Epaper – June 18 LHR 2021

Friday, 18 June, 2021 I 7 Dhul-Qadah, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 348 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

NA BUDGET DEBATE

Shehbaz blaStS PtI for ‘fake budgetS’

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AKISTAN Muslim League-Nawaz President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday heavily criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insa government for its “fake budgets”, saying they had resulted in job losses for five million people.

After three sessions of ruckus within the NA due to the budget, Shehbaz was finally able to deliver his speech, Dawn reported.

Many taxes were imposed by the PTI government in the last three years because of which the “poor man’s meals have been halved,” Shehbaz said.

Hunger and hopelessness had been created in the country because of previous budgets, he added, further stating that budget 2021-2022 would further increase inflation and the poor would suffer more.

“Twenty million people have fallen below the poverty line in these three years. Income has been reduced by 20 per cent. People are asking where are the 10.5m jobs

[promised by the PTI]. As a result of these fake budgets, 5m people have lost their jobs.”

Shehbaz claimed that posh housing projects had also been included in government housing schemes aimed at poor people.

“What is bigger fudging and deception than this?” he questioned.

He said 15pc unemployment had been combined with 16pc inflation, asking whether “anyone had imagined that a man would sleep hungry in Riasat-e-Madinah”.

“They say we will create Naya Pakistan. It is obvious that the old Pakistan was better when the country was somehow made to progress,” he quipped.

Shehbaz listed several demands from the government, vowing that the opposition would “stand like a wall and we will not let this budget pass” if the “storm of inflation” worsened.

During his speech, Shehbaz demanded new taxes on the prices of essentials should be eliminated; the duty on milk powder for children should be reversed; there should be a 20

CoronavIruS In

PakIStan

CONFIRMED CASES:

945,184

LAST UPDATED AT 9:06 AM ON JUNE 17, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

46

1,119

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

887,095 21,874 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

329,947

344,512

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

136,474 AJK/GB: 19,844/5,745

26,409 ISLAMABAD:

82,253

percent increase in salaries of government employees; minimum wage for labourers should be set at Rs25,000; taxes on LNG and RLNG should be removed and electricity tariffs reduced to rates set during the PML-N’s tenure.

Moreover, he demanded that DAP fertiliser, urea prices and tariff on tube wells should be reduced to the level in 2018; sales tax on machinery should be ended immediately.

Work on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects should be restarted immediately.

The PML-N leader pointed out that there was a “lack of trust” among provinces and between the provinces and the federal government, claiming that “such differences have never been seen before.”

“If only Punjab progresses and the rest of Pakistan does not, then it is not progress,” he emphasised.

Shehbaz said that instead of solving issues such as food inflation, the PTI government had spent the time “taking revenge from the opposition”. He said nobody was saying that accountability should not happen but “fairness should be the benchmark” for it.

Shehbaz also criticised the PTI government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, saying “the entire opposition termed Covid as a ‘national emergency’ which [they and the government] would tackle together after setting aside our differences.”

He recalled that National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser had then called a conference which was also attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan. “We were all [united] on this but the prime minister left after his speech.

Was there something more important than Covid?”

The Rs1.2 trillion package to deal with the coronavirus that was announced by the government also “fell victim to incompetence and negligence”, Shehbaz said. news desk

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

E-voting only solution to prevent rigging, ensure transparency in polls: PM Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that electronic voting was the only way to ensure transparency and prevent rigging in the elections, a statement from the PM Office said Thursday.

The premier’s comments came during a meeting in Islamabad, where he was briefed on the use of electronic voting machines in the electoral process.

Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz, Leader of the House in the Senate Senator Dr Shehzad Wasim, Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib, and Advisor to the Prime Minister Babar Awan were present during the briefing.

The prime minister was given a detailed briefing on the progress made so far in the use of the electronic voting machine and legislation in this regard.

PM Imran reiterated his commitment to ensure transparency in the use of electronic voting machines in the electoral process and fulfil all constitutional requirements.

“Overseas Pakistanis are

Pakistan warns India any further step on IOK could ‘imperil regional peace’ Pakistan on Thursday warned India against taking any further steps regarding Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOK), saying it could “imperil regional peace and security”. Addressing a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said that India must revisit its unlawful and destabilising actions in IOK and ensure full compliance with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

He added that Pakistan would continue to resolutely oppose Indian attempts to change the demographic structure and status of IOK as a disputed territory. The FO spokesperson said that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had also written a letter to the president of the UNSC and the United Nations secretary general a day earlier to apprise the UN leadership of Pakistan’s concerns on these developments.

Qureshi had conveyed Pakistan’s “grave concern” to the UNSC on reports indicating that India might impose “further illegal and unilateral measures” in IOK, including “division, bifurcation and additional demographic changes in the occupied territory.”

an asset of the country, they must be involved in the election process […] electoral reforms, electronic voting, and voting process for overseas Pakistanis should be completed soon,” he instructed the concerned officials.

On June 10, the House had passed the Elections (Second Amendment) Bill which pertains to the fair, free and transparent election through the utilisation of technology and modern gadgets.

The bill is also aimed at granting voting rights to the Overseas Pakistanis which may only be possible by vesting exclusive authority in ECP with the technical assistance of NADRA and other agencies.

Amendments were sought in section 94 and 103 of the Election Act,2017, to achieve the aforesaid objectives.

The opposition parties have rejected the government’s electoral reforms, with PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal, last week, saying the government had passed two laws in the National Assembly that paved the way for it to “rig” the next elections. news desk

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

more inside

Terrorists attack Pakistan Army troops near Turbat airport; one soldier martyred STORY ON PAGE 03

In his press briefing today, the FO spokesperson said that the foreign minister had been regularly writing letters to the Security Council and the UN secretary general to keep the UN fully informed of the grave situation in the territory occupied by India.

He said Pakistan had also been reminding the UN Security Council of its responsibility for a peaceful and just settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions. “We remain firm in our commitment to provide all possible support to the people of IOK in their just struggle for the realisation of their inalienable right to self-determination,” the FO spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that Pakistan had deep concern over the recent reports indicating “Indian machinations for further division, bifurcation and demographic changes in the IOK to perpetuate its illegal occupation”. “We call upon the international community, including the United Nations, international human rights and humanitarian organisations, global media and world parliaments to take immediate cognizance of the situation,” he said. He said the IOK was an internationally recognised disputed territory, adding that India’s unilateral and illegal actions in IOK remain in violation of international law and numerous UNSC resolutions. app

Bilawal wants to draw ISI’s attention to attacks on journalists STORY ON PAGE 03

Earthquake jolts parts of Islamabad, KP STORY ON PAGE 03

Coronavirus positivity rate in Pakistan rises to 3pc STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Friday, 18 June, 2021

LAHORE

NEWS

Case registered against JUi’s MUfti aziz-Ur-rehMan over sexUal assaUlt Charges LAHORE

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INP

AHoRE Police have registered a case against Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam cleric Mufti Aziz-ur-Rehman, his sons, and two other unidentified men after a video of the cleric sexually

cleric’s sons started blackmailing and threatening to kill him.

“If justice is not done, I will commit suicide,” the survivor said.

A day earlier, the superintendent of the madrassa where Rehman worked, said that the cleric had been fired.

Superintendent Asadullah Farooq said

assaulting a student went viral on social media, it emerged Thursday.

The case was registered on the student’s complaint when police arrived at his local madrassa in Lahore after the video went viral on social media.

The student says Rehman, a former JUI leader, sexually abused him and then the

Bilawal again lashes out at govt over its ‘relief’ claims ISLAMABAD: Mocking at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s claim of providing relief to the masses in the national budget for the financial year 2021-22, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Thursday that on one hand the government had announced that a labourer would get Rs20, 000 every month while in the same breath it had levied the taxes of Rs700 billion. In a statement, he said he wondered that still the present government had the cheek to tell people that the country was progressing.

“17 per cent reduction in the common man’s income and 25 per cent hike in the prices of food items just in the last one year is the real face of the government’s muchtrumpeted ‘Tabdeeli’ (change),” he commented. Bilawal said that it was strange that in a country where one out of every three children was suffering from malnutrition, ‘selected’ Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government had levied 17 percent sales tax on milk and allied products.

“This 17 per cent sales tax amounts to the murder of our children,” he remarked. The PPP chief told PM Imran that hike in the prices of petrol, electricity, flour and other items of daily use following the announcement of the budget would lead to such a backlash from the people that it would be impossible for him to stop it. He accused the government of stifling the opposition only to hide the facts of what he called ‘anti-people’ budget from the masses. He cautioned the prime minister not to remain in the illusion that he would evade accountability by asking his ministers and MNAs to call opposition the names. “We will continue to make public each and every detail of the money bill,” Bilawal concluded. INP

Rehman and his sons had been asked to leave the madrassa and the institution was not responsible for any of their acts.

Meanwhile, JUI Lahore’s secretarygeneral also issued a notice stating that after the video, the party had suspended the membership of Mufti Rehman and that it would remain revoked till the investigation

CCI forms committee to fine-tune draft national electricity policy ISLAMABAD TLTP

The Council of Common Interests has decided to constitute a committee to deliberate upon the draft National Electricity Policy 2021 and present the final draft before the CCI in its next meeting.

Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired the 46th meeting of CCI on Thursday. The meeting discussed in detail the draft National Electricity Policy 2021.

It was decided to constitute a committee to further deliberate upon the proposed policy and present the final draft before the CCI in its next meeting on Monday. The committee comprises the finance minister, minister for energy, law minister, SAPM for Power and chief ministers of the provinces.

As the circular debt continues to plague the energy chain, the government plans to decentralise the power sector in order to incentivise devolved generation and distribution in future under the new National Electricity Policy 2021.

According to the draft policy, all rules/regulations shall be made in a manner which shall ensure decentralisation of the power sector in order to incentivise devolved generation and distribution in future. It further revealed that stranded costs of the power sector have been observed as counterproductive for future investments.

In this regard, viable solutions may be explored separately. However, the Power Division said that the stranded/past costs must not be part of the policy in order to encourage future investments in the power

sector.

In the vision of the policy, it further said that the term of liquid market may be not understandable.

Therefore, the phrase should be amended to give an impression of a competitive market. It added that the provision relating to deduction of power receivables at source, should be suitably reworded to the extent of the amount only agreed by the provinces, to be adjusted in accordance with the procedure as laid down in the constitution.

In connection with reducing reliance on imported fuels for the generation mix, it focuses on use of local fuels. In this regard, Thar coal from Sindh province may also be indicated. The policy will also focus on resolving load-shedding. In this regard, the provincial government shall have to ensure facilitation in recovery of electricity bills and prevention of theft of electricity.

Section 14 (A) of Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Act 2018, states that “the federal government shall, from time to time, with the approval of the Council of Common Interests, prepare and prescribe a national electricity policy for development of the power markets”.

The NEPRA Act 2018 further provides the contours for the national electricity policy, inter-alia development of systems based on optimal utilisation of resources, development of efficient and liquid power market design, integration of national and provincial transmission systems and development of a sustainable renewable energy market.

govt committed to modernise agriculture for food security: hashim NEWS DESK Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht has said that progressive approach is being promoted to enhance agricultural productivity which is vital for food security in the country. The provincial minister said this while addressing a seminar on development, poverty rate and food security, organised

by Government College University, Lahore, on Thursday. He said the use of modern technology and improvement in extension services will ensure an increase in farmers’ revenue. He said the present government made the provincial budget with a different philosophy and inclusive growth instead of the past governments who established infrastructure without considering the judicious use of it. The minister said that in the budget, the government has allocated Rs86 billion on civil works in 16 most backward tehsils of the province. These funds will resolve the problems of clean drinking water supply, sanitation problems and construction and repair of link roads which will reduce the backwardness at the regional level. The District Development Programme has been selected keeping in view the labour consumption, he said. He said that main purpose of establishing River Ravi Development Authority is to improve groundwater level and install water treatment plants to provide clean water with additional economic benefits of the project. The minister said that the success of the government was not only the provision of funds but also their efficient use which is the first priority of the present government.

Role of women in water management ZAHEER AHMAD Who manages home can manage anything, yes, women our home managers, in water resource management women role is pivotal, and no doubt in it to provide and share the role of water management with women, will boost water usage efficiently. In this regard SPo has played a significant role for inclusion of women role in water management, the recent bill passed by Sindh Assembly, will empower women in the realm of water management is an example of public private participation, where credit goes to Sindh Assembly and to SPo. Women are the secret weapon for better water resource management.

Especially in developing countries, men and women may have different priorities and responsibilities for water use. In addition to farming alongside men, women are often responsible for fetching water and using it for domestic chores such as cleaning, cooking and washing. Women are already the primary water decision-makers at the household level.

And when women influence water management, their communities get measurably better outcomes—including better-functioning water systems, expanded access, and economic and environmental benefits. UNDP research on 44 water projects across Asia and Africa shows that when both men and women engage in shaping water policies and institutions, communities use water services more and sustain them for longer. Research also shows that women share water more equitably than men do, especially in times of scarcity.

As provisional assembly already passed the SWMo-2018 bill for women inclusion in water management on 13th January 2021.

THE SINDH WATER MANAGEMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2018.

PRoVINCIAL ASSEMBLY oF SINDH NoTIFICATIoN KARACHI, THE 13THJANUARY, 2021. A brief overview of the law is; This gives a significant empowerment to women of Sindh in the decision making as well as to improve their socio-economic development in order to play a role for water management. Here SPo struggled for amendment in SWMo-2018 bill

concludes.

Rehman, meanwhile, said the video was two-and-a-half years old, and that the student was being “used against” him.

“I declare on oath that I did not do such an act in my consciousness. I was given something intoxicating and I was not conscious,” he claimed.

regarding women inclusion in water management and the bill was passed in the provincial assembly, cannot be ignored. As section 2 and 3 of the amended law make a roam for women inclusion, that stated as In Section 42, sub-section (1), the following (1) shall be inserted: “Two women of the Fo command area, of one may be local UC member, having strong farming background in irrigated agriculture and water, provided that one women member shall be landless.”

“Two prominent women of the AWB command area having strong farming background in irrigated agriculture and water if available, preferably member of Board of Management of any Fo” Now, 02 women inclusion in farmer organizations, area water board, and watercourse associations.

And, another Amendment in section 56 Sindh Water Management ordinance No. XL of 2002. “In addition to elected members of WCA, the Board of WCA shall consist of two women members preferably share croppers of same water course, where WCA is formed.

Amendment in Section 70 of Sindh Water Management ordinance No. XL of 2002.

Section 5 of amended law, “Two women members, one shall be prominent women activist/lawyer/journalist and one shall be prominent women agriculturalist. Above are more than a small step for a giant leap.

As per objectives of social development cell is to promote farmers’ participation in institutional reforms and irrigation system, and facilitate gender participation, here SPo plays the role to help government of Sindh.

And SPo also facilitated SIDA for the development of rules of business regarding women’s inclusion in Farmer organizations, watercourses associations, and area water boards but the Rules of business are not approved yet by the SIDA law department.

SPo is implementing ‘Women’s Increased Access to Water Resources and Agricultural Markets’ a project that builds on the social empowerment processes initiated under “Women and Marginalized Groups, Natural Resource Management and Peace-building: Unlocking the Potential Strategic Partnership Project” and seeks to adopt an integrated

approach in the target areas to strengthen all the key dimensions of women’s empowerment – social, economic and political. The project also aligns with SDG goal 15 which demands to achieve gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.

