Epaper – November 28 ISB 2021

Sunday, 28 november, 2021 i 22 Rabi-us-Sani, 1443 i Rs 15.00 i Vol Xii no 150 i 12 pages i islamabad edition

OmicrOn variant: Pakistan bans entry Of travellers frOm six african cOuntries, HOng kOng g

Pakistanis travelling from these countries on extreme emergency will only be allowed after obtaining exemPtion

Cabinet approves summary to buy oil from Saudi Arabia on deferred payments ISLAMABAD staff report

ISLAMABAD

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staff report

akistan on saturday announced a ban on entry from six african countries and hong kong “due to threat” from the new covid-19 variant omicron. the african countries include south africa, mozambique, namibia, lesotho, botswana and eswatini. a statement by the national command and operation centre (ncoc) said that a ban on direct or indirect inbound travel from the aforementioned countries has been imposed, with the countries

placed in category c “with immediate effect”. ncoc said Pakistani passengers travelling from these countries on “extreme emergency” will only be allowed after obtaining exemptions and ensuring the following protocols: n vaccination certificate; n max 72-hour-old negative Pcr report before boarding; n rapid antigen test (rat) on arrival at the airport; n rat negative cases will undergo 3 days mandatory home quarantine and re-rat will be conducted on third day; n rat positive cases will undergo 10 days mandatory quarantine at

cOrOnavirus in

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,283,886

LAST UPDATED AT 9:36 AM ON NOVEMBER 27, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

7

411

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

1,241,589 28,704 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

475,097

442,876

KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

179,888

33,471

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

34,542/10,411

107,601

government or self-paid facilities; n their Pcr test will be conducted on the 10th day in quarantine. however, to facilitate stranded Pakistanis, travel from these countries will be allowed till december 5, 2021, without exemption, but the aforementioned protocols will be applicable, the ncoc said. in the statement, the ncoc also directed aviation division, airport management, and the airport security force to devise a mechanism for screening passengers traveling from the above-mentioned countries through indirect flights and share it with all the concerned authorities by november 29.

the federal cabinet on saturday approved an agreement, allowing the government to buy oil on deferred payments from the kingdom of saudi arabia. according to reports, the cabinet gave its approval through a summary circulation. as per the agreement, the saudi government would provide oil worth $100 million every month to the government of Pakistan on deferred payments. the economic division had dispatched the circulation summary to the cabinet. saudi crown Prince mohammed bin salman had agreed to provide oil to Pakistan on deferred payments during Prime minister imran khan’s visit to the kingdom. the crown prince had vowed to provide oil on delayed payment for one year. the government of Pakistan will have to pay a margin of 3.80 percent along with the principal amount at the time payment.

Gas supply to non-export industries being cut to facilitate domestic consumers in Sindh, Balochistan ISLAMABAD ahmad ahmadani

in adherence to Petroleum division’s priority order for gas load management, sui southern gas company limited (ssgcl) has suspended gas supplies to all the captive Power Plants (cPPs) of general industries (non export) across sindh and balochistan. according to ssgcl, gas supplies to cPPs of general industries (non export) across sindh and balochistan was discontinued mainly to serve the domestic customers with even more care and consideration as the domestic sector tops the list of petroleum division’s priority order of gas load management. the discontinuation of gas supplies to all these captive Power Plants (cPPs) was exercised under the gas sales agreement (gsa) signed with cPPs, as the very agreement clearly states that “gas supply will be provided by the company on ‘as and when available’ basis only during the period march to november each year. the consumers will make dual firing arrangements to avoid loss of production as and

according to the agreement, the contract is for one year but the period could be enhanced. the economic division had sent the summary to the federal cabinet for approval after the ministry of finance, sbP, and fbr had agreed to the draft of the Pak-saudi contract.

SAUDi ARABiA’S $3 Billion SUppoRt pACKAGe: according to a news outlet, the cabinet also approved a summary regarding an agreement to revive saudi arabia’s $3 billion support package for Pakistan in safe deposits. the summary stated that the one-year agreement would carry an annual profit rate of four per cent. the summary drafted by the finance division noted that the prime minister, “in view of the urgency to relieve the current pressures on the exchange rate,” approved the placement of the draft of the deposit agreement between the two countries, vetted and cleared by the ministry of law as well as as the office of the attorney general for Pakistan, before the cabinet.

more inside

Malik Riaz and son’s 10-year UK visa revoked for ‘possible corruption’ STORY ON BACK PAGE

kse-100 records biggest weekly decline since march 2020 STORY ON PAGE 02

when gas is not available during march to november and also during december to february when the company will keep the consumer’s gas supply disconnected at his cost, each year.” gas supply to all these cPPs shall remain discontinued till further orders, however zero rated export industry including its cPPs along with the fertilizer sector will continue to get the gas. “the volume of gas curtailed from this arrangement would be diverted to domestic customers for them to cater their enhanced gas loads in context of the winter season,”

said ssgcl. the ssgcl added that ssgc looks forward to cPPs of general industries (non export) for their understanding on the matter and expects their cooperation for serving the domestic customers through uninterrupted gas supplies. it may be noted that in balochistan, supply of additional gas is a must for the survival of human lives since gas serves as a lifeline to scores of populace needing to keep themselves warm through water and space heating gas appliances in the extremely low temperatures.

Dollar upsurge against rupee a sign of ‘economic devastation’: Shehbaz Sharif

STORY ON BACK PAGE

Pia to operate 35 weekly flights to saudi from december 1 STORY ON PAGE 03

02

Sunday, 28 November, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

KSE-100 rEcordS biggESt wEEKly dEclinE SincE March 2020 KARACHI

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MonitoRing RePoRt

CHAOTIC week at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) finally came to an end on Saturday with the index recording its biggest weekly decline since the start of the pandemic in Pakistan (March 2020). The KSE-100 index was down 2,375 points or 5.1% to settle at 44,114.16.

Stocks took a heavy battering following escalating fears of increasing economic uncertainties amid the International Monetary Fund (IMF) releasing the staff concluding statement on the sixth review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with Pakistan at the start of the week.

This was the largest weekly decline after March 27, 2020, according to an Arif Habib Limited (AHL) report.

The sell-off at the PSX persisted for four successive sessions during the week as panic and chaos reigned.

On Monday, contrary to expectations, the bourse

began the rollover week on a bearish note as the market succumbed to selling pressure after investors’ sentiment turned sour as the State Bank’s decision to increase the benchmark policy rate by 150 basis points, which was more than the market expectation, took a toll on the investment climate.

Moreover, the confirmation of a staff-level agreement between Pakistan and the IMF failed to entice the market participants as investors adopted a “buy-onrumour-and-sell-on-confirmation strategy”.

On Tuesday, the jittery investors offloaded their positions amid foreign selling during the week as the bulls remained on the sidelines, taking a cue from the gloomy macroeconomics outlook.

Investors traded cautiously on Wednesday after the circulation of news regarding a mini-budget in the upcoming months and the oil crisis with petroleum dealers announcing a nationwide strike.

The following session brought no respite, as investor

PBC restores licence of former judge Shaukat Siddiqui ISLAMABAD inP

The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has restored the practicing license of former Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui after concluding that the decision of his dismissal as a judge is not based on financial corruption or ethical grounds.

The decision was announced by the PBC’s three-member enrollment committee, headed by Justice Faez Isa. Syed Kalbe Hussain and Senator Azam Nazir Tarar were the other two members.

The PBC’s enrollment committee found that the Supreme Judicial Council’s decision to remove Siddiqui has nothing to do with the corruption allegations against him. Hence, the committee ruled

mood remained sombre ahead of Morgan Stanley Capital International’s (MSCI) reclassification next week.

It is pertinent to mention here that earlier this month, the MSCI had relocated three leading Pakistani stocks; Lucky Cement, Habib Bank (HBL) and Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB), to its MSCI Pak FM standard cap with effect from December 1, 2021. Resultantly, the benchmark KSE-100 index fell below the 44,000-point mark after a hiatus of nearly one and a half months.

Fortunately, the trend reversed as the four-day bearish spell at the bourse finally came to a halt on the last day of the futures rollover week as investor participation revived at the bourse after the visit of Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin. Other major developments during the week were: Pakistan and the IMF reached a staff-level agreement, SBP jacked up interest rate by 150 basis points to 8.75%, current account deficit posted deficit on higher import bill, the government approved Rs134.9 billion for IPPs, the

central bank projected 4-5% growth for FY22, and SBP reserves touched FY22’s lowest level.

Foreigners offloaded stocks this week worth $39.1 million against a net sell of $25 million recorded last week. Selling was witnessed in commercial banks ($15.7 million) and fertiliser ($6.3 million). On the domestic front, major buying was reported by individuals ($16 million) and companies ($13.3 million).

During the week under review, average volumes clocked in at 264 million shares (up by 8% week-onweek), while average value traded settled at $60 million (up by 13% week-on-week).

Bhagwat’s statement proves India fast becoming threat to regional peace: Shehryar Afridi RAWALPINDI aPP

to restore his licence.

Shaukat Siddiqui had applied for the restoration of his licence on September 6 this year. The Supreme Judicial Council had removed him as IHC judge in 2018.

The former IHC judge also awaits a decision on his appeal against the SJC decision to remove him.

Authorities to mark peace by cycling event in former tribal region ISLAMABAD: A cycle racing is going to be held in the erstwhile terrorism-marred tribal region of South Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to celebrate return of peace, and promote tourism in the region, an official with the cycling federation said. The “Tour De Waziristan” will start on November 28 (Sunday) in Dera Ismail Khan district and conclude on November 30 in South Waziristan, Haroon General, general secretary of Islamabad chapter of the Pakistan Cycling Federation, told Xinhua. The event is being jointly organized by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority, Pakistan Cycling Federation, paramilitary troops Frontier Corps, and local district administration.

About 100 cyclists from different teams across the country will participate in the race, and the participants will cover a total distance of 189 km in three stages in the former militancy-infested area of the province. Xinhua

Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Shehryar Khan Afridi Saturday said that RSS chief’s statement of ‘undoing partition’ of the subcontinent reflects India’s expansionist designs and India had become a threat to regional peace and development.

President AJK Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, former AJK Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, PPP Secretary General Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, PML-N spokeswoman Marriyum Aurangzeb, APHC leader Syed Yusuf Naseem and others also addressed.

Addressing the participants of Kashmir Conference held under aegis of High Court Bar Association Rawalpindi as Chief Guest, Shehryar Khan Afridi said that Referring to the recent statement of RSS President Mohan Bhagwat about ‘undoing partition’ of the subcontinent, Shehryar Afridi said that this statement reflects India’s expansionist designs of India and this expansionist design was a majir threat to the regional peace.

“This statement reflects that India is a threat to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Bhutan, Nepal and other countries of the region,” he added.

Shehryar Afridi said that the entire Pakistani nation stood united on our nuclear deterrence and Kashmir cause and there was no difference among the people of Pakistan.

He said since past many decades, there were no rules framed for Kashmir Committee and after overtaking the office, he had framed rules. He said that he also included Azad Kashmir leadership a part of the Kashmir Committee. He said that he also included public component in the narrative building on Kashmir and formed Advisory Boards to revive and reform national narrative on Kashmir.

He said that India was implementing its plan of genocide in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and was killing and muzzling Kashmiri voices. He said that Kashmir Committee also is working on narrative building on Kashmir dispute over the digital space. He said that the Committee had made the management of social media companies accountable in the Parliament for not providing level playing field to the Kashmiri and Pakistani social media users.

He said that he had become the first Chairman Kashmir Committee to visit the US and attend the UNGA session and lobbied with top US lawmakers, lobby groups, think tanks and civil society activists by holding awareness sessions.

President AJK Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry said that he was working to reactivate the Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora to help internationalise Kashmir dispute.

He said that the sacrifices being made by Kashmiri freedom lovers

had actually kept the Kashmir movement alive and said that only a meaningful dialogue could help resolve the Kashmir issue.

He said that the inflexible attitude of India had made Pakistan and Kashmiris rethink their policy and only internationalising Kashmir dispute could help build international pressure on India.

President Rawalpindi High Court Bar Association Sardar Abdul Raziq Khan welcomed the guests and called for devising a clear but unified strategy on Kashmir dispute.

He urged the treasury and opposition not to allow political differences compromise on the national cause especially the Kashmir cause. Syed Yusuf Naseem said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had for the first time raised Kashmir at the UNGA and urged all political parties not to politicise Kashmir as it hurts Kashmiris aspirations for freedom. Marriyum Aurangzeb said that an economically strong Pakistan can help resolve Kashmir dispute. She deplored that Pakistan should have taken robust steps after India’s move of annexation of Jammu and Kashmir and revocation of Article 370 and 35-A but the government failed to take any significant action since then. She said we need to introspect why no world power supported penalised India following August 5, 2019, move by India.

Nayyar Bokhari said that all political parties were one on Kashmir dispute and the political leadership stands committed to the Kashmir cause. He said that the United Nations had become a slave to big powers and there is a need to create a regional forum to help resolve our disputes regionally.

Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan gave an overview of the freedom struggle of Kashmir. He deplored the fact that Pakistani political leadership should not politicise Kashmir dispute as it sends a very negative message to the Kashmiri people who are laying down their lives for freedom from illegal Indian occupation.

Pakistan says ‘delusional’ after radical India leader seeks to ‘undo’ partition ISLAMABAD Staff RePoRt

Pakistan Saturday rejected the “highly provocative” and “irresponsible” comments of the leader of a radical Indian organisation who claimed the solution to the “pain” of the 1947 partition of the subcontinent lied in “undoing” it, implying the reunification of parts that once formed the colonial nation.

According to an NDTV report, addressing an event on Thursday, Mohan Bhagwat, who heads the far-right, paramilitary Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) group, had said: “We should read the history and accept its truth. Hindu society should become capable in order to do good to the world.”

“India’s suffering at the time of partition should not be forgotten.

It will go away when the partition of [British] India is undone,” he had added. RSS is the parent body of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ruling India since 2014.

In a statement, the Foreign Office not only rejected the “delusional” statement but observed with great concern: “This is not the first time that the RSS chief has publicly indulged in such delusional thinking and historical revisionism.”

“Pakistan has repeatedly highlighted the threat posed to regional peace and stability by the toxic mix of the extremist Hindutva ideology

[(seeking to build a) Hindu Rashtra(nation)] and expansionist foreign policy [Akhand Bharat (United India)] being pursued by the ruling RSS-BJP dispensation in India.”

The statement further observed that this dangerous mindset [of Hindu nationalism] aims to completely marginalise and dispossess the minorities in India. In the external dimension, it poses an existential threat to all of India’s neighbours in South Asia, it added.

