Epaper – October 29 KHI 2021

Friday, 29 October, 2021 I 22 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 120 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition

Rasheed waRns TLP PRoTesToRs of diRe consequences if vioLence conTinues g

Armed forces’ chiefs review security situation

PM suMMons nsC Meeting today to disCuss tLP Protest

i

nterior Minister sheikh rasheed ahmed on thursday warned the banned outfit tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (tLP) to face dire consequences if violence continues.

He urged the party to stick to the commitments it had made with the government earlier. in case the group continues to resort to violence, “things will be out of my hands”, he stated. the minister, while appearing on a tV show, said that no matter what happens, the government will stop the group from entering the capital.

He went on to warn the protesters to stop, and turn back or else the state would “establish its writ”.

He went on to add that Prime Minister imran Khan would not allow the state to become “hostage”, and that the government does not want to see any more violence. “your loss is our loss”, he stated while addressing the tLP protestors.

He asked the tLP protestors that “why

don’t you believe us when we say that the French envoy has left the country?”

He further stated that damaging one’s own country does not count as serving the religion in any manner.

“PM imran is the first person to form the rehmatullil alameen authority and take the country towards making it a welfare state like Madina,” he added. the minister went on to reveal that he has spoken to saad Hussain rizvi multiple times in recent days and would talk to them again on Friday and saturday.

“However, the talks would only be held after they (the tLP) returns,” he clarified.

He added that matters with the tLP remain unresolved till now, which is the reason why rangers had to be called in Punjab so that law and order across the province could be maintained. rasheed further stated that earlier tLP committed to unblock roads and the group should fulfil its promise, “otherwise, matters will go out of my hand,” he warned.

coRonaviRus in

PakisTan

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,271,027

LAST UPDATED AT 8:10 AM ON OCTOBER 28, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

9

706

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

1,219,174 28,414 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

468,776

439,653

KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

177,723 AJK/GB:

33,220 ISLAMABAD:

34,455/10,387

106,813

While talking about the four policemen martyred in clashes with the tLP, he said there had been a reaction on it in the police.

PM SuMMONS NSC MEETING: earlier in the day, Minister for information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that Prime Minister imran Khan has summoned a meeting of the national security Committee (nsC) for Friday due to the ongoing protests by the tLP. the meeting of the nsC will discuss the “illegal activities” the hardline religious group indulged in, Fawad tweeted. “other issues related to national security will also be discussed in the meeting,” he said.

Fawad also wrote in a separate tweet that “we have made it clear that there will be no talks unless the workers of the proscribed party clear the roads and hand over those involved in the martyrdom of police personnel to the institutions”. during Wednesday clash with the tLP workers — who are demanding the release of tLP chief, saad Hussain rizvi, and the expulsion of the French ambassador over the publication of a series of blasphemous caricatures depicting Prophet Mohammad (PBuH) by a French weekly — at least four policemen were martyred. the clash had broken out at a rally of the group on a highway in sheikhupura, just outside Lahore, as the group had prepared to march on islamabad. Police had said the activists armed with pistols and automatic weapons, including aK-47 rifles, had opened fire on security forces controlling the demonstrators.

Late on Wednesday, Fawad Chaudhry had told a news conference that violent activities of the party would not be tolerated and the tLP cannot blackmail the state.

Chairman Joint Chiefs of staff Committee (CJCsC) general nadeem raza on thursday held a meeting with the all services’ chiefs at Joint staff Headquarters (JsHQ) to discuss defence and security situation. according to the inter-services Public relations (isPr), the meeting was presided over by the CJCsC and attended by Chief of army staff general Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of naval staff admiral Muhammad amjad Khan niazi and Chief of air staff air Chief Marshal Zaheer ahmad Babar sidhu. the participants discussed a range of security-related issues, including fast-paced developments in the realm of strategic and conventional policies, importance of peace in afghanistan for sustainable development in the region, shared chal-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Bizenjo to be elected Balochistan CM as no other candidate emerges the Balochistan assembly members on thursday jointly filed the nomination papers of former speaker Mir abdul Qudoos Bizenjo for the province’s new chief minister, according to a news outlet. as per the report, deputy speaker sardar Babar Musakhel, in a letter, said that all the five nomination papers submitted to the assembly secretariat within the stipulated time nominated Bizenjo as the new chief minister, adding that Bizenjo is the only candidate for the CM post as no other nominee has emerged. the MPs will meet on Friday to elect the 17th leader of the House, days after Jam Kamal Khan of the Balochistan awami Party (BaP) resigned from the office of the chief minister.

Khan had resigned on sunday night, hours ahead of a vote of no-confidence against him tabled by lawmakers from the opposition, as well as his own party, who had accused him of governing poorly, including doing little to counter soaring unemployment.

He was also criticised for approving a budget that according to his opponents, increased poverty in the province. However, Khan had rejected the charges as unfounded.

lenges being faced, and operational preparedness of the armed forces. the chiefs expressed complete satisfaction and full confidence in readiness of the defence forces. the participants also reaffirmed the resolve of the armed forces to respond to the entire spectrum of threat in the most befitting manner in line with a comprehensive security strategy. they also lauded the sacrifices of security forces in the fight against terrorism. the JsHQ is functioning with a national perspective that seeks to preserve, protect and promote Pakistan’s defence and national security, the CJCsC said and applauded the jointness of the Pakistan armed forces in meeting all defence and security challenges. News Desk

Bizenjo belongs to the awaran district of Balochistan. He was elected on a Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) ticket during general elections in 2013, and on a BaP seat in the 2018 elections.

Bizenjo had served as chief minister of the resource-rich province between January and May 2018.

CENTRE SAYS WILL AGREE WITH BAP CHOICE: earlier on Monday, the federal government had decided to agree with any candidate the BaP party, who enjoys a majority in the House, chooses as the new chief executive of the province. defence Minister Pervez Khattak had said, “We will support the decision of the majority within the BaP. We will support the decision made by the parliamentary group of BaP.” However, later that day, the Pakistan tehreek-i-insaf (Pti) parliamentary committee in the assembly had said it has decided to nominate lawmaker yar Muhammad rind as the candidate for the post. it was mutually decided in a meeting that rind would be nominated as the candidate for the post and Musakhel as the speaker of the House. News Desk

more inside

Pakistan faces sharp increase in dengue cases STORY ON PAGE 02

Pakistan needs to unapologetically share narrative with world: Moeed STORY ON BACK PAGE

PML-N fails to provide evidence of donations to ECP STORY ON PAGE 03

india tests nuclearcapable missile amid tensions with China STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Friday, 29 October, 2021 | KARACHI

NEWS

PakistaN faCes sharP iNCrease iN deNGue Cases

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NewS DeSk

AkISTAN saw an increase in dengue infection cases on Thursday. During the past 24 hours, Punjab reported 539 new cases and two deaths, khyber Pakhtunkhwa (kP) recorded 232 new cases while 121 people contracted the virus in Islamabad.

Islamabad District Health Officer Zaeem Zia told local media that 57 patients were reported in the suburbs of Islamabad and 66

Gill pleas before Lahore court to withdraw his arrest warrant in defamation suit NewS DeSk Lahore session court issued a bailable arrest warrant of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Political Communication Dr. Shahbaz Gill on Wednesday pertaining to a defamation suit. Gill has submitted a plea before court, requesting the court to withdraw the arrest warrant on Thursday. It is pertinent to note that during a TV show, aired in September 2020, Gill had accused a Turkish company M/s Platform Turizm Tasimacilik, a subsidiary of Al-Bayrak Group of companies, of signing the metro bus project with the then PML-N government for a heavy amount. Pertaining to the accusation, the company filed a defamation suit against Gill, soon after he gave the statement. The company sought to take action against him under sections 499 and 500 of the Pakistan Penal Code for levelling false allegations against the firm. The company stated that because of the false allegations by Gill, the company had to face a huge financial loss. In his defence, Gill registered a case against the company, alleging that the documents submitted in the court, pertaining to the case were forged and fabricated. During the hearing on Wednesday, Gill’s counsel failed to be present before the court. Therefore the court decided to issue bailable arrest warrants for the SAPM. As per the court’s order, bailable arrest warrants against a surety bond of Rs.30,000 were issued, and the court summoned Gill to appear in person in the next hearing on November 1. As per the sources, Gill has filed the petition, urging the court to withdraw the arrest warrants. He went on to add that he had earlier been given an exemption by the court on May 27, 2021 from appearing in person in the court.

NCOC daily update: 706 new cases, 9 deaths from Covid-19 ISLAMABAD StAff RePoRt

Pakistan added 706 new Covid-19 cases over the last 24 hours, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said on Thursday. The number of overall confirmed cases has risen to 1.2 million, according to the NCOC, the department leading the campaign against the pandemic. Another nine people lost their lives to the coronavirus over the last 24 hours in Pakistan, taking the overall death toll to 28,414, according to the NCOC, adding that 1,408 are in critical condition. Over the last 24 hours, 1,239 patients recovered from Covid-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 1.2 million, said the NCOC. Sindh is the worst-affected province by the pandemic with 468,776 infections, followed by Punjab which has reported 439,653 cases.

in the urban areas.

In Rawalpindi, 75 dengue fever patients were admitted to different hospitals of the city in the past 24 hours, local media reported. According to the health authorities, 27,672 people have tested positive for the virus in the country this year to date while it has claimed the lives of 67 people.

The government is taking special measures at dengue hotspots across the country to curb the augmenting wave of the disease.

According to the World Health

TLP long march: Buzdar directs LEAs to maintain law and order situation NewS DeSk Ir order to handle the ongoing violent protests by the banned Tehreek-eLabbaik Pakistan (TLP), Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Thursday directed the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to take all possible measures to maintain the law and order situation in the province.

During a high-level meeting, the chief minister said that the government cannot allow anyone to play with the lives and properties of citizens and it is the responsibility of the government to maintain law and order and protect public property, adding that the government will fulfil its responsibility in all circumstances.

Earlier in the day, Punjab’s home department deployed the paramilitary Rangers for 60 days in eight districts of the province, according to media reports.

Rangers personnel were posted in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Chakwal, Gujrat and Faisalabad districts, according to reports. On the other hand, thousands of supporters of the TLP neared Gujranwala city as they continued their march towards the federal capital. On Wednesday, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad had announced to summon Rangers in the Punjab province on the request of the provincial authorities.

“Rangers is being placed at the disposal of the Punjab government,” he had said while addressing a presser to

announce a strategy to deal with the TLP. At least five police personnel have

Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti refused to accept the request of the Punjab advocate general to detach Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh from the division bench hearing on Thursday, pertaining to the matter of alleged illegal detention of Tehreek-eLabbaik Pakistan (TLP) leader Saad Rizvi.

During the case proceeding, the Punjab Advocate General Ahmad Awais requested the court to award some time to them, in order to fully prepare the case, as the bench was constituted late at night and they were informed very late about the proceedings. On that, the province’s top judge remarked that he also took notice of why the case file reached late.

been martyred in clashes with the banned organisation since October 27.

Differences in Pakistan’s GDP growth rate projection due to Covid: WB ISLAMABAD APP

The projection gap of Pakistan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate for the fiscal year 2020-21 (FY21) and 2021-22 (FY22) between the World Bank and the Pakistan government is mainly due to uncertainties stemming out of the Covid pandemic, said World Bank (WB) Country Director for Pakistan Najy Benhassine has said.

While talking to media here on Thursday, Benhassine hoped that the final growth rate would be on the higher side. In its report published on Thursday, the WB projected Pakistan’s GDP growth forecast for FY22 at 3.4 per cent against Islamabad’s target of 4.9pc for the year. Similarly, the report also quoted the GDP growth rate for FY21 at 3.5pc against the government’s provisional growth rate of 3.9pc in FY21.

The report titled October 2021 Pakistan Development Update: Reviving Exports’ shows that the country’s real GDP growth rebounded to 3.5pc in FY21, after contracting by 0.5pc in FY20 with the onset of the global pandemic. In addition, inflation eased, the fiscal deficit improved to 7.3pc of GDP, and the current account deficit (CAD) shrunk to 0.6pc of GDP – the lowest in a decade.

“With effective micro-lockdowns, record-high remittance inflows and a supportive monetary policy, Pakistan’s economic growth rebounded in FY21,” Benhassine said while addressing a selected group of journalists here. “These measures, together with the expansion of the Ehsaas program and support to businesses, were key to strengthening the economy and recovering from the economic fallout associated with Covid-19.”

On the occasion, Economist at World Bank Pakistan, Zehra Aslam, said the provisional data issued

by the government was based on nine months, which was not final. However, she said that the World Bank was relatively late in collecting data, so once the final figures were received, the growth data would be revised later. With respect to reforms in various sectors of Pakistan, Binhassine said the World Bank was satisfied and supporting the government’s reforms’ initiatives especially on revenue and power sides.

He said that the WB’s support to Pakistan government in GST harmonisation was yielding fruits hoping that this would help increase in revenue by 1pc of the GDP. The World Bank is financing “Pakistan Raises Revenue (PRR)” programme with a $400 million IDA concessional credit. The programme launched by the Government of Pakistan is aimed at sustainably increasing domestic revenue by broadening the tax base and making it easier for citizens and businesses to pay their taxes.

Harmonisation involves agreement among the federal government and the provinces to apply the same definitions, principles, and rates for GST on goods and services. It will enable GST collection through a single online portal where firms will file, pay, and claim refunds for both goods and services at the same time.

Moreover, the WB country director said reforms in Pakistan’s power sector issue were multi-pronged and increasing tariff was not the only solution.

He said the reforms in power sector might also include controlling circular debt, reducing generation cost, improving efficiency, and reducing technical losses.

Likewise he also stressed on equitably sharing the burden of circular debt among all the stakeholders such as the government, consumers, and the generation companies.

However, he stressed that the 40pc of consumers who fall in lower category and get the subsidy should

LHC rejects request to detach Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh in Saad Rizvi case NewS DeSk

Organisation (WHO), dengue is a mosquitoborne viral infection that is common in warm, tropical climates and often peaks during rainy seasons.

Once bitten by a dengue infected mosquito, the virus takes 4-10 days to affect the body. Its symptoms can be mild, similar to a common flu, or severe such as fever, headaches, pain behind the eyes and nausea.

The best way to prevent the virus is to wear clothing that covers the body well, especially the legs and feet, and apply insect repellents.

Subsequently, Punjab Advocate General Awais plead before the court to detach Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh from the bench as he is the author of the judgment which the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry set aside had remanded the matter back to LHC. As a response, the chief justice remarked that the top court raised some points which the division bench had to see, and the SC did not, at all dismiss the matter on merit.

Mian Pervaz Hussain, the petitioner’s counsel argued that Saad Rizvi’s detention was neither extended by the review board, nor the apex court. On that he raised a question that why his client had been kept in ‘illegal detention’. On that, CJ Bhatti observed that the second member of this bench should remain the member of the bench.

Hussain argued that “The extension in detention

could only be made by the review board but in this case, it was not done,” while adding that “The duration of detention had lapsed but even then the government is not ready to release him.”

