear that a person “as honest as me” was forced to choose whether or not to play, while the “match fixers,” who “spoil Pakistan’s pride,” will play.

The management should work together to prevent corrupt elements from infiltrating Pakistani cricket, which could hurt Pakistan’s international reputation, he said.

“In fact, I have earned and accomplished more than I had initially envisaged and for that, I am thankful to all my fellow cricketers, captains, support staff and the Pakistan Cricket Board who helped me out during my career,” Hafeez said.

He said that he has always kept the country and team a priority and tried to impact their profile and image positively by playing hard and tough but within the rich traditions of the spirit of cricket every time he stepped on the field.

“When you have a professional career as long as mine, you’re bound to have your share of highs and lows, and I was no different. Results apart, I can say with convic-

Root to assess future after Ashes as Stokes says no wish to be captain

tion that I had more highs as I had the privilege of playing with and against some of the finest exponents of the bat and the ball of my era,” Hafeez said.

He said that cricket has been a great learning school for him and has provided him opportunities to visit various countries,

Saqlain Mushtaq resigns as Pakistan’s interim head coach News Desk Saqlain Mushtaq has stepped down as Pakistan’s interim head coach with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) while a foreigner is all set to join team Pakistan.

According to the details shared by PCB, Mushtaq will serve the Men in Green for the T20 World Cup, tour of Bangladesh and home series against West Indies while the foreign coach will train them for home series against Australia.

A day earlier on Saturday, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja had signaled that a foreigner will be hired as the next head coach of Pakistan Cricket

sYDNeY AFP

Joe Root said Monday that he has “questions to answer” and will assess his future as England captain after the losing Ashes tour, as Ben Stokes insisted he has no ambition to take over. Root will become his country’s longestserving Test skipper at the fourth Test in Sydney on Wednesday, surpassing predecessor Alastair Cook’s 59 matches in charge. But he is under pressure after three consecutive heavy defeats to Australia with some pundits, including Ricky Ponting and Geoff Boycott, scathing about his captaincy. “Obviously it’s been very challenging and we’ve had a lot to deal with, not just on the field but off it, and we are just trying to manage it as best we can,” the 31year-old Root said of the calamitous tour. “I’ll look at my future beyond this tour at the end of it,” he added. “I think there are questions for me to answer. I don’t think, as a distraction around the group, it should be something I’m wasting energy on now. “I need to make sure I throw everything I can into these next two games. I owe that to this team and the players.

That will give us the best chance of getting the results that we desire.” There are few obvious candidates to replace him with vice-captain Stokes at the top of the pile, a move championed by former captain Mike Atherton, among others. But the 30-year-old star all-rounder said that he was not interested and backed Root. “I’ve never really had an ambition to be a captain,” he was quoted as saying by the BBC. “Captaincy is more than about setting fields, picking the team, making decisions out there in the middle. A captain is someone you want to go out and play for. Joe Root is someone I always want to play for.” Stokes has led England once previously, a Test defeat by West Indies in 2020 when Root was on paternity leave. Atherton is among those who believes Root’s time is almost up and that Stokes could do the job. “Root has been a good England captain and has always carried himself superbly and is an incredible ambassador for the sport,” he wrote in his column for The Times last week. “But having done the job for five years and having had three cracks at the Ashes, including two awful campaigns in Australia, it is time for someone else to have a go.” However, Stokes said he doesn’t believe Root is ready to give up the role. “I don’t sense that at all with Joe,” he said. “He’s brought this team a long way. He’s done some great things. “Obviously, this series hasn’t gone too well, not from a captaincy point of view but from a team and results point of view. “It’s totally Joe’s decision,” he added.

Stokes also backed beleaguered coach Chris Silverwood, who will miss the Sydney Test because of Covid-19. “All the hype in the media recently about their futures, it’s your job to write that, but they know full well they have the support of everyone in there and that’s all that matters,” Stokes said.

explore their cultures and make friends.

The right-handed batsman scored 12,780 runs in international matches that included 55 Test matches, 218 OdIs and 119 T20s.

Hafeez, who was reported for his suspect bowling action several times, also took 253 wickets with his off-spin bowling in all three

formats. during his long career, Hafeez, profoundly known as ‘Professor,’ represented Pakistan in three 50-over World Cups, six T20 World Cups and three ICC Champions Trophy tournaments.

He was a member of the winning squad which won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 but missed the T20 World Cup in 2009 when Pakistan won the trophy in England.

Hafeez will be remembered more for his exploits in white-ball cricket, especially in T20s, where he was ranked no. 1 all-rounder in the world in 2014.