“The world is witness to the systematic usurpation of the rights of minorities, especially Muslims, in India and the unabated repression of Kashmiris in IIOJK [Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir]. The reckless misadventures of India, including in February 2019, that seriously imperilled regional peace and stability are also in front of the world.”

Pakistan, the Foreign Office said, has consistently opposed the hegemonic impulses of its eastern neighbour and demonstrated a firm resolve to thwart any aggressive designs.

“While committed to peace, the people and armed forces of Pakistan are fully capable of defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.

Those belonging to the BJP and its ideological fountainhead RSS would be well-advised to refrain from making such provocative and irresponsible statements, accept the established realities and learn to follow the imperatives of peaceful coexistence.”

Sunday, 28 November, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

PIA to oPerAte 35 weekly flIghts to sAudI from december 1 KARACHI

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staff RepoRt

AKISTAN International Airlines (PIA) has unveiled its schedule following the lifting of most coronavirus-related suspensions, announcing to operate direct flights to and from Saudi Arabia from December 1 after Riyadh permitted direct operations from the kingdom.

The flag carrier will operate as many as 35 weekly flights between the Saudi cities of Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh, Dammam and Al Qassim; and Lahore, Multan, Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar in Pakistan.

The airline has also launched its booking operation for the kingdom.

Riyadh has granted permission to six countries, including Pakistan, to operate direct flights into the Kingdom.

It is mandatory for Pakistan travellers to undergo a five-day quarantine period after landing in Saudi cities, however.

Earlier this week, Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry announced that Saudi Arabia had decided to allow direct flights from Pakistan from December 1 following the lifting of a Covid-related suspension of flights. In a tweet,

Chaudhry said the directive would become effective from Wednesday (December 1).

Saudi authorities withdrew the ban on flights from six nations — Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Egypt, Brazil and Vietnam — announcing that passengers from these countries will no longer be required to undergo the previouslymandatory two-week quarantine in a third country.

Saudi Arabia had issued temporary restrictions on travellers from the countries who had not received two doses of Covid-19 vaccines in the kingdom.

A directive, issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to all airlines operating in the airports said: “Allowing direct entry to the kingdom from the Republic of Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Federal Republic of Brazil, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Arab Republic of Egypt, (and) India, without the need to stay 14 days outside these countries before entering the kingdom.”

“Institutional quarantine procedures must be applied for a period of 05 days, regardless of passengers’ immunisation status outside the kingdom, with the continued application of exceptions issued regarding some groups in this regard.”

NA-133 Lahore by-election: ECP issues notice to PPP candidate ISLAMABAD INp

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday issued a show-cause notice to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) NA-133 by-poll candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Aslam over the violation of the election code of conduct.

A show-cause notice has been served to the PPP candidate over the violation of the election code of conduct and directed him to appear before the ECP

J. fragrances launched two new fragrances with the subcontinent’s most popular sport’s couple

office in person on November 28. Separately, the Ministry of Interior green-lighted the deployment of Rangers personnel for by-election in NA-133 slated for December 5. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had requested the deployment of the paramilitary troops to maintain law and order and deter any untoward incident on the polling day. The election commission has set up overall 254 polling stations and 821 polling booths in the Lahore constituency.

The election authority has declared 21 polling stations as ‘extremely sensitive’ and 199 polling

Qayyum Niazi announces to turn AJK PM House into hospital

KARACHI pR

J. fragrances launched two new fragrances with the subcontinent’s most popular sport’s couple all-rounder cricketer Shoaib Malik and India’s tennis queen SaniaMirza in a star studded event. The evening was a blend of beautiful floral installations and high end exquisite ambience. The star couple happily interacted with the media and the guest at the red carpet.

J. was established in 2002 and has expanded its reach across Pakistan and abroad. Its 100+ outlets in Pakistan alone are a testament of the efforts the company has put in to become the country's largest retail brand. J. further scaled on a global level with 30+ international outlets across US, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar. With a successful history of collaborations with renowned superstars, J. has once again set to launch two new fragrances; All Rounder and Smash in collaboration with one of Pakistan’s most beloved sporting couples - Cricketer Shoaib Malik and Tennis player SaniaMirza. “Our initiative to associate popular and well-known faces with our products makes us stand out from our competition.” said Sohail Hamid Khan – Managing Director, J. &Almirah. Shoaib Malik and SaniaMirza’s power couple-esque dynamic is one that is appreciated by people all over Pakistan. Their relationship is unconventional, admirable and unlike any we’ve seen before.

Their respective fragrances, All Rounder and Smash, although inspired by their individual personalities, also reflected the uniqueness of their companionship. During the event ceremony the beautifully designed bottles of All Rounder and Smash were revealed to the audience. “We have designed the perfume bottles with the personalities of both the stars in mind. Smash is a racquet-shaped bottle that represents SaniaMirza as a tennis player. A rose gold frame around the diamond cut glass bottle encapsulates her fierce personality. ” said Muhammad Amir, Creative Head, J. Fragrances about the design process of Smash.

He further added for Shoaib Malik’s bottle design that, “All Rounder is a rectangular shaped bottle that radiates the strength of Shoaib Malik's personality.

stations as ‘sensitive’. The constituency has a total of 4,40,485 registered voters.

The polling for the by-election in NA-133 will be held on Dec. 05. The seat fell vacant after the death of PML-N MNA Pervaiz Malik who had died of heart complications on October 11.

There will be a contest between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) after the returning officer (RO) had rejected the nomination papers of Jamshed Iqbal Cheema and his wife Musarrat (covering candidate).

MUZAFFARABAD staff RepoRt

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister, Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi on Saturday announced to turn Prime Minister House in the region into a modern cardiac hospital.

While making the announcement, he said that he had conveyed a summary to the federal government for turning AJK Prime Minister House into a state-of-theart cardiac hospital.

Abdul Qayyum Niazi further shared that he has reduced the expenses of the PM house, in days following his elevation as the premier of the AJK. “We will also establish basic health units in the areas along the Line of Control [LoC],” he said besides also announcing to raise job quota for youngsters and women in the government institutes to 25 percent. The AJK PM further said that he want to speak at the United Nations to raise the plight of the Kashmiris at the global forum.

Xiaomi to build electric vehicle plant in Beijing with annual output of 300,000 units

SHANGHAI News Desk

Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi Corp will build a plant that can produce 300,000 vehicles annually in Beijing for its electric vehicle unit, authorities in the capital said on Saturday.

The plant will be constructed in two phases and Xiaomi will also built its auto unit’s headquarters, sales and research offices in the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone, the government-backed economic development agency Beijing E-Town said

on its official WeChat account.

Beijing E-Town said it anticipated the plant reaching mass production in 2024, a goal announced by Xiaomi’s Chief Executive Lei Jun in October.

In March, Xiaomi said it would commit to investing $10 billion in a new electric car division over 10 years. The company completed the business registration of its EV unit in late August.

The company has been opening thousands of stores to spur domestic sales growth for its smartphone business but eventually intends to use these shops as a channel for its plans to sell electric vehicles.

NEWS

03

Journalist commits suicide after being fired NewS DeSK A jobless media worker, Faheem Mughal, committed suicide due to unemployment and inflation on Thursday night. According to reports, Faheem was found hanged at a residential apartment in Block 16, Federal B Area. The deceased left behind a wife, five daughters and a son. The deceased’s eldest daughter disclosed that times were so hard on the family that they often used to go hungry for days. “Often, we went without food for weeks,” said his daughter. “He used to bring food home from JDC [a charity organisation] nearby.” The distressed man had been driving a rickshaw to earn bread after being fired by one of the largest media groups in June this year and taking a loan of Rs60,000 from a bank. The deceased was reportedly depressed due to rising inflation, increasing fuel prices. He was unable to pay off the loan and feed his family. Earlier on June 2, Faheem had posted a status from his Facebook ID that read: “My job is no more, which is why I am very worried. Please pray for me.”

04 NEWS 28th November 2021_Layout 1 11/28/2021 12:01 AM Page 1

Sunday, 28 November, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

04 NEWS

Punjab to aCtivate online Portal for monitoring urea SuPPly Chain LAHORE

t

sTaff RePoRT

HE Punjab government has decided to activate an online portal for the monitoring of the supply chain of fertilizers. The decision was taken at a meeting, jointly chaired by Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal and Federal Industries and Production Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik at the Civil Secretariat, said a statement issued on Saturday.

The Punjab chief secretary said the officials would monitor fertiliser supplies from the companies to dealers through this portal.

It would also help obtain information about the stocks available in each district, he said and directed the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) chairman to immediately give all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners access to the portal.

Afzal directed the field officers to ensure display of fertiliser prices at retail outlets. He also ordered to seal shops of profiteers and keep a check on the movement of fertiliser in the bordering districts.

Jawwad Rafique Malik directed the commissioners and deputy commissioners to come out in the field to ensure fertiliser availability at the rates fixed by the government. The urea sale at a price higher than

Rs1,768/bag should not be allowed in any case, he added.

According to the report of the Special

Branch, the crackdown on hoarders has helped bring down the prices of fertilisers.

Earlier on Friday, Minister for Industries

and Production Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar said that the government is taking all possible measures to supply urea to farmers at af-

Pakistan’s exports surged mere $2bn in 2010-19: SBP KARACHI TLTP

Pakistan’s exports during the last decade remain sporadic and unsustainable as compared with the peer countries such as India and China, which fared better than Pakistan.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said this in its annual report on the State of Pakistan’s Economy released this week.

The State Bank said Pakistan had faced a balance of payments crisis, as those countries had not faced such issues. “As per [the] World Integrated Trade Solutions, between CY10/19, Pakistan’s exports have risen by mere $2 billion, whereas, for India and China, the absolute changes amount to $103 billion and $921 billion, respectively. In the same period, Pakistan’s exports averaged $23 billion, while India and China averaged $293 billion and $2.2 trillion, respectively.”

In terms of GDP, in 2019, exports of

Pakistan, India and China were around 9 percent, 11 percent and 17 percent, respectively. Already paltry, Pakistan’s share in the world exports declined from 0.13 percent in CY10 to 0.12 percent in CY19. India’s global share increased from 1.31 percent to 1.57 percent; and China’s from 9.37 percent to 12.17 percent.

“Based on several studies, we briefly summarise four main reasons as to why exports of Pakistan have not risen sustainably,” the SBP said. Further, at HS-6 level, Pakistan’s lack of product diversification is also reflected in the fact that its top 50 export products (in terms of USD value in 2019) occupy around 63 per cent of the total exports. Whereas, in the case of India and China, top 50 products account for around 49 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively.

The market diversification leads to new opportunities of higher and more sustainable earnings, while making the exporting firms less vulnerable to market-specific demand fluctuations. Pak-

Child pornography behind rise in sexual abuse cases: SC ISLAMABAD INP

The Supreme Court has turned down a bail plea of a man arrested on the charge of sharing child pornographic content on Facebook. Umer Khan had approached the apex court for post-arrest bail. A two-judge bench of the top court ruled that although the offence with which the petitioner has been charged does not fall within the prohibitory clause of Section 497 Cr.P.C. (non-bailable offences) but “the nature of accusation, its impact on the society and the material collected so far” merit no concession. The court noted that it is the management of Facebook that contacted the Federal Investigating Agency and provided information against the petitioner, upon which the agency launched investigation against him. The apex court said the mobile phone of the petitioner was seized and sent to a forensic lab that extracted “child pornographic videos and images” from his device. “We have noticed that one of the most alarming social evil prevailing in the society is child pornography. It has created a havoc in society as it contains a great threat to morality and the future of children,” read a three-page judgement authored by Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi. “One of the reason for the rise of child abuse/rape cases is squarely because of child pornographic content. The concerns regarding child sexual abuse and exploitation have been prevailing in the society in the past also.”

istan’s export destinations are far less diverse than India and China. To understand the gap, first consider World Integrated Trade Solutions’ regionalisation of the world, it said.

In 2019, Pakistan’s average number of HS 6-digit products shipped to all these regions was 47 percent of the total 2,824 products. In contrast, India’s and China’s averages were 87 percent and 90 percent, respectively, of a little over 4,400 products in each case.

According to the Global Value Chain Development Report 2019, more than two-thirds of the global trade channels through global value chains (GVCs), wherein production crosses at least one border, and usually many borders, before final assembly. GVCs help accelerate growth in export through two channels; backward participation or integration, where a country imports intermediary goods to produce and export products where it may have competitive advantage. For example, Bangladesh imports cotton fibre and yarn to make and export

cotton-based apparel forward participation, where a country exports intermediary goods because it does not have the competitive advantage in making the related finished products.

Pakistan’s GVC participation, which is a sum of backward and forward participation, has been behind that of India and China for the better part of the time period since 1990. Although its participation has converged in the post-2007 crisis period, it is still lagging.

The SBP said that Pakistan is still not deeply integrated into GVCs because of two major reasons. One, the country’s exports are concentrated in low valueadded products and primary commodities, which generally do not require imported inputs. Two, Pakistan’s tariffs on intermediate goods are four times the World Bank, while analysing, Pakistan’s textile and apparel exports noted that the exporters are depended on low-quality cotton input, leading to the lack of integration in the global textile and apparel value chain.

IHC moved for formation of commission to probe alleged Nisar audio leak ISLAMABAD News Desk

A petition has been submitted with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking formation of a commission to investigate an audio leak allegedly involving former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar and allegations against the judiciary.

Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) President Salahuddin Ahmed and member judicial commission Syed Haider Imam Rizvi have moved the petition.

Law secretary and secretaries of all the four provinces — Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — have been made parties in the case.

In the petition, Ahmed and Rizvi said after the audio leak, a perception was created that the judiciary appears to operate under pressure from external powers. Therefore, it is crucial to determine whether the audiotape is authentic or not.

“The audiotape has damaged the judiciary’s integrity and raised important questions over the judiciary’s independence. It is important to revive the people’s trust in an independent and non-partisan judiciary,” the plea said.

The plea said that an independent commission, comprising well-respected retired judges, lawyers, journalists, and civil society members, should be set up to probe allegations against the judiciary as well as the leaked audiotape.

fordable prices for wheat sowing.

Chairing a meeting on fertilizer industry, the minister assured to carry out constant monitoring of urea supply from manufacturing units and movement of fertilizers at selling points across the country. He lauded the action of fertilizer manufacturers to blacklist the hoarders for a smooth supply chain and market correction of urea countrywide.

He appreciated the efforts of the Punjab government against hoarders, adding that the same measures are expected by the Sindh government to provide urea at affordable prices for increased wheat production throughout the country in interest of public welfare at large.