As a response, the CJ stated that if the case is about alleged detention which has lapsed, then the counsel is free to file a new petition. To that, the counsel responded that they are thinking about it and would decide by the next date. It is to note that CJ Bhatti has adjourned proceedings till November 3.

It merits mention that the provincial government had kept Saad Rizvi in detention to maintain law and order situation in the society, as the TLP head declared that his party would hold countrywide protests, incase the government fails to agree to all of his party’s demands.

be protected from the burden.

Replying to a question, he hoped that the 6th review of Pakistan’s programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would successfully conclude soon.

Talking about Pakistan’s current account balance, WB Lead Country Economist for Pakistan, Shabih Ali Mohib said that rising imports was not the issue but the main problem with Islamabad was that exports remained stagnant during past decade, which would have to be increased by changing the export structure and export mix.

Meanwhile, the report said that due to strengthened domestic demand, imports have grown much higher than exports in recent months, leading to a large trade deficit, adding that to sustain strong economic growth, Pakistan needs to increase private investment and export more.

In examining the country’s persistent trade imbalance, the report identifies key factors that are hindering exports: high effective import tariff rates, limited availability of long-term financing for firms to expand export capacity, inadequate provision of market intelligence services for exporters, and low productivity of Pakistani firms.

“The long-term decline in exports as a share of GDP has implications for the country’s foreign exchange, jobs, and productivity growth. Therefore, confronting core challenges that are necessary for Pakistan to compete in global markets is an imperative for sustainable growth,” said WB Senior Economist Derek Chen.

Chen added that since long-standing issues with the persistent trade gap have resurfaced, this edition of the Pakistan Development Update on reviving exports provides a timely, in-depth assessment and policy recommendations that can help spur exports.

Friday, 29 October, 2021 | KARACHI

PML-N fAiLS tO PrOvidE EvidENCE Of dONAtiONS tO ECP

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NewS DeSK

HE Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) has failed to provide evidence for the funds worth around Rs450 million that it alleged to receive in the form of donations.

Under the chairmanship of Deputy Director Law, a meeting of the investigation committee of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was held on Wednesday, to review the financial accounts of the PML-N. On behalf of the PML-N, advocate Jahangir Jadoon and Raja Riaz appeared before the committee. Najam ul-Saqib and Jamal Abdul Nasser were the financial experts deputed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to peruse the accounts of the PML-N. As per the sources, the PML-N failed to provide evidence of party funds received as donations. Additionally, leads

of unconfirmed transactions of millions of rupees in the party’s accounts have also emerged. PTI, during the hearing claimed that more than Rs450 millions of PML-N party funds were not verified.

The ruling party further demanded that the opposition party must present bank statements before the panel.

The sources further reveal that PML-N has yet to provide bank

statements of five additional party accounts to the ECP’s panel.

The electoral supervisor in this regard, ordered that the perusal of PMLN’s accounts will continue for eight days.

It is pertinent to note that in the second phase of the investigation, the panel will begin the proceedings for Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)’s accounts.

Earlier this month, a two-member bench of the commission accepted the application filed by the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib seeking access to the accounts of both PPP and PML-N, owing to the foreign funding case.

For a ‘meaningful audit’, he requested the commission to give PTI, the ruling party acess to the financial accounts of both parties. It is to note that Farrukh has alleged that PML-N had concealed seven accounts while the PPP had hidden 12 accounts from the ECP.

Karachi administration takes control of Nasla Tower, residents demand compensation KARACHI News Desk

Karachi administration has taken over Nasla Tower on Thursday, resulting in the residents demanding assurance from the Supreme Court of Pakistan that they will be fairly compensated for their losses.

Earlier, The Supreme Court of Pakistan had given directive to demolish the building, as it had been constructed illegally.

Soon after the orders by the SC, the residents expressed their dismay over the decision. They said that they have qualms about the compensation as neither the builder nor the city administration was ready to compensate them for their losses.

“So far, no one has contacted us for the compensation money,” a resident stated.

On the matter, Deputy Commissioner Karachi East Asif Jan Siddiqi stated that the after the deadline to vacate the illegally-constructed building had expired, the administration had now taken control of Nasla Tower. He added that the Karachi commissioner has sought bids via advertisements to have the building demolished.

The manager of the Nasla Tower stated that most of the residents had shifted by last night, however, some of the residents failed to find places to rent.

The manager went on to reveal that eight flat owners reside abroad and could not be contacted. So, he requested the authorities to give some time extension so that those living abroad could be contacted, and shift their belongings to some other place.

Earlier, the Supreme Court (SC) had given directive to the Karachi commissioner on Monday to demolish Nasla Tower, a 15-storey residential building located at the intersection of Sharae Faisal and Shahrah-i-Quaideen, through “controlled blasting” within a week and submit a report.

The court had given instructions to ensure that no harm was caused to other buildings and persons in Nasla Tower’s vicinity because of the blast.

The matter was taken up by a three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed, at the SC’s Karachi registry, where the city commissioner appeared before the court.

It also directed the builder of Nasla Tower to refund money to registered buyers of the residential and commercial units, adding that the city commissioner should ensure that the refunds were made.

A three-judge SC bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed, had initially directed for the demolition of the 15-storey building for encroaching on the land meant for a service road on June 16.

Issuing a detailed order for the same on June 19, the court had also directed the builders of Nasla Tower to refund the amount to the registered buyers of residential and commercial units within three months.

The court had said in its judgement that “After examining the entire record and scrutinizing the reports submitted by all concerned agencies and departments, we are in no manner of doubt that the tower in question (Nasla Tower) has indeed been constructed on encroached land which amongst other things has also blocked a service road.”

“Being illegal construction and there being no provision for compounding such illegality specially where a service road has been blocked, the same is liable to be demolished,” it had added.

The builder of Nasla Tower had filed a review petition against the June 16 order, which was dismissed by the apex court last month.

Subsequently, the district administration served notices to the residents of Nasla Tower earlier this month, directing them to vacate the 15-storey building

by October 27 or face coercive action by relevant authorities.

The Supreme Court summoned Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in a case pertaining to the demolition of leased properties built along Orangi and Gujjar drains in Karachi to inquire as to why its order was not implemented.

During the proceedings Monday, the court came down hard on the Sindh government over delays in the compensation to the people who lost their accommodations in forced evictions.

Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed is currently in Karachi on a week-long trip and will be hearing important cases pertaining to illegal and unauthorised constructions, encroachments on amenity plots, conversion of residential and amenity land into commercial spaces in the provincial metropolis.

During the hearing, Justice Ahmed asked the Sindh attorney general for updates on compensation to be provided to over 6,000 affected people. The court asked what has been the progress so far and what were the ground realities.

The attorney general, however, could not satisfy the court. “Summon Sindh CM immediately, we will ask from him if they are trying to make fun of the court,” the chief justice said.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court released a

written order in the anti-encroachment case and ordered the authorities to compensate the people whose leased houses have been demolished in the drive along the drains.

At a hearing on September 23, the court chided the Sindh government over delays in the compensation for the affected people. “Shame on you [Sindh government],” Justice Ahmed had said.

The court instructed Shah to resettle the victims within a year and summoned a report on it, adding that resettling the affectees is the state’s responsibility and we have to find a way to do that.

Gujjar and Orangi drains are two of the three stormwater drains that are being widened to ensure a smooth flow of rainwater. Mehmoodabad is the other one. After the court order, on October 5, Shah had announced in a provincial cabinet meeting that the victims of the campaigns will be paid Rs15,000 a month for two years.

It was agreed the evacuees will be given residential units in the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme as well.

Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah briefed in the meeting that 344 houses near the Gujjar drain and 60 houses and six factories near the Orangi drain have been demolished so far.

“We will take an Rs300,000 subsidy from the federal government and provide 30,000 residential units to the victims,” Shah revealed, adding the land for the houses will be provided by the Sindh government.

NEWS

03

PM updated on privatisation of loss-making SOEs ISLAMABAD APP

Minister for Privatisation Mohammad Mian Soomro and Finance Advisor Shaukat Tarin Thursday called on Prime Minister Imran Khan here wherein they discussed matters pertaining to the privatisation of loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs). They updated the prime minister on the privatisation process of these enterprises. The prime minister directed the ministers concerned to take measures for bringing in maximum revenue through the privatisation of such enterprises as well as for improving their performance. The prime minister also asked Tarin for taking measures to improve the performance of national departments. Back in August this year, the Privatisation Commission of Pakistan had summoned applications regarding the revival of the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). As per details, the privatisation commission through an advertisement has asked the investors to submit their applications seeking interest in PSM revival latest by September 30. It may be recalled that the Privatisation Commission is working for the revival of the national asset in line with the guidelines issued by Prime Minister Imran Khan and decisions taken by the federal cabinet.

Court adjourns hearing in NAB reference against Zardari ISLAMABAD INP

Accountability Judge Asghar Ali on Thursday took up a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference pertaining to dubious transactions of Rs8 billion against former president and Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. However, he could not be indicted due to an earlier stay order granted in his favour by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). His counsel, Farooq Naek, and NAB prosecutor Wasim Javed were present in the court, however. Subsequently, further proceedings were adjourned until November 18. The IHC on Wednesday stopped the accountability court from indicting Zardari while hearing his petition against the decision of the junior court. The high court also issued notice to the dirty money watchdog seeking a reply on the matter. Naek said Zardari had not bought the property as a public officeholder but as a private individual. Pertinent to mention here that the accountability court had summoned Zardari in the suspicious transaction reference.

The accountability court had rejected his request for acquittal before indictment.

04 NEWS 29th October 2021_Layout 1 10/29/2021 12:01 AM Page 1

Friday, 29 October, 2021 | KARACHI

04 NEWS

PM APPoints EconoMic AFFAiRs MinistER As nEw Ecc chAiRMAn ISLAMABAD shAhzAd PArAchA

P

RIME Minister Imran Khan on Thursday appointed Minister of Economic Affairs Omar Ayub the new chairman of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).

According to a notification in this regard, the pre-

mier has reconstituted the ECC of the Cabinet with immediate effect.

The composition of ECC would now include the minister of Economic Affairs division as chairman while ministers of communication, energy, industries and production, interior, law and justice, maritime affairs, national food security and research, planning and develop-

ment, privatisation, railways, and water resources would be members.

The document states that twenty officials, including the advisor to prime minister on finance and revenue, as well as others will attend the meeting on a special invitation by the chairman as per the rules.

Article continues after this advertisement

It is pertinent to mention here that Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin, now a senator from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), cannot chair the meeting of ECC or any other decision making forum.

The government had appointed Tarin as a federal finance minister; however, his term as minister ended on October 15.

Cabinet approves long-awaited PHA Authority rules ISLAMABAD ghulAm AbbAs

FBR moves against non-filers who purchased expensive properties

After a delay of around five years, the federal cabinet on Wednesday finally approved rules for the Pakistan Halal Authority (PHA), enabling it to operate in the country.

The PHA was established through an act of parliament in an attempt to promote

foreign and inter-provincial trade and commerce in halal goods and processes.

The PHA is responsible for ascertaining the halal status of products, processes and services maintained and monitored at all time in the local market as well as products being imported and exported.

However, after the legislation, the authority was not fully functional due to the lack of required rules including rules of

LAHORE shAhAb Omer

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has initiated action against non-filers who bought expensive properties in the provincial capital till the last financial year (July 2020-21 (FY21), Profit has learnt. In this regard, a senior FBR official informed Profit that the bureau’s regional tax office in Lahore had collected data on 5,491 non-filers. “Interestingly, these nonfilers have paid tax under Section-236 of the Income Tax Act but have not yet come in the tax net. The process of sending notices to all such non-filers has been initiated,” he informed. However, sources informed that the construction industry was given a relief package by the government during the Covid-19 lockdown and many people who were not fully aware of the details of the package started investing in expensive houses.

Article continues After this Advertisement: “These people were under the impression that the relief package was also for buying and selling properties whereas it was only for commercial construction activities. All of these people are from Lahore; if the FBR expands the scope of investigation, it will find out that many nonfilers have also invested in housing projects outside Lahore and are also not part of the tax net,” they informed.

business, service rules and certificate mark regulation etc., which prevented Pakistan from capitalising on the huge potential of international halal market.

Article continues After this Advertisement: Even after the appointment of a regular director general over a year ago, the authority could not become functional as the relevant authorities and ministries were delaying the due process.

According to sources, Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz recently took interest in the matter and approved the already-processed rules of the authority on Wednesday. “Alhamdulillah! Another milestone achieved. Halal Authority Rules and Regulations pending since 2016 approved by the federal cabinet,” the minister said in a tweet.

Shibli said that the development could help Pakistan enter the huge international market of halal food. “PHA is ready to enter the global halal market of over $750 billion,” said the minister.

As per PHA officials, trade trends are evolving globally and new patterns of trade and production are being observed with the halal market being considered a new commercial paradigm. The halal market based on the needs and preferences of

Tesla’s Elon Musk becomes richest person in history BOCA CHICA Agencies

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is now the richest person in the history of the world with an estimated net worth of $271.3 billion according to Forbes. The surge in Tesla Inc’s stock market value beyond $1 trillion on Monday is a double bonanza for Chief Executive Elon Musk, the electric car

maker’s largest shareholder.

The stock rallied 12.7% on news that Tesla landed its biggest-ever order from rental car company Hertz.

With Tesla’s stock at a record high close of $1,024.86, Musk’s 23% stake in the newly minted trillion-dollar company is now worth about $230 billion, according to Refinitiv.

That stake includes options worth over

$50 billion that have vested under Musk’s 2018 compensation package.

Article continues After this Advertisement: In addition, Musk is a major shareholder and CEO of rocket maker SpaceX, a private company worth $100 billion as of an October secondary share sale, according to a CNBC report.

Musk receives no salary at Tesla: his

Oil hits two-week low on Iran talks and US stocks build LONDON Agencies

Oil prices slumped to their lowest in two weeks on Thursday after Iran said talks with world powers on its nuclear programme would resume by the end of November and US crude inventories rose by much more than expected.

Brent crude dropped $1.07, or 1.3%, to $83.51 a barrel by 1020 GMT, having hit a two-week low of $82.32 earlier and fallen by 2.1% in the previous session.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down $1.20, or 1.5%, at $81.46 having earlier touched a two-week low of $80.58 and dropped 2.4% on Wednesday.

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani on Wednesday said the country’s talks with six world powers to try to revive a 2015 nuclear deal will resume by

the end of November. A deal could pave the way to lifting harsh sanctions imposed by former US president Donald Trump on Iran’s oil exports in late 2018. “Even if the talks resume and turn out to be successful, it is still likely to be quite some time before any agreement

is reached and Iranian oil exports return to the market,” Commerzbank said. Crude stocks rose by 4.3 million barrels last week, the US Energy Department said, more than double the 1.9 million barrel gain forecast by analysts.

The hefty stocks build was because of a large jump in net imports of crude oil while refinery processing remained sluggish, Citi Research analysts said in a note.

Yet gasoline stocks fell by 2 million barrels to their lowest in nearly four years, even as US consumers contend with rising pump prices.