The project’s immediate objective is: 1. Improved role of women in water resource management to enhance their incomes and to enable them to effectively participate and contribute to decision-making in domestic and public spheres.

Located within the women’s empowerment realm, the project aims to execute the following strategies: • Deepen and broaden the process of social mobilization to cover 500 women organized in three districts in 20 self-help groups and further grouped at cluster and District levels.

• Expand economic opportunities and choices of the selected 150 small landholder women, 100 landless sharecroppers, 200 women in Livestock rearing and 50 Bagri women through agro-enterprise development that leads to sustainable increase in their household incomes and enables them to play an enhanced and strategic role in the economic sphere.

• Enhancing political participation and representation of women in Water Course Associations so that they contribute effectively in local decision-making regarding water resource management.

The program envisages working with three cohorts of women, small landholder women, and landless sharecroppers and livestock owners in the Badin, Tando Allahyar and Hyderabad Districts of Sindh. It aims to strengthen women’s social, economic and political empowerment by applying an integrated approach. It will demonstrate sustainable models of women’s empowerment by strengthening their technical, institutional, managerial and financial literacy skills so that women are able to play a larger role in the social and economic development of their villages.

Simultaneously, it will strengthen women’s participation and leadership in political processes and local decision-making bodies by building the capacity of the women in the area of the gender sensitive approaches, peace building, Water Course Management, Judicious usage of Water for tail end users.

Friday, 18 June, 2021

LAHORE

Bilawal wants to draw isi’s attention to attaCks on JoUrnalists

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NEWS DESK

A special investigation team had been formed to look into the incident, he added.

A similar statement was also made by the interior special secretary who told the committee he would brief them after receiving a response from NADRA. Bilawal expressed concern at the attacks on journalists in the federal capital, saying embassies from all over the world were functioning in Islamabad.

“A negative message is sent to the whole world because of such incidents. The interior ministry should take this matter to its final conclusion,” the PPP chairperson said. Members of the committee also expressed resentment at NADRA’s unresponsiveness, questioning what the institution was doing.

PTI MNA Ataullah, who is also part of the committee, pointed out that the footage was sent to Nadra two months ago but no report had been received yet. “Would it [NADRA] have taken this much time to report if an attack had happened on the interior minister or chairman NADRA?” he asked.

The interior special secretary objected to Ataullah’s question, saying it was “not appropriate to talk this way”. Thereafter, a war of words broke out between the MNA and the special secretary with both criticising the other. However, things calmed down after MNA Mohsin Dawar and another member intervened.

Bilawal asked the police officials present how many attacks against journalists had taken place in Islamabad so far and how many were properly investigated.

The officials responded that 50 attacks had been reported since 2018, 44 of which were of a personal

AKISTAN People’s Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday said he would write a letter to Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to bring to his notice “how his institution is being defamed” through attacks on journalists, Dawn reported.

He made the comment during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Human Rights which was also attended by several journalists including Absar Alam, Matiullah Jan, Hamid Mir, Asad Toor and Asma Shirazi. Alam also tweeted the announcement later, saying: “In the backdrop of the attacks against journalists and the wave of fear and horror among Pakistanis, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will write a letter to DG ISI [Lt] Gen Faiz Hameed to make him aware of the seriousness of the situation and the damage caused to the respect of the institution.” During the meeting of the committee, Bilawal, who is also its chairperson, also directed the interior ministry to submit a list of treason cases and cases registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 against journalists, bloggers and vloggers so far.

A police official informed the committee that footage of the attack on Alam was sent to the National Database and Registration Authority but no progress had been made yet.

The official also said that the CCTV footage was “obtained through great difficulty” and it was blurred.

nature. of these 44 cases, challans of 20 had been submitted, five had been dismissed and 19 were under investigation, they added.

There were six high-profile attacks against journalists, they told the committee.

Bilawal said that if any institution was involved in attacks against journalists, it was condemnable and if the name of the institution was being “used wrongly”, then it was also condemnable.

A briefing was also given on the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2021, which was presented in the National Assembly last month by the secretary for human rights.

The secretary informed the committee that an autonomous commission would be constituted under the proposed bill. Four members of the commission would also be from the journalist community while four members would be from press clubs established in provinces. The bill would help in taking practical steps for the protection of journalists, the secretary added.

‘Talking to reporters after the meeting, Bilawal thanked all the journalists who had participated in the meeting but noted that “no satisfactory answers” were given by police and government officials.

“We are thankful that the secretary and police officials presented themselves here today and gave answers. Unfortunately, we’re not satisfied. The most attacks [on journalists] in Islamabad happened not in Ziaul Haq’s era, not in [Gen Pervez] Musharraf’s era but in Naya Pakistan. This is not only condemnable but is also a violation of the Constitution,” he said.

NEWS

03

earthqUake Jolts parts of islaMaBad, kp ISLAMABAD INP

A 4.4 magnitude earthquake on Thursday shook parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad. As per reports, tremors shook Islamabad, Murree, Abbottabad, Swat, Battagram, Mansehra and adjoining areas in the region. According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre, Islamabad, the epicenter of a moderate-intensity quake was at 25 kilometres distance from Mingora and its depth was 20 kilometres. People after feeling tremors came out of their homes in panic reciting verses from the Holy Quran. According to reports, no casualties or damages were reported in the recent earthquake.

phC extends stay against amendment in Csp rules PESHAWAR TLTP

pM for expediting process of cadastral mapping of country

Terrorists attack Pakistan Army troops near Turbat airport; one soldier martyred

NEWS DESK Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed for expediting the process of cadastral mapping of the country. The prime minister issued these directions while chairing a meeting of the National Coordination Committee for Housing, Construction and Development in Islamabad on Thursday. The prime minister said the construction sector is playing a vital role in the country’s development and economic growth.

He urged all federal departments concerned and provincial governments to resolve the problems of investors immediately. The chairman of Capital Development Authority informed the meeting that CDA’s online portal has been launched and it will be further improved. In addition, a one-window facilitation centre is also being set up which will provide land transfer, fee payment and guidance facilities for the citizens. He said that revenue records of rural areas of Islamabad are being computerized for which a Land Record Management Information System has been set up. The surveyor general of Pakistan informed that Mapping of 53 sectors of Islamabad, 35 percent of Punjab, 56 percent of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 30 percent of Balochistan has been completed. This process will help eliminate illegal occupations, increase tax collections.

The governor of State Bank of Pakistan said that in a short span of time, applications for loans worth 89 billion rupees for low cost housing scheme have been received in commercial banks out of which loans worth Rs30 billion have been approved.

NEWS DESK one soldier was martyred when terrorists attacked Pakistan Army troops stationed near the Turbat Airport, the Inter-Services Public Relations said on Thursday.

The martyred solider, Naik Aqeel Abbas, was a resident of village Mehro Peelo in District Chakwal.

The militants attacked the troops using small arms, according to the ISPR statement.

A large scale area operation by FC Balochistan South to hunt the terrorists has been launched, the statement said.

“Such cowardly acts by inimical elements, backed by anti-state forces cannot sabotage hard-earned peace and prosperity in Balochistan,” stated the ISPR. “Security forces are determined to neutralise their nefarious designs even at the cost of blood and lives,” it added.

The incident takes place a little

Political parties unite to congratulate CPC on its centenary ISLAMABAD MIaN abrar

Top political parties of Pakistan Thursday vowed to learn from the Chinese experience in combating poverty and corruption. In commemoration of 100 years of Communist Party of China (CPC), Pakistan China Institute organised a webinar titled “People Centered: Celebrating 100 Years of CPC”. This virtual conference aimed at learning from the Chinese experience under the CPC leadership and highlighted new dimensions to further strengthen the bilateral relationship. The strategy of CPC in addressing and alleviating poverty from the country, 10 years ahead of United Nation’s target was discussed in detail and appreciated.

A dedicated panel of nine speakers consisting of parliamentarians and Ambassador of China spoke on the 100 years of CPC. All the speakers were unanimous in highlighting the contributions of the CPC in transforming China under the banner of socialism.

They highlighted that China’s people-centric policies are the main reason for why the country has been able to bring out about 800 million out of poverty in a short span of four decades.

This was the first of its kind webinar engaging top tier leadership of Pakistan and China as the two countries also commemorate 70 years of bilateral relationship. The webinar was moderated by Pakistan China Institute Executive Director Mustafa Hyder Sayed. In his opening remarks, Sayed highlighted the contributions of the CPC for the people of China and how the leadership has carried the same spirit of ‘serving the people’ till today. He also quoted President Xi Jinping who at the onset of Covid-19 pandemic said that China will fight the pandemic as this is a people’s battle, and once the vaccine is developed, China would distribute it for ‘greater public good’.

Senator Mushahid Hussain, chairman of Senate Defence Committee, who also heads the Pakistan China Institute (PCI) read out a congratulatory letter signed by representatives of 9 major Pakistani political parties to President Xi Jinping, who is also General Secretary of CPC, on the eve of CPC’s centenary. He said that on China, there is complete unanimity of opinion in Pakistan.

Senator Hussain highlighted the contribution of CPC Chairman Mao Zedong for the Chinese people, especially women as he liberated them from feudal bondage and gave them equality of opportunity as he famously said ‘women hold high the sky’.

over two weeks after four FC personnel embraced martyrdom and eight others were wounded in two separate terrorist attacks in Quetta and Turbat.

In the first incident, the FC post near Pir Ismail Ziarat was targeted by terrorists, the Pakistan Army’s media wing had said at the time.

“In the second incident, terrorists targeted an FC vehicle with an IED in Turbat,” the ISPR said.

The blast had left two FC soldiers injured, according to ISPR.

A two-member bench of Peshawar High Court comprising Justice Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Ijaz Anwar extended stay order against amendment made in Civil Services of Pakistan (CSP) rules due to lawyers strike in the provincial capital. Advocate Umer Ijaz Gilani has filed a petition on behalf of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Management Services (PMS) officer Farhat Ullah Marwat challenging vires of the amendments made to the Civil Service of Pakistan (Composition and cadre) Rules 1954. Earlier the court has suspended the amendment and fixed the matter for June 17. Advocate Gilani has argued that the amendments was done against the provisions of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan as well as the Civil Servants Act. The petitioner said the amendment has impacted the terms and conditions of service of the PMS officer, adding that he also called into question the authority of the federal government to make rules in connection with the affairs of the province under Article 240(b) of the constitution. It is pertinent to mention that during the pendency of the writ petition the Establishment Division moved yet another amendment in the scheduled posts increasing the posts of PAS officer four folds in provinces and took almost all the top tier postings. Advocates Ali Gohar Durrani and Umer Ijaz Gillani have appraised the court that the constitutional scheme has been robbed in the garb of an executive order without any sanctity attached to it. The counsels contended that as PMS officer is a provincial government civil servant, he can challenge only the legality of actions of provincial government before KP Service tribunal and thus the amendment being federal cannot be called in question before the services tribunal. They further argued that as rule 17 provided for consultation with the Provincial Government and that consultation has not taken place therefore the amendment in rules must be suspended. Another issue was the conflict of the amendment with Rule 7 of the CSP rules 1954 as well as the KP PMS Rules 2007 Schedule III.

Friday, 18 June, 2021

04 NEWS

LAHORE

anti-encRoachment opeRation continues in KaRachi

a

NEWS DESK N operation against encroachments in Aladin Park in Karachi continued for the third consecutive day on Thursday.

According to details, heavy machinery and large number of contingents of police personnel arrived at the scene to participate in the drive with anti-encroachment team.

Earlier, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had rejected the pleas of affectees for compensation and halting anti-en-

croachment operation along Gujjar and Orangi drains.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed, had heard the case regarding the anti-encroachment drive at the SC’s Karachi registry.

The apex court had revoked the stay orders and ordered the government to continue the operation along nullahs ahead of monsoon season. The anti-encroachment department’s director had said that shopping malls and Pavilion End Club were illegally constructed in the park.

Robbers snatch cash from food delivery boy in Lahore LAHORE iNP

A food delivery boy was deprived of his cash in Lahore’s Wapda Town on Thursday. According to the local police, robbers looted cash from the boy and before speeding away. However, the boy remained unhurt in the incident. The police said that an investigation into the incident has been launched with investigators and forensic teams collecting evidence from the crime scene. A magazine and some bullets were found at the scene, the police added. Last month, citizens had caught two suspected muggers, who used to loot people in disguise of food delivery boys, from Gulshan-e-Jamal area of Karachi. According to the local police, the citizens had caught the muggers as they were trying to flee after depriving a citizen of his valuables in Gulshan-e-Jamal neighbourhood. “They were beaten up by the enraged mob and later handed over to police,” the police said adding that two pistols, a motorcycle, and a mobile phone were recovered from their possession.

Govt allows students to take part in MDCAT test prior to intermediate exams iNP

The government has allowed all students, who wish to seek admission in medical and dental colleges, to take the MDCAT examination even if they have not yet taken their intermediate or A-level exams.

The decision was taken during a joint high-level meeting held here Thursday under the co-chair of Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood and Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan.

The meeting aimed to ensure the admission of intermediate (Premedical) and A2 Cambridge students in public and private medical universities of Pakistan. Disruption was caused in current academic year and exams due to Covid-19.

The meeting discussed various options to save the academic year of A2 and FSc pre-medical students and ensure their timely admission in the public and private medical universities across the country.

The Pakistan Medical Council (PMC) informed the minister that as per the PMC Undergraduate Education (Admissions, Curriculum and Conduct) Regulations 2021, all students who wish to seek admission in medical and dental colleges can take the MDCAT examination even if they have not yet taken their FSc pre-medical or A-level exams.

The MDCAT exam will be conducted from August 30 to September 30. All students, who will be taking their A-Level exams in October, can take the MDCAT exam in September and apply for admissions to medical colleges before their exams are held. The admissions are to be finalised in medical and dental colleges by January 15, 2022 as per the PMC regulations.

The meeting agreed to accommodate the students, taking their Alevel exams in October and expecting results in January, 2022.

Each medical and dental college and university will be directed not to finalise the admissions of students, who will be taking their A-levels in October, as the admissions of those

students will be finalised after the declaration of results of A-level exams in January, 2022.

For this purpose, the PMC will permit colleges to finalise admissions on these special category seats

by February 10, 2022.

The PMC vice president also requested the federal minister for education and SAPM on health to consider using only elective subjects’ results this year for merit creation in public colleges as the FSc exams are being held for elective subjects only. The PMC is already considering a policy on these lines for private colleges.

The minister and SAPM reaffirmed that the incumbent government is absolutely focused to address the education emergencies due to Covid-19, and said no stone would be left unturned to provide the students fair opportunities for their career path.

It was also agreed that the ministry of federal education will closely coordinate with provincial governments for the smooth implementation of this agreed policy.

PAF capable of timely responding to enemy: Air chief NEWS DESK Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu has said that the Pakistan Air Force is a professional force and it is capable of responding to enemy’s nefarious design against the country timely and forcefully.

Addressing the course members and faculty of 50th Pakistan Navy Staff Course at Pakistan Navy War College (PNWC) on Thursday, he appreciated the quality education and level of training imparted at the college.