The chief secretary Punjab apprised the minister of actions taken by the provincial government against hoarders during the last two weeks, whereby inspection teams booked 159 arrests of those involved in hoarding/black marketing of urea and 2.76 lac ton urea had confiscated during raids as well as district administration auctioned the urea bags at notified rates of Rs 1768 per bag.

According to available data, Punjab lagged by 4 percent in urea supplies, whereas 52% urea supplies flew to Sindh as compared to last year in the period from September to November, showing an excess amount of urea in the latter province.

Sunday, 28 November, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

Pakistani jewellery, gemstones gaining foothold in China SHANGHAI Staff CorreSpondent

Pakistan’s jewellery has entered China for years, and the reasonable price has always been one of the main selling points. Now, by building brands and improving design and service, Pakistani jewellery is trying to take up a slice of the highend market in China. Earlier in this month, Pakistani gemstones glittering at the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) were appreciated

by Chinese visitors. They were impressed by the exquisitely designed high-end jewellery from Pakistan. According to a brand owner, after participating in the last year’s CIIE, the sales of his store grew 40-50% on a year-on-year basis, confirming CIIE’s great boost to foreign businesses, and more significantly, the expanding recognition of Pakistani jewellery in China.

Facilitated by China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) Phase II, Pakistan’s gemstone export tariff to China dropped from 17-32% to zero. In the first three quarters of 2021, as per China Customs, Pakistan’s exports of raw gemstones to China grew 9.6 times compared to the same period of 2020. Meanwhile, the country’s total exports to China skyrocketed to $2.5 billion, a strong year-on-year growth of 77%. Specifically, export of Pakistan’s precious stones including ruby, sapphire, emerald and semi-precious stones to China achieved a total weight of nearly 500,000 carats, revealing an increasing demand for gemstones from Pakistan in the world’s largest market. Chinese consumers are biased towards ruby and sapphire of one to three carats. “Ruby contributed the most to the sales growth, followed by sapphire, diamond and emerald,” Pakistani jeweller Aqeel Ahmed Chaudhry said. “Female consumers over 30 years of age in the Chinese market make up our main customer group. Their first choice is ruby or sapphire of one to three carats.” As sapphire is regarded as a sentimental token of engagement and commitment overseas, especially in Europe, the Pakistani jewellery brand has tried to popularise this special meaning among Chinese consumers and achieved good results.

Furthermore, higher amounts of Pakistani jewellery and gemstones are designed to cater to the cultural taste of the Chinese.

IHC directs law, information secretaries to submit report on steps taken for journalists’ protection ISLAMABAD newS deSk

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday released a written order on the petition pertaining to problems being faced by journalists and media workers. The court ordered the law and information secretaries to submit their replies to the petition, besides appointing senior journalists Hamid Mir, Mazhar Abbas and others as amicus curiae. The court also directed the registrar of Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees (ITNE) to submit reports of all cases, which are under investigation against the media persons. The court also appointed the presidents of Supreme Court Bar Association and Islamabad High Court Journalists’ Association as amicus curiae. The court observed that it has been brought into its notice that there is no effective law that provides security to journalists and media workers.

The court said the freedom of editors, reporters and columnists is of utmost importance, adding that this “important” question must be considered in the context of international practices and the United Nations Human Rights Commission reports. The court ordered to fix the case for hearing after three weeks.

05

AGP AudIt rePort IdentIfIes IrreGulArItIes of rs 40 bIllIon ISLAMABAD

f

Staff report

EdERAl Government has finally released an audit report by the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) after the lapse of almost six months revealing over Rs40 billion irregularities in operations.

Per sources, federal government gave in to the pressure by International Monetary Fund (IMF) and released the audit report of massive expenditures incurred in various heads including the spending Covid-19 pandemic.

The release of the report by the Ministry of Finance is one of the five prior actions that the IMF had asked Pakistan to implement if it wants to get the US$ one billion loan tranche by January next year.

The report carries misprocurement, payments to ineligible beneficiaries, cash withdrawal through fake biometrics and procurements of substandard goods by Utility Stores Corporation (USC) for consumption.

The auditors attempted to scrutinise Rs354.3 billion expenses but did not get all the records, the report showed. From the record of expenses and procurements available, the auditors have unearthed Rs40 billion irregularities.

The maximum irregularities of over Rs25 billion were found against Rs133 billion spent under the banner of the Benazir Income Support Programme, which was equal to 19% of its spending. The USC spent Rs10 billion but the auditors raised questions on Rs5.2 billion or 52% of its spending.

The National disaster Management Authority’s spending was Rs22.8 billion and the auditors raised a red flag on Rs4.8 billion or around 21% of the spending.

The defence ministry also had doubtful and irregular spending to the tune of Rs3.2 billion while other government departments had dubious expenses to the tune of Rs1.5 billion, showed the report.

This report is based on the audit of the accounts of government agencies and departments involved in relief activities at the federal level for the year ending June 30, 2020, to the extent of expenditure related to Covid-19.

This includes all government allocations, loans and grants received or repurposed from the foreign donor partners for dealing with Covid-19. The IMF had also given a $1.4 billion loan under the Covid relief package.

The key issues highlighted by the AGP were “instances of mis-procurements, delays in the delivery of procured items, procurement without proper need assessment, instances of weak financial controls, lack of proper record-keeping and non-production of records to audit authorities”.

Also, there were issues about lack of warehouse management, issues in the distribution of equipment, advance payments to supplier firms without properly securing guarantees, data problems resulting in the release of cash grants to both spouses in the same family and beneficiaries excluded by NAdRA during profiling checks, the release of cash grants to the insured persons and pensioners of EOBI and beneficiaries from both BISP and Zakat.

The auditors also caught serious issues like payment to ineligible beneficiaries like government servants, pensioners and their spouses, taxpayers and to those having poverty scores above the cut off scores approved by the federal cabinet and the BISP board.

“Weak monitoring and implementa-

tion resulting in withdrawals through fake biometric and withdrawals out of the district of registration, irregular and unjustified prequalification of flour mills by the USC” were among the other issues.

There were also issues of service delivery under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme that resulted in non-disbursement of cash transfers to 1.32 million enrolled beneficiaries.

In order to combat the pandemic, the prime minister approved Rs1.24 trillion Economic Stimulus Package on March 24, 2020. The key objectives of the relief package were to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, provision of medical and subsistence relief to citizens and support to business and economy.

The amount released out of the announced package was Rs354.2 billion till June 30, 2020.

Rs314b pRomised but not given: “The finance ministry issued Rs314 billion less supplementary grants from the PM’s stimulus package due to which citizens of Pakistan could not avail the complete benefit of the announced package resulting in suffering, economic hardship and many private factories laying off their workers during Covid-19 process,” revealed the report.

Against Rs200 billion promised to daily wagers, only Rs16 billion were distributed among them. The vulnerable families were promised Rs150 billion but given Rs145 billion. The Utility Stores package was Rs50 billion but was given Rs10 billion. There was a promise to pay Rs100 billion electricity and gas bills but the actual payments were Rs15 billion.

Key iRRegulaRities: The NdMA was the main coordinating agency for relief activities in the country. Against Rs33.3 billion funds that the NdMA received, it spent Rs22.8 billion. But the auditors found glaring irregularities. “during the course of the audit, a number of instances of mis-procurements, weak contract management, delays in delivery of procured items, improper storage management etc were observed.”

The auditors found mis-procurement on account of the installation of Resource Management System (RMS) by the NdMA with Rs42.5 million cost. A million-dollar loss was caused to the public exchequer on account of purchase of ventilators at higher rates and China donated $4 million for construction of 250 beds Isolation Hospital and Infections Treat-

ment Center (IHITC), but the money was never used. There were cases of overpayment to Chinese firms on account of the procurement of ventilators.

The NdMA did not adjust advances of Rs690 million against payments made to the Frontier Works Organisation for the renovation of Haji Complex, Rawalpindi, provisions of quarantine facilities in Karachi and establishment of the National Control Room during the financial year. during the course of the audit of NdMA, a considerable number of record and allied documents were not produced for audit scrutiny despite repeated written and verbal requests.

The NdMA did not impose liquidated damages on supplier firms causing a loss of Rs2.7 billion and $8.3 million. bisp: The BISP utilised Rs133.3 billion during the fiscal year 2019-20 and 13.1 million beneficiaries were paid.

The audit observed Rs6.6 billion payments to relatively better-off 484,402 beneficiaries due to the absence of any clear policy which needs to be addressed before making any related future payments.

There were irregular payments of cash transfers to government servants including pensioners and their spouses to the tune of Rs1.84 billion. Wrong profiling of beneficiaries resulted in the release of cash transfers to both spouses worth Rs1.6 billion.

Over Rs16 million payments of Covid-19 cash transfers were made to those beneficiaries who had filers’ status and were well-off. There was also a case of withdrawal of Covid-19 cash grants from both BISP and Zakat by the same beneficiaries worth Rs318.7 million.

The auditors pointed out irregular payment of cash transfers to beneficiaries that were excluded by NAdRA during profiling checks but got away with Rs6.84 billion. The Rs1.8 billion irregular payment was made to beneficiaries having poverty scores higher than the approved eligibility thresholds by the cabinet.

The auditors unearthed a major discrepancy and found unauthentic withdrawals of Covid-19 cash transfers out of districts/provinces to the tune of Rs12.8 billion.

The auditors observed that in categories I to IV, withdrawals of emergency cash transfers were shown from out of province/districts by 2,048 agents who operated in Quetta, lasbela, Thatta, Jamshoro, Hyderabad and Khanewal.

“This needs proper investigation,” the AGP recommended.

Through the fake biometrics, Rs1.7 million were withdrawn. otheR depaRtments: The audit observed that the procurements of nine items had been made at higher rates causing a loss of Rs7 million. There were also cases of non-delivery of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) by UNICEF having the value of Rs1.3 billion. The Rs10 million discrepancy was found in cases of transportation and food items for passengers returning from abroad, handled by deputy commissioner Islamabad.

There was also the irregular operation of bank account by a single signatory. The case of non-reconciliation of bank account and irregular payments of cash money instead of crossed cheques to the firms were also unearthed. usC: The AGP pointed out Rs1.4 billion loss due to irregular and ill-planned procurement of sugar. Another loss of Rs1.6 billion was caused due to irregular procurement of ghee/cooking oil and nonavailability of fitness certificates of ghee/oils worth over Rs1.4 billion.

The USC caused a loss of Rs100 million due to the purchase of sugar at higher rates than the prevailing market wholesale rates. There was a case of irregular procurement of atta from flour mills worth Rs95.3 million.

The Rs323 million loss was caused due to non-observance of prescribed flour specifications and another expense of Rs1.7 billion incurred without laboratory test reports. The USC also made excess claim subsidies by increasing the profit ratio on account of the purchase of sugar. defenCe: The auditors pointed out Rs1.9 billion worth of non-reconciliation of allocation and expenditure relating to Covid-19 in two different cases.

The Rs200 million Covid-19 funds were diverted towards the clearance of liabilities and procurement of normal cardiac medicines. during an audit of Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi, it was observed from the record that PPE items of the same specifications were purchased at higher rates by ignoring the lowest rates available in the comparative statement of tenders.

The Rs235 million irregular payment was made to Pakistan International Airlines without fulfilling the required formalities against shipment of exactly the same commodity required to be transported through the armed forces’ service aircraft.

Punjab retrieves 180,000 acres of encroached land: Khawar LAHORE Staff report

Special Assistant to Punjab CM on Information Hasaan Khawar has said that 180,000 acres of encroached land has been retrieved so far.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Hasaan Khawar said that, unfortunately, state land in Pakistan has always been considered the easiest prey by the land mafia.

due to this, some 223000 acre state land, belonging to Forest, Revenue, Auqaf and other departments, worth Rs472 billion, was brazenly encroached upon. Of this, 7,000 acres were in urban areas and about 216,000 were in rural areas. On the special instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, so far, one hundred and eighty thousand acres of this encroached land has been retrieved.

He said that the relinquished land would

be handed over to the concerned departments and this land would be used for projects of public welfare. He said that Sardar Usman Buzdar has strictly directed for the retrieval of the remaining 35,000 acres in the next five weeks.

Khawar said that encroachment upon government lands was not possible without the connivance of the sitting government, government officials and the land mafia. A forensic audit of fires in the previous gov-

CMYK

ernment will prove this point.

He said that these 223,000 cases of encroachment were in fact receipts of the incompetence of the previous government. In a short span of three years, Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) has effectively demonstrated that grit is the only requirement to ensure effective implementation of the system.

Responding to a question, he said that although 43 people from the identified land mafia have been cabinet and assembly mem-

bers of the previous government, it was not correct to call the action against the occupation groups as political revenge.

These measures are purely aimed at establishing the writ of the state. He added that for the first time in the history of the country, a record of encroachments on government lands was being compiled. In addition, government officials found to be involved with the occupation groups, if found guilty, will be prosecuted.

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Sunday, 28 November, 2021

06 COMMENT

Lawfare move is an instrument for foreign policy

Sindh Development Plan A gamechanger or a boon for turncoats?

Pakistan must use the law internationally

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HE PTI’s rivalry with the PPP in Sindh has so far been confined to accusing the Sindh government for the sins committed by the Buzdar Administration in Punjab. If there was a shortage of food items like wheat and sugar, or for that matter fertilisers, the blame was put on the Sindh government’s policies even if it sounded whimsical. This time the rivalry seems to have taken a positive turn with the PM launching uplift projects in 14 Sindh districts under the rs444 billion Sindh Development Plan. The PM has directed that priority must be given to less-developed rural areas of Sindh to ensure prosperity. He rightly regretted that the previous governments ignored the development of the province whose Assembly was the first to support the demand for Pakistan .

The development plan includes projects related to roads and motorways, housing, information technology and telecom, water resources, health, higher education, vocational training, disaster management, railways, energy and establishment of sports facilities. This will provide some of the most neglected districts of the province with basic necessities besides generating jobs for the population. Interventions of the sort could in the long run reduce the influence of the feudal lords on the population.

In the short run these would create goodwill for the PTI. This said, there is also a word of caution for the PTI. With the elections due in less than two years, a number of traditional turncoats notorious for corruption when in power but subsequently rejected by the people are on the lookout for a patron ready to provide them money in return for a change in loyalties. They are least interested in development and are keen to pocket most of the funds in collaboration with a corrupt government machinery implementing the projects. Some have already joined the PTI. Before 2018 elections the PM had worked hard to present himself as Mr Clean. over time the claim has lost some of its original shine. If a quest for electables leads the PTI to recruit notorious patrons of dacoits and criminals, it might win some seats in interior Sindh but would be seen as yet another traditional party willing to sacrifice its much-trumpeted principles for gaining power.

