Epaper – July 29 KHI 2021

Thursday, 29 July, 2021 I 18 Zil-Hajj, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 28 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition

‘US really meSSed it Up’: imran khan on afghaniStan SitUation

ISLAMABAD

a

Staff RepoRt

s the United states nears the completion of its military withdrawal from Afghanistan, its longest war, Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterated Tuesday that a political settlement to the conflict would have been a pragmatic choice but the American insistence on the use of force “really messed it up” in the warbattered country.

The conflict in Afghanistan, which dates back to the invasion that followed the 2001 al-Qaeda attacks on the Us, is at an end. In April, President Joe Biden said foreign troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan by september 11 — exactly 20 years after the attacks — rejecting calls for them to stay to ensure a peaceful resolution to that nation’s grinding internal conflict. The prime minister, in an interview with Judy Woodruff for PBs NewsHour, an American news programme that aired early Wednesday morning, repeated there was “no

other outcome because the military solution has failed” in Afghanistan. “so, the Taliban sit down with the other side and they form an inclusive government […] This is the best outcome,” he said At the outset, Woodruff asked the prime minister about his assessment of the situation in Afghanistan as the Us completes the withdrawal. “Well, Judy, I think the Us has really messed it up in Afghanistan,” he responded.

The Us for two decades was trying to force a military solution, he said, adding “the reason why we are in this position now is because the military solution failed.”

“Now, what choices have we got?

The best choice is that somehow we have a political settlement in Afghanistan where it is, as I repeat, an inclusive government.” After suffering huge human and material losses while participating in the Us war against terrorism, the prime minister made it clear that “We want to be partners in peace, but not in conflict.”

Imran said when, in the initial years following the Us invasion, he

CoronavirUS in

pakiStan

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,015,827

LAST UPDATED AT 3:23 PM ON JULY 28, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

44

4,119

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

935,742 23,133 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

371,762

354,312

KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

142,400

29,861

AJK/GB: ISLAMABAD: 23,370 / 7,896 86,226

raised his voice against the military adventure, he was dubbed as “anti-American” and called “Taliban Khan”. “so, when they finally decided that there is no military solution, unfortunately, the bargaining power of the Americans or the NATO forces had gone,” he said, adding: “When there were 150,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan, that was the time to go for a political solution.”

“But once they had reduced the troops to barely 10,000, and then when they gave an exit date, the Taliban thought they had won. And so, therefore, it was very difficult for now to get them to compromise. It’s very difficult to force them into a political solution, because they think that they won.”

The only good outcome for Afghanistan, the prime minister said, was a political settlement that is inclusive, so they form some sort of a government that includes all sorts of different factions there.

“The worst situation in Afghanistan would be if there’s a civil war and a protracted civil war. And from Pakistan’s point of view, that is the worst-case scenario, because we then we face two scenarios, one, a refugee problem.” With three million Afghan refugees already residing in Pakistan, Imran said a protracted civil war would bring in more refugees. “Our economic situation is not such that we can have another influx,” he cautioned. secondly, he said, the worry is that the civil war will flow into Pakistan because the Taliban are basically ethnic Pashtuns and those on “our side will be drawn into it — and that also is the last thing we want.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Two killed as cloudburst triggers urban flooding in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

A mother and her son were killed in Islamabad on Wednesday as several neighbourhoods of the capital experienced urban flooding after a cloudburst caused heavy rainfall.

Footage circulating on social media showed flood water sweeping away cars in sectors E-11 and D-12.

Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza shafqaat attributed the flash flood to a cloudburst and urged the public to “cooperate and restrict unnecessary movements”. shafqaat further said the spillways of Rawal Dam were being opened as he appealed to the public to stay away from the riverbanks of the Korang and soan rivers. senior officials blamed the flooding on “poor management,” stressing that the Capital Development Authority was not responsible for E-11, which is part of a private housing society.

In a statement, Pakistans Meteorological Department said Islamabad and its surrounding areas had received a “heavy downpour of monsoon rainfall” between 5:00 am and 6:30 am.

It said that a minimum of 15 millimetres and a maximum of 123 millimetres of

PTI secures victory in PP-38 Sialkot by-election newS deSk

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate Ahsan saleem Baryar won the PP-38 by-election on Wednesday, beating PML-N’s Tariq subhani by 7,117 votes, according to unofficial results.

The seat had fallen vacant after PML-N’s Akhtar subhani passed away.

The polling kicked off at 8 am and continued unremittingly till 5 pm, however, rain affected the polling process in some areas.

PTI’s Baryar received 60,588 from 165 polling stations, according to unofficial results, while PML-N’s subhani was able to secure 53,471 votes.

Although eight candidates were in the race, the real competition was between the PTI and PML-N candidates.

Earlier today, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain quoting media reports said that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate Ahsan saleem Baryar was close to victory in the sialkot by-election.

In a tweet, he said this confidence of the people was a sign of the success of Prime

rainfall had been recorded. Troops have been deployed in Rawalpindi after the local government sought the military’s help following incessant rains that triggered a high flood in Nullah Lai. section 144 (power to issue order absolute at once in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) was imposed on bathing in rivers, the deputy commissioner said, adding that rescue and management teams were present to handle the situation.

PM puts NDMA on high alert: Prime Minister Imran Khan took notice of the situation and cautioned citizens to take “special care” due to the heavy monsoon rains. “I have also directed all the relevant response agencies including [the] NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) to be on high alert with ready and rapid emergency response actions.,” he tweeted.

On the other hand, Interior Minister sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said that the army and other local authorities are present in the federal capital to deal with the situation. “[The] army is alert, Wasa (Water and sanitation Agency) is alert […] the whole administration is on duty,” he said.

He made those remarks in a conversation with media personnel during his visit to Leh Nullah.

MORE INSIDE

Pakistan condemns extra-judicial killing of innocent Kashmiri in IOK STORY ON BACK PAGE

Minister Imran Khan’s political vision. He confidently said that the ruling PTI would continue its efforts to constitute a new system in the country.

FIVE ARRESTED FOR DISPLAYING WEAPONS: During polling, five people were arrested for displaying weapons and violating section 144 in the constituency, a police spokesperson said.

Officials arrested Rizwan, Asim, saleem Zafar, Rukhsar, and Ali Najam, while they also recovered weapons and several rounds from them, the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, District Police Officer Abdul Ghaffar Qaisrani said no one would be allowed to take the law into their hands and vowed to take strict action against such elements.

THE PP-38 CONSTITUENCY IN

NUMBERS: There are a total of 233,422 registered voters — 128,128 male and 105,294 female — in the constituency, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan. The ECP had set up 165 polling stations and 487 polling booths — including 262 booths for male voters and 225 booths for female voters — for the by-election.

Last month, the district monitoring officer and the Election Commission of Pakistan issued show-cause notices to a PML-N MNA and four MPAs for participating in the election campaign of their party candidate by violating the election code of conduct ahead of by-polls in PP-38, sialkot-IV, to be held on July 28.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Noor Mukadam murder: Jaffer family denounces Zahir and his actions STORY ON PAGE 02

PML-N bigwigs stand divided on campaign against AJK polls STORY ON PAGE 03

Pakistan desires enhanced trade, economic ties with Bahrain: FM STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Thursday, 29 July, 2021

KARACHI

NEWS

NooR MukAdAM MuRdeR: JAFFeR FAMily deNouNceS ZAhiR ANd hiS ActioNS ISLAMABAD

t

staff RepoRt

HE family of the prime suspect in the murder of the daughter of a former ambassador denounced him “forever” on Wednesday, a week after the gruesome incident shook the nation, prompting outrage and nationwide protests.

Noor Mukadam, 27, was found murdered at the residence of one Zahir Zakir in Sector F-7/4 of Islamabad last week. Zakir, widely believed to be the killer, was arrested the same day for his purported involvement in the gruesome incident.

A first information report

registered on the complaint of Ambassador Shaukat Ali Mukadam nominated Zakir under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

“The Jaffer family extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Noor Mukadam.

We pray her soul rests in eternal peace. We know that no amount of time will bring back the joy you have lost nor ease your pain,” the statement said.

“Our shock and grief at this horrific act has led to a prolonged silence that we very much regret.

However, we categorically condemn this atrocity and forever denounce Zahir and his actions.”

The family runs Jaffer Group, a

conglomerate based in Lahore.

Earlier on Monday, Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said the names of the suspects — including Zakir’s parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee — will be put on the Exit Control List to keep them from fleeing the country.

The parents and the domestic staff of Zakir were arrested over the weekend for “hiding evidence” and “being complicit” in the incident.

Rasheed disclosed Zakir’s name has already been placed on the Provisional National Identification List, an ECL-like list used to bypass the lengthy process of putting such people on the no-fly list.

The names of the suspects in the case will be presented in a cabinet

meeting this week for approval of their inclusion in the ECL, he said.

REMAND EXTENDED: Meanwhile, a district and sessions court in Islamabad extended Zakir’s physical remand for three more days.

He was initially sent on a threeday remand, which was later extended for two more days on July 24. The court further extended the remand by three more days on Wednesday.

During the proceedings, the prosecutor requested the court to grant another three-day remand of the suspect as he, along with the CCTV footage, had to be transported to Lahore for the forensic analysis of the video clip.

‘Victim never responsible for rape’: Imran says comments ‘deliberately’ taken out of context ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

Arbab Rahim appointed as SAPM on Sindh Affairs ISLAMABAD INp

Prime Minister Imran Khan has appointed Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim as his special assistant on Sindh affairs. Reportedly, Prime Minister Khan gave a nod to the appointment of Dr Rahim as his special assistant on Sindh affairs. The cabinet division on Wednesday issued a notification in this regard.

According to the notification, Dr Rahim’s appointment has been made on an honorary basis. Dr Rahim who had been associated with the PML-Q, PML-N and Grand Democratic Alliance, has now joined the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf. He had remained chief minister of Sindh from 2004 to 2007. A few days ago, PML-Q’ Moonis Elahi who was elected as an MNA from NA-69 Gujrat-II constituency, was also inducted into the federal cabinet. He took oath as a federal minister on July 19. Moonis has been given the water resources minister.

Four killed, 11 injured in road accident ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

Prime Minister Imran Khan who was twice in the recent past accused of victim-blaming following his comments on the high incidence of sexual abuse Wednesday clarified his statements were “deliberately” taken out of context, saying “never is the victim responsible” in such instances.

Imran, on two separate occasions, gave statements that appeared to be blaming the dress choices of women for a rise in rape cases. In a first comment in April, he, during an interview, suggested the increase in rapes indicated the “consequences in any society where vulgarity is on the rise”, advising women to cover up to prevent temptation.

Later in June, in an interview with Jonathan Swan for Axios, the prime minister was asked about his previous remarks about rape victims to which he responded by clarifying he was referring to Islam’s “concept of purdah” which is to “avoid the temptation of society” and is done through covering oneself.

But he also said: “If a woman is wearing very few clothes it will have an impact on the man unless they are robots.

It’s common sense.” Imran did not elaborate on what he meant by “few clothes”.

This time, in an interview with PBS

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Information Secretary and Spokespersons Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Wednesday that party Vice President Maryam Nawaz has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Maryam has gone into self-quarantine after testing positive, the Aurangzeb said, as she appealed to people to pray for the PML-N leader and other people infected with the virus.

Flash floods kill at least 4 in held Kashmir, dozens missing ReuteRs

Dozens of villagers were missing in Indianoccupied Kashmir on Wednesday after flash floods destroyed their houses, killing at least four people, officials said.

More than 160 people have died in India during the past week as a result of heavy rains.

The army and State Disaster Response

are having a sharp rise in sex crimes,” explained Imran.

He observed that sex crimes did not include only women. “More than rape, there is child abuse [cases] which are going through the roof, so my comments were in that context,” said he.

He stated that he used the word pardah, adding the word did not just mean clothes or was restricted to women only. He said pardah was also for men and meant to “bring down temptation in a society”.

“And I have to say because I know all the interviews I have given. Never would I say such a stupid thing where a person who is raped is somehow

Maryam Nawaz tests positive for Covid-19 NewS DeSk

At least four people were killed and 11 others injured after a passenger bus overturned in the wee hours of Wednesday in Punjab. According to reports, the accident occurred near Juman Shah village in the outskirts of Layyah district, when the bus overturned while avoiding a collision with a rickshaw. Rescue teams reached the site and shifted the victims to a nearby hospital. The ill-fated bus was reportedly heading from Multan to Rawalpindi.

SRINAGAR

NewsHour which aired early Wednesday morning, host Judy Woodruff harked back to the prime minister’s early comments, wondering if he “believe women bear a large part of the responsibility” in rape instances.

“Anyone who commits rape, solely and solely that person is responsible,” he responded.

“So let’s be clear about that. No matter how provocative the woman is or whatever she wears, the person who commits rape he is fully responsible.

Never is the victim responsible.

“My comments were completely taken out of context. They were simply talking about Pakistan society where we

responsible. It is always the rapist that is responsible,” said Imran.

Woodruff questioned if the importance given to Islam in Pakistan stopped the prime minister from adopting a stronger stance against women. “Absolutely not. Islam gives dignity (and) respect to women,” he replied.

Imran added that “having travelled” the world over, he discovered that in Muslim countries, women were treated with far greater respect. “In Pakistan [… ] even in other Muslim countries I have seen, women [are] treated with far more respect and given more dignity.”

When talking about respect extended to women, the premier admitted there were “odd cases” of abuse but explained that such a scenario happened “everywhere in the world”.

“But you look at the situation in Pakistan even now, I mean look at the rape cases here, compared to Western countries, they are minuscule.”

Imran admitted there were issues in Pakistan but he linked them to “cultural problems”. He said such cultural problems existed in every nation and were resolved with cultural evolution.

“As far as a women’s dignity and respect goes, I can say after going all over the world, this [Pakistani] society gives more respect and dignity to women,” he added.

Force have joined the search, federal minister Jitendra Singh said on Twitter, with some 36 people unaccounted for after the torrents of water swept down a narrow valley in the Kishtwar district of Kashmir.

Hilly areas in northern India like Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall this week, the India Meteorological Department said.

It is possible that Maryam Nawaz contracted the virus while campaigning for her party in the recent Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections.

In April, PML-N VP Maryam Nawaz’s health deteriorated and she had undergone the corona test again while undergoing treatment and will take part in political activities once her health improved.

At the time, Maryam had cancelled all kinds of political activities in view of her deteriorating health condition after contracting a high fever.

The PML-N spokesperson said in April that the party’s vice president had been suffering from high fever and throat ache. She added that the doctors advised her to take complete rest.

“The vice president has been unwell for a while now but she still went to the Lahore High Court for her hearing,” she had stated.

In early April, Maryam had tested negative for Covid-19, party’s spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed.

Thursday, 29 July, 2021

KARACHI

NEWS

03

PML-N bIGwIGS StANd dIvIded oN cAMPAIGN AGAINSt AJK PoLLS ISLAMABAD

F

MIAN AbRAR

ISSURES have emerged in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership as party leader Nawaz Sharif, President Shahbaz Sharif and Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider have divergent views over the party’s decision to protest over alleged rigging in the AJK polls.