The chief of the air staff also commended Pakistan Navy’s valuable services to safeguard the maritime frontiers of the country.

About the prevailing security challenges and technological advancements, the air chief expressed his confidence in the combat potential of Pakistan armed forces.

He emphasised that the country’s armed forces are always ready to defend the territorial integrity

CMYK

KARACHI: Weather turned pleasant as rain with thunderstorm lashed several parts of Sindh on Thursday. As per details, showers were reported in Shikarpur, Khairpur, Naushehro Feroze, Sukkur and surrounding areas. Rain with thunderstorm turned weather pleasant.

Low-lying areas in Sukkur submerged in rainwater due to continued showers. Four people were injured in rain-related incidents in the district. The Rescue sources said that a wall of a house located in Sukkur’s Golimar area collapsed due to rain, resulting in injuries to four family members, including two men and two women. The injured were shifted to a nearby medical facility. On the other hand, more than 70 feeders of the SEPCO were tripped due to showers with thunderstorm.

The SEPCO spokesperson said that electricity supply was disconnected in several parts of Sukkur, including Kandhkot, Khairpur, Jacobabad, Larkana, Shikarpur, Rato Dero, Kandiaro, Dadu, Gambat, Daharki, Kot Deji and Naushehro Feroze. “The SEPCO staff is working to clear the faults to restore electricity supply soon,” he added. iNP

pti LeadeR, wife seRiousLy injuRed in KaRachi gun attacK

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s rally to mark the seventh anniversary of martyrs of Model Town incident passes by the Lahore Press Club. Zubair MehfooZ

ISLAMABAD

Rain with thundeRstoRm Lashes seveRaL paRts of sindh

and sovereignty of the nation.

Earlier on his arrival at the PNWC, the chief of the air staff was received by Commandant Pakistan Navy War College Rear Admiral Muhammad Zubair Shafique.

KARACHI: A local Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader was shot and injured in an alleged attack on his car in Karachi on Thursday. PTI Labour Wing member Isa Khan was travelling with his wife in a car, when unidentified gunmen sprayed the vehicle with bullets, seriously injuring the PTI leader and his wife.

The attack took place at Northern Bypass in the precincts of Gulshan Muemar Police Station.

Both Isa Khan and his wife were shifted to Patel Hospital. PTI MPA Rabistan Khan said that the SSP West, DSP West and concerned SHO have failed to perform their duties as it seems that the Gulshan Muemar area has been handed over to the criminals. Rabistan Khan added that the police officials are patronizing the criminals. Rabistan also asked the supporters to pray for Isa Khan as he received six bullets. iNP

youth attempts ‘suicide’ by jumping off peshawaR bRt fLyoveR PESHAWAR: A youth sustained serious injuries after allegedly attempting suicide at a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station in Peshawar.

The youth allegedly tried to take his own life by jumping off a flyover of a BRT station. The spokesperson of BRT said in a statement that the youth was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital but he was seriously wounded. The spokesperson added that during the initial investigation, the youth said that he wants to take his life. iNP

Friday, 18 June, 2021

LAHORE

Govt Plans stePs to tackle Poverty ISLAMABAD

P

APP

akistan has planned some initiatives to end poverty and hunger like investing in green and sustainable agricultural infrastructure to shorten the value chains, revealed Minister for national Food security and Research syed Fakhar imam. speaking at the 42nd Conference of the Food and agriculture Organisation (FaO) of the United nations, imam highlighted that despite financial constraints during the pandemic, Pakistan had provided a relief package of $8 billion to the underprivileged segments of society to

ensure social safety.

He pointed out that the relief package provided emergency cash assistance to the poorest families and other vulnerable groups, including women and children.

“Pakistan achieved this through the Ehsaas programme by fully utilizing digital technologies and databases,” he added. the minister said that agriculture was central to the economy of Pakistan, adding that it contributed 19.3% to the gross domestic product (GDP), employed 35% of the country’s labour force and contributed to the growth of other sectors of the economy. imam added that healthy expansion of the agriculture sector stimulated domestic demand for improved food prod-

ucts, industrial goods and supplies of raw material to agro-based industries.

Moreover, the minister stressed that a vibrant rural economy and increased food security depended on the country’s efforts to promote the agriculture sector. in Pakistan, he said, the prevalence of undernourishment was estimated at around 21% at the national level with disparities at the provincial level, adding that the high prevalence of undernourishment was more than a public health issue and it was a serious hurdle to Pakistan’s economic development.

He apprised the forum that in response to the recession triggered by the Covid-19 crisis, Prime Minister imran khan proposed the “Global initiative on

Debt Relief” last april, adding that at a special session of the Un General assembly, the premier proposed several measures for the generation of early financing to enable developing countries to recover from the Covid-19 crisis. imam revealed that the country planned to finance infrastructure including roads, food storages, localized energy grids and markets, which would greatly improve food systems and would assist in increasing food and nutrition security. “the government plans to work on areas of credit, capacity building of farmers and improving access to and availability of high-value crops and varieties, clubbed with investment in the agricultural value chain,” he added.

NA budget debate: Shehbaz blasts PTI for ‘fake budgets’ cONtINuED frOM pAGE 01 “China and other countries gave us vaccines as gifts but did we have to start (the vaccination campaign) with just gifts? What did you (the government) do in the space you got between the waves of the virus?” he questioned. the PML-n leader said the per capita debt in Pakistan had risen to 0.14m, adding that “every last hair of our coming generations is mortgaged.”

“Can any nation remain alive like this — with an atomic bomb on the one hand and a begging bowl on the other?” he asked. shhebaz stressed that the country would have to generate resources, saying “if we want to end dictation, then we will have to break the begging bowl.”

He questioned what the government had done to increase exports in the last three years. “the rupee has fallen 35pc against the dollar. When the value dropped, imports became expensive. Our exports could not increase since 2018. they (Pti government) could not increase exports in three years.”

He claimed that the government had increased the fiscal deficit by Rs10tr in the last years. “What did they do in three years? Did they build any hospital or university or technical institute or LnG storage?” He added that people would “laugh” if he gave them examples of how the Pti government had “set up [signboards] and [ended] projects started in the PML-n’s tenure”. shehbaz said that while the government should help in setting up langars (soup kitchens), but its “real work” was policymaking and making sure that those who had to go to the soup kitchens were able to stand on their feet. “the aim is not to raise an army of beggars but an army of doers and nation builders. if agriculture and industry are destroyed and poverty and unemployment are taken forward, then nations do not progress,” he said. this was the reason that after the latest budget, people were “screaming that their pockets are empty and [asking] how to feed their children”, he added. talking about Finance Minister shaukat tarin’s speech in the na last week, shehbaz recalled that “the minister said Pakistan was a very successful crop-producing country but in the very next breath he said that Pakistan had become a food importer.”

He questioned why people were queuing in long lines to purchase sugar at subsidised rates and save just Rs20 in Ramazan if there had been “record produce”.

“Have you ever seen this scenario before? if there was a bumper crop, why did the prices of sugar and flour increase?” he asked, saying the Pti government would have to answer to the nation. in reply to shehbaz, Planning Minister asad Umar has said that the PML-n left the country’s economy in shambles and Pakistan was on verge of becoming a “beggar state”. “the PML-n prepared the ground to make the country a beggar [state].. due to the flawed economic policies it destroyed the country’s economy,” Umar said

while addressing the na session, reported tribune. the federal minister said when the Pti came into power in 2018 the country’s foreign exchange reserves were at their lowest level with a huge current account deficit.

He said Prime Minister imran khan during his initial days in the government took tough decisions for the betterment of the country. “We fixed the destruction caused by you [PML-n].”

On Covid-19, Umar said the Pti’s government policies to maintain the balance between lives and livelihood during the coronavirus lockdown were appreciated across the world. He said the indian economy contracted 7 per cent whereas Pakistan’s economy was growing at 4 per cent during the Covid crisis. “if india had implemented the same policies as Pakistan, it could have saved thousands of lives.”

Umar also urged shehbaz to ask his brother and former premier nawaz sharif, who is in Britain for medical purposes, to return to Pakistan. “i wish the PML-n could have built a single hospital where its leader [nawaz] could be treated.” separately, Defence Minister Pervez khattak earlier on thursday announced that the government and opposition have reached an agreement to run the national assembly “in an orderly manner”.

Flanked by Federal information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, khattak said during his press conference that na speaker asad Qaiser had held a meeting with Pti, Pakistan People’s Party and PML-n leaders to discuss the situation. khattak regretted that the ruckus in the assembly was not a good omen for the Constitution and democracy and condemned the unfortunate events in the house. “it is the responsibility of both the Opposition and the government to maintain order in the House. We must respect each other.”

Chaudhry, meanwhile noted that detailed discussions were held with Opposition leaders on the matter. “such an environment should not be created where institutions are made dysfunctional,” he conceded. the minister said that the meeting had also discussed enhancing the powers of the na speaker.

Fawad said that the opposition’s planned no-trust motion against Deputy speaker Qasim suri also came under the discussion and said he hoped that it will be taken back. “We are not worried about the numbers: 186 members had reposed trust in the speaker and deputy speaker,” he said. He said the opposition leader, as well as government members, will talk today without the other side interrupting.

Later, PPP’s Raja Pervez ashraf said the government has agreed to review the legislation done in haste and in return the Opposition would consider withdrawing the no-confidence motion against suri.

Meanwhile, PML-n’s Marriyum aurangzeb said that it is necessary to take back the motion against the deputy speaker if we want to move one against the speaker and discussions are going on in this regard. na speaker asad Qaiser had earlier held a meeting

with opposition leaders in order to end the deadlock after three days of pandemonium.

During his meeting with PML-n and JUi-F leaders, Qaiser requested both opposition and government lawmakers to cooperate in ensuring a peaceful environment in the assembly.

Rana sanaullah, sardar ayaz sadiq, Rana tanveer and Maulana asad Mehmood were present. in this regard, national assembly speaker asad Qaiser lifted the ban on the entry of seven lawmakers in the House who displayed grossly disruptive conduct during the speech of Leader of the Opposition shehbaz sharif on budget two days ago. according to the notification issued by na speaker Qaiser on Wednesday, entry of the following Mnas had been banned: ali Gohar khan (PML-n), Ch Hamid Hameed (PML-n), sheikh Rohale asghar (PML-n), Faheem khan (Pti), abdul Majeed khan (Pti), ali nawaz awan (Pti) and syed agha Rafiullah (PPP). the national assembly secretariat on thursday accordingly informed the above-mentioned legislators and the security staff about the lifting of the ban. the united opposition in a letter sent to the na speaker on Wednesday demanded the lifting of the restrictions on the seven Mnas. inP reported that the na secretariat also directed the sergeants-at-arms not to let any member of the House take a booklet or water bottle inside the assembly.

Earlier, in an informal chat with journalists in islamabad, na speaker asad Qaiser said that he had ordered action against those Mnas whom he had identified with the help of CCtV footages.

He said whatever had been happening on the floor of the House for the last few days was unfortunate, and was by no means a good omen for democracy. “it has been my endeavour to conduct the na proceedings as per the rules and regulations,” he said and added he was trying to bring both the ruling party and opposition Mnas on the same page. “it is my request to Mnas on both sides of the political divide to give respect to the parliament since there is no compromise on its sanctity,” the speaker said, and added, “Bringing no-confidence motion in the parliament is opposition’s right, but at the same time i should remind them that they will have to respect the parliamentary norms.” asad Qaiser made it clear that he had no animosity with anybody, and that he had ordered action only to restore order in the na. “We should set a precedent that is worth emulating for the future generations,” he stressed. the speaker said he had met the prime minister, opposition leader in the na and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday. “i am in touch with the parliamentary leaders of political parties so that decorum could be maintained in the House,” he informed.

He vowed to keep performing his duties as per the rules and regulations.

E-voting only solution to prevent rigging, ensure transparency in polls: PM cONtINuED frOM pAGE 01 Last month, the Pakistan Democratic Movement had also rejected the government’s “one-sided” electoral reforms, which include the use of electronic voting machines, and announced a fresh wave of anti-government protests. “PDM rejects the government’s unilateral electoral reforms ordinance, including the voting machines, and terms it as pre-poll rigging,” PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had said, as he addressed a press conference alongside PDM leaders. in this regard, the Election Commission of Pakistan — which is responsible for holding transparent elections — should call a meeting of all political parties to take a unanimous decision on reforms, he had said. information Minister Chaudhry, speaking on the floor of the national assembly on June 7, had said the Opposition had refused to talk to the government over electoral reforms. “When we speak to them about electoral reforms,

they ask us to first [amend] national accountability Bureau laws,” he had said.

Moreover, the present internet voting system for overseas Pakistanis does not ensure vote secrecy, finds a confidential audit report prepared by a spanish company for the government, Geo reported. the over 200-page report has been prepared by Minsait, a Madrid-based company. Minsait was tasked by the Ministry of it earlier this year to analyze the existing i-Voting system for ex-pats, as well as offer recommendations to improve the system before the 2023 polls. after a six-week audit, the report was presented by the company to the government on May 31. the report states that the existing i-Voting system, which was sampled in 2018 by the Election Commission of Pakistan, “does not fulfill the Constitutional requirements of vote secrecy,” adding that neither the voters nor the Election Commission has “any guarantee that the results obtained from the system represent the choices made by the voter.”

Minsait notes that the Constitution of Pakistan does not explicitly allow online voting, but any internet voting system must ensure the secrecy of the ballot, as mentioned in the Constitution. the report then critiques each aspect of the internet voting system in detail, adding that it will need to be improved before i-Voting can be offered to overseas Pakistanis. in regards to voting encryption, the company states that the encryption process is very inefficient. “the vote is encrypted on the server, this allows an internal attacker to know what the voter voted.” it further adds that an internal attacker “could get results at any point in time, or decrypt the individual vote of any voter.”

On voter privacy, it warns that the private system can be broken at several points, explaining that the current voting process “does not guarantee that false votes are not introduced in the ballot box. also, the removal of votes cannot be detected.” troublingly, it notes that the

cMYK

team has “high confidence” that the system was feasible to denial of service attacks, which would not let voters vote.

Minsait recommends that for the existing system to be upgraded, and made secure, could take between one-and-a-half to three years with a team of at least 15 to 30 engineers. it also adds that all overseas voters will not be able to vote in a single day, due to differences in time zones.

Hence, “most countries allow voters voting from abroad a period between 5 and 14 days to cast their votes from remote locations.” it then gives the example of Mexico, which allows voting from abroad during a two-week period. also, an essential requirement for the internet voting system to work, the report highlights, is for the system to be trusted by all stakeholders. the company further notes with concern that the ECP’s recommendation on online voting, prepared in 2018, has yet to be implemented by the government.

With additional input from inP

NEWS

05

Johnson warns eU of ‘steps’ over northern Ireland Brexit trade LONDON AGENCIES

Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned on Wednesday he will take “necessary steps” to unilaterally alter Britain’s post-Brexit trade terms unless the EU changes the way it is implementing them in northern ireland. His comments, the latest salvo in a sausagecentred spat between London and Brussels, came as his government confirmed it has asked the EU to extend a grace period for some rules in the British province. Britain wants the bloc to delay an end-ofmonth deadline to implement a new trading regime around chilled meats, which could see imports to northern ireland of products like sausages banned.