At the WTI delivery hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, crude storage is the most depleted for three years, with prices for longer-dated futures contracts indicating supplies will remain low for months.

Outbreaks of coronavirus infections in China and record deaths and the threat of lockdowns in Russia, along with rising cases in western Europe, also weighed on prices.

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an estimated 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide has emerged as a powerful commercial arena. PHA assures compliance to international, regional, and national standards, as well as laws, rules and policies on halal products, processes and services.

It may be mentioned here that in the absence of service rules, the authority was also unable to recruit required technical officials and staff. A recruitment process initiated by the authority last year had also become disputed due to the absence of service rules. Soon after, a case regarding the same issue is also reportedly in the courts. Interestingly, despite completing the process of making and approving rules for the PHA, at least four attached departments of the Ministry of Science and Technology, including PHA were being shifted to the Ministry of Commerce.

It may be recalled here that earlier, Shibli Faraz had emphasised the development of a mechanism for increasing the capabilities of institutions linked with the halal food industry, adding that universities should also be a part of the process.

The minister has also resolved to increase cooperation with Islamic countries in extending research in the field, besides improving the quality of halal food.

pay package provides 12 options tranches that vest when Tesla’s market capitalization and financial growth hit a series of rising milestones. The options let Musk buy Tesla shares at $70 each, a discount of more than 90% from their current price.

Last week, Tesla reported adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of $3.2 billion, up 77% from the year before.

That was enough to vest his seventh options tranche, worth over $8 billion as of Monday. Tesla’s six-month average stock market valuation is over $650 billion, clearing the way for all 12 of the options tranches in Musk’s pay package, should the company reach increasingly higher targets related to revenue and adjusted EBITDA for the remaining five tranches.

Microsoft nearly overtakes Apple as most valuable company WASHINGTON Agencies

A surge in Microsoft’s shares nearly unseated Apple as the world’s most valuable company yesterday, a day before the iPhone maker reports its quarterly results. Fueled by strong quarterly growth in its Azure cloud-computing business, Microsoft’s shares jumped 4.2% to end at a record $323.17, elevating the software maker’s market capitalisation to $2.426 trillion. This was just short of Apple’s $2.461 trillion valuation, according to Refinitiv data. Apple’s shares dipped 0.3% ahead of its report due after the bell, with investors focused on how the global supply-chain crisis is challenging the company’s ability to meet demand for its iPhones.

Friday, 29 October, 2021 | KARACHI

NEWS

Rasheed waRns TLP PRoTesToRs of diRe consequences if vioLence conTinues continued fom page 01 PROTESTORS CONTINUE LONG MARCH: Meanwhile, according to media reports, around 4,000 workers of TLP left Kamoke and entered Gujranwala city, continuing with their long march to Islamabad.

Soon after reaching the inner city, the TLP workers set up camp on GT Road, blocking the thoroughfare from Sheranwala to Lorry Adda. Markets in the vicinity were also closed down to avoid any untoward situation.

The protesters said they would spend the night in Gujranwala before leaving for Islamabad via Wazirabad and Gujrat in the morning.

The protestors travelled on the GT Road highway in large trucks and rented passenger buses along with their supplies, as stick-wielding activists of the group guarded the procession from all sides.

The rally was expected to continue its journey towards Islamabad after

crossing the Gujranwala Bypass.

The highway remained closed for all kinds of traffic as the administration put up containers in Kamonki, Gujranwala and Jhelum cities anticipating large crowds. Heavy contingents of police

Military dignitaries witness multi-national exercise

"Distinguished Visitors Day" was observed during the ongoing multi-national air exercise “ACES Meet 2021-2” at an operational Air Base of Pakistan Air Force which was attended by Air Vice Marshal Imtiaz Sattar [Cdr AFSC], Maj Gen Asif Mehmood Goraya [GOC 3 AD Div], Air Vice Marshal Shahid Mansoor Jehangiri [DG JO], Air Vice Marshal Kashif Qamar [DG Log], Air Vice Marshal Ikram Noor [Advisor to CAS (A)], Air Vice Marshal Asim Rashid Malik [DG Aero (Engg)] and Rear Admiral Naeem Sarwar [DG PR (N)]. Pakistan Air Force and Turkish Air Force are actively participating in the two weeks long air exercise which commenced from 15 October, 2021 while United Kingdom and Uzbekistan air forces are invited as observers. The dignitaries appreciated the operational preparedness of the participating forces and conduct of the exercise. The exercise would further strengthen and promote the friendship and cooperation between the participating air forces. Military dignitaries from participating countries were also present at the occasion. Pr

iesco ceo to hold online katchery In light of Government of Pakistan vision and instructions given by Ministry of Energy (Power Division) for redressal of valuable customer complaints on top priority online Kacharies are conducting on regular basis by IESCO management. By following these instruction Chief Executive Officer IESCO Dr. Muhammad Amjad Khan will hold on line katchary on Friday dated 29.10.2021 From 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon.

Valuable IESCO customers related to all Operation Circles i.e. Islamabad, Rawalpindi City, Rawalpindi Cantt, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal are requested to call on telephone number 051-9253105 for immediate redressal of their electricity related issues or for their valuable suggestion according to given schedule. Pr

were also deployed in the cities.

The commuters faced extreme difficulties due to the blockage of roads. Districts along the GT Road were brought to a standstill where the city administration had already placed shipping containers to

block entry and exit routes.

Several roads in Islamabad city have also been shut down.

TLP FIASCO: The group started demanding the expulsion of the French envoy in October last when France President Emmanuel Macron tried to defend caricatures as freedom of expression.

Macron’s comments came after a young man beheaded a French school teacher who had shown the caricatures in class. The images, first published in 2006, were republished by the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to mark the opening of the trial over the 2015 attack against the publication for the original caricatures.

Since then, Rizvi’s party had been threatening a march toward Islamabad, which it launched last week amid clashes that killed at least five people, including two police officers, in Lahore.

TLP gained prominence in the 2018 general elections, campaigning on the single issue of defending the blasphemy laws.

PTV decides to take Nauman Niaz off air for insulting Shoaib Akhtar in live transmission The Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) administration on Thursday barred anchor-person Nauman Niaz from hosting the show and decided to take him offair, after he misbehaved with former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in a live transmission.

As per the sources, PTV has taken the decision on the recommendation of the inquiry committee which was formed by PTV in order to investigate the matter.

Sources further reveal that a meeting was held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of MD PTV to review the incident involving Shoaib Akhtar and Nauman Niaz.

Nauman Niaz was immediately barred from hosting the show, at least until the investigation completes.

Additionally, the committee decided to summon Shoaib Akhtar as well to probe about the matter further.

However, Shoaib Akhtar has refused to appear before the inquiry committee by stating that, “Whatever happened is out there for everyone to see. [The committee] can make the decision after watching the videos [of the show].”

Two days earlier, former speedster Shoaib Akhtar ignited a controversy after he walked out of a television show Tuesday night following disagreements with the host, cricket commentator Nauman Niaz.

Akhtar, during the live programme for T20 World Cup on PTV Sports, said he “resigned” as a cricket analyst of the channel and walked off after Niaz called him “rude”, adding the former paceman was “free to leave” the show if he wished so.

The problem began when Akhtar apparently ignored the line

of questioning by the host and decided to talk about pacer Haris Rauf, which annoyed Niaz who accused him of “misbehaving with him”.

Akhtar was asked whether Pakistan made a mess of the chase against New Zealand. He did not agree and, ignoring the line of questioning by the host, decided to talk about Rauf and chose to lavish praise on Lahore Qalanders, a Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise, and its coach, Aaqib Javed for discovering and nurturing the bowler.

“This is the guy who deserves all the credit. It was Lahore Qalanders who gave us Haris Rauf,” Akhtar said, pointing towards the former Test pacer, as Noman tried to interrupt him. The host, clearly annoyed and irritated, told Akhtar he had been “misbehaving with him” and he would not tolerate that and in such circumstances, it was better if he left the show and then went for a commercial break.

Following the break when the transmission resumed, there was more drama when Akhtar said he would like to “close the unpleasant incident” but demanded an apology from the host first who did not budge and started discussing the game.

A few minutes later, Akhtar turned to his fellow experts on the panel and, after apologising to them, announced his resignation from PTV Sports.

“My apologies for this but I am resigning immediately from PTV Sports as I have been insulted and treated badly on live television in front of the nation,” he said.

He subsequently got up, took off his microphone, and left. Host Niaz did not attempt to call him back and

showed no reaction at all and carried on with the show as normal.

After video clippings of the incident went viral on social media, Akhtar took to Twitter to give a video statement.

“Multiple clips are circulating on social media so I thought I should clarify. Dr Nauman was obnoxious (sic) and rude [when] he asked me to leave the show,” he tweeted.

“It was embarrassing especially [when you] have legends like sir Vivian Richards and David Gower sitting on the set with some of my contemporaries and seniors, and millions watching.

“I tried to save everyone from embarrassment by saying I was pulling [Niaz’s] leg with this mutual understanding that [he] will also politely apologise and we will move on with the show, which he refused to do. Then I had no other choice,” he added further.

Nauman too took to Twitter to explain his version of the incident.

The other guests on the show including cricket greats Sir Vivian Richards, Gower, Rashid Latif, Umar Gul, Rashid Latif, Javed and women’s cricket team captain Sana Mir were clearly shaken by the incident.

The episode had caused an uproar on social media with politicians, journalists and media persons coming to the former cricketer’s defence and criticising Niaz for his behaviour.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry had said a committee will be formed to probe the incident and subsequently the PTV administration had formed an inquiry committee. news desk

05

corporate corner ffc announces financial results Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC) has announced its financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 in its Board of Directors meeting held on October 27, 2021. The company achieved net profitably of Rs 15.89 billion translating into an EPS of Rs 12.49 which was 15% higher than the last year. The company also declared the third interim dividend of Rs 3.75 per share, with an aggregate distribution of Rs 9.85 per share for the three-quarters of the year 2021.

During the period FFC produced of 1,867 thousand tonnes of Sona Urea and registered aggregate sales revenue of Rs 73.59 billion. Other income of the company also increased due to higher dividend distribution by an associated company. Pr

oGRa establishes consumer affairs department Islamabad: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has recently established Consumer Affairs Department (CAD) to handle general public grievances and provide redressal on merit. The Complaints and Appeals departments have been merged and placed under the umbrella of CAD to synchronize the data of complaints and provide complainants the option of appeal at one forum for timely redressal of their grievances under CRPR, 2003. OGRA has also established its regional offices at Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar to facilitate the consumers at their doorstep and posted designated officers to record, hear, analyze and decide the complaints as per rules and alone in F.Y. 2020-21 OGRA designated officers decided 8272 complaints, provided 1341 gas connections and allowed a relief of Rs.118 Million to the consumers with provision of the opportunity of appeal to aggrieved party being competent appellate forum in oil and gas sector. The consumers can register their complaints by hand, post, email, or they can directly submit their complaints on OGRA website. The complaint redressal mechanism is available free of cost and complaints are decided within a limited/short time period, resolving consumers’ grievances against sui companies, Oil Marketing Companies, CNG stations, LPG and LNG Companies etc. that is the reason OGRA has established the Consumer Affairs Department to provide quick and speedy relief to the consumers. Pr

all Pakistan women association organises breast cancer awareness seminar

All Pakistan Women Association organized a breast cancer seminar at APWA Punjab Auditorium, 65 Jail Road Lahore to raise awareness on low to defeat the disease on October 28, 2021. The event was spear headed by Professor Dr. Andaleeb Khanan, Head of Department surgery at FJMU-LHR and executive member at APWA. Dr. Andaleeb gave a 15 minute lecture on awareness about symptoms of the disease, and how to prevent it. Ruhi Sayid (Chairperson APWA Punjab) during her concluding remarks said that we have to stand united against this fight of Breast Cancer, and awareness is very important to defeat the disease. Pr

Pemra reiterates ban on TV, radio coverage of TLP The Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) declared reiteration of its earlier ban on media coverage of the banned outfit, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) as the group refused to stop with its decision to long march towards the capital.

As per the notification issued by Pemra on October 28, the orders are applicable to all TV channels, FM radio stations and distribution service networks.

Earlier, a letter by the Ministry of Interior on April 15 was issued which declared the TLP as a banned outfit for “being engaged in acts of terrorism, acting in a manner prejudicial to the peace

and security of the country.” Soon after, Pemra also issued a letter declaring the coverage of the proscribed group.

“It is reiterated that regulation 18(h) of Pemra (Television Broadcast Station Operation) Regulation, 2012 and clause 16 of the Electronic Media Code of Conduct, 2015 requires that the programmes shall conform to the laws of the country. Further, Clause 3 (3) of Electronic Media Code of Conduct, 2015 prohibits media coverage of proscribed organisations,” the notification said.

“Keeping in view the reasons stated above, in exercise of the powers conferred

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under Section 27 of Pemra Ordinance, 2002 as amended by Pemra Amendment Act, 2007 all satellite TV channels, FM radio stations and distribution service networks (Cobb TV Operators, IPTV) are hereby directed to stop the media coverage of proscribed organisation Tehreek-iLabbaik Pakistan,” it said.

It is pertinent to note that a rally of thousands of TLP workers entered Gujranwala city on Thursday, and the group is determined to continue with their long march to the capital.

It merits mention that in fresh episodes of violence between the protest-

ers and police officials have claimed the lives of at least five officials and left more than 200 injured.

The government has also announced that the TLP would be treated as a “militant” group, and not a religious party.

Earlier, in April, Pemra had banned television and radio coverage of the TLP after it was declared a proscribed entity by the government. Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing has also launched an operation against the proscribed Tehreek-eLabbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) social media accounts on Thursday. news desk

06-07 Comments - 29 October 2021_Layout 1 10/28/2021 10:02 PM Page 1

Friday, 29 October, 2021

06 COMMENT

Cracks in the edifice

The TLP mess Deal with TLP leaves too many questions

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he government has reached an agreement with the Tehrik Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) that has caused it to abandon its week-long shutdown of the country and its projected march on Islamabad, even though Tuesday’s rioting saw an incident near Sadoke in Gujrqanwala, in which four policemen were killed, supposedly from the blows rained upon them by rioters. or has an agreement been reached? Not that an agreement has not been reached, but this is hardly the first time.

There are two reasons why it seems that even the government does not believe it has done more than buy a little time. First, it has not conceded one of the key demands of the protesters, that the French Ambassador be expelled. It has merely got the TLP to kick that particular can of worms down the road. Second, it has called out the Rangers to deal with the situation.

At the heart of this issue is the government’s inability to keep its promises. even if hedged around with conditions, it has promised to do something it cannot, expel the Ambassador. France is one of the giants of the european Union, and expelling its ambassador would jeopardize relations with the entire eU, not just France. This is unthinkable for a country which hopes to have its exports’ GSP+ status renewed. yet the government has not told the TLP that it will not expel anyone, though it has decided it will not do so. It could expel him, but it is not willing to face the consequences. yet it does not want the consequences of a refusal, which would attract the disapproval of all those who support the TLP’s stance against blasphemy.