It may be recalled that the PML-N has rejected the results of Azad Kashmir elections and vowed to launch a global campaign over the alleged claims of rigging and the party leaders said that the Kashmiri people would not accept the idea of forming a province with a ‘dummy prime minister’.

Sources in the PML-N have told Pakistan Today that Nawaz Sharif had held

Maryam Nawaz, Raja Farooq Haider and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi responsible for the party’s poor show in the AJK polls.

However, when the trio informed Nawaz Sharif that massive rigging had taken place in the polls, Sharif directed them to address a press conference and take the people into confidence and also hold a sit-in outside the National Assembly building in federal capital against the alleged rigging.

The source said that Raja Farooq Haider had opposed the sit-in but he addressed a presser and took the media into confidence over the alleged rigging in the polls.

However, the source added that Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif had opposed a sit-in outside the NA and rather has demanded concrete evidence of election fraud from AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider.

According to the source, on the issue of PML-N’s defeat in the Azad Kashmir elections, Shehbaz has also questioned how the administration could rig the polls while party’s prime minister had been there and also the election commission and the other officials were appointed by the prime minister. The sources said that Shehbaz Sharif believes that running a campaign against AJK polls would send a very negative signal to the world and it would bring bad name to the Kashmir cause.

Moreover, the sources said that Shehbaz Sharif fears that this narrative may further antagonize the military establishment whom he had won over after hectic efforts and has secured a safe passage for Nawaz Sharif.

“It would be a red line to cross,” Shehbaz Sharif had told Nawaz Sharif, the sources said.

The source also said that the PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif had a telephonic conversation, in which the reasons for the party’s defeat in the Azad Kashmir elections were discussed, including the party policy and statements including the rigging allegations. The sources said that an important meeting of the party is also to be convened soon which would be chaired

by Shehbaz Sharif.

It may be recalled that the PML-N has announced to launch a movement at the national and international level by rejecting the results of the Azad Kashmir elections.

The PML-N Senior Vice President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi alleged that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf won elections with money and vote fraud which, they added, is an attack on Kashmir’s political traditions.

Stability in Afghanistan will generate economic activities for whole region: Fawad ISLAMABAD INP

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said stability in Afghanistan will generate economic activities for the whole region and provides accessibility to Central Asia and the European Union markets.

Addressing the Pakistan-Afghanistan Youth Forum here Wednesday, he said Pakistan has always called for

Five ANA soldiers returned to Afghanistan after due procedure: ISPR RAWALPINDI APP

Around five Afghan National Army soldiers on Wednesday were returned to the authorities of the Afghanistan government who were given safe passengers into Pakistan at their request.

The five Afghan soldiers were returned to Afghan government authorities at Nawapass, Bajaur at 17:45 hours after the due procedure, said an ISPR news release. These Afghan Soldiers were given safe passage into Pakistan, at their own request, by Pakistan Army in the Arundu Sector of Pak-Afghan International Border, Chitral, on 26th July, it added. After necessary clearance, the Afghan soldiers crossed into Pakistan. “The said soldiers have now been returned to Afghan authorities on their request,” the ISPR news release said.

Minister’s brother resigns as AAG

peace in Afghanistan and it is the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan that all Afghan groups should sit together to create a consensus for a broad-based and inclusive government there.

He said Pakistan’s role is very limited and ultimately it is the people of Afghanistan to evolve a formula for a political settlement to establish durable peace and stability in their country.

Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said peace in Afghanistan is vital for enhancing the accessibility of Central Asian

Republics to Pakistan’s port of Gwadar.

He said we can materialize the idea of laying a railway line from Gwadar to Uzbekistan. He said it will connect China-Pakistan Economic Corridor with the European Union. The minister said we always talk of security matters, while there is a need to enhance cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the cultural domain as well. He said Pakistan is ready to cooperate with Afghanistan in sectors like film, drama, and literature.

Daily Covid cases cross 4,000 mark with 7.88pc positivity rate ISLAMABAD STAff RePoRT

Pakistan reported 4,119 new cases of Covid-19 over the last 24 hours, the highest since May 19, as the Delta variant — the strain of the pandemic first identified in India — is spreading across the country, the Ministry of National Health Services said on Wednesday.

On May 19, the ministry recorded 4,207 cases that slowly declined to 663 until June 21, but have since spiked again. The new numbers brought the caseload to over 1.015 million, the data showed.

Sindh is the most affected province of the country with 371,762 infections, followed by Punjab which has reported 354,312 cases.

The Delta variant, which has been classified by the World Health Organisation as among the four Covid-19 variants of concern due to evidence that they spread more easily, likely caused the latest outbreak.

The highly contagious mutation is surging through Asia, with record numbers of infections in Australia and

South Korea, prompting some countries to tighten curbs and others to hasten vaccination.

Some 44 more people also died of the virus, raising the total to 23,133, while 935,742 have so far recovered.

The government has expedited the inoculation drive in the past weeks, and anyone 18 or over is eligible for vaccination. Over 27 million vaccine doses have been administered to date, with a record of over 778,000 shots in the last 24 hours.

“Yet another daily vaccination record set,” Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, who also heads the National Command and Operation Centre, tweeted, adding that the new target is 1 million vaccinations in a day. Over the weekend, Umar that by end of August, at least 40 percent of the eligible population residing in major urban centres will be vaccinated, adding that the campaign will be accelerated in August. During the last week, the government averaged about 467,124 doses administered each day. At that rate, it will take a further 93 days to administer enough doses for another 10 percent of the population, a Reuters tally showed.

PM directs for overseeing Sehat Card programme implementation ISLAMABAD TLTP

Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the federal and provincial governments and State Life Insurance to establish special units to constantly oversee the implementation of Sehat Sahulat Card programme and

immediately address problems.

The prime minister said this while chairing a review meeting regarding the government's health sector initiative of Sehat Sahulat Card on Wednesday.

The prime minister also directed the authorities concerned to appropriately publicise the programme with the cooperation of the Ministry of Information and

Abbasi said that the rigging had started before the election and not on the day of the polls. He alleged that the opposition candidates were blocked and asked to change their loyalties. He said that despite pressure and luring, the PML-N candidates stood firm and did not fall to temptations.

Former spokesman of Nawaz Sharif Muhammad Zubair admitted the fact that Shehbaz Sharif himself did not level allegations of rigging in Azad Kashmir but also did not stop anyone from making the allegations. He said that after such massive rigging in the Azad Kashmir elections, Shehbaz Sharif cannot sit in Lahore and say that the party has not reacted. He added that some details regarding rigging in Azad Kashmir have been shared with Shehbaz Sharif and more information will be shared with him in the next few days.

china national wounded in Karachi gun attack KARACHI AfP

At least one Chinese national was wounded in a gun attack in Karachi Wednesday, police said, in the latest assault targeting Chinese citizens in the country. Police said two masked assailants riding on a motorbike fired at a car carrying two Chinese nationals, who were working at a nearby factory in the city. One of the passengers sustained an injury to his arm in that attack. “He is stable as fortunately he was not hit on any vital part of his body,” Deputy Inspector General of Police (South) Javed Akbar Riaz told AFP. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also confirmed the incident. “China is following this matter closely and the relevant case is still under investigation,” said Zhao.

“This incident is an isolated case. We are fully confident that the Pakistani side will ensure the safety of Chinese nationals and assets in Pakistan,” he added. The shooting comes just weeks after nine Chinese nationals were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when their bus carrying a team of engineers, surveyors and mechanical staff to a nearby dam site was targeted in a bombing. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing. Large numbers of Chinese nationals are based in the country to supervise and build infrastructure projects. Islamabad is Beijing’s closest regional ally, with China pouring billions of dollars into Pakistan in recent years to boost the nation’s infrastructure.

In April a suicide blast at a luxury hotel hosting the Chinese ambassador in southwest Balochistan province killed four people and wounded dozens. The ambassador was unhurt.

Broadcasting so that the maximum number of people could benefit from it.

Khan expressed satisfaction over the relief reaching to the masses through the Sehat Sahulat Card. He said it is the country's largest and historic programme, providing quality healthcare services to the people.

The prime minister said it is the first time that any government has launched such a comprehensive program in the health sector whilst caring for the weak segments of the society.

NPT pays tribute to Arif Nizami LAHORE STAff RePoRT

LAHORE STAff RePoRT

Faisal Hussain Chaudhry, brother of Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, resigned with “the utmost pleasure” from the post of the additional advocate general Wednesday. He announced his decision via a tweet. However, Chaudhry said he would continue to practice law. Chaudhry was appointed to the post in December 2018 when the Punjab government appointed 18 new additional advocate generals and 42 assistant advocate generals, mostly affiliated to lawyers’ wings of Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid.

The Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust in Lahore organised an event to pay tribute to recently deceased veteran journalist, Arif Nizami.

Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust was established in July 1992 by the former chief minister of Punjab, the late Ghulam Haider Wyne. NPT is a non-parochial national academic-cum-research institution for promoting the ideology of Pakistan as declared by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Mohammad Iqbal.

To perform this role the trust aims at those objectives for which Pakistan was established, recalling sacrifices rendered to achieve it, and creating awareness among people, particularly youth, about its ideological basis and its glorious Islamic

cultural heritage.

During the event, Arif’s son Yousaf Nizami, senior journalist Mujib-urRehman Shami, Irshad Arif, Sajjad Mir, Salan Ghani, Imran Masood and Shahid Rasheed addressed the participants, recalled their memories with Arif Nizami and prayed for him. Syed Athar Jameel Qazi, Ata-ur-Rehman, Mehnaz Rafique and Sikander Hameed Lodhi also participated in the event.

Renowned journalist and editor of Pakistan Today Arif Nizami passed away on Wednesday last at the age of 74.

Nizami started his career as a reporter in his father Hameed Nizami’s Urdu language daily, Nawa-i-Waqt. After his father’s death, Nizami continued to work at Nawa-i-Waqt as executive editor up until 1985 when he founded the English

daily The Nation.

During his time as editor of The Nation, Nizami trained and supported some of the major names in Pakistan’s journalism today. As an editor, he has been remembered as a staunch defender of his reporters and staff who would stand in support of his team no matter who was on the other side. In 2010, Nizami ended his 25-year run as editor of The Nation and founded a second English daily newspaper, Pakistan Today. Here he

challenged widely held beliefs about how the newspaper business works in Pakistan, introducing a ‘Berliner’ size newspaper that was unlike anything seen by paper readers in the country before.

Nizami was also quick to adapt to changing times, and in the latter part of his career found great success and acclaim as a political analyst and talking head on television. His opinions were widely sought out and his analysis was closely watched by many.

Thursday, 29 July, 2021

04 NEWS

KARACHI

Court deferS iNdiCtmeNt of SiNdh Cm, otherS iN NAB refereNCe ISLAMABAD

A

STAFF REPORT

N accountability court in Islamabad on Wednesday postponed the indictment of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and other suspects in the Nooriabad Power Plant reference until September 6.

The project was launched in 2014 under a public-private partnership at a cost of Rs13 billion in which the Sindh government holds

SWVL to list on Nasdaq DUBAI: Swvl Inc. , a Dubai-based provider of transformative mass transit and shared mobility solutions, and Queen’s Gambit Growth Capital (“Queen’s Gambit”) (NASDAQ: GMBT), the first special purpose acquisition company led by women, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for a business combination that would result in Swvl becoming a publicly listed company. Upon completion of the proposed transaction, the combined public company will be named Swvl Holdings Corp and is expected to be listed on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “SWVL”.

With an implied, fully diluted equity value of approximately $1.5 billion, SWVL is expected to be the first $1bn plus unicorn from the Middle East to list on Nasdaq and only techenabled mass transit solutions company to list on any stock exchange. Uniquely positioned to capitalize on $1tn global market opportunity as a leading provider of tech-enabled mass transit across 10 major cities, having built a parallel mass transit system that offers intercity, intracity, B2B and business-to-government transportation. Proceeds to fund and accelerate Swvl’s long-term growth strategy with a goal of driving $1bn+ of annual gross revenues and expansion to 20 countries by 2025. PR

49 percent shares and a private company owns the remaining 51 percent.

Shah, who was an adviser to then-chief minister Qaim Ali Shah on finance and energy, has been accused of misuse of authority and award of contracts without feasibility of the projects causing Rs8 billion loss to the national exchequer.

The indictment was delayed after two co-accused tested positive for Covid-19 and failed to turn up for the hearing.

In the reference — filed by the dirty

money watchdog — which is an offshoot of the fake accounts case, the chief minister is accused of using his influence and releasing funds for the project in violation of the rules.

The bureau has charged Shah under sections 9(a) 1, 4, 6, 11 and 12 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

According to the reference, the project was conceived to whiten the black money of the Omni Group. It is also alleged that Shah concealed the material facts from the Sindh cabinet, and even misled it to benefit the busi-

ness. Shah also managed to release a Rs3 billion loan to the companies, the case alleged.

NAB has submitted a 66-volume record

Samsung declined offers to come to Pakistan: Razak Dawood ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Advisor on Commerce Razak Dawood on Tuesday said that Pakistan failed to woo Korean mobile manufacturing giant, Samsung, to establish a manufacturing and assembly plant in the country.

“We contacted Samsung mobile company twice, but they declined,” he informed. Responding to queries before the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, the advisor said that a Chinese company is setting up a factory in Karachi for mobile phone manufacturing.

He apologised to the members of the committee on the absence of the commerce secretary. Additional Secretary Commerce, Mujtaba Memon, informed the committee that secretary commerce, Saleh Farooqui, was busy in Karachi, preparing for Expo 2020.

“I am now trying to convince the Chinese to start mobile phone exports from Pakistan.

They [Chinese] started production last year and I had given them a target of December 2021.

They have assured me that they will begin exports from January 2022 onward,” he added.

Dawood further informed the committee that rice export to China had been stopped due to coronavirus. In this regard, Executive Director General Commerce Rafeo Bashir Shah said that coronavirus was found on rice sacks, due to which China stopped the imports of rice.

China has decided that their teams of experts would comes to Pakistan to inspect the rice

here for future consignments. Similarly, the virus was also found on the packing of consignments sent by six fish companies, due to which China has curtailed imports from these companies, stating poor hygiene standards.

DG Trade Policy Waqas Azeem briefed the committee that exports targets in the last two programmes were not realistic and hence unattainable. In previous trade policies, the emphasis was on three markets, including China and the EU. Additional Secretary Commerce Mujtaba Memon apprised the committee that the government has reduced energy rates for industries. Duty and taxes on the raw materials have been slashed too, he added.

“We have created new trading partners. Our emphasis on exports in new development sectors other than the traditional sector has also contributed to our exports,” he said. The commerce adviser said the government has not offered any subsidy to the industry in energy.

“The sector should be provided electricity at par with the industries of the rival countries.

The new DLTL policy is going to be extended to new areas besides the traditional ones,” Dawood added.

He emphasised that Pakistan’s exports were minimal and the country has to look towards new sectors. “We are bringing 11 new sectors including engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, auto parts, fruit and vegetable, meat and poultry which will further improve our exports,” he underlined.