London and the European Union agreed a special “protocol” to govern post-Brexit trade with northern ireland as part of their divorce deal. since the start of 2021, the territory has remained effectively inside the EU customs union and single market for goods. the scheme prevents a hard border between northern ireland and the Republic of ireland, a former flashpoint in decades-long sectarian conflict known as “the troubles” which largely ended in 1998.

However, the protocol is deeply unpopular within the pro-Uk unionist community, who argue it creates a defacto border with mainland Britain. Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) are pushing Johnson to scrap the scheme entirely, rather than tweak its terms and timings. asked by DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson if he would commit to fully restoring northern ireland’s place within the Uk internal market, Johnson replied he could give “assurances” on the issue. “Unless we see progress on the implementation of the protocol, which i think is currently totally disproportionate, then we will have to take necessary steps to do exactly what he says,” the British premier told parliament. Britain has been negotiating with Brussels to try to change the way the protocol is being implemented. Hours earlier, Brexit minister David Frost told a parliamentary scrutiny committee a delay to the start of chilled meat checks would “provide a bit of a breathing space for the current discussions to… try and find solutions.” But he added that “we’re not having much progress”. any unilateral moves would be seen by Brussels as unravelling the post-Brexit accords negotiated in painstaking detail since the 2016 referendum. the socalled “sausage war” overshadowed the G7 summit in England last weekend. British prime minister Boris Johnson and EU leaders duelled over the subject as it spiralled into a faceoff about Uk sovereignty over northern ireland. tensions are high in the territory — home to 1.9 million — which is still markedly divided between pro-ireland nationalists and pro-Uk unionists. in april unionist anger over the protocol fuelled more than a week of rioting which saw 88 police injured.

china prepares to launch world’s first sovereign digital currency BEIJING AGENCIES

Beijing has launched a digital yuan test programme, allowing consumers to spend the digital currency at multiple merchants in the city. the Bank of Communications has unveiled its digital renminbi (RMB) trial event at Beijing Happy Valley. staff members introduced some information to visitors and then instructed them to download the digital RMB app, open the digital RMB wallet, and make their first digital RMB purchases at the amusement park. Last month, at the first China international Consumer Products Expo held in Hainan province, many banks launched trial zones to let visitors experience multiple usage scenarios involving the digital RMB. the Chinese government has already carried out multiple e-yuan giveaways as part of its digital currency tests and plans to expand the pilot program in the future.

Friday, 18 June, 2021

06 COMMENT

Chasing IMF-fuelled growth

Promoting a toxic culture in NA Should make political parties worry

The budget did not advance the PTI cause

I

T is not unusual for budget debates in the National Assembly to be noisy. When the PML(N) government’s last budget was presented by then Finance Minister Miftah Ismail PTI legislators kept shouting throughout his speech. It was highly condemnable that this time the PTI lawmakers, led by some of the federal ministers, blocked the speech of the Opposition Leader Shahbaz Sharif for three consecutive days, allowing him to speak only on the fourth day. They raised slogans, blew whistles, mocked opposition leaders, hurled invective and advanced towards the Opposition Leader’s seat threatening to physically stop him from delivering the address. Instead of stopping the noisy crowd and bringing the situation under control, the Speaker stopped the proceedings and adjourned the house every day. What happened on Tuesday made it a black day for democracy. The Treasury members threw copies of the budget document on the opposition members. A PTI MNA, who is also a Special Assistant to the PM, went haywire and tried to attack an opposition MNA while hurling most dirty expletives.

While opposition leaders strongly denounced the use of foul language, it appeared that political backwardness was not confined to the PTI alone. A PML(N) parliamentarian from Lahore claimed that a resort to foul language is a part of Punjab’s culture.

The gentleman, it appears, had never read outstanding Punjabi writers and Sufi poets who consistently oppose bigotry and narrow-mindedness, preach values like tolerance and respect for human beings irrespective of their social status or creed, all in the most chaste language.

In Punjab, as in other parts of the world, only those resort to foul language who have lost the argument and are keen to settle the dispute by recourse to violence. The National Assembly is not a place to hold free style wrestling bouts.

It is an institution where laws are made by winning over opponents through arguments. A good politician is one who is able to develops consensus by arguing his case dispassionately while disagreeing politely with those holding a different view. There is a need for all political parties to end the toxic culture currently prevailing not only in the National Assembly but also in their own parties, where leaders lack gender sensitivity and freely use foul language about one another’s mothers, sisters and daughters, justifying it as a part of their cultural mores.

At Penpoint M A NIAZI

T

he budget just presented was a crucial one, being the third of the PTI government, and thus presumably the first that would reflect some of the benefits of the steps it had taken since coming to office. It was also the first budget prepared with a view to elections: not only would it have in mind the possibility of an early general election, but it would contain the measures which would mature into the election, if the Assembly ran for its full tenure. It was also the first budget of the new Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, who presented it even though he has still not got a seat in either house. In the background was the IMF, and the need to placate it.

The fact that the negotiations for the next IMF tranche are to take place now, indicates that the talk of prior IMF approval of the budget is exaggerated. It will now have seen what has been implemented, and what remains for implementation. Negotiation will now take place over further measures.

The Budget Speech is supposed to be a statement by the Finance Minister of the government’s priorities and intentions for the coming year. Therefore, like a party manifesto, it is supposed to be a piece of political finance journalism. It is relatively easier, as it does not even have to pretend to have any sort of objectivity. The Budget Speech is delivered to the National Assembly, and will receive the greatest attention.

It was perhaps because of various constraints that no bold step, no sweeping measure, was announced, and such as is beloved of the PTI. The absence of such measures indicated both the sobering effect on Imran Khan of ruling. It also shows the professional sobriety inculcated by a lifetime’s banking of the current Finance Minister. One of the major restraints on budget-making was the continuing of the covid-19 pandemic, which was subsiding again to levels previously seen before the third wave.

One of the most interesting questions was how desperate the government was. Another coincidence of timing was that the Financial Action Task Force was scheduled to take a decision on whether to take Pakistan off the grey list it has been for some time now. The IMF has linked the continuance of its extended Fund Facility to Pakistan’s being taken off the grey list. The input from the government is that the country is out of the woods, which will probably lead to disappointment when the likelier result, retention on the grey list, with directions to achieve compliance with remaining benchmarks, emerges from the impending FATF plenary.

It is not simply a matter of terror financing. The

Not giving up Law Minister’s efforts self-defeating

T

he Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council has called a province-wide strike today (Friday) against Federal Law Minister Farogh Naseem for linking the annual grants to bar associations to their passing resolutions against Mr Justice Qazi Faez Isa. This sheds a new light on the recent Lahore high Court Bar Association resolution which called for the accountability of both generals and judges. The allegation of armtwisting with the use of public money is something which the PTI used to condemn vociferously while in opposition.

The government, or rather its legal team, seems to be in all sorts of difficulties, after being defeated in court.

Senator Naseem seems to have taken very hard the defeat of the government in the review petition by Mr Justice Isa against the Supreme Court order which declared the presidential reference against him untenable. The reference came after Mr Justice Isa authored a judgment in which he passed strictures on a particular organization in connection with the Faizabad sit-in. The government filed a review petition upon the later Supreme Court order, which was returned by the Supreme Court’s registrar. The Law Ministry had said that it would file the petition afresh after removing those objections, but instead of that, the present course seems to have been followed.

It is clear that there is now an attempt to wean away the bar from supporting Mr Justice Isa. It must be remembered that the original petition against the presidential reference had been filed by the bar councils, but if the bar associations condemn him, it may become easier to stop him becoming Chief Justice of Pakistan, a post he will hold during the next general election. It is also obvious that the legal defeat rankled, and there is a rather childish attempt to reverse. It would be laughable if those attempting the reversal could not exercise so much power. The government should realize that there will be disastrous consequences for the entire state if one assaults the other this way. The courts are supposed to be the final arbiters of the Constitution; they must be allowed to do their job, with the help of the Bar, and there should be no personal resentments.

AMjed jAAved

I

NDIA is still, groaning under the covid-19 pandemic. Three to four thousand patients still succumb to the disease each day; the government’s premature claim of victory against the disease took a heavy toll. There are fuzzy reports about how far India has been able to get over black and white viruses and delta variety of the virus.The pandemic has brutally exposed the incompetence of the Indian Union as also of the state governments. It was an ugly sight to see dead bodies floating in the Ganges. Some persons dumping the dead bodies in the river were caught on camera. Greedy people, even doctors, stole injections and medicines from the hospitals. Black fungus was due to gas being refilled in dirty cylinders. even fire extinguishers were repainted and sold as oxygen cylinders. Some doctors were brutally beaten by patients’ relatives.

The government is at best a silent spectator to the tragedy. The ebbs and flow in the pandemic did not result in the expected unity. A weakened administration is apathetic to the anti-Muslim upsurge raging alongside the pandemic. They are content that the fanatic hindus are targeting the Muslim community, not the government itself.

The hate mongers enjoy political and administrative protection for their nefarious activities. Two key

Editor Joint Editor

Umar Aziz Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

The writer is a member of staff.

How Muslims serve to distract from mishandling of the pandemic

Arif Nizami

Managing Editor

This budget might mark the death-knell of the corruption thesis; that the corrupt governments of the past skewed economic decisions so badly that the economy was adversely affected. The third year of honest, indeed righteous government has not brought any of the recoveries that were promised from the container.

There has been no recovery to support the budget.

A new Hindutva

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Yousaf Nizami Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

FATF vote is crucial to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, because of the US need for bases from Pakistan, which Pakistan is not willing to give. however, Tarin has already said that there is a need for the IMF to relax some of its targets. In short, Pakistan will not give the bases without a quid pro quo. Such bases are required by the USA to maintain the command of the air it achieved about 20 years ago. There is nothing the resistance, whether the Taliban or Al-Qaeda, fears more than US airpower, which can use drones to deliver payloads. That means that the USA can bomb the opposition with impunity.

This is especially the case because the Taliban lack any anti-aircraft capability whatsoever.

The drones have one flaw. They need a base to be flown from, because there is a physical limit to piloting a drone. even if the drones are piloted via satellite link from a secure location in the USA, the drones themselves need to be as near the target as possible. In short, they need to be stored on bases nearby. The USA can avoid getting a Pakistani, or even Central Asian, base by having warships from which drones can take off up station of the Pakistani coast.

That is a jerry-rigged solution, with the probability that the solution would be prohibitively expensive, the main argument against using one of the Central Asian Republics, which might presumably be more willing than Pakistan to provide the USA access. It should not be forgotten that when Pakistan protested against US helicopter gunships shooting up Pakistani forces, Pakistan refused overflight rights. The USA fell back on the Central Asian Network, as planned, but that proved expensive. Pakistan is not just convenient, but also cheap.

The establishment could be only too willing to comply, but it faces two difficulties. The first is that the PTI built up itself as the anti-US crusader, something that no one else was willing to be. Prime Minister Imran Khan earned the nickname ‘Taliban Khan’ partially because of his vocal opposition to drone strikes. Another reason for that nickname, his cam-

paign to highlight the plight of Dr Afia Siddiqui, might indicate how he would act. In government, the PTI has not upped the government’s efforts for her release or return. however, it could be an issue that would fall into the lap of the PML (N).

The PML(N) government did manage to stop drone strikes against targets in Pakistan, though it took only ineffectual action on Dr Siddiqui. Imran has extolled U-turns. A U-turn on US bases can be expected, along with the plea that they actually enhance national sovereignty by keeping open the financial markets. however, the real problem is China. As it is gearing up against the USA, it will not like Pakistan to take steps which will place it in the US camp. Increased military cooperation in particular will not be welcomed in Beijing. Since Afghanistan’s peace is more of interest to China than the USA, which only wants no resurgence of Al-Qaeda or Al-Qaeda-like organization, it might not be pleased at any US air superiority established in the region, which might be applied to the South China Sea. It almost seems that the choice the establishment wanted to avoid, between the USA and China, is upon it.

The budget has not yet begun to address the problem of debt. Spending levels must be defended. Development spending is the first bathing that finance bureaucrats try to cut when revenue targets are not met, even though it can be argued that that is the only pro-growth spending a government can make.

Tarin must defend the development spending if he is to deliver anywhere the growth his PM needs. And a one-time starburst will not be enough. That growth must be repeated over the two succeeding financial years, so that when Imran faces the electorate, he does so having brought growth.

This budget might mark the death-knell of the corruption thesis; that the corrupt governments of the past skewed economic decisions so badly that the economy was adversely affected. The third year of honest, indeed righteous government has not brought any of the recoveries that were promised from the container.

There has been no recovery to support the budget.

I

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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Islamophobes deserve special mention. Suraj Pal Amu is a prolific contributor to Islamophobia social media. he was a BJP spokesperson in haryana until 2019.

Amu offered a bounty of Rs 10-crore bounty to behead actress Deepika Padukone for acting in a movie that had a romantic scene between a hindu queen and Muslim king. Police took no action against him. he was briefly arrested when his men burnt school buses demanding a ban on the movie, but there were no charges of terrorism and sedition, of the kind routinely used by Modi’s government against peaceful protestors and dissenters. In his speeches he eulogizes killers of a Muslim gym trainer, Asif.

Last month, in haryana, he delivered a speech before an approving crowd of thousands in rural haryana, a state ruled by his own BJP. he said, ‘They (Muslims) make nude photos of our sisters and daughters and we cannot even murder them? Those who try to stop this panchayat, we will kill them; whoever has drunk his mother’s milk can stop us.

Muslim brothers? What brothers? These b———ds are butchers… they say Section 144 [prohibitory orders forbidding a gathering of more than five] is in place, or impose whatever orders you want, who is ready to face cases? Raise your hands…every hindu has the ability to enter your home.”

Suraj Pal Amu is bigoted hindutva troll. he skulks behind a computer screen and rages against Muslims . he is an ardent supporter of Narendra Modi. Social-media giants like Twitter and Facebook are reluctant to block or act against him for fear of offending India’s ruling party. As such, Amu is becoming more and more fearless in spewing hatred against the Muslim community.

There is a raft of laws against incitement of hatred, besides Covid-era restrictions on public gatherings. But, no police officer dare arrest him. The BJP itself owes its electoral victories to unfounded allegations against the Muslim. The BJP leaders made hindus believe their way of life was in danger.

Modi is content that the popular anger is directed at Muslims, not at his government for his failures.

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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Under Modi, the economy was in decline before it was ravaged by Covid-19. he staged so-called surgical strikes against Pakistan to divert the electorate’s attention away from economic mismanagement. Add to Modi’s failure COVID mismanagement, his lack of vaccine planning, reluctance to work closely with states and refusal to listen to scientific counsel. he made fake claims about India’s inability to get vaccines quickly from abroad.

Dasna temple priest Narsinghanand Saraswati spews even more hatred against Islam than Amu. At a press conference, insulted the holy Prophet (PBUh).

Belatedly, the Delhi Police registered an FIR against him for hurting religious sentiments with his remarks on the Prophet (PBUh) during a press conference in Delhi.

The FIR was lodged under IPC sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, residence, language etc) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs). he challenged the police to dare arrest him.

Narsinghanand and the Dasna Devi Mandir were in news recently after a 14-year-old Muslim boy, who went inside to have some water, was assaulted by the priest’s disciple.