Hafeez said he was satisfied with his career and was proud to don the national kit with the “Pakistan emblem for 18 years.”

“My country and my team have always been at my forefront and therefore, every time I stepped on to the field, I tried to raise their profile and image by playing hard and tough but within the rich traditions of the spirit of cricket,” he said.

PCB chairman Ramiz Raja lauded Hafeez’s strong work ethic and said he’d adjusted well in all three formats of the game.

“His game evolved with time, adjusting to different formats quite intelligently,” Raja said in a statement. “later in his career, he became a T20 specialist, where he was never out of touch with modern demands of this testing format. His batsmanship took a sprightly turn, nailing sixes almost at will.”

Joe Root needs to carry on as England captain, says Michael Vaughan ReuteRs Former England captain Michael Vaughan backed Test skipper Joe Root to guide England back from the brink following widespread criticism of the 31-year-old’s captaincy after a meek surrender of the Ashes series to Australia.

Vaughan’s comments are in stark contrast to the opinion of England great Geoffrey Boycott, who called on Root to step down, and Michael Atherton, who suggested Ben Stokes as a viable alternative for the captaincy.

“If Joe (Root) can get a victory it will give him a clear insight into what this team needs to do to be successful,” Vaughan wrote in a column for The Telegraph.

“I hope he carries on.

“I can’t see anyone else doing the job in the circum-

stances they are in at the moment. It is best if he carries on and lays the foundation for the cricket England need to play across the world.

“But if he gets a win or two it must not paper over the cracks. Changes still need to happen.”

Vaughan added that England could not use a lack of preparation due to COVId-19 as an excuse, and said the team had to come to terms with their red-ball decline.

“I don’t want to hear any excuses any more,” Vaughan said. “This has been building for a long time.

It is not just because they are in a bio-bubble.

“This was happening well before COVId-19. Obviously they were on the decline as a Test team but they did not see it or they did not want to admit it. They were stubborn and thought they knew best.”

The fourth Ashes Test will begin in Sydney on January 5.

team.

“I discussed the future of Pakistan’s team management with Saqlain, Babar Azam and Rizwan and the general opinion is about inclusion of a foreign coach in the Pakistan team environment,” said Raja.

“I firmly believe that you need someone with local knowledge on away tours. But you also need some regular coaches in order to maintain a good environment in net sessions.”

“I also think that we might not have the capacity to give all the responsibilities to the captain [Babar]. He is a relatively new captain which is why we don’t want to pressurize him,” he further added.

Brazil great Ronaldo tests positive for covid-19 RIO De JANeIRO News desk

Brazilian World Cupwinner football star Ronaldo tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday, forcing him to cancel his appearance at celebrations for the 101st anniversary of his firstever team, Cruzeiro, the club said. The 45-year-old ex-striker “is fine, with light symptoms, and will now undergo a period of rest and social isolation, in line with medical advice”, Cruzeiro, who Ronaldo bought last month, said on Twitter. Ronaldo, who starred in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup win and was thrice voted FIFA World Player of the Year, announced on december 18 he was buying a controlling stake in recently struggling Cruzeiro, where he made his professional debut in 1993 at age 16. He scored 56 goals in 58 matches for the Belo Horizonte-based club before going on to a glittering career in Europe at PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and AC Milan, winning the Ballon d’Or in 1997 and 2002. Ronaldo was also in Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning squad and scored eight goals in seven matches when the Selecao won the title again in 2002. He ended his career at SaoPaulo based Corinthians in 2011. Mired in financial strife, Cruzeiro finished 14th in the Brazilian Serie B last season. Globoesporte.com reported Ronaldo paid 400 million reais (about $72 million) to become the club’s majority shareholder. He also has a controlling stake in Spanish club Real Valladolid, who were relegated to the second division last season.

Tuesday, 4 January, 2022

pRayeR tiMingS

NEWS Pakistan reports highest number of Covid-19 cases since October Staff RepoRt

MonitoRing RepoRt

Pakistan reported on Monday more than 700 Covid-19 cases in a single day, its highest tally in two months, as authorities warned of a fifth wave of infections and made preparations to try to contain the fast-spreading Omicron variant.

At least 708 cases in the past 24 hours pushed the positivity ratio to 1.55 percent, the highest since October 24, according to data from the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC), which is overseeing the pandemic response.

