Epaper – October 3 ISB 2021

CMYK

3 October, 2021 I 26 Safar, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 95 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

US will have to recogniSe taliban govt: PM iMran

P

RIME Minister Imran Khan has said “sooner or later” the United States will have to recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan.

In an interview with TRT World, the prime minister said that certain quarters in the United States were unfairly targeting Pakistan for the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of American troops from the war-ravaged country.

He said there was complete shock and confusion in the US after its troops’ pullout and the swift march of the group.

He particularly referred to the recent debate on the Afghanistan debacle in the American Senate as the insurgents returned to power after two decades.

He said Washington was looking for scapegoats and targeting Pakistan for their failure in containing the Taliban which was unfair. “They are not in rational mindset,” he added.

The Afghanistan army melted and this was what completely surprised the US, he said, adding if the Taliban govern-

ment collapsed, the biggest losers would be the people of that country.

“They must come up with a solution and think about the people of Afghanistan,” he said.

The prime minister warned if the Afghan people were left in a limbo, the crisis was going to deepen.

He maintained that there was a looming humanitarian crisis as Afghanistan survived on foreign aid. If this component was left out, and unless there was help in the short term, the Taliban would not be able to stand on their feet, he said.

“So there is a greater danger of collapse, chaos and humanitarian crises.”

The prime minister said Pakistan would have been the most affected nation if there was chaos in Kabul.

Khan, to a question, said that during 2017, he met the American leadership and explained to them the situation in Afghanistan, but they were clueless. The American society had no idea of the situation in Afghanistan.

“What happened now totally took

coronavirUS in

PakiStan

them by surprise. You see in the US Senate, they have no idea,” he lamented.

In the past as well, former army chief, Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, had also explained the Afghan situation to the US leadership. The prime minister further elaborated that as immediate neighbour to Afghanistan with strong traditional and ethnic affinities, Pakistan knew the history of that country.

He said Pakistan shared a long, porous border with Afghanistan whose half the population was Pashtun, residing on either sides of the Durand Line.

There was no military solution to the Afghan dispute as the people did not accept foreigners and under their traditions, they sought revenge if someone was killed at their homes, he added.

To explain his point, the prime minister said the people inhibiting tribal areas, led by groups such as Tahreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, started attacking Pakistan when the government had decided to side with the US. While on the Afghan soil, there was a collateral damage and drone attacks which led to swelling of militant ranks, so that Taliban movement grew.

The prime minister also denounced former US president George Bush’s threat after the 9/11 attacks asking Pakistan to side with the US. He termed it an “imperialistic attitude” and “ridiculous policy”.

If you did not agree with the US policy or its military operations, he said, you were branded as pro-Taliban.

Prime Minister Khan said: “I do not believe in military solutions.” He said he was even against Iraq war as use of military force yieleded no solutions.

He said in 9/11 attacks, no Pakistani was involved, but the country had to suffer colossal damage in the US-led war.

About 80,000 lives were lost, huge chunk of tribal population had been displaced with hundreds of billions of losses to its fragile economy, while its border areas were devastated. Pakistan had made these sacrifices for the US as mere a scapegoat, he added. News Desk

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Veteran comedian Umer Sharif passes away Legendary comedian Umer Sharif passed away in Germany at the age of 66 on Saturday, his family and the government confirmed.

Sharif was battling cardiac ailments and was flown out of Pakistan on an air ambulance on September 28 for a surgery in the US scheduled for next week.

However, he was admitted to a hospital in Germany during a stopover as his condition deteriorated during the flight to US. Born in 1955 in Karachi, Sharif started off as a comedian in stage dramas in 1974. An illustrious career spanning nearly five decades saw him being widely hailed as Pakistan’s “King of Comedy.” He also tried his luck in television and films, producing several major hits.

The stage, however, remained his forte as he, along with the late comedy icon Moin Akhtar, who passed away in 2011, pioneered stage dramas in Pakistan.

Sharif performed in dozens of countries around the world during his career. His talent transcended the boundaries of politics, as proven by the love and adoration he received in India, where many entertainers over the years regard Sharif as a teacher and mentor.

On Saturday, tributes for the famous comedian poured in from peo-

Five security officials embrace martyrdom in North Waziristan attack

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,248,202

ple from all walks of life.

Prime Minister Imran Khan and PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari were among a number of politicians and dignitaries who joined in grieving the entertainer’s death.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was saddened to learn of Sharif’s passing. The PM tweeted that he had “the good fortune” of touring with the comedian to raise funds for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital.