The government does not know how to deal with the TLP. The Cabinet decision to stop treating it as a political party, but as a militant organisation, indicates the same double-mindedness while it is unable to stop the protesters from marching towards the capital. Though the parliamentary route, that of creating a consensus in Parliament on what action to take is available, the government came a cropper earlier in the year when it tried to do so, but that might require it to do something it has not been able to do so far with the opposition, something it managed to do with the TLP: reach an agreement.

Beginning of the end?

At Penpoint M A NIAZI

T

he underlying problems of the Pakistani state were not solved by the PTI government, but it is also worrisome that there are no indications from the other parties of any solution, which indicates that the failure of the present system might now be opening the way for untameable forces.

At the heart of the issue is the economic problem.

The rupee is heading towards free fall; fuel prices are rising because of the world economy getting back on its feet after the covid-19 pandemic, while wheat and sugar have to be imported, after a long period of autarky, at a time of rising world prices for commodities. That PTI stalwarts benefited from this has just added to the mix.

That the government chose this time to engage in a controversy over the notification of the new DG ISI is unfortunate, but perhaps timely, as it coincides with the opposition narrative that the government has outstayed its welcome. In this view, the problems of Balochistan, where a vote of no-confidence in the Chief Minister was only averted by his resignation, merely signal the beginning of the end. The DG ISI controversy actually means that the end is inevitable, just as the notification was inevitable. however, the underlying problem, remains.

Imran’s backers thought that he would come good on his promises of fixing the economy, but it has become clear that he has been unable to do so.

Contrary to the impression trying to be given by both opposition parties, neither has really done much about promoting the economy. however, the PTI may well be worse. Its various populist measures have not done anything to improve the situation of the ordinary Pakistani in their tenures, and at present the opposition have not proposed any solution beyond that of offering better governance.

The underlying narrative, that a better form of governance will provide for a better and more efficient country, able to fulfil certain goals, is accepted.

But no party remains untried. even the religious parties have had a turn in the then NWFP, in the shape of the MMA, but that experience did not even per-

The ISI controversy resolved

suade the electorate there to retain the MMA. Instead, the electorate chose to try the PTI. The experience was sufficiently promising to cause the KP electorate to re-elect it to a second term, and to let the electorate of the entire country turn towards it.

The PPP has won three terms in Sindh, but that may be more because the province is divided politically on ethnic lines rather than because the government has performed exceptionally well. The replacement of the MQM by the PTI in urban areas does not entirely reflect the interference that is alleged, so much as the fact that the MQM had lost the support it once had.

The MQM’s example should be a lesson for all those who attempt to keep an electorate loyal by use of force. Consent had been obtained for too long by force, with the result that a counterforce was able to tip the elections towards another party. The military has tried direct rule four times, but each time it has come a cropper on the question of acceptance. Acceptance is not there not because people have a deep commitment to democracy, but because while better governance is delivered, and reflected in some improvement in economic performance, it is not good enough.

This may reflect the limit of the people to improve, but it may also be the limit of the regime. If that is so, the colonial belief that we wogs are incapable of ruling ourselves, would be true. (Neocolonialism says the same thing, wrapped in more acceptable language.)

There is another possibility, that offered by the Tehrik Labbaik Pakistan. Its recent protests, which come hot on the heels of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, indicate that the TLP is feeling encouraged. however, it too has not found an economic agenda beyond some vague protests against interest and feudalism. It has so far not adopted a full-fledged economic agenda, and is concentrating on the blasphemy issue, which is significant and attention-grabbing.

Now blasphemy is certainly of concern to the masses, but there is also concern about the tanking of the economy, and its impact on oneself. The religion card is now not likely to win even minimal support, unless the player also addresses the economic question. There would be questions of ability, because one of the explanations being touted for the PTI’s failure is its inability to find the right team. True, there may be questions about the ministerial team, but there is also a finger being pointed at the bureaucracy. Imran has shown that good ideas may not be enough; that the idea must also be implemented.

There would also be a definite question about how to implement the economic agenda. That agenda would be reversible, and probably partial, if implemented through the present Constitution. It should be noted that the military has twice taken over without abrogating the Constitution, and it has had the Amendments it made ratified by the Parliaments elected after the Martial Law. This apparent devotion to the Constitution may prompt the military to make another attempt at using it. This brings the country back to 1988, when a party ousted by coup 11 years before, came back into power after a super power withdrew from Afghanistan. The next government (after an election, not one formed by Imran’s fall) is unlikely to be as friendly to the military, just as the PPP was in 1988, but like it, it will have done a deal to come to power The expectations upon it will be immense. It will not only face pressure from the people, but also from the IMF. What has been conceded by the present government cannot be taken back, except by a regime ready to accept the consequences of withdrawing entirely from the current financial system.

The prospects of a revolution are becoming possible, though there does not seem any of the class opposition that characterized those after the Russian Revolution. The French Revolution is called a bourgeois Revolution, but it basically involved replacing the system. Similarly, a revolution in Pakistan too might spin out of control. So far, the mullah-military alliance, as some have called it, has upheld the postPartition status quo. Will it hold in the event of a popular revolt? Can the institutions maintain their position?

These are questions the institutions do not need to find the answer to. As the episode of the DG ISI shows, they are very strong, but also have chinks in their armour. That the episode dragged out so long, and that too at the hands of a PM who did not tire of flogging the ’same-page’ metaphor, has exposed unsuspected vulnerabilities.

The PM seemed panicked. The next election, which is growing increasingly near, is weighing heavily on his mind, and is looking increasingly like a defeat. It is often brushed over but Imran’s cricketing career ended badly, because of a player rebellion led

by Javed Miandad, immediately after the 1992 World Cup win. Imran never played for Pakistan after that triumphant World Cup final. he was not selected.

The writer is a member of staff.

Political and market instability needless

T

Unemployment in Pakistan and the way out of it

he Prime Minister’s signing of the summary for the appointment of the new DG ISI came at last, and after first having claimed that the appointment was his prerogative, he ended up doing what the ISPR had earlier announced. That announcement, it is generally assumed, was presumably approved by the CoAS, and represented the consensus of the senior Army leadership. however, one of the side-effects of the whole episode, which incidentally shows why the Prime Minister interferes in such matters at his peril, is the proviso that the appointment will not take effect until November 20. Whatever other significance that might have, what it does mean is that a number of lieutenant-generals are frozen in place until then. Apart from the ISI, two corps and the National Defence University are involved.

The political consequences are grave. It showed the PM’s administrative style as puerile, ready enough to claim being on the same page, or to exert civilian supremacy when needed. But why was it needed? The lack of apparent reason, of any political logic, led to rumours of an occult logic. The whole confusing miasma played a role in the fall of the stock market, as well as behind rumours of a coup. even now, every commentator seems to mention that previous such disputes have led to takeovers. everyone has been at pains to point out that the military institution has a long memory and is not tolerant of errors.

The new DG ISI, who comes to Aabpara from commanding the Karachi corps, will find his new assignment very different. If he were to realize it, his primary task will be to repair the image of the organisation, which will only be possible if it restores its primary focus as its sole focus, and refrains from any more of the political engineering it is accused of. It should be able to speak of what it does, not try and conceal. of course, intelligence agencies must not speak of what they do, but they can certainly be blunt about what they won’t. That is what the new DG must do.

It has got worse, and even leads to suicides ZohA AZIZ

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NeMPLoyMeNT is a state in which workers are capable of working and eager to work but don’t get employment. orsan Scott Card said, “Unemployment is capitalism’s way of getting you to plant a garden.” Currently, looking at the condition of Pakistan, it is sad to say that many people are unemployed. even some people are highly capable and a few among them have good education and fulfil all the requirements of a particular job, but couldn’t get one just because of unemployment.

The Pakistani rate of unemployment increased by 6.5 percent, and we can say that one out of every 10 persons in the country are experiencing unemployment. The statisticss from the urban areas for the unemployment rate were taken and it increased by 2 percent to 10.1 percent and in rural areas it increased from 4.3 percent to 5 percent. In the year 2020, when the unemployment rate in Pakistan was approximately 4.45 percent, a minor decrease from 4.65 percent the previous year. According to the Trading economics Global Macro Model and Analysts expectations, the unemployment rate is likely to reach 5.0 percent by the end of 2021. According to official information, the predicted growth of the economy has almost eliminated the informal sector in which three of every four people lost their livelihoods between April and July the previous year. According to a report, “Special Survey for evaluating Socioeconomic Impact of CoVID-19 on Wellbeing of People”, the labour market of Pakistan dropped by 13 percent in the April–June quarter of 2020, leaving 20.7 million people out of work and due to that those workers, who mostly affected by this were the low-skilled young workers.

The jobless people can always be dangerous to a nation's well-being. Those youth of the country who are unemployed are getting frustrated and falling a prey to drug addiction, theft, violence and many other social harms. Terrorists, drug traffickers and smugglers are engaging them in evil activities.

The people are getting so much depressed that according to the statistics, 136 people committed suicide just because they were unemployed. The unemployment rate is the ratio of unemployed individuals in the labour force. Unemployment negatively impacts the disposable income of families,

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami M. A. Niazi

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

I

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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diminishes employee self-confidence, erodes purchasing power and lessens an economy’s output.

There are three major causes of unemployment, economic causes, social causes and financial causes.

The use of advanced technology, mechanization of agriculture, low industrial growth rate and reduction in foreign employment all comes under economic causes and need great attention. The second are social causes which include: high population rate, widespread illiteracy, lack of technical education, nepotism and favouritism, re-employment, political instability, ruralurban migration and Afghan refugees. The third set are financial causes which include: deficiency of capital and lack of credit facilities.

All these causes need to be addressed on time. Those factors which give heat to the unemployment are poor governance, political instability and corruption. First attention should be given to the factors of unemployment, because if the base or root is not strong then there is no use of putting efforts to get fruits. For better fruit strong roots are required. Therefore, we need to focus on our factors to make a better and more fruitful society. The law is not considered a supreme or respectable aspect of our society. Due to lack of obeying law, everyone considers himself superior and does whatever he wants. The violation of law makes the system weak, due to which people keep away from investing or creating industries in the country.

Unemployment can be converted into employment by taking certain steps. The government needs to act sensibly and do proper planning. education systems need to be improved and well managed and should be equal for everyone. The government needs

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

to establish well recognized technical and training institutions, where the skills programmes are offered.

To encourage the youth, motivational programmes should be done, such as programmes against drug addiction and homeless individuals. Also, there should be support programmes for mental issues.

The concept of discrimination should be ended from society to create a better atmosphere. The fiscal and monetary measures should be taken in a financial crisis situation. It is the job of the government to give many facilities and benefits to the investors so that they invest more in our country Such an environment should be created by the government which makes the industrialist set up more and more industries. There are numerous such people of very creative mindset but who are facing high interest rates on personal loans in Pakistan. The government needs to start a scheme to encourage and promote them. The businessmen should be encouraged to start their own business or continue with their family businesses. Unemployment is a significant issue for any economy. It creates adverse impacts on the unemployed as they are jobless and suffer from worse chances to find a new job, and those who are employed feel less secure about keeping their jobs in future. It is the job of the government to strictly monitor the implementation of laws. The people of the country should help the government to fight against unemployment. Therefore, every citizen should follow the rules and regulations in their true spirit and should maintain discipline. To make our country successful, along with the government, every individual should do their part of the job.

Such an environment should be created by the government which makes the industrialist set up more and more industries. There are numerous such people of very creative mindset but who are facing high interest rates on personal loans in Pakistan. The government needs to start a scheme to encourage and promote them. The businessmen should be encouraged to start their own business or continue with their family businesses

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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The writer is a freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

06-07 Comments - 29 October 2021_Layout 1 10/28/2021 10:02 PM Page 2

Friday, 29 October, 2021

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

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

Child marriages in Pakistan

Inflation breeds poverty and social deviance Inflation has truly become backbreaking

Mujeeb AlI Inflation breeds poverty and beyond any doubt poverty is the root of all evils. All the social issues arise owing to deviance. Unfortunately, our country is the victim of such a deviance.

We glare at people who are grumbling every day due to inflation, but that is on the rise every new day.

The current rise in the petrol prices and increment in the prices of daily use items show this, though the price rates in the international market are static. There is no logic to raise the prices of petrol. If it is a compulsion because our country is suffering from debt and deficit in the economy, It becomes compulsory to raise the petrol prices so that the desirable revenue is generated to pay the loan installment.

It is a doubtful situation for us as petrol is purchased from the international market. It costs the expenditure of cargo and route charges in such a process, and the petrol price rise is mandatory.

It has no logic to raise the prices of compressed natural gas. CNG rates in the country were nominal at the rate of a maximum of Rs 100 per kg. Now it has reached a rate of Rs 180 rupees per kg. This is despite CNG being naturally produced in the country.

Government is abrupt in its raise. It ignores the fact that CNG is mostly used by the middle and poor classes. The daily use of CNG is by the rickshaws and lots of cars like Mehrans and Altos or the passenger vans. our country is always the soft target of inflation. People prefer to select the party of their choice with the hope that it shall ensure minimal living expenses and get rid of poverty.

But, unfortunately, whenever the party is in government with the power they forget to give relief to the people.

There was a ray of hope that when the PTI party would come into power it would restore the quality of life with minimal living expenses.

Poverty is the direct result of the existing social

and economic system and economic policies, derers.

There is a point to ponder if the incumbent and the high inflation doubled down the impacts ruling party is to revise the decision of raising of poverty.

Inflation jumped to 14.6 percent, the highest the petrol prices. It causes novel problems. The in the last one decade. Food inflation in urban inflation is making our country the fifth most exareas rose by 19.5 percent in January on a yearly pensive country in the world to live in.

The simple living standard of people is afbasis and 2.5 percent on a monthly basis whereas it increased by 23.8 percent and 3.4 percent, re- fected by inflation. It makes life miserable and spectively, in rural areas. These figures clearly causes mental stress. Inflation is not something show that food inflation is very high in rural that can be ignored. The commodities of daily use are out of the reach of people. how one can areas where most of the population lives.

Poverty is a venom, for it devours not only meet with the expenses of medical, education, the indigent people but also the salaried and and other such day-to-day issues which are redaily wager class. Since the current government lated to the expenses.

Mounting inflation is handicapping the sotook power in August2018, more than half a million people every month on average fell below cial standing of people. The cost of electricity, travel, and basic edibles are also touching sky the poverty line.

The most incurable disease for Pakistan is while there is a universal desire for a rise in stainflation, which is devouring the poor day by tus.