MuJeeb Ali sAMMo

I

T is a universally recognized truth that “ law protects the vigilant, not the ignorant”. So the truth is that the proverb has inward meaning in its law language that you can live a life by protecting your right to live. In this 21st century all the developed countries are fighting a war for their vested gains at the cost of the liberty of others, even though international law respects the right to live independently in one’s territory. International law values the sovereignty of an independent country and protects her right to defend if any foreign aggression illegally extends on her land. Law is an accepted truth which every individual has to recognize if he believes that it shall treat all with justice and meet with fair means. realizing the need of the time, lawyer Ahmer Bilal Soofi has insisted that our government has to induct a strong lawfare as an instrument of foreign policy. Apart from being a former caretaker federal law minister he is also President of the research Society of International Law, so he proposed that today the Foreign office has to set its goals very carefully to fight for and defend the rights of the country, and if deprived it has the option to legally defend her territory. The courts of international law appreciate the right and grant remedy for the loss to the one who is vigilant to his law of right but it does not protect the indolent. The saying is apt regarding this that ignorance of law has no excuse because our rivals are conspiring and waging secret attacks on our independent lands so we are to counter-attack by proposing absolute law that their attacks are illegal and baseless .

Law is all powerful if used validly. We must believe that all humans are competing to win by degrading their competitors by legal means or illegal ways.

The term lawfare means "the use of law as a weapon of war" .It is "a method of warfare where law is used as a means of realizing a military objective". In this perspective the term may be a more hu-

Gas crisis intensifies Incompetence coupled with terrible decision making

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HE country is in the midst of a gas crisis, with a shortage of natural gas hitting both industrial and commercial establishments, as well as residential users. The proposal to limit domestic use to mealtimes was not just considered but adopted, and only the realization of how unpopular this would be, made the government roll back the decision. At the same time, it should not be forgotten that the crisis itself was caused by the government’s own lackadaisicalness at the right time.

There has been no extraordinary upsurge in demand, and it was known well in advance that LNG had to be imported to meet the winter’s need. orders were not placed, and now gas terminals in Karachi are empty, because LNG cargoes were not booked in time. The Federal Energy Minister Hammad Azhar can deny this reality all he wants and stubbornly refuse to accept undeniable facts that prove the same, but with PM’s Finance Advisor Shaukat Tarin stating the same, he now has even less room to somehow wriggle out of this mess of his own creating without taking the blame.

That the Senate standing committee on energy was yet again not attended by Mr Azhar, just another reflection of a ‘it is what it is’ attitude, with little care and importance given to doing his job properly, which includes showing up to such meetings and answering pertinent questions.

Petroleum Secretary Dr Arshad however was present an apprised the Senate panel over how the age of piped gas was coming to an end across the world in fact and Pakistan too should shift its winter energy reliance to cylinder for domestic use. one is forced to ask what will become of the much touted Pak-russia 1,100-km gas pipeline now. Should it not be scrapped along with the idea of LNG and piped gas?

It may not be possible for the government to do anything about gas supplies at the moment, but someone should remember that this is exactly what caused a gas shortage last year. It should not happen next year. Hopefully by then, the issue will be dealt with in the summer, rather than waiting for winter.

Ignoring Balochistan The underlying abuse is not being addressed Ali JAn MAqsood

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or the last several days, Balochistan, the resource-rich province of Pakistan, is burning from inattention towards different issues.

Within the Constitution, the locals have marched on the roads for a better life which has been kept a dream from Day one. Now, the inhabitants of Balochistan have built up the courage to ask for what originally belongs to them constitutionally, but no one is ready to listen to their grievances.

From November 8, Balochistan University’s students have continued their sit-in protest within the varsity campus against the disappearance of two of their fellow students, Sohail Baloch and Fassieh Baloch, from the hostel of the university on November 1. Sadly, it has got the least attention from mainstream media, whereas the provincial government sounds “unaware of the situation of the province”.

Despite their simple demand to release their fellows, the registrar of Balochistan University, Dr. Farhat Iqbal has denied the allegations of their disappearance within the varsity saying that “no traces were found” that they were taken off from the hostel.

Upon the request of the students to show the CCTV footage from 5 to 7 p.m of that day, the registrar excused that no CCTV footage had been taken as a result of “load shedding in the area”. Consequently, students have closed Balochistan University from November 8.

Mounting pressures on the newly established government of Quddus Bezanjo compelled his cabinet to form a Government Committee to merely listen to the cries of students and lead their protest to an end. However, they could not convince the students to end their protest. Unhappy with the Government Committee and the law enforcement agencies of the province, the students warned the government that they would go for a countrywide closure of institu-

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mane substitute for military conflict. This is the exploitation of real, perceived, or even arranged incidents of law-of-war violations being employed as an unconventional means of “confronting" a superior military power. Lawfare can also be called a tool of strategic coercion. Pakistan has to prove her strong determination by preparing logical and material evidence against India in the International Court of Justice that Indian atrocities in Kashmir are inhuman and have caused violation of international law. India has failed to produce valid proofs that her action is legal and is for defense of the territory. Pakistan needs to bring India to accountability through international law. In 1996, India proposed a draft document on CCIT at the UN. To date, that draft has remained a draft; on the one hand we want to fight terrorism; on the other, we can not define it. This is why terrorisst with a price on their head are celebrated, financed, and armed as liberation heroes by Pakistan.

The Indian agenda regarding Pakistan is not agreeable because it has no logic to prove in the court of international law that Pakistan sponsors terrorism in India and creates separatists in Kashmir. The truth is that Pakistan consolidates innocent Kashmiris against Indian brutality and raises a voice for the freedom of Kashmir on humanitarian grounds. Pakistan determines the freedom of expression and solidifies Kashmiri Muslims to stand united and march peacefully for their right. our country condemns terrorist acts either internal or external and stands firm to eliminate safe havens of terrorism. It champion the cause of peace and harmonizing relations with neighboring countries.

Whereas India is engaged in espionage in Pakistani territory by sending Kulbhashan Jadhav, a naval officer caught conspiring in Baluchistan to encourage separatist groups against the state. The ICJ has proved the merit of the case that Pakistan is right in its decision to punish the culprit according to Pakistani law and repudiate the demand of India to free Jadhav from Pakistani prison.

Barrister Ahmer bilal soofi proposed that Pakistan foreign ministry must engage their young lawyers to study international law and its wide scope to counter the rivals in the international court of justice because all the super powerful countries are adopting lawfare move in their policy to have winwin agenda in comity of nation. The prolong disputed issues of Pakistan and India shall be resolved on lawfare policy. Indian lawfare move in international court is weak regarding the Mumbai attacks, Uri clash, Pathan kot assault and massacre at Samjota Express because the Indian Fo has failed to produce concrete evidence against Pakistan in the international court. So as to prove the Indian as violator of their own territory for gaining cheap political as well as economic value they accuse Pakistan for terrorism and trying to isolate the country at global which is perceived as myth.

I

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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tions if their fellows are not released soon. on the other hand, Maulana Hidayat ur rehman, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, Gwadar, has staged a protest in Gwadar for the last 11 days.

Maulana calls it “Gwadar ko haq do tehreek” (Give rights to Gwadar movement). He has multiple demands for the rights of citizens of Gwadar which have been infringed. The main demands include; illegal fishing to be abolished by trawlers, extra check-posts should be removed in Gwadar and Iran border to be made functional for the people. The other demands include an end to drugs, better educational facilities, right to dignity and so on.

Beginning on November 15, a government team led by provincial ministers met with Maulana in the protest on November 23 for negotiations, but were unsuccessful. The Maulana announced right after unsuccessful negotiations with the team to continue his protest because

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

Pakistan has to create a battalion of young lawyers and legal experts working within the government since lawfare based on legal instruments is being used in the current world order.

The USA and Iran are in a state of conflict for decades over the issue of the latter’s nuclear programme. The USA sanctioned Iran and halted trade, devalued the currency which crippled the economy permanently. But Iran sought international favour so that they could initiate a civil nuclear programme.

The international law court justified the programme of Iran and repudiated the USA lawfare move against Iran. The goods trade sanction against Iran has been removed at once and the USA failed with propaganda to eliminate Iran. The UNSC has reservations about the transnational issues between the countries. Iran countered the lawfare move of the USA and the International Law courts depreciated the unusual sanctions on Iran.

The most recent violation of treaty among gulf countries , the Qatar is open to us. The UAE ousted Qatar from Gulf state trade. The Qatar adopted the lawfare move in the ICJ where the proper documentation and legal file was produced to respect agreement the article treaty and ICJ looked into the matter and favoured the right of Qatar against UAE. The court has issued the stayed orders and restored the gulf state agreement. Like Qatar and Iran, the Kashmir issue is taking weightage at international level.

The issue has been debated at every international forum. The cause of free Kashmir and durable peace is at the attention of the UNo since the Subcontinent's partition. The resolutions have been passed in the favour of Pakistan that Kashmir shall be liberated from the atrocities of India. But, India is negating the resolution of UNo and rejecting the rights of UNSC broadly. Kashmir unites and resists covert attacks.

Pakistani lawfare move wins the right and reserves the option of defense at the ICJ. Pakistan has been put on the FATF grey list due to accusation that Pakistani soil is financed for terror and has become a safe haven for terrorists. The FATF members ask the concerns of the government to design solid laws to eradicate the chances of moneylaundering and financing the terrorist organizations.

He solidified determination of Pakistan nuclear capability that it shall not be confiscated by the terrorist.

The lawfare move regarding this issue sanctified Pakistan that nuclear capability is only for defense.

The tangible measures for Pakistan as the last stance for Fo such as domestic, regional and global challenges are broad. Pakistan can present its case more effectively if the battles in the courtroom are well fought. India's stance shall be of no importance on world level if Pakistan presents her strong case politically, morally and logically fair in the ICJ. Pakistan must redefine her position and adopt a policy of lawfare in the Foreign office so as to fight for its rights absolutely not only domestically but also at the ICJ. The writer is freelance columnis

he was not ‘satisfied’ with the government team.

The local body of Gwadar, on the other end, calls Maulana’s sit-in protest “point-scoring” as they claim that the government has fulfilled 11 important demands of the Maulana, and others are getting close to fulfillment. While some others, wanting to be unnamed, call Maulana controversial. “What he says is true, but he is not restrained by people who have censored and controlled the other politicians from speaking up, specifically in Gwadar.”

As Balochistan has been facing some serious leadership crises for the last couple of decades, the province direly needs to combine efforts of provincial and federal governments to sort out the given queries taking birth in Balochistan each day. on one side, the government committee failed to convince the protesting students in Balochistan University about their missing fellows, Sohail and Fassieh Baloch, and on the other end, the government could not satisfy Maulana Hidayat ur rehman about solving the issues of the citizens of CPEC city, Gwadar. In such circumstances, one wonders whether Balochistan is observed with the same eye or not.

As Balochistan has been facing some serious leadership crises for the last couple of decades, the province direly needs to combine efforts of provincial and federal governments to sort out the given queries taking birth in Balochistan each day. On one side, the government committee failed to convince the protesting students in Balochistan University about their missing fellows, Sohail and Fassieh Baloch, and on the other end, the government could not satisfy Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman about solving the issues of the citizens of CPEC city, Gwadar. In such circumstances, one wonders whether Balochistan is observed with the same eye or not

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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The writer is a freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

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The surging cases of divorce in Pakistan

A gravely ailing society At this critical juncture, there is a need to divorce the culture of crime and corruption

Candid Corner RAoof HAsAn “You cannot buy the revolution. You cannot make the revolution. You can only be the revolution. It is in your spirit, or it is nowhere.”

–Ursula K Le Guin

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NE is constantly witnessing incidents happening around us which are difficult to rationalise. It is impossible to drift along the surge because one understands that the ultimate destination of such a trajectory would be doom.

For a long time now, more so in the last three to four decades, we have been confronted with the growing challenge of making out right from wrong and vice versa.

Strangely, the society never woke up to the reality that so much was rotten in its midst which needed to be cleansed. We rolled along whatever came our way and never tried to weigh this against parameters of what is worthy of human pursuit and what is not. We took everything in the stride and never thought that it was our responsibility as citizens of the country, and as members of the larger community of people, to undertake only what was permitted within the ambit of law and morality. If at all, we left this job to others without realising that they, too, were consigned to a state of deep slumber. So, everything that brought benefits was kosher.

While every section of the society is guilty of grave dereliction, there are some who have played a much bigger role in cultivating this reprehensible moral decay. Beyond the influence of one’s parents and teachers, it is a degrading political culture which has dented the moral fibre of a whole society. No matter how one would look, it is a demeaning influence which has continued to degenerate further with the passage of time. Even more gruesome is the fact that virtually no one is sensitive to arresting this seemingly perpetual decay which has set in.

This has not happened in a few days or a few months. This process has been spread over years. Just when one thinks that we have hit the bottom, further space is created to continue the fall to unimaginable depths. And the process moves on unabated because there is no one realising the impact it has had on us and that it would have on our future generations.

We are in a nosedive – and quite a few seem

to be enjoying it because they are the beneficiaries of this decaying culture. Having made substantial contribution to nurturing the process, they seem to cherish reaping its lucrative dividends.

Instead of being a means of rendering public service, politics in this country has been a vehicle of accumulating the illicit. While different kinds of people made a sordid contribution to allow this to happen, there is one family that stands out in institutionalising corruption in the political arena: the house of the Sharifs Hailing from a business background, using money for securing lucrative contracts and evasion of taxes and duties was a daily routine.

That is why they did not feel any difficulty in introducing this scourge to buy the loyalties of people in the political domain. They first used the booty to make their entry in the arena of politics and then used more of it to elongate their stay there. No wonder they have been around for the last 40 years and believe that their progeny shall use the same methods to continue flourishing in the annals of notoriety.

So consummate and so elaborate has been their use of pelf for securing political power that no one comes even close in mastering the art.

From the grandfather to the fathers to the sons, daughters and grandchildren, they are all an entity unto themselves, difficult to match or replicate. Their stink is pungent and it is spread far and wide.

The Bhutto/Zardari clan also trod a similar path to advance their political fortunes. While the role Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto played in the dismemberment of the country is indisputable, he was not generally accused of financial corruption. With the induction of Asif Ali Zardari by virtue of his marriage with Benazir, it all changed very quickly. From selling his father’s cinema tickets in the black, he tried to do the same to the country with Benazir being a most willing partner in the crime. The couple’s conviction by the Swiss court is no secret. It was detestable to see the then Pakistani high commissioner in the UK carting the documents containing proofs of their complicity beyond harm’s way. When the Supreme Court took up the case, the then Prime Minister Yusuf raza Gillani refused to write a letter to the Swiss authorities to reopen the corruption case against his mentors. This led to his disqualification and consequent removal from the office as the chief executive of the country.