“He was one of our [greatest] entertainers and will be missed,” he added.

PPP Chairperson Bilawal BhuttoZardari expressed “shock and grief” at Umer Sharif’s death.

“The late comedian gave a new dimension to the art of comedy in Pakistan and took it to new heights,” he added. Sources reveal that Bilawal also conveyed his condolences to Umer Sharif’s family.

On the other hand, German ambassador to Pakistan, Bernhard Schlagheck, deemed Sharif’s death “a tragic loss for the entertainment industry”.

It merits mention that Umer Sharif received national awards for Best Director and Best Actor in 1992 for Mr. 420. He also received ten Nigar Awards. The artist was also honored with three Graduate Awards, as well as a recipient of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz. News Desk

more inside

PM highlights importance of int’l economic engagement with Afghanistan STORY ON BACK PAGE

Cyclone Shaheen 125 kilometres away from Gwadar: PMD

LAST UPDATED AT 8:40 AM ON OCTOBER 3, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

46

1,664

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

SINDH:

PUNJAB:

STORY ON PAGE 02

1,173,437 27,831

458,697 432,190 KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

174,260

32,943

34,193/10,329 105,590

Five security officials embraced martyrdom after terrorists targeted a security forces’ vehicle in Spinwam area of North Waziristan on Saturday, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Those who martyred include four Frontier Corps soldiers and one Levies sub-inspector.

Havaldar Zahid (35), resident of Charsadda, Havaldar Ishaq (37), resident of Kurram, Lance Naik Wali (28), resident of

Khyber, Lance Naik Abdul Majeed (28), resident of Kurram and Sub-inspector Javed (38), resident of Spinwam, were among the martyred.

According to the ISPR, an operation is in progress to eliminate any terrorist found in the area.

Earlier on Thursday, a Pakistan Army captain was martyred during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Tank, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, against Tehreek-i-

Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists.

In a statement, the ISPR had said that security forces had conducted an operation after receiving information about the presence of terrorists in the area.

During the exchange of fire, Captain Sikander was martyred, the statement had said.

“TTP terrorist commander Khawaza din alias Sher Khan was killed. Weapons and ammunition [were] recovered from the hideout,” the statement had added.

Case of TTP factions involved in APS carnage ‘different’: minister STORY ON PAGE 03

Big nations must stretch further to limit climate change: Kerry

STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Sunday, 3 October, 2021

ISLAMABAD

NEWS

CyClone Shaheen 125 kIlometreS away from Gwadar: Pmd KARACHI

t

Staff RepoRt

ROPICAl storm Shaheen was 470 kilometres away from Karachi and 125 kilometres from Gwadar, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said in the latest alert on Saturday.

According to the seventh alert issued from the Met, Shaheen has been transformed into an intense cyclone that will move towards Oman after crossing the coastal belt of Balochistan on Saturday (today).

The Met Office further said wind thunderstorms with heavy rainfall was expected in Gwadar, lasbela, Awaran, Kech, Khuzdar, Panjgur districts of Balochistan until Sunday.

While light rain and isolated thunderstorm could be witnessed in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin and Dadu districts of Sindh.

The sea condition would remain very rough until Sunday and advised the fishermen against venturing out in the sea during the period.

The National Center of Meteorology of the United

IS claims responsibility for gunning down Satnam Singh ISLAMABAD the aSSociated pReSS

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for killing a member of the Sikh community earlier in the week in Peshawar. An IS statement issued late Friday described Satnam Singh, 45, as a “polytheist” and said he was shot dead by IS members. Pakistan has denied any organised IS presence in the country but the extremist group has claimed a number of attacks on security forces, mosques, political rallies and religious minorities in recent years. Police said Singh was gunned down Thursday in Peshawar. The gunmen fled the scene.

Singh, a herbalist, had lived in the city for the past 20 years and ran a small clinic selling herbal medicine. The assailants opened fire at Singh inside the clinic, according to Sardar Harpal Singh, a local community leader. He denounced the incident and demanded the arrest of those involved in the killing.

The two are not related. The majority of Sikhs migrated from what is now Pakistan to India in 1947, the year British rule of the subcontinent ended and Pakistan was created as a homeland for Muslims in the region. Thousands of them stayed in Pakistan, where they generally live peacefully.

Arab Emirates early Saturday said Shaheen was expected to intensify into a category 1 tropical cyclone and make an impact on the coastal and other areas of the Emirate.