In such deplorable conditions, the poor are day. our people live a very vulnerable life bebecoming poorer cause of poverty. Nearly and the rich are en39 percent of Pakistanis joying life. When live under multidimenhigh inflation joins sional poverty. More than a third of Pakistan’s popIn such deplorable conditions, hand with poverty, it becomes unbearulation is living below the the poor are becoming poorer able. Life becomes poverty line. Balochistan more miserable and has the highest rate of and the rich are enjoying life. painful.high inflapoverty, Sindh comes second, followed by Khyber When high inflation joins hand tion is like adding insult to injury for Pakhunkhwa and then with poverty, it becomes the poor. Millions of Punjab. poor people are now The PTI agenda is to unbearable. Life becomes more living in an even exgive relief to the poor peotreme form of ple, so was the manifesto miserable and painful. High poverty, which is on of previous parties. Ininflation is like adding insult to the rise. stead of giving relief, these If the prime governments have taken injury for the poor. Millions of minister considers it relief from the people. suitable for the wellPTI carried the mispoor people are now living in being of the people, sion of eradicating corruphe should cut off all tion and bringing the an even extreme form of the perks and privicorrupt to book, but this poverty, which is on the rise leges of the federal has not been met yet. as well as provincial The price hike and ministers. our minpoverty are giving more isters are already strength to corruption. rich with bank balhow? The low-income class and the salaried person are unable to meet ances and have a side business. If they don't take the everyday expenses of the family. They will the salary of the government, in spite of that they go for the practice of corruption. even though a would live a luxurious life. The money saved person may have never done corruption in his from their expenditure may be spent on the poor entire professional career, now he will do the people. Those ministers who serve as government officials will be satisfied because of the corruption to meet his daily expenses. our experience of electing a debut party in power and authority of the government thry government is a bad venture. It has, instead of enjoy and the others who are not serving will eliminating the roots of corruption, has given leave the positions. Many new faces will volunspace to corruption. Petrol prices are not only tarily come to serve as government representapreventing the poor people from surviving, but tives.

In this way, our people will get some relief are also creating a space for deviance.

Whenever there is inflation it breeds poverty from inflation and eradication of poverty. as well. Those suffering from poverty will go for The writer can be reached at mujeebalmisdemeanours and crimes starting from theft and going on to robbery, dacoity, and paid mur- isamo110@gmail.com

ChILD marriage is a common practice in Pakistan nowadays. Child marriage is the marriage of a child at an early age under the age of 18.

Child brides are more likely to experience domestic violence as they are not ready for marriage mentally. According to the World health organisation, child brides who have children may also be psychologically not prepared to become mothers at an early age. In the same manner, our country has the sixth-highest number of absolute child brides in the world. 47.5 per cent of the current married women were under the age of 18.

Pakistan ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1990, pledging commitment to protect the rights of children, as well as the elimination of child marriage.

But underage marriage is still a problem in several parts of Pakistan.

Citing data from the Pakistan Demographic and health Survey (PDhS) 2017-18, Qamar Naseem, a rights activist from the city of Peshawar, says 3.3% of girls are married off under the age of 15 while 18.3% of girls married off are under the age of 18.

Across the country, about 4.7% of boys are married off under the age of 18, he added.

Naseem saidchild marriage is notably higher in Pakistan’s newly merged tribal areas, where around 35% of all child marriages in the country take place. Women’s rights activist Mukhtaran Mai says most girls in rural parts of the Punjab province are married off at a young age due to local customs and traditions. “exchange marriage — or watta satta — is quite common. young girls are also married off to settle blood money, tribal disputes and property feuds. They are given away like animals,” Mai said. Lahorebased women’s rights activist Shazia Khan says Pakistan’s clergy play the biggest role in underage marriages, citing past opposition to legislation seeking to prohibit underage marriages from religious party members. When such a law was enacted in the state of Sindh some years ago, it was fiercely resisted by religious clerics. A federal bill seeking to punish those responsible for underage marriages was also censured by clerics in 2014. “They have always opposed bills seeking to ban underage marriages. The entire scientific community confirms that it is detrimental to women’s health but they misinterpret Islam, justifying the marriages of underage girls on religious grounds,” said Shazia Khan.

Nasreen Jalil, a Pakistani politician and former chairperson of the Senate committee on human rights, says that the country’s feudal customs and patriarchy are to blame for child marriages.

“I believe the marriage age should be 18 across the country and those who violate this should be dealt with,” she said.

Tipu Sultan, a Pakistan-based doctor, warned about health complications that could arise during early marriages and pregnancies. he says anemia, hormonal disorders and vaginal fistula are just some of the problems young brides are at risk of facing. “It also causes malnutrition because when underage girls get pregnant, their babies need nutrition which they receive from mothers’ bodies. But since mothers themselves go through a phase of growth, how can they provide nutrition to their babies and keep themselves healthy at the same time?” he said.

Despite numerous laws were made to eradicate child marriage but the child marriage cases are still on the rise in Pakistan.

YaSir Khalil, TurbaT

Forced career counselling in Pakistan

The students in Pakistan are beaing forced by their parents to select those careers which their parents like, not the career that their children are interested in. Career counseling is become a major problem in Pakistan. So many students commit suicide, while many leave their studies due to lack on interest. even if students become successful as per their fathers wishes, they are not happy in their lives as they didn't get to pursue their own dreams. Besides this, there are so many students who want to be artists, but they can't pursue their dreams due to societal pressure.

The students are being neglected or ignored by their parents for showing their talent or fulfilling their wishes. It is a pressing issue in Pakistan which needs immediate attention, as it can destroy a student's life.

There is no doubt that Pakistan is a fast-moving economy but, with a derailed labour force. Amidst the dysphoria that the workforce faces in its prime years, the hardcore fact that remains a subject of debate amongst the youth and relevant scholars is whether Pakistan lacks satisfactory career counseling or a range of suitable careers for the bulging population that fails to adjust in the economic system.

Majority of the youngsters try their shots in all fields because of which neither do they get to know about their strengths; nor does the world. An absence of professional guidance coupled with a sense of unabashed disorientation ultimately blocks the dim light of potential that could have intensified.

In addition to these structural issues at the grass root level, parental paths and burdens of sustaining traditions leads towards ultimate failure.

Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world with a population of 219m. Given the current rate of population growth, it is estimated to reach 280m by 2030. At present, 63pc of the population is below the age of 30. Therefore, in a country where supply is abundant, the rationale behind success is a perfect match of abilities (interest) with an adequate career choice; a combination extremely scarce in the country.

Despite hundreds of educational institutes training thousands of children and young adults to enter the market, yet an accurate placement in it has never been witnessed due to mechanisms that would provide enlightened guidance.

It is because the employment challenge does not merely end at just generating jobs but also extends to ensuring ‘gainful/productive’ employment. Again, a dismal state of economic and political affairs has failed to produce a system that endorses a spectrum of technologically and economically apt careers that befit individuals and their future prospects. imdad ilYaS balnigwar

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08 WORLD VIEW

FacEbook hasn’t donE Enough to FIx Its hatE-spEEch problEm In IndIa FACEBOOK’S FORMER PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR ANKHI DAS, WHO HAD PERSONALLY SHARED ISLAMOPHOBIC CONTENT, ASKED EMPLOYEES TO NOT APPLY HATE SPEECH RULES TO POSTS OF CERTAIN BJP POLITICIANS QuarTz

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ananya Bhattacharya

ACEBOOK has been selectively curbing hate speech, misinformation and inflammatory posts –particularly anti-Muslim content – in India, according to more than a dozen leaked internal memos and studies seen by the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and the Associated Press.

Facebook sees India as one of the most “at-risk countries” in the world, meaning that the company recognises it needs better algorithms and teams to respond to events in almost real-time. India is Facebook’s largest market with at least 34 crore Facebook accounts and 40 crore WhatsApp users.

The platform’s woes have been exacerbated by its own “recommended” feature, and a dearth of reliable content moderation systems, the papers shared by whistleblower Frances Haugen reveal. And employees’

concerns over the mishandling of such issues, and the viral “malcontent” on the platform appear to have been swept under the rug for the most part.

TRACK RECORD Last year, the Wall Street Journal reported allegations of Facebook favouring Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. The whistleblower’s exposé doubles down on these claims, providing further evidence that Facebook’s former public policy director Ankhi Das, who had personally shared Islamophobic content, asked employees to not apply hate speech rules to posts of certain BJP politicians.

The author of a December 2020 internal document notes that “Facebook routinely makes exceptions for powerful actors when enforcing content policy”. In the same memo, a former Facebook chief security officer says that, outside the United States, “local policy heads are generally pulled from the ruling political party and are rarely drawn from disadvantaged ethnic groups, re-

ligious creeds, or castes”, which “naturally bends decision-making towards the powerful”.

ANTI-MUSLIM PROPAGANDA Much of the rhetoric on Facebook’s platforms teeters on India’s religious fault line – and the company seems to be quietly letting it all go. A case study from March this year shows Facebook was debating whether it could control the “fear-mongering, antiMuslim narratives” pushed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a far-right Hindu nationalist group to which Modi belonged during his youth.

In a document titled “Lotus Mahal” – the lotus is the BJP’s party symbol – Facebook noted that members with links to the BJP had created multiple Facebook accounts to amplify anti-Muslim content, ranging from “calls to oust Muslim populations from India” and “love jihad”, an unproven conspiracy theory by Hindu hardliners who accuse Muslim men of using interfaith marriages to coerce Hindu women into

changing their religion.

There were also Hindu nationalist groups with ties to the ruling party that continued their activity despite posting inflammatory anti-Muslim content, including “dehumanising posts comparing Muslims to ‘pigs’ and ‘dogs’ and misinformation ….”, the documents show.

In more extreme cases, such hate speech and fake news has led to physical harm in the real world. In February last year, a politician from Modi’s party posted a video on Facebook to call upon his supporters to remove mostly Muslim protesters from a road in New Delhi, sparking riots that killed 53.

A New Delhi government committee found Facebook complicit.

After the pandemic hit, “coronajihad”, a term blaming Muslims for intentionally spreading the Covid-19 virus, started circulating on social media. It took Facebook days to remove the hashtag, and by then, doctored video clips and posts purportedly showing Muslims spitting on authorities and

How profits rather than empire define success for the Pentagon ANDREW COCKBURN’S NEW BOOK IS AN INCREDIBLE COMPENDIUM OF AVARICE AND FOLLY

inTerCepT

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Jon Schwarz

N the Introduction “The Spoils of War,” an extraordinary new book by Andrew Cockburn, he makes a straightforward assertion about the U.S. military. “War-fighting efficiency has a low priority,” he writes, “by comparison with considerations of personal and internal bureaucracies. … The military are generally not interested in war, save as a means to budget enhancement.”

This is not a popular perspective in Washington, D.C., to say the least. It’s of course legal for the New York Times and the Washington Post, or network television, to make this case. But just to be on the safe side, they never do.

Intriguingly, it’s also not a left-wing critique, exactly. Leftist analysis of the American war machine generally credits it with a coherent plan to rule the world and an implacable lust for the violence needed to make it happen. “If you’re a dove, you think the whole thing’s really rotten,” Cockburn said in a recent appearance on Intercepted. However, “a lot of my good sources, and indeed friends, whose political views in other areas might make your hair stand on end” despise the military’s profligate behavior for their own reasons.

Cockburn suggests that the Pentagon and the corporations that feed off it have generated the largest and most byzantine bureaucracy in human history, filled with innumerable fiefdoms far more focused on besting their internal rivals than outside enemies.

Today’s generals and admirals don’t engage in unnecessary activities like trying to win wars, but instead while their days away plotting how to join the board of General Dynamics six hours after their retirement party. Mid-level whistleblowers who suggest the military should procure helmets that protect soldiers from roadside bombs — rather than actually amplifying the damage — are energetically ostracized. Then, as with Chuck Spinney, a Pentagon an-

alyst who testified in the 1980s before Congress on the soaring costs of complex weapons, they are punished. (Spinney managed to keep his job but his higher-ups stopped giving him anything of significance to do, leaving him lots of time to ponder his misdeeds before his retirement 20 years later.)

The array of panjandrums in Cockburn’s compendium of avarice and folly at the top of the military world therefore appear like an expanded, hyperviolent version of the Roy family on the HBO show “Succession” — that is, they spend 98 percent of their time jockeying for wealth and power within the organization, and at most a residual 2 percent attempting to do what the organization purportedly exists to accomplish.

Even the most wised-up cynic might rebel at this worldview. Can it possibly be true that the U.S. military — which converts wedding parties in Pakistan into scraps of wet red flesh with drones piloted from 8,000 miles away and possesses the ability to end human civilization in 30 minutes — is simultaneously this venal and preposterous? But Cockburn relentlessly piles fact upon fact until readers have no option but to admit that the answer is yes.

Here are a few of the many, many examples that Cockburn provides: • During the first winter of the Korean War in 1950-51, half of American casualties were caused by frostbite. Incredibly enough, U.S soldiers hadn’t been equipped with warm boots and were forced to raid North Korean positions to steal their functional footwear. U.S. military spending had jumped following the beginning of hostilities, but much of the increase went to things that had nothing to do with the war, such as B-47 strategic nuclear bombers, a Boeing product far more profitable product than boring old boots.

• More recently, in 2014, a $300 million B1 bomber accidentally dropped two 500-pound bombs on five Special Forces soldiers in a nighttime raid near Kandahar in Afghanistan. In theory, the B1 crew should have been able to tell these were American troops, since Special Forces wear infrared beacons visible with standard night vision goggles.

In practice, the B-1’s night vision camera detects a different section of the infrared spectrum, and no one informed the crew of this. So why was the B-1 being sent on such missions in the first place, instead of planes better suited for it? Because the Air Force needed something for B-1s to do, since they were gratifyingly expensive but turned out not to be suited for their original mission of flying nuclear weapons

to drop on Russia. With a full load of bombs, Cockburn writes, the B-1 can’t fly high enough to cross the Rockies.

• Washington is currently in a tizzy over China purportedly testing nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles. Russia has already done so years ago, supposedly. Hypersonic missiles differ from standard intercontinental ballistic missile because they fly at a much lower altitude and are meant to be maneuverable (rather than following a predictable parabola like an ICBM). This is turn means they allegedly can evade America’s Star Wars missile defense systems. However, as Cockburn cogently explains, there are powerful technical reasons to believe that hypersonic missiles will never work as advertised. Meanwhile, with pleasing symmetry, Star Wars does not function and never will. Cockburn aptly quotes one Pentagon weapons designer in the 1960s telling new hires that they would be making “weapons that don’t work to meet threats that don’t exist.” Experts in the U.S., China, and Russia all must know that the entire field of hypersonic missiles is pointless, but hyping the threat from each other is a potent way for the military-industrial complex in each country to extract large chunks of cash from their citizens. In 2019, Lockheed Martin’s CEO broke ground on a new facility to develop hypersonic weapons with a golden shovel, presumably billed to the government on a cost-plus basis. Cockburn, currently the Washington editor of Harper’s Magazine, has been covering the Pentagon for decades, and it shows. He possesses a uniquely detailed knowledge of the arcane, lucrative machinations of this world, as well as a deep historical understanding of the forces that built it.

And while the specifics change, the stories he tells all have the same shocking moral. “People say the Pentagon does not have a strategy,” he quotes a former Air Force colonel as saying. “They are wrong. The Pentagon does have a strategy. It is: ‘Don’t interrupt the money flow.’”