Senator Muhammad Qasim said that some foreign companies were coming to

Pakistani waters for seafood which was leaving local fishermen in a nasty situation. Senator Muhammad raised a question regarding the number of marble and minerals industries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The commerce ministry should also focus on these areas, he added.

He highlighted that after the merger of integrated areas, people were not being given loans to set up industries. The Senate committee chairman noted that the funding ratio of loans in Balochistan and KP was meagre. For KP, the loan funding rate is one per cent, while for Balochistan it is less than 0.5pc.

The commerce adviser assured the committee that they would solve the mentioned problems while focusing on marble and minerals.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce also clarified that China has not imposed any ban on rice exports from Pakistan. In a statement, the ministry rejected the reports circulating on media relating to the alleged export ban by China on Pakistani rice and said that the Chinese government was following strict protocol SPS measures including checking import consignments for COVID- 19 virus presence before port clearance.

The Senate Standing Committee on Commerce presided over by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada was told that Pakistani export consignments of rice were detained for port inspection and detections but were release after conformity with the Chinese government protocols, read the statement.

against Shah in the accountability court. The statements and evidence of witnesses against Shah are part of the record.

Spectrum auction policy approved NEWS DESK The government on Tuesday approved a new spectrum policy for commercial auction of next generation mobile and internet service after which connectivity of mobile phones and broadband facility will improve in urban as well as farflung areas of the country. The decision was taken at a meeting of the federal cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan. According to a report by Dawn, the Cabinet decided that the spectrum auction will be carried out for the first time for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) so that the people of these areas could also have better mobile phone and internet facilities. Both AJK and GB currently have 2G mobile service. “For Pakistan, the cabinet approved auction of additional spectrum for 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz frequencies,” Information Technology Minister Syed Aminul Haq told Dawn after the cabinet meeting. He said the base price for 1800 MHz frequency was set at $31 million per MHz while the price of 2100 MHz frequency will be $29m per MHz. “When cell phone companies will get the additional frequency, their services will improve a lot and people will have faster and clear mobile and internet facility throughout the county even in the rural areas,” Haq said. The PTA has granted six months permission to PMCL (Jazz) and CMPak (Zong) to conduct test and trial of 5G Technology under limited environment.

Standard Chartered expects global growth to rebound to 5.8pc KARACHI PRESS RELEASE

Standard Chartered expects global growth to rebound to 5.8% in 2021 from -3.3% in 2020 as economies reopen and vaccination rollouts gain momentum.

According to the latest Global Focus – containing the Bank’s economic forecasts for Q3 – it sees two key downside risks to the outlook: (1) a more extensive resurgence of pandemic cases resulting from new variants, which could force the extension or re-imposition of restrictions; and (2) a more sustained surge in inflation that damages consumer confidence and forces a swifter tightening of monetary policy.

The two risks are linked, as current supply-chain pressures (and related costs) could worsen if a Covid resurgence disrupts global production again. Eighteen months on from the first Covid-19 cases, some parts of the world are emerging from the pandemic, while others remain in the midst of a crisis. Global case numbers so far this year are higher than for all of 2020, and many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Asia, Latin America and the Middle East are experiencing renewed surges with still-low vaccination rates. In most major developed economies, by contrast, advanced vaccination programmes are containing the pandemic and allowing restrictions to be eased.

CMYK

Global GDP and trade volumes are recovering faster now than after the global financial crisis Thanks to successful pandemic containment, China’s GDP has returned to trend (the level reached if growth had continued at the average pace seen before the prepandemic peak); the Bank continues to expect growth of 8% this year.

Activity elsewhere in Asia has turned lower again with a resurgence in COVID cases. India, Singapore, Indonesia and Japan are unlikely to return to pre-pandemic GDP levels until Q3-2021. Since the previous Global Focus in early April, Standard Chartered has downgraded its 2021 GDP growth forecasts for these economies, with the exception of Singapore, where activity has been resilient despite restrictions.

Of the developed economies that were hardest hit by the pandemic, the Bank expects the US to return to trend GDP by late 2021 thanks to substantial fiscal support; it maintains the 2021 GDP growth forecast of 6.5%. Although the euro area may not fully regain output lost during the pandemic after having suffered a double-dip recession, the Bank raises its 2021 growth forecast to 4.5% given good vaccination progress, with over half of the population having received at least one dose.

Global export volumes are now 3.9% higher than before the pandemic. Booming goods trade has particularly benefited small export-oriented economies (such as Taiwan and

Vietnam) and commodity producers (such as Chile). Standard Chartered expects this dynamic to continue, helped by pent-up consumer demand, as unemployment falls and savings are deployed amid economic reopening.

In developed economies, the build-up of savings during the pandemic has raised the prospect of a spending surge once economies normalise and restrictions are fully lifted. However, several factors may limit the full deployment of savings for higher spending on goods and services.

And precautionary savings may stay high, particularly as households anticipate higher taxation to reduce government debt levels.

The Bank expects a gradual rather than an abrupt return to ‘normal’ savings rates over the next couple of years.

Sarah Hewin, Head of Research, Europe and Americas, Standard Chartered Bank, said: “The pandemic continues to pose downside risks to the outlook. The more recent emergence of the ‘Delta plus’ variant, which is potentially even more transmissible, highlights that new variants will continue to pose a significant threat until cases are brought down sufficiently on a global scale. Achieving herd immunity against the Delta variant could require as much as 90% of the population to be vaccinated. While China and the EU are on track to approach such levels by September or October, the recent slowdown in the US vaccination pace suggests that the 90% level may not be reached until February 2022.”

Thursday, 29 July, 2021

karaChi

news

05

OIL rISES TOWArdS $75 AS US InvEnTOry drOP cOUnTErS vIrUS WOrry London

O

AGENCIES

IL rose towards $75 a barrel on Wednesday ahead of an industry report expected to show US crude inventories dropped more than expected, bringing the focus back to a tight supply and demand balance rather than rising coronavirus infections.

US crude stocks fell 4.7 million barrels, two market sources citing American

Petroleum Institute figures said, more than analysts forecast. Official US Energy Information Administration inventory figures are out at 1430 GMT. “This price catalyst may inject some much-needed momentum into proceedings, especially after the API set a bullish tone,” said Stephen Brennock of broker PVM, referring to the EIA report.

Brent crude rose 34 cents, or 0.5%, to $74.82 a barrel at 0820 GMT, after posting on Tuesday its first decline in six days. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude ad-

vanced 40 cents, or 0.6%, to $72.05. Oil has risen 44% this year, helped by demand recovery and supply curbs by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, known as OPEC+.

OPEC+ agreed to increase supply by 400,000 barrels per day from August, unwinding more of last year’s record supply cut, but this is seen as too low by some analysts given the rebound in demand expected this year.

“Oil supply is likely to remain tight even with the production hikes set by

OPEC+,” said Naeem Aslam of online broker Avatrade.

A rising number of coronavirus cases worldwide, despite vaccination programmes, has limited the upside for oil and remains a concern.

As well as the EIA report, a statement from a US Federal Reserve policy meeting due at 1800 GMT will also be in focus. The dollar was firmer ahead of the meeting, which tends to weigh on oil as it makes crude more expensive for other currency holders.

Pfizer raises 2021 Covid-19 vaccine sales forecast to $33.5bn

HBL launches WhatsApp banking services, powered by E Ocean Karachi PR

neW YorK AGENCIES

Pfizer Inc on Wednesday raised its forecast for sales of the COVID-19 vaccine that it developed with Germany’s BioNTech by 28.8% to $33.5 billion, as countries scramble to secure supply of the shots.

The company said the raised sales forecast of the vaccine is based on signed deals for 2.1 billion doses this year, and that it could increase if it signs additional contracts. Pfizer and BioNTech expect to produce 3 billion doses of the vaccine this year.

Pfizer gained a head start in December with the first

U.S. emergency authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine, and has since jumped ahead of rivals that have faced manufacturing hurdles. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine has also been under scrutiny over safety concerns.

J&J last week estimated full-year COVID-19 vaccine sales of $2.5 billion, while Moderna has forecast $19.2 billion.

Pfizer has said it believes a third “booster” dose of its vaccine will be needed in the future, which could help it bring in more sales in 2022. The company said on Wednesday it could file for an emergency use authorization for a potential booster dose as early as August.

Top infectious disease official Anthony Fauci said on

Sunday that Americans who are immune compromised may end up needing booster shots as the United States deals with increasing cases from the Delta variant of the coronavirus. The United States purchased 200 million more doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine last week to help with pediatric vaccination as well as possible booster shots – if they are needed.

Pfizer’s previous forecast in May of $26 billion was based on deals signed for 1.6 billion doses. Wall Street was broadly in line with that forecast at $28.51 billion, according to nine analysts polled by Refinitiv.

Expenses and profit from the vaccine are split 50-50 between Pfizer and BioNTech.

‘US really messed it up’: Imran khan on Afghanistan situation continued from page 01 Asked about the claims of Pakistan lending support to the Taliban by providing them with so-called safe havens and that 10,000 militants had crossed over into Afghanistan recently, the prime minister called these comments “extremely unfair”.

“For a start,” he said, “the claim about 10,00 jihadi fighters having crossed over was absolute nonsense.”

“Why don’t they give us evidence of this? Firstly, let me just go back.

When they say that Pakistan gave safe havens, sanctuaries to the Taliban, where are these safe-havens?

Pakistan, he added, hosts three million refugees, but the Taliban are not some military outfit. “They are normal civilians. And if there are some [noncivilians] in these camps, how is Pakistan supposed to hunt these people down? How can you call them sanctuaries,” he questioned.

When asked about his refusal to host the US bases in Pakistan to support counterinsurgency operations in

Afghanistan, Imran said: “When a country loses 70,000 people and is bankrupted by this war on terror, when we joined the US after 9/11, we do not have the capacity to have any more fighting within our border or any terrorism within our country, because, when we were in the height of that war on terror, which Pakistan joined, there were suicide bombs taking place all over the country.”

“The businesses collapsed. Tourism collapsed. So, what we do not want to be is part of any conflict. Now, if there’s a conflict going on in Afghanistan and there are bases in Pakistan, we then become targets. We will then become part of a conflict which we were in the last 15 years, and we do not want.”

In June, Imran ruled out the possibility of providing bases to the US military for counterterrorism strikes in Afghanistan. When asked by an American news website Axios if Pakistan would provide military bases for Washington to conduct strikes inside Afghanistan, he said: “Absolutely not”.

When asked about the kind of relations he wanted to have with the US, the prime minister said: “Well, Judy, the last relationship was transactional. Pakistan was more like a hired gun. The US says that we paid you, we gave you aid, and that’s why you were fighting this so-called war on terror.”

“Pakistan, on the other hand, felt that here was a country which had no need to be part of this war. It loses 70,000. I mean, where — which other country has lost 70,000 people fighting for someone else’s war?

“So, Pakistanis felt that here we were, fighting the US’ war, our economy devastated. It was minuscule compared to the amount of money we lost in the economy. And yet we were blamed for the failure in Afghanistan.”

“Now,” he added, “Pakistan’s position is very straightforward. We want to help and we have helped getting the Taliban to talk to the US, got them on the dialogue table. We have done our bit.” “What we cannot afford now, if there is civil war — what the US wants is […] US bases in Pakistan if there’s a

civil war in Afghanistan. But if there’s a civil war in Afghanistan, we will immediately get stuck into it. There will be terrorism within Pakistan. We do not want — apart from anything else, our country cannot afford it.

“We have just recovered from a desperate economic situation. And we do not want to go through it again.”

“I hear that message,” Woodruff remarked, but went on to ask: “Are you prepared to accept Taliban victory next door?

“Absolutely, there’s nothing more we can do, except push them as much as we can for a political settlement.

That’s all,” was the prime minister’s response.

“But what happens in Afghanistan, we can only pray that the people of Afghanistan decide what government they want. And so we hope that that’s what will happen in the end; they will form some sort of an inclusive government. “But that’s for people of Afghanistan. As far as Pakistan is concerned, we have done what we can,” Imran added.

HBL has launched WhatsApp Banking for its customers enabling them to avail select banking services through the platform. The service is powered by E Ocean, a leading Cloud Communications provider. HBL WhatsApp Banking solution facilitates oneto-one conversations with customers seamlessly, and responds to queries, real time in a secure way. Customers can simply send a message via WhatsApp to the HBL UAN number (021-111-111-425) and request for their account balance, acquire product information, inquire about Roshan Digital Account (RDA) Services, locate nearest ATMs and Branches and obtain responses to FAQs. Furthermore, RDA customers can also chat with live agents via this messaging application. With the deployment of the of the WhatsApp Banking service, HBL has further solidified its customer-centric digital banking and aims to develop a deeper understanding of customer needs to serve them better by offering intuitive banking solutions.

PTI secures victory in PP-38 Sialkot by-election continued from page 01 Those who were served with notices on Monday were MNA Chaudhry Armughan Subhani and MPAs Manshaullah Butt, Chaudhry Arshad Javaid Warraich, Rana Arif Iqbal Harnah and Gulnaz Shujaat Pasha. According to the ECP press release, an explanation was sought from the PML-N parliamentarians that why they violated the election code of conduct by participating in the election campaign of PMLN candidate Chaudhry Tariq Akhtar Subhani.

The DMO and ECP asked these PML-N parliamentarians to appear personally or through their representatives on June 23, 2021.

Apple says chip shortage reaches iPhone, growth forecast slows manhattan AGENCIES

In a conference call with investors, Apple executives also said that the global chip shortage had a less severe impact than feared in the company’s third quarter but will worsen in the fourth quarter, extending to iPhone production.

Apple Inc said on Tuesday that a global chip shortage that has bit into its ability to sell Macs and iPads will start to affect iPhone production and forecasted slowing revenue growth, sending its shares lower.

Apple executives said revenue for the current fiscal fourth quarter will grow by double-digits but be below the 36.4% growth rate in the just-ended third quarter.

Growth will also slow in Apple’s closely watched services business, they said.

In a conference call with investors, Apple executives also said that the global chip shortage had a less severe impact than feared in the company’s third quarter but will worsen in the fourth quarter, extending to iPhone production.

Chief Executive Tim Cook said the affected chips are made with older technology but are needed to make the company’s flagship device.

“We do have some shortages,” Cook said, “where the demand has been so great and so beyond our own expectation that it’s difficult to get the entire set of parts

within the lead times that we try to get those.”

Shares, which have more than doubled in value in about three years, dropped 2.3% to $143.38 in afterhours trading after the call.

Earlier, Apple reported third-quarter sales and profits that beat analyst expectations as consumers bought premium versions of its 5G iPhones and signed up for its subscription services.

Driven by the better-than-expected iPhone sales, total revenue hit $81.43 billion, above analyst expectations of $73.30 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Apple’s profits were $21.74 billion, or $1.30 per share, above estimates of $1.01 per share, according to Refinitiv. Apple’s strongest sales growth came from China, where Cook told Reuters that customers are buying up accessories such as the Apple Watch to pair with their iPhones. China sales grew 58% to $14.76 billion in the fiscal third quarter ended June 26.

“It wasn’t just iPhone. We set a new quarterly record for Mac, for wearables, home and accessories, and for services” in China, Cook said in an interview. “It was our strongest geography.”