“The tropical depression deepened to tropical storm Shaheen in the northeast of the Arabian Sea along the Indian-Pakistani coasts on Friday, and centered at 23.3 degrees north latitude and 64.4 degrees east longitude, accompanied with different types of clouds associated with rainy convective clouds with different intensities and strong winds over Arabian sea with a speed at the center from 65 to 115 km/h,” it said.

Earlier on Friday, the Met Office ruled out the chances of stormy rain in Karachi, in its latest weather forecast, as the tropical cyclone is moving toward Makran coastal belt.

“Chances of stormy rain have decreased, however moderate to heavy showers with strong winds are expected to lash Karachi,” it said.

The Met Office is monitoring the tropical situation around the clock and urged the public to follow up the official reports, instructions, and warnings from the local authorities.

People who want to shun violence should be given second chance: Fawad PIND DADAN KHAN tLtp

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that the people who want to shun the path of violence should be given a chance to return to normal life.

Addressing a public meeting in Pind Dadan Khan on Saturday, the information minister said the state of Pakistan has gone through an enormous ordeal as it sacrificed thousands of lives in the war against terrorism. Fawad made these remarks to give context to Prime Minister Imran Khan's earlier statement in which he revealed that the government was in talks with some groups of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Fawad said wars come to a halt through talks, adding Prime Minister Imran Khan has presented an agenda for reconciliation with militants seeking a normal life. "Those Pakistanis who were detracked by inimical forces, whether in Balochistan or elsewhere, will be brought back into the mainstream," he said.

In line with the premier's reconciliation agenda, the government will hold talks with those who follow the Constitution of Pakistan, the information minister said.

He said more than 3,000 "disgruntled" Baloch youth had surrendered arms and rejoined the mainstream.

"This step was vital to save the new generation from terrorism and violence and pave the way for a stronger Pakistan," he said.

"The country has defeated terrorist organisations

7 killed after car plunges into ditch in Islamabad ISLAMABAD: Seven people, including six women, were killed when a car plunged into a ditch late Friday night in Islamabad, local media reported Saturday. According to the report, the accident occurred after the car skidded off the road due to fast current of the gushing rainwater. Police told local media they received the information of the accident Saturday morning and then rushed to the site and shifted the victims to a nearby hospital. All the deceased were from one family, who were on the way back home from a wedding ceremony. Heavy rains hit different areas in Pakistan last week and are expected to continue for the next few days. Staff RepoRt

such as al-Qaeda in Pakistan and completely ended India’s conspiracies," Fawad said. "Now it is time to move forward. State policies are made in a specific background and situation."

"The principle, which Prime Minister Imran Khan had put forth, is to bring back people, who were derailed from Pakistan, in mainstream life in the purview of our Constitution and law," the minister stressed.

Construction of vocational training institute completed in Gwadar ISLAMABAD Xinhua

The completion ceremony of a China-donated vocational training institute was held in Gwadar. As an important project for public well-being under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Gwadar Technical and Vocational Institute was constructed by the China Harbor Engineering Company, with an aim to meet the urgent need of the locals in Gwadar and promote the sustainable development of the area.

Addressing the ceremony, Chairman of the Gwadar Port Authority Naseer Khan Kashani expressed his gratitude to China for the grant of the project and to the Chinese engineers and workers who have completed this institute ahead of schedule despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pakistan has benefited a lot from the energy and transport infrastructure projects under CPEC, while the socio-economic projects of the Corridor are also very important for the South Asian country, Kashani said, adding that the Gwadar Port Authority will make the best use of the institute with comprehensive planning to offer

the locals training opportunities to enable them to get better jobs and live a better life.

In a video message, the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Nong Rong, said the completion of the institute marks a great milestone of CPEC and is also a long-expected event for the Gwadar people.

“During its construction, the

project provided more than 1,000 jobs to local people. After completion, it can accommodate 360 trainees at one time, and provide training opportunities for at least 1,000 people every year,” said Nong, adding that the institute will serve as an “incubator” for high-quality and skilled workers for Gwadar and even Balochistan after functioning.

The embassy will always serve as a bridge to enhance pragmatic bilateral cooperation between China and Pakistan, helping to enrich and deepen the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and to build a closer ChinaPakistan community with a shared future in the new era, Nong noted.

The technical and vocational institute has facilities for teaching and training and dormitories, while the construction of the project officially started in January of 2020.