“Ye mandir Hinduon ka pavitra sthal hai, yahan Musalmanon ka pravesh varjit hai (This temple is a holy place for hindus, Muslims’ entry is forbidden)” reads the board outside the Dasna Devi Mandir, by order of Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati.

Amid raging pandemic, there has been no let up in anti-Muslim frenzy in India. By the next elections, Islamophobia in India is likely to assume dangerous proportions.

The writer is a freelance journalist, has served in the Pakistan government for 39 years and holds degrees in economics, business administration, and law.

He can be reached at amjedjaaved@gmail.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Friday, 18 June, 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

Asif is a hero The remarkable performance by the Islamabad United’s middle-order batsman Asif Ali has proved that he is more stronger than the critics of the people. After his match winning score of 75 runs of 43 balls against Lahore Qalandars on Sunday, the batsman reveled that he is not four-over batsman rather he search for the opportunity to play a long match for his team. however, Asif also bagged the award for player of the match due to his remarkable game, after United defeated Qalandars by 28 runs. I personally do not support such critics against any player since it is always time and opportunity which can make a difference in performance of the players. We need to appreciate and encourage every cricketer for his or her talents despite the poor performance in a single game.

MUhaMMad BakhtIyar kECh

Gender inequality

Breaking the stereotype Women are not fragile SANA AhMed

U

SUALLY, we have seen the term written on glass items “Fragile handle it with care.” The same is the case in our societies. We started to believe that the women around us are weak, fragile, and incompetent to be in the top leadership. Women from all backgrounds or professions are considered vulnerable and less suited to top positions no matter how hard they fight against societal stereotypes. But they received compliments of less competence and emotional vulnerability.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a woman of the West, like hillary Clinton, who received the compliments from a male competitor (Trump) for having less stamina to be US President. Or you are a Daughter of east, Benazir Bhutto, against whom the slogan was arose that a woman as a ruler was not acceptable. Years later, this mentality still dominates our societal mindset. Up to this time, women are perceived as weak, fragile, and not brave enough to make bold decisions, which severely damages the impression of women as leaders.

Pakistan has a complicated history regarding women and gender, where people fail to recognize that feminism is not an alien or anti-Islamic concept. Mostly, in Pakistan people misinterpreted the word feminism. People made this concept so controversial and mixed up with vulgarity, totally forgetting that Islam is much more conscious about women’s status in society and considered women an integral part of the community.

Islam repudiates this understanding that women are fragile and less competent to compete with men. Moving forward, Islam had the example of hazrat Khadija, who was the wealthiest woman of Makkah who ran her business all alone from Damascus to hijaz very successfully, which shows that gender does not determine your capability or capacity to do something.

Feminism only demands equal rights for women from the floor of the legislature to the domestic sphere.

The feminist approach develops on several phenomena. The main focus is exclusion of women from public and world politics. The practical manifestation is The Prince and The Leviathan in which war is defined only by the male perspective. The reality depicts something entirely different. The question raised by the feminist school of thought In war the female is going to be affected the most. For instance, if a male dies in war he left behind women who are going to suffer after his death. Moreover, rape has been used as a strategy of war; which countries use to show their powerful muscle, hurts women the most. According to UNSC 1370, the conflicts of Afghanistan and Syria must be resolved through the perspective of women. The absence of women decision-mkers in maledominant societies has created so many problems for women. So, equal representation is viable for women in conflict to indulge them in world politics. This is ultimately what women empowerment means.

In 2019, there is a statement from Rula Ghani, that in the Afghan peace process,

women must be given an equal part because decades-long war inflicted damage on women in the life of the common women of Afghanistan. Unfortunately, there is no defined rule for the women in Pakistan which defines what security problems they are facing, or what decisions are taken by men on their behalf. FORMANCe As far as an eastern girl is concerned, it is acceptable to slaughter her in the name of honour, but it is not tolerable if she goes against the culture in which she was born. Literature has evidence that “Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned,” here in Pakistan, and under the patriarchal system, many of us watch this Rome burning every day, every hour, silently with the ashes of billions of dreams of women in their fist. It is a fact that womanhood in Pakistan is suffering and being watched supinely. Moreover, in a recent report of the World health organization, seven out of ten leading-edge workers in the health sector are women, but society still accused women of being fragile and unable to fight on the frontlines.

According to the report Understanding domestic violence in India during Covid-19, domestic violence in India increased due to lack of economic performance, social problems, and psychological issues men faced. The women peace and security index illustrates that Pakistan is on 164 of 167 countries, while Yemen and Syria is on 165 and 166, which are war torn areas.

In the Subcontinent, colonial powers and their capitalist system leave a dark impact on women and their societal status. In pre-colonial times women had a prestigious role in society, just like men. But the circumstances in the Subcontinent changed after the arrival of the east India Company and of British rule. Unlike many other things, the British decree brings a drastic change in their custom and tradition. In europe, the status of men was high. But in the Subcontinent, before the arrival of British, men and women had equal status and responsibilities in society.

In the pre-colonial system, women play a vital role in social matters. They were custodians of the teaching traditions, culture, fishing, and hunting, and due to this reason, they were not financially dependent on their men. Many of them were judges, which are free to give their opinion on different matters. At that time, the concept of a male-dominant judiciary did not exist; the women’s voice had as much credibility as men’s. Following that, pre-colonial societies were matrilineal, which means wealth and power were transferred through women to the new generation. Women were honored and respected for the unique roles they were playing in society. Before colonialization, women were part of the Women Councils, in which, just like male chiefs, they made influential decisions on critical matters. Women at that time were part of the decision-making bodies because they were wise, they nurtured families and knew

what was best for the whole village and society. After the arrival of colonial powers they ignored the role of women completely and insisted on negotiating with men on important matters. After the implementation of this, women eventually disappeared from the mainstream role and British defined their specific rule under which they had to live, which dramatically changed the roles, rights, and privileges of women in society.

In the scenario in Pakistan it is believed that “Feminist are those who dare to breaking the silence of discrimination, oppression, and violence.” From the time of independence women have been facing various types of discrimination and treated as second-class citizens of the country just because of their gender.

Women are battling against the exploitative treatment of their male counterparts to gain equality in the economic and political sphere of their lives. It is a fact that gender-based discrimination exists beyond doubt and it is hard for women to speak up against this suffering.

The main issue is that often girls underestimate their own strength and boys overestimate theirs. People insist that women cannot handle the basic framework of responsibilities, just like the idea that they are less mentally and emotionally stable as compared to men to hold the responsibilities, insisting that women are fundamentally weak in nature.

This is a common narrative that people taught them that they are weak; and they started to act as if it was correct. Most females in Pakistan internalize their suffering due to fear of society and lack of education. In addition to this, people usually set limits for their daughters by saying, “You are a girl and girls can’t do this,” in our society, people from the very beginning set certain limits for their daughters by legitimizing everything for their sons. Thus women internalize about male strength and female weakness, totally forgetting the fact girls can hit a puck as high as boys can. Certainly, when all power appears the sole domain of men, women started to question their competence, capabilities and then accepted society’s distress narratives. This all happens as a result of lack of education and literacy, and women are unaware they are living in democratic country in which the Constitution has given the right to speak against injustice and discrimination.

For women it is not too late to discover what they can really do. To stand up, women need to refuse to bow down.

Any woman is not independent unless she is educated and has her own identity. Women should gather their inner strength and not allow their fears to bring them down, because predators always gain strength from fear.

“With the pen of bravery women need to rewrite their stories.”

Any woman is not independent unless she is educated and has her own identity. Women should gather their inner strength and not allow their fears to bring them down, because predators always gain strength from fear

The writer can Sna.am345@gmail.com

be

reached

at

WRITING about gender inequality is about to bring awareness that people could know where they stand. Unequal treatment of individual in the basis of gender. There is no any differences between men and women and transgenders accept differences in socially constructed gender role as well as biologically through chromosomes, brain structure, and hormonal differences. Gender inequality can be seen easily in our society. Gender discrimination is still a huge issue. Women have to fight to vote for equal pay and to have male dominant jobs but still get lower incomes. The same works which man do and women can also do but still, society reacts that women cannot do. At working character male are on 80.5% and female are on 19.5%. In our so called’s modern society the women cannot get their rights. Women participation in labour force is just 26%. According to a study carried out in 2009 by human rights watch, it is estimated that between 20 and 30 per cent of women in Pakistan have suffered some form of abuse. An estimated 5000 women are killed per year from domestic violence. With thousands of other maimed of disabled.Number of women get raped or tortured every other day. either it’s 40 years Shazia or 6 years Zainab.

Raping,domestic violence or sexual harassment is become a common thing and transgender are facing the same. everyone is equal either man or woman and transgenders.Individual should work on themselves. equally, respect every gender either at home or outside.Notice the signs of violence.

SaEEda azIz tUrBat

Remittances are important eVeRY year June 16 is observed as the International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR) after the UNGA, in 2015, adopted this day. This day recognizes and raises global awareness of the critical contributions that migrants around the world make for the wellbeing of their families.

Remittance flow into Pakistan increased by about 17 per cent in 2020, proving all the gloomy forecasts and in spite of the global Covid-19 pandemic. A survey ‘Financial Inclusion Insights’ by Karandaaz Pakistan which was carried during Oct to Dec, 2020 showed that the pandemic, besides bringing more users towards online transactions and away from cash, also drove an increase in remittances and the use of bank and mobile money accounts.

There can be multiple reasons for this inflow of remittances by the Pakistanis working abroad, especially in KSA, eU countries and UAe, but the end result remains that the country has benefitted in the shape of a V shaped economic recovery. Add to that the improved quality of life of the families for these expatriate Pakistanis and we have a winning formula.

It is absolutely overwhelming to learn that Pakistanis are finding the benefits of the formal banking channels, cashless banking and fintech. It can be forecasted that Pakistan can now look forward to a future of prosperity for all if we continue to adopt modern technology in the space of banking and remittances.

Faryal rEhMan ISlaMaBad

Chaos in the legislature NATIONAL Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser adjourned on Wednesday the assembly minutes after it started as treasury members continued their protest for the third consecutive day to disrupt Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif’s budget speech.

Surrounded by sergeants, Shehbaz tried to deliver his speech amid sloganeering from the treasury benches but was cut short. Meanwhile, Qaiser repeatedly called on the parliamentarians to be seated, but eventually adjourned the session after an object was thrown at the speaker’s dais. he ordered for whoever had thrown the object to be escorted from the house and said he would take action against the individual responsible. “I will not conduct this house (NA) until both the government and the opposition [settle their matters],” said Qaiser before walking out, adjourning the session till tomorrow. Speaking about the incident, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar claimed in a tweet that the opposition had “attacked” within minutes of the session’s start. he added that PTI lawmaker Muhammad Akram Cheema was also injured by a bottle thrown at him. “Worried by the economic improvement and popular budget, the opposition wants to run away from discussion on the budget in the house by engaging in confrontation.”

Shehbaz, during his speech, condemned yesterday’s incident and said it was Qaiser’s duty to maintain the sanctity of the house and run it in accordance with the law. “I want to inform that it was the decision of our party and the opposition that if the opposition’s speeches were peacefully listened to then we would reciprocate and listen to the leader of the house’s speech,” he said, adding that Qaiser had failed to keep the treasury members in check over the last two days. “I am saddened by your helplessness,” he said, alleging that the behaviour of treasury members had been sanctioned by Prime Minister Imran Khan himself. ahMad IqraM lahorE

Friday, 18 June, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

iran’s presidential election has serious implications for the international community WHAT IS LIKELY TO CHANGE IN THE MID TO LONG TERM IS THE ATTITUDE OF IRAN’S RIVALS AND ADVERSARIES AS THEY COME TO REALISE THAT ACCOMMODATION WITH A MORE COHESIVE AND CONFIDENT IRANIAN ESTABLISHMENT IS A WISER CHOICE THAN PERENNIAL TENSION AND LOW-LEVEL CONFLICT

Middle eAsT MoniTor

t

MAhAn Abedin

hE islamic Republic of iran will hold its 13th presidential election on Friday, amid an economic crisis compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic. While the Western media and think tanks have already decided that the result is a foregone conclusion, the inescapable fact is that such elections are unpredictable. this was most evident in 1997, when reformists were brought to power, and again in 2005 which saw the ascent of an idiosyncratic principlist faction led by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. that said, there is growing domestic consensus that the frontrunner, judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi, is likely to prevail against his three rivals, fellow principlists Mohsen Rezaei and Seyyed Ami-hossein Ghazizadeh-hashemi, and the technocrat Abdolnaser hemmati.

Whoever wins will face multiple daunting challenges, most of which are tied up with the economy. At the macroeconomic level, the new president’s biggest challenge will be to overturn the neoliberal economic philosophy which has held sway for the past three decades. Beyond the ideological battles, the winner will be expected to wage a serious and sustained war against corruption as part of a broader strategy of restoring public confidence. And in the foreign policy sphere, a more cohesive posture is likely to emerge buttressing a recent shift towards China and, to a lesser extent, Russia. Even if the 2015 nuclear deal is revived with world powers, tensions with the US and israel are set to continue – and potentially intensify – as iran presses ahead with developing its defensive capabilities.

One surprise may be a general détente with Persian Gulf states – notably Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – as iran’s regional adversaries come to accept the islamic Republic’s dominant political and security role in the West Asia region. in some ways, therefore, the election could be considered the most important since the victory of the 1979 islamic Revolution.

An economic crisis exacerbated by a standoff with the United States and israel gives an indication as to the depth and sever-

ity of the challenges facing iran. this is why in his pre-election broadcast to the nation on 16 June, iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urged maximum participation as a means of building up resilience against outside pressure. there is growing consensus that a principlist administration – backed by a majority of the electorate – will be best placed to tackle the country’s foreign policy challenges. this basic fact is not lost on some Western media hostile to iran which correctly see political cohesion as the key to overcoming the manifold foreign policy challenges, in addition to managing the economic crisis. But is this election a political, or even an ideological, turning point as some Western analysts are arguing? two analysts affiliated to the tony Blair institute for Global Change have gone out of their way to argue in a time piece that the election represents a leap from an islamic Republic to “islamic government”, in keeping with the ideological vision of Ayatollah Khamenei. the implication is that the election has a predetermined outcome based on some grand ideological vision. Part of this putative vision, the analysts argue, is the watering down of the system’s “Republican” features with a view to paving the way for an ill-defined “islamic government”, where presumably there are no elections. this is nonsense, and more a reflection of the ideological nature of the Blair institute than the character of the islamic Republic of iran.

Since the islamic Revolution, iran has held regular parliamentary, presidential and other elections. these have always been held on time, even during the height of the iraniraq War and amid significant internal unrest in the early 1980s. the election cycle is predictable, as is high voter turnout, especially for presidential elections. the last presidential election, in May 2017, produced a more than healthy turnout of 73.3 per cent, which compares favourably to elections in Western liberal democracies. it is worth noting that the US presidential election last November had a turnout of just 66 per cent, which is considered a record high on account of the incendiary trumpBiden contest. While voter turnout in the presidential poll may be lower than previous elections, it is more than likely to be sufficiently high to make it respectable.