The scourge, by all indications, has been effectively passed on to the next Bhutto/Zardari generation who continue to elevate the indulgence to ever newer heights, all at the expense of the state exchequer.

With these two families in the lead, the others did not remain far behind. There were those who mastered various facets and forms of corruption while there were others for whom violence became a powerful vehicle for securing political relevance. So, politics as service to people was rendered subservient to it becoming a means for minting billions, part of which was reinvested to gain influence hoping that the criminal cycle would never end.

They could not do so alone. They had partners in this expanding business of corruption and crime, the merchants of the written and spoken word being the most important source of legitimising their illicitly secured resources.

This was not confined to a few of them alone.

Virtually the entire media industry was bought over through financial dole-outs valued at billions. Every little project that was inaugurated carried lucrative budgets for lavish distribution among the media houses. This is in addition to free rides to foreign lands as part of the official entourages and lavish spending on purchasing gifts for their entire families. It is no wonder why all of them want to see the back of Imran Khan, who brought an end to this heinous practice immediately after assumption of office as Prime Minister.

Maryam’s acknowledgement of the tape that caught her instructing people not to release any advertisements to a few channels because they were not parroting her party’s viewpoint is proof of their fascist tactics and the use of money for buying over the media.

Najam Sethi’s incitement to violence in a television programme to remove Imran Khan from power reflects the limit of desperation that has crept into their echelons. He, along with the channel that he used to put forth his diatribe, will have to answer the charges which will be levelled. This abominable state of desperation is likely to deteriorate further as more setbacks come their way in the future.

So, instead of carrying forth the foundational principles and values of the country as set forth by the Quaid in his maiden address to the first constituent assembly, these corrupt political dynasties have made it plunge to immeasurable depths of degeneration. It is difficult to imagine that people would be able to divorce this culture anytime soon as it has penetrated their psyches. When they see their rulers making easy and abundant pelf, they, too, believe they are within their right to take recourse to such practices themselves. The culture of duty to the state has been replaced with espousal of corrupt and criminal practices for filling up their coffers, not worried about the legitimacy or otherwise of the sources which are used for indulging in this nefarious practice.

This is where we are perched at this critical juncture in the country’s existence. The right is right and the wrong is also right. It is in such situations that the very best of people is required in terms of helping Pakistan face increasing challenges which are predominantly the product of the very same culture that people have adopted. Instead of banishing corrupt practitioners, if a nation adopts them, it is a sign of grave danger. If people cannot distinguish between what is right and what is not, it loses the right to exist as a self-respecting nation. The slide would inevitably continue and, in time, it endangers the survival of the state itself.

We stand at such a juncture in history.

There is an urgent need to correct our path and divorce this malaise that Pakistan has contracted through the evil machinations of its corrupt mafias headed by the Sharif and Bhutto/Zardari dynasties, with others not far behind in chipping in with their equally wicked contributions. They must all be ostracised.

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

Twitter: @RaoofHasan

DIVorCE is the most unlikable act in Islam but despite being an Islamic society, our society presents an increasing trend of divorces in Pakistan.

According to Gilani research Foundation Survey for 2020, 58% of Pakistanis opined that the divorce rate has increased in the country. There are many reasons behind such a trend, ranging from domestic abuse to possessing different perceptions about life. No matter, whoever initiates divorce proceedings, commonly a woman is blamed, especially if she is educated and a professional in the patriarchal society of Pakistan. Erroneously, male chauvinists regard such women not only the admirers of western ethos but also as a threat to our practices and traditions.

Moreover, as per the media sources, for a single month of January 2021, in rawalpindi alone, the family court issued 11 notices of Khula, while in 74 cases husbands filed for divorce. These statistics notion that the main contender of filling a divorce are still husbands, which in many cases are “unilateral” in nature. It may be because of the fact that not only families but the society, as well reassure a man that for him, it is easy to remarry as compared to a divorced woman. Secondly, the families and friends at times play a significant role in fanning the differences between the couples. In the majority of cases, the spoilers are on the male side.

In such a socio-cultural paradigm, no matter how unreasonable the cause of divorce is, often a husband takes this one-sided step. This is despite the fact that, while contracting a marriage, the permission of a woman is required, but in case of a split, this is no more a norm.

Through the 1961 Muslim Family Law ordinance (MFLo), divorce matters are streamlined via two main developments. First, Arbitration Council was constituted to mediate between the estranged partners. Nevertheless, its insignificant success rate, primarily because of its non-binding authority, hardly contributes to minimizing the divorce rate. People often ignore such notices, considering it a psychological and emotional awkwardness. Thus, the role of Ulemas is significant, who could sanitize the seriousness of such actions. Second, after hearing both parties, the Arbitration Council should be a binding authority, while finalizing divorces. Third, social training should be started. The only legal and religious step which could minimize this trend is a realistic ‘Haq Mehr’ as it is prescribed in Surah al-Nisa, which could provide women at least financial security, in case of a breakup instead of becoming a vehicle of hate and anger.

INSAF BROHI, HydeRABAd

The plight of senior citizens WHILE the state caters generously for its retired government officials and staff, who are provided subsidized housing during service, get generous pensions, plots along with tax reliefs on property post-retirement, their equally, or more, qualified professionals serving in private, public and SoE enterprises are neglected. Most of the direct income tax collected in this country is paid by professionals working in the private or public sector. Despite having paid taxes all their working life, there is absolutely no relief by the state to senior citizens including those who are above 70 years.

Professionals working in the private and public sector mostly do not receive any pension, or the amount is not sufficient enough to meet the minimum subsistence level. Even the most qualified professionals working in the private and public sectors save just enough money to build a house of their own. Their medical benefits post-retirement period is almost non-existent. In a country where there exists no reliable social security welfare system, their problems become more acute, given the likelihood of ailments occurring when they go beyond the age of 70 years. Given the insufficient pensionable emoluments, these senior citizens invest their lifelong savings and provident fund in National Saving Centre schemes like Pension Benefit Fund and Bahbood etc. to get enough income to meet their bare minimum needs. It is ironic that while in-service salaried persons get a tax-free relief of 6 Lakh on their annual emoluments, those who are retired are given tax relief of only rs 4 Lakh. The state should be generous enough to realize the enormity of problems faced by former salaried senior citizens from the private and public sector, who contributed to the development of this country and are still on the Active Filers list by giving them a more generous Tax-Free relief per annum or even consider waiving it in totality for those beyond 70 years. If the State can pay tax-free pensions to former government officers, they must exhibit the same generosity to retirees from the private and public sectors.

MALIK TARIQ ALI, LAHORe

China’s poverty eradication formula PoVErTY is a deep-rooted problem in society. It gives rise to other problems including hunger, diseases and even social conflicts and makes hindrance in people’s pursuit of a better lifestyle. China, which comprises one-fifth of the world population, has emerged victorious in the battle against poverty. It is China’s victory that it has solved its historical problem of poverty. While eradicating poverty, China has gone beyond the textbook theories and now it can provide new perceptions and formulas to fight against poverty at the global level. While fighting poverty, China has met the agendas of the United Nation for sustainable development 10 years ahead of schedule. In the last eight years, China’s 98.99 million impoverished rural residents living under the current poverty line have all been lifted out of poverty. The winning formula in China’s victory against poverty is the path of positive dialectical thinking and improving the whole mechanism of the pro-poor market. China turned the burden of poverty into the source of potential and used the human and natural resources in rural areas for the purpose of prosperity, development and eradicating poverty. By working on the local natural resources, under poverty line areas developed various small businesses subsequently boosting local economic growth and giving opportunities for employment. The key approach of China towards the reduction of poverty is to maintain the goal of national common prosperity by establishing a “pro-poor market” in which all the sectors will work jointly for the purpose of reduction of poverty. China has allocated sufficient resources for the field against poverty. Nearly 1.6 billion Yuan were allocated in each fiscal year to fight against poverty.

Many countries including Pakistan can get lessons from China for eradicating poverty. China, based on its own experience and theoretical ideas in poverty alleviation, is giving back to the human cause of ending poverty and providing a new reference for other countries and regions.

MUJeeB-UR-RAHMAN, KARAcHI

Sunday, 28 November, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

a new covid variant iS no SUrpriSe when rich coUntrieS are hoarding vaccineS WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE DESTROYING SURPLUS DOSES OF VACCINE WHILE THE POOREST NATIONS GO WITHOUT. THIS MUST CHANGE

GuaRDIan

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Gordon Brown

eSPITe the repeated warnings of health leaders, our failure to put vaccines into the arms of people in the developing world is now coming back to haunt us. we were forewarned – and yet here we are.In the absence of mass vaccination, Covid is not only spreading uninhibited among unprotected people but is mutating, with new variants emerging out of the poorest countries and now threatening to unleash themselves on even fully vaccinated people in the richest countries of the world.

On Thursday, the UK’s Department of Health, which has placed a travel ban on southern Africa, warned that the B.1.1.529 “Omicron” variant was the most “complex” and “worrying” seen so far. And yet with 9.1bn vaccines already manufactured and 12bn expected by the year’s end – enough to vaccinate the whole world – this was the “arms race” that we could have won. No country should be facing yet another winter with the uncertainty of a new wave of Covid

hanging over us.

On Monday, the world Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the world Health Organization, will meet in a special session. They will hear that vaccination rates in the six countries now subject to UK travel bans are still dangerously below the 40% target that was set for December. In Zimbabwe, only 25% have had a first vaccine and just 19% of the population are fully vaccinated. In Lesotho and eswatini, which have had the Johnson and Johnson single-shot vaccines, just 27% and 22% respectively have been vaccinated. In Namibia the figure is even lower: 14% vaccinated with only 12% fully vaccinated. while South Africa has achieved 27% vaccination rates, its rural areas are often in single figures, and the whole of the continent is justifiably angry because their own efforts to vaccinate have been impeded for months by the neo-colonialism of the european Union. even as the gap between the vaccines haves of europe and the vaccine have-nots of Africa mushroomed, the eU insisted on commandeering millions of South African-produced Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccines and sending them out of Africa into europe.

In June, Boris Johnson promised he and the G7 countries would use their sur-

plus vaccines to immunise the whole world. In September, at a summit chaired

by President Biden, a December target of 40% vaccination was set for the 92 poorest countries. Two and a half months on, there is little chance of this target being met in at least 82 of them. By Thursday the US, which to its credit has been responsible for half the vaccines donated, had still delivered only 25% of the vaccines that it promised.

The arithmetic of failure in the rest of the world is even more embarrassing. According to Airfinity, the european Union has delivered only 19%, the UK just 11% and Canada just 5%.

China and New Zealand have delivered over half of what was promised, but their pledges amounted to just 100m and 1.6m respectively. Australia has given just 18% of what it offered and Switzerland just 12%.

The result is that even now only 3% of people in low-income countries are fully vaccinated, while the figure exceeds 60% in both high-income countries and uppermiddle-income countries. every day, for every vaccine delivered as first vaccines in the poorest countries, six times as many doses are being administered as third and booster vaccines in the richest parts of the

SoUth africa iS right to feel aggrieved over the weSt’S reSponSe to omicron VIRUSES DON’T CARE ABOUT BORDERS. HOARDING VACCINES AND LOOKING AFTER NUMBER ONE IS SELF-DEFEATING InDEpEnDEnT

S

James moore

OUTH Africa did the right thing by the world in flagging up the discovery of a new coronavirus variant, Omicron, which is now ringing alarm bells very loudly.Its reward for this was Britain slapping an immediate ban on flights from the country, with others rapidly following suit.This is not the first time South Africa has identified a new variant.

Beta was, for example, documented in the country at the tail end of last year. It is one of a number of world Health Organisation-designated “variants of concern”.

But it has so far proven to be a relative flyweight when compared to the rampaging Delta.

Omicron may be different. Scientists have been voicing concerns about its multiple mutations affecting the critical spike proteins, used by the virus to invade cells. It may be more transmissible than even Delta. It may have the capacity to evade antibodies/vaccines.It’s quite possible that Britain’s swift reaction was motivated, at least in part, by the government’s previous leaden-footed and lackadaisical approach to its borders. while more research is clearly needed before conclusions can be drawn about this new nasty, the hard fact is that it is impossible to argue against a policy of safety first – which is how Transport Secretary Grant Shapps put it. Covid has a proven ability to throw the curveball or the Googly. whether the UK government has truly learned, the lessons of its past failures remain open to question. where South Africa has genuine cause for complaint, where the whole continent of Africa has cause for complaint as the air travel bans fly, is over the west’s previous hoarding of vaccines, and the slow and patchy supply to the rest of the world.

I’m writing this secure, well secure-ish, in the knowledge that I’ve had three shots. Two primary Oxford AstraZeneca vaccinations and a Pfizer booster. So

I’m in possession of one of those flashy comprehensive cover insurance policies that’ll deliver a courtesy car if you get in a prang, and send the AA out if it won’t start.

The problem is, nearly half the world has no cover at all. Just 29 per cent of South Africa’s population has had at least one dose, with only 24 per cent fully covered, less than half Britain’s number. Nearly one in four of this country’s citizens have had three shots.And South Africa is actually near the top of the league in Africa. The figures for the Democratic Republic of Congo are 0.1 per cent first jab and 0.1 per cent fully vaccinated. Single figure percentages can be found all over the continent.

Rich, western, countries signed contracts with big pharma to ensure they got more doses than they needed, and sometimes engaged in unsightly pissing contests, such as the one between the AstraZeneca, the UK and the eU, while they were at it. Meanwhile, large parts of the world were left to swing in the viral wind.

The problem with doing that is now being made abundantly clear. Viruses don’t care about borders. where they’re allowed to freely spread in unvaccinated populations, they will mutate and create new variants, which have the capacity to take hold before the wHO has even classified them as “of interest” yet alone “of concern”.

Donations have been pledged. But they have not been delivered. The wHO previously projected that Africa needed about 270m doses to reach a target of 10 per cent fully vaccinated by the end of September. By the last day of the month, it had received 200m, 70m light of the requirement.

This has made some people angry and uncomfortable. They’ve even boycotted boosters. But that is ultimately a self-indulgent form of protest because it won’t result in the delivery of a single extra shot to where they’re most needed.

A donation to an organisation like Unicef and a letter to the local MP would be a more constructive means of moving the needle and moving needles to where they’re desperately needed.

world. This vaccine inequality is the main reason why the wHO is predicting 200 million more cases on top of the 260 million so far. And after 5 million deaths to Covid, another 5 million are thought to be possible in the next year and more. what’s most galling is that this policy failure is not because we are short of vaccines or manufacturing contracts to secure them. The problem is not now in production (2 billion doses of vaccine are being manufactured every month), but in the unfairness of distribution. The stranglehold exercised by the G20 richest countries is such that they have monopolised 89% of vaccines, and even now, 71% of future deliveries are scheduled for them. As a result, the global vaccine distribution agency, Covax, has been able to secure only twothirds of the 2bn vaccines promised to poorer countries.