Investors who once worried that Apple was too dependent on sales of the iPhone have pushed the company’s value to nearly $2.5 trillion.

“Their main challenge now is keeping up success to justify its +$2 trillion valuation,” said Jesse Cohen, a senior analyst at Investing.com.

Apple launched its iPhone 12 models, all of which can connect to faster 5G wireless networks thanks to chips from Qualcomm Inc, later than usual last year. Because that delay pushed some iPhone purchases that would normally happen in the company’s fiscal first quarter into the second, executives had warned investors to expect a steeper drop in iPhone sales than usual in the third quarter as consumers start holding back on purchases in anticipation of a new generation of phones this fall. But impetus to upgrade for 5G appeared to be driving a better buying cycle for iPhones than many analysts expected. Apple said iPhone sales were $39.57 billion, up nearly 50% from a year earlier and above analyst expectations of $34 billion.

Cook told Reuters that Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, the premium tier of the device, were strong sellers. That helped pushed gross margins to 43.3%, above estimates of 41.9%, according to Refinitiv.

The other major driver of Apple’s results was its services business, which includes paid subscriptions for television and music as well as its App Store. Services revenue reached a record high of $17.49 billion, up by a third from a year earlier and above analyst expectations of $16.33 billion. Cook told Reuters that Apple now has 700 million subscribers on its various platforms, up from 660 million a quarter earlier.

Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri told investors that services growth will slow. “We expect still-signifi-

cant growth in services but not to the level that we’ve seen in June,” he said on the call.

Cook said Apple set quarterly sales records in many of its first-party services, including its AppleCare hardware insurance plans, which had slowed somewhat during the pandemic when many of the company’s retail locations were closed.

Last quarter, Apple had told investors that the global chip shortage could hold back sales by $3 billion to $4 billion.

Cook told Reuters that although Apple was limited in how many Macs and iPads it could sell because of the shortage, the hit to Apple’s overall revenue in the third quarter was “lower than the low end” of its previously forecasted range. Sales of iPads and Macs were $7.37 billion and $8.24 billion, compared with analyst expectations of $7.15 billion and $8.07 billion, according to Refinitiv data.

In the longer term, Apple’s services business also faces regulatory risks. The company’s practice of charging commissions of 15% to 30% to developers who sell in its App Store and requiring them to use Apple’s payment system could face scrutiny from regulators in the United States and Europe, where legislators are also proposing laws that could curtail some of Apple’s practices.

A ruling is also expected in the coming months in an antitrust lawsuit filed against Apple by “Fortnite” creator Epic Games.

Thursday, 29 July, 2021

06 COMMENT

Bogus ACRs

Half truths And the gathering storm

O

The ACR system has lost utility

Ne would agree with Prime Minister Imran Khan that the USA really messed it up in Afghanistan. According to Mr Khan, the best time for negotiations was during the surge when there were as many as 150,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Why the USA miscalculated the Afghan rebels’ strength is not difficult to understand. Leaders having big armies are confident that they can easily suppress a hostile populace with the military might at their disposal. This is how Gen Pervez Musharraf saw things when he warned Nawab Akbar Bugti, saying, “This time you won’t even know what hit you.” Over-confident of its being the sole military superpower , the USA failed to draw lessons from the defeat of the two empires at the hands of the Afghans.

The USA was unconcerned about the deadly impact of its covert military operations on Pakistan. It was for Gen Ziaul haq to realise that the operations would force millions to seek shelter in Pakistan, bringing with them criminals selling modern weapons and deadly narcotics.

Ziaul haq helped the USA in return for recognition and funds. As he had overthrown an elected government, imposed Martial Law and hanged an elected PM, Zia was treated as an outcast by countries that mattered. By rendering full cooperation Zia made himself acceptable to the West and received millions of dollars in aid. General Musharraf too faced international isolation after the overthrow of an elected government. While earlier the USA had supported the mujahideen, it wanted them to be arrested or taken out after 9/11. Forgetting that the USA had left the region and abandoned Pakistan after achieving its aims, General Musharraf bargained with Washington, handing over suspects and allowing the USA to set up military bases in the country. The establishment ensured that the security policies of the two military rulers were followed by the elected governments also.

The chickens have to come home to roost now. Neither the USA nor the Taliban trust the government in Islamabad.

The Tehrik Taliban Pakistan, which once nominated Imran Khan as one of its negotiators for peace with the PML(N) government, is showing its true colours. TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud has hailed the Taliban’s advances in Afghanistan, vowed to fight Pakistani troops and occupy KP’s tribal districts . It is for the policymakers to take the country out of the cul de sac into they have brought it.

Dr FariD a Malik

F

INALLY, the Prime Minister has focused on the importance and sanctity of Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) of the civil servants. For the last many years this activity has been a farce. If normalized averages are tabulated, the performance of bureaucracy in Pakistan will perhaps be comparable to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) of the USA. that hires the best brains of the world and is currently working on a Mars landing.

While ground realities look grim, most ACRs of officers are marked ‘excellent’ with very few indicating below-average performance. In case of adverse remarks, the ACR has to be discussed with the affected person. To avoid conflict, average performance is reported and the lack of achievement is covered up.

Most bureaucrats stand in the queue, deliver almost nothing, yet move up the ranks making it into Grades 20 and 21, while a few even manage to reach 22, mostly with good political connections. Input of the public or the customer will certainly help but it will not be easy to implement.

A separate neutral entity will have to be created to solicit and then forward public input into the conduct of the civil servants who are required to serve, not to rule as has been the case. Lack of SOPs, no accountability and cover-up by peers is the hallmark of the bureaucracy today. All reforms have been resisted by this colonial left-over, and in fact the pendulum has swung in the reverse direction. Till the 1970s, the entire bureaucracy together with the ministers were

Bad sports Dismal Olympic performance shows neglect

The economy has been kept going despite the pandemic

MuhaMMaD ZahiD riFat

T

he national economy had been facing a volatile pattern of growth over the years, with regular boom and bust cycles facing challenges in achieving long-term and inclusive growth.

Unsustainable economic growth was caused by not addressing long standing structural issues, for instance, loss-making State-Owned enterprises (SOes), weak external position due to insufficient export capacity and low Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), under-reformed energy sector, low savings and investment.

In the backdrop of these challenges, the incumbent federal government has focused on an economic vision of securing sustainable economic growth by improving efficiency, reducing cost of doing business, improving regulatory environment, enhancing productivity and increasing investment. even before the covid-19 pandemic had hit the national economy, the incumbent government had started implementing decisive and far-reaching reforms in every sector of the economy. The reforms started to address the economic imbalances and laid the foundation for improved economic performance in terms of strengthened fiscal and external accounts, exchange rate stability and improved investors’ confidence. Moreover, inflation started to stabilize and market confidence greatly recovered and appreciably improved. Quite obviously, these reforms had paved the way for long-term growth and resulted in moving toward ending the unsustainable growth pattern that

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Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

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Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

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Executive Editor

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The Principal, Mr Norman Green, wrote my School Leaving Certificate. As an activist, I had serious differences with him. he gave an honest evaluation of my stay at the school, and the last line said it all, “he has strong tendency towards leadership which must be guided in the right direction.”. Very skillfully he pointed out my strengths, traits and the importance of direction for a positive career outcome, it was an indisputable and fair evaluation.

In the USA, a system of Management By Objectives (MBOs) is extensively used.

Objectives are defined at the start of the year and then evaluation is done at the end. First there is self-evaluation, followed by the supervisor’s grading. In one of the evaluation years, I had published three technical papers which were on top of my self-evaluation. My supervisor called me for an explanation. he asked a straight question, “What were the benefits of these publications to the organization?” When he saw a blank look on my face he said, “For a commercial outfit, patents are more beneficial than technical papers.”

It was an eye opener for me. After that I started working on the Patents and succeeded in getting them for mutual benefit. As the inventor I got the credit while the company as the assignee had full rights over its commercialization and application. evaluations are tedious in nature, and they must result in the growth of the individual as well as the organization, which has been missing in the land of the pure. Bogus ACRs serve no purpose, in fact they are damaging in many ways both for the individual and the organization which has resulted in their decline. Public inputs into ACRs is certainly a good idea but more directed efforts are required for a meaningful outcome of this annual exercise.

Evaluations are tedious in nature, and they must result in the growth of the individual as well as the organization, which has been missing in the land of the pure. Bogus ACRs serve no purpose, in fact they are damaging in many ways both for the individual and the organization which has resulted in their decline. Public inputs into ACRs is certainly a good idea but more directed efforts are required for a meaningful outcome of this annual exercise

Economic achievements

N

O one is calling for the building of a sporting steamroller like that of the USA or Russia, but even some attention paid to this neglected sector would yield dividends. It was perhaps encouraging to see weightlifter Talha Talib being celebrated for coming in fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, and uplifting to see it pointed out that he was only 2 kg short of the bronze medal (and 12 kg short of the gold medal) in the 67 kg weightlifting event. however, the fact remains that he will come back from Tokyo without a medal. Worse results have come in for other sports, with eliminations of the Pakistani contenders in women’s badminton and men’s 10-metre air pistol events. Pakistan is not out, with representatives ‘in the men’s 100 kg judo, the women’s 50-metre freestyle swimming, and the men’s 25-metre rapid fire pistol events still to compete but barring a miracle, it seems the contingent is going to come back without having won a single medal.

The decline of hockey, where Pakistan would pick up either gold or silver, its last medal in that sport being gold in1984, to the point where it does not even qualify to compete, might show where the problem lies. Athletes in various sports are left to fend for themselves in both training and travelling, while the government offers them no resources. Cricket, to which the Prime Minister owes his coming into prominence, has only received some money because of worldwide television revenue. however, it is not an Olympic sport.

While team games like cricket and hockey are important, individual sports like athletics and swimming, can play a significant role in character development. But excellence in such sports is based on large numbers practicing them at the school and college level. The government should put resources into sports not because it wants to win medals at Olympics, but because it is good for young people. The medals will follow automatically.

If Pakistan can put its young population into school, and provide vibrant sports programmes, it would find it an investment in its youth worthy of a country whose Prime Minister was once captain of a national team, though admittedly not of an Olympic sport.

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

housed in the Civil Secretariat, but not anymore.

The Chief Secretary, Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners now have functional offices within their residences in the confines of GOR (Government Officers Residences) where the public has limited access. Over the years the gap has widened between the servers and the served.

In the early 1960s, the first major attempt at civil service Reforms was initiated under the Cornelius Commission. Open public hearings were held at the YMCA hall on the Mall.

The unlimited powers of the colonial bureaucracy were redefined. Before the findings could be announced the two bureaucrat members of the commission conspired to build resistance against the implementation of these reforms. In the UK some of the recommendations were adopted by the Fullerton Commission but the people of Pakistan were denied the proposed relief. Till today, the report remains relevant and could be implemented after upgradation.

As Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation whenever I received a complaint against a subordinate, I always reviewed his previous ACRs which were mostly good. It took me a while to understand the reason behind such a blatant lapse.

Over the years institutional loyalty was replaced with individual gains. The instrument of the ACR was no longer used to reform the employee to better serve and build the organization, and while the complaints were real they were neither reflected nor addressed in the ACRs, thereby defeating the purpose of the exercise. It is widely believed that the ‘Gora Sahib’ was very fair in performance evaluations as there were no local biases or links, but with the ‘Brown Sahib’, the situation has changed. Merit no longer exists in selection or promotion in most government departments.

I studied in a missionary school. Those were tumultous years, student protests against the first dictator had erupted. Discpline violations were rampant.

had plagued the national economy for years together in the past.

FY2021 began in the midst of the most severe global health crisis experienced by humanity in modern history. Pakistan’s economy, like that of the rest of the world, struggled to combat the economic consequences of the covid-19 shock through prompt measures for supporting the economy and equally importantly saving both lives and livelihoods.

Besides taking timely virus containment measures, the federal government also implemented a comprehensive set of measures including the largest ever economic stimulus package of Rs 1240 billion, a construction package, an expansion of the social safety net to protect the vulnerable segments of the society and a supportive monetary policy stance along with targeted financial initiatives. Quite obviously and expectedly, these measures helped the national economy in lessening the negative impact of the pandemic. In contrast to other world economies, Pakistan started witnessing recovery during the first half of FY2021 on the back of continued domestic economic activity due to the above-mentioned measures along with a smart lockdown policy.

Needless to mention here that during the last three years, the incumbent PTI federal government has faced numerous economic challenges which were aggravated by the sudden and surprise invasion of the covid-19 pandemic. however, the federal government has quite successfully and appreciably progressed from recovery and stabilization to sustainable growth of the national economy.

While approving the estimates of its third budget, for FY 2021-2022, the federal government considered it imperative to control the adverse economic impacts of the covid-19 pandemic, manage twin deficits, recover and stabilize the national economy, and provide relief to the vulnerable segments of the society.

According to information gathered from the official quarters concerned, facts and figures for the entire financial year 2020-2021 were not immediately available. however, keeping in view the abovementioned objectives, the achievements of the federal government in economic and other sectors for the first ten months, that is, July 2020-April 2021 are briefly given below for information of the readers at large: Pakistan’s economy witnessed a V-shaped recovery after contracting by 0.47 per cent in FY 2020-21.

The GDP growth rate for FY2021 was 3.94 percent against the targeted growth of 2.1 percent as a result of policy initiatives undertaken by the federal

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The writer is ex-Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation. He can be contacted at: fmaliks@hotmail.com.

government during the period under report.

The nominal GDP for FY2021 increased from Rs 45567 billion to Rs 47709 billion.

The economic stimulus of Rs 1.24 trillion announced in March 2020 has since been extended for the FY2021 and an amount of Rs 155 billion has already been released to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of the covid-19 pandemic.

The Current Account balance during the period under report posted a surplus of $ 0.8 billion (0.3 percent of GDP) against a deficit of $ 4.7 billion (-2.1 percent of GDP) last year.

Country’s exports increased by 6.5 percent to $ 21.0 billion against $ 19.7 billion last year. home remittances from Overseas Pakistanis grew significantly by as much as 29.0 percent to $ 24.2 billion surpassing the target of $ 21.5 billion as compared to $ 18.8 billion during the corresponding period last year.

Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) posted a growth of 8.99 percent during the period under report against a negative growth of 5.10 percent for last year.

Inflation was down to 8.6 percent against 11 percent during the same period last year.

Tax collection by Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) grew by 14.4 percent to Rs 3780 billion during the period under report against Rs 3303 billion last year.

Fiscal consolidation helped in containing the fiscal deficit to 4.2 percent of GDP against 5.3 percent of GDP last year.

The private sector borrowed Rs 454.5 billion during the period under report as compared to Rs 318.5 billion during the same period last year, showing growth of as much as 43 percent.

Pakistan entered the international capital market after a gap of three years by successfully raising $2.5 billion.

The ehsaas emergency Cash Programme initiative was recognized by the World Bank as amongst the top four social protection interventions in the world in terms of numbers of people covered.

Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) resumed the $6 billion extended Fund Facility (eFF) and completed the second to fifth reviews under the programme. It was duly appreciated by the IMF that the policies of the Pakistan Government were crucial in supporting the national economy and saving lives and livelihoods of the people in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Inflows of foreign exchange through the Roshan Digital Account (RDA) crossed the $ 1 billion mark in a short span of time after the scheme was launched.

Moody’s rating agency upgraded Pakistan’s outlook to “Stable” from “Under Review For Downgrade” in August 2020 and Fitch affirmed Pakistan’s stable outlook.

The writer can zahidriffat@gmail.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

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Thursday, 29 July, 2021

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

Karachi drainage system I want to draw your attention towards an important issue that is with the monsoon season fast approaching so is the impending fear of what the state of Karachi will be, considering how unmanaged our drainage systems are. last year, due to excess rainfall, many people had water flowing into their homes and shops making work and life hard for them. It is urgent that our municipal department cleans up the trash in our drainage system and make sure they are enough to handle any of the excess rain we could be facing this year-round.

Wania aShraf KaraChi

Child labour

How to stop harassment at the workplace Harassment victims suffer a wide range of harmful effects DJ Kamal mustafa

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nacceptable behaviour, or inappropriate behaviour that can make any person uncomfortable, afraid or embarrassed, is known as harassment.

It includes spoken harassment, sexual abuse, verbal harassment, sending inappropriate pictures to someone through email, and messaging is equally a form of harassment. We typically hear every day in the local news and social media that a woman was a victim of harassment at the workplace or outside. legitimate cases are reported in large numbers, which we cannot imagine. Many females don’t even report harassment cases because of social fear of the family and because they naturally think they will be kicked out of the job if she makes a complaint against the harasser. no complaints “undoubtedly makes the alleged culprits stronger.”

Sexual harassment does not only happen at the workplace but even in academic institutions and it is of two types, physical sexual abuse and online sexual harassment. the #Metoo campaign brought the actual sexual harassment cases into the public and, it displayed the ray of hope to those women who were the victims of harassment. according to a report of pakistan’s national commissioner of children and women, around 93 percent of pakistani women had experienced sexual violence and harassment in public or workplaces in their life.

What does the law say? every developed country has a law against harassment and sexual abuse. the anti-harassment law protects the person from harassment based on gender, race, national origin, age, or disability. the protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace act 2010 protects women’s rights and provides women the power to oppose harassment and the harasser. Section 509 of the pakistan penal code clearly defines harassment, including harassment at the workplace.

Under this rule, an offender gets punished by one to three years imprisonment or a fine of up to Rs 500,000 or both. the penalties consist of two types if an offender is found guilty of harassment against women at the workplace. there are easy penalties: withholding promotion or increments, temporary suspension; paying compensation and damages if the accuser sues successfully. benefit of doubt can save the offender for some time. then there are hard penalties like forcible retirement or removal from the job, fine, recall of such company-provided benefits as car and home, no further employment in other companies, and FIR being lodged against the accused.

Detailed Sexual Harassment laws: Section 509 of the pakistan penal code 1860: this section of the law is powerful, and

its provisions testify that If a man insults a woman, utter any bad word, or makes a dirty gesture in a public place, transport, street, private gathering, workplace, and at residence, then an offender will be punished with imprisonment of three years or fine and, in a dangerous situation, an offender may get both under this section. this section also protects the women against sexual favours demanded by the person.

Section 510 of the pakistan penal code 1860: If a drunken person’s presence annoys a female and harasses her, then that person will be imprisoned or fined under this section.

Section 366a of pakistan penal code 1860: this section stopped the sexual procuration of minor girls. If a person by any means induces any minor girl to perform sexual intercourse, forced or seduced, then this is a punishable act with imprisonment of up to ten years and a fine. these laws will typically make it harder for offenders to defend themselves at any active stage. appropriate charges and lawsuits usually depend on the complex nature of the considered harassment. an identified victim can also file a lawsuit against a harasser in court. the victimised female can file a complaint directly through the citizen portal or to the Ombudsman or the Inquiry committee, under section 8 of the protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace act, 2010.

What impacts does harassment bring? the victim knows much better than anyone else. the affected person can be sleepless for many nights, can not concentrate on work, and feels tense and depressed.

Harassment impacts the mental health of the victim. It causes psychological effects, depression, anxiety, and fear. If the victim is assaulted sexually at a young age, the assault will be remembered by the person for a very long time until the victim is “consulted.” It may lead to fear of losing family and friends, reduction in

salary and termination from the workplace.

How to prevent sexual harassment? Despite being harassed, females in pakistan usually don’t file a complaint because they are scared of being rejected. Some women who want to file a complaint also get harassed by the person who filed the complaint, and then they quietly endure it. not filing a complaint means to make “an offender powerful.” Sexual harassment is illegal and, to prevent sexual harassment, the vulnerable victim needs to understand it can only stop if the victim can name and shame the harasser in public. there are a few other things to keep in mind, that some practices can be effective when you’re a victim of harassment at the workplace, educational institutions, home, and even at any other place.

If you have faced harassment in any form, report it first. consult your family and friends about harassment. tell the harasser that you will name and shame him in public. never destroy sufficient evidence in any form; if the harasser has sent you a message on social media or has called you or conveyed you a letter, then save it for the legal battle. are you harassed at the workplace? the first thing is to immediately contact the company executives, managers, or other staff. If someone is blackmailing you, record the event and then send it to local authorities. ⦁ If you have received unwanted messages, calls, and requests from the same person on social media, then contact the FIa “cyber crime Wing.” avoid meeting alone with any staff, workers of the workplace, and even strangers. never accept job offers from non-notable and newly started small companies or employers because they usually advertise like this, “We need female executived, female sales managers for our company.”

How to prevent sexual harassment? Despite being harassed, females in Pakistan usually don’t file a complaint because they are scared of being rejected.

Some women who want to file a complaint also get harassed by the person who filed the complaint, and then they quietly endure it. Not filing a complaint means to make “an offender powerful.”

Sexual harassment is illegal and, to prevent sexual harassment, the vulnerable victim needs to understand it can only stop if the victim can name and shame the harasser in public

The writer is a freelance columnist

nOW a days, pakistan is having a lot of social and economic issues. One of these which is growing and putting a negative impact on our society is child labor. as a community and society, we must stop this act and put a barrier on this system of abusing children and their rights. every child has a right to education according to law of pakistan but instead of getting basic education they don’t even have basic necessities which forces them to work in places like workshops, factories, road side hotels, peddling in streets, shops, tyre shops, begging for smuggling mafia, in mines, collecting garbage, housekeeping etc.

Most of the children are forced to work. It is against principles and law of justice. In most cases parents or guardians lead their children to work. Our society is also taking advantage of their innocence and circumstances. children work to support and afford expenses or basic necessities for their families without taking care of themselves. this is the responsibility of the government to ensure the basic rights of their needs and education. also society should contribute and initiate certain types of campaigns for the sake of awareness to discourage child labor and smuggling. hamza Siddiqui raWalpindi

Closed schools It is an accepted and established fact that the state schooling sector in Sindh has failed miserably. However, that same failed state regulator is now responsible for regulating private schools which have had an impeccable track-record spanning nearly 50 years, and is the sole reason a literacy rate in pakistan has existed. When the state operates in such an illogical fashion, do we really have any faith in the merits of their decision making? the Directorate of private Schools is now on the verge of forcing private school closures which will leave hundreds of thousands of children without schools in the province. the directorates only purpose seems to be withholding registrations and renewals in exchange for guaranteed admissions for their cronies, and making decisions about fees without any understanding of the operating costs of a school. If they really possess the know how of operating successful schools, why don’t they use this to fix the government schools that need fixing and make education free and accessible to everyone in the province? maaz abbaSi KaraChi

Traffic mess OUR burgeoning population and lack of public transport has resulted in traffic jams becoming a part of daily life. the ever-increasing rush of heavy traffic on the roads often results in loss of human life. this traffic jams compelling people to drive recklessly in order to reach their destinations timely, increasing the rate of deadly accidents. Furthermore, the poor condition of the roads also contributes towards traffic jam and accidents, as ambulance get caught up in traffic, patients are often unable to get the urgent care they require. there is a need to have a serious consideration over these factors for improvement. I request the higher authorities and the department of traffic police for taking severe steps, so that everyone can travel with comfort and the problem of traffic jams can be handled properly. mamoona Ghaffar iSlamabad

Digital detox WHIle there’s no doubt technology has made our lives simpler from multiple points of view, research proposes that our dependence on it is also real. all the time we spend online means we have less time to spend doing real-world activities. also, we have less time to spend with our loved ones. as a result, our relationships suffer. besides, digital media utilization influences both mental and physical health. Many researchers have reported a relationship between digital media consumption and numerous psychological maladies like depression and anxiety. Furthermore, excessive utilization of technology brings about sedentary behaviour. We end up sitting for extensive periods of time before a screen or looking at a cell phone. therefore, limiting screen time is fundamental to secure our well-being. everyone needs to find a way to create a digital detox. a habit of regularly unplugging will reap a multitude of benefits. maryum Sardar iSlamabad

Transgenders in isolation forever tODay our society is in total isolation, all of us are staying home in quarantine and not visiting our family and friends because of the corona virus pandemic. It seems like the world has stopped. this is the first time we have experienced isolation from the society countrr to what aristotle said “Human is a social animal”. but we forget the fact that our transgender community has been in complete isolation since their birth, they have not been accepted by our society even in the 21st century. they are a community which has been in isolation since forever. We must think about them and accept them as human beings, they are not a lesser child of God than we are. fatima KhoKhar Wah

Thursday, 29 July, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

The Taliban is sTeering The ‘graveyard of empires’ ToWards a neW era GHANI WOULD BE WISE TO CUT A DEAL WITH THE TALIBAN IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. HE CAN NO LONGER RELY ON HIS OWN AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES WHO HE EXPECTS TO FIGHT WITHOUT PAY, SUCH AS THE EXTENT OF THE CORRUPTION IN HIS GOVERNMENT

Middle eAst MoNitor

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Yvonne ridleY

eT’S stop all the hand wringing and angst over Afghanistan. Now. It’s fooling no one. America, Britain and their NATO allies have had 20 years to help put the country back on its feet, deliver human rights, female equality and a democratic government free of corruption. They’ve failed.

Despite the return of major charities back in 2002 and billions of dollars later, women’s rights have barely improved beyond Kabul. The capital is the seat of arguably the most corrupt government in the world unable to progress because greedy politicians are more concerned about lining their own pockets than good governance and development.

Little wonder then that the Taliban is making huge inroads to regain control across the country, and at such a rapid pace that it is leaving many military strategists breathless. In some provinces, it is being welcomed back and meeting no resistance. The movement now controls more than half of Afghanistan.

Of course this leaves Western governments and their compliant media in an awkward position after 20 years of demonising the Taliban. We were told daily after the horrific events of 9/11 that it ran the most brutal, ruthless regime in the world. But there was no Taliban involvement in 9/11. That was a narrative pushed out by the then US President George W Bush and his willing sidekick, British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

They talked about girls’ schools being closed and children banned from flying kites. As is often the case in such scare stories there was a grain of truth in their words. However, if journalists had investigated further they would have discovered that schools were aban-

doned and closed for everyone because there was no money, part of the country was in the grip of famine and all of it was suffering from the after-effects of a devastating civil war.

Kite flying was indeed banned in major towns and cities, because the razor-thin wires were slicing into and through overhead power cables, killing the unfortunate kite flyer and leaving major areas without electricity.

Imagine trying to fly a kite in London’s Oxford Street and you can see why such a practice was stopped.

When I went back to Afghanistan in February 2002, the year after my capture by the Taliban much was made by the media that Kabul University was reopening its gates after the movement’s fall and that girls would be able to return to school. Many believed that the war was all but over and the future looked bright. Indeed, it did, but when I asked at a press conference how more girls than boys had passed the entrance exam if girls weren’t educated under the Taliban, there was a stony silence.

Instead of a response, I was undermined, sidelined and silenced; written off as a victim of Stockholm syndrome simply because I’d survived a terrifying ordeal when I’d been captured and held by the Taliban for ten days in the previous September.

Far from being compliant or bonding with my captors, however, I was the prisoner from hell. In fact, I’m not sure who was happiest to see me return safely to Britain, the Taliban, or me.

“She is a very bad woman with a very bad mouth,” said Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef during a press conference announcing my release from captivity. I did not like the Taliban and they certainly did not like me.

However, as a journalist, I’ve always felt it my duty to deliver the truth and the truth is that my jailers treated me with kindness and respect that I had not expected.

Furthermore, I could see that they loved their country and would never give up the struggle to take it back from the US-led invaders.

Like it or loathe it, the Taliban has neither wavered from its goals nor pursued any hidden agenda. We in the West might not like its way of thinking, ideology, or beliefs, and would baulk at the very idea of introduc-

ing Taliban ways into our countries, and with good reason. But why on earth should we expect the movement and its supporters to adopt and embrace our cultures, habits and beliefs which they find equally unpalatable?

As I write this, the US — which was supposed to have withdrawn its forces from Afghanistan earlier this month — is bombing Taliban positions. enough is enough. The time has come for the West to take a giant step back and stop interfering in Afghanistan other than to provide no-strings humanitarian aid and support to make up for 20 years of devastation. If the Afghan people want to get rid of the government imposed on them by the US, then that’s their business, not ours.

Yes, people are still dying in this conflict, as they have been for the past 20 years. It’s only now, though, that the number of civilian casualties reported in the Western media are deemed to be important. When I left Afghanistan after being released by the Taliban in October 2001 the war had already begun. During the journey from Kabul to the Pakistan border, I saw what looked like strong evidence that civilian areas had been bombed by the US-led coalition, including hospitals.

Nobody was interested in the number of Afghan civilian casualties back then.

I often refer in my columns to the hypocrisy and double standards deployed by the West and some of my colleagues in the media. Never has it been more blatant than in their coverage of Western interference in Afghanistan.

Like it or not the Taliban is coming back to power.

I know from my own contacts within the movement that the preferred option is a diplomatic settlement, but there’s little trust between the leadership and the government of President Ashraf Ghani. The truth is that he could have reached a peaceful settlement with the Taliban months ago, but he always thought that the US would be there to back him, so it wasn’t necessary to do so.

He clearly hasn’t been paying attention. The list of dictators and leaders who’ve been installed by the West over the years is long, as is the list of those who have been betrayed by their fickle friends in Washington and europe. Presidents Saddam Hussein (Iraq, 1979-2003)

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi (Libya, 1969-2011) and Zine el Abidine Ben Ali (Tunisia, 1987-2011) are three who spring to mind. All were at one time supported by the West. They would confirm what I say if they had lived to tell the tale.

Ghani would be wise to cut a deal with the Taliban in the next few days before it is too late. He can no longer rely on his own Afghan security forces who he expects to fight without pay, such as the extent of the corruption in his government. The US set aside billions of dollars to prop up the Afghan military but the money has never reached the soldiers on the ground. Little wonder, then, that the troops have lost momentum in recent weeks, with some fleeing for their lives and others joining the Taliban. Fighting for your country is one thing, but putting your life on the line to keep the people who are pocketing your hard-earned wages in power is something else.