Sunday, 3 October, 2021

ISLAMABAD

NEWS

03

Case Of TTP faCTiONs iNvOlved iN aPs CarNage ‘differeNT’: miNisTer iSlamaBaD

r

INP

ESPONDING to reports about disarmament talks with some factions of the proscribed Tehreeke-Taliban Pakistan militant group, Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed Saturday clarified the case of those involved in the massacre of the Army Public School was “different”.

A day earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan while speaking to TRT World revealed his government was in talks with certain factions of the group, adding it wanted stability in the country in the backdrop of a fast-evolving situation in Afghanistan.

Talking to journalists, Ahmed said: “We are aware who is good and who is bad [among them].” He maintained that it is not appropriate to fight with those who surrendered to adopt peaceful lives.

He said the government was making a strategy for the next 20 years, adding that the world scenario is expected to change soon.

The interior minister emphasised that

Pakistan wanted good relations with the US and China both.

Talking about the Afghanistan crisis, the minister gave an assurance of Pakistan’s every possible support in tackling the crisis. “[The] US signed the deal relating to [the] withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan but not us,” he added.

Pakistan Peoples Party leadership is intelligent since it boarded the “samjhauta express” he said, adding the PML-N will also board the train, but after being thrashed.

“There is no need to hold talks with the opposition leaders as they are facing corruption cases,” said Ahmed.

Terming inflation a top priority of the government, the minister vowed to overcome the issue soon. He said that the FIA has been directed to crack down on hoarders of dollars.

Speaking on the occasion, the interior minister said they would fight with the enemies of the country and vowed to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country at all costs.

On petrol prices, the minister said in Pakistan, the prices of petroleum products

were much lower as compared to India and Bangladesh. The petrol prices will fall if they reach a deal with Saudi Arabia, he added.

Provision of food items and medicines at affordable rates to the masses is a top priority and the government’s “national duty”, the minister said.

He was of the view that there is no need to take the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly into confidence over the appointment of the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau as he was also facing corruption cases.

On Friday, Prime Minister Khan had said Pakistan was in disarmament talks with some factions of the banned TTP as the government seeks stability in the country.

He said: “I think some of the Pakistani Taliban groups actually want to talk to our government. You know, for some peace, for some reconciliation.”

When asked to confirm whether Pakistan was actually in talks with the TTP, the premier had clarified to say that talks are ongoing “with some of them”.

He had said that the Afghan Taliban are “helping”, in the sense that the talks

are taking place in Afghanistan.

The premier had said that these talks, for disarmament, if successful, will lead to the government “forgiving” them, “and then they [will] become normal citizens”.

India must be held accountable for backing ISKP Khurram maliK As reports surface of Indian links to ISIS terrorist Abdur Rehman Al Logari responsible for attacking American forces at Kabul airport last month killing 170 including 13 US Marines, calls increase for holding the Indian government to account for sponsorship of terrorim in the region. As per AMAQ the IS mouthpiece, Al Logari had spent at least a year in Indian cities of New Delhi and Haryana before arriving in Afghanistan to carry out terrorist attacks for ISKP. Whether he was undergoing terrorist training at one of the terror camps setup by Indian intelligence, undergoing education at an Indian university or both, remains unclear. In an earlier statement, Pentagon spokesperson, John Kirby has said that hundreds of ISKP prisoners were freed from the Bagram’s high security prisons as the Kabul govt collapsed before these could be secured by the Taliban. Out of these 500-600 ISKP escapees more than 20 are Indian citizens from Kerala, Malappuram, Kasaragod and Kannur districts of India, suspected to be occupying leadership positions within ISKP. Another ISKP terrorist Abu Khalid al-Hindi belonging to the Indian Malayalam community of Kasaragod in the southern Indian state of Kerala, had carried out a heinous terrorist attack targeting Sikh Gurdwara Har Rai Sahib in Kabul on March 25 2020 by “planting explosives in the Sikh prayer area before opening fire, killing fifty Sikhs, Hindus, and Afghan security personnel in 2020.

Another ISKP terrorist Anwar Hussain, a native of Bhatkal in Karnataka has also been claimed by ISKP as an IS suicide attacker in Afghanistan in 2014. Links to India had also surfaced following the horrendous ‘Easter Sunday Attacks’ in

Government giving NRO to TTP: Rana Sanaullah LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MP Rana Sanaullah Khan on Saturday claimed the government was giving NRO to proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militant group. Speaking to media persons, Khan said the economy was in shambles and the dollar had risen to Rs172 and there were talks of imposing sanctions on Pakistan along with Afghanistan but the government was busy filing cases against opposition politicians. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan was not willing to consult opposition leaders but his government was “happily engaged” in talks with TTP. INP

2019 by ISIS, when eight bombs went off in popular hotels and historical churches across Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka, killing hundreds.

