Epaper – July 4 LHR 2021

CMYk

4 July, 2021 I 23 Dhul-Qadah, 1442 I Rs 25.00 I Vol XII No 5 I 32 Pages I Lahore Edition

NAB hAs recovered rs33BN iN ZArdAri fAke AccouNts cAse: fAwAd FIA directs Hamza Shehbaz to provide money trail within 30 days NewS DeSk

ISLAMABAD app

M

inister for information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has said that the national Accountability Bureau (nAB) has so far recovered rs33 billion in Asif Ali Zardari’s fake accounts case. in a tweet, he said the recovered amount is equal to about $200 million. “With such a recovery level, the volume of corruption in the country could be gauged easily as how the past rulers had looted the country and sindh province.”

He said the actual volume of corruption in the fake account case was whopping rs5,000 billion. earlier on June 29, an islamabad Accountability Court (AC) on Monday has summoned former president Asif Ali Zardari in-person on

June 29 in a fake account case. the notice directed Zardari to appear in-person in the fifth corruption reference filed against him by nAB and submit his reply. the reference has accused the PPP co-chairperson of carrying out transactions using fake accounts.

His aide Mushtaq Ahmed, the former stenographer at Aiwan-esadr, reportedly deposited rs8 billion in a fake account after signing a deal with a housing society. the money, which had no trail, was then used by Zardari to reportedly buy properties in Karachi, including his house in Clifton. in the sindh tractor subsidy case, the court extended the physical remand of an accused person, Ghulam sarwar, till June 21. three former sindh government employees have submitted requests to enter into a plea bargain in the case. they have been accused of causing rs793

coroNAvirus iN

PAkistAN

CONFIRMED CASES:

961,085

LAST UPDATED AT 8:35 AM ON JULY 3, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

34

1,400

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

SINDH:

PUNJAB:

906,387 22,379

339,268 346,582 KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

138,306

20,458/6,331

27,295

82,845

million loss to the national treasury. nAB claimed that they colluded and made up fake identities of farmers and got tractors at subsidised rates under a government scheme.

After receiving the tractors, they sold them to others at higher rates.

PIA FLIGHT OPERATION INCREASED: Meanwhile, Fawad said that the Pakistan international Airlines (PiA) has significantly increased the number of its international flights to repatriate the overseas Pakistanis stuck abroad. in a tweet, he said the emigrant Pakistanis were enduring difficulties regarding the schedule of PiA flights to Pakistan for the past few days. the number of international flights has been increased by Minister for Aviation Ghulam sarwar Khan on the instructions of Prime Minister imran Khan after holding detailed meetings with the relevant officials of PiA and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

the Federal investigation Agency (FiA) on saturday ordered Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-nawaz (PML-n) leader Hamza shehbaz to provide a money trail of rs25 billion in the accounts of their peons and clerks within 30 days. the notice was served under section 9 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010. the PML-n leader has been directed to bring with him documentation pertaining to the vehicles owned, his bank account details, besides shares, jewellery, cash and prize bonds owned. He will have to supplement this with evidence that the assets “are not proceeds of crime”. the notice stated that failure to provide a money trail within the stipulated period will result in Hamza’s property being seized by the government.

According to local media reports, the process of freezing the property and accounts of Hamza shehbaz has been started. earlier on June 21, a sessions court in Lahore had granted interim bails to PML-n President shehbaz sharif and his son Hamza shehbaz in the money laundering case being investigated by the FiA till July. the court granted interim bails to both shehbaz and his son Hamza till July 10 and

Seven Pakistanis die in house fire in Canada

more inside

PM lauds KP govt for provision of free health treatment

NewS DeSk seven Pakistanis, including four children, were killed in a house fire on Friday in Chestermere, Alberta, Canada, according to local and foreign media reports. two families were visiting with each other over the Canada Day holiday when seven of them, including four children, died in a house fire.

According to details, a man and his wife and children from Ontario were staying with his brother and his brother’s wife and children at the house, when the fire erupted early Friday.

When the fire erupted, the man who owns the home was able to grab his two children on the way out. He then went back inside and got two of his brother’s children out of the home. However, he was unable to go back in again and rescue the rest of his family as the whole house was on fire.

A neighbour surveillance video shows the house went up in flames within about three minutes. royal Canadian Mounted Police Corporal (rCMP) tammy Keibel, while speaking to CBC, said that five people had managed to escape the fire and

ordered them to submit surety bonds worth rs1 million each. the petition stated that FiA had made a baseless case of money laundering of rs25 billion against PML-n president and his son through their sugar mills. it said that the FiA summoned the petitioner on June 22 for questioning.

According to the petition, the national Accountability Bureau (nAB) had already submitted a reference against the petitioner on the allegation of money laundering. it said that after the failure of nAB to prove accusations against the petitioner, the FiA had started a baseless investigation. the petitioner prayed that he wanted to participate in the FiA questioning tomorrow that’s why he was seeking interim bail before his appearance before the investigation agency. the FiA summoned PML-n President and Leader of the Opposition in the national Assembly shehbaz on June 22 for questioning regarding the sugar scandal.

According to the FiA call-up notice, they had credible evidence of over rs25 billion fraud case. it may be mentioned here that the FiA had sent a questionnaire to the PMLn president earlier on December 18 last. shehbaz had then said that he would submit his response after consulting his legal team.

STORY ON PAGE 02

sindh extends business timings, allows indoor dining for vaccinated people STORY ON PAGE 03

seven had been found dead in the house. the deceased include a 38year-old man and woman, a 35-year-old woman, a 12-yearold boy and girl, an eight-yearold girl and a four-year-old boy. “it’s a very tragic situation,” CBC quoted Keibel as saying. she also told the Canadian news agency that the cause of the fire had not been determined but preliminary investigation did not indicate any criminal activity. in a statement carried by the Associated Press of Pakistan on the incident, Foreign Minister shah Mahmood Qureshi said: “i

am deeply grieved over the loss of Pakistani nationals in a fire incident. We are in contact with the Canadian authorities for [an] investigation into the incident.”

He also prayed for the departed souls and for strength to the bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude, said the statement, adding that he also ordered extension of wide-ranging support to the affected family. the statement also said that on the foreign minister’s instructions, Pakistan’s high commissioner to Canada and its consulate in Vancouver were in constant contact with the family.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Afghan fighting rages as US forces see exit by end of August STORY ON BACK PAGE in today’s issue

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02

Sunday, 4 July, 2021

LAHORE

NEWS

PM lauds KP govt For Provision oF Free health treatMent ISLAMABAD

P

INP

RIME Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Saturday congratulated the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on free of cost treatment of as many as 250,439 patients under its Sehat Card Plus programme during the first seven months of the last fiscal year (7MFY21).

Taking to Twitter, the prime minister

shared a news report and wrote: “Congratulations Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

250,439 patients treated free of cost under Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sehat Card Plus programme.”

“This is the Pakistan we are moving towards – that was envisioned by Allama Iqbal & Quaid-e-Azam,” he added.

The report said that Prime Minister Khan shared said at least 250,439 patients were treated under the Sehat Card Plus programme in public and private hospitals

free of cost during the said period.

The majority of patients preferred private hospitals for their treatment as about 174,388 people went to private health facilities and only 76,052 patients opted for treatment in public sector hospitals.

Last year in August, Prime Minister Khan had launched the Sehat Sahulat Programme for the residents of the entire province, aimed at providing health insurance cover of a million rupees to all the families.

PM to visit Gwadar to review progress of CPEC projects: Bajwa NewS DeSK China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Chairman Asim Saleem Bajwa on Saturday said that Prime Minister Khan would visit Gwadar on Monday to review the progress of projects related to the multi-billion dollar economic zone.

Speaking to media persons in Hoshab, Balochistan, the CPEC chairman said there was a special focus on implementation of the Rs600 billion package for development projects in southern Balochistan.

Stating that connectivity was one of the biggest issues for the people residing in the region, Bajwa said, “I am seeing a revolution of development in the area.

Construction work on road infrastructure projects has been accelerated in order to link Gwadar Port with the north of the country and the region. This project will complete CPEC’s route and the western route which touches the remotest regions of Pakistan”.

He said the premier was giving priority to CPEC and the Gwadar Port. “As per the vision of the prime minister, all of the remote regions of the country need to be improved and brought up to the same level as developed areas”.

Bajwa said the completion of the overall south Balochistan project would allow people to benefit from

CPEC AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN EMPHASISES ON DEVELOPMENT OF REMOTE REGIONS

CPEC, Gwadar port and accessibility to Karachi would increase as well.

“A network of roads, which is the dream of the people here, would be laid,” he said. “There are about 80 ongoing schemes and around 200 schemes in this entire [development] package.”

The CPEC chairman said around 39pc of the development package had been set aside for communication infrastructure and connectivity. “This included plans for expansion of the Turbat airport and installing internet and broadband services in the region, he added.

Addressing the issue of electricity supply in the region, he said the prime minister had approved the linking of the grid for which a grid station in Basima town of Washuk district would be constructed.

“Work on a power project in Gwadar, which would produce about 3,000MW of electricity, has also commenced,” Bajwa added.

Additionally, he said numerous projects for provision of clean drinking water were under way. For these, laying down pipelines, installation of desalination plants and construction of 31 dams in nine south Balochistan districts had begun, he said.

Bajwa also thanked the locals, security forces and law enforcement agencies in cooperating together to clear the area of terrorists and said a border fence was being erected as well with around 650 kilometres completed.

PTI will not allow anyone to jeopardise national interests: Gill KARACHI APP

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communication, Shahbaz Gill, Saturday, said that the PTI government was committed to safeguarding the national interests and nobody would be allowed to jeopardize the sovereignty of Pakistan.

Speaking at a press conference along with the opposition leader in Sindh Assembly Haleem Aadil Shaikh here, Shahbaz Gill said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari accompanied by his cronies was heading to Washington to broker a deal.

He alleged that Bilawal wanted to become prime minister at any cost even if he had to compromise the national interests but PTI would resist any such move and would not let it happen.

As Prime Minister Imran Khan made it clear that Pakistan would not let its land to be used for protection of foreign interests, PPP perceived it a right time to present themselves as facilitators of foreign powers as they did in the past, he observed.

“Former US secretary of state Condoleeza Rice in her book revealed that she initiated and facilitated a deal between Pervaiz Musharaf and Benazir Bhutto for protection of US interests,” Gill said adding that Zardari approved drone attacks and it was evident from the fact that during his regime 344 drone attacks were carried out in Pakistan’s territory while in Musharaf regime number of drone attack was 13 and during tenure of PML-N 61 drone attacks were occurred.

“PPP leadership was only serving their vested interests but we will strongly resist any such deal to take place and will not let anyone bargain on national interests,” he maintained.

He said that PM Imran Khan was against the drone attacks and in a recent interview he clearly refuted to handover airbase to foreign power with eloquent expression of ‘absolutely not’.

Pakistan rendered enormous sacrifices

Foreign policy aims to stabilise economy, attract investment: FM

ISLAMABAD TLTP

PM'S AIDE CLAIMS BILAWAL EYEING DEAL WITH WASHINGTON

in war against terrorism and over 70 thousand citizens including our brave soldiers embraced martyrdom, he said adding that Imran Khan made it clear on floor of the house that Pakistan was partner in peace but not in conflict.

“We are followers of the last prophet Muhammad s.a.w, we follow His preaching of peace and tranquility and we don’t believe in aggression,” Gill further added.

Shahbaz Gill condemned the act of not allowing the opposition leader in Sindh Assembly to speak on floor of the house while PTI’s provincial assembly members were denied entry into the assembly building during the budget session to bulldoze the parliamentary process.

“It was totally unacceptable and reaction in the regard was shown at the federal level,” he said and added that PPP had denied opposition of representation in parliamentary committees as well.

Answering a question SAPM informed that in the last two months, federal information minister Fawad Chaudhry worked day and night to ensure payment of arrears to journalists and media workers

as the government had issued around 700 million to media houses now they should pay outstanding salaries and other arrears to journalists and revised the salaries which were reduced due to coronavirus.

Replying to another question, Gill said that only Khursheed Shah was in custody while Asif Zardari, Murad Shah, Dr Asim and many others were free to live luxury life. PTI leaders were facing NAB references as well, and if Sindh government had evidence against Haleem Shaikh they should share the same with media, Shahbaz said.

“If Murad Shah government don’t like Haleem Shaikh they could use police, anti corruption, and other departments to get him arrested,” he said adding that they were ready to face all such allegations in the courts.

On a question about governor rule in Sindh SAPM, said that PTI was a true democratic party that believes in principles of justice, humanity and national self esteem. “PTI was against any undemocratic move as we want to promote and strengthen democratic values

and system in the country.

On another question, Shahbaz Gill said that it was not possible to deduct or reduces funds from NFC as it would cause mass agitation by the affected province.

Federal government did not reduced share of Sindh but amount embezzled was recovered, he added.

Murad Shah wanted cash but federal government was not going to issue funds as those were stolen so federal government would execute federally funded projects.

He indicated that provincial audit department had pointed out corruption of over Rs2,000 billion in Sindh.

PPP government must stop depriving the people of Sindh from their fundamental rights and basic facilities, he said noting that the province had received over Rs. 8900 billion from federal government but utilization of such a mammoth amount was invisible in the province.

Health cards had been issued in other provinces while federal government would soon issue the health cards to the people of Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir but people of Sindh were suffering and denied of health cards only because of policies of PPP, Gill said.

He said that PTI was delivering in Punjab and billion of rupees were allocated in provincial budget for development and welfare of people as funds were earmarked in the current budget for upgrading 27000 primary schools to middle schools, 80,000 billion were allocated for health cards while 12 new universities and 12 new hospitals would be established in the province.

Responding to a query, he said that PTI does not believe in political point scoring on illness or deaths. It was PPP that politicize even deaths, he said adding that PPP only observe the death anniversaries while birth anniversary of Benazir Bhutto passed unnoticed.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that the core foreign policy of the government is aimed at stabilising the economy and attracting foreign investment.

Talking to the state-run radio channel on Saturday, the foreign minister said that the ministry of foreign affairs in collaboration with the ministry of commerce is making efforts to promote trade, facilitate remittances and attract foreign investments. The foreign minister said the government’s aim is transformation of the country from geopolitics to geo-economics. Referring to the situation in Afghanistan, Qureshi said the unjustified criticism on Pakistan from Afghan officials is an indication of the failure of their policies. He said a number of Afghan people understand the importance of Pakistan and are supportive to the narrative of our government.