A better way to understand the transformations that are set to take place in iran following the election is through the prism of institutional and bureaucratic dynamics

which shape policies in the country. For the past 24 years, since the 1997 presidential election which brought reformists to power, iranian politics has been defined by an intense tug-of-war between reformists and a collection of conservative and right-wing factions lumped together as “principlists”. the period 2005 to 2013 can be considered an exception, at least in part, when the then President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad tried but failed to transcend the reformist-principlist dichotomy. that faction has since been decried as a “deviant current” by the establishment and Ahmadinejad was disqualified from participating in this year’s election by the Guardian Council, which acts as an electoral vetting body. More broadly, the factional strife has overshadowed every aspect of statecraft, from the management of the economy to the conduct of foreign policy. the absence of established parties in iran means factionalism will remain a feature of politics for the foreseeable future, but the influence on public life is expected to decrease markedly as the new government – aligned with a principlist-dominated Parliament – will find it easier to formulate and implement policies in difficult areas.

One such arena is the fight against corruption which has increasingly become the bane of public life. the new administration is expected to place the fight against corruption at the top of the agenda as part of a broader strategy of restoring public confidence.

What does all this mean for countries with a deeply vested interest in the election’s outcome? in the immediate short term, the most pressing challenge for the new administration is to secure a successful outcome at the talks in Vienna designed to restore the nuclear deal, the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Both election front runners, the principlist Ebrahim Raisi and the reformist-aligned technocrat Abdolnasser hemmati, have in principle supported the restoration of the nuclear deal, which the previous US administration abandoned unilaterally in 2018. however, if as widely expected a principlist administration takes the reins of power, there is likely to be more scrutiny of a possible US return to the nuclear deal.

Any demands by Western powers for follow-up talks, for instance, to cover iran’s defensive capabilities especially ballistic missile technology, are likely to be firmly rejected. indeed, as i argued last month, if the negotiations become too protracted, or if the Western powers try to broaden the nuclear

deal to cover other areas of national security, iran may conclude it is better off without a formal agreement.

More broadly, a more cohesive iranian polity will prove to be more decisive, bold even, in the foreign policy arena. this is particularly relevant to iran’s adversaries, notably the US and israel, as they may find that any further provocations – for instance attempted sabotage against iranian nuclear facilities – will likely be met with a kinetic response. the outgoing administration headed by President hassan Rouhani has exercised strategic patience with israel, choosing not to reply in kind to repeated provocations. the incoming administration is more than likely to

reverse this policy, opting instead for effective deterrence designed to make provocations by israel and the US prohibitively costly. there may be surprises in store as well, especially in relation to iran’s strained ties with Persian Gulf states, notably Saudi Arabia and the UAE. the tentative tension-reduction talks with Saudi Arabia may be placed on a more formal footing in the nottoo-distant future, leading to the resumption of diplomatic ties which were severed in 2016 after Saudi Arabia executed the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr.

Overall, though, iran’s foreign policy posture will remain broadly the same, in keeping with a decades-old policy of prizing consistency in the nation’s external affairs.

What is likely to change in the mid to long term is the attitude of iran’s rivals and adversaries as they come to realise that accommodation with a more cohesive and confident iranian establishment is a wiser choice than perennial tension and low-level conflict.

Voter support for each candidate Press TV The latest study of voter inclinations by Press TV shows presidential candidate Ebrahim Raeisi at the top with 57.3% of voter support.

The study, based on prominent polls and finalized on Tuesday (June 15), also showed that 5.8% of individuals who said they would definitely participate in the June 18 election would vote for Mohsen Rezaei.

Reformist candidate Nasser Hemmati was third with 2.8%; and Principlist Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi was fourth with 2.2%. Some 18.3% of voters were still undecided.

Three presidential candidates, namely Mohsen Mehr-Alizadeh, Alireza Zakani, and Saeed Jalili, dropped out of the race on Wednesday. In I the study, they garnered a combined voter support of 4.6%.

As pre-election campaigning races to a close, voices have been uniting across Iran’s I political, social and religious spectrum for a mass participation in the June 18 presidential election in order to bolster the nation’s global standing.

In carrying out the study, Press TV used data from polling stations whose records had proven them to be credible. Press TV assessed the record of the polling stations by comparing their predictions in past elections with the actual results in each case. Over 59.3 million Iranians I are eligible to vote in the election, according to the IIranian IInterior Ministry.

Iran’s Reformists face tough choice between participation or boycotting election Al-MoniTor

W

A correspondent in tehrAn

ith less than two days until iranians head to the polls to elect a new president on June 18, Reformists and moderates have to make up their mind on whether to join the game or boycott it.

After the Guardian Council — an unelected body charged with vetting candidates — disqualified the main Reformist and moderate presidential hopefuls, it became clear from the onset that the Reformist front in iranian politics would face a bumpy road to participating in this year’s presidential elections. the vetting council only let in two candidates affiliated with the Reformists: Adolnasser hemmati, the former Central Bank of iran (CBi) governor; and Mohsen Mehr Alizadeh, who served as vice president to previous Reformist president Mohammad Khatami and as head of the Physical Education Organization. Neither of them is considered to be a major challenger.

Moreover, hemmati, who until less than two weeks ago was CBi governor under President hassan Rouhani, is considered to be a moderate technocrat. he has no major following to rally the support of Reformists. Furthermore, iran’s currency has faced high depreciation during his term at the helm of the CBi. Although he says he has been able to keep the CBi floating in the face of tough pressure from trump-era sanctions, the general public accuses him of being part of the problem rather than the solution. they partly blame him for economic problems and the high rate of inflation. From the onset, a division surfaced within the moderate and Reformist camps.

On May 26, the Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front, which leads the Reformist camp in iran, announced in a statement that it would not support any

ANALYSING POLITICAL STATEMENTS BY REFORMIST LEADERS ALSO SHOWS THAT THEY, TOO, ARE CONFUSED AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT candidate running in the presidential election due to widespread disqualifications.

After that, the Association of Combatant Clerics, which is an old association comprised of prominent clerics, also announced in a statement on June 1 that it would not support any candidate in the presidential election. the association cited “avoiding falling into the trap” laid by “electoral engineers” as the reason for its decision. however, another major Reformist group, the Executives of Construction of iran Party, officially announced on June 2 that it would support hemmati, who is one of its members. therefore, there is still skepticism of the Reformists’ ability to adopt a unified stance on the election. the Reformists almost unanimously believe that the hard-liners are preparing for a rigged election and see the widespread disqualifications as laying the ground for their favored candidate’s victory, namely Ebrahim Raisi.

Nevertheless, there is no agreement among them on calling the votes in advance “rigged” to boycott it altogether.

While some believe that participating in this year’s vote would legitimize what they deem a fraudulent election, others are of the opinion that even in the current situation they should not let the rival camp play the game and they should foil their plots for the votes by throwing their influence behind hemmati.

But both sides face serious challenges on their way to carry out their plans. the first group’s problem is that they cannot sell hemmati to the people. After three election debates, he is still not doing well in the polls. According to the latest poll conducted by the iSPA institute on June 9-10,

hemmati would only receive about 2.8 to 3 % of the votes.

Also, based on the turnout rate, which is estimated by the polling explorer to be at 41%, it is predicted that the main candidate of the principlist camp, Raisi, would easily win with about 63% to 65% of the vote.

But those who call for boycotting the election might encounter the risk of getting ousted from power forever. history shows that when the opposition decides to boycott elections in an authoritarian political system, not only is the legitimacy of that system not threatened but, on the contrary, it could get ousted really easily from power.

At the same time, Reformists are aware that if they do not run in this year’s elections, it would be difficult for them to win in the next election four years later.

Given the fact that the interior Ministry would be in charge of holding elections under a hard-line government, history might repeat itself as it did in the controversial elections in 2009 when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s administration was in charge of holding the vote and the sitting president was declared re-elected with a high turnout, much to the chagrin of Reformists.

All these dichotomies and doubts have made it difficult for this political font in iran to make up its mind. this is also seen among their supporters — while one group is trying to persuade people to vote for hemmati, the others have remained indifferent and believe that turning out to vote has proven futile in the islamic Republic.

Such a gap could also be seen among opposition leaders inside iran. in a short letter on June 12, Green Movement leader Mir hossein Mousavi, who has been

under house arrest since February 2011, clearly stated that he would not go to the ballot box. Mousavi wrote in his message, “i will stand by those who are sick and tired of the humiliating and fraudulent elections, those who do not want to give in to secret decisions made behind the scenes for the future of the country.”

Although Mousavi did not clearly call for a boycott of the election, many political observers believe his message suggested that he would not vote. But even Mousavi could not audibly express his message to leave no room for doubt and confusion.

Mehdi Karroubi, another candidate in the 2009 presidential election who has been under house arrest since 2011, has a different opinion. On June 14, he sent a message to Reformists through his son to nominate a candidate for the June 18 election as soon as possible. “A minority faction within the establishment who lack popular support are “trying to eliminate any remnant of a republic from the political system,” Karroubi said.

Meanwhile, the top leader of the Reformists, Khatami, put out a message a day after Mousavi’s on June 13, indirectly inviting the people to turn out to vote. Khatami, without naming anyone, said in his message to the members of the Reformist Youth Party, “in this discouraging and depressing atmosphere when our society needs passion, hope and encouragement to participate in determining its fate, i hope they recognize their responsibility toward the homeland and the people appropriately and succeed in fulfilling that responsibility.”

Analyzing political statements by Reformist leaders also shows that they, too, are confused and do not know what to do next. they are also in a dilemma whether to participate or boycott the votes in a bid not to be seen as a part of the game. Or, on the contrary, do they try to play the game with low turnout (people who do not vote) — two choices that both seem to be equally challenging and risky.

Friday, 18 June, 2021

BUSINESS 09

LAHORE

GovT To AmeNd CLAuse To bAR FbR FRom ARResTiNG TAx evAdeRs: TARiN

corporate corner

ISLAMABAD

KARACHI: Jubilee Life Insurance Head of Corporate Sales, Faizul Hasan, presenting the Jubilee Insurance Safe Hand of the Match award to Mohammad Nawaz, after Quetta Gladiators' win against Lahore Qalandars in HBL PSL Season 6. PR

KP hosts 5G trial in limited environment

PesHAwAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) successfully tested 5G technology, in collaboration with PTCL Group and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB), under the umbrella of the KP Science and Information Technology department. The 5G trial conducted in a limited environment on a non-commercial basis was organised at Durshal Incubation Center, Peshawar, where Atif Khan, Senior Minister IT, Science & Technology, Food, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, graced the occasion as the chief guest. PRESS RElEASE

F

SHAHZAD PARACHA & GHUlAM ABBAS

INANCE Minister Shaukat Tarin has agreed to amend the clauses pertaining to arrest of tax evaders in the finance bill. While giving the briefing to the senate Standing committee on Finance and Revenue on budget proposals, the Finance Minister said that the finance bill will be amended and the arrest clause will be changed.

"Those who do not appear in the tax net will be arrested but after the approval of a three-member committee comprising the finance minister, special assistant finance minister and chairman FBR," he added.

The finance minister requested the Senate committee to prepare amendments, adding that he has also asked the law minister to make changes in the bill in this regard. He also informed the members that FBR was barred from sending notices. The third party will not only send notices but also conduct the audit to taxpayers.

The finance minister said that the IMF had imposed very strict conditions in this loan program. The government on the instruction of lending organisations enhanced the policy rate to 13.25 per cent which

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The department of Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has launched the Audit Management Information System at three audit offices simultaneously.

According to details, the AGP with assistance from the World Bank (WB), has launched the system to computerise the reporting of all audit processes including planning, scheduling, execution which were previously being done manually.

The field audit teams will be connected in realtime with audit management tiers of AGP enabling

transparency and close monitoring of field audit work.

Besides, the system would facilitate auditors in maintaining in-depth risk profiles of government organizations helping them focus on entities with high risk.

According to details, Interfaces including dashboards will be provided to Public Accounts Committee (PAC) members and Secretariat with the help of which PAC will be able to access published audit reports, unload directives and check the status of compliance on a real-time basis.

The DAGP will be well poised in instituting the audit quality management framework which has recently been developed with the objective of ensuring the quality of audit work at each step of the audit cycle.

In order to ensure replication and sustainability of AMIS in DAGP, a separate project has been initiated which will enable the rollout of AMIS at all audit offices across the country as well as target developing skills of auditors in newly emerging areas such as energy sector auditors, information system audits, environmental audits.

The auditors will be encouraged to acquire internationally recognized certification and qualifications to build their capacity in carrying out such audits. The department is also working for an MoU with CIPFA and PIPFA to help its staff in enhancing their qualifications and giving them an opportunity in becoming full-fledged public sector chartered accountants. This step would play an instrumental role in enhancing their competence and professionalism while carrying out their job.

SCCI, BoI to form joint working group to resolve business issues PESHAWAR AZIZ BUNERI

Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Board of Investment (BoI) Islamabad have decided to form a joint working group to resolve the business community issues as well as to attract investment in KP, including newly merged districts by creating favorable business climate under Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Ease of Doing Business’.

The decision was made during a meeting between SCCI president Sherbaz Bilour, Executive Director General and Additional Secretary of BOI Islamabad, Mukaram Jan Ansari and KPBOIT CEO Hassan Daud Butt here at the chamber house on Thursday.

are different. The biggest issue is unemployment and the government will have to pay heed to this matter.

Senator Faisal Sabzwari said that the tax on the agricultural sector should be increased.

The Finance Minister in response to the questions of the members said that two provinces suggested to FBR to collect agriculture tax. The federal government can collect Rs 60 to 70 billion tax from the agricultural sector.

Meanwhile, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) said that giving the powers to the FBR to raid offices of traders will eventually turn the tax collection body into a mini NAB. "The new powers to FBR to raid trader’s outlets or offices is totally unfair," Haji Qurban Ali, vice president FPCCI. He was talking to a group belonging to the business community of Potohar region along with Abdul Rehman Mirza, head of FPCCI Capital office.

Haji Qurban said that there were serious differences and lack of trust between the business community and the institutes like FBR. "But giving powers based on only doubt will make the FBR to act like police departments - who do have any respect and trust in the society," Haji Qurban added.

AGP launches audit management information system

Govt raises over Rs1tr through T-bills The government on Wednesday raised Rs1.096 trillion through auction of treasury bills and Rs70bn through Pakistan Investment Bonds. However, the cut-off yields on all the tenors of the T-bills were unchanged. According to a local media report, the government raised Rs388.7bn against the bids of Rs749bn for three-month at 7.32 per cent. The highest amount of Rs707.6bn was raised for 6month T-bills at 7.6pc. The bids for this tenor were Rs1.113tr reflecting the investment trends. It shows that the investors were sure that interest rate may change slightly during the next six months. The smallest amount of Rs25 million was raised for 12-month papers at 7.67pc.

The total bids received for the auctions of all tenors of Tbills were Rs1.905tr. MONITORING REPORT

increased the interest on loans from Rs1,300 billion to Rs2,900 billion besides, devaluing the rupee.

He also said that the government on the instructions of the IMF raised the electricity and gas prices, which not only pushed up inflation but also affected the industry.

"The IMF's aim was to slow down the economy so that imports could be reduced due to which growth slowed to 2.1 per cent," the minister added.

He said that there is a sale of Rs100 trillion at the retail level but we only collect Rs650 billion tax.