Many of the ISKP terrorists involved in these attacks were found to have been linked to ISKP terror safe havens in the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

This was followed by an incisive article written for the Foreign Policy magazine outlining how “terrorists from India and Centra Asia are the new face of ISIS” by Raffaello Pantucci, a senior associate fellow at Britain’s Royal United Services Institute.

The fact is not lost on terrorism analysts that despite ISIS terrorist attacks being connected to India and Indian citizens, not a single act of terrorism by various affilitates of ISIS has ever been commited in India. This gives credence to widespread belief that terrorist groups are being used by rogue Indian intelligence agencies as a proxy to further Indian interests in the region and to destabilize Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. These attacks are

then used by India’s worldwide disinformation network exposed in the report by EuDisinfo Labs titled ‘Indian Chronicles’ as a way to falsely portray India as a victim of terrorism. Global policy makers are becoming increasingly aware of rogue conduct of the Indian state, and its patronage, financing and facilitation of dangerous terrorist groups who may eventually target the international community’s interests of peace in the region.

This realization is further reinforced by western annoyance over Indian double game in Afghanistan, as expressed by former US President Donald Trump who publicly mocked the Indian PM Modi in 2019 for repeatedly refusing to place Indian boots on the ground in Afghanistan, despite being a US ally in the Afghan war effort. Instead, Indian intelligence agencies established 87 terrorist camps along the Afghan border with Pakistan, not only to arm, finance and sponsor violent terrorist attacks in Pakistan but also undermine western efforts to defeat ISKP, AlQaeda

PID, PAA officials discuss advertisement policy NEWS DESK The delegations of Press Information Department (PID) and Pakistan Advertising Association (PAA) held a consultative meeting on Saturday.

The participants of the meeting discussed salient features of recently-approved advertisement policy and its implementation mechanism.

During the meeting, both sides discussed all the aspects of the new policy, which covers all traditional and non-traditional mediums.

The PAA Chairman Jamal Mir and officials Nouman Nabi, Usman Attique Butt, Nadeem Akbar and Shabbir Malik appreciated the government’s efforts for uplifting the advertising industry and extended full support for early implementation of the new policy.

Principal Information Officer Sohail Ali Khan reciprocated and emphasised that new advertisement policy was much awaited, adding that the policy will ensure transparency and conducive environment for media industry.

and TTP terrorist networks in Afghanistan. Afghan officials publicly admitted in April 2017 that ‘Mother Of All Bombs-MOAB’ the biggest nonnuclear bomb in US arsenal, when dropped in eastern Afghanistan on an ISKP target had killed 13 Indian citizens being trained at ISKP terrorist camps in Nanganhar. Besides sponsorship of ISKP, Indian intelligence agencies have also been sponsoring various factions of Tehrik Taliban Pakistan-TTP, Jamatul Ahrar-JuA and Hizbul Ahrar-HuA who formed an alliance in August 2020 to forment terror in Pakistan, as well as the Baloch subnationalist terror groups under Indian financed umbrella of BRAS that includes BRA, UBA, BRG, BLF and BLA-Specially Designated Terrorist Group, in keeping with Indian NSA Ajit Doval’s infamous doctrine of ‘Offensive Defence.’

It is also an undeniable fact that, the Indian government has been handing major defense contracts involving sensitive technology to Indian Nagpurbased firms, that are then found supplying IED components for use by ISIS in Iraq, Syria and suspected to have been used in terror attacks by ISKP, TTP and BLA operatives in Afghanistan and Pakistan. An independent study by the european ‘Conflict Armament Group’ titled ‘Weapons of Islamic State’ has published extensive details on how seven Indian firms have been supplying parts for bombs that are being used in terrorist attacks committed by ISIS affiliates around the world.

Pakistan’s NSA Dr Moeed Yusuf in an interview with Karan Thapar had clearly outlined earlier this year that India has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to consolidate Afghan based terror groups by arming, financing and sponsoring them, in order to use them as a proxy for Indian interests in the region.

The premier had noted he always believed that a non-military solution was the only way forward for Afghanistan — and he has reiterated it time and again on national, international forums.