The foreign minister regretted that Afghan media is projecting a negative image of Pakistan because as per reports of EU DisinfoLab, there are a number of fake media channels in the neighbouring country to defame our country. However, he expressed confidence that the majority of Afghans are aware that they can benefit from stronger relations with Pakistan. Earlier, Qureshi said that the United States is conveying a message to Pakistan through various means as well as double meaning phrases to cut ties with China. The foreign minister said Pakistan has its own interests and would like to strengthen ties with the US as well. “This is not a zero-sum game and if we are a friend of China, it doesn't mean we are not friends with the US,” he said, adding that China has never asked Pakistan to break ties with the US. “A China containment policy is underway at the global level. China is a rising power right now and possibly can overtake the US in the next few years. So there are fears in the West," he said. On the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Qureshi said, “Whether anyone likes it or not, CPEC is our need. It is our economic corridor for energy and trade. It has to reach its logical end.” He said that the CPEC will move ahead at all costs and no pressure will overwhelm Pakistan.

Sunday, 4 July, 2021

LAHORE

NEWS

03

sindh extends business tiMings, allows indoor dining For vaCCinated PeoPle KARACHI

a

TLTP

T a time when the coronavirus is rearing its ugly head again, the Sindh government has announced further easing of Covid-related restrictions and extended the closing time for trade activities till 10:00pm.

The notification released on Saturday also allowed ‘indoor dining for fully vaccinated people’ in the province.

As per the communique, businesses are allowed to remain open till 10:00pm.

Bakeries and dairy shops are allowed to remain open till 12:00am.

Similarly, hotels, restaurants and cafes are allowed to resume both indoor and outdoor dining till 12:00am while maintaining a distance of three feet between customers.

Indoor dining is allowed at 50 percent capacity only for vaccinated people and all hotels, restaurants and cafes will have to check the vaccination certificates for these customers. Drive-through, takeaway and

delivery are open 24/7.

Outdoor marriages and functions are allowed with up to 400 people while maintaining a distance of three feet. Indoor weddings are allowed with up to 200 vaccinated people and the management will have to check the vaccination certificates.

Shrines are allowed to open subject to strict standard operating procedures.

Cinemas and theatres are allowed to remain open till 1:00am only for vaccinated people. Indoor gyms are allowed to open only for vaccinated people. Amusement parks, swimming pools and arcades are allowed to open with 50 percent occupancy.

Public transport is allowed to operate with 70 percent occupancy. All offices, public and private, are allowed to function at 100 percent occupancy.

Sunday will be observed as a ‘safe day’ in Karachi division, while other divisions will decide their own safe days. All types of indoor and outdoor gatherings, including cultural, musical and religious events are prohibited.

The provincial government further

released a list of general guidelines, urging businesses and organisations to ensure vaccination of their staff. The notification went on to add that the authorities will soon begin checking the vaccination status of staffers. It further stated that vaccination would be one of the conditions for a future decision-making on easing of the restrictions.

On June 28, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) relaxed several coronavirus-induced restrictions and issued new guidelines which would be effective from July 1 till July 31. It said that business centres would be allowed to remain open till 10:00pm from July 1, while important businesses, including petrol pumps and medical stores, will be allowed to operate 24/7.

The forum permitted outdoor wedding ceremonies for up to 400 people, while up to 200 people, who had received the Covid vaccine shot, would be able to attend indoor wedding ceremonies. However, the forum retained the ban on cultural, religious and other gatherings.

The NCOC allowed indoor dining at hotels and restaurants with the condition of 50 percent capacity. It said that those, who had the vaccine shot could be allowed

indoor dining. It directed the hotel and restaurant management to check the vaccination certificate, adding outdoor dining will be allowed.

Will go to NAB on Monday, volunteer for arrest: Saeed Ghani MONItORINg RepORt

shehbaz to represent PMl-n in PdM’s swat rally ISLAMABAD

Minister for Education and Labour Sindh Saeed Ghani on Saturday announced that he will go to the Karachi office of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday and offer himself up for arrest.

While addressing a press conference in the port city, “I said this yesterday, and today I am saying it again. Investigate me, file a case, I will not seek bail. I will go to to NAB’s office on Monday. I will say ‘Here I am. Arrest me if you will. Take me away on remand.”

Ghani claimed that he will not enter a plea even if the bureau puts in a request for a 90-day remand.

He said that NAB Chairman (r) Justice Javed Iqbal is “continuously blackmailed by the government”, adding that no notice was ever issued against him for speaking out against the NAB chairman.

He said that PPP members Khursheed Shah and Aijaz Jhakrani were being subjected to “cruelty” and when he

spoke out against it, he was told action will be taken against him under Section 31-A of the National Accountability

MIAN ABRAR

It seems as if the grip of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Mian Shehbaz Sharif over the party affairs is getting stronger as the party’s Vice President Maryam Nawaz has been barred from attending the Swat rally being organised by the opposition alliance of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). According to well-placed sources in the PML-N, former premier Nawaz Sharif has barred Maryam Nawaz from attending the meeting of the opposition alliance in Swat. The PDM is going to hold its first meeting in three months in Swat after suffering internal differences.

There was a strong possibility of Maryam Nawaz's participation in the meeting, but now the PML-N vice president is not expected to attend the meeting anytime soon in the future.

According to sources, Nawaz Sharif's decision seems to have given the impression that Shehbaz has managed to strengthen his grip on the party's decision-making process.

Indian Ocean witnessing geopolitical changes: CNS LAHORe TLTP

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi has said that the Indian Ocean region is witnessing geopolitical changes of seismic nature which add to the responsibilities of Pakistan Navy.

According to a statement issued by the media wing of Pakistan Navy on Saturday, the naval chief said this while addressing the participants of 50th PN Staff Course during his visit to Pakistan Navy War College.

The naval chief dilated upon evolving geo-strategic milieu and its interplay with prevalent security dynamics focused on maritime security challenges.

While focusing on threat perception, he underscored Pakistan Navy’s capabilities to deal with this paradigm shift in combating traditional and non-traditional security challenges.

Admiral Niazi divulged various initiatives and developmental plans in line with his vision for Pakistan

Navy to be a formidable regional maritime power.

The chief of the naval staff also advised the course participant to instil Pakistan Navy’s core value of faith, character, courage, and commitment in their noble and demanding profession and draw inspiration from true Islamic values and the Ideology of Pakistan Earlier, a panel of course participants presented a research paper on ‘Cyberspace as the fifth domain of warfare: Challenge and Opportunities for Pakistan’. The admiral appreciated the efforts of Pakistan Navy War College for providing the academic stimulus and honing professional knack of the course participants.

Earlier on his arrival, the naval chief was received

by Commandant PN War College Rear Admiral Muhammad Zubair Shafique.

Pakistan Navy War College is the apex training institute of Pakistan Navy inculcating professional staff and military training to officers of Pakistan Navy, Sister Services and friendly countries for assuming future key appointments.

FIA issues notice to Ali Tareen in sugar scandal probe ISLAMABAD TLTP

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has issued a show-cause notice to Ali Tareen, son of estranged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen, seeking details of investments from his bank accounts during the sugar scandal probe.

According to sources privy to details, the younger Tareen has been served notice from the FIA, seeking details of his bank accounts, besides details regarding any loan acquired by him from family or any financial institution.

“In case of non-compliance of the FIA notice, the accounts and property of Ali Tareen would be frozen

and confiscated,” it said.

It is pertinent to mention that on June 11, a banking court directed the FIA to give a seven-day notice to

Jahangir Tareen before arresting him in the fake accounts case.

Additional Sessions Judge Rafat Ali Gondal heard the case as Tareen turned up before him.

The FIA deputy director informed the court that the agency does not need to arrest the PTI leader. It will give advance notice to the accused if such need arises, he added. At this, Tareen’s lawyer requested the court to direct the FIA to inform his client at least ten days before arresting him.

After the FIA official’s statement, the lawyer pleaded with the court to allow his client to withdraw his bail application. The court disposed of the bail plea and directed the FIA to give a seven-day notice to Tareen before taking any action against him.

Ordinance, 1999.

“Then in another press release, it was stated that some investigations are underway against me in NAB’s Karachi office,” he said. “I do not fear any probe against me. They can go right ahead”.

He reiterated that he had spoken out against the NAB chairman multiple times, but no one spoke of any action under Section 31-A. However, he said, that the fiasco began as soon as he spoke out against Haleem Adil Sheikh.

Ghani said that it was “NAB itself that had stated that Sheikh had illegally occupied 264 acres of land.

“Why is he not being arrested? Why is his name not on the ECL?” he questioned.

“I will go to NAB’s office alone on Monday. I will not take any party worker with me. We will see what happens. This is the NAB-Niazi nexus. NAB is the political weapon of PTI,” he said.

Citizens going abroad to be administered Moderna vaccine: asad ISLAMABAD TLTP

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar has announced that Pakistan would use the Moderna vaccine to inoculate its citizens who want to go abroad.

Asad said this in a tweet on Saturday as certain countries do not accept people who have benefitted from Covid-19 shots manufactured in China. Pakistan received a batch of 2.5 million doses of Moderna vaccine on Friday that was donated by the United States in partnership with the COVAX global vaccine initiative and UNICEF. Asad thanked US President Joe Biden for his “progressive policy” since the American leader promised to deliver 80 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine to the rest of the world by the end of June. Pakistani expatriate workers have been protesting against the shortage of vaccines approved by various Middle Eastern states in their country. In a recent incident, many of them stormed a mass vaccination centre in Islamabad in a bid to get Pfizer or AstraZeneca shots to travel abroad. Meanwhile, two million more doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine will be flown in from China on Monday, according to sources.

They said the consignment will reach Islamabad on board a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight. The government purchased the two million shots, the sources said, and a plan for distribution of the vaccine to all federating units has been chalked out.

sunday, 4 July, 2021

04 news

lahore

COvid-19 KillS 34, infECtS 1,400 in a day: nCOC ISLAMABAD

t

TLTP

HE coronavirus seems to rear its ugly head again as more than 1,000 daily new cases have been reported for the third straight day and the positivity rate remains over 2 percent for the fourth consecutive day.

According to the data issued by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday, 1,400 more people tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours. The NCOC said that as many as 34 more people lost their lives to Covid-19.

The national death tally since the pandemic started has reached 22,379.

The positivity rate stands at 2.91 percent.

The NCOC’s data showed that 48,027 tests were conducted on July 2 and 1,400 came back positive for coronavirus. The total active Covid-19 cases in Pakistan

are currently 32,319.

The daily coronavirus case load went back over the 1,000 cases in a day mark earlier this week on Thursday after the country had been reporting under 1,000 cases daily for more than a week before it.

According to a province-wise breakdown, the active cases in Sindh so far are 16,985, in Punjab 16,973, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 9,399, in Islamabad Capital Territory 2,225, in Balochistan 1,121, in Gilgit-Baltistan 634 and in Azad Jammu and Kashmir 690.

At least 906,387 people have recovered so far across Pakistan, making it a significant count. According to NCOC’s figures, the total number of cases has reached 961,085. At least 128 new coronavirus cases were recorded in Punjab during the past 24 hours, taking the provincial tally to 346,582.

According to the Punjab Primary and Secondary Health Care Depart-

ment, at least 6 more patients succumbed to the pandemic as the total death count reached 10,767. The department added that at least 327,686 patients had recovered from the deadly virus, with 264 people recovered in the past 24 hours.

At least seven more patients succumbed to coronavirus in KhyberPakhtunkhwa during the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 4,336. According to health officials, the province reported 115 new cases as the tally reached 138,421. As many as 101 patients recovered overnight, taking the total to 132,494.

Meanwhile, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged leaders to push back against daunting new Covid-19 surges through increased vaccination efforts and public health measures, warning that with Delta quickly becoming the dominant strain in many countries, ‘we are in a very danger-

ous period of the pandemic’.

“In those countries with low Covid19 vaccination coverage, terrible scenes of hospitals overflowing are again becoming the norm. But no country is out of the woods yet”, said Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, during his biweekly press conference.

Tedros explained that the Delta variant is ‘dangerous’ and continues to evolve and mutate, and this requires constant evaluation and ‘careful adjustment of the public health response’.

“Delta has been detected in at least 98 countries and is spreading quickly in countries with low and high vaccination coverage”, he warned.

Although there is some vaccinesharing happening now, it is still ‘only a trickle’, and being outpaced by variants. “In those countries whose hospitals are filling up, they need vaccines and other health tools right now”, he underscored.

Punjab health department takes notice of fake Covid vaccine entries NEWS DESk The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare department has taken notice of fake entries at Covid-19 vaccination centres, Dawn news reported on Saturday.

According to the report, the healthcare department secretary has constituted a fact-finding committee to monitor vaccine stocks.

“Amid Covid-19 mass vaccination drive in Punjab, it was discovered that vaccinators and data entry operators were doing fake entries,” Dawn news quoted the department as saying.

The committee constituted by the department will also work on ways to improve the vaccination drive.

Earlier on Thursday, the department had denied the media reports of vaccine wastage, saying that only a

normal level of 38,000 vaccines were wasted due to the lack of optimal storage temperature.

A health department official had said that the numbers of doses wasted during the vaccination process were being misreported by certain sections of the media.

The official had informed that 8.626 million Covid-19 vaccines had been administered in the province, and its total wastage was 38,357.

LAHORE: Students of King Edward Medical University protest in favour of their demands. Zubair MehfooZ

Govt to help GB meet certification requirements ISLAMABAD aPP

Agriculture extension and research work in Gilgit Baltistan (GB) will be upgraded in line with international standards to enable the region to meet phytosanitary and other certification requirements, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam has said.

Talking to GB Agriculture Minister Kazim Meesam on Friday, he shared the government’s aim to turn the region into a hub of organic and high-value food production.

During the meeting, Imam reaffirmed the government’s resolve to provide all available resources for the development of agriculture sector of GB besides promoting cultivation of highvalue crops to enhance exports.

“We will focus on production of organic cherry and apricot,” he said. “Export of organic agricultural products will help tap new international markets, fetch foreign exchange for the country and increase local farm income.”

Citing figures, he said the total output of cherries in Pakistan was estimated at 350,000 tons per year.

However, he lamented that 30-40 per cent of the produce went to waste due to the absence of modern harvesting

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technology. About 2 million tons of apricot was produced by the country, but 40pc of the output was lost, he said.

Imam recommended the initiation of programmes to avoid post-harvest losses in high-value fruits and called for the installation of value addition and dehydration plants for fruits and vegetables on public-private partnership mode to enhance farm income.

He stressed the need for promoting organic farming and producing different kinds of jams, which was a viable option for the preservation of fruit pulp.

The minister also emphasised the need for extending support to the cottage industry of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Imam called for exploiting the existing potential of trout fish farming in the region, citing that it was gaining momentum and 15 tons of frozen trout was being supplied to local markets.

The federal minister said it was for the first time the government was pushing the agriculture sector forward with great zeal.

On the occasion, Meesam said that the agriculture sector of GB was in dire need of marketing support and investment in development and research work.

He said the agriculture extension department of the region had been provided Rs3.75 billion over the past four years to extend and step up its services.