Pakistan’s daily coronavirus infections had been declining since October. The transmission rate remained less than 1 percent since November 8, leading the government to believe it may not be forced by the pandemic to go for restrictions again. The country reported its first case of Omicron through genome sequencing on December 13. As of Monday, health authorities have detected 372 cases of the variant. The latest surge in cases apparently driven by the Omicron variant was “clear evidence now of [the] beginning of another Covid wave which has been expected for last few weeks”, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, who also heads the NCOC, warned. “Genome sequencing [is] showing [a] rising proportion of Omicron cases particularly in Karachi. Remember: wearing a mask is your best protection,” he tweeted. A meeting of the NCOC said the latest wave of coronavirus was spreading rapidly in the country. In the last three days, the positive rate in Karachi has jumped from two to six percent, it added. The forum urged the people to use face masks to avoid contracting the disease and ensure social distancing in the outdoor settings to minimise the spread of the Omicron variant. The participants also reviewed the progress of district-wise vaccination campaigns and their targets, directing the provinces to achieve their vaccination targets at the earliest. Meanwhile, medical professionals have also raised concerns about the variant.

“Omicron variant of coronavirus is going to cause a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in our country including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in coming days as this infection is unlikely to be prevented by the two doses of vaccine,” Prof Khalid Mahmood, a physician at Lady Reading Hospital stated. Prof Ziaul Haq, the vice-chancellor of Khyber Medical University, said that a booster dose was highly recommended for fully immunised people in view of the new variant. “Projections and international trends are alarming and we may have a very heavy fifth wave on our way with predominant Omicron variant,” he said. The doubling time of Omicron is two to three days compared to two-week of Delta and this may lead to a tsunami of cases. Prof Zia said that the Omicron variant had a high number of asymptomatic cases, therefore, the unknown positive cases in Pakistan may already be very high than the reported ones. In a rapid first response to Omicron, which was first detected in southern Africa and Hong Kong, Pakistan banned the entry of foreigners from a dedicated list of countries — C Category — in December and has imposed 14-day quarantine orders for nationals returning from abroad. First detected in November, the Omicron variant has now been reported in 57 countries and continues to spread rapidly in South Africa, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. About 70 million people, or 32 percent of the population, have had two vaccine doses.

Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed said on Monday warned he will summon Prime Minister Imran Khan if a prisoner facing charges of attacking a military security post was not presented before the Supreme Court.

Arif Gul is accused of attacking the post in a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa town near the border with Afghanistan.

A three-judge bench headed by Ahmed resumed hearing in the case against Gul’s detention Monday.

“Gul is in the detention centre and it is difficult to produce him [before the court],” the additional attorney general responded when Justice Ahmed inquired whether the accused has been presented.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif on Monday challenged the sessions court’s decision of not giving his counsel a right to present arguments in a defamation suit worth Rs10 billion filed by Prime Minister Imran Khan against him, according to Express Tribune.

Earlier on December 17 last year, Imran Khan had appeared before Additional District & Sessions Judge Muhammad Adnan via video link. He had submitted an affidavit before the court and rejected the allegations of PML-N stalwart, terming them baseless.

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“This court also reserves the authority to summon the top defence leadership,” the judge said.

Further grilling the prosecutor, he asked: “Why the issue pertaining to his [Gul’s] nationality has not been resolved as yet? The matter has been under consideration since 2019.” The KP advocate general said Gul has undergone a counselling and vocational training programme at the detention centre. Meanwhile, the court also rejected the request for respite made by the two officials.

Justice Ahmed adjourned the hearing until Tuesday (tomorrow) after the KP advocate general requested him that Gil could not be produced because the detention centre was located too far away from the court.

Industrialisation, exports key to economic uplift: Imran Khan IsLAMABAD Staff CoRReSpondent

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said industrialisation and exports were essential for uplift of economy and the PTI government was taking measures to expand industrialisation and boosting exports.

The Prime Minister expressed these views at the launching ceremony of Pakistan-China Business Investment Forum.

The forum is aimed at promoting communication and enhancing information exchange by opening up new avenues of cooperation between businesses of the two countries.

The forum has been formed with the collaboration of the Board of Investment Pakistan and All Pakistan

PAK-CHINA BUSINESS INVESTMENT FORUM LAUNCHED Chinese Enterprises. As per the details, the forum consists of 18 Chinese and 19 Pakistani companies and its objective is to promote sustainable investment, export industry and development of modern technology in Pakistan. The PM said that smaller countries were faring much better than Pakistan in exports.

“It is very painful for us. How can a country progress when it was not into exports?”

He went on to state that a country cannot progress until it sells its products to the world, also noting that the products have to be more than just agricultural in nature.

“Countries do not progress by just sell-

ing vegetables,” he added.

The premier further stated that he was often given feedback from foreign investors about the cumbersome process of investment materialisation in Pakistan.