If you’re still not convinced, the proof of this unpalatable pudding is in the eating. Consider America’s just-concluded 20-year war in Afghanistan. As the Taliban took over the country in days, it might have seemed that the whole thing was a colossal failure.

But if you check your portfolio of defense contractor stocks, and visit the enormous mansions in the northern Virginia suburbs surrounding the Pentagon, you’ll see that, in fact, it was an incredible success.

hospital staff had already made the rounds.

The conspiracy theory cost some Muslims dearly, leading to violence, business boycotts, and even jail time for some.

Despite all the internal deliberations, Facebook did not kick out these hardline Hindu groups, citing “political sensitivities”.

Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone told the Wall Street Journal on October 23 that the company bans groups or individuals “after following a careful, rigorous and multidisciplinary process”, and some leaked reports were working documents that were still under investigation.

CONTENT MODERATION But Facebook’s own failing systems are likely getting in the way of these so-called investigations, too. Back in February 2019, just before India’s most recent general elections, a Facebook employee created a test user to understand what a new user in the country would see on their news feed if all they did was follow pages and groups solely recommended by the platform itself.

During this time, there was a militant attack in Kashmir, which killed over 40 Indian soldiers. In the aftermath, Facebook groups got flooded with hate speech and unverified rumours, and viral content ran rampant, the documents show. The new user’s recommended groups were inundated with fake news, anti-Pakistan rhetoric and Islamophobic content.

Many of the rumours and calls to violence against Muslims were “never flagged or actioned” because Facebook lacked “classifiers” and “moderators” in Hindi and Bengali languages. In a statement to the

End moral and religious exemptions for vaccinations ChiCago Sun-TimeS Editorial Board

This week, state lawmakers are considering a proposal that would effectively end a part of the debate regarding COVID-19 vaccine and testing mandates. But even with its good intentions, it doesn’t appear to go far enough. As the Sun-Times’ Rachel Hinton reported this week, legislators have been considering a proposal that would ban employees from citing moral beliefs as a valid reason for refusing to comply with a workplace mandate for COVID-19 vaccination or testing. Under the Illinois measure, employees would still be able to cite religious or medical reasons for not complying with COVID-19 requirements. But in our view, as we approach a second winter of this pandemic, the sole exceptions that should remain in place are those citing legitimate, verifiable, limited medical reasons for avoiding the vaccine. This editorial board once supported the concept of granting religious exemptions to vaccines, on a very limited basis, to those who can demonstrate that their opposition is based on sincere, deeply held beliefs. Absent a deadly pandemic that continues to disrupt daily life, we might well continue to hold to that view. But as a matter of public health — including the health of those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons — a ban on both moral and religious exemptions, focused solely on COVID-19 vaccines and testing, is the right move. Legislators should hammer out the details and take these steps, for the sake of ending this pandemic as quickly as possible. The amendment, filed by state Rep. Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, would change the state’s Health Care Right of Conscience Act to make clear that public officials and private companies can impose COVID-19 vaccine and testing requirements as a condition of employment. But recently, a small group of unvaccinated teachers in the southern Illinois town of Nauvoo has relied on the law as the basis for their argument against both vaccine and COVID-19 testing requirements. Other workers have followed suit, with lawyers ginning up cases on behalf of those who stubbornly refuse to get vaccinated. Enough. The act was originally intended to protect health care workers who refused to provide abortion or contraceptive services on moral or religious grounds. The proposed legislation would not change that, nor should it. The urgent goal here is to end a pandemic, not to ignite a battle over abortion rights. In an ideal world, mandates aimed at ending a pandemic would not be necessary. Everyone who could be vaccinated would do so, quickly and willingly, for their sake and the sake of the community as a whole.

After all, concern for others is a core tenet of most religious traditions. But consider the current state of our country: Just 57% of Americans are fully vaccinated. The percentage is similar in Illinois, though some southern counties remain far below that. Overall, we’re far short of the 80% scientists say is needed to reach herd immunity, which would protect the population as a whole. n issue of public health, involving a vaccine that has been proven safe and effective in multiple clinical trials, has become a flashpoint for political battles. Wacky, sometimes dangerous misinformation proliferates. Too often, refuseniks take cover under the guise of moral beliefs.

Friday, 29 October, 2021 | KARACHI

NEWS

corporate corner mcB Bank continues to declare highest dividend per share as of 9m’ 2021 LAHORE: The Board of Directors of MCB Bank Limited (MCB) in its meeting under the chairmanship of Mian Mohammad Mansha, on October 27, reviewed the performance of the bank and approved the condensed interim financial statements for the nine months period ended September 30, 2021. Continuing with its highest payout trend, the bank announced a dividend of Rs4.50 per share for the July-September quarter. The latest announcement took the total payout so far in 2021 to Rs14 per share. The average policy rate registered a decline of 258 basis points to 7.01pc in the period under review. “However, on account of historic growth in average current deposits, the net interest income of the bank decreased only 14pc to Rs47.74bn,” it said. During the nine months period ended September 30, 2021, MCB Bank Limited reported Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs38.27 billion and Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs22.56 billion. Earnings’ Per Share (EPS) stood at Rs19.03 against an EPS of Rs19.35 reported in the corresponding period last year. The State Bank of Pakistan continued with its expansionary monetary policy stance during the major part of the period in order to combat the downside risks emanating from COVID-19 outbreak.

Average Policy rate registered a decline of 27% (258bps) from an average of 9.59% in corresponding period last year to 7.01% in current period under review. Return on Assets and Return on Equity reported at 1.63% and 18.86% respectively, whereas the book value per share was reported at Rs132.09. While complying with the regulatory capital requirements, the bank’s total Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) is 19.00% against the requirement of 11.5% (including capital conservation buffer of 1.50% as reduced under the BPRD Circular Letter No. 12 of 2020). Quality of the capital is evident from Bank’s Common Equity Tier-1 (CET1) to total risk weighted assets ratio which comes to 16.08% against the requirement of 6%. The bank’s capitalization also resulted in a Leverage Ratio of 6% which is well above the regulatory limit of 3.0%. The Bank reported Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) of 247.94% and Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) of 189.19% against requirement of 100%. The bank’s exceptional performance has also been recognized by the globally coveted Finance Asia’s Country Awards where it has declared MCB Bank as the “Best Bank in Pakistan” in 2021. PR

engro & Sindh govt to establish 1st hybrid renewable energy park

AccelerAted economic recovery to continue: economic outlook report ISLAMABAD

G

aPP

iven the performance of various economic indicators, the economic recovery that had accelerated since March 2021 is expected to continue, according to the Monthly Update and Outlook for October 2021 report released by the Finance Ministry on Thursday.

According to the report, increased production may boost exports while domestic production might partially substitute for imported products. “increased production also stimulates exports, while supply-side induced increase in domestic production may partially substitute for imported products. On the other hand, the need for necessary intermediate inputs in the production process also increases. The increased incomes generated by economic growth also raises the demand for domestic and foreign products,” the ministry maintained in the report. it further stated that measures were being implemented to curb unnecessary imports which do not contribute to the expansion of domestic production. “nevertheless, the economic expansion may go along with a current account deficit,” the report said, adding that it was normal for emerging and developing countries to run current account deficits, financed by financial

INFLATIONARY PRESSURE WAS NOT PASSED ON TO DOMESTIC CONSUMERS, FINANCE MINISTRY SAYS inflows from developed nations. “it is strongly realised that as long as the deficits are manageable, their contribution remains productive for achieving a higher and sustainable growth trajectory, necessary for the convergence of per capita income with developed countries,” it added.

The report claimed that by the end of the first two months of the fiscal year 2021-22 (2MFY22), the fiscal deficit will be restricted to almost the same level as it was in the comparable period of the previous year.

“The government was following a careful expenditure management strategy to ensure that critical areas were not ignored and that sufficient resources were available for growth-oriented and social security-related programs,” it further said.

This measures were said to pave the way for better financial prospects and sustained economic recovery.

On the revenue side, the report added, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) was focused on sustaining a successful streak of surpassing the tax collection target during the first quarter of the current fiscal (Q1FY22) and had already taken a number of initiatives in this regard. The board, as per the economic outlook, was implementing dig-

italization and automation of various processes involved in the revenue collection – launching of the Point of Sale (POS) and the Track and Trace system were examples of such initiatives.

“Furthermore, the FBR has taken a number of measures to promote economic activities through maximum taxpayer facilitation,” the report read.

All this augurs well for sustaining the momentum of tax collection achieved during Q1FY22, the report maintained, adding that the FBR was on course for achieving the revenue target set for the current fiscal.

The report also added that on the external side imports of goods and services in September were marginally lower than their levels observed in August. The persistent rise in international oil prices, exchange rate pressure, and the rise in domestic economic activities were contributing to the rise in import demand.

Given these recent dynamics, it can be expected that in the following months, imports may remain at their current high levels. Therefore, the government’s recent steps in terms of monetary policy and the measures taken to discourage unnecessary imports would be helpful in containing the strong expansion recorded in recent months.

As expected, exports of goods and

nestlé pakistan’s revenue continues to show signs of recovery in third quarter KARACHI: Nestlé Pakistan Limited’s revenue continued to improve, clocking a growth of 13.2%, for the nine months ended Sep 30, 2021, as compared to the same period last year. Increase in volume resulting from uptick in economic activities after the government relaxed COVID-19 restrictions as well as pricing management contributed to this growth. The results were announced upon the conclusion of the meeting of the Board of Directors on Oct 26, 2021. The company also made further progress in the recovery of operation profit, which increased primarily due to favourable product mix and better absorption of overhead costs. Net profit for the same period has also benefitted from reduction in financing costs. PR

ke's statement on mehmoodabad grid station's court decision KARACHI: With reference to the recent news reports about K-Electric Mehmoodabad Grid Station Case, the Honorable Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal on the ground that the Petitioners have come to the Court with unclean hands as the Petitioners are themselves residing on the greenbelt. However, the appeal was converted into a Suo Moto Proceedings and notices were issued to all concerned stakeholders including K-Electric. The company awaits the notice issued by the Honorable Supreme Court to summon it for the next hearing where it will present its legal stance. As a responsible corporate company, K-Electric respects the Honorable Court and is fully committed to follow its orders.” PR

KARACHI: Engro Energy Limited (EEL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company (STDC) and the Directorate of Alternate Energy (DAE), to establish a renewable energy park at Jhimpir that will provide electricity to industry at Port-Qasim and Dhabeji.

Under the terms of the MoU, Engro will be responsible to build the first hybrid solar PV and wind park in the country whereas STDC and DAE will be responsible for laying the transmission network and facilitate the provision of required land for the project, respectively.

The MoU jointly spearheaded by the government of Sindh was witnessed by Provincial Minister for Energy, Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh; Ghias Khan, President Engro Corporation; Ahsan Zafar Syed, CEO Engro Energy; Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, CEO STDC and other leadership members. PR

Hascol joins hands with Shaukat khanum to conduct breast cancer awareness session KARACHI: Hascol Petroleum Limited (Hascol) has partnered with Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH), the leading cancer hospital and research facility in Pakistan to observe October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, also known as #PinkTober. As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility program, Hascol has chosen to address this dreaded disease in Pakistan, and organized a webinar in conjunction with SKMCH. Hascol’s employees their relatives and others attended the early detection session in person and online. PR

09

pSo announces record breaking gross revenue of rs1.4tr KARACHI: Pakistan State Oil (PSO) convened its 45th Annual General Meeting on October 26, 2021 at its head office in Karachi. PSO Board of Management Chairman Zafar I. Usmani presided over the meeting with PSO CEO & Managing Director Syed Taha, other BoM members and senior company officials. PSO announced a record breaking gross revenue of PKR 1.4 trillion and highest ever profit after tax of Rs29.1 billion for the financial year 2020-21 (FY21) after a loss after tax of Rs6.5 billion in the preceding year. The net profit translated into a healthy earning per share of PKR 62.07 vs. loss per share of Rs13.77 in FY20. Based on the outstanding financial and operational performance, the company declared a final cash dividend of Rs10/- per share. (100%) which is in addition to the interim cash dividend of Rs5/- per share (50%). PR LAHORE: Samsung Pakistan has announced the kick-off of ‘Samsung Week’, the largest global brand promotion event, in celebration of the company’s 52nd anniversary and its innovation over the years.

The event which takes place from 25th October – 2nd November 2021, entails exceptional offers and discounts dedicated to Samsung’s discerning customers, and is in appreciation of Samsung’s audience globally, who have supported this legacy of innovation. The week-long campaign entails several offers, such as a daily flash sale, customizable offers giving customers a chance to personalize their own products. Other offers during the week will feature Samsung’s best-selling and best-in-class products as well as deals on the latest models of each series, including the latest Galaxy Z Fold3, Galaxy Z Flip3 and Galaxy Watch4. Moreover, audiences can expect special promos and savings when purchasing products that complement each other. PR

services crossed the $3 billion mark, helped by the ongoing strong recovery in Pakistan’s main export markets, the momentum in domestic economic dynamism, and specific government policies to stimulate exports. These dynamics are expected to keep exports above the $3 billion mark in the months ahead.

As a result of these events, the trade deficit of goods and services retreated from the level observed in August and is expected to first stabilise and then decline in the months ahead.

The report detailed that if remittances stay roughly at current levels in the coming months – and considering other income inflows which have a relatively minor share – the current account deficit would be driven by the trade deficit which would be stabilised and improved thereafter. However, these developments would have to be monitored closely.

The report further maintained that the inflation rate was mainly driven by monetary and supply-side factors, particularly the domestic and international commodity prices, the US dollar exchange rate, seasonal factors and economic agents’ expectations concerning the future developments of these indicators.

The government’s structural policies to improve the functioning of the market structure, particularly food markets, play an important role, it said.

pSHrm, engage consulting host Best place to Work Awards Gala 2021 KARACHI: The Best Place to Work Pakistan Awards Gala 2021 took place recently at local Hotel to recognize and celebrate companies and their workplace culture. The recognition was based on anonymous survey data assessing employee experiences of belonging, alignment, growth, commitment and navigating the pandemic. Engage Consulting in partnership with PSHRM (Pakistan Society of Human Resource Management) have been carrying out the BPTW study since 2008, building up a rich database of employee engagement and commitment levels.

Recently, both conducted another study of employee experiences in Pakistan, receiving a record-breaking number of 290+ company nominations and surveying over 40 thousand employees from 160 companies across Pakistan to determine best places to work. In total, 52 awards were given to the winning organizations. DHL Express Pakistan bagged the most prestigious ‘Best of the Best Company 2021’ award for the fifth time in a row. PR

philip morris (pakistan) ltd. announces financial results for nine months ended September, 2021 KARACHI: Philip Morris (Pakistan) Limited (PMPKL) posted a Profit After Tax of Rs2,071 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to a Profit After Tax of Rs1,828 million for the same period last year.

The company's net turnover, on the other hand, stood at Rs12,789 million during the stated period reflecting an increase of 7.5% versus the same period last year.