Afghanistan is a classic example of what happens when Western intervention goes wrong. Nevertheless, instead of sitting back and agreeing, it is time for other foreign players to step into the breach for the sake of the Afghan people. Qatar has played a crucial and positive role. In February last year, the US and the Taliban were in the capital Doha when they signed the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan. Another equally trusted Muslim regional power is Turkey, which has already prevented the massacre of civilians in war-torn Libya and Syria.

Turkey is taking over security at Kabul International Airport after the withdrawal of US troops. Observers say that this is key to maintaining stability. Importantly for the Taliban, positive help from Muslim countries towards a political solution to end the war would be welcome. Istanbul may well host an Afghan peace conference in the coming months.

If so, it could set a precedent for other troubled Muslim lands, including Libya, Syria, and Yemen, for example. Or even Western Sahara, Morocco, and Algeria. At the very least, though, the West should keep out. Its track record is appalling, and it needs to learn from history.

Afghanistan is not known as the “graveyard of empires” for nothing.

Why people resist vaccines — and how to change their minds PUBLIC OPINION POLLING INDICATES THAT THERE ARE TWO GROUPS OF AMERICANS WHO ARE COVID-UNVACCINATED. KAISER HEALTH HAS CATEGORIZED THESE AMERICANS AS “WAIT AND SEE”—ABOUT 12 PERCENT OF ADULTS—AND “DEFINITELY NOT”—ABOUT 13 PERCENT Alter Net

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Magdi SeMrau

e are seeing a new coronavirus surge in the US. In response, governments have engaged in a variety of vaccine incentives, from lotteries to free marijuana to straight-up cash. Pop star Olivia Rodriguez was invited to the White House. Rapper Juvenile changed “Back That Thing Up” to “Vax That Thing Up.” These efforts have emerged in an environment in which a sizable number of Americans remain unvaccinated, allowing variants to proliferate. Hospitals are, once again, on the verge of collapse. There is a growing recognition that greater vaccination could have prevented this. Who are the unvaccinated? Can we change their minds? Prior to covid, the unvaccinated by choice could be sorted into two categories.

The first group, the most well-known, is the extreme anti-vax movement. These are high-profile figures like Jenny McCarthy and Robert Kennedy, Jr., who sow doubt about even the extremely safe and effective measles vaccine. They whisper about false links to autism and the danger of mercury. In the last decade, such disinformation has proliferated on social media.

This group used to be a small, extremist set who opposed vaccination with an almost religious fervor. Members of this group were not merely misinformed; they were ideologues and conspiracy theorists. Though their numbers were small, they have caused significant harm, spreading just enough doubt about vaccines to facilitate outbreaks of both measles and mumps. When it comes to public health and infectious disease, even small cracks can produce system-wide damage.

The second group of unvaccinated Americans is less well-known, but surely equally as important. They, too, existed prior to covid. Unlike the extremists, their choice was not ideological. Some were hesitant, perhaps having minor doubts. Sure, vaccines were probably safe, but were they worth it? Many more were simply complacent.

To some extent, this group has people you know. Or

maybe even you are a member of it.

Americans are typically good about getting their children the standard roster of shots. They take kids in for check-ups during the first years of life and, with these check-ups, come vaccines. However, as these children age, compliance decreases. In adulthood, Americans fail to get booster shots and chronically skip the annual flu vaccine.

The complacency isn’t surprising. Whereas the Silent and Boomer generations remember public pool closures, children with ravaged limbs and terrified parents, younger generations have lived in a world where infectious diseases like measles, mumps and polio have been largely eradicated in the United States. The lifethreatening diseases are not distant memories for them.

They just don’t exist.

Pre-covid, various people did not get vaccinated for various reasons. Some were extremists. Others were merely complacent. Post-covid, the two basic categories remain. What’s new is the sizable partisan contingent that has joined the extremists.

Public opinion polling indicates that there are two groups of Americans who are covid-unvaccinated.

Kaiser Health has categorized these Americans as “Wait and See”—about 12 percent of adults—and “Definitely Not”—about 13 percent. The “Wait and See” are likely motivated by multiple factors, many of which relate to historical patterns in under-vaccination. This is apparent from their demographics.

About a third of “Wait and See” are young—18-29 years old. They are likely to perceive their personal risk to the coronavirus as low. early in the pandemic, much reporting gave the impression that the dangers of covid were limited to the elderly and to those with pre-existing conditions. Many people regrettably absorbed this message.

“Wait and See” are evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. They’re also racially and ethnically diverse: 49 percent white, 22 percent Black and 20 percent Latino.

All of this is good news. If young Americans are driven by complacency, public health campaigns can help. And Black and Latino people are not likely, historically, to be anti-vaccine extremists. They may lack ac-

cess to medical care or they may experience anxiety due to the outcomes of medical racism. This, too, can be addressed through improved medical communication as well as community-level public messaging. In other words, the “Wait and See” are reachable. Their minds can be changed. We’ve already seen, as time passes, that their numbers decrease. Their numbers were greater in January than they are in July. Apparently they are actually waiting and seeing.

The “Definitely Not” group is quite a different sociopolitical beast. The overwhelming majority—70 percent—is white. Two thirds of the group identifies as Republican. eighty-four percent are 30 or older. Members are more likely to be suburban than rural or urban.

The majority (57 percent) have at least some college education. “Definitely Not” are barely budged by incentives. Whereas “Wait and See” are 14 percent more likely to get a vaccine when offered $100, willingness among “Definitely Not” increases by 1 percent. Offering other kinds of incentives produces similar results. The “Wait and See” respond to various nudges. The “Definitely Not” remain steadfast.

The “Definitely Not” thus comprise not only traditional anti-vaccine extremists, but also conservative partisans. On account of the right-wing media downplaying the risk, they may, like the “Wait and See,” perceive their risk to be low. Unlike “Wait and See,” however, they are not moved by incentives whatsoever. Like the pre-covid anti-vaxxers, their commitment to being unvaccinated has the character of a political, or even a religious belief.

It is part of their personal and group identity. The conversation is not a medical one. The decision isn’t sensitive to evidence. It is deeply ideological.

What should we infer from the data? One lesson is clear enough. Many who are unvaccinated—the “Wait and See”—are reachable. What’s the best strategy?

Throwing every strand of spaghetti at the wall is probably the right approach. There’s almost no risk, and the potential societal benefit is tremendous. Bring in the celebrities. Bring in the clergy. Throw money at people.

Give them free weed or free booze or free whatever.

Don’t give up and unless you have a better suggestion, don’t sneer at methods that may only convince 5 percent of them. every shot in every arm matters.

What about the “Definitely Not”? Unfortunately, there is little reason to think public health efforts will make a difference. However, it is still possible things could change. Consider two recent events. The first is the arrival of the Delta variant, which now accounts for 80 percent of cases in the United States. Hospitals in Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, and Alabama are at or past capacity. Medical workers have returned to social media, begging people to get vaccinated and telling dire tales of deaths among the unvaccinated. And, although the data is still spotty, anecdotal reports suggest that young people may be suffering from more severe disease.

Second, conservative media and some Republican politicians have shifted their stance on vaccines. A few weeks ago, Fox was comparing vaccines to apartheid and forced sterilization. Anthony Fauci, the figurehead of American disease control, was Public enemy No. 1.

Then last week, the network changed its tune, advising viewers to get vaccinated and even praising Dr. Fauci as a fundamentally decent human.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, once lax about covid control, gave an angry speech declaring that the “unvaccinated folks are letting us down.” The rhetoric that bred the new partisan wave of vaccine resistance seems to be changing for the moment. Some of the “Definitely Not” may listen. Perhaps some have witnessed covid’s devastation in their communities. Maybe these factors will change the minds of the “Definitely Not.” Of course, any optimism must be measured. The GOP is still opportunistic, willing to tolerate loss of life for a victory in the culture war. And Trump is still Trump.

Just last week, as Fox pivoted toward being pro-vaccine, Trump announced his followers were vaccine-hesitant because they did not believe the election was legitimate.

He more firmly tied vaccine hostility to partisanship. We should expect that, if such antipathy benefits Trump in the slightest, he’ll continue to promote it even as bodies pile up.

Thursday, 29 July, 2021

BUSINESS 09

KARACHI CORPORATE CORNER

IMF ACKnOwLEDGES GrOwTH In PAKISTAn’S ECOnOMIC ACTIVITy ISLAMABAD

T

Dawlance wins Best Omni Channel Campaign at Pakistan Digital Awards Ceremony 2021 KARACHI PRESS RELEASE

Dawlance is the technology leader in Pakistan’s home appliances market, which has recently won the “Best Omni Channel Campaign Award” at the ‘Pakistan Digital Awards Ceremony’ (PDA) 2021, by outshining all the major participating brands. This is the 2nd consecutive year that Dawlance has been recognized at the PDA ceremony. In 2020, it had participated in this prestigious forum for the first time, where its Sync-Campaign had won the ‘Best Digital Marketing Communications Award’. This prestigious accolade reflects the innovative superiority of Dawlance – a brand renowned for producing feature-rich and energy-efficient products to achieve a competitive-edge and sustainable growth. This award-category honored Dawlance’s outstanding ‘Omni Channel Campaign’, which basically means; ensuring uniformity of communications throughout all mediums. The campaign was based on Dawlance’s innovative new refrigerators with Nature Lock, Vitamin Fresh and Hybrid Cooling Technologies. These advanced products, launched last year, got an amazing response from the market and so did the campaign. As part of the campaign, the brand utilized product reviews along with an extensive digital PR campaign and other assets, which ensured effective communication of the message across the masses, to reach all the relevant consumer segments in Pakistan.

APP

HE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has acknowledged Pakistan’s stronger economic activity and kept the global growth forecast largely unchanged at six per cent for the current year and 4.9pc for the next year.

In its World Economic Outlook (WEO) update released on Tuesday, the IMF revised downward India’s current year growth forecast by three percentage points because of widespread Delta variant and resultant subdued economic activities.

“Projections are revised up for the Middle East and Central Asia due to robust activity in some countries (such as Morocco and Paki¬stan), partially off-

set by downgrades of some others,” the IMF noted but did not specifically mention Pakis¬tan’s expected growth rate that it had forecast in April this year at 4pc for 2022 and 5pc by 2026.

While the forecast for global growth is unchanged from the previous estimate in April, the United States is projected to see faster 7% growth thanks to massive government spending and widespread Covid-19 vaccinations, while the IMF slashed the forecast for India, which is facing a resurgence of infections. “Vaccine access has emerged as the principal fault line along which the global recovery splits into two blocs,” the IMF said in its updated World Economic Outlook, warning of the danger to the economy if new virus variants are allowed to take hold.

The recovery “is not assured even

in countries where infections are currently very low so long as the virus circulates elsewhere,” the report said.

And while the recent inflation spike is the result of the unprecedented and uneven turnaround from the pandemic and should prove temporary, the IMF raised the possibility that price increases could become “persistent.”

The Washington-based crisis lender once again stressed that “the immediate priority is to deploy vaccines equitably worldwide.”

Advanced nations have vaccinated nearly 40% of the population, compared to barely 10% in emerging markets and even fewer in low-income countries, the report said.

“The emergence of highly infectious virus variants could derail the recovery and wipe out $4.5 trillion

cumulatively from global GDP by 2025,” IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath warned in a blog post.

More than half of that lost wealth would come from rich nations in the event new variants of the coronavirus spread unchecked.

And this is not just a “tail risk” that is highly unlikely, “This is a realistic downside risk,” said Petya KoevaBrooks, deputy director of the IMF Research Department.

Although some emerging market nations like Brazil and Mexico are poised to show stronger growth this year, developing nations as a group are lagging and struggling to return to their pre-pandemic levels.

“I would say we’re more worried than we were back in April,” KoevaBrooks told AFP.

Bank Alfalah launches ‘Alfa Business’ to facilitate cashless payments for merchants KARACHI PRESS RELEASES

Bank Alfalah has introduced a new service under its Digital Banking portfolio called ‘Alfa Business App’.

In the prevailing circumstances, many businesses are shifting their operations towards digital platforms, and Alfa Business is aimed at facilitating small and medium enterprises to carry out their everyday transactions digitally.

Alfa Business will support business operators through a range of useful features. To further facilitate merchants, the registration process for Alfa Business has also been simplified. Alfa Business can be down-

loaded from Google Play Store and users simply require a valid CNIC to sign up in compliance with all regulations. Merchants will be granted an initial monthly transaction limit of Rs500,000 simply by completing the registration process.

Merchants can generate dynamic QR codes to receive payments from their customers. At a time when social distancing is being encouraged, reducing dependency on cash transactions is an effective solution. The application is also enabled to accept payments from 17 different banking and payment applications, allowing businesses to operate seamlessly.

Selling products is also easier with Alfa Business because the application offers the facility to create an

e-shop for merchants with an in-built inventory management facility as well. Operators can obtain realtime transaction reports and view their activity via a dashboard within the app as well. This improves transparency and allows businesses to have complete visibility over their financial affairs.

Businesses can also avail financing at the lowest mark-ups in the industry from within the application against up to 70% of their transactional volume. This is an automatic credit line generated based on the merchants throughput from the app. Further, the Bank will be processing such requests through an automated system to ensure that no operator faces any inconvenience or delay and the loan amount is disbursed within 2 hours of the request.

HBL, Agro Digital partner to promote financial inclusion through agro-based development finance KARACHI PR

HBL and Agro Digital (Pvt.) Ltd., a Fatima Group company, signed a strategic partnership through an MOU that encompasses jointly exploring various activities that will have a sustainable impact on the agriculture sector whilst uplifting the financial well-being of small farmers in Pakistan.

HBL’s Development Finance Group (DFG) is tasked with deepening

and widening the agro-ecosystem using innovative technologies and fair priced financing solutions to augment Pakistan’s agriculture value chain under a unique ‘Farm-to-Fork’ model.

The bank has successfully launched pilots on major food crops that involve optimized agronomy advisory alongside fair-priced quality inputs and mechanized services in the form of ‘in kind’ loans. These have been ‘tailored for each farmer in the field’, by the agronomists employed by HBL. Farm-

ers are on boarded digitally via HBL Pay and loans are approved swiftly using the end-to-end seamless digital process.

Fatima Group is an established name in the agri sector and is playing a major role in key crops of the country.

It has a strong footprint in Pakistan’s agricultural sector. Its flagship brand “Sarsabz” is the fertilizer of choice amongst millions of farmers across Pakistan and is used for all crops and in all seasons. It contributes to the national

economy by enhancing crop yields of more than 10 million acres through provision of value-added fertilizers, thus contributing to the national food security. In addition, Fatima Group has one of the largest teams of agriculture experts in the country providing advisory services to Farmers.