Punjab policeman arrested for killing man acquitted of blasphemy charges LAHORE reuTerS

A Punjab police constable has been arrested over the murder of a man who was acquitted of blasphemy charges last year, a police spokesperson said. Ahmed Nawaz told Reuters that Muhammad Waqas was hacked to death on Friday in district Sadiqabad of Punjab. He said the suspect, a 21-year-old man who joined the force just months ago, told investigators he killed Waqas because "he had committed blasphemy".

Waqas was charged in a blasphemy case in 2016. The Lahore High Court (LHC) overturned the conviction in 2020, and Waqas was released from prison. "He remained underground for sometime even after his release and returned home a few weeks ago," the police spokesperson told Reuters. In July 2020, Tahir Naseem, a US citizen of Pakistani origin, was gunned down and killed as he stood before a judge in Peshawar to answer blasphemy charges.

KP govt directs departments to pay arrears to PESCO PESHAWAR aZiZ buNeri

Different departments of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government have to pay Rs2 billion in terms of electricity bills to the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO). According to details, the provincial government has directed administrative departments to clear the arrears as soon as possible but the departments have to make the payment. The KP Finance Department has said that on July 1, 2020, arrears of the KP government stood at Rs1.31 billion whereas bills amounting to Rs7.83 billion were received during the first 11 months of the said financial year (11MFY20), of which Rs7.4 billion was paid. The arrears owed to PESCO have reached Rs2.12 billion so far. The public health engineering department is responsible for Rs766 million, police for Rs127m, irrigation for Rs121m, judiciary for Rs55m, prisons for Rs16m, communications and works for Rs34m and health department for Rs40m. The higher education department owes Rs0.8m, the endowment department Rs7.6m, the administrative department Rs9.7m and the forest department Rs10m. Among the district governments, Batagram owes Rs8.7m, Lakki Marwat Rs32m, Charsadda Rs33m, Peshawar Rs55m, Abbottabad Rs17m, Bannu Rs32m, Buner Rs8.6m, DI Khan Rs42m, Hangu Rs23m and Haripur Rs5.2m, Karak Rs29m, Kohat Rs23m, Lower Dir Rs23m, Mansehra Rs21m, Mardan Rs7.9m, Malakand Rs9.9m, Nowshera Rs27m, Shangla Rs11m, Swabi Rs31m, Swat Rs6.6m and Tank Rs52m. Sources said that because of non-payment of electricity bills by the provincial departments, the federation will deduct the amount from the province’s share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.

Sunday, 4 July, 2021

lahore

20 missing as mudslide sweeps away homes in Japan, killing at least two

toKYo

t

AFP

WO bodies were found after a huge landslide at a resort town in central Japan swept away homes on Saturday following days of heavy rain, with around 20 people still missing, officials said.

Television footage showed a torrent of mud obliterating buildings as it crashed down a hillside in Atami, southwest of Tokyo, sending people fleeing as it buried part of a road.

“I heard a horrible sound and saw a mudslide flow-

ing downwards as rescue workers were urging people to evacuate. So I ran to higher ground,” the head of a temple near the disaster told public broadcaster NHK. “When I returned, houses and cars that were in front of the temple were gone.”

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said emergency services and the military had launched rescue and evacuation missions, warning that more downpours were forecast.

“There is a possibility of heavy rain due to the rain front, so we still need to be alert at the maximum level,” he said at an emergency disaster meeting.

Atami saw rainfall of 313 millimetres in just 48 hours to Saturday—higher than the average monthly

total for July of 242.5 millimetres, according to NHK. Two people were “found in a state of cardio and respiratory arrest”, the regional governor said, an expression often used in Japan before confirming death.

“Because of the heavy rain, the ground loosened and the mudslide occurred... it picked up speed and swept away houses together with people,” Shizuoka Governor Heita Kawakatsu told reporters.

He said “around 20” people were still missing after being swept away by the landslide.

RAINY SEASON: The disaster began at around 10:30 am at a river near the city, which is around 90 kilometres (55 miles) from Tokyo and is famous as a hot spring resort.

A video posted on TikTok from the scene showed a huge slurry of mud and debris sliding slowly down a steep road and nearly engulfing a white car, which drove away before a faster and more violent torrent arrived.

In other clips on social media, the landslide was seen toppling electricity poles, with large areas left inundated by several waves of earth.

Much of Japan is currently in its annual rainy season, which lasts several weeks and often causes floods and landslides, prompting local authorities to issue evacuation orders.

Scientists say climate change is intensifying the phenomenon because a warmer atmosphere holds more water, resulting in more intense rainfall.

More than 200 people died as devastating floods inundated western Japan in 2018.

The highest evacuation alert, which urges people “to secure safety urgently”, has been issued to Atami city which has more than 20,000 households, according to NHK. Residents in many other cities in Shizuoka have also been ordered to evacuate.

Around 2,800 homes in Atami have been left without power, according to the Tokyo Electric Power Company.

Shinkansen bullet trains between Tokyo and Osaka were temporarily stopped due to the heavy rain, while other local trains in rain-affected areas were also halted, rail company websites said.

newS

05

at least 43 missing after migrant boat sinks off tunisian coast tuniS AFP

At least 43 people were missing off the southeastern coast of Tunisia after a boat carrying more than 120 migrants sank, the Tunisian Red Crescent said on Saturday. “Eighty-four migrants were rescued and 43 others disappeared after a boat carrying 127 migrants sank off the coast of Zarzis” on Friday night, Mongi Slim of the Red Crescent told AFP. The vessel had set off from Libya’s coast, he added, citing the accounts of survivors. The Tunisian navy rescued “84 illegal migrants of various nationalities” including from Bangladesh, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan, the defence ministry said. The survivors picked up off Zarzis were aged between three and 40, the ministry said, without giving any number for those missing. It said that the boat had departed the port of Zuwara, in northwestern Libya during the night between Monday and Tuesday.

opeC+ agrees new oil deal but without uae agreement London

Nigeria expresses complete satisfaction on JF-17 performance raWaLpindi TLTP

Nigerian military and political leadership has unanimously conveyed complete satisfaction on the performance of newly inducted JF-17 fighter aircraft from Pakistan.

This was conveyed to General Nadeem Raza, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, who is on official visit to Nigeria, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (IPR) in a statement on Saturday.

The Nigerian military and political leadership also mentioned that the JF-17 aircraft, with its unique fighting capabilities, would prove to be a potent platform in addressing the security requirements of Nigeria.

General Nadeem Raza called on Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria. He also had separate meetings with Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (Retd), Defence Minister, General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff, and chiefs of the tri-services.

Matters of bilateral military cooperation including security, counter-terrorism and prevailing regional environment were discussed during the meetings, said the statement. President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari conveyed his feelings of high esteem for the Pakistan armed forces. He specially thanked Pakistan and its Armed Forces for their consistent support to Nigeria in its war against terrorism.

The chairman JCSC also reiterated that Pakistan is keen to expand its existing bilateral military to military cooperation with Nigeria.

Earlier upon arrival at the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, the chairman JCSC was presented a guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent of Nigerian armed forces.

Earlier in May last, Nigeria’s Air Force officially took delivery of three JF-17 fighter aircraft during a ceremony at a base in Makurdi amid celebrations marking the 57th anniversary of the service.

The fighters were handed over by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, which constructed the aircraft and was responsible for their delivery.

Nigerian Defence Minister Bashir Magashi, on the occasion, thanked Pakistan and its Air Force for their role in modernising the local service and helping Nigeria meet its security challenges. “We are happy and excited about the addition of JF-17 fighter aircraft from Pakistan,” he said.

The Nigerian Air Force’s main operational and security concern remains the group Boko Haram in the country’s north and it is believed the JF-17 will make a considerable impact in addressing the threat.

The aircraft is quite suitable for counterinsurgency operations, as it carries a wide variety of weapons, including several with considerable stand-off ranges. The electro-optical pod is also available for pinpoint attacks round the clock. The aircraft is likely to prove a game changer against Boko Haram.

Seven Pakistanis die in house fire in Canada continued from page 01 Meanwhile, a statement from the Foreign Office (FO) also expressed its condolences and said it was “deeply saddened by the tragic death, due to house fire, of seven Canadian-Pakistanis, including four children,

in Alberta, Canada.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of this tragic incident. We also pray for quick and full recovery of the injured.”

The FO statement said that the Pakistan Consulate General in Vancouver was in contact with the relevant

Canadian authorities to determine the facts of the incident and offer “all possible assistance” to the bereaved family.

“As per the relevant Canadian authorities, the cause of the fire is still unknown, however, preliminary investigations indicate that it’s not criminal in nature,” said the FO statement.

French judge tasked with probing Rafale jet sale to India pariS AFP

A French judge has been tasked with investigating a controversial 2016 multi-billion dollar sale of Rafale fighter jets to India on “corruption” suspicions, the national financial prosecutors' office (PNF) said on Friday.

The 7.8 billion euro ($9.3 billion) deal for 36 planes between the Indian government and French aircraft manufacturer Dassault has long been mired in corruption allegations.

The PNF had intially refused to investigate the sale, prompting French investigative website Mediapart to accuse it and the French Anti-corruption Agency of “burying” suspicions surrounding the September 2016 deal.

In April, Mediapart claimed “millions of euros of hidden commissions” were given to a go-between who helped Dassault conclude the sale, of which “some [...] could have been given as bribes” to Indian officials.

Dassault retorted that no wrongdoing was flagged in the group's audits.

After the reports, France's Sherpa NGO, which spe-

cialises in financial crime, filed an official complaint for “corruption” and “influence peddling” among other accusations, prompting an investigating magistrate to be designated to probe the deal.

Sherpa had already asked for an investigation into the deal in 2018, but the PNF took no action.

In this first complaint, the NGO had denounced the fact that Dassault chose Reliance Group as its Indian partner, a conglomerate headed by billionaire Anil Am-

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bani, who is close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Dassult had initially won a contract in 2012 to supply 126 jets to India and had been negotiating with Indian aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). By March 2015, those talks had almost reached a conclusion, according to Dassault.

But in April of that year, after Modi paid an official visit to France, the talks suddenly broke down to general surprise. Reliance Group, which has no experience in aeronautics, replaced HAL and finalised a new contract for 36 jets.

In January 2016, at the time of the negotiations, Reliance had financed a film co-produced by Julie Gayet, the partner of Francois Hollande, who was president at the time. Sherpa believes this could constitute “influence peddling”. Hollande said there was no conflict of interest, saying France had not had any say in who Dassault's Indian partner was.

France's Le Monde newspaper also revealed that France in 2015 cancelled a 143.7 million euro tax adjustment targeting a French firm belonging to Reliance, at the time when the deal was being negotiated.

AGENCIES

OPEC+ agreed on Friday to add more oil to the market from August and extend the duration of their pact on their remaining production curbs for longer, even though the United Arab Emirates still opposed the extension, an OPEC+ source said. All OPEC+ deals require unanimous approval. The rare development on Friday means the UAE could still derail the plan. It was not immediately clear how the new plan would work. The talks between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers, the alliance known as OPEC+, ran into a second day on Friday after the group failed to reach a consensus during Thursday's meetings. Under the new deal OPEC would release more barrels from August 2021 and extend the duration of the output pact to the end of 2022 from its original April 2022 expiry. The UAE said it agreed to the increase in output but the extension was conditional on revising up its baseline, the level of production against which cuts are calculated, the source said.

Sunday, 4 July, 2021

06 COMMENT

Fighting the virus

Countdown to the fall of Kabul

The struggle is complicated by the spread of ru

After the evacuation of Bagram

U

S troops vacated Bagram airbase amid complaints that this was done without coordination with the Afghan Army. The evacuation marked the policy shift which aims at managing the situation in Afghanistan from outside the country. gen Austin Miller, commander of nATo's Resolute Support Mission, has been ordered to hand over command to CenTCoM chief gen. Frank McKenzie. The US military mission in Afghanistan will henceforth concentrate on protecting the US diplomatic presence in Kabul and maintaining liaison with the Afghan military, instead of fighting. Another military office based in Qatar will be administering US financial support for the Afghan military and police, plus maintenance support provided for Afghan aircraft from outside Afghanistan.

Meanwhile the Afghan Taliban continue to advance and capture the countryside. This enables them to block the highways leading to Kabul. once major cities are surrounded, it would be easier to capture them. The battle for Kabul can wait meanwhile. As civil war rages, thousands of people are forced to flee. The number of internally displaced persons continues to increase. over time millions of the homeless, with no financial support, are bound to head for Pakistan.

The refugees will share the already inadequate social amenities with the local population. The unskilled refugees will compete with local labour, bringing down wages. Those belonging to the trading community would compete with local traders and transporters, giving birth to bickering. During the Zia-era migrations, a section of the refugees introduced heroin as well as lethal weapons, increasing the number of addicts and giving a spurt to violence. The Taliban’s assumption of power will embolden the extremist groups in Pakistan. Terrorist networks like the TTP, that presently face difficulties to target Pakistan from safe havens in Afghanistan, are likely to send their operatives in the guise of refugees to launch terror attacks.

Pakistan still has enough clout with the Taliban.

Afghanistan being a landlocked country, the Taliban get supplies mostly through Pakistani territory. Their leaders visit other countries through Pakistan. when on the run the Taliban take shelter in the adjoining tribal districts.

Under the circumstances, Pakistan has to exert pressure on the Taliban to support a broad-based and inclusive government in Kabul. only an inclusive government will receive the international financial support needed to run and develop a devastated Afghanistan.

rAbiA Ahmed

W

e get vaccinated so we may develop immunity to a given infection, which happens when the vaccinated person’s body learns to make antibodies against the organism that gives rise to that infection. if, however, many or most people around us are not vaccinated, they have no antibodies against an infection and are able to pass on the infection. That means that even vaccinated persons have an uphill task maintaining immunity and it isn’t long before they succumb and get infected, regardless of the vaccination. in the case of Pakistan, the Chinese vaccine against Covid-19 that we are getting, while it works, apparently does not have as high a rate of success as some others out there, and even of those out there no vaccine is able to completely prevent the disease. it is therefore important to take precautions as recommended, such as wearing a mask and avoiding contact with large groups of people, particularly indoors.

The other aid to immunity, which goes hand in hand with individual vaccination, is herd immunity.

This means that when the majority of the population

Recent crisis shows fecklessness

E

neRgY Minister Hammad Azhar has assured the nation that the double whammy it was facing in the shape of power outages and gas shortages would be over, as gas supplies from Reliquefied natural gas (Rlng) reached 70 percent yesterday (Saturday) and reached full capacity on Monday (tomorrow). Among the reasons he gave for the current electricity load shedding, none could be classified as unpredictable. That Rlng terminals had to be drydocked at a certain time was known. That there would be low levels of water in the dam reservoirs, and thus a shortage of hydel, was also something entirely to be predicted at this time of the year.