During these nine months, the company’s contribution to the national exchequer, in the form of excise duty, sales tax and other government levies, stood at Rs20, 449 million that is higher by 17.4% compared to the same period last year, reflecting 60.9% of nine months gross turnover. The unchanged excise rate on cigarettes as laid out in the Federal Budget 2021/22proved to be fruitful that helped add to FBR’s record revenue collection.

PMPKL’s contribution to the National Exchequer during the first quarter ended September 30, 2021 of the ongoing fiscal year 2021/22 stood at Rs6,014 million– higher by 22.1% versus the prior period. No change in excise rates also led to consumer price stability of the tax paying cigarette brands, however, the persistent price gap of over 200% between compliant tax paid and nontax paid brands continue to have a negative impact on the national treasury which are continue selling lower than the minimum price for the purposes of levy and collection of federal excise duty i.e. Rs 63/pack, hence, invalidating the purpose of imposing levies for tobacco control. As a result, non-tax paid brands continues to have an annual loss of Rs77 billion estimated to the national exchequer. PR

Friday, 29 October, 2021 | KARACHI

10 FOREIGN NEWS

IndIan State threatenS SedItIon chargeS for celebratIonS of PakIStan’S t20 World cUP WIn

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Web Desk

EOPLE in India’s most populous state who praised arch rival Pakistan’s victory in a recent cricket match could face sedition charges, authorities said on Thursday, a day after arresting three college students over jubilant social media posts.

Similar celebrations have roused the ire of Indian politicians in the past, as the nuclear-armed neighbours are at loggerheads over occupied Kashmir, which both claim in its entirety, although each controls only

What you need to know about the coronavirus right now LOnDOn ReuteRs

Here’s what you need to know about the coronavirus right now: Singapore looking into unuSual Surge after record caSeS: Singapore’s health ministry said it is looking into an “unusual surge” in infections after the city-state reported 5,324 new cases of Covid-19, the most since the beginning of the pandemic. Singapore also recorded 10 new deaths from the disease, taking its toll to 349. Singapore extended some of its social-distancing curbs last week to contain the spread of Covid-19 to ease pressure on the health system. Authorities have reimposed curbs that include limiting social interactions and dining out to two people. covid infectionS, deathS dropping acroSS the americaS: Covid-19 is slowly retreating across most of North, Central and South America, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said on Wednesday, reporting that last week the continent’s death and infection figures were the lowest in more than a year. Many of the larger Caribbean islands are seeing downward trends, including Cuba, the site of a major months-long Covid-19 outbreak. However, Paraguay saw a doubling of coronavirus cases in the last week and Belize had a sharp jump in Covid-related deaths, the regional branch of the World Health Organization said. Moe than 3 million more vaccine doses will arrive in the region through the COVAX facility this week, as deliveries pick up in the final months of the year, PAHO Assistant Director Jarbas Barbosa said.

White houSe SignalS flexibility over december 8 vaccine deadline: The Biden administration’s Covid-19 vaccination deadline will not require immediate action on the part of employers against unvaccinated employees when it comes into force on December 8, the White House coronavirus response coordinator said on Wednesday. The White House comments suggest federal contractors employing millions of US workers have significant flexibility in enforcing Covid-19 rules and will not be required to immediately lay off workers, but will have time for education, counselling and other measures before potentially ending employment. geneS may explain critical covid19 in young, healthy adultS: A gene that helps the coronavirus reproduce itself might contribute to life-threatening Covid-19 in young, otherwise healthy people, new findings suggest.

Genetic analysis identified five genes that were significantly “upregulated”, or more active, in Covid-19 patients with critical illness, of which the most frequent was a gene called ADAM9. As reported on Tuesday in Science Translational Medicine, the researchers saw the same genetic pattern in a separate group of Covid-19 patients. Later, in lab experiments using human lung cells infected with the coronavirus, they found that blocking the activity of the ADAM9 gene made it harder for the virus to make copies of itself. More research is needed, they say, to confirm their findings and to determine whether it would be worthwhile to develop treatments to block ADAM9. coronaviruS found to infect fat cellS: Obesity is a known risk factor for more severe Covid-19. One likely reason may be that the virus can infect fat cells, researchers have discovered. In lab experiments and in autopsies of patients who died of Covid-19, they found the virus infects two types of cells found in fat tissue: mature fat cells, called adipocytes, and immune cells called macrophages. “Infection of fat cells led to a marked inflammatory response, consistent with the type of immune response that is seen in severe cases of Covid-19,” said Dr Catherine Blish of Stanford University School of Medicine, whose team reported the findings on bioRxiv on Monday ahead of peer review.

a part.

Pakistan resoundingly beat India at the Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday, for its first cricket win against its bigger neighbour in such a match, triggering celebrations at home and in occupied valley.

“Those celebrating Pakistan’s victory will face sedition,” the office of Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh, said on Twitter, with an accompanying screenshot of a news report.

The offence, if proved, carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Adityanath’s office had ordered state police to take action depending on the circumstances of each case, said state information official Navneet Sehgal, adding that police would decide on the charges based on their investigations.

Posts on social media hailing Sunday’s victory by Pakistan were made by three Kashmiri students at a college in the state’s city of Agra, according to a police complaint on Tuesday that was reviewed by Reuters.

The three were arrested late on Wednesday, said city police official

Saurabh Singh, on charges of promoting enmity between different groups and causing public alarms.

In occupied Kashmir, where some residents chafe at Indian control, authorities said police had received complaints over celebrations at two medical colleges after Pakistan’s victory.

Authorities said six people had been detained in adjoining Jammu, where social media posts showed more than two dozen people celebrating after India’s loss.

“The investigation is going on,” said local official Anuradha Gupta.

India PM Modi to meet Pope Francis for first time neW DeLHi AFP

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Pope Francis in Rome for the first time this weekend when he visits for the G20 summit, officials said Thursday, in what could be a thorny encounter.

Activists say that religious minorities in Hindu-majority India have faced increased levels of discrimination and violence since Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014. While Muslims who make up around 14 percent of the population have borne the brunt, Christians, who account for just over two percent, have also suffered a rise in violent attacks.

Under the pretext that Christians are seeking forcibly to convert Hindus, more than 300 violent incidents have been recorded this year, according to a report by a group of NGOs released this month.

This included a reported attack on a prayer house by around 200 members of

the BJP and Hindu groups in the northern state of Uttarakhand in early October.

The local head of the BJP said the prayer house held “suspicious gatherings”.

In March, a mob of Hindu radicals in the central state of Chhattisgarh attacked with axes, stones and wooden clubs around 150 people in a church, leaving eight people seriously injured, according to reports. In August in the same state, a mob of around 100 people beat up a pastor and vandalised his house while the following month a crowd forced their way into a police station and assaulted a priest who was being questioned.

At least three states run by the BJP have passed legislation aimed at preventing “forced conversion” and dozens of people have been arrested. Others plan to follow suit including Karnataka where priests have come out in protest.

In 2020, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom listed India as a “country of particular concern” for the first time since 2004.

Modi’s government rejects having a Hindu agenda and insists that people of all religions have equal rights.

Announcing the meeting with the head of the Catholic Church, which has also been confirmed for Saturday by the

Taiwan leader confirms small US troop training presence

TAiPei AFP

President Tsai Ing-wen has confirmed a small number of US troops are present in Taiwan to help with training, adding she had “faith” that the American military would defend the island in the event of a Chinese attack.

In an interview with CNN, Tsai described Taiwan as a regional “beacon” of democracy that is facing down a giant authoritarian neighbour as she warned that the threat from Beijing is growing “every day”. The presence of US troops was first confirmed to AFP and other media by a Pentagon official earlier this month. But Tsai’s comments are the first time a Taiwanese leader has publicly made such an admission since the last US garrison left in 1979 when Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing. Asked how many US troops were in Taiwan, Tsai replied “not as many as people thought”. “We have a wide range of cooperation with the US aiming at increasing our defence capability,” she added.

When asked if she was confident that the United States would help defend Taiwan if necessary against China, Tsai replied: “I do have faith.” Speaking to lawmakers on Thursday, Taiwan’s defence minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said US and Taiwanese troops have long had contacts with each other.

“We have personnel exchanges and they (US soldiers) would be here for military cooperation, but this is different, according to my definition, from having ‘troops stationed’ here,” Chiu said.

Warplane incurSionS: Authoritarian China regards self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize the island, by force if needed.

Beijing’s sabre-rattling has ramped up in recent years, exacerbating fears the island of 23 million people could become

a major global flashpoint.

On Wednesday US President Joe Biden rebuked Beijing over its actions near Taiwan at a virtual summit.

At the East Asia summit, attended by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Biden said the United States was “deeply concerned

by China’s coercive and proactive actions […] across the Taiwan Strait”. Such actions “threaten regional peace and stability”, Biden told the closed-door session, according to a recording of his remarks obtained by AFP. Biden last week told a televised forum that the United States was ready to defend Taiwan from any Chinese invasion. The White House quickly walked back those comments amid warnings from Beijing, continuing a strategy of ambiguity on whether it would intervene militarily if China attacked. While the United States switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing it opposes any forced change to Taiwan’s status. A decades-old act of Congress also obligates the US to help maintain Taiwan’s defensive capabilities.

For decades, few thought Beijing could carry out a successful invasion but China has dramatically improved its military and become more bellicose towards Taiwan under President Xi Jinping. Beijing has cut formal ties and ramped up diplomatic, economic and military pressure on Taiwan because Tsai does not regard the island as part of a “one China”.

Tsai has won two elections and regards Taiwan as a de facto sovereign nation. europe trip: During the CNN interview, Tsai reiterated her offer of talks with Xi to “reduce misunderstanding” and address the differences in their political systems — something Beijing has so far rebuffed.

Defending Taiwan from China has become a rare bipartisan issue in Washington — and there is growing support for the island in parts of Europe.

Taiwanese foreign minister Joseph Wu is visiting both the Czech Republic and Slovakia this week at the invitation of local politicians, a trip Beijing has criticised. He is due to travel to Rome this weekend.

On Wednesday Politico reported he also planned to make a stop in Brussels. An EU spokesperson told Politico she was “aware of the visit”, which would be “non-political”.

“We do engage with Taiwan even in the absence of diplomatic recognition,” the spokesperson added.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry declined to comment on the reports of a stop in Brussels. On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for Taiwan to be allowed greater involvement in UN agencies.

China responded to Blinken’s statement with strident, albeit familiar, statements emphasising its position that Taiwan’s government has no place on the world’s diplomatic stage.

Vatican, Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said only that it was “very important”.

After the G20 gathering, Modi is due to leave for Glasgow to attend the COP26 climate summit.

US issues first passport with ‘X’ gender Agencies The United States on Wednesday announced its first passport with “X” for gender, a landmark step for people outside the binary male or female categories.

The State Department said it had issued the first passport with “X” for gender and would make the option routinely available by early 2022 both for passports and birth certificates of Americans abroad. “I want to reiterate, on the occasion of this passport issuance, the Department of State’s commitment to promoting the freedom, dignity, and equality of all people — including LGBTQI+ US citizens,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had promised to address the issue in June but said that there were technological hurdles that needed to be addressed. Under Blinken, the State Department has also allowed US passport holders to select their gender on passports. Previously, Americans required medical certification if they sought to mark gender on their passports different than on their birth certificates or other documents. At least 11 other countries already have an “X” or “other” option for passports, according to the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion, a London-based advocacy group. The countries include Canada, Germany and Argentina as well as India, Nepal and Pakistan, a legacy of South Asia’s historic concept of “hijra” intersex or transgender people. The State Department made the announcement on the week of Intersex Awareness Day as it vowed to support people who face discrimination over their gender identity. President Joe Biden has promised to make advocacy of LGBTQ rights a top priority of his administration.

It is a major shift from the previous administration of Donald Trump, during which Blinken’s predecessor Mike Pompeo barred US embassies from flying rainbow Pride flags.

Friday, 29 October, 2021 | KARACHI

SPORTS 11

SAqlAiN hopeful pAkiStAN will meet iNdiA iN t20 world Cup fiNAl

p

AgeNCIes

AKISTAN’S interim head coach Saqlain Mushtaq says he hopes his side will meet India again at the World Cup — “this time in the final”. The Men in Green thumped arch-rivals India by 10 wickets in their opening match followed by a nervy five-wicket win over New Zealand, making them well placed for the semi-finals.

“If India comes in the final, then it would be very good for the International Cricket Council, fans around the world and for world cricket,” he said on Thursday.

“That will bring the two countries closer.

For me, it should be a win for love and defeat for hate.“ The head coach also declared that his team have “the mindset of champions” as they play Afghanistan in the Twenty20 World Cup in Dubai on Friday.

Australia gay footballer Cavallo ‘overwhelmed’ by support CANBeRRA AFP

Australian midfielder Josh Cavallo said he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of global support after coming out as the only known gay men’s footballer playing in a top-flight league.

The 21-year-old, who plays for Adelaide United in Australia’s A-League, said on social media on Wednesday: “I’m a footballer and I’m gay.”

His decision to go public won plaudits throughout the footballing world, with legendary Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic tweeting: “You are a champion. Football is for everyone.

Big respect.” Antoine Griezmann, Marcus Rashford, Raphael Varane, Gerard Pique and David de Gea all tweeted their support. “Huge respect to Josh for doing this,” tweeted Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson. “It’s courageous and shares an important message that everyone deserves to be themselves no matter what.” Major clubs including Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan all applauded Cavallo, while Spanish giants Barcelona thanked him for “taking a huge step forward”. “Your courage contributes to normalising diversity in the world of sports,” Barcelona said. Cavallo, who has represented Australia at the under-20 level, said he was stunned by the response. “I want to get a message across to the world to show that it doesn’t matter who you are, what you believe in or what culture or background you come from, everyone is accepted in football,” he told Sky Sports. “It should be based on your talent, not on what you look like or believe in. “At the end of the day we are in 2021 and it’s time to change this in football. To have this day today, I’m so overwhelmed and happy with the response I’ve received.”

ViRal Video: Despite football’s immense popularity worldwide, only a few footballers have ever come out as gay, mostly after they retired to avoid the prospect of taunts from the terraces. The first professional player to come out while still playing was Britain’s Justin Fashanu in 1990, but he never found acceptance in the game and hanged himself in 1998.

A charity set up by Fashanu’s family last year released a letter from an unnamed gay player in the English Premier League which highlighted how little football’s culture had changed. The player said his situation was “an absolute nightmare”, adding: “I feel trapped and my fear is that disclosing the truth about what I am will only make things worse.” Cavallo, whose emotional video announcing he was gay has been viewed nearly seven million times in less than 24 hours, said he hoped his decision would inspire others. “As the game of football keeps expanding, I want to help evolve the game even further and let other players in my situation feel that they’re not alone,” he said. His coach at Adelaide United, Carl Veart, said it had been a tough decision for the young player given “the stigma that has gone with it (being gay) in our sport”. “I’ve been looking forward to this day since Josh told me. I am so happy for him and so proud that he could do that,” Veart said.

“We are playing with the mindset of world champions,” he added.

“The two wins have given us the confidence and belief to achieve that goal.”