EFU Life wins big at Pakistan Digital Awards KARACHI PR

Easypaisa bags seven accolades at Effie Awards 2021 KARACHI PR

Easypaisa, Pakistan’s leading digital payments platform, has once again established itself as one of the country’s biggest brands by bagging seven accolades at the prestigious Effie Awards 2021. Easypaisa won 4 gold awards for its ‘Eidipaisa’ campaign in the categories of Seasonal Marketing, Topical Marketing, Marketing Disruptors and Finance categories, a gold and silver award in the Finance category for its ‘Every Number is Welcome’ and the ‘Phatta Note’ campaign respectively, as well as a bronze award for the ‘Easypaisa Raahi’ series in the Marketing Disruptors category. Effie Awards are an affiliate program of the renowned Effie Worldwide, a platform committed to inspiring and celebrating effective marketing efforts as well as the brains behind them, since 1968. Easypaisa’s award-winning entries are amongst some of the most innovative advertisement campaigns and have been created in collaboration with Ogilvy Pakistan.

Sindh govt, JS Bank launch first Covid-19 drive through vaccination center in Karachi KARACHI PR

In collaboration with the Government of Sindh and Deputy Commissioner District South Irshad Ali Sodhar, JS Bank has launched a COVID-19 Drive Through Vaccination facility for the country’s largest metropolis namely Karachi. This initiative between the Sindh Government & JS Bank has seen the establishment of a Drive Through Vaccination facility next to Urban Forest, Block 3, Clifton, Karachi.

With six drive through lanes and the capacity to serve thousands of people per day, the service is free and is being offered between 4 pm – 12 am 7 days a week allowing the public to get vaccinated from the comfort of their cars. Available vaccines include Moderna, Sinovac, CanSino, Pakvac, & Sinopharm.

EFU Life Assurance Ltd has won the ‘Best Insurance Tech of the Year’ and ‘Best API’ awards. This is the fourth consecutive year that EFU Life has been recognized by Pakistan Digital Awards for its revolutionary and innovative approach towards better services. On behalf of EFU Life, the awards were received by Ashfaque Ahmed, General Manager Technology and Ahmar Hasan, Senior Manager Technology. EFU Life was awarded ‘Best Insurance Tech of the Year’ award for its RPA (Robotic Process Automation) technology which has helped reshape insurance by designing a high-growth business strategy while reducing cost. This solution is aligned with the digitalalization strategy of EFU Life and will help optimization of our business processes with minimal or no manual intervention.

Haleeb Foods organised COVID vaccination drive for its employees KARACHI: Haleeb Foods Limited has arranged a vaccination drive for its employees. A remote vaccination unit was organized with the support of the Punjab goverment. This initiative was taken under HFL corporate social responsibility agenda for fighting against Covid. The vaccination process was administered in an efficient and well-organized manner, which resulted in the successful vaccination of employees. Talking on vaccination drive Haleeb Foods CEO Syed Mazher Iqbal said, “We are grateful to Punjab Health department for offering vaccination services along with paramedic staff. Haleeb Foods has always been keen on the health and safety of our employees. PRESS RELEASE

The Diamond Group: a story of dazzling success KARACHI: The Diamond Group of Industries – sponsors of one of the largest tyre manufacturing facilities in the country, the largest foam manufacturers in Pakistan, and a leading contributor to Pakistan's economic growth announces yet another successful milestone in their story of success. To keep up with the growing market share in the South region, the Group has announced a major investment in Southern Pakistan with a state of the art foam and spring mattress manufacturing facility that has been set up at Port Qasim, Karachi. PR

Thursday, 29 July, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

KARACHI

China says Taliban expeCTed To play 'imporTanT' afghan peaCe role KABUL

C

REUTERS

hina told a visiting Taliban delegation on Wednesday it expected the insurgent group to play an important role in ending afghanistan's war and rebuilding the country, the Chinese foreign ministry said. nine Taliban representatives met Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin on a two-day visit during which the peace process and security issues were discussed, a Taliban spokesperson said.

Wang said the Taliban are expected to

"play an important role in the process of peaceful reconciliation and reconstruction in afghanistan", according to a readout of the meeting from the foreign ministry. he also said that he hoped the Taliban would crackdown on the East Turkestan islamic Movement as it was a "direct threat to China's national security," according to the statement, referring to a group China says is active in the Xinjiang region in China’s far west.

The visit was likely to further cement the insurgent group's recognition on the international stage at a sensitive time even as violence increases in afghanistan. The Taliban have a political office in Qatar where peace

talks are taking place and this month sent representatives to iran where they had meetings with an afghan government delegation.

"Politics, economy and issues related to the security of both countries and the current situation of afghanistan and the peace process were discussed in the meetings," Taliban spokesperson Mohammed naeem tweeted about the China visit. naeem added that the group, led by Taliban negotiator and deputy leader Mullah Baradarakhund, was also meeting China's special envoy for afghanistan and that the trip took place after an invitation from Chinese authorities.

Iran’s supreme leader criticises US as nuclear talks stalled TEHRAN AP

iran’s supreme leader on Wednesday called the US “stubborn” in stalled nuclear talks in Vienna for discussing Tehran’s missiles and regional influence, likely signalling challenges ahead in efforts to revive its tattered atomic accord with world powers.

Supreme Leader ayatollah ali Khamenei’s remarks come as his hard-line protege, President-elect Ebrahim Raisi, is poised to be sworn in next week as the head of the country’s civilian government.

While Raisi has said he wants to return to the deal, which saw iran limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions, Khamenei seemingly called for a more adversarial approach in his remarks. They also appeared to describe outgoing President hassan Rouhani’s eight-year government as naive for its approach in reaching the 2015 agreement as its officials sat before him.

“Others should use your experiences.

This experience is a distrust of the West,” Khamenei said in remarks broadcast by state television. “in this government, it was shown up that trust in the West does not work.” he added: “Westerners do not help us, they hit wherever they can.”

The US State Department did not imme-

diately respond to a request for comment.

The Biden administration, days earlier, criticised iran for saying america had delayed a possible prisoner-swap deal, calling it “an outrageous effort to deflect blame for the current impasse”.

French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman agnes Von Der Muhll also told journalists on Monday that it was “urgent for iran to return to the negotiating table”.

“Through its actions, iran continues to exacerbate the nuclear situation,” she said. “if it continues down this path, not only will it delay the moment when an agreement might be reached providing for the lifting of sanctions, but it could compromise the very possibility of concluding the Vienna talks and restoring the deal." in his remarks on Wednesday, Khamenei described american negotiators as verbally promising to lift sanctions, but said any return to the nuclear deal must “include a sentence” on negotiating on other issues.

“By putting this sentence, they want to provide an excuse for their further interventions on the principle of (the deal) and missile programme and regional issues,” the leader said. “if iran refuses to discuss them, they will say that you have violated the agreement and the agreement is over.”

Rouhani sat off to the side at Khamenei’s office during the meeting along

with his senior vice president, while officials in his government sat before the supreme leader in socially distanced chairs amid the country’s raging coronavirus outbreak. all wore masks, making it difficult to see their expressions as Khamenei criticised any outreach to the West while only praising “some” of the country’s diplomats in front of iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad JavadZarif.

“Westerners do not help us, they hit wherever they can,” Khamenei said. he also said at another point: ”They don’t help, they are enemies.” Under the deal, iran agreed to limit its enrichment of uranium gas to just 3.67 per cent purity, which can be used in nuclear power plants but is far below weapons-grade levels of 90pc. it also put a hard cap on iran’s uranium stockpile to just 300 kilogrammes.

Tehran also committed to using only 5,060 of its first-generation centrifuges, the devices that spin the uranium gas to enrich it.

Former President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew america from the accord in 2018. Today, iran has broken all the limits it agreed to under the deal. it now enriches small amounts of uranium up to 63pc purity, its highest level ever. it also spins far-more advanced centrifuges and more of them than allowed under the accord, worrying nuclear nonproliferation experts, though Tehran insists its programme is peaceful.

Gap between rich and poor nations widening due to unequal vaccine access: IMF AFP While the global economy is still growing, the uneven distribution of vaccines is widening disparities as rich countries pick up speed and leave developing nations behind, the iMF warned Tuesday.

"Vaccine access has emerged as the principal fault line along which the global recovery splits into two blocs," the international Monetary Fund said in its updated World Economic Outlook.

But the iMF warned of the danger to the whole world if new virus variants are allowed to take hold. The recovery "is not assured even in countries where infections are currently very low so long as the virus circulates elsewhere," the report said.

World GDP will expand by six percent this year, unchanged from the april forecast, but iMF chief economist Gita Gopinath flagged the "widening gap" as advanced economies grow faster and developing nations, especially in asia, slow. The United States is projected to see much faster growth this year than previously forecast, expanding seven percent growth thanks to massive government spending and widespread Covid19 vaccinations, but the iMF slashed the forecast for india, which is facing a resurgence of infections. The Washington-based crisis lender once again stressed that "the immediate priority is to deploy vaccines equitably worldwide," and pushed a $50 billion plan that offers a "feasible cost to end the pandemic." advanced nations have vaccinated nearly 40 percent of the population, compared to barely 11 percent in emerging markets and a tiny fraction in low-income countries, the report said. Gopinath said "at least 1 billion vaccine doses should be shared in 2021 by countries with surplus vaccines." Failure to achieve widespread vaccinations could allow highly infectious virus variants to take hold, like the Delta variant that has become prevalent. That could derail the recovery, wiping out $4.5 trillion cumulatively from global GDP by 2025, more than half of that lost from rich nations, the fund estimates. and this is not just a "tail risk" that is highly unlikely but "a realistic downside risk," said PetyaKoeva-Brooks, deputy director of the iMF Research Department.

MORE WORRIED NOW: although some emerging market nations like Brazil and Mexico are poised to show stronger growth this year, developing nations as a group are struggling to return to their pre-pandemic

levels. "i would say we're more worried than we were back in april," Koeva-Brooks told aFP. Vaccinations allowed an economic reopening and led to upgrades for the United States for this year and next, when growth is expected to hit 4.9 percent. however, that assumes the US Congress will approve another round of spending later this year of about $4 trillion in President Joe Biden's infrastructure and job creation programs.

The iMF also raised the 2021 estimates for Canada and Britain to 6.3 percent and seven percent, respectively, while the euro area GDP is expected to expand 4.6 percent, just slightly higher than the april WEO. india's growth forecast was slashed three points to 9.5 percent, and even China was trimmed by three-tenths of a percentage point to 8.1 percent. in Latin america, Mexico is expected to post higher growth, helped by the positive spillovers from the recovering US economy as well as from increasing domestic demand, while Brazil also got a boost amid rising commodity prices, which will fade next year, the report said.

TEMPORARY OR PERSISTENT? Rising prices are another factor weighing on the global recovery, and pose a challenge to policymakers. and while the recent inflation spike is the result of the unprecedented and uneven turnaround from the pandemic and should prove temporary, the iMF raised the possibility that price increases could become "persistent."

"The unprecedented convulsion in the global economy last year continues to trigger aftershocks," the iMF said, pointing to a shortage of computer chips and a lack of shipping containers where they are needed, which has delayed deliveries of materials.

Koeva-Brooks said some of the bottlenecks and price jumps were to be expected and should be temporary, but acknowledged that the situation is hard to measure.

"We've never seen how to reopen economies after a crisis like this one," she said.

The iMF said inflation should return to pre-pandemic ranges in 2022 and urged central banks to hold off on reacting to the temporary price pressures -- but to be ready to take "preemptive action."

Thursday, 29 July, 2021

KARACHI

Biles out of next event, mental health in Games spotliGht TOKYO

s

REUTERS

IMONE Biles withdrew from the individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, a day after she shocked the world by pulling out of the team event.

Olympians past and present flooded the U.S. gymnast with messages of support as the mental health of athletes -- and the extra pressures brought by the Covid-19 pandemic -- were in sharp focus at the Games.

"The advice I would give is to reach out, to colleagues and friends," said Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics. "Don't be afraid to show vulnerability, it's a badge of honour in a way to want that help."

The International Olympic Committee admitted "more could be done" around athlete mental health. IOC spokesman Mark Adams said it was a matter the organisation had been working on for some time.

As the U.S. Team adjusted to a Games without Biles securing her 10th gold medal, host city Tokyo grappled with a record surge in coronavirus infections. Fears over rising cases cast a shadow over Japan's on-field performance. The host nation continued to top the medal standings with 13 golds and 22 in total. China had 12 golds with a total of 27 medals, with the United States in third position on 10 golds and 31 medals in all at about 10:30 p.m. Tokyo time.

Japanese swimmer Yui Ohashi won her second gold in the 200m individual medley during a morning dominated by champion women in the pool. It was also a day of firsts for countries around the world with historic victories and losses in various sporting arenas.

'BROKEN HEARTS' FOR BILES: Amer-

ican Biles will be evaluated to see if she can take part in the individual apparatus competitions, USA Gymnastics said in a statement on Twitter. Biles made the decision so she "can focus on her mental health," the organisation said, adding that it supported her "wholeheartedly".

"It broke my heart," U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps told broadcaster NBC. "But also, if you look at it, mental health over the last 18 months, is something that people are talking about."

Phelps, the greatest swimmer in history and the winner of 23 Olympic gold medals, has publicly discussed his own battle with

depression, including contemplating suicide.

The 24-year-old Biles said the pressure of living up to expectations around her quest for a record gold medal had prompted her to drop out of the team competition after receiving a low mark in her opening vault.

"We have to protect our mind and our body rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do," Biles told reporters.

JAPAN BATTLES COVID-19, HEAT: The host city recorded 3,177 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, a daily record high for a second straight day as a spike in infections puts pressure on hospitals, and a

new state of emergency was expected in three prefectures neighbouring the capital city.

Organisers have reported 169 Covid-19 cases related to the Games, a miniscule number given the tens of thousands of people visiting for the event.

While unprecedented restrictions and spectator bans have kept numbers down in the Olympic village, athletes voiced concerns about the heat on Wednesday.

World number two tennis player Daniil Medvedev, who struggled to breathe during his match against Italian Fabio Fognini, gave a frank assessment when asked by a concerned chair umpire if he was all right.

SPORTS 11

"I'm fine. I can finish the match but I can die. If I die will the ITF (governing body International Tennis Federation) take responsibility?" Medvedev replied.

The governing International Tennis Federation later said matches at the Olympics would be pushed back to start from 3 p.m. local time beginning on Thursday.

SHINING WOMEN: Australian Ariarne Titmus, American Katie Ledecky and Ohashi clinched gold medals in swimming, their powerful showing underscoring how women have emerged as the most commanding figures of the first week of the Tokyo Olympics.

Titmus won a second gold medal at her first Olympics in the 200 metres freestyle.

"I'm just from a small town in Tasmania and it just goes to show if you believe you can do something, you can 100 percent do it if you work for it," Titmus told Australia's ABC News.

Ledecky took gold in the 1500m freestyle, the first time the event has been held for women. Diversity is a focus for the Tokyo Olympics with women's events being added in other sports, including boxing.

Ledecky, who has 15 world titles and multiple gold medals, stressed there was more to life than winning. She said she was at peace with her performance in Tokyo, after a run of rare defeats by Titmus that may signal the end of the American's near-decade of freestyle dominance.

"I kind of laugh when I see things like 'settles for silver'," Ledecky said. "I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me or feel like silver or any other medals besides gold is a disappointment."