We will install point-of-sale machines at the retail level and this would be linked to FBR, he further added that the government will also give reward to those consumers who will compel outlets for computerised receipts.

The finance minister said that the government will give tax relief to the ex-FATA and PATA area people till 2023 as they have badly suffered from the war on terror. The case of Azad Kashmir is different and we will not make changes there.

Member of committee Senator Sherry Rehman said that in-direct taxes will further increase inflation.

Senator Sadia Abbasi said that the ground realities

Besides, SCCI senior vice president Engineer Manzoor Elahi, former president Haji Muhammad Afzal, former senior vice president Shahid Hussain, former vice presidents Malik Niaz Muhammad Awan, Abdul Jalil Jan , Abidullah Yousafzai, members of the SCCI’s executive committee Zahoor Khan, Waqar Ahmad, Shams Rahim, Saddar Gul, Faiz Rasool, SMEDA provincial chief Rashid Aman, senior officials from BOI Islamabad, KPBOIT, a large number of representatives from relevant government authorities, stakeholders, trade bodies, importers and exporters were present during the meeting.

Bilour while speaking on the occasion said KP is lucrative destination for making investment. However, he termed the government’s initiatives regarding Ease of

Doing Business as insufficient.

He informed that SCCI in collaboration with relevant government departments, including KPBOIT is making vigorous efforts to attract investments, industrialization, especially resolution of issues of business community in KP. The SCCI chief emphasised that the business community has played a pivotal role in the economic development of the country.

Therefore, he urged the government to take pragmatic steps to facilitate the business community at every level.

He called upon the government to offer a special economic relief package and incentives to attract investment in KP, especially in newly merged tribal districts (NMDs) and Provincial Administrative

Tribal Areas (PATA).

The meeting was told that the government had introduced a new taxation regime for small traders in the fiscal budget 2021-22 (FY22), according to which, tax returns would be filed on single page, besides access to credit for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) has been made easier through this initiative.

Similarly, the Web Based One Custom (WeBoC) will be replaced with Pakistan Single Window system in order to remove irritants and boost up exports and imports, which is a major step of the government toward bringing EoDB. Likewise, the condition of E and I form for exports would be abolished, which can also help to improve export and export.

Additional taxes on LNG to hike CNG price up to Rs9 per kg All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Thursday warned that imposition of new and additional taxes on liquefied natural gas (LNG) will increase the price of compressed natural gas (CNG) from Rs6 to Rs9 per kilogram. In a statement issued on Thursday, Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, central leader of APCNGA, said the move will result in the closure of hundreds of CNG stations, leaving hundreds of thousands of employees jobless. Paracha said that petroleum prices are increasing in the international market; therefore, the decision which can lead to the closure of the sector providing economical and environmentally-friendly fuel should be reconsidered. He said that the decision to introduce new taxes and increase existing taxes should be reversed or the CNG sector should be given local gas at subsidised rates. He said that imposition of Gas Development Surcharge (GDS) and increasing other taxes will hurt the gas sector, lay waste to investment worth hundreds of billions in the CNG sector and send a negative message. He said that the government is providing affordable energy to many sectors with a focus on the export industry to boost exports but the reduction in import bill is also necessary to reduce the trade gap for which promotion of CNG is necessary.

Paracha noted that almost all the sectors were provided relief in the recent budget but the CNG sector was subjected to harsh treatment.

Reduced petroleum levy is promoting usage of petrol and diesel while CNG is paying for this policy and a further hike in CNG price will be devastating, he observed. He said that the CNG sector is paying the highest direct taxes and paying full price for LNG and its closure can hit the LNG project worth billions as CNG is the only sector buying LNG without any subsidy or discount. He maintained that closure of the CNG sector will increase pollution, jack up fares of public transport, and increase the oil import bill and budget deficit. NEWS DESK

Fitch revises up global GDP growth to 6.3pc in 2021 LONDON AGENCIES

Fitch Ratings expects that the world gross domestic product (GDP) will grow by 6.3 percent in 2021, while growth is expected to slow to 4.3 percent in 2022.

According to Fitch Ratings’ latest Global Economic Outlook (GEO), released on Wednesday, a faster-than-expected global economic recovery is boosting prices as supply chains have struggled to keep up with rapidly expanding consumer durables de-

mand and world merchandise trade. However, slower growth, supply adjustments in bottleneck sectors, a switch back towards services consumption, and fading impacts from US fiscal stimulus should see the rate of inflation decline in 2022.

Fitch now expects world GDP to grow by 6.3% in 2021, revised up by 0.2 percent since the March GEO. Incoming data, earlier-than-expected services sector reopening in the US and Europe, and the impact of policy support lie behind the revision. World growth is expected to slow to 4.3% in 2022.

“We have raised our 2021 growth forecasts for most developed economies, with the US revised up to 6.8% from 6.2%, the eurozone to 5.0% from 4.7%, and the UK to 6.6% from 5.0%. Only Japan has seen a reduction, to 2.5% from 3.6% in the previous GEO, but this has been accompanied by an upward revision in 2022. China’s forecast is unchanged at 8.4%, but we have trimmed growth in emerging markets excluding China to 5.9% from 6.0%,” said Fitch.

This reflects a large reduction in India’s forecast and cuts to Indonesia and Turkey,

CMYK

partly offset by upward revisions to Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and Korea. A host of indicators point to the reopening of face-toface services in the past couple of months in Europe and the US, as new cases and hospitalisation rates have declined and vaccination rollout has progressed. The rating agency said that Germany and Italy have announced significant further fiscal policy-easing measures since the previous GEO and investment plans using the EU’s Next Generation EU fund have been firmed up. “We have also now incorporated an estimate of the impact

of President Biden’s infrastructure plans in our US forecasts for 2022 and 2023.”

The effect of the US March stimulus has become clearer, including its contribution to the boom in US consumer durables spending, now a staggering 30% higher than pre-pandemic levels. Durables strength has pushed up US merchandise imports, helping EM manufacturing exporters and the recovery in world trade, according to GEO. Alongside the synchronous global recovery, this has fuelled a sharp rise in global commodity prices, similar to 2010, said Fitch Ratings.

Friday, 18 June, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

LAHORE

Close AyAtollAh KhAmenei loyAlist, sAnCtioned by Us, set to win irAn vote

i

REUTERS

ranians vote on Friday in a race likely to hand the presidency to a judge sanctioned by Washington for alleged involvement in executions of political prisoners, a result that would cheer the clerical leadership but stir Western human rights concerns.

Hardliner Ebrahim raisi, an ally and protege of supreme Leader ayatollah ali Khamenei, is favourite to succeed the pragmatist incumbent Hassan rouhani, forbidden under the constitution from serving a third four-year term. raisi says that while the islamic republic needs no help from foreigners, he does back talks with world powers aimed at reviving a 2015 nuclear deal, a development that would bring an easing of Western sanctions

that have crushed iran's economy.

But the election of an iranian head of government currently under United states sanctions could alarm Washington and liberal iranians, analysts of iranian politics said, especially given President Joe Biden's sharpened focus on human rights globally. “raisi being elected will justify and legitimise america's human rights sanctions against the islamic republic,” said Meir Javedanfar, an iranian-born expert on iran at the interdisciplinary Center Herzliya in israel. ayatollah Khamenei on Wednesday urged iranians to turn out and vote, but record numbers of people are expected to boycott the polls due to anger over worsening economic hardship and frustration with hardline rule. another potential deterrent for voters is

a hardline vetting body's disqualification of hundreds of would-be candidates, including many advocating more political and personal freedoms.

For an overwhelmingly young population chafing at political restrictions, the lack of choice at the ballot box means a vote serves little purpose, analysts of iranian politics say.

BOYCOTT CALL: The establishment's religiously devout core supporters are expected to vote for raisi, a mid-ranking shia Muslim cleric who lost to rouhani in 2017. “i will vote for raisi because he is the most capable candidate to bring back the country to our revolutionary values,” said Mohammad Hosseini from the shia holy city of Mashhad.

But hundreds of iranians, including prominent politicians and relatives of dissi-

dents killed since iran's 1979 islamic revolution, have called for an election boycott.

“Why should i vote when it has no impact? raisi will be the next president whether we vote or not,” said an iranian journalist who asked not to be named due to security concerns. raisi, whose main rival in the vote is moderate former Central Bank governor abdolnasser Hemmati, was appointed by Khamenei to the high-profile job of judiciary chief in 2019. a few months later, the United states sanctioned him for human rights violations, including the executions of political prisoners in 1980s and the suppression of unrest in 2009, events in which he played a part according to human rights groups. iran has never acknowledged the mass executions, and raisi himself has never pub-

licly addressed allegations about his role. a win on Friday would burnish raisi's chances of one day succeeding ayatollah Khamenei at the pinnacle of power, the analysts say.

STREET PROTESTS: if elected, raisi is not expected to stray from ayatollah Khamenei's anti-Us stance, in contrast to rouhani, whose comments in favour of opening up to the world sometimes appeared at variance with the supreme leader's intense suspicion of the West. “[ayatollah] Khamenei does not want dissent from the presidential office, especially not now that he faces unprecedented challenges,” said Javedanfar.

Within iran's mix of clerical rulers and elected officials, ayatollah Khamenei has the final say on all state matters, including nuclear and foreign policies. But the elected

World’s third largest diamond unearthed in Botswana gaBoRonE ReuteRs

a 1,098 carat diamond believed to be the third largest gem-quality stone ever to be mined, has been discovered in Botswana, according to a joint venture between anglo american's De Beers and the government.

The stone was presented to President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Wednesday (June 16) by Debswana Diamond Company's acting managing director Lynette armstrong. it is the third largest in the world, behind the 3,106 carat Cullinan stone recovered in south

africa in 1905 and the 1,109 carat Lesedi La rona unearthed by Lucara Diamonds in Botswana in 2015.

"This is the largest diamond to be recovered by Debswana in its history of over 50 years in operation," armstrong said. "From our preliminary analysis it could be the world's third largest gem quality stone. We are yet to make a decision on whether to sell it through the De Beers channel or through the state owned Okavango Diamond Company," armstrong said.

Minerals Minister Lefoko Moagi said the discovery of the yet-to-be named stone, which measures 73mm long, 52mm wide and 27mm thick, could not

have come at a better time after the Covid-19 pandemic hit diamond sales in 2020.

The government receives as much as 80 per cent of the income from Debswana's sales through dividends, royalties and taxes. Production at Debswana fell 29pc in 2020 to 16.6 million carats while sales fell 30pc to $2.1 billion as the pandemic impacted both production and demand. in 2021, Debswana plans to increase output by as much as 38pc to pre-pandemic levels of 23m carats as the global diamond market recovers with the easing of travel restrictions and reopening of jewellers.

China launches first crew to live on new space station BEijing AP

Under bright blue morning skies, China launched its first crewed space mission in five years on Thursday, sending three scienceminded military pilots rocketing to a new orbiting station they’re expected to reach around midafternoon.

The astronauts, already wearing their spacesuits, were seen off by space officials, other uniformed military personnel and a crowd of children

waving flowers and flags and singing patriotic songs. The three gave final waves to a crowd of people waving flags, then entered the elevator to take them to the spaceship at the Jiuquan launch centre in northwestern China.

The astronauts are traveling in the shenzhou12 spaceship launched by a Long March-2F Y12 rocket that blasted off shortly after the target time of 9:22am with near-perfect visibility at the launch centre on the edge of the Gobi Desert.

The two veteran astronauts and a newcomer making his first space flight are scheduled to stay three months in the Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, conducting experiments, testing equipment and preparing the station for expansion before two laboratory modules are launched next year.

The rocket dropped its boosters about two minutes into the flight followed by the coiling surrounding shenzhou-12 at the top of the rocket. after about 10 minutes it

separated from the rocket’s upper section, extended its solar panels and shortly afterwards entered orbit. about a half-dozen adjustments will take place over the next four to six hours to line up the spaceship for docking with the Tianhe at about 4pm, the mission’s deputy chief designer, Gao Xu, told state broadcaster CCTV. The travel time is

down from the two days it took to reach China’s earlier experimental space stations, a result of a “great many breakthroughs and innovations”, Gao said. “so the astronauts can a have a good rest in the space which should make them less tired,” Gao said.

Other improvements include an increase in the number of automated and remote-controlled sys-

tems that should “significantly lessen the pressure on the astronauts”, Gao said.

The mission brings to 14 the number of astronauts China has launched into space since its first crewed mission in 2003, becoming only the third country after the former soviet Union and the United states to do so on its own. Two astronauts on those past missions were women, and while this first station crew is all male, women are expected to be part of future station crews.

Friday, 18 June, 2021

sports 11

lahore HBL PSL 2021

IslaMabad UnItEd bEat PEshawaR ZalMI by 15 RUns aBU dHaBi

t

AGeNCIes

HERE are run fests, there are entertaining T20 games, and then there is what happened on Thursday evening in Abu Dhabi.

The summary: Islamabad United set the highest total in PSL history, powered by an unbeaten 105 by Usman Khawaja, who stood in as captain for the rested Shadab Khan. In response, Peshawar Zalmi came within one good over of overhauling that score, with half-centuries from Shoaib Malik (36-ball 68) and Kamran Akmal (53 off 32), and together the teams contributed to the highest PSL match aggregate ever, with the win guaranteeing United a top-two finish.

At the halfway stage of their chase, Zalmi had just lost Akmal and were placed at 93 for 3. What followed was a frenetic five-over spell where Malik and Sherfane Rutherford played a key role in plundering 81, with Rutherford's first four scoring shots clearing long-on twice, long-off and deep square leg in a Zafar Gohar over that travelled for 30 en route to the most expensive figures in PSL history. However, the

last ball of that period saw Rutherford edge a Hasan Ali slower ball to Muhammad Akhlaq, and eight balls later, Malik perished to a Hussain Talat yorker to leave Zalmi at 185 for 6. Wahab Riaz and Umaid Asif still swung their blades with abandon, and put together ISLAMABAD 47 off 22 balls to highlight 247 FOR 2 UNITED the quality of the pitch used, but eventually fell (KHAWAJA 105 NOT OUT, 15 short.