Saqlain replaced Misbahul Haq, who resigned last month, and is bringing his experience as a spin-bowling consultant for England, Bangladesh and New Zealand in the past. Saqlain said his team needed to be wary of a dangerous Afghanistan.

“We know Afghanistan is a very good team but our plans are well-placed and we need to execute those plans as we have done in the first two games,” he added.

Afghanistan crushed qualifiers Scotland by 130 runs in their first Group 2 game with off-spinner Mujeebur Rahman taking 5-20 and leggie Rashid Khan 4-9.

Himself a great off-spinner who played 49 Tests and 169 one-day internationals for Pakistan, Saqlain called Afghanistan’s spinners “world class”.

“Rashid and Mujeeb are quality spinners and have been doing well for their team as well as in the private leagues around the world, but we have plans against them,” said Saqlain.

He praised the unity of his players, saying it has helped them achieve good results.

“Our theme is ‘together we achieve’ and it’s not ‘I did well’ or ‘he did well’, but it’s ‘we did well’ sort and that has helped us gel well.”

Saqlain pointed out that Pakistan have played most of their cricket in recent years in the United Arab Emirates.

“These conditions of the UAE are very familiar for my players and we have been playing home international matches and Pakistan Super League games here and that has, and will, help our players.”

Pakistan will play Namibia on November 2 and Scotland five days later in the Super 12 stage.

Three women cricketers contract Covid-19 ahead of West Indies series LAHORe Agencies

Three members of the national women’s team participating in the pre-West Indies series camp at the Karachi High-Performance Centre have tested positive for Covid19, the cricket board said.

“These members tested positive in the routine Covid19 testing yesterday and are under a 10-day quarantine, which ends on November 6,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in its statement.

The other squad members will remain in isolation until November 2 and undergo tests every alternate day, starting Friday, to stem any potential spread of the virus.

As per the PCB Covid-19 Protocols, all squad members had joined the bio-secure environment after returning two negative tests. These squad members had been vaccinated for Covid-19 in May. Pakistan and West Indies will play three ODIs on November 8, 11 and 14 at the National Stadium in Karachi.

South Africa’s de Kock apologises for refusing to take knee DUBAI AFP

South African star Quinton de Kock has apologised for refusing to take the knee in his team’s T20 World Cup match and said he would be “happy” to do it. “I would like to start by saying sorry to my teammates, and the fans back home,” de Kock said in a statement on Thursday.

“I never ever wanted to make this a Quinton issue. I understand the importance of standing against racism, and I also understand the responsibility of us as players to set an example. “If me taking a knee helps to educate others, and makes the lives of others better, I am more than happy to do so.” De Kock pulled out of Tuesday’s match against holders West Indies for “personal reasons”, defying orders from Cricket South Africa (CSA) to their players on following the anti-racism gesture.

They acted after pictures emerged from the team’s first game against Australia at the weekend where some players knelt and some stood. De Kock, a former national captain, refused to take a knee in South Africa’s Test series in the West Indies earlier this year. Temba Bavuma, the national cricket team’s first-ever black African skipper, said de Kock’s decision and the events that followed made it the toughest day of his life.

The Proteas though went on to win the match convincingly by eight wickets in Dubai. They next play Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Saturday and de Kock is expected to be back in the team. “I did not, in any way, mean to disrespect anyone by not playing against West Indies, especially the West Indian team themselves,” said de Kock. “Maybe some people don’t understand that we were just hit with this on Tuesday morning, on the way to a game.

“I am deeply sorry for all the hurt, confusion and anger that I have caused. I was quiet on this very important issue until now. But I feel I have to explain myself a little bit.”

Born in Johannesburg, de Kock explained

he comes from a mixed-race family with his half-sisters being coloured and his mother is black. “For me, Black lives have mattered since I was born. Not just because there was an international movement,” said the 28-year-old. Bavuma had expressed his “surprise” over de Kock’s decision after the board instructed the players to stand by the movement on the morning of their second group match. Bavuma revealed he was apprised of de Kock’s refusal in the team bus, but said he had “respect” for his team-mate’s conviction.

Racist calls ‘huRt’: The South African team finally took the knee in unison at the Dubai cricket stadium alongside the West Indies players prior to the match.

“Since our chat with the board last night, which was very emotional, I think we all have a better understanding of their intentions as well,” said de Kock.

“I wish this had happened sooner, because what happened on match day could have been avoided.”

“I’ve been called a lot of things as a cricketer. Doff. Stupid. Selfish. Immature. But those didn’t hurt. “Being called a racist because of a misunderstanding hurts me deeply. It hurts my family. It hurts my pregnant wife.” De Kock is one of his country’s star players and a regular choice across all three formats. The wicketkeeper/batsman has made over 10,000 international runs and was briefly captain of the Test side before stepping down earlier this year.

Almost all the teams participating in the T20 World Cup have stood in support of antiracism and taken the knee including England, India and Pakistan. In August this year, South Africa assistant coach Enoch Nkwe resigned after apparent disagreements with under-pressure head coach Mark Boucher. Nkwe’s resignation came against a backdrop of widespread criticism of Boucher following revelations made at hearings into racism in South African cricket. The criticism intensified when black former players alleged they were not made to feel welcome in the national team environment during the period in which Boucher was a prominent member of the team.

Saudi-backed golf series with Greg Norman as commissioner expected to be launched News Desk Multiple people have confirmed to Golfweek that a private meeting with golf media members took place on Wednesday, outlining plans for a new Saudi-backed golf series. The five people spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the series won’t be officially announced until next week.

Greg Norman is expected to be announced as the commissioner for the new circuit, sources have also confirmed. It’s unclear whether the new series will be unveiled as a full league—the Saudis have previously pitched the Premier Golf League (PGL) and Super Golf League (SGL) to no avail—or as a trial balloon with a handful of tournaments. Nor is it clear what the PGA Tour will do in response. Media members who attended the session in New York City were asked to hold the news until early next week, sources have confirmed. Golfweek, which has written critically about the potential tour in the past, was not invited to attend the event. With the Saudis behind the push, the new circuit will have the cash to lure top names. Back in May, a group made multi-million dollar offers to several of the game’s best players, including then-world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose, with some reaching in the neighborhood of $50 million. That proposed league was expected to feature 40-48 players playing an 18-event schedule in tournaments around the world with lucrative purses, with a season-ending team championship. The league would have included guaranteed money as well as a team concept that would dole out ownership stakes for 10-12 players who would captain four-man teams. The rival league push came to a head in the late spring with the Saudis looking to partner with the European Tour. Soon after, the PGA Tour announced a new pot of $40 million called the Player Impact Program to “recognize and reward players who positively move the needle.”

Friday, 29 October, 2021

PrAyer Timings

NEWS

FAJR SUNRISE

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ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

5:20

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Pakistan needs to unaPologetically share narrative with world: Moeed ISLAMABAD

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sTAff rePorT

EING one of the countries vulnerable to the spread of foreign propaganda, Pakistan has been experiencing an increasing number of malicious attacks and it needed to “unapologetically” share its side of the story with the world, Moeed Yusuf said.

Speaking at a seminar in Islamabad on national narratives, the national security adviser said Pakistan has long absorbed Western narratives of itself “to the point that even domestically, there is a debate on whether Islamabad’s narrative is the factual one”.

The official said he was was “mindboggled” by the state of affairs since Pakistan, based on what the country was doing and stood for, had a “real story” to tell the global community.

“There is absolutely no reason to be

apologetic about it,” he said.

Yusuf recalled India was spreading disinformation against Pakistan through an organised network of media outlets.

President urges expatriates to invest in country ISLAMABAD

The story of New Delhi against Islamabad was based on fake news and that had been exposed before the entire world, he said, alluding to the Indian

Chronicles — a 2020 exposé on the network of dummy Indian media portals disseminating propaganda against Pakistan Yusuf stressed the need to utilise modern media techniques to share Pakistan’s narrative before the world forcefully.

He also emphasised on adopting a proactive approach to countering the propaganda against Islamabad. The official also underscored the need for harmony among the concerned institutions in building an effective discourse.

He lamented that Pakistan was still “following a conventional model of strategic communication” in promoting its narrative.

“We’re living in the world […] of public relations, press statements [and] responding to [important] developments at our own time,” he said.

“The world has moved onto [diverse] forms of social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, for real-time engagement.”

Qureshi thanks Iran president for support on Kashmir dispute

TLTP

President Dr Arif Alvi has urged the overseas Pakistanis to benefit from the country's business-friendly environment and invest in various sectors of the economy. Talking to a delegation of overseas Pakistanis from Australia, led by Muhammad Nawaz Malik, on Thursday, the president said that Pakistan has adopted a very liberal investment policy to ensure a favourable business climate and attract foreign investment. The president highlighted that Pakistan’s ranking in the Ease of Doing Business Index has improved to 108th position from 136th position, and it provides an enabling environment to foreign investors. He stated that the government is encouraging investment in information technology, cattle farming and other important sectors of the economy and overseas Pakistanis need to take advantage of investment opportunities in these sectors. The president said that the IT sector of the country has great potential and the government has taken steps to strengthen and improve this sector by establishing the Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) that encourages and facilitates foreign investors through its one-window facility. He appreciated the role of overseas Pakistanis in promoting the economy of the country by sending remittances and making investments in various fields. The delegation informed the meeting that it was interested in investing in cattle farming and wanted to establish a model cattle farm in Pakistan. The delegation said that it would continue its efforts to promote a positive image of the country and encourage Australian businessmen and overseas Pakistanis to invest in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD APP

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi paid a courtesy call to Iran President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran on Wednesday night.

Pakistan’s special ambassador to Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq, Ambassador to Tehran Rahim Hayat Qureshi and senior officials accompanied him.

Qureshi conveyed greetings from top Pakistan leadership and asserted Islamabad attached great importance to its ties with Iran which he observed are based on geographic proximity, shared border and objectives of peace and development in the region.

He added the relationship had

been further strengthened due to recent high-level engagements between the two governments.

He thanked Raisi for Iran’s support to Pakistan on the Kashmir dispute, especially from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The people of Kashmir looked towards Iran’s steadfast support in their just struggle, he said.

The foreign minister briefed Raisi on Pakistan’s efforts to help achieve stability in Afghanistan.

Given the precarious economic situation in Afghanistan, he called for sustained engagement and urgent provision of humanitarian assistance to that country by the international community.

Qureshi said it was important for

the neighbours of Afghanistan to continue consultations for a regional approach as peace in Afghanistan would lead to stability, economic development and regional connectivity.

Raisi welcomed Qureshi and conveyed best wishes for Prime Minister Imran Khan. He underlined the need for continued enhanced engagement between the two countries to further promote bilateral relations and advance shared objectives of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.

Qureshi reiterated Khan’s invitation to Raisi for a visit to Pakistan.

President Raisi thanked him for the invitation and said he looked forward to visiting Islamabad at a mutually convenient time.

saudi-led coalition ‘kills’ 95 yemen rebels near Marib The Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s government said on Thursday it had killed 95 Huthi rebels in air strikes near the strategic city of Marib, as fighting pushes more people into displacement.

That would bring to around 2,000 the number of Huthis the coalition says it has killed around Marib in strikes it has reported almost daily since October 11. The Iran-backed rebels rarely comment on losses, and AFP could not independently verify the toll. A statement said the coalition carried out 22 operations targeting rebels in two districts near Marib that “killed 95 terrorists and damaged 11 military vehicles”. The latest bombing was carried out in Al-Jawba, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Marib, and Al-Kassara, 30 kilometres to the northwest. Marib, capital of the oil-rich province of the same name, is the internationally recognised government’s last bastion in northern Yemen. The Huthis have claimed to be tightening their grip around Marib city. “Our forces have reached the vicinity of the city of Marib, which is nearly surrounded,” said Mohammed Nasser Al-Atefi, who serves as defence minister in the Huthis’ unrecognised government in Sanaa, west of Marib, according to the Al-Akhbar Lebanese daily. He added that it is “only a matter of time” until they seize it. The Yemeni civil war began in 2014 when the Huthis seized the capital Sanaa, 120 kilometres west of Marib, prompting Saudi-led forces to intervene to prop up the government the following year. Tens of thousands of people have died and millions have been displaced in what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

The Huthis began a major push to seize Marib in February and, after a lull, they have renewed their offensive in recent weeks. Tens of thousands have been displaced in the province this year, including nearly 10,000 in September alone, the UN’s migration agency IOM told AFP on Thursday.

“From January 1 to September 30, IOM recorded more than 55,000 people displaced in Marib governorate in the areas where our displacement tracking and rapid response teams have access,” the International Organisation for Migration has said.

Marib city had between 20,000 and 30,000 inhabitants before the war but its population ballooned to hundreds of thousands as Yemenis fled frontline cities for its relative stability. Agencies

Facebook changes its company name to Meta Facebook Inc said on Thursday it would rebrand as Meta, a name change that comes as the company battles criticisms from lawmakers and regulators over its market power, its algorithmic decisions and the policing of abuses on its platforms. The tech giant said the change would bring together its different apps and technologies under one new brand. It said it would not change its corporate structure. CEO Mark Zuckerberg, speaking at the company's live-streamed virtual and augmented reality conference, said the new name reflected its focus on building the metaverse. The metaverse, a term first coined in a dystopian novel three decades ago and now attracting buzz in Silicon Valley, refers broadly to the idea of a shared virtual environment which can be accessed by people using different devices. reuTers

India tests nuclear-capable missile amid tensions with China NEW DELHI The AssociATed Press

India has test-fired a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 5,000 kilometers (3,125 miles) from an island off its east coast amid rising border tensions with China.

The successful launch on Wednesday was in line with “India’s policy to have credible minimum deterrence that underpins the commitment to no first use,” said a government statement.

The Agni-5 missile splashed down in the Bay of Bengal with “a very high degree of accuracy,” said the statement issued on Wednesday night.

Beijing’s powerful missile arsenal has driven New Delhi to improve its weapons

systems in recent years, with the Agni-5 believed to be able to strike nearly all of China.

India has been developing its mediumand long-range nuclear and missile systems since the 1990s amid increasing strategic competition with China in a major boost to the country’s defense capabilities.

Tensions between them flared last year over a long-disputed section of their border in the mountainous Ladakh area. India is also increasingly suspicious of Beijing’s efforts to heighten its influence in the Indian Ocean.

Talks between Indian and Chinese army commanders to disengage troops from key areas along their border ended in a stalemate earlier this month, failing to ease a 17-month standoff that has sometimes led to deadly clashes. India and China fought a bloody war in 1962.

Talks between Indian and Chinese army commanders to disengage troops from key areas along their border ended in a stalemate earlier this month, failing to ease a 17-month standoff that has sometimes led to deadly clashes. India and China fought a bloody war in 1962. India has deepened defence cooperation with Western countries in recent years, including in the Quad alliance with the United States, Japan and Australia.

New Delhi is also a major buyer of Russian military hardware and ordered Moscow’s S-400 missile defence system despite the threat of US sanctions over the US$5.4 billion deal.

According to The Times of India, New Delhi is working on enabling the Agni-5 to carry several nuclear warheads at once so they can split up and hit different targets.

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