“It takes a lot of time from an agreement to its implementation here, and the time is money for investors. He will turn away if no measures are taken for his facilitation.”

He informed that the government was now focused to undertake industrialisation and increase its exports.

PM Imran noted that planning was afoot with the Board of Investment to address the problem.

Shehbaz legally bound to bring Nawaz back: Fawad FAIsALABAD app

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Monday said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif is legally and morally bound to bring his elder brother Nawaz Sharif back to the country as per his commitment given in the court.

Talking to the media along with Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib, Fawad said PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif was allowed to go abroad for treatment after Shehbaz submitted an affidavit in the court that he would bring his brother back in case the former does not return. He said the government has no personal enmity with Nawaz, who should better return home on his own and face the cases pending in the courts.

He said the Sharifs do not have any evidence to prove the legitimate purchase of the apartments owned by them in London. The public has every right to ask them to give details of the properties bought by them through ill-gotten money, he added.

He said the opposition leaders are only doing politics of hatred and indulged in attacking the state institutions.

Terming JUI’s victory in the recent local bodies election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as an “unfortunate incident”, he said that it is lamentable that Maulana Fazlur Rehman is leading national politics. “Failure of major political parties in the country pave way for sectarian-based parties and that is harmful to the country,” he added. Fawad extended an olive branch to the opposition parties and urged them to coordinate with the government for reforming the system. He advised the opposition parties to review their approach as their frailty is not in the national interest.

He said all political parties must adopt parliamentary norms and work in unison in the parliament to carry forward the agenda of system reforms. The government wants to introduce election reforms and needs the opposition’s cooperation in this regard, he added. He ruled out the possibility of giving any relief to those who have been facing corruption cases. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)-led government would continue to implement its accountability agenda as its voters want the corrupt people behind bars, he added.

Asif approaches IHC for right to cross-examine Imran in defamation case News Desk

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In 2012, Imran Khan as chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had served Khawaja Asif with a defamation notice. Asif had blamed Khan of speculating in Dubai real estate with the donations he had collected for his Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital. He had also alleged that Khan had transferred Rs4.50 billion outside the country from the hospital’s account.

The PTI chief in his notice had said that the allegations had caused damage to the fund collection for “Pakistan’s biggest charity hospital” and that if this continues, thousands of patients would be affected.

On Monday, Asif filed an application in Isamabad High Court (IHC)

against the lower court’s verdict and nominated PM Imran and the sessions court judge as respondents. Asif pleaded in the application that PM Imran’s statement was recorded by the additional district and sessions judge via video link in the absence of his lawyer. He maintained that his counsel had informed the sessions court that he could not appear on December 17 due to ill-health and the sessions court announced the verdict in haste without referring to any law.

He prayed the IHC to annul the decision of lower court of terminating his right to cross-examination.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah will conduct the hearing on the application on Tuesday.

The premier went on to laud the Chinese urban planning, by stating that Pakistan must learn urban planning from China to tackle disparity in resource management arising out of rapid population growth. “Our cities are expanding so rapidly, which will eventually lead to food crisis and a gradual decrease in green areas.

China switched to vertical development and saved their land for food development,” he pointed out.

The PM further revealed that that he was scheduled to visit China next week, adding “however, the plan is tentative at the moment due to the Covid19 situation,” The premier concluded by stating that the trip, if it happens, would also focus on urban planning.

PM directs spokespersons to counter opposition’s ‘fake narrative’ on mini-budget News Desk Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the government’s spokespersons and ministers to counter the “fake narrative” of opposition parties targeting the recentlytabled finance bill. The prime minister presided over a meeting of the spokespersons on Monday, which was attended by the PTI leaders and cabinet members. Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin briefed the participants on the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2021, which was introduced in the National Assembly last week. While instructing the government’s spokesperson to remove the public’s confusion over the mini-budget, the premier expressed displeasure that the details of the finance bill could not be communicated to the public effectively. He said that the opposition is exaggerating figures in the minibudget, which according to him, will only burden the common man by Rs2 billion.

The premier said the confusion surrounding the rebates and refund of taxes must be removed. The prime minister said the public should be made aware of the documented economy which he said is in the country’s interest. He further directed the spokespersons to highlight other achievements of the government on the economic front such as robust growth in the agriculture sector, growing exports and others. He also drew a comparison between him and the former rulers and told the spokespersons that it shouldn’t be difficult for them to defend him and the government’s policies against the former “corrupt” rulers. “On one hand you have internationally-recognised thieves and on the other you have Imran Khan, defending whom is not difficult at all,” he said.

“Your brand is Imran Khan, who is neither corrupt nor a thief.”

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