That certain areas have seen all power connections cut, because line losses went beyond a certain level, seemed a harking back to the concept of collective punishment that was the most irritating aspect of the Frontier Crime Regulations in place in the Tribal Areas. while collective punishment has been abolished after the Tribal Areas have been absorbed in KP, the distribution companies still practise it, instead of reducing their line losses themselves, without involving the consumer. it is ironic that this is an area where the PTi government has inducted supposed experts in one aspect of energy or the other, but where it finds itself getting poor results. it is also perhaps poetic justice that the government is relying on Rlng to save its bacon, as it will not just fuel power plants, but also go directly to houses.

The PTi, before coming to office, had condemned the deal that had brought Rlng to the country, and had hounded former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi through nAB for having made it.

The PTi has not shown it can handle the day-to-day management of the power sector. it needs to work on this aspect, with prior planning for events known because they happen every year, and because consumers take their utilities, both power and gas very seriously, to keep them in mind at the hustings. The next general election is not so far that the PTi can afford any disdain.

The authorities are silent, even complicit To actualize its ideology, the Parivar has executed some ghastly acts– which could be documented. There are multifarious others which ollowing the quietus of Babu lal Bhil make india lynchistan, an inimical country for who was beaten to death by a mob in last minorities. on 18 June 2018, Muhammad Qasim, 45, was month in india’s state Rajasthan under suspicion of smuggling cows, lynchistan, the beaten to death by a vigilante mob accusing him of so-called largest democracy of the world attempting to slaughter cows. Samayadeen, 64, nearby tried to stop the mob, but he was beaten too. has again flouted the ethos of genuineFor democracy feedback, comments, Regretfully, his death was attributed to a motorbike and constrained minorities to undergosuggestions a predicaand, most accident. ment which seems to be unsolved. Dolefully, this istips, contact importantly, us atSamayadeen’s brother told that the police not first time that only BabuApollo lal has been lynched, did not tell the family the location of the hospital whitelies@pakistantoday.com.pk but lynching has roots back in even two decades or where they had taken both victims, and instead the more. Breaching human rights laws in the shape of police threatened to collar them under the cattle prorefuse to a club that would haveBut me astection a law. The same year on July 21, Akbar Khan, lynching“Ipublicly is ajoin daily occurrence in india. member.” only a few cases are documented and shown in the 28, was coming partner, Aslam Khan, from buying – Groucho Marxthey were attacked by a mob in Alwar cows when media. Here questions arise: who enables the perpetrators to commit such illegal acts time and agve district. Akbar Khan was brutally beaten. FortuTHe do lahore doesn’t seem to be too well his colleague managed to flee. Police took nately, heain? what they gymkhana want to garner by lynching? a club these days. elections to the governing three hours to reach the hospital which was just 20 why do behaved law enforcement agencies not take action body or areiftaking place and some of their the members are away. Consequently, Akbar Khan was deagainst them they take action why do in- minutes taking way too The sides seem to clared have dead when they arrived at the hospital. After vestigation anditaction notseriously. have the normal result? adopted American campaigning techniques, ofapprehended three people, ghyan Dev Ahuja, police Simply put, the Hindutva ideology. This ideol- some which onlythat barely been introduced in thea elections local BJP lawmaker, spoke in favor of perpetrators ogy is based onhave the idea Hindustan– according to thethe national provincial assembliesin-in Pakistan, like and demanded their release. instead, he called for to believers, entire and indo-Pak Subcontinent, phonefrom messages and short ad films. nabbing Aslam Khan, the only eyewitness of the cluding pre-recorded countries ranging Afghanistan to init’s homeland also led toofquite theHindus. canvassing, with the elite case.

Atrocity does not end here. donesia– is the solely Hindus ofbelieve ‘biryanithat ki platein.’ lavish dinners, in not2016, all Mustain Abbas, 27, was bumped off in are thoseequivalent people who Hindustan is their of them dry.

The sort that makes the electoral college Haryana where he had travelled to purchase cows. fatherland (Pitribhumi) and Holy land (Punyabevery in this case, police attempted to cover up the humi). wish these elections took place every year, notAlso three years.

To translate this ideology into reality, organiza- case by filing a smuggling case. in the same year, a A little which furtherwere awaycollectively in lahore, at the far more cattle trader and a 12-year-old boy were beaten to tions were formed named exclusive, and far less ostentatious, Punjab death by a vigilante group. Their bruised bodies the “Sangh Parivar”. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Club, elections anplayer extremely key Parivar affair. Thiswere is a found hanging from a tree with their hands Sangh (RSS) is theare key of thelow Sangh gentlemens’ club, good sirs, we don’t have that sort of them. tied behind with its 3000 full-time volunteers as frontline perthing here. simple Moreover, after seeing animal carcasses, an sonnel in riots andApparently, other violent acts.canvassing Since theis also not allowed Bharatiya Janatathere.

Party (BJP) is the political wing angry mob set fire to a police station and burned of RSS, all lynchings are justified and endorsed by many vehicles in Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. * * * * * * * * * BJP lawmakers that constantly aid the BJP to come Two people were killed when they attempted to MAJoR general Babur iftikhar hasn’t even taken overthe mob. Rather than condemning the viconfront into power so that Sangh Parivar can follow military’s and a olence, slew of the Chief Minister warned that illegal through yet on as thethe ideology of spindoctor-in-chief Hindutva. An indian accounts have beef-related been created lynchings in his name. Presumably slaughtering, and not just cow slaughter, is banned analysisfake showed that 97% by place the same trollsbecame that were in thethe bane of state. There are many other cases to entire have taken aftersmart Modi,alec the online BJP leader, his predecessor. The infantryman will realise what quotehis as well.

Prime Minister. artilleryman predecessor learnt:Dal that or they didn’tin all these cases the perpetrators reApart from the RSS, the Bajrang thecertainlySadly, youexclusively for this sortcalled of stuff Kakul. army of prepare Hanuman, theatfoot sol- mained scot-free. in case some killers were jailed, diers of Hindutva, is known to be the most violent they were released on bail later. As in the case of and most dangerous of all Sangh Parivar; partaking Alimuddin, 11 people were sentenced to life, but in riots, murders, public lynching and bomb blasts. were released on bail after appeal even before the

Ali ZubAir Soomro

F

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Managing Editor

Joint Editor

Umar Aziz Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

Rabia Ahmed is a freelance columnist. Read more by her at http://rabia-ahmed.blogspot.com

Lynchistan: An Inimical Country for Minorities

Power problems

Yousaf Nizami Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

acquires immunity to a disease, even those who do not have immunity are protected because the people they encounter are most of them not passing on the infection.

The way to acquire this is to vaccinate the majority.

This is not happening in Pakistan. while the vaccination campaign here appears to be better organized than most other government efforts, it has not managed to reach the bulk of the population. Vaccinations are available for all eligible persons but they are easily accessible; many people have to travel inconvenient distances to be vaccinated. it also means that all or even most eligible persons are not convinced that they require vaccinations.

There are many rumours doing the rounds, dominant among which are those that say that anybody who receives the vaccine is likely to kick the bucket at the end of two years. The other is that the vaccine alters a person’s DnA and should therefore be avoided. Yet another is that the vaccine renders people sterile, which means that it makes them unable to have children. other rumours say that these vaccinations are a western plot, a means of controlling the world, and of course there is the inevitable opinion that vaccines go against the will of god, that had He wanted us not to get covid-19 He would not have created the virus. There are also those who doubt the origin of the virus itself, saying that it is manmade and therefore some kind of a vague conspiracy towards some mysterious end. Such rumours are of course also rife in other countries, but this is about Pakistan where illiteracy and ignorance kill as many as does this virus and others.

The result of these rumours is something that almost every relatively well-to-do household can report: a reluctance on the part of its workers, the cook, the cleaner, and so on, to be vaccinated, and if not an outright reluctance almost always a complete indifference to receiving the shots. This is also how it is almost throughout the rural population. Also, when someone is willing to be vaccinated, they require someone to register them, since many such persons are illiterate and unable to handle the process. it has now been approximately a year-and-a-half since the first known case of covid-19 was recorded

in Pakistan, and we are very far from achieving herd immunity against the disease, even though the rate of infection appears to have gone down. it is obviously not just this vaccine that has attracted such rumours, others too have suffered because of them, specifically the polio vaccine. Those who administer that vaccine have on several occasions been attacked and even killed. As a result, Pakistan is one of only two countries that has been unable to stamp out that devastating illness. The other is our neighbour, Afghanistan.

The way around this problem is not simple. illiteracy does not seem to be the only barrier since such views are also not unusual in the United States either.

Perhaps it is the quality of education that is at fault? in the US another barrier to vaccination is an inflated sense of personal or civil rights, that makes some people bristle at being made to do anything as a group.

That cannot be the case here, since for most people in Pakistan civil rights is an unknown aspect of existence, a great pity in general. what is most likely driving the resistance here is an ingrained suspicion of ‘The west’, strengthened by our colonial past and the more recent alleged attempts of the US to capture bin laden via Dr Shakil Afridi.

The other far greater culprit is likely to be the right-wing conservative segment of society, from where most of the irrational fears of the west appear to stem. They have many platforms, among which the Friday congregation is always a major one. other than that, word of mouth, and social media are major culprits. it’s hard to figure out what to do about this. Penalise those who spread such rumours?

That just does not seem right. Clamp down on Friday congregations? As impossible as a clampdown on social media.

Penalties are in the hands of those in power, and those in power come with their own views and their own axes to grind. That means there is no guarantee of the penalty being directed at the right targets.

At the end of the day, the only thing that offers any hope is not just education, but a scientific, rational education, one based on proof and facts, which by no means suggests that the humanities should be rejected in academics. Absolutely not. Humanities subjects are crucial, but they should be supplemented with a necessary and hefty dose of reason, fact and science. in the final analysis that is the only way forward, and even that is no guarantee that the population of any given country will do the right thing.

I

whitelieS

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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final verdict. They went to a BJP lawmaker’s house, were warmly welcomed and garlanded. Sometimes, they covered themselves with flags and they are termed heroes for doing these illegal acts. Again the BJP lawmaker performed his duty and claimed that he had legally assisted them. in almost all documented cases, the police initially kicked off investigations, ignored procedures, or were even complicit in the killings and cover-up.

A retired senior police officer in Rajasthan vocalized, “Police face political pressure to sympathize with cow protectors and do weak investigation and let them go. These vigilantes got political shelter and help.”

Most heinous is this, in gujrat, one can get life imprisonment for slaughtering a cow, which is equal punishment for killing a man or a woman. in one case, a senior police official said that investigators were ordered to prosecute those involved in cow slaughtering. Cow-killers were even prioritized to be penalized before murders and those people involved in riots. This depicts the hatred for minorities. Minorities are downgraded but animals are given high status. This is the sorry state of the so-called largest democracy, the lynchistan, where human rights are breached with impunity. They do not have trepidation of being brought to book because still no Human Rights organization has taken constructive measures to desist this human rights violation.

Additionally, in numerous cases, victim families have been frightened from pursuing justice by filing complaints against family members and associates under laws banning cow slaughter. in some cases, witnesses turned antagonists because of browbeating by both authorities and the accused.

The authorities have even utilized the national Security Act, a repressive law permitting the authorities to detain anyone with charges for up to a year, against those suspected of slaughtering cows.

To encapsulate, humans have little esteem in comparison with animals in india, which is harmful for minorities. The cattle protection law is used as a tool to encapsulate or actualize the Hindutva ideology. This is working in many states of india. These are a few cases which have been documented or which went on air. The Hindu-dominated country has concealed thousands of such cases. Minorities should be provided safe shelter which is conferred upon them under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or even under the ethos of real democracy.

The writer is a freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Sunday, 4 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

Digital currency THRoUgH the platform of your newspaper, i want to focus on an emerging social change in the world which is cash currency is going away. it can have positive as well as negative impact on our societies. Plus point is that it can cause a noticeable decrease in street crimes like snatching money from people at gunpoint. A lot of people today are afraid of carrying cash, particularly large amounts due to the fear of being robbed. But if paper currency is replaced by digital currency or debit card system it’ll cause ease to people. like if someone steals your debit card, it can be canceled and replaced easily. while in case of cash if it is stolen then it is gone forever. in Pakistan street crimes are increasing rapidly while digital currency use is less. Converting to digital currency will be technological as well as economic revolution. if you see the other side of the picture then, converting to digital currency must be accompanied by high cyber security as chances of hacking will increase. in America cash is the second most payment method after debit cards. in the world of the internet Bitcoin is becoming more and more popular. world is moving to digital currency, so should we, it is the need of the time.

Laiba FaTima baHawaLpuR

Afghanistan bleeds. So does the region.

vancing forces which are soon likely to encircle the capital. with increasing tensions with the USA in the of negotiations with the Taliban– most relucwake of its refusal to give it bases for continued tantly and that, too, with preconditions everyone knows would be rejected by the adversary. This operations inside Afghanistan, Pakistan has is tantamount to conveying their unwillingness demonstrated that it wants to stay away from the to engage in a substantive and meaningful dia- ensuing battle for power in Afghanistan. As it has logue, preferring instead to go for an elusive vic- repeatedly said in the past, this is a matter which must be settled by the Afghans themselves. Sitory in the battlefield. multaneously, it has pledged support and faciliPakistan has long been pleading for a negotiated settlement of the crisis that would be led tation to make an agreement possible between and owned by the Afghans. Barring india, which the warring groups. That, it appears, may not be is playing the spoiler, this has been the stance of sufficient to avoid a catastrophic bloodbath of all regional countries also which, on different which it will have to bear the major brunt in the occasions, have expressed their opposition to a shape of increased instability across its western violent take-over. That was the rationale for con- border and the possible influx of refugees.

The contribution of the spoilers in bringing vening the Doha talks between the Afghan govmatters to this pass cannot be understated. This ernment and the Taliban so that they could make a genuine effort to reach a mutually acceptable has reflected often in the shape of venomous compromise. Unfortunately, after months of fu- statements attributed to Afghan leaders who are tile interaction, there has been little progress and holding key positions in the administration. The the adversaries have remained locked in mun- prospect of a northern Alliance-like coalition is dane technicalities: whether Afghanistan should dangled in front of the incumbent government be an islamic Democratic Republic or an islamic with the plea that they should hang in there. The emirate? This also reflected the lack of interest recent formation of some militias is a key develof the beleaguered Afghan government to reach opment in this regard. This can potentially lead a settlement as it has often expressed its unwill- to fragmentation of the country along ethnic ingness to relinquish charge to make way for an lines and the conflict may rage on for much interim government including the Taliban that longer to the detriment of Afghanistan and the larger region, most imwould decide how portantly Pakistan.