1-14) BEAT PESHAWAR MALIK Khawaja and Colin ZALMI 232 FOR 6 (MALIK 68, Munro were watchful in the first three overs, but KAMRAN 53, JAVED 3-43, then picked up 35 off the TALAT 2-37) BY 15 next three. Munro was the principal aggressor early on, RUNS innovating against Sameen Gul with a top edge over third man while his pads, and pulling the attempting a scoop and then scything odd short ball from the Zalmi one through cover-point. Leg-spinner bowlers. Eventually, the breakAbrar Ahmed also bore the brunt of through would come, with Malik Munro's unorthodox methods, with a throwing in a slower ball after spearlofted shot back over the head, and a ing in a few at Munro, and beating bash over long-on sandwiched be- an attempted swipe through midtween two switch hits that hurried to- wicket to clip the top of off. wards the unprotected gap between United responding by sending in short third man and point in a sev- Asif Ali, who ensured the momenenth over that produced 21 runs. tum would stay with the batting Khawaja joined in the fun, team, plundering 43 off just 14 balls. plucking runs around the wicket His brief stay at the crease brought with wristy flicks to anything around him two fours and five sixes, three

Emotional Ramos in tears as he bids farewell to Real Madrid after 16 years Madrid ReuteRs

Sergio Ramos burst into tears as he said farewell to Real Madrid on Thursday after 16 years at the club in which he became one of their most iconic players and lifted 22 trophies. Ramos, who made 671 appearances for Real and scored 101 goals including netting in two Champions League finals, ran down his contract with the 13-times European champions and was unable to agree to a new deal with the club. "One of the most difficult moments in my life has arrived, you are never prepared to say goodbye to Real Madrid but the time has come," Ramos said before bursting into tears in a farewell ceremony at the club's Valdebebas training ground. "A marvellous, unique era has come to an end but an exciting new future has opened to me and I'm very keen to demonstrate I can play at the top level for a few more years and add a couple more trophies to my list of honours." Club president Florentino Perez, who brought Ramos to Real from Sevilla in 2005 for 27 million euros ($32m), a then record fee for a Spanish defender, thanked the player for "making Real Madrid's legend even greater and ensuring it is the most admired club in the world". "It's not an easy day because you've been really special to me and you and I have lived and suffered through historic moments for Real Madrid," Perez added. "I wish you all the best and want you to know this will always be your home, a legend like you will always be one of this club's great ambassadors."

of them off four balls in the 13th over, where he took a special liking to Gul, having previously deposited Abrar over midwicket for two maximums. A pull off a Gul short ball was caught at deep square leg, but by then United were already at 145 with over seven overs to be bowled.

What followed started with a tapestry of gorgeous drives and flicks from Khawaja, who also innovated with the fields set by Riaz, dinking the Zalmi captain over short fine leg a few times, and ended in a blitz of

big hits from the Australian and Brandon King. Both men were especially severe on Afghan left-arm wristspinner Waqar Salamkheil, playing firmly back over his head when not bashing him around the corner each time he offered width.

There was some luck along the way, a couple of difficult chances going down with Rovman Powell dropping King on 20 while trying to track back over his head from mid-off, and the luckless Abrar dropping Khawaja off the last ball. By then, the United cap-

tain had already brought up a 53-ball ton, and the pair of Khawaja and King added 102 in just 43 balls. Four batsmen of four different nationalities joining in the fun.

Hazratullah Zazai fell off the very first ball, top-edging Javed for Hasan to take a skier running from mid-on to midwicket. Imam-ul-Haq perished early too, falling in a similar fashion after misreading the length of a Javed ball that was too short to drive on the up. Two quality overs from Hasan, who had conceded just five in the powerplay, contributed significantly to the pressure, with Akmal failing to pick his variations in speed and length.

Akmal and Malik then combined for the first substantial stand, with Akmal playing some trademark lofted drives and inside-out shots, in addition to finding fortuitous boundaries through edges a few times.

When Akmal fell to Talat, and Powell perished soon after, it fell to Malik to keep the momentum going.

He did that in splendid fashion, skipping down the wicket to Fawad Ahmed to thwack him for six back over his head, before punishing his correction in length with a cut and a swat to midwicket.

Nadal pulls out of Wimbledon and Tokyo Olympics Paris AP

Rafael Nadal will not play at Wimbledon or at the Tokyo Olympics, saying on Thursday he has decided to skip the two tournaments after “listening” to his body.

Nadal, who reached the French Open semifinals last week but lost to Novak Djokovic, has won the title at Wimbledon twice, in 2008 and 2010. He also won the Olympic gold medal in singles at the 2008 Beijing Games and in doubles at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

“The goal is to prolong my career and continue to do what makes me happy, that is to compete at the highest level and keep fighting for those professional and personal goals at the maximum level of competition,” Nadal said.

The 35-year-old Spaniard said the fact that there are only two weeks between Roland Garros and Wimbledon “didn’t make it easier” on his body to recover from “the always demanding” clay court season.

“Sport prevention of any kind of excess in my body is a very important factor at this stage of my career in order to try to keep fighting for the highest level of competition and titles,” Nadal wrote on Twitter.

Nadal is a 20-time Grand Slam champion with a record 13 titles at the French Open.

His loss at Roland Garros last Friday was only his third in 108 matches at a tournament he won each of the last four years, including by beating Djokovic in the 2020 final.

Nadal sent a “special message” to fans in

Britain and Japan in particular.

“The Olympic Games always meant a lot and they were always a priority as a sportsperson, I found the spirit that every sportsperson in the world wants to live,” he wrote. “I personally had the chance to live three of them and had the honour to be the flag bearer for my country.”

euro 2020: locatelli fires Italy into knockouts as Wales impress with win over turkey roMe AFP

Italy became the first team to reach the knockout stage of Euro 2020 as midfielder Manuel Locatelli scored twice in a 3-0 win over Switzerland in Rome on Wednesday, while Wales moved to the brink of joining them by beating Turkey.

The Azzurri, now unbeaten in 29 matches and having won their last 10 games without conceding a goal, sit first in Group A and are guaranteed a top-two finish and last-16 berth.

“We played well, we wanted to win at all costs,” Italy coach Roberto Mancini told RAI. “They started well, it was not easy to win a second game in five days.”

Mancini’s men, looking to win Italy a second European title after their sole success in 1968, host Wales in their final group game on Sunday, with top spot up for grabs.

A new star shone for Italy at the Stadio Olimpico, where they had brushed aside Turkey 3-0 in the tournament’s opening match last week, as Sassuolo’s Locatelli scored twice before Ciro Immobile’s late third.

Captain Giorgio Chiellini had an early

effort ruled out by VAR for handball, before the 36-year-old defender was forced off with what appeared to be a thigh injury.

But the hosts always looked the more dangerous side and took the lead in the 26th minute.

Locatelli played a wonderful volleyed pass to his Sassuolo teammate Domenico Berardi on the wing, who powered to the byline and picked out Locatelli for a simple tap-in.

The three points and a place in the knockout phase for the fourth straight European Championship were all but secured less than seven minutes after the interval, when a flowing move ended with Locatelli driving a left-footed shot into the bottom corner from outside the box.

Immobile had wasted a couple of earlier chances but did grab his second goal of the tournament in the 89th minute, curling a low effort past Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

Switzerland will now likely have to beat Turkey in Baku on Sunday to reach the next round.

ImpressIve Wales see off Turkey: After drawing 1-1 with the Swiss in their opening Group A game, Wales now have four points from two matches after

goals from Aaron Ramsey and Connor Roberts saw off a disappointing Turkey 2-0.

“You’d like to think so, but we’ll have to wait and see,” said Wales captain Gareth Bale when asked if his team had done enough to get through.

“If you’d offered us four points at the start we would’ve bitten your hand off.”

Senol Gunes’ side, roared on by the majority of the crowd in Azerbaijan, have lost both of their games without scoring and face a mountain to climb if they are to qualify.

Wales, semi-finalists five years ago, should have won more convincingly, but wasted several chances including a secondhalf penalty which was blazed over by Bale.

Up to 4,000 Turkish fans travelled for the game, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but Wales immediately were on the front foot and Ramsey wasted two excellent chances early on.

He made no mistake three minutes before the break, though, chesting down Bale’s pass and slotting home.

Bale, whose future at Real Madrid is uncertain, won a penalty just after the hour mark but was uncharacteristically wayward from the spot.

Robert Page’s Wales grabbed the second goal their performance deserved in stoppage time, as Bale danced through and teed up Roberts to sweep into the net.

In another match, Ukraine beat North Macedonia 2-1.

In the first match of the day, Russia defeated neighbours Finland 1-0 in Saint Petersburg courtesy of Aleksei Miranchuk’s goal just before half-time to pick up their first points in Group B. It blows open the section after Russia lost 3-0 to Belgium in their opening game at the weekend. Finland had beaten Denmark 1-0 in Copenhagen on Saturday, a game completely overshadowed by Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest.

Friday, 18 June, 2021

PrAyer Timings

NEWS

CoronaviruS PoSitivity rate in PakiStan riSeS to 3PC ISLAMABAD

t

inP

HE Covid-19 positivity ratio in Pakistan has surged to 3 percent over the past 24 hours. According to the National Command and Operation Centre data, 46 more people lost their lives, lifting the nationwide fatalities to 21,874.

The country’s caseload climbed to 945,184 after 1,119 more people tested positive for the deadly virus during this period. The new infections emerged when 37,196 tests were conducted during the said period.

It is to be noted that Covid-19 vaccination centres in Lahore and Karachi are facing a shortage of vaccine and masses are facing hardships in getting their scheduled jabs.

On Wednesday, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health, Dr Faisal Sultan had said that 2 million doses of coronavirus vaccines are still available in the country and supply would improve further after June 20.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Faisal Sultan had said that a shortage of vaccines had been reported at some busy vaccination centres, adding that the situation will further improve after 20th June with the availability of additional doses.

“There are more than 2,000 vaccination centres in the country and the number of visitors varies. So there may be a shortage

of vaccines in some centres,” he had said.

PAKISTAN FINALISES VACCINES DEAL WITH CHINA: Separately, it emerged that Pakistan has made bulk purchase deal of coronavirus vaccines with China.

Pakistan has made various agreements of buying over 27.5 million vaccine doses of China made vaccines, the sources at Na-

tional Institute of Health said.

The doses of Sinopharm, Sinovac and CanSino vaccines being purchased under the vaccine procurement agreements, according to sources.

“Under the procurement agreements raw material and prepared coronavirus vaccines being purchased from the Chinese companies,” sources said.

Pakistan has signed a deal of the procurement of 23 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine, according to sources.

Sinopharm will provide vaccine consignments to Pakistan in phases till December this year.

Moreover, Pakistan has made an agreement with CanSino Biologics for over two million vaccine doses and 2.5 million vaccine doses with Sinovac, sources said.

It is to be mentioned here that a shortage of Covid-19 vaccines reported at various vaccination centres in Pakistan.

In Punjab as well as at Karachi’s Expo Center, scarcity of vaccines reported affecting the government’s drive to inoculate maximum citizens in the country.

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

3:54

12:00

4:44

ISTANBUL The deteriorating economic conditions in many countries due to the coronavirus pandemic increased the possibility of “political instability and violent demonstrations,” according to a report by the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2021 published Thursday.

“It is still too early to fully gauge the long-term effects of the pandemic on peace. However, the changing economic conditions in many nations increase the likelihood of political instability and violent demonstrations,” the report said.

“The pandemic had a significant impact on the levels of conflict and violence. The level of civil unrest rose in 2020, fueled in large part by responses to governments’ measures designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus,” the report added.

“Over 5,000 pandemic-related violent events were recorded between January 2020 and April 2021,” it found.

According to the report, “the

conflicts and crises that emerged in the past decade have begun to abate, only to be replaced with a new wave of tension and uncertainty as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and rising tensions between many of the major powers.”

“The full impact of the Covid19 pandemic on peacefulness is still unfolding. While some forms of violence declined in the short term, growing unease with lockdowns and rising economic uncertainty resulted in civil unrest increasing in 2020,” the report added The 15th edition of the GPI, the world’s leading measure of global peacefulness produced by Australiabased Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness.

GLOBAL PEACEFULNESS DETERIORATES: According to the GPI statement, the report “presents the most comprehensive data-driven analysis to-date on trends in peace, its economic value, and how to develop peaceful societies.”

AnAdolu Agency

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s proposal of a new trilateral mechanism involving Turkey for protecting Kabul’s airport after the US pulls out of Afghanistan has drawn mixed reactions from experts in South Asia.

Speaking to reporters on Monday at the end of a series of meetings with NATO leaders on the sidelines of the alliance’s summit in Brussels, Belgium, Erdogan said Turkey was also seeking Pakistan and Hungary’s involvement in the new mission in Afghanistan following the departure of the US-led NATO force.

Turkey, whose forces in Afghanistan have always been of noncombatant troops, is reported to have offered to guard Hamid Karzai International Airport as questions remain on how security will be assured along major transport routes and at the airport, which is the main gateway to the capital Kabul.

According to an announcement in April by US President Joe Biden, all foreign troops will exit Afghanistan

by September 2021.

“We welcome President Erdogan’s announcement.

It’s a very positive development,” Mushahid Hussain Syed, who heads Pakistan’s Senate Defense Committee, told Anadolu Agency.

He said Islamabad and Ankara are key players for “peace, security and stability” in Afghanistan amid a

8:07

KARACHI TlTP

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed another bearish session for the third straight day on Thursday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index shedding 323.27 points (-0.67 percent) to close at 48,157.63 points. The market opened on a negative note in line with the global markets, which fell due to the prospects of US Federal Reserves' hiking of interest rates, but it oscillated between green and red zones. The KSE-100 Index traded in a range of 428.8 points, showing an intraday high of 48,544.6 points and a low of 48,115.8 points. Among other indices, the KSE All Share Index shed 153.14 points (-0.46 percent) to close at 32,789.91 points, while All Share Islamic Index shed 128.56 points (-0.53 percent) to close at 23,690.64 points. A total of 388 companies traded shares in the stock exchange, out of them shares of 113 closed up, shares of 260 closed down while shares of 15 companies remained unchanged. The overall market volumes increased by 180.76 million to 1117.43 million shares. The number of total trades decreased by 3,034 to 192,891, while value traded decreased by Rs2.80 billion to Rs19.61 billion. The overall market capitalisation decreased by Rs38.77 billion.

“The GPI covers 99.7% of the world’s population, using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from highly respected sources, and measures the state of peace across three domains: the level of Societal Safety and Security, the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict, and the degree of Militarization,” it added.

“This year’s results show that the average level of global peacefulness deteriorated by 0.07%. This is the ninth deterioration in peacefulness in the last 13 years, with 87 countries improving, and 73 recording deteriorations; however, the change in score is the second smallest in the history of the index,” it added.

ICELAND MOST PEACEFUL COUNTRY: The Nordic country Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, according to the report, a position it has held since 2008.

“It is joined at the top of the index by New Zealand, Denmark, Portugal, and Slovenia.”

Turkish president’s Afghan security proposal receives mixed reactions ISLAMABAD/KABUL/NEW DELHI

6:39

PSX sheds 323 more points on 3rd straight day

‘Changing economic conditions amid Covid-19 increase instability, violence’ AnAdolu Agency

5:21

deep-rooted trust, friendship and camaraderie between the two countries.

“The US and the foreign troops are leaving Afghanistan high and dry as they did in 1989 after the (Soviet Union) Red Army’s exit from the war-ravaged country,” he noted, adding “Pakistan has a strategic stake in Afghanistan’s peace, security and stability and so does Turkey.”

He said the two countries have also been part of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process which aims to spearhead ongoing desperate efforts aimed at resolving the decades-long conflict through a politically negotiated settlement.

Meanwhile, Manoj Joshi, a New Delhi-based political commentator, views Erdogan’s proposal as “workable.”

“I think it is workable because it is limited to the airport. Also because Kabul is a non-Pashtun city with a lesser Taliban influence,” Joshi told Anadolu Agency.

“Pakistan’s involvement would make the Turkish mission easier since Islamabad has the ability to control Taliban logistics,” he said, referring to a degree of influence Islamabad reportedly enjoys over the militia mainly due to the vicinity.

SKEPTICISM: Rahimullah Yusufzai, a Peshawarbased expert on Afghan affairs, however, feels that the proposal may not get a nod from both the Taliban and the Kabul government.

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