The good news is that our medical genius has ensured that the new Omicron variant has been identified quickly; is being sequenced at speed; and, if it proves not only more transmissible but immune to current vaccines, a new vaccine could potentially soon emerge. But given the contrast between the success of our scientists and the failure of our global leaders, only a herculean effort starting this week can allay fears that new mutations among unvaccinated people in the least-protected places will take Covid into a third year – with even fifth, sixth and seventh waves. we can act quickly. As of today, 500m unused vaccines are available across the G7. By December, the figure will rise to 600m, and by February, it will be 850m

vaccines, which can be sent to the countries in greatest need. At the last count, the US has 162m vaccine doses it could immediately deliver to the rest of the world, a figure that grows to 250m next month; europe currently has even more: 250m, which

by February could exceed 350m. The UK has 33m vaccines – expected to rise to 46m over the next three months.

The alternative is too awful to contemplate; vaccines are being destroyed while lives are being lost through lack of them. According to the data research agency Covax, around 100m of western countries’ vaccines will pass their use-by dates in December and could easily go to waste. Of course, there will be issues of absorption in Africa, but the bigger problem is that too many of the vaccines gifted to the poorest countries are within 12 weeks of their “use-by-dates”. These short lead times between donation and expiry show why a strengthened G20 and a month-to-month delivery timetable is now urgent; and why the expeditious transferring of delivery dates, from rich to poor countries – as has happened with Switzerland’s recent transfer to Covax – is the best way of speeding up the transfer of unused vaccines to where they are needed most.

Nothing so dramatically illustrates the urgent need for what might be called a pandemic non-proliferation treaty. A new and binding international agreement that the world Health Assembly will consider next week must improve our surveillance and early warning systems, ensure the early transfer of medical supplies to countries in need, and finally agree sufficient funding of a worldwide effort to deliver what is clearly the most important global public good of all: cross-border control of infectious disease. Only when we reject vaccine nationalism and medical protectionism will we stop outbreaks becoming pandemics.

Gordon Brown is the WHO ambassador for global health financing, and was UK prime minister from 2007 to 2010.

US tech giantS aren’t monopolieS, they are engaged in fiercely competitive marketS

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BLOOMBERG EDITORS

ew issues have generated more misguided legislation in this Congress than antitrust reform. The latest addition to this regrettable canon shows exactly what’s at stake.This month, Senators Amy Klobuchar (of Minnesota) and Tom Cotton (of Arkansas) introduced the Platform Competition and Opportunity Act of 2021. It’s a companion bill to one that was introduced in the House — along with four likeminded proposals — in June, and its goal is relatively simple: It would effectively ban big tech companies from making acquisitions, on the theory that this would stimulate competition and better serve consumers.

That theory, offered as though it were self-evident, is in fact dubious. Mergers and acquisitions are typically a spur to efficiency, not a barrier, because they allow companies to create synergies, boost productivity, diversify risk, and gain economies of scale or scope. In the American tech business, these benefits are especially pronounced.

Acquisitions allow platforms to instantly bring new products to a huge market. They reward investors for taking a chance on promising startups.

They encourage entrepreneurship, innovation and the tolerance for failure that has made the U.S. venture-capital market so strikingly successful.

By banning mergers, the bill could destroy this ecosystem. Perversely, it would actually make it harder for new entrants to disrupt existing markets. By placing the burden of proof in merger reviews on companies rather than the government, it would shift the balance of power away from the courts and toward politically appointed bureaucrats. Its very purpose is to dethrone the consumer-welfare standard that has guided U.S. antitrust policy for decades — and has helped make America’s tech sector the envy of the world.

The digital economy now makes up 9.6% of U.S. gross domestic product, almost as much as manufacturing. It employs nearly 8 million Americans, produces an enormous variety of desirable products, and often gives them away for free. If this is an industry in need of a radical intervention, what do these lawmakers imagine would constitute success?

The senators say they’re addressing “our nation’s monopoly problem,” but they offer no evidence that the targeted businesses are in fact monopolies. There’s a good reason for that. The

THE THEORY THAT BANNING BIG TECH COMPANIES FROM MAKING ACQUISITIONS WOULD STIMULATE COMPETITION IS DUBIOUS. MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS ARE TYPICALLY A SPUR TO EFFICIENCY, NOT A BARRIER companies in the crosshairs — Amazon.com, Apple, Google and Facebook — might be big, but by any traditional metric they’re are engaged in fiercely competitive markets.Notice that the bill’s new strictures would apply only to companies with net annual sales or market capitalizations exceeding $600 billion — “as of the date of enactment.” That would ensnare the likes of Amazon and Facebook, but any incumbent currently below that threshold would be free to strive for greater market power. Coincidentally, two of those would-be rivals are Target (of Minnesota) and walmart (of Arkansas).

Setting aside the suspicion of home-state cronyism, this design is revealing. It effectively concedes that Amazon is not an unassailable monopoly and that the e-commerce market is in fact intensely competitive. Reality concurs: Both retailers are growing faster than Amazon in e-commerce, all three are engaged in a fierce pricing war, and the benefits — cheaper goods, faster delivery, greater variety — accrue to everyone.

Amazon has a market share of about 40% in ecommerce and less than 7% in overall retail, not close to a monopoly by any standard.

If legislators feel that tech mergers demand added scrutiny, they should provide more resources to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission for that purpose. If they object to specific business practices among tech firms, they should outlaw them. what they should not do is harness antitrust enforcement to vague and unrelated objectives, while recklessly destabilizing one of the country’s most successful industries.

Sunday, 28 November, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS corporate corner Pakistan Navy Ship Tughril Visits Philippines

No SALES TAx FoR GoVERNMENT oN PETRoLEuM PRoDuCTS: FINANCE DIVISIoN ISLAMABAD

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app

Ministry of Finance spokesperson on Saturday clarified the government was not receiving any sales tax on the sale of petroleum products. Talking to a news channel, Muzzammil Aslam said the in-

crease of levy does not increase the price of fuel.

The taxes on M-2 motorway has increased due to the agreements signed by the previous governments but it was not informed to the public.

After the talks between the government and International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded to resume the stalled bailout package, the government increased the taxes on luxury goods but not on the

EscAPE from KAbul ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy Ship TUGHRIL visited Port of Manila, Philippines as part of good will visit and flag showing mission. Upon arrival at port, Pakistan Navy Ship TUGHRIL was received by Ambassador of Pakistan in Philippines, Defence Attaché of Pakistan and officials of Philippines Navy. During port visit, Flag Officer in Command of Philippines Navy Vice Admiral Adelaide S Bordado, Executive Vice President National Defense College Philippine Capt (Philippine Navy Reserves) Aldarin C Cuna, Ambassador of Pakistan in Philippines HE Mr Dr Imtiaz Ahmad Kazi and Head of Chancery Ms Sadia Awan visited onboard PNS TUGHRIL and called on Commanding Officer of the Ship Captain Shahid Ahmed. During the interaction, matters of mutual interest, common maritime security objectives and enhancing naval collaborations were discussed. Visiting dignitaries were briefed about Pakistan Navy role in Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and training capabilities. On the occasion Commanding Officer Pakistan Navy Ship conveyed well wishes from Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi for the people of Philippines in general and Philippines Navy in particular. Visit of PNS TUGHRIL to Philippines provided an opportunity for both countries to further enhance the existing close diplomatic ties and cordial relations. pR

Air Chief witnesses All Pakistan Bilingual Declamation Contest-2021 held at PAF Academy Asghar Khan

All Pakistan Bilingual Declamation Contest-2021 was held at PAF Academy Asghar Khan, Risalpur. Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force was the chief guest on the occasion. The Air Chief lauded talented youth from premier academic institutions of Pakistan who participated in the contest. The chief guest emphasized the significance of co-curricular activities for the wholesome grooming of the students. First prize in English speech was awarded to Pre Cadet Muhammad Ali of PAF College Sargodha, while the first prize in Urdu speech was won by Gentleman Cadet Usaid Usmani of Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul. The coveted trophy of All Pakistan Bilingual Declamation Contest-2021 was won by the team of Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul. The declamation contest was followed by a highly entertaining Variety Show presented by the Academy Dramatics Club.

All Pakistan Bilingual Declamation Contest has been a regular feature in the academic training calendar of PAF Academy, Asghar Khan since 1974. It has over the years become a prestigious event for leading universities, colleges, and institutions from all over the country. The event was attended by a large number of members of participating institutions as well as high ranking officials of PAF. pR

A gay man dodges death at the hands of the Taliban The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan more than 100 days ago, following the fall of the capital Kabul on August 15.

The militant group have promised a softer brand of rule than the radical form of law they enforced from 1996 until 2001 when they were ousted by US-led forces.

But concern is growing for LGBT+ Afghans, some of whom are on the run fearing death. Even before the Taliban takeover, LGBT+ people said it was too dangerous to live openly in Afghanistan.

But under the Taliban’s extreme interpretation of Islam, LGBT+ Afghans say they could be punished with death, especially if international attention fades.

One gay man, whose name and age we are withholding for his own safety, spoke with the Thomson Reuters Foundation about how he escaped being lynched by the Taliban in a Kabul marketplace before fleeing across the border into Pakistan.

Here he tells his story.

It was 10 o’clock in the morning and I had left the house for the first time since the government collapsed and the Taliban had taken power.

I was walking away from a food store when I turned and suddenly saw two Taliban members. They were very scary with curly long hair, long beards and wearing traditional clothes.

They were just like the ones I had seen in the video clips online where they beheaded people.

When I saw them, my heart started beating harder and harder and I started panicking. But I told myself I must keep calm and try and move on.

But as I went past, trying to be as humble as I could, putting my head down and looking at the street, they shouted: “Hey you! Stop!

You must stop!”

And then they asked me to get my phone out.

Now I was really frightened and I lost the ability to talk; I was already shivering.

I said I don’t have a cell phone. But then the Taliban started searching me and found it in my pocket. I completely lost all the courage I had carried for two weeks since the collapse of the government.

I was caught red-handed as I knew I had gay material on the phone. I said I don’t use this cell phone and that I’d forgotten the password. But then he used my finger to open it.

He first went to my contacts and then started searching the gallery, and when he saw there were (gay-related) photos and videos he gave me a really strong slap across the face.

He said you must have been fucked many times and started using really abusive words.

At that time, the crowd started gathering.

I’m very thankful that the crowd didn’t know what was going on. Because if they had known, I’m sure they would have joined hands and I wouldn’t have come out alive.

After beating me, one Taliban was trying to fend off the crowd while the other was dragging me away by my hair towards a police car.

He said, “We are going to hang you — so that you will be an example for others.”

That was very frightening for me to hear, but I said to myself, “I can’t let my life end here.”

You know when you feel death? When death comes, the brain starts working and you try to find options to survive.

So I just figured that I would try to pull my hair with as much power as I could no matter how painful it would be. I had to run from these two men. I managed to get loose, but when the other one saw he got out his gun and fired in the air and then the other one also started firing. ReuteRs

Pakistan nationals among 487 migrants rescued off Tunisia’s coast ISLAMABAD ReuteRs

The Tunisian navy rescued 487 migrants from an overloaded boat that ran into difficulty in rough seas in the Mediterranean as they tried to reach Europe. The vessel was carrying migrants from Pakistan, Egypt, Syria, Sudan, Ethiopia and the Palestinian territories. The navy said they included 13 women and 93 children.

In recent months, several drowning incidents have occurred off Tunisia, with an increase in the frequency of attempted crossings from Tunisia and Libya towards Italy.

Hundreds of thousands of people have made the perilous Mediterranean crossing in recent years, many of them fleeing conflict and poverty in Africa and the Middle East.

The migrants were taken to the port of El Kit in Ben Guerdane.

Nato chief seeks regular military contact with Pakistan WASHINGTON staff RepoRt

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance sought to continue regular military contact with Pakistan and the recent visit of a highlevel military delegation from Islamabad to its headquarters in Brussels was a “part of that process”.

Stoltenberg was responding to a question posed by the correspondent of a Pakistan news channel during a press conference late Friday.

“What is the state of affairs between NATO and Pakistan, particularly regarding Afghanistan? And, in addition to that, will you be willing to

09

support through your infrastructure to Afghan people if there is humanitarian aid required?” Khalid Hameed Farooqi had asked.

“The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is dire, dire, and very difficult and this is of course of great concern for all of us. And winter is coming. And we know that many people are at risk of suffering and having a very difficult time throughout the winter,” Stoltenberg responded according to a transcript of the presser.

“Therefore, I welcome that many NATO Allies are providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, through the UN, and through different relief organizations. I think this is extremely important and something which

demonstrates the will, and the commitment, of NATO Allies to continue to support the people of Afghanistan.

“This is something they do through the UN, and different bilateral arrangements, and relief organizations. And I think that’s the best [… ] of organizing these kinds of humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan.”

About Pakistan, the Nato secretary general said: “When it comes to Pakistan, NATO has had regular contacts with Pakistan for many, many years. Of course, not least discussing the situation in Afghanistan.

We have political contacts, we have regular military contacts and dialogue and I think this is important

that this continues because there are still many challenges in the region, especially related to the future of Afghanistan.”

Touching on tensions with Russia, Stoltenberg said Moscow has amassed heavy military equipment, tanks and combat-ready troops near Ukraine and warned that any use of force against Ukraine would be costly for the Eastern European nation.

He also said he expected the new German federal government to spend more on its armed forces and welcomed its decision to continue hosting Western nuclear weapons in Germany.

“I expect Germany to invest more in its military,” Stoltenberg said.

items of daily use.

The Fund has also asked the government to submit the audit report of coronavirus funds, he said.

Aslam said the impact of decreasing prices of petroleum products at the international markets would be fruitful for the government.

He also appreciated the role of media in informing the people about the complete picture.

ZEM Builders won the ‘Brand of the Year’ award at 33rd RCCI International Achievement Awards

ZEM Builders won the ‘Brand of the Year’ award for redefining the real estate industry of Pakistan at 33rd RCCI International Achievement Awards held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The awards aim to recognize the efforts of brands and business personalities for contributing to the economy of the country and for creating business opportunities. ZEM Builders bagged the 'Best builder Brand of the Year' award for their exceptional approach and extraordinary endeavors in the real estate industry over the past 15 years.