Afghanistan would be At a recent discusgoverned. sion concerning it must, however, be Afghanistan, the quesEven if Pakistan were to launch a conceded that there is tion regarding Pakenormous difference berenewed effort for peace in istan’s options was tween the situation that Afghanistan together with other debated: what is it that prevailed when the it should or should not Doha dialogue was initiregional countries and impress do?

There was unanimated and now, when ity that it should not beupon the warring groups that there is a speedy Taliban charge for the capital. there is no alternative to engaging come a party to the ongoing conflict in any earlier, the Kabul govin a dialogue, the chances for its way, but it also cannot ernment could also bank afford to sit back and let on the presence of the success look bleak. The its western neighbour US troops in the country, plunge into an inferno compromise has to be mutual: the which is not the case now as the last of their Kabul government cannot hang on of death and destruction. This is the fighters have already tightrope that Pakistan to power indefinitely and the left. So, it is the Afghan government alone that Taliban must realise the futility of a walks, and there appears no easy way out has to stem the Taliban of the impasse. take-over through exercising tide. The question is even if Pakistan whether that is possible brutal power, as that would not be were to launch a reat all? if not, which seems to be getting more a catalyst for peace. The formation newed effort for peace in Afghanistan together obvious by the day, what of an interim government with other regional is it that the Afghan govcomprising all stakeholders may countries and impress ernment is aiming for by upon the warring groups refusing to engage in an still be the best option to decide that there is no alternaall-encompassing diathe future of Afghanistan with a tive to engaging in a dilogue and, instead, proalogue, the chances for longing a war which, by spirit of mutual compromise. But, its success look bleak. all indications, it has alThe compromise has to that may be the unlikeliest ready lost? be mutual: the Kabul The strains of logic prospect in the face of the surge government cannot that one can still exerby the Taliban who are knocking hang on to power indefcise in these gruelling initely and the Taliban times have little to anat the Kabul gates must realise the futility swer by way of any subof a take-over through stantive gain for the exercising brutal power, Kabul government in as that would not be a continuing to fight.

They are losing in the face of a relentless Taliban catalyst for peace. The formation of an interim offensive. with troops of the Afghan national government comprising all stakeholders may still Army crossing over to the opponents at an alarm- be the best option to decide the future of ing pace, the chances for them to hold on have Afghanistan with a spirit of mutual compromise. practically vanished. The local militias which But, that may be the unlikeliest prospect in the some of the more die-hard opponents of the Tal- face of the surge by the Taliban who are knockiban have raised in the last few months are not ing at the Kabul gates.

As the US withdraws its troops, Taliban wait in the wings

Candid Corner rAoof hASAn “I want to scream again, and I remember that last time I felt this way, riding with Baba in the tank of the fuel truck, buried in the dark with other refugees. I want to tear myself from this place, from this reality, rise up like a cloud and float away, melt into this humid summer night and dissolve somewhere far, over the hills. But I am here, my legs blocks of concrete, my lungs empty of air, my throat burning.

There will be no floating away. There will be no other reality tonight.”

–Khaled Hosseini: “The Kite Runner”

A

FgHAniSTAn presents a face of contrasts, oscillating between the extremes of trepidation and hope. in the confluence of developments, it is wellnigh impossible to bet definitely on one eventuality in preference to the other. Yet, as we drift on in time, the prospect of increased violence, even a brutal civil war for gaining control of Kabul, is becoming increasingly likelier. in real terms, that would mean continuation of the conflict that started almost four decades ago, wreaking havoc, destruction and agony across the expanse of Afghanistan with millions escaping its brutality to neighbouring countries.

Pakistan alone is looking after over three million refugees, a number that would swell further in the event of renewed displacement.

The Taliban have gained immensely in terms of territorial control over the last few weeks and their advance continues almost unhindered. The Afghan national Forces, in whom there was much faith reposed by the Kabul government, appear to be wilting before the ceaseless onslaught unleashed by the militants. There are reports of a large number of them having surrendered while others are defecting along with their weapons and equipment. This is an alarming development which, in the event the hostilities continued, could further expedite the demise of the fabrication in Kabul. Under such circumstances, the fall of the capital which was projected to take place a year from now, could happen much earlier. But other than a militant victory, is there any other option left to consider at this stage of the battle when a total Taliban control looks imminent?

After the recent visit of the Afghan leadership to washington where they were told to take decisions on their own for the world to follow, the ones occupying the wobbly citadel of power have run out of options. with their army wilting and their support base, if ever there was any, depleting, their chances of hanging on to power are diminishing by the day. in such a situation, it is almost impossible to understand the obduracy of the incumbent government to insist on continuing to play the delaying game. i am saying so because that is the impression one gathers from the manner they have approached the possibility

equipped either with the necessary armaments or resolve to offer any sustainable resistance. They can, at best, continue fighting semi-guerrilla battles in the hinterland, but they would not be able to engage in an open confrontation with the ad-

The writer is a political and security strategist, and heads the Regional Peace Institute – an Islamabad-based think tank. Email: raoofhasan@hotmail.com.

Twitter: @RaoofHasan

Encouraging signs THe proposed india-Pakistan joint statement on a ceasefire along the loC is a positive sign perfectly in the right direction. According to the media inputs, the so-called backchannel diplomacy seems to have played a big role in enacting the current positive state of affairs along the de facto border areas. encouragingly enough, most english media outlets in Pakistan and the indian media houses have started flashing this news piece. even the international forums like the Un and the west have appreciated the whole ceasefire effort by Pakistan and india. Yet again, it is the big responsibility of the media houses not to send out unnecessary sensational, confusing news items instead to concentrate on the possible positive things on the sides of both Pakistan and india. Right from my childhood and straight through all these years, i have been seeing many local people in my native areas like Korkai, Tiruchendur, Tuticorin, Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli in Tamil nadu, who have often been speaking well of the india-Pakistan relationship. Most of all, the people in india and Pakistan have already been living through their respective culture and Constitution post the independence era. This fact cannot be wrong either on both sides. if Asian nations like Pakistan and india are able to resolve their disputes, then it will not only send the positive signals across the region but also attract the west and the rest of the world. Above all, other important channels like proper communication, regular train, ship and bus services across the border and transborder economic activities will strengthen the lives of indians and Pakistanis and also create the robust economic activities across the Asian region.

P SEnTHIl SARAvAnA DuRAI MuMBAI

Our democratic elite Quaid e Azam won freedom for us through a long struggle using legal and constitutional means. He was a big proponent of democracy and power to the people. Unfortunately, the Quaid did not live long and the affluent class comprising landlords and businessmen grabbed power in the name of democracy without an iota of intention to practice it. while other world leaders laid foundations of strong economies in their countries as per local needs, our leaders set on the path of amassing personal wealth. with lingering poverty in the country, our leaders adopted policies of self-glorification and enhancement from borrowed money. They kept borrowing to run the government in royal ways and to make money through corruption without taking measures to strengthen the economy. The country slowly kept falling into the debt trap with little or no capacity enhancement to retire the loans. Seventy years on, we have extremely rich politicians and a country that is buried under loans with staggering poverty. we still don’t see light at the end of the tunnel. our politicians are as self-serving as ever. They keep playing blame games accusing each other of destroying the economy while they take turns looting and plundering the country. They are always conspiring to topple the government and get to power, not interested in fixing the problems we face. i am afraid that if our leadership does not realize the gravity of the situation and mend ways to work collaboratively for the country, we will not survive too long as an independent nation. History tells us that military power alone is never enough to remain free and strong. The sooner our leaders realize it, the better it is, or they might not have a country to lead.

Raja SHaFaaTuLLaH iSLamabad

Third wave with most of the Covid-related restrictions having been relaxed despite lukewarm response of even health workers to the government-run vaccination campaign, health experts fear a resurgence in number of cases that may compel the government to declare a third wave of coronavirus in the country. As 1,176 Covid-19 cases were reported in a day, the health experts Dawn spoke to were of the opinion that the government should have given priority to public health rather than financial concerns and advised the authorities to lift the restrictions only after ensuring that 70pc population has been vaccinated against the deadly disease.

RAHIM BAlocH KEcH

Unemployment AS we know Unemployment imposes a negative impact on individual lives and society as well. Due to no or low origin of income, people face hardships in their lives being unable to create proper living for themselves and their families. Particularly, youngsters (15-25 years old) are struggling to find jobs. lack of necessary sources such as food, clothes and shelter gives rise to devilish heat. it may also be a reason behind increased robbery and snatching cases. Ascribed to CoViD-19 pandemic unemployment rate has been increased to 5.1% this year that has triggered the economic values greatly.

TaLbia Syed KaRacHi

Sunday, 4 July, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

Can ameriCa lose to China?

(Part I)

CHINA IS NOT CHALLENGING AMERICAN PROSPERITY. THE CHINESE ARE SMARTER THAN THIS. THEY SEE AMERICAN PROSPERITY AS AN ASSET THAT HAS HELPED AND WILL CONTINUE TO HELP PROPEL THE CHINESE ECONOMY TO PROSPERITY

like the Middle east. Indeed, China isn’t even the enemy of American defense budgets. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said recently that for the past twenty years, America had been focused on the Middle NatioNal iNterest east while China had been modernizing its KIshore MahbubanI military. “We shall maintain the edge,” he noted, “and we’re going to increase the he demonization of China has edge going forward.” Fareed Zakaria had gained momentum in the Ameriit right: What Austin calls America’s edge can body politic. Not a day goes over China is more like a chasm. The by without some major figure United States has about twenty times the warning about the China threat. In number of nuclear warheads as China. It April, a 281-page bill entitled “Strategic has twice the tonnage of warships at sea, Competition Act of 2021” was tabled in the including eleven nuclear-powered aircraft U.S. Congress. All this cacophony on carriers, compared with China’s two carriChina would give the casual observer the ers (which are much less advanced). Washimpression that America is not underestiington has more than 2,000 modern fighter mating the China threat. Actually, it is. The jets, compared with Beijing’s roughly 600, real danger of the demonization of China according to national security analyst Seis that it leads even thoughtful Americans bastien Roblin. And the United States deto believe that an open society like Amerploys this power using a vast network of ica has many natural advantages over a some 800 overseas bases. China has three. closed autocratic system like China’s. By China’s defense budget is around $200 bilframing it in this way, Americans cannot lion, not even a third as large as that of the even conceive of the possibility of losing United States. Michael O’hanlon of the out to China.

Brookings Institution notes that, “if China This mental inability to even think of were in NATO, we would berate it for inthe possibility of losing means that Ameradequate burden-sharing, since its military icans are seriously underestimating the outlays fall well below NATO’s 2 percent challenge from China. having recently exminimum.” perienced the most painful century in ChiIf haines is right in saying that China nese history, the century of humiliation is a threat to America’s unleashed on China security, the logical

by Western and Japanconclusion would be ese forces, the Chithat China would be nese believe that the happy to see a reducAmerican assault was tion in America’s dethe last effort by a budget, China is not a threat to fense Western power to America’s aircraft carkeep China down and American security. China riers, jet fighters, naval prevent it from occubases. Actually, China isn’t threatening a pying its rightful place would be unhappy. in the world. The military invasion of Chinese strategic planbiggest conceptual ners are absolutely America or a nuclear mistake that American thrilled that America is policymakers are strike on America wasting so much making is a simple money fighting unnecone. They assume that essary wars as well as their strategic commaintaining a huge and petitor is the Chinese bloated defense budget Communist Party. that weakens America’s competitive edge This explains the American confidence that in more critical areas, like education and American democracy will triumph. Yet the research and development. Americans are real strategic competitor of the young familiar with the metaphor of being a diAmerican republic is a four-thousand-yearnosaur. The huge American defense budget old civilization. As a friend of America, I gives America the competitive edge that a can only marvel at the sheer strategic comdinosaur gets from its bulk. Not very placency with which it is jejunely plunging much! into a contest that it may well lose.

Finally, haines says that China is a The oldest rule in geopolitics, espoused threat to American “values across a range by both Sun Tzu and Carl von Clausewitz, of issues.” This statement would be true if is “know thine adversary.” America is China were either threatening to export its sadly ignoring this basic rule. here’s a ideology to America or threatening to ungood example. Avril haines, the Director dermine the electoral process in America. of National Intelligence in the Biden adNeither is happening. Yet, an amazing ministration said, “China is a challenge to number of Americans, even thoughtful, our security, to our prosperity, to our values well-informed Americans, believe that across a range of issues.” Many Americans China is on a mission to undermine Amerwould have applauded her for stating some ican values. This belief may be a result of truths bluntly. Actually, every limb of her two major misconceptions about China that statement is factually incorrect. has penetrated the subconscious layers of Firstly, China is not challenging Amerthe American mind. The first misconcepican prosperity. The Chinese are smarter tion is that since China is run by a commuthan this. They see American prosperity as nist party, it must, like the former Soviet an asset that has helped and will continue Union, be on a campaign to prove that to help propel the Chinese economy to communism is superior to democracy. prosperity. The American economy has Yet Americans also believe in empiribeen the main economic locomotive that cal evidence. That evidence shows that has enabled the Chinese economy to go China has stopped supporting fellow comfrom being one-tenth the size of the Amermunist parties for decades. China’s real ican economy (in purchasing power parity mission is to rejuvenate Chinese civilizaterms) in 1980 towards becoming larger tion, not waste time exporting communist than America’s by 2014. So, here’s a simideology. The second misconception is that ple fact that might shock Avril haines. If when China becomes the number one ecoPresident Joe Biden were to propose to nomic power in the world, replacing AmerChina an economic deal that would benefit ica, it will, like America, go on a the American economy (and American universalizing mission and export the Chiworkers) and also benefit China, China nese “model,” just as America exported the would enthusiastically embrace such a American “model.” here’s a perfect examdeal. American prosperity is an asset to ple of America’s total ignorance of its adChina, not a liability. versary. The most basic fact that Americans Second, China is not a threat to Amershould know about the Chinese people is ican security. China isn’t threatening a milthat they do not believe that anybody can itary invasion of America (and its armed be a Chinese in the way that Americans beforces are an ocean away); or a nuclear lieve that anybody can be an American. strike on America (with its nuclear warThe Chinese believe, quite simply, that heads being one-fifteenth the size of Ameronly Chinese can be Chinese. And they ica’s). China is also not threatening would be puzzled if anybody else tried to American military supremacy in regions

t

Soviet Union, would depend on its ability to create among the peoples of the world generally the impression of a country which knows what it wants, which is coping successfully with the problems of its internal life and with the responsibilities of a world power, and which has a spiritual vitality capable of holding its own among the major ideological currents of the time.

There are four parts to this critical piece of advice: a country that knows what it wants (1), coping successfully with its internal problems (2) and global responsitowards America among its 700 million bilities (3), and which has a spiritual vitalbecome Chinese.