"I would much rather people be concerned about people who are really, truly struggling in life."

rain washes out first t20I between West Indies and Pakistan NEWS DESK

five-member team, sponsored by mCB Bank, ascend K2 LAHORE PR

An MCB Bank sponsored team of 5 porters from the Hushe village, an under developed and poverty stricken area in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), successfully ascended the K2 during a challenging first attempt, demonstrating their mountaineering acumen and ability. The 5-member team braved harsh weather and adverse climbing conditions to achieve the remarkable feat in just 20 days. Enabled by MCB Bank, the successful Hushe expedition was led by Mr. Muhammad Taqi along with climbing members Mr. Ali Durani, Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad, Mr. Yousaf Ali and Mr. Muhammad Hassan. The Exhibition demonstrated prowess in ascending K2, commonly known as “The Savage Mountain, which is notorious for unpredictable weather, avalanches and for the challenging logistics of the main trek to its summit. The successful exhibition will greatly enhance the visibility of local porters and mountaineering talent. It will also facilitate tourism and enable economic empowerment for the impoverished communities of Gilgit-Baltistan by encouraging foreign mountaineers to hire local porters as guides, instead of Nepalese Sherpas, for future expeditions to high altitude peaks in Pakistan.

MCB Bank’s initiative to support the Hushe team is in line with the bank’s corporate social responsibility to support local talent, uplift marginalized communities and promote a softer image of Pakistan. The Bank wholeheartedly congratulated the entire Hushe team on their landmark achievement and is confident they’ll inspire future generations to take up mountaineering as a serious endeavour. The Hushe mountaineering expedition was made possible through the collaborative supportive efforts of MCB Bank and Jahandad Society of Community Development (JSCD), a credible non-governmental organisation, in coordination with local experienced mountaineers and high altitude porters of the Hushey village.

Incessant rain first reduced the first West Indies-Pakistan T20I to a nine-over shootout before eventually washing away the match on Wednesday, ESPNcricinfo reported.

Pakistan had chosen to bowl first under cloudy skies with rain also predicted, but the teams raced off to the dressing room just after completing their national anthems. It took almost three hours for the rain to stop and the ground to dry, with the umpires then deciding to curtail the contest.

But of whatever was played, Kieron Pollard and the Pakistan bowlers combined to ensure there was entertaining cricket while it lasted.

All it took right-arm pacer Mohammad Wasim to land a blow was five balls, although that was not a wicket. In the second over of the West Indies innings, he pitched one short of a length on middle

and off, and got it to angle in with the bounce on to Lendl Simmons, who missed his pull. The ball instead hit him on the right side of his neck, immediately inviting the physio on the ground, who decided to take Simmons off with a sling protecting his right arm.

West Wasim was taken off after that, but returned to IndIes 85 for 5 bowl the seventh over.

22 not (Pollard After hurting Simmons, out, Hasan 2-11, he then had Chris Gayle caught at long-on as the QadIr 1-6) vs bowler now brought out PakIstan slower ball Gayle, who had come in after Simmons, played away from his body to try and heave that, but only found the fielder in search of rapid runs.

Amidst a flurry of dot balls - which slammed from the second over until the were 30 in total - and a bunch of extras, seventh. Hasan Ali took two, while Mowhich contributed 14, there were four hammad Hafeez, Usman Qadir and Wasim wickets claimed with as many sixes all grabbed a wicket each. Nicholas

Pooran cracked twin sixes off Hafeez, before Gayle deposited Shadab Khan over his head and Andre Russell dispatched Qadir over extra cover.

Wanindu Hasaranga jumps to second spot among t20I bowlers NEWS DESK Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga has leapfrogged Afghanistan's new T20I captain Rashid Khan to be ranked career-best No. 2 among T20I bowlers, ESPNcricinfo reported.

The ICC rankings list is led by South Africa's Tabraiz Shamsi, who has a 72point advantage following impressive returns on the tour of the Caribbean and Ireland earlier this month.

As many as six wristspinners feature in the top 10 - the others being Adil Rashid (fourth), Adam Zampa (seventh) and Ish Sodhi (ninth). Hasaranga will have an opportunity to establish a lead over Khan, who is just one point behind, during the second and third T20Is against India this week. The 23-year-old legspinner picked 2 for 28 during the series opener in Colombo on Sunday.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, India's vice-captain on tour, jumped four places to be ranked 16th, while Yuzvendra Chahal, whose tight spell reined in Sri Lanka in the first T20I, jumped 10 places to be ranked

21st. Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera also moved up five places to 37th spot.

The other gainers include India's stand-in captain Shikhar Dhawan, who is joint-29th with Reeza Hendricks. The South Africa opener made a 48-ball 69, his sixth T20I half-century, in an impressive 127-run opening stand to help South Africa clean sweep Ireland in Belfast last week.

In the ODI arena, Josh Hazlewood made significant gains following an excellent tour of the Caribbean, jumping to No. 2 after taking five wickets and starring in Australia's 2-1 series win. His new-ball partner Mitchell Starc, who also came up with a Player-of-the-Series performance in picking 11 wickets, jumped 10 places to be ranked eighth. The list is headed by New Zealand's Trent Boult.

Among the batters, Alex Carey jumped three places to be ranked just outside the top-20 (22nd), while Avishka Fernando, who struck a match-winning half-century against India to lift Sri Lanka off the bottom of the World Cup Super League points table, is now ranked 52nd.

Originally published on ESPNcricinfo

Thursday, 29 July, 2021

Prayer Timings

NEWS

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

4:33

12:39

5:19

5:58

7:19

8:43

PAKiStAn condemnS extrA-judiciAl Killing of innocent KAShmiri in ioK

P

NeWS DeSk

AKISTAN on Wednesday strongly condemned the extra-judicial killing of an innocent Kashmiri by the Indian occupation forces in a so-called “cordon-and-search” operation in the Munand area of the Kulgam district of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

“The further intensification of fake encounters in IIOJK is a matter of grave concern. Extra-judicial killings of young men, including teenage boys, and refusal to return human remains of those martyred is completely unlawful and reflects the moral bankruptcy of the Indian occupation forces,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

The FO pointed out that draconian military siege, extra-judicial killings, torture in custody, enforced disappearances and incarcerations continued in the IIOJK to suppress the Kashmiris.

“India must realize that despite applying all tools of oppression and using state terrorism as a policy, it has failed to subjugate the will of the Kashmiri people,” the statement added.

The FO said Pakistan once again called upon the international community to hold

India accountable for the grave and systematic human rights violations of the Kashmiri people and work for peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people.

“The gross and systematic human rights violations perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces in IIOJK warrant investigation by the UN Commission of inquiry as recommended by the OHCHR in its reports of 2018 and 2019,” it stressed.

Moreover, the FO rebuked Indian media’s claims that Pakistan’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus status was being withdrawn after Indian news agency ANI reported on July 26 that the European Parliament had moved to withdraw Pakistan’s GSP+ status over “abuse of blasphemy laws”.

FO spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudri called such reports “fabricated” and a continuation of New Delhi’s “malicious propaganda” against Islamabad, in a statement issued late on Tuesday, according to Dawn, adding that the news item was “fabricated and a continuation of the India’s malicious propaganda against Pakistan”.

“India’s malicious smear campaign against Pakistan is well-known and inde-

pendent organisations, including EU DisinfoLab, have established India’s credentials as [a] purveyor of anti-Pakistan propaganda globally,” he said. He said that the Indian state and “obliging” Indian media remained busy “concocting baseless stories against Pakistan” despite the unearthing of India’s disinformation campaign. “The recent rumours are yet another demonstration of India’s nefarious designs,” he said.

The spokesman said that Pakistan and the European Union maintain close highlevel engagement through multiple dialogue mechanisms, adding that the country remains committed to the full implementation of the 27 international conventions related to the preferential trade regime. “Pakistan has successfully completed three biennial reviews of GSP+ and the fourth biennial review is currently under way.

Saudi FM assures Pakistan of ‘unflinching’ support in meeting with COAS RAWALPINDI sTaff rePorT

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa at Rawalpindi on Wednesday, wherein he affirmed Pakistan of Saudi Arabia’s “unflinching support” and acknowledged its “efforts for promoting peace and stability in the region”, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations.

As per the press release issued by the ISPR, both discussed matters of “bilateral interest, evolving security situation of the region, including Afghanistan peace process, and collaboration for regional peace and connectivity”.

Saudi FM praised Pakistan’s role in the maintenance of peace in the region and assured COAS of his country’s full cooperation in different fields.

Speaking on the occasion, General Bajwa said relations between the two countries were based on brotherhood and mutual trust, adding that both the countries would continue to play their part for peace and stability.

He also thanked the Saudi leadership for support to Pakistan and its armed forces, the statement added.

He expressed the resolve that both the countries would continue to play their roles for peace and stability in the world.

COAS also expressed his gratitude to Prince Faisal for assisting Pakistan in different sectors.

A day earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan, while talking to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud, reaffirmed the deeprooted and historic bonds between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, particularly emphasized upon the need of strengthening the economic dimension of these ties by taking steps to realize the vast possibilities in trade, investment and energy.

The Covid situation in the two countries and in South Asia was also discussed.

On the situation in Afghanistan, the prime minister underscored the need for constructive engagement among the Afghan parties for securing a negotiated political settlement, which was critically important for peace and stability in the region.

Prime minister Imran Khan appreciated the work related to the activation of the Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council, which was the highest-level platform designed to impart strategic direction to the development of Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations.

He also lauded the important role of Pakistan’s community in Saudi Arabia in the progress and development of the two countries.

He underlined that the strong people-to-people linkages helped to build solid foundations of bilateral cooperation. Noting the difficulties being faced by Pakistani nationals due to Covid-related travel restrictions, the prime minister underlined the importance of timely measures for the facilitation of their return to Saudi Arabia.

He thanked for the administration of Covid-19 vaccines to Pakistanis living in the Kingdom.

The prime minister conveyed cordial greetings for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and fondly recalled his visit to Saudi Arabia in May. In line with the decisions taken on the occasion,

the prime minister highlighted the assiduous follow-up and stressed the need for exploring new avenues of cooperation to further deepen bilateral relations in diverse fields. Thanking the prime minister for the warm welcome accorded to the Saudi delegation, Prince Faisal underscored the importance that Saudi Arabia attached to its strong relationship with Pakistan, based on bonds of brotherhood.

He reaffirmed the resolve to take all possible measures to further strengthen the bilateral relationship under the strategic direction set by the crown prince and the prime minister.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy close fraternal relations, marked by close cooperation and mutual support. Saudi Arabia is a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Contact Group on Jammu & Kashmir and steadfastly supports the Kashmir cause.

Earlier, in a joint presser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal vowed to continue lending support to each other on issues of regional and international importance.

“Currently, the European parliament is on summer recess till autumn and there has been no discussion on Pakistan since April,” the FO spokesman concluded.

The GSP+ is a special trading arrangement that provides developing countries preferential access to European markets by slashing tariffs to zero on most products.

The countries benefiting from the scheme have to implement 27 international conventions related to human rights, labour rights, protection of the environment and good governance.

Pakistan, which has ratified all 27 conventions, has been benefiting from the GSP+ status since January 2014. Its GSP+ status was extended for another two years in March 2020.

However, the European Parliament in April adopted a resolution calling for a review of the GSP+ status granted to Pakistan in view of an “alarming” increase in the use of blasphemy accusations in the country as well as rising number of online and offline attacks on journalists and civil society organisations. The resolution also called on the government to “unequivocally condemn” incitement to violence and discrimination against religious minorities in the country.

Sajid Ali Sadpara summits K2 again GILGIT inP

Sajid Sadpara along with other mountaineers has climbed the second-highest global peak — K2 — a day after he found the bodies of his father Mohammad Ali Sadpara, Iceland’s John Snorri, and Chile’s Juan Pablo Mohr at the bottleneck. A message from the Twitter account of Sajid Sadpara announced the K2 summit from the climber along with Canadian filmmaker Elia Saikaly and Pasang Kaji Sherpa, who launched an expedition to find bodies of the three fallen mountaineers. In his message, Ali Sadpara said that the last few days have been challenging and lucky for them all, high up in the mountains. “With whole nation waiting and looking to hear about search and recovery of their hero Ali Sadpara. We are lucky enough to find the bodies of my companions from K2,” he said added that they were trying to secure and preserve it at a safe location for further possibilities.

He said that being at a very technical and dangerous slope, retrieving it in the first place is challenging and in order to honour his father Ali Sadpara and lost companions, he had once again set his foot on the summit of K2 and secured bodies of fallen climbers to a safe place as instant retrieval from above bottleneck is not possible without endangering many lives. “Possibilities of retrieving bodies without further damages and without risking lives would be done at a later stage after consulting families and experts,” he said while thanking the entire nation for their love and prayers. He further requested everyone at K2 to avoid sharing any photo or video of the bodies, as it would be painful for all families and friends. Gilgit-Baltistan Information Minister Fatehullah Khan on Monday said that the bodies of mountaineers Muhammad Ali Sadpara, Iceland’s John Snorri and Chile’s Juan Pablo Mohr have been traced on K2. A team, comprising Sadpara’s son Sajid Sadpara, Canadian filmmaker Elia Saikaly and Pasang Kaji Sherpa, is climbing K2, while being in contact with army officers, to find the bodies. Talking to a private news channel, the minister said that army helicopters would approach the Base Camp of K2 to lift the bodies.

He added that the team had located the first body at close to 9 am this morning near the bottleneck area of the mountain. “First, the body of John Snorri was located at 9 am below the bottleneck. He was wearing yellow and black coloured clothes,” said Khan. He added that the second body was located at 12pm but the team has not been able to identify the other two bodies.

Pakistan desires enhanced trade, economic ties with Bahrain: FM ISLAMABAD TLTP

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan is committed to promoting bilateral cooperation with Bahrain in areas of economic, trade and mutual interest.

Talking to Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain Sheikh Mohammad bin Mubarak Al Khalifa in Manama, the foreign minister

said that Pakistan-Bahrain relations are based on common religious, cultural and historical values.

He said, “We are deeply grateful to Bahrain for supporting Pakistan on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issue.”

Speaking on the occasion, the deputy prime minister said that Pakistanis living in Bahrain are playing an important role in the development of Bahrain.

Qureshi arrived in Bahrain on Wednesday to lead Pakistan’s delegation in the second session of the PakistanBahrain Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC). He was received by Bahrain's Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayan.

"On his arrival in Bahrain, FM Qureshi was warmly welcomed by FM of Bahrain.

During the Pakistan-Bahrain JMC, expertlevel talks will be held on Commerce, In-

vestment, Energy, Overseas Employment, Agriculture, Info & Broadcasting, & other areas of mutual interest," the Foreign Office said.

The Foreign Office said Qureshi is accompanied by a senior delegation and he would co-chair the 2nd JMC session from Pakistan’s side. The inaugural session of the Pakistan-Bahrain JMC was held in Islamabad on Feb. 5-6, 2017.

“The visit of Foreign Minister Qureshi

is expected to add to the current momentum and positive trajectory of brotherly ties between the two countries,” the Foreign Office said.

Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Bahrain in December 2019 on the invitation of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. During the visit, the PM was decorated with Bahrain’s prestigious King Hamad Order of the Renaissance award.

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