Continuing its legacy since 2016, RCCI aims to recognize the work of the business community of Pakistan in combating economic crises. The event is attended by thousands of business elite including members from chambers of commerce, senior members of prestigious companies, and social personalities associations, business groups, and individuals. Besides, RCCI presented 40 other awards to different business entities. The ceremony was also clubbed with melodic performances by renowned artists and singers. ZEM Builders, the RCCI brand of the year award winner, is a renowned real estate organization in Pakistan. Over the last 15 years, ZEM Builders has revolutionized real estate in Pakistan by introducing projects focusing on cutting-edge design and sustainable development. ZEM is determined to bring world-class living and best practices of real estate to Pakistan. pR

GM SNGPL briefs on measures taken to ensure sufficient supplies to customers in Peak Winter - A Special Control Room has been established in SNGPL office where Company officers will be available round the clock for quick response against any consumer complaints.

The details were shared with CM office as well.

- SNGPL replaced total 77 KMs old leaking and damaged Pipelines of 4", 2" and 1" dia during FY 2020-21 in Peshawar city and charsadda amounting to Rs. 189 Million approx to facilitate its customers in ensuring sufficient supplies.

- SNGPL is carrying out replacement of further 174 KMs old leaking and damaged network of 4", 2" and 1" dia during FY 2021-22 amounting to Rs. 513 Million. The network is being replaced in Areas of Peshawar like Nothia Qadeem, Nothia Jadeed, Gulberg, Charsadda road, Nasir bagh road, Gulbahar, Ijazabad, Tajabad and Pajjagi road.

- In the suburbs of Peshawar prone to theft and losses due to illegal taps and damages to our network, SNGPL is carrying out pilot project of Rehabilitation of 30KMs of its network having financial impact of Rs. 50 Million with provision of 25,000 domestic connections.

-Campaign has been started against illegal use of compressors with mass awareness through media and gas supplies are disconnected from consumers found using compressors.

- In order to augment the undersized transmission Network supplying gas to district charsadda and Khazana Charsadda road Peshawar and the distribution network in Peshawar and Kohat, various projects having total financial impact of Rs. 2.7 Billion are being executed. 10" dia Transmission pipeline is under execution having Cost of Rs. 1.5 Billion. 16" dia operational phase having cost of Rs.411 Million is being laid for Kohat City and Cantonment.

Various operational phases of 12",8",6" and 4" dia have been laid and commissioned In Peshawar city during FY 2020-21 having cost of Rs.700 Million. To further augment the network of Peshawar city, various operational phases of 6" and 4" dia are being laid during FY 2021-22 having cost of Rs. 101 Million. The Operational phases are being laid in various areas like Safiabad, Wazirbagh Peshawar city, Safi Town Peshawar city, Nasir Bagh road Peshawar, Nothia Charkha Khel Peshawar, Tehkal Bala and Tehkal Payan Peshawar, Academy town Peshawar. pR

Sunday, 28 November, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

10 FOREIGN NEWS

ChIna, RussIa, IndIa Called on to get out of ‘demoCRaCy tRaP’ nEwS DESk

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HINA, Russia and India have embarked on development paths suited to their own national conditions and they have the responsibility to foster a correct view of democracy, get out of the “democracy trap” of certain countries and oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs under the pretext of democracy.

The remarks were made by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, adding that the US organized ‘democracy summit’ will create division and only bring negative energy to the world.

This is a rare breakthrough in ties between the three countries as India has been of late siding by its ally, United States of America in major policy decisions. However, the increasing concerns in the US about the autocratic governance by Indian premier Narendra Modi and the targeting of Indian minorities by BJP-led ruling coalition has

upset the US government.

Wang made the remarks while attending the 18th Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of China, Russia and India on Friday through video link.

He said that the US-organized “Summit for Democracy” will draw lines based on one country’s standards and create division and confrontation, which will only bring negative energy to the world.

The US sees itself as the world leader, asking other countries to follow its lead, which violated the democratization process of international relations.

The practice of democracy varies according to different national conditions and cannot be one template or one standard, Wang said.

He said China is ready to work with India and Russia to send positive signal to the world in practicing true multilateralism, boosting democratization process of international relations and jointly tackle COVID-19

and offer China-Russia-India proposals and strength for the uncertain world.

Wang made five proposals on further strengthening trilateral cooperation, including practicing true multilateralism to oppose attempt of new cold war and zero-sum game, respect the legitimate rights of countries and their rights in selecting their own development paths and jointly tackle hot issues through dialogue.

Wang also called on China, Russia and India to cooperate on vaccine research and production, mutual recognition of related standards and stick to scientific tracing of virus sources.

Both Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the three countries should firmly uphold the core status of the United Nations and support true and effective multilateralism. Russia and India supported China to be the rotating presidency of the meeting.

UAE says 100pc of population received one COVID-19 jab ABU DHABi AFP

100 percent of the United Arab Emirates’ population has received at least one dose of a vaccine against COVID-19, the health ministry has said.

The announcement late Friday came amid growing global concern over a new Covid variant dubbed Omicron that was first detected

by South Africa. The World Health Organization said the new variant is more infectious than the dominant,

highly transmissible Delta strain, and several countries, including the UAE, have restricted travel from a number of South African countries. According to the UAE health ministry, “a total of 21,802,032 doses” of Covid vaccine have been

administered in the Gulf Arab nation. “100% (of the population) have received one dose” while “90.18% are fully vaccinated”. The UAE — a federation of seven emirates — is home to around 10 million people, a majority of whom are expats. The energy-rich Arab country was considered as far back as July a leader in terms of population in inoculating people against COVID-19.

In October, the UAE declared it had overcome the coronavirus crisis after recording its lowest number of infections that month. The UAE has so far recorded more than

741,000 cases of COVID19, including 2,145 deaths.

New COVID-19 VarIaNt OmICrON: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday categorized a newly found coronavirus variant in South Africa as a “variant of concern.” On November 9, WHO released a report stating that the initial infection was detected in a sample and named it Omicron, a letter in Greek alphabet. Scientists believe the new variant, also known as B.1.1.529, is linked to the recent “exponential rise” in COVID-19 infections in Gauteng, South Africa’s most populous province.

World races to contain new Covid-19 threat, the omicron variant BRUSSELS The AssociATed Press

Nearly two years into the Covid-19 pandemic, the world raced Friday to contain a new coronavirus variant potentially more dangerous than the one that has fueled relentless waves of infection on nearly every continent.

A World Health Organization panel named the variant “omicron” and classified it as a highly transmissible virus of concern, the same category that includes the predominant delta variant, which is still a scourge driving higher cases of sickness and death in Europe and parts of the United States. “It seems to spread rapidly,” US President Joe Biden said of the new variant, only a day after celebrating the resumption of Thanksgiving gatherings for millions of American families and the sense that normal life was coming back at least for the vaccinated. In announcing new travel restrictions, he told reporters, “I’ve decided that we’re going to be cautious.”

Omicron’s actual risks are not understood. But early evidence suggests it carries an increased risk of reinfection compared with other highly transmissible variants, the WHO said.

That means people who contracted Covid-19 and recovered could be subject to catching it again.

Putin to fly to India in a rare trip abroad AgEnciES Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to India next month, in only his second trip abroad since the Covid-19 pandemic began two years ago, the Kremlin said Friday.

Moscow said the Russian leader will go to India on December 6 for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Putin has only left Russia once during the pandemic — to meet US President Joe Biden in Geneva in June. In a statement, the Kremlin said Putin and Modi will hold talks on furthering the “privileged strategic partnership” between Russia and India. It said the pair will discuss their “joint work” within the G20, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) group, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) — an eight-member group that promotes itself as an antidote to Western geopolitical dominance. The talks are expected to be centred around the deliveries of Russia’s S-400 air defence systems and Sputnik V coronavirus vaccines to India. India is a major buyer of Russian military hardware. In 2018, it ordered Moscow’s S-400 missile defence system despite the threat of US sanctions over the $5.4-billion deal.

Sunday, 28 November, 2021 | ISLAMABAD

SPORTS 11

PakiStan outclaSS EgyPt in HockEy Junior World cuP IsLAMABAD APP

Shoaib Malik says no plans for hanging boots in near future KARACHI News Desk

Former cricket captain and all-rounder Shoaib Malik has said that he no plan of ‘immediate retirement’ and wants to continue playing till one-day Cricket World Cup. Speaking at the launch of his perfume brand here, Malik who accompanies his wife Sania Mirza, said that he doesn’t want to drag around unnecessarily, but retirement is not in his immediate plans at the moment. “I have discussed my future plan with Babar Azam who needs me in the squad.

(Hence) I am not thinking about retirement at all,” he said. “And this is not just my decision, the team captain also wants me in the team. I did discuss plans with him and Babar told me that he wants me so that he could prepare replacements and develop new players,” the former captain said. The experienced all-rounder said that he has achieved a lot in his long career but there’s one thing that he’s missing in his cabinet. Asked what’s that, Shoaib Malik said Cricket World Cup. “The 50-overs world cup was something that I wanted to win but I couldn’t. I’ve been part of T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy wins, but couldn’t win the one-day World Cup,” he said. Shoaib Malik announced his retirement from ODIs in 2019 after Pakistan’s campaign ended miserably without reaching the top four. Recalling Pakistan’s performance in the recently concluded T20 World Cup, the former captain said that every player gave his best to win this cup, but it wasn’t just their day in the semi-finals. “We all wanted to win the cup, we all gave our best, but at the end of the day its game and one has to win and one loses, we were on the losing side in the semi-finals, unfortunately,” he said.

Replying to a question, Shoaib Malik said that he has hardly spent 3 or 4 years with his wife Sania Mirza in the married life of around 12 years due to professional commitments.

“Sometimes I am busy with Cricket and sometimes she’s busy with Tennis. And, this is something that I miss – opportunity to spend the time with family,” he concluded.

Pakistan outplayed Egypt by 3-1 in the pool D match of the World Junior Hockey Cup in Bhubaneswar, India on Saturday.

According to details, Pakistan’s Rizwan Ali scored three brilliant goals on penalty corners while Awad Husein scored a field goal for Egypt in the 22nd minute of the game.

Both teams displayed top notch in the game by counter attacking each other’s goal post.

However, Pakistan played better on the day and attacked the Egyptian goal post several times while Egypt’s goalkeeper Mahmoud Saleem defended well.

Pakistan’s Rizwan Ali took advantage of penalty corners in the 19th, 32nd and 53rd minutes of the game to score three goals and set the hat-trick of the match.

Vice-captain Moin Shakeel was declared man of the match.

On the occasion, Moin said they followed the plan given by the coach and took advantage of the penalty corners.

“We would adopt a better match strategy against Argentina in our last pool match,” he said.

Pak vs Ban: Abid, Abdullah give tourists solid platform with an unbroken opening century stand

AFP Chittagong: An unbroken opening century stand by Abid Ali and debutant Abdullah Shafique gave Pakistan a solid platform after bowling out Bangladesh for 330 on day two of the first Test in Chittagong on Saturday.

Ali closed in on his fourth Test century to stay unbeaten on 93 while Shafique was batting on 52 as Pakistan reached 145-0 at stumps, 185 shy of Bangladesh’s first innings total.

Pace bowler Hasan Ali led Pakistan earlier with the ball,

Australia’s Pat Cummins not interested in white-ball captaincy ReuteRs Pat Cummins is focused on doing justice to his appointment as Australia’s new Test captain and believes limited-overs leadership would be “too much” for him, the 28-year-old said on Saturday. Cummins is the first Australia paceman to lead the team in 65 years after Tim Paine stood down earlier this month following a “sexting” scandal.

Limited-over skipper Aaron Finch led Australia to their maiden Twenty20 World Cup title earlier this month, and Cummins reckoned split-captaincy suited them.

“It’s probably too early to say, mainly because I start this role and see where we go,” Cummins was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press.

“My gut feeling and preference at the moment is to have separate captains.

“I think it’s too much to ask, certainly of me. I’d love to just concentrate on Test cricket.

“Aaron’s doing a fantastic job,” Cummins said, saying it was best to have “someone who can take the whiteball squad teams to make it their own, take it in their own direction”. “At the moment I’m purely focused on Tests,

finishing with 5-51, his sixth five-wicket, which kept Bangladesh in check after the hosts resumed with 253-4 in the morning. Ali’s spell was complemented by Faheem Ashraf’s 3-54 and Shaheen Afridi’s 2-70.

Liton Das top-scored with 114 for Bangladesh, adding just one run to his overnight score, while Mushfiqur Rahim, who was unbeaten on 82 at the end of the opening day’s play, fell for 91 runs.

Mehidy Hasan struck an unbeaten 38 to take Bangladesh to the 300-run mark before Hasan claimed two wickets in two balls to bring an end to Bangladesh’s innings. Pakistan had Bangladesh on the ropes on day one at 49-4 but the hosts fought back thanks to Liton and Mushfiqur.

Pakistan looked sharp right from the start of the second day’s play when Hasan trapped Liton leg-before in the second over of the morning.

Struck on his backfoot, Liton was initially given not out but Pakistan successfully reviewed the decision. Liton, who shared 206 runs with Mushfiqur in the fifth wicket, hit 11 fours and a six in his 233-ball innings.

Hasan then dismissed Yasir Ali for four with a fine inswinger that rattled the leg and middle stumps of the debutant. Faheem took a thin edge from the bat of Mushfiqur, effectively ending Bangladesh’s chance for a big total.

Mushfiqur struck 11 fours in his 225-ball stay at the crease. that will stay the same” for the foreseeable future.

Finch, 35, is keen to lead the team at least until the 50-overs World Cup in India in 2023, after which Australia may need to find his successor.

Cummins, who has insisted he does not want to miss Test cricket, said he has been flooded with messages since landing the Test captain’s role but the feeling had not sunk in yet. “Probably not fully,” he said after a practice session on the Gold Coast. “I think until I walk out at the Gabba and see a big home crowd, pull on the Baggy Green [cap] and go out for the toss — that’s when it’ll probably hit me. It’s a bit of a weird feeling.” The Gabba Stadium in Brisbane will host the first Ashes Test against England from December 8.

Muslim Club Chaman downs Baloch Club Quetta to clinch Ufone 4G Balochistan Football Cup title QuettA News Desk

A formidable footballing side, Muslim Club Chaman has registered an emphatic win over Baloch Club Quetta in the final match of Ufone 4G Balochistan Football Cup 2021 to lift the champions trophy. The sensational match was watched by thousands of football enthusiasts here at Quetta’s iconic Ayub Stadium, besides thousands more who caught the action live through PTV Sports. Muslim Club Chaman (MCC) dominated the game right from the start by benefiting from Baloch Club Quetta’s defensive demeanor. In just seven minutes into the match, Muhammad Hanif of Muslim Club Chaman scored a beautiful goal by overriding Baloch Club’s defenses. The early goal came as a confidence shaker and exerted massive pressure on Baloch Club whilst putting Muslim Club Chaman in a comfortable commanding position.