Another commonly heard phrase in people. The Association of Southeast Asian ity (4). Vis-à-vis the Soviet Union, American discourse is that China’s goal is Nations (ASeAN) matters. In 2000, America was ahead on all four counts. to make the world safe for autocrats. Biden Japan’s combined gross national product Today, vis-à-vis China, America is behind said, ‘’It is clear, absolutely clear … this is was eight times larger than ASeAN’s com- on all four counts. The world was happy to a battle between the utility of democracies bined GDP. By 2019, it was only 1.6 times hear Joe Biden say “America is back.” But in the 21st century and autocracies. That’s larger. By 2030, ASeAN’s economy will for how long? One mistake that many what’s at stake here. We’ve got to prove be bigger than Japan’s. hence, America American strategic planners and thinkers democracy works … [Chinese president Xi should immediately sign a free trade agree- commit is to underestimate the rest of the Jinping] doesn’t have a democratic with a ment with ASeAN. world. Most observers of America know These five steps would terrify the Chi- that Trump has at least an even chance to small ‘D’ bone in his body, but he’s a smart, smart guy. he’s one of the guys, like [Russ- nese. Suddenly, China would have to deal become president in 2024. Indeed, if ian president Vladimir] Putin, who thinks with a thoughtful and worthy geopolitical Trump were to run against Kamala harris competitor. however, the Chinese need not in 2024, his chances of becoming president that autocracy is the wave of the future.’’

Actually, if the truth be told, Beijing worry. The sad truth is are more than even. If doesn’t give a fig whether a country is a that not even one of Trump becomes presidemocracy or autocracy. It only cares those sensible and radent again, he will whether it can work effectively with a tional five steps is poonce again withdraw given country. hence, if the birthplace of litically feasible within from multilateral Western democracy, Greece, decides to America. China is purHaines says that China agreements and institujoin the Belt and Road Initiative and wel- suing a carefully is a threat to American tions (like the Paris come Chinese investment in its Port of Pi- thought-out, long-term Climate Accords and raeus, China doesn’t care whether Greece strategy that is both “values across a range the World health Oris a democracy or not. It will cooperate successful in improvganization), disparage of issues.” This with any country for mutual benefit. But ing the livelihood of allies (like France and let’s be honest: this is also what America 1.4 billion Chinese statement would be true Germany) or ask them does. It will cooperate with Saudi Arabia, people and also sucto pay more (like if China were either cessful in integrating even though it’s far from a democracy.

South Korea and As the Chinese economy continues to China’s economy with threatening to export its Japan), withdraw h1B grow and grow, it will challenge America’s most countries in the ideology to America or visas from friendly status as the number one economic power world, giving the countries like India. in the world. Biden was right when he said, world a stake in threatening to Can any American prosperity.

“China has an overall goal, and I don’t crit- China’s undermine the electoral stand up and say, with icize them for the goal, but they have an America doesn’t have a straight face, that this overall goal to become the leading country a matching compreprocess in America. will never happen in the world, the wealthiest country in the hensive strategy. again? And if AmeriNeither is happening here’s another staworld and the most powerful country in the cans cannot say this world.” Actually, the real Chinese goal is tistic to reflect on. with a straight face, to improve the livelihood of the Chinese Brazil is geographiisn’t it reasonable for people. Right now, the per capita income cally closer to America most countries in the of the 1.4 billion Chinese people is about than China. In 2000, world to carefully hedge their bets in the $10,000, compared to $65,000 for the 380 Brazil would take a year to export $1 bil- competition between America and China? million American people. If the Chinese lion to China. Now it does so every sevThe real contest between America and succeed in improving their per capita in- enty-two hours. In contrast to the bottom China will, therefore, not be fought out in come to $17,000, one-quarter of America’s, fifty percent of the Chinese people, who any external arenas. It will be fought out in their economy will become larger as their have just experienced the best forty years the heartlands of America. Biden’s main of human development in four thousand priority should be to eradicate the three population is four times larger.

The real competition is perforce eco- years of Chinese history, the bottom 50 decades of economic stagnation that have nomic. If this is true, there are a few sim- percent of America’s population has expe- created a “sea of despair” among the white ple logical steps America can take to rienced three decades of economic stagna- working classes. Only this will prevent the enhance its economic competitiveness. tion, creating, as the Nobel Laureate Angus return of a Trump or a Trump-like figure.

Step one would be to slash its bloated de- Deaton has documented, a “sea of despair” And only this will regenerate long-term fense budget by half and re-invest the among the white working classes in Amer- confidence in Biden’s claim that “America money saved into research and develop- ica, leading to lower life expectancy, in- is back.” All this leads to the final paradox: ment. Step two would be to completely creased infant mortality, greater opioid the best way to jumpstart the American withdraw all its defense forces from the addiction, higher suicide rates, and so on. economy is to work closely with the other This is, probably, the most important strong and dynamic economies of the Middle east and stop fighting unnecessary wars, which have cost American taxpayers point that American strategic planners world, especially the country with the $5 trillion since the post-9/11 wars began. should reflect on: at the end of the day, the largest middle-class population of the Step three would be to reverse all the steps outcome of the geopolitical contest be- world, namely China. If American policythat the Trump administration took in the tween America and China will not be de- making was made by a sober, rational, trade war with China. Why reverse them? termined by the number of aircraft carriers thinking class of practitioners, this would They didn’t weaken the Chinese economy. or nuclear weapons. Instead, it will be de- be a logical, indeed commonsensical, soluIndeed, they may have damaged America’s termined by which society is doing a better tion to America’s serious internal divisions. job at taking care of its bottom fifty pereconomy instead.

Yet this commonsensical solution seems here’s one statistic to ponder. In 2009, cent. As of now, China is leading by a mile, to be null and void in America’s current pothe size of China’s retail goods market was just as America was clearly in the lead litical contest. During the election camagainst Soviet society paign, Biden explicitly said that the trade $1.8 trillion, when in the Cold War. In- war against China hadn’t worked. he said America’s was $4 trildeed, the first indica- that Trump’s trade war with China was “an lion, more than double tion that the Soviet unmitigated disaster” that cost Americans that of China’s. In Union was losing money and jobs! Fareed Zakaria says Biden 2019, after three years If the truth be told, came from its human was right when he said this. Yet, Biden of former President Beijing doesn’t give a fig development statistics: would Donald Trump’s ecobe crucified politically if he were to lower life expectancy, lift trade sanctions against China that have nomic assaults on whether a country is a increased infant morChina, China’s retail American businesses and farmers. democracy or autocracy. tality, greater alcohol harmed goods market had The Biden administration will need strong addiction, higher sui- political cover if it wants to rebalance relagrown to $6 trillion, It only cares whether it cide rates! Today, by tions with China and strive to achieve a becoming bigger than can work effectively with contrast, as Stanford more that of America’s normal relationship with China, deUniversity psycholo- void of self-defeating tariffs and sanctions. which had grown only a given country gist Jean Fan has doc- There is one resource that the Biden adminto $5.5 trillion. A basic umented, “In contrast istration can use: the opinions of the rest of rule of strategy is that to America’s stagna- the world. Indeed, the U.S. Declaration of it’s a mistake to contion, China’s culture, Independence said explicitly that the United tinue fighting on a self-concept, and States of America should show a “decent refront where one is losing. Step four would be to rejoin the Trans- morale are being transformed at a rapid spect to the opinions of mankind.” Kennan’s Pacific Partnership free trade agreement pace – mostly for the better.” wise advice, stated above, also emphasized There’s another important reason why that America should be mindful of the imwhich former President Barack Obama had wisely initiated to ensure that the east America won the Cold War against the So- pression that America creates “among the Asian economic ecosystem, the largest one viet Union. It heeded the advice of one of peoples of the world.” in the world, would not be centered on its greatest strategic thinkers, George F. China. Step five would be to match the Kennan. even though Kennan is rememKishore Mahbubani, a Distinguished Chinese punch-for-punch by signing free bered mostly for his “containment” policy Fellow at the Asia Research Institute at the trade agreements with every country or re- (which wouldn’t work against a globally National University of Singapore, is the gion that China has signed with. For exam- integrated power like China), he actually author of Has China Won? The Chinese ple, one important arena for U.S.-China gave very thoughtful advice to his Challenge to American Primacy (2020). competition will be Southeast Asia, where brethren. he emphasized that America’s there are still major reservoirs of goodwill standing in the world, relative to that of the (To be continued)

Sunday, 4 July, 2021

BUSINESS 09

LAHORE corporate corner Dubai Islamic Bank signs MoU with Canadian company to market RDA Karachi: Dubai Islamic Bank Pakistan Limited (DIB) entered into an MOU for promotion of its Roshan Digital Account (RDA) with a Canadian based company, Zeal Corporation. The company provides Islamic Financial Data Services such as equity investment screening, data analytics and trading platform for institutional and individual clients globally. Using this massive client base, DIB will use their services to promote RDA amongst the Pakistani communities in the Canadian and US regions. The MOU marked the first successful online signing ceremony for DIB in these changing times of remote working. DIB and Zeal shall continue benefiting from digital platforms for promotion of each other’s products & services using webinars, online sessions, social media etc. PRESS RElEASE

Silkbank launches Visa Signature Card for premium cardholders Lahore: In a move reflecting the increasingly sophisticated Pakistani consumer segment, Silkbank announces the launch of their Silkbank Visa Signature Credit Card targeted at discerning consumers who are looking for enhanced lifestyle benefits and rewards.

The Silkbank Visa Signature Card is a unique card proposition that will provide customers with attractive dining, travel, hotels, and entertainment benefits that are customized to suit their specific lifestyle needs. As with all Visa cards, the Silkbank Visa Signature Card will be protected by Visa’s multiple layers of security to ensure customers’ peace of mind as they enjoy these one-of-a-kind lifestyle benefits. Silkbank Visa Signature Card Benefits include exclusive travel benefits: Careem airport transfers, multi-trip travel insurance, car rentals, Meet and Assist, concierge services and free access to over 1000 airport lounges. Exclusive hotel benefits: Visa luxury hotel collection, exclusive discounts, offers at select Jumeirah residences, and hotels.com offers. Exclusive lifestyle benefits: Exclusive local & global dining offers, discounts on local & global retail establishments, digital entertainment money back, Visa Golf Access and much more. Protection benefits: Fraudulent card misuse protection, extended warranty & insurance, buyer protection, and global customer assistance services. PRESS RElEASE

VIS upgrades entity ratings of Meezan Bank Ltd. to AAA/A-1+ Karachi: VIS Credit Rating Company Limited has upgraded the entity ratings of Meezan Bank Limited (‘MEBL’ or ‘the Bank’) to ‘AAA/A-1+’ (Triple A/ A-One Plus) from ‘AA+/A-1+’ (Double A Plus/ A-One Plus). The medium to long-term rating of ‘AAA’ denotes highest credit quality, with negligible risk factors, being only slightly more than for risk-free debt of Government of Pakistan (GoP). The short-term rating of ‘A-1+’ denotes highest certainty of timely payment, liquidity factors are outstanding and safety is just below risk-free shortterm obligations of GoP. VIS has also upgraded ratings of the outstanding Basel 3 Compliant Tier 1 and Tier 2 Sukuk of MEBL at ‘AA’ (Double A) and ‘AA+’ (Double A Plus) respectively. Outlook on the assigned ratings is ‘Stable’. The previous rating action on the entity was announced on June 30, 2020. The upgrade in MEBL’s credit rating to the highest credit quality is underpinned

by MEBL’s market positioning in the Islamic Banking segment, as the largest bank holding 37% of segment deposits as of Dec’20, and in the banking sector at large, being 4th largest, in terms of domestic deposits and financings. Given the aforementioned market positioning in the sector and the Islamic banking segment, VIS considers MEBL to be a dominant player in the domestic banking sector, right behind the top-3 banks designated by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) as Domestic-Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs). At present, SBP classifies MEBL as a Sample D-SIBs, and in accordance with SBP guidelines, MEBL has successfully complied with SBP’s enhanced supervisory requirements since 2018. MEBL has achieved its market positioning on the back of consistently stronger growth in deposit growth vis-à-vis industry. In 2020, MEBL’s deposit growth was roughly double the industry growth.

The Bank has consistently grown its branch network, which stood 825 strong as of Mar21 and several initiatives on the digitization front, translate in a strong franchise value for MEBL. In terms of profitability, the Banks’ RoAE, RoAA & efficiency ratios compare favorably to peers. MEBL’s liquidity profile is considered strong, as reflected by the Bank’s ability to post strong growth in deposits along with an improvement in deposit composition whilst maintaining the lowest cost of funding amongst peers.

At present, MEBL’s deposit market share stands relatively lower than D-SIBs, albeit given the strong growth in Islamic Banking deposits and MEBL’s own historical growth, VIS expects this gap to reduce over time. MEBL’s capitalization metrics have continued to depict improvement on the back of strong profitability, adequate profit retention, and deployment of excess liquidity in low risk weight assets. PRESS RElEASE

TexTILe PoLICy To Be APPRoVeD

By AUgUST: DAWooD ISLAMABAD

T

STAFF REPORT

HE government is set to unveil an ambitious Textile and Apparel Policy 2020-25 by next month as consultation for finalizing the policy has almost been completed. This was claimed by Advisor to the Prime Minister for Commerce and Investment Abdul Razaq Dawood during a media briefing here on Thursday.

The proposed policy, which will be the third such policy, which is aimed at increasing the textile and clothing exports to a minimum of $15.7bn and a maximum of $20.8bn by end of the year 2025.The policy was facing delay for various technical issues including the revenue implications of tariff concessions, energy rates etc. One of the major recommendations of the textile division is the restoration of the zero-rated regime for the five export-oriented sectors. The facility was withdrawn in the year 2019.

However the adviser claimed that the technical hurdles were addressed and the consultation process with stakeholders was also completed. He said the textile industry had performed well this year and is investing heavily in new technology and capacity expansion taking advantage of the cheap credit made available under the SBP’s Temporary Economic Recovery Facility (TERF).

In reply to a query, the adviser also claimed that another long awaited new trade policy, the draft policy on Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) 2020-25, has also been submitted to ECC for approval. The ECC would also approve the policy soon, he said. Under the proposed STPF, a three-tier institutional mechanism is proposed for the resolution of sector-specific problems. It is believed that new mechanisms will help facilitate exporters to overcome their problems.

Earlier while briefing about the historic growth in exports, the adviser informed that export of goods grew by 18 % to $ 25.3 billion during FY 2020-21 which is the highest ever in the history of Pakistan.

The exports in June 2021 were also the highest in any month in our past, at $ 2.7 billion. The exports of Services for the year is projected to be $ 5.9 billion.

The cumulative exports of Goods and Services during

FY 2021 will therefore cross $ 31 billion.

The Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment, Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood said that “This is a remarkable achievement by our exporters considering the difficulties created by COVID-19 at home and resultant contractions in our major markets. It was not an easy task as many countries went into lockdown, and severely affected the business. Not only our exports survived the crisis but also we have enhanced it in many sectors. I salute our exporters on achieving the milestone.”

The Ministry of Commerce (MOC)’s Tariff Policy Board was formed under the National Tariff Policy with the major objective to improve the competitiveness of the Industry through gradual reduction of Customs Duty (CD), Additional Customs Duty (ACD), Regulatory Duty (RD), time bound tariff protection to strategic & import substitution industries and simplification of tariff structure and procedures.

Since 2018-19, tariffs on more than 4000 inputs (i.e. raw materials, intermediate and capital goods) have been rationalized. As a result, almost 40% of total inputs in terms of number of tariff lines as well as value of imports are at 0% duty. This has improved competitiveness of the industry witnessed in 13%

growth in LSM and 17% increase in exports despite COVID pandemic.

In the current budget 2021-22, major rationalization in textile value chain, iron & steel raw materials for all kind of flat products, pharmaceutical raw materials, machinery & equipment, inputs for footwear, glass, poultry, food processing industry would further lead not only to revival of industrialization in the country but also enhanced exports. With the current measures exports are expected to grow by 5% in the next two years.

Tariff rationalization efforts in the last two & a half years have brought the trade weighted average tariff of Pakistan down from 9.07% in 2018-19 to 7.07% in 2021-22. Thus bringing tariffs at par with the regional competitors, reducing the cost of manufacturing, generating employment, attracting new investment, and enhancing consumer welfare.

Tariff reforms will continue in the coming years.

It is planned to study, analyse and reform tariff structure of the agriculture and transport & logistics sectors next year. Time bound & phased out protection to import substitution industry, further reduction in overall tariff including CD, ACD & RD and simplification of tariff structure will continue.

International body urges waiving FED on telecom sector government achieving the Digital Pakistan Vision,” Gorman said.

He recalled that over the last years, the government of Pakistan and the mobile sector have engaged in a dialogue to reduce the mobile sector taxation in order to boost Pakistan’s transition to a digital economy.

“However, we wish to express our concerns regar¬ding the introduction of a new levy in the Finance Bill 2021-22 (FY22),” Gorman said.

He added that the telecommunication sector was the key enabler for social and economic growth and these tax reforms will contribute to spread the benefits more widely within society.

“The late introduction of such levy would negate the aforementioned tax reforms by raising the cost of mobile services, in particular for low- income households,” the letter

ISLAMABAD: Apart from the local companies asking to remove the new duty on telephone calls, the international bodies have also asked Pakistan to remove additional Federal Excise Duty (FED) on cellular calls imposed in the fresh budget.

Julian Gorman, GSMA’s head of Asia Pacific, said that the additional FED will have a negative impact on demand and perspective of development for the mobile sector.

The GSMA or Global Sys¬tem for Mobile Commu¬ni¬cations, has written a letter to Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin urging him to consider the removal of Rs0.75 FED per voice call exceeding 5 minutes.

“This new levy creates uncertainty while the mobile sector is planning long-term investment as part of planned spectrum auction presenting a significant risk for the

said, adding, “From an operational perspective, the new levy will significantly increase the compliance cost for the government and the mobile sector due to the challenge of implementing such tax.”

Gorman stressed that the new levy would create an additional barrier and slow the progress to close the usage gap.

Meanwhile, sources in the Ministry of IT and Telecom said that the decision has been made solely by tax collectors, without consulting the relevant stakeholders. “A letter has been forwarded to the prime minister by the IT Ministry extending concerns that levying an additional duty will only damage the Digital Pakistan initiative,” sources said, “it is expected that the new levy would be withdrawn in the next amendment in the finance bill.” STAFF REPORT

Weekly SPI increases 0.53pc The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ended July 1, 2021 registered an increase of 0.53 per cent for the combined income group, going up from 149.14 points during the week ended June 24, 2021 to 149.93 points in the week under review. The SPI for the combined income group rose 13.31pc compared to the corresponding week of previous year. The SPI for the lowest income group increased 0.67pc compared to the previous week. The index for the group stood at 161.32 points against 160.25 points in the previous week, according to provisional figures released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

During the week, average prices of 17 items rose in a selected basket of goods, prices of nine items fell and rates of remaining 25 goods recorded no change. MONITORING REPORT

Crypto exchange Binance hit by criminal complaint from Thai regulators LONDON/BENGALURU AGENCIES

Thailand’s financial watchdog filed a criminal complaint against cryptocurrency exchange Binance on Friday for operating a digital asset business without a licence, the latest in a string of crackdowns on the platform by regulators globally.

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said in a statement that Binance had been operating a digital asset business “in the category of a digital asset exchange” without a licence.

In Thailand, only licensed firms are allowed to provide services related to digital asset trading, the SEC said.

The Commission had warned Bi-

nance over its activities in a letter in April but received no response, it said, leading it to then file a criminal complaint with the Thai police.

A Binance spokesperson declined to comment specifically on the Thai complaint, saying it takes a collaborative approach to working with regulators and takes its compliance obligations seriously.

Britain’s financial watchdog last week barred the company, one of the world’s biggest exchanges, from carrying out regulated activities in the country.

Japan’s regulator said last week Binance was operating in the country illegally, while Germany’s watchdog said in April it risked being fined for offering tokens connected to stocks.

CMYK

In May, Bloomberg reported Binance was under investigation by the US Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service.

The complaint filed in Thailand by

the SEC is the start of a criminal procedure, with a police investigation possibly leading to a recommendation to a public attorney who has authority for prosecution, the Commission said.

Sunday, 4 July, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

LAHORE

Iran fearS 'fIfTh wave' of CovId-19 lInked To delTa varIanT TEHRAN

P

AFP

ReSIDeNT Hassan Rouhani expressed fears on Saturday that Iran will be hit by a new wave of Covid-19 due to an outbreak of the Delta variant in the Middle east's hardest-hit country.

“It is feared that we are on the way to a fifth wave throughout the country,” Rouhani told a meeting of Iran's anti-virus task force, warning the public to be careful as “the Delta variant” had entered the country from the south and southeast.

Covid-19 has killed more than 84,000 people out of over 3.2 million infections in Iran, according to official figures that authorities admit do not account for all cases.

Delta, first detected in India and now present in at least 85 countries, is the most contagious of any Covid-19 variant yet identified. The Islamic republic confirmed three cases of the Delta variant on May 5 in the central province of Qom. Iran's health ministry has classified as “red” — the highest category on Iran's coronavirus risk scale — the capital Tehran and nine other cities in Tehran province.

The southern and southeastern provinces of Fars, Hormozgan, Kerman and SistanBaluchistan are also now classified as “red”.

In red zones, all shops must stay shuttered except for those considered essential,

including grocery stores and pharmacies.

People on the streets of Tehran voiced their frustration with the situation.

“People are really tired of wearing masks, washing their hands, not visiting each other, and not travelling,” said Maryam, a teacher. “They can't stand it anymore.”

Narsis, a public sector worker, said the cycle of new waves of infection followed by stricter measures was testing everyone's patience.

“People are no longer as hygienic as they used to be, and fewer are wearing masks,” he told AFP. “The borders are open and travellers come from India and Pakistan [...] This cycle just keeps repeating, and won't be interrupted until people get vaccinated.”

BORDER CONTROLS: Authorities in Sistan-Baluchistan province said on Wednesday that they had closed travel across the border with Pakistan until further notice, although goods transport by road would be permitted.

On Saturday, Alireza Raisi, the spokesman for the anti-virus task force, called for “strict controls of the country's borders”, especially those on the eastern side of Iran.

Strangled by US sanctions that have made it difficult to transfer money to foreign firms, Iran says it is struggling to import vaccines for its population of 83 million.

Just over 4.4 million people have re-

ceived a first dose of anti-Covid vaccine in Iran, while only 1.7 million have received the necessary two jabs, the health ministry says.

“God willing, the situation will improve in terms of vaccinations from next week,” said Rouhani.

The authorities in Iran have approved emergency use of two locally produced vaccines.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei received the first dose of one on June 25, his office announced on Twitter.

“We have to follow exactly all the rules we have issued for the red zones” and other virus-hit areas, Rouhani said, stressing that “if the guidelines are questioned or not followed, we will have a problem”.

The outgoing Rouhani administration has drawn criticism for its handling of the

pandemic. Rouhani, a moderate, is in the final weeks of his presidency having served the maximum of two consecutive terms.

He will be replaced in August by ultraconservative cleric and former judiciary chief ebrahim Raisi.

The health ministry on Saturday reported 111 new Covid deaths and another 8,341 infections in Iran, taking the overall number to 84,627 fatalities and 3,241,037 cases.

Second Florida building evacuated as death toll rises to 22 in condo tower collapse MIAMI reUTers

Turkey rejects US report claiming link to child soldiers ISTANBUL The AssociATed Press

Turkey’s foreign ministry has slammed a US report on human trafficking that criticized Ankara for providing “operational, equipment, and financial support” to an armed militia in Syria that recruits child soldiers. In a statement late Friday, the Turkish foreign ministry said it “completely rejects” the claim and its record is clean. The statement also accuses Washington of “double standards and hypocrisy” pointing to American support for Syrian Kurdish militants. It cites a United Nations report that documented child recruitment and exploitation under the umbrella of the Syrian Democratic Forces. Turkey says Syrian Kurdish militants that provided the backbone of the SDF fighting the Islamic State group were linked to Kurdish fighters who have been waging an insurgency against Turkey for more than three decades and are designated as terrorists. American support for them has been a major irritant in USTurkish relations. On Thursday, the US State Department highlighted Turkey and 14 other countries for the use of child soldiers. It was the first time a NATO ally was placed on such a list. The designation could lead to strict sanctions on military assistance and listed countries’ participation in peacekeeping programmes. The US Child Soldiers Prevention Act requires publication in the annual TIP report of a list of foreign governments that have recruited or used child soldiers during the previous year (April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021). The entities reviewed for this designation include armed forces, police, other security forces and government-supported armed groups. The 2021 CSPA list includes the governments of the following countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Venezuela and Yemen.

The death toll rose to 22 on Friday from the collapse of a Florida condominium tower after the remains of four more victims were found in the rubble, and local officials ordered a second residential complex evacuated after deeming it unsafe.

All residents of the second building, Crestview Towers, were told to leave immediately after engineers found serious concrete and electrical problems, said Arthur Sorey, city manager for North Miami Beach.

The move was considered urgent due to the approach of Hurricane Isla, which is forecast to hit Florida as early as Monday. The building's owners had not yet begun a mandatory safety recertification process required 40 years after it was built, he said.

"It's definitely not an easy decision," Sorey said.

"It's just the right thing to do during these times. It's uncertain what's going to happen with the storm."

The latest remains recovered from the rubble left behind by the 12-story Champlain Towers South in nearby Surfside left 126 people listed as still missing and feared dead. No survivors have been pulled alive from the ruins since the first few hours after the tower partially caved in on itself early on June 24.

The number of people on the missing list dropped by 17 from Thursday, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella

Levine Cava told reporters, saying that the totals were "fluid" and sometimes revised through work by investigators. Levine Cava said she had signed a demolition order for a remaining section of the tower over worries that it was dangerously unstable halted search and rescue efforts at the scene for much of Thursday.

"It's important to note that we're still evaluating all possible impacts and determining the best timeline to actually begin the demolition," she said.

The operation was scaled back on Friday to three of the nine grids mapped out across the debris field.

HURRICANE ISLA THREATENS: Crews also sought to make progress before the expected arrival of elsa, which strengthened into the first hurricane of the 2021 season on Friday as it churned in the Caribbean Sea. The storm could approach South Florida as early as Monday, National Weather Service meteorologist Robert Molleda told reporters, with tropical storm-force winds possible on Sunday. elsa's forecast path remains uncertain. Among the dead found in Surfside on Friday was the daughter of a firefighter, the third child fatality to be recovered so far. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez told the Miami Herald that the firefighter was at the recovery site at the time, though not digging through the rubble.

The man and his brother, also a firefighter, have kept a vigil at the site since last week, the Herald said.

About 200 officers saluted as her body was carried away, according to the paper.

"every victim we remove is very difficult," said Miami-Dade County Fire Chief Alan Cominsky. "Last night was even more, when we were removing a fellow firefighter's daughter. As firefighters, we do what we do - it's kind of a calling. But it still takes a toll."

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wrote on Twitter that more than 400 members of the US Army Reserve from Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio and Virginia had arrived in Surfside to assist in the effort. Investigators have not determined what caused the 40-year-old condo complex to crumble abruptly into a heap in what may ultimately be one of the deadliest building collapses in US history. A 2018 engineering report prepared for the 40year recertification process found structural deficiencies that are now the focus of inquiries that include a grand jury examination. USA Today, citing a 2020 document obtained from a victim's family member, reported that the firm noted "curious results" after testing the depth of a concrete slab below the pool. The document did not elaborate, the newspaper said. As recently as April, a condo association president wrote to residents warning them that major concrete damage identified by the engineer around the base of the building had grown significantly worse.

Several lawsuits have already been filed on behalf of survivors and victims against the association's board. In a statement on Friday, the board - some of whose members remain missing - said it would appoint an independent receiver to "oversee the legal and claims process."

Sunday, 4 July, 2021

SPORTS 11

LAHORE

FEDErEr glIDEs IntO last 16 at WImblEDOn LONDON

r

England names unchanged squad for ODI series against Pakistan LONDON NEWS DESK

England head coach Chris Silverwood on Saturday named an unchanged 16-man squad for the three-match ODI series against Pakistan.

Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes will remain absent for the series. Butter injured his calf during the first T20 against Sri Lanka last month and has not played since, while Stokes has continued his recovery from the broken finger he sustained playing in the IPL earlier this year by featuring in the Vitality Blast for Durham.

Neither will return to the international arena just yet with England keeping the same players that are available for the third and final Sri Lanka ODI in Bristol, at which the hosts will be aiming to seal a 3-0 sweep. Tom Banton, drafted into the England squad for the clash with Sri Lanka in Bristol after Dawid Malan left the camp for personal reasons, retains his place for the Pakistan ODIs, which will take place in Cardiff on July 8, Lord's on July 11 and Edgbaston on July 13.Uncapped Sussex left-arm seamer George Garton is also included once again.Looking ahead to the Pakistan ODIs, England all-rounder Moeen Ali said: "I think it will be a very good series. Pakistan are normally a very good side and they give us good games."I think they'll be a stronger opposition than Sri Lanka, which means you get more of a chance to bat and bowl as a player who's down the order, for example, and hasn't been bowling much."England will name their squad for the T20 series against Pakistan later this month - that series comprises games at Trent Bridge on July 16, Emerald Headingley on July 18 and Emirates Old Trafford on July 20.Moeen added of Pakistan: "They are one of the best T20 teams in the world, along with West Indies, India, Australia. We can't take them lightly at all, they are a fantastic team with quality players."