Baloch Club despite repeated attempts couldn’t switch to the attacking mode, giving Muslim Club the chance to keep possession of the ball most of the time. In the 67th minute of the match, Muhammad Hanif capitalized on a lethal mistake by one of the opponent defenders and successfully sent the ball wheezing past the goalkeeper to seal the fate of Baloch Club Quetta.

Baloch Club Quetta shifted gears towards the last minutes of the game by making one last ditched effort to stage a comeback but it fell short to lose the match 2-0. A simple yet high spirited prize distribution ceremony followed in which the winner, runner ups, semifinalists and quarterfinalists were awarded medals and cash prizes.

The supporters of Muslim Club Chaman went into frenzy as soon as their team captain lifted the shiny champions trophy to thunderous applause, whistling and joyful sloganeering.

Hasan Ali takes 5-51 against Bangladesh in first Test CHAttOGRAM The AssociATeD Press

Fast bowler Hasan Ali took five wickets for 51 runs as Bangladesh was dismissed for 330 in its first innings of the opening cricket Test against Pakistan on Saturday.

Ali broke Bangladesh’s resistance in the first session of the second day, when the home side resumed on 253-4. He took four wickets Saturday with Bangladesh adding just 77 runs.

His sixth five-wicket haul in Tests was complemented by his new-ball partner Shaheen Afridi, who had 2-70, and mediumpacer Faheem Ashraf, 2-54. For Bangladesh, Liton Das top-scored with 114 after hitting his maiden century and Mushfiqur Rahim added 91. Mehidy Hasan was not out on 38.

As Bangladesh appeared to extend its domination after a good first day, Ali gave them a setback in the second over, dismissing Liton.

Liton, starting the day with 113, could

add just one run before Ali had him out legbefore wicket.

Day one: On day one of the match Friday, Das had hit his maiden century as Bangladesh recovered from a shaky start to reach 253-4.

He and Mushfiqur Rahim combined for an undefeated 204-run partnership after Bangladesh were reduced to 49-4 in the first session. They kept the Pakistan bowlers at bay from the first half of the morning session through the entire second and third sessions.

At stumps owing to bad light, Liton was on 113 and Mushfiqur on 82. The first hour belonged to the Pakistan fast bowlers, who utilised the early moisture on the pitch.

Opener Saif Hasan hit fast bowler Hasan Ali for two boundaries in the second over to hint at a good start for Bangladesh.

Opening partner Shadman Islam struggled against Shaheen Shah Afridi, who moved the ball well, but Saif grew with confidence, driving the left-arm pacer through mid-off for four.

Afridi broke through with the next delivery when Saif fended a short delivery to a short leg for 14. Shadman also fell for 14, as Ali had him leg before after leaking runs in his opening spell. Offspinner Sajid Khan gave the side a big breakthrough when he reviewed successfully to dismiss captain Mominul Haque for 6.

Najmul Shanto followed him, giving a straight catch to point for 14 as Bangladesh crumbled under pressure. Liton and Mushfiqur were duly cautious at the start and survived some tricky moments before they dominated. They went unscathed in the whole middle session during which they raised their half-centuries and Liton hit Khan for the lone six of the day.

Liton, who was dropped from the Twenty20 squad following a poor T20 World Cup, chopped left-arm spinner Nauman Ali’s short delivery past backward point to the boundary to bring up his half-century off 95 balls. With the pitch offering nothing for the bowlers, the Pakistan pacers came up with a

short balls plan which almost worked as Liton, on 67, mistimed one off Afridi but Khan put down the catch at midwicket.

Liton then became more watchfuL: Mushfiqur, meanwhile, raised his 24th half-century with consecutive boundaries against fast bowler Ali off 108 balls. He survived because of a no-ball by Nauman Ali after sweeping straight to point.

Playing with caution, Liton reached his

first Test century off 199 balls after pushing Nauman to mid-off for a single.

Pakistan took the new ball as soon as it was available without reward for another five overs. The home side is missing three key players as Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal were ruled out due to injuries and Mahmudullah, who hit a 150 not out in Bangladesh’s last Test against Zimbabwe, retired from the five-day format.

Sunday, 28 November, 2021

prayer timiNgs

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MAlik RiAz ANd SoN’S 10-yeAR Uk viSA Revoked foR ‘PoSSiBle coRRUPTioN’ ISLAMABAD

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News Desk

NITED Kingdom (UK) courts have decided to revoke a 10year multi-entry visit visa to real estate tycoon Malik Riaz, and his son Ahmed Ali Riaz, the Current reported.

Malik Riaz and his son Ahmed Ali Riaz had filed a judicial review against the Home Office’s decision in the court of Lady Justice Nicola Davies, Lord Justice Nugee and Lord Justice Snowden against the original decision of the Home Office in December 2019 to revoke the visas of Malik Riaz and his family members.

Their visas were revoked at the end of an investigation which saw Malik Riaz agreeing to let go of £190 million in assets and cash in exchange for saving his UK investments of approximately £300 million.

According to the report, Lady Justice Nicolas Davies, in her judgment against the appeal of Riaz and his son, wrote, “Whilst there has not been a criminal

conviction against you I am satisfied on probabilities that you have been involved with corruption and financial/commercial misconduct.”

“As a result, having regard to the UK’s commitment to combat corruption and financial crime, I believe that your exclusion from the UK is conducive to the public good due to your conduct, character, and associations,” wrote Justice Nicolas.

The UK High court on Malik Riaz case cited, “The appellants [Malik Riaz and Ahmed Ali] have been involved with corruption and financial/commercial misconduct was founded on their involvement in the affairs of a company, Bahria Town. The company is wholly owned and run by the appellant’s family and is described as the largest property developer in Asia. At all relevant times, Mr Malik was the Chairman of Bahria Town, Mr Ali was the CEO.” The investigation traces its origin to Hasan Nawaz Sharif, the son of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who

Nawaz Sharif ready to employ ‘every tactic’ to pressurise institutions: Asad Umar

allegedly sold his property, the 1 Hyde Park Place mansion to Malik Riaz’s family.

As per media reports, it was in December 2014 when Malik Riaz opened discussions with Hasan Nawaz Sharif to purchase the prized Hyde Park Place property from him which was on sale in the market for £45 million as Malik Riaz’s daughter wanted to buy it.

In mid-2015, the exchange was done and through family negotiations, Hasan agreed to sell the property to Malik Riaz at £42.5 million.

The NCA started its inquiry into the deal as soon as the deal of £42.5 million was made but there were also several other transactions of millions of Pounds including from a Dubai bank. The NCA found several large payments had been sent to London from the same bank account totalling tens of millions of pounds in the previous months.

A huge inquiry was opened during which Hasan Nawaz’s accounts were also investigated and the larger property

investments of the Malik Riaz family.

Their visas were revoked at the end of an investigation which saw Malik Riaz agreeing to let go of £190 million in assets and cash in exchange for saving his UK investments of approximately £300 million.

Few days later, the NCA announced that it had reached a deal with Malik Riaz and that he has agreed to return £190 million to the state of Pakistan after failing to satisfy the clear origins of his UK investments including the purchase of the 1 Hyde Park Place mansion from Hasan Nawaz Sharif.

Riaz later used the money for the NCA payment to pay a fine imposed on Bahria Town Karachi by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

This meant that Malik Riaz did not pay anything to the government of Pakistan as instructed by NCA but instead allegedly used his influence to use the same money to pay a fine in a completely unrelated case, thus costing Pakistani taxpayers over 45 billion rupees.

Dollar upsurge against rupee a sign of ‘economic devastation’: Shehbaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD

Two soldiers martyred in North Waziristan ISLAMABAD News Desk

Two soldiers were martyred when terrorists attacked a military post in the Datta Khel town of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, the military’s media affairs wing said on Saturday. Per Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 27-year-old Naik Rehman, a resident of Chitral, and 22-year-old Lance Naik Arif, a resident of Tank, embraced martyrdom during an “intense exchange of fire” with the terrorists. The ISPR said a search was being carried out in the area to “eliminate any terrorists found” there. Earlier this week, two security personnel were martyred in a similar incident in Balochistan’s Makran area. According to the ISPR, a group of externally sponsored terrorists had opened fire on a check post of security forces in the Tump area of Makran on Wednesday. Security forces had responded with all available weapons, as a result of which the terrorists had suffered heavy losses, the statement added. During the engagement, however, Sepoy Naseeb Ullah, a resident of Kharan, and Sepoy Insha Allah, a resident of Lakki Marwat, sacrificed their lives while fighting valiantly, the ISPR said. On Monday, another security man was martyred in a clash with a gang of terrorists in Balochistan’s Panjgur area, near the border with Iran. An ISPR spokesperson, while confirming the incident to Dawn, had said that a group of terrorists had attacked a patrolling party of security forces in the area and Sepoy Jalil Khan, a resident of Dera Ismail Khan, was martyred in the exchange of fire with the terrorists.

News Desk

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar Saturday said the PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif is ready to employ ‘every tactic’ available to pressurise institutions no matter how much it costs the country. Taking to social media site, Twitter, Asad Umar claimed that Sharif wanted a judiciary that decided cases through instructions via phone. He added that Sharif was dismayed with the army and the judiciary for not helping him through ‘unconstitutional means’. “He [Nawaz Sharif] and his facilitators are ready to use every tactic to put pressure on the institutions, no matter how much it costs the country,” the tweet reads. Asad Umar said that the worry of the PML-N and its supporters is clear ever since the opposition’s defeat in last week’s joint session of parliament that saw the government getting a record number of 33 bills passed. “There is intensity and distress in their attacks on the military leadership and the judiciary [since then],” Umar wrote. His comments come amid a brewing controversy over the alleged leak of an audio clip of a conversation purportedly involving former chief justice of Pakistan, Saqib Nisar, regarding interference in Maryam (Nawaz Sharif’s daughter) and Nawaz’s corruption trials. Before that, an affidavit by the former top judge of Gilgit-Baltistan, Rana Shamim, emerged leveling allegations against Saqib Nisar about his alleged instructions to a high court judge to deny bail to the Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz before the general elections 2018. However, the former CJP rubbished Shamim’s claims and also termed the audio clip as “fabricated”.

ISLAMABAD staff report

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif Saturday termed the ‘alarming upsurge’ in the value of the US dollar against the rupee a sign of ‘economic devastation’.

According to a statement issued by the party, the PML-N president said the significant fluctuations in the rupee-dollar parity are due to the ‘lack of a sound economic policy’ in the country.

The local currency on Friday closed yet again above Rs175 — near its all-time low against the US dollar.

Shehbaz Sharif said that when the finance ministry refutes the statement of its adviser and ‘false

data’ is released, then the ‘economy collapses like this’.

While a record-high trade deficit is a ‘dangerous sign of economic catastrophe in the country’, a historic high current account deficit is ‘evidence of economic misdirection’, he said.

Shehbaz Sharif further highlighted that public debt, inflation, current account deficit, rupee-dollar parity have all surpassed previous negative records.

“If a people-chosen government was in power, this would not have been the case,” he said.

Warning that the country has been pushed into an “economic abyss”, he said that “if nothing is done soon, recovery will become another impossible thing”.

The PML-N president said ‘doomsday-like’ inflation would grip the country from December 1, as the dollar hike was ‘adding fuel to the fire of inflation’.

“Economic devastation” is like a “poison” for a nuclear powered Pakistan, the PML-N president said, pleading the government to “open its eyes”.

He said that the economic catastrophe currently prevailing in the country will create such a situation where everybody will forget about other issues, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

“Pakistan’s patriotic elements must think about the economic devastation the country is hurtling towards. Time is passing us by very quickly,” he concluded.

Aleem calls on Buzdar, submits his resignation as Punjab minister LAHORE News Desk

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Aleem Khan on Saturday called on Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and submitted his resignation as provincial minister for food. Abdul Aleem Khan said that due to personal engagements, he is unable to perform his duties as senior minister and food minister. The chief minister lauded the services of Aleem Khan and called him an asset for the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). Buzdar said that Aleem’s services as food minister are commendable, adding that he always performed his positive role in the provincial cabinet as senior minister and food minister. A day earlier, Aleem Khan had tweeted: “I convinced PM Imran Khan in today’s meeting that it is necessary for me not to hold any government post to ensure neutrality and impartiality of his news channel.”

Prices of essential goods dipping due to govt’s steps: Fawad LAHORE staff report

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhary has said that prices of essential items are declining due to effective steps being taken by the government.

Talking to the media persons on Saturday, the information minister said that fruitful results of decrease in petroleum prices will definitely reach the general public. He added that petroleum prices in the international market have come down recently and this impact would appear in a few weeks time on prices in the country.

He said the government is thankful to Saudi Arabia for extending cooperation, adding the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are also being finalised.

He said that the PPP and PML-N governments left huge debts which have burdened the economy to date. However, he added that the present government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan has provided a strong base for development as the country

is progressing in all fields.

The information minister appealed to the apex court to take notice of the conspiracies against the honourable judiciary being hatched by some elements. He said that underlying motive of Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) to make the institutions controversial was geared to obtain relief in cases against them. He said that PML-N generates conspiracy to hit national institutions whenever cases against them are opened.

He said that during their many years rule, they (PML-N) promoted nepotism to further their vested interests. He said that their story started from the affidavit of Rana Shamim and concluded at an alleged audio recording of former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar.

The federal minister said it is very obvious that the Sharif family is resorting to such tactics as they have to present the money trail about the purchase of their properties. However, he said that the higher judiciary should take notice and take action accordingly.

Chaudhry said that PML-N won elections in 1990 against PPP through rigging

and the apex court had affirmed this. However, he added that it is another matter that PPP has now joined hands secretly with PML-N. Responding to a query, Fawad said if Maryam Nawaz thinks the audio recording of Saqib Nisar could benefit her case, she should take it to the court.

Later, speaking at a programme in connection with the death anniversary of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, the information minister said that Maulana Zafar is remembered as ‘Baba-e-Sahafat’ for his great contribution towards journalism during the Pakistan movement.

He said that during the Pakistan Movement, the first ever newspaper was launched from the Lahore city which later became the centre of journalism in the “North India” of that time. Zamindar newspaper was launched in 1903 as a weekly paper in Lahore by Maulana Zafar’s father Maulana Sirajuddin Ahmed. Later, Maulana Zafar Ali Khan took over as editor of the newspaper.

The minister spoke about the Nazria-ePakistan Trust and said it has been an active

forum for raising awareness especially among youth about the Pakistan movement and its objectives. He suggested that their

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

building should have a museum based on records and history of newspapers’ progress in the region.