England OdI squad fOr PakIstan sErIEs: Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Sam Billings (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Tom Curran (Surrey), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), George Garton (Sussex), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), David Willey (Yorkshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).

AFP

OGER Federer moved into the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the 69th time on Saturday, overcoming a raucous home crowd and the last British man in the draw Cameron Norrie in an entertaining 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 win at Wimbledon.

Federer kept his dream alive of a record-extending ninth singles title.

Federer said this Wimbledon held special significance for him.

"I hope there is a little bit more left in me as this one is special for it is the last slam before I hit the big 40," said Federer, the third oldest man to reach the Last 16 in the Open era.

Norrie follows two-time champion Andy Murray and British number one Dan Evans in exiting in the third round.

Federer's half of the draw looks more treacherous than defending champion Novak Djokovic's with two of the younger generation Daniil Medvedev and Germany's Alexander Zverev potentially lurking further down the line.

'It's dIsgraCEful': Second seed Medvedev faces 2017 Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic seeking to join Zverev in the fourth round.

Zverev ended big-serving Taylor Fritz's impressive campaign -- 6-7 (3/7), 64, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) -- given he exited the French Open in a wheelchair due to a knee injury. The match of the day on the men's side was a damp squib as fiery Aussie entertainer Nick Kyrgios retired with an abdominal injury tied at one set all with stylish Canadian 16th seed Felix AugerAliassime.

The maverick that is Kyrgios did not have the best of starts as he had left his

shoes in the locker room.

"One minute I thought I was professional, got my racket, got my clothes, walked out here so confidently and then bang, I forget my shoes in the locker," said Kyrgios on court before the match.

Despite the disappointing end to his singles campaign -- his mixed doubles campaign with Venus Williams must be in doubt -- the 26-year-old said he had rediscovered his love of the sport.

"Coming out here (Court One) and having this support has given me a second

wind," he said.

Gauff and Kerber will meet in the last 16 after the American teenager breezed past Slovenian Kaja Juvan while the German had a tough three-setter against Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus.

Gauff is not the only teenager making her mark at Wimbledon this year.

Britain's Canada-born 18-year-old Emma Raducanu, who moved with her Romanian father and Chinese mother to England aged two, produced a brilliant display to beat the experienced Sorana Cirstea

of Romania 6-3, 7-5.

Raducanu -- the world number 338 at the start of the Championships -- only sat her school leaving exams in April.

She next faces Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic who accused her opponent Jelena Ostapenko of "lying" when she took a medical time-out at 0-4 down in the final set of their third round clash on Saturday.

"I think it's disgraceful behaviour from someone that is a Slam champion," said the Australian who completed a three-set win.

Olympics protest rules relaxed for Tokyo Games TOKYO AFP

Athletes at Tokyo 2020 will be allowed to “express their views” before and after competing – but not on the podium – after Olympics chiefs relaxed some of the rules for protests at the event.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) released new guidelines Friday softening a long-standing ban on political protests at the Games.

It means athletes will now be allowed to take the knee before play begins to highlight racial injustice, speak to the media and post online about their views, or wear clothing with a protest slogan at a press conference.

But political statements during events, victory ceremonies and at the Olympic Village are still off the cards, the IOC said.

Protests must not be “targeted, directly or indirectly, against people, countries, organisations and/or their dignity”, the sport-

ing body said in a statement.

They also cannot be “disruptive” to other competitors, such as unfurling a flag as a team is being introduced.

“The new guidelines are a result of our

extensive consultation with the global athletes’ community,” Kirsty Coventry, chair of the IOC’s athletes commission, said in a statement.

“While the guidelines offer new op-

portunities for athletes to express themselves prior to the competition, they preserve the competitions on the Field of Play, the ceremonies, the victory ceremonies and the Olympic Village.

“This was the wish of a big majority of athletes in our global consultation.”

It follows calls to relax rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter, which states: “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee had already promised not to sanction American athletes for “respectful” demonstrations in support of racial and social justice at the Tokyo Games.

China, which will host the Beijing Winter Olympics in February, is facing scrutiny and boycott calls over several issues including the mass internment and other repression of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang and the clampdown on freedoms in Hong Kong.

Euro 2020: Denmark down Czech Republic to reach semi-finals AFP Denmark’s fairytale run at Euro 2020 will continue into the semi-finals after they beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in Baku on Saturday to move into a last-four meeting with England or Ukraine at Wembley.

First-half goals from Thomas Delaney and Kasper Dolberg were enough to see Kasper Hjulmand’s men through despite a second-half rally from the Czechs inspired

by Patrik Schick’s fifth goal of the tournament.

The Danes have now scored 10 goals in winning their last three matches after starting the tournament with two defeats, the first amid shocking circumstances when Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch.

Three weeks on, they are dreaming of a repeat of 1992 when Denmark won the European Championship despite not even qualifying.

Then Yugoslavia’s expulsion due to an outbreak of war gave them a second chance and they are playing like a side inspired by the emotion of Eriksen’s collapse and re-

covery.

The Inter Milan midfielder was able to leave hospital after less than a week with a defibrillator fitted in his chest, but on the field Denmark have survived the loss of their star man for the past decade.

After playing all three group games in Copenhagen and in front of thousands of travelling Danish fans in Amsterdam in a 40 thrashing of Wales last weekend, only a small pocket of supporters could make the 4,000 kilometre trip to Azerbaijan.

Those that did make it were celebrating within five minutes as Delaney was left completely unmarked to head home Jens Stryger Larsen’s corner.

Tomas Vaclik then had to deny Mikkel Damsgaard to prevent the Danes doubling their lead in a blistering start.

But the Czechs then came into the game and twice Kasper Schmeichel was forced into saves by Tomas Holes.

Denmark were always a threat on the break, though, and Vaclik had to stand up to parry another powerful drive by Damsgaard.

Vaclik was powerless three minutes be-

fore half-time when Joakim Maehle added another assist to his fine tournament with a teasing cross with the outside of his right foot that Dolberg smashed home from close range.

Czech boss Jaroslav Silhavy made two substitutions at the break and the introduction of Jakub Jankto and Michael Krmencik made an instant impact.

Krmencik stung the palms of Schmeichel before the Leicester goalkeeper was forced to turn Antonin Barak’s shot behind.

But Denmark did not heed their warning as Schick latched onto Vladimir Coufal’s cross to join Cristiano Ronaldo as the tournament’s top goalscorer.

The Czechs’ momentum soon fizzled out with both sides visibly jaded by their long journey east and the searing heat.

Vaclik kept his side in the game with a string of saves to twice deny substitute Yussuf Poulsen and then Maehle when one-onone.

However, with Schick forced off by a muscle strain, Silhavy’s men lacked the goal threat to trouble Denmark through six minutes of stoppage time.

Sunday, 4 July, 2021

PRAyeR timings

NewS

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

3:22

12:06

3:46

5:00

7:12

8:51

AfghAn fighting rAges As Us forces see exit by end of AUgUst

KABuL AFP

h

UNDrEDS of Taliban fighters were killed in fierce battles with government forces across several provinces of Afghanistan, officials said Saturday, as Washington announced it would finish withdrawing its troops from the country by the end of August.

Washington’s announcement came after all US and NATO troops vacated their main Bagram Air Base, from where the coalition forces led operations for two decades against the Taliban and their AlQaeda allies.

Over the past 24 hours, more than 300 Taliban fight-

ers were killed in fighting with government forces, the ministry of defence said Saturday.

Scores were killed in air strikes, including a predawn assault on Saturday, in the southern province of Helmand, where the insurgents and government troops have regularly clashed.

There have been fears that Afghan forces would struggle without the air support that the United States has provided.

“In recent days, the Afghan air force has intensified its air strikes against the Taliban hideouts and the insurgents have suffered casualties,” Attaullah Afghan, a member of Helmand provincial council, told AFP. The Taliban rejected the government’s claims.

Both sides often exaggerate each other’s casualties

and their claims are difficult to independently verify.

But since May 1 when the US military began its final withdrawal of about 2,500 troops, the two warring sides have clashed fiercely across the rugged countryside.

As a result, the Taliban have seized dozens of districts in blistering assaults targeting government forces.

Even as the fighting rages, the Pentagon has pressed on with its withdrawal to end America’s longest war.

On Friday, all US and NATO troops left Bagram Air Base, signalling that the military involvement for coalition forces was finally nearing its end.

‘Hub for foreign intervention’: Over the years, the mini-city north of Kabul has been visited by hundreds of thousands of US and NATO service members and contractors.

It has great military and symbolic significance.

“For many Afghans, Bagram is remembered as the hub for more than one foreign intervention, as it was the main air base for the Soviets throughout their occupation of the country as well,” said Andrew Watkins, an Afghanistan expert at the International Crisis Group.

“Not only has it been the entry point of most foreign troops that have passed through the country since 2001, it has been home to many of the in-country air assets that have lent the Afghan security forces such a vital advantage on the battlefield.”

The exit of foreign troops from Bagram has further fuelled concerns the country might slide into new civil war, as in the 1990s after the Soviets left.

“I see history repeating. The Americans are doing the same what the russians did. They are going without ending the war,” said Kabul resident Dawood Hotak.

“I feel our country will slide back into another civil war as the Taliban have intensified their attacks and the Americans are exiting.”

At the White House Friday Biden attempted to ease these concerns.

He said the US military is keeping an “over the horizon capacity” which could bring firepower to help the government and its forces if needed.

Media reports say the Pentagon will probably retain about 600 troops in Afghanistan to guard the vast US diplomatic compound in Kabul.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also said that the exit of foreign troops from Bagram did not mean that the overall withdrawal of foreign forces would be completed within days.

Foreign troops would be out of Afghanistan “by the end of August”, she said, closer to the September 11 deadline set by Biden.

No joint exercise with Israel during Black Sea drill: FO ISLAMABAD tLtP

Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday denied having bilateral naval training with Israel as both countries are participating in an international drill on Ukraine’s Black Sea coast.

The 12-day Sea Breeze 2021 exercise hosted by the Ukrainian Navy and United States Sixth Fleet kicked off on Wednesday with over 30 participants, including several EU countries, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and Israel.

Pakistan is taking part as an observer, with no ship or aircraft involved, Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said.

“Hence, any insinuation of bilateral exercise with the Israel Navy is unwarranted,” he said. “It is a multilateral ex-

ercise with participation from over 30 countries wherein Pakistan is participating as observer.”

Pakistan does not recognise Israel and has repeatedly expressed its support for the establishment of an independent State of Palestine with the pre-1967 borders, in accordance with the relevant United Nations and Organization of Islamic Cooperation resolutions.

“Our policy on Palestine is very clear, in which there is no change,” Chaudhri said. He added that as Ukraine had taken part in the Pakistan Navy’s AMAN drill in the Arabian Sea earlier this year, Islamabad is only reciprocating Kiev’s participation by sending its defence attaché as observer during the Sea Breeze exercise.

The Sea Breeze exercise has been held annually in Ukraine since 1997, involving NATO members and partner countries.

Pakistan, Uzbekistan agree to expand bilateral ties Pakistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to further expand bilateral cooperation and understanding in myriad fields. The understanding came during a virtual inaugural round of Pakistan-Uzbek bilateral political consultations held on Friday. The Pakistan side was led

by Additional Secretary Afghanistan and West Asia, Aamar Aftab Qureshi, while Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Furkat Sidikov led the Uzbek side. Both countries exchanged their views on bilateral relations including political, economic and trade, culture, peopleto-people exchanges, regional connectivity, defence and security and regional as well as global issues. Both sides also expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum in high-level visits and interactions, including the visit of the Uzbek foreign minister to Pakistan and the virtual summit between Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Islamabad and Tashkent also discussed progress on the Trans-Afghan railway project between Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan and underlined the convergence of views in ensuring security, stability and lasting peace in Afghanistan through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. news desk

saudi Arabia bans entry from UAe, Vietnam, ethiopia and Afghanistan RIYADH ReuteRs

Saudi Arabia will restrict travel to and entry from Ethiopia, UAE, Vietnam and Afghanistan over coronavirus concerns, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Saturday. The ban goes into effect on July 4 and will apply to anyone who has been in those four countries within the last 14 days, it said. Saudi citizens returning before Sunday will be exempted. The report said the decision was based on the “keenness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s government on the safety of citizens wishing to travel abroad, and in light of the ongoing outbreak of [the] coronavirus pandemic and the spread of a new mutated strain of the virus”. “The Ministry of Interior calls upon citizens wishing to travel to the countries to which travel is permitted to be careful, stay away from areas where the virus is spreading, and follow up all precautionary measures, regardless of their destination,” said the SPA report.

Saudi Arabia had previously suspended entry to the kingdom from 20 countries, including Pakistan, on February 3, with the exception of diplomats, Saudi citizens, medical practitioners and their families, to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. The ban had been placed on Egypt, UAE, Lebanon, Turkey, UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, US, Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan and South Africa. Later in May, the ban was lifted on travellers arriving from 11 of the countries: UAE, Germany, US, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, UK, Sweden, Switzerland, France and Japan, SPA had reported, quoting an Interior Ministry source. Pakistan was not included among the countries on which the ban was lifted.

Afghanistan reports first cases of ‘black fungus’ among Covid-19 patients KABuL AnAdoLu Agency

Afghan health authorities on Saturday warned of surging cases of mucormycosis, also known as “black fungus,” among coronavirus patients as the war-ravaged country grapples with a shortage of vaccines and medical oxygen.

Health Minister Waheed Majorh said that health professionals had identified at least three confirmed cases of the fungal infection caused by exposure to mucor mould, commonly found in soil, plants, manure, and decaying fruits and vegetables. The condition mainly affects people who have a weak immune system causing loss of eyesight, re-

moval of the nose and jaw bone.

Underlining that officials were using all available means to procure and purchase vaccines, Majorh said that low output of jabs and little competition among producers has made it difficult for Afghanistan to procure vaccines in the open market.

“We are faced with the third wave of the pandemic, and as neighbouring Iran is facing the fifth wave and Pakistan is faced with the fourth wave, we are going to face another catastrophic wave soon,” he warned.

“The raging war is on one side and the pandemic on the other side. For God’s sake, avoid gatherings and obey safety measures,” he urged Afghans.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, over 500 people died due to the pandemic in the past week alone.

According to official figures, more than 1 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have already been administered in the country.

Half of these, an estimated 500,000 doses, were gifted to Afghanistan by India, while another 486,000 doses came through COVAX, a global vaccine-sharing facility.

In February, Afghanistan began the rollout of the Indian-made Covid-19 vaccine as it calls for more international support to vaccinate at least 20 percent of the estimated population of 38 million this year and 60 percent by the end of 2022.

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