TTP denies reports of ceasefire, internal rifts PEShaWar TLTP

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has denied any split within its ranks and ruled out cessation of hostilities against the country. The top leadership of the militant network said it is not looking for a peace agreement with the Pakistani authorities. “Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan has never announced a ceasefire,” its spokesperson, Muhammad Khurasani, said in a statement. “TTP fighters should continue their attacks wherever they are.” Khurasani described TTP as an “organised movement,” saying there are “no fissures or factions within the group.” “The movement has a collective policy which no one can deviate from,” he added. A conglomerate of several armed factions, TTP was banned soon after its emergence in Pakistan’s tribal areas in 2007 since it started killing Pakistani civilians and security forces.

NCOC daily report: 1,664 new cases, 46 deaths from Covid-19 iSlamaBaD STaff RePoRT

Pakistan confirmed 1,664 new Covid-19 cases and 46 more deaths over the last 24 hours, the National Command and Operation Centre said on Saturday.

The NCOC said the number of overall confirmed cases had risen to 1,248,202, including 1,173,437 those who have recovered. The number of active cases has dropped to 46,934 who are under treatment across the country, while 3,511 are in critical condition. According to the NCOC, the pandemic killed 46 people on Friday, increasing the overall death toll to 27,831. Sindh is the most affected province of the country in terms of the number of cases with 458,697 infections followed by Punjab which has reported 432,190 infections.

Sunday, 3 October, 2021

04 NEWS

ISLAMABAD

will child Protection bUreaU’s rescUe oPerations end begging?

c

ShAhAB OMer

HILD begging is widely present in Punjab, including the provincial capital, which is a pressing issue in itself. Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar is striving hard to eradicate it. In this regard, directives have been issued numerous of times, to cleanse Punjab from child begging and child labor.

The Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CP&WB) is working hard in Punjab to monitor and prevent incidents of child labor, begging and child abuse, cruelty and violence. The bureau claims that the incumbent government is doing a lot of efforts to put child begging and labor to an end.

A bureau official revealed that during the tenure of previous governments, no significant work has been done to eliminate child labor and begging from the society. The official went on to add that the previous government’s primary focus was on promoting their performance through more advertisements and staying in the news but in practicality, no rescue operations have been worked upon, nor did the number of children begging reduce on the streets.

As per the official, in the past two years, the bureau’s focus has been on the eradication of child labor and begging. The official went on to add that the current chairperson Sarah Ahmed is working hard in this regard.

Upon probing about why there is still a large number of child beggars in areas like Mall Road, Shadman Market, Johar Town, Wapda Town and other posh areas of the city, if rescue work is being done in this regard? The official responded to that by stating that there are numerous of reasons behind this. The most common reason is the involvement of mafias forcing underage children to work.

“Actually, our method is very simple to crack down on children who either beg on the roads or chowks or work as laborers. If we talk about Lahore, the Chairperson has designed a new strategy under which our Child Protection Officers and their field teams visit different parts of the city. Each team is assigned specific areas, and in the process, they catch any child on the road who is begging or selling something and bring them to the bureau office.

We have our own courts here where these children are kept in the bureau’s shelter

homes for 15 days or more as a punishment. After the sentence is completed, the children’s families take them back and instead of learning any lessons from the punishment, they put them back to the work they were sentenced to do,” he said. The official went on to reveal that pertaining to the child begging issue, the children are not at fault but their families are. However, despite all the obstacles coming our way, the teams of the bureau will continue rescue operations, he added.

“Meanwhile, the child who was begging in Johar Town Chowk starts begging in Wapda Town or some other place instead of begging in this Chowk again, but he does not stop. There is a need to change the law so that legal action is taken against the children as well as the parents who make the children do such heinous deeds. In this regard, we also need the cooperation of the police department and other departments for which the chairperson and senior police officers have had most of the meetings and they are cooperating with us,” he said.

As per the official, the second pressing issue is of child abuse and violence, for which a zero tolerance policy has been

adopted by the current Chairperson.

“Just a couple of days ago, there was a tragic incident in Thokar Niaz Beg in which a stepmother was torturing an innocent child by tying him with ropes. However, as soon as the video of the incident went viral, the bureau took the child into its custody. The child was taken to Jinnah Hospital for medical treatment by the chairperson and the chairperson not only transferred the child to the bureau but also registered a case against the accused and arrested her. Similarly, in the case of the rape of a 12-year-old girl in Hanjarwal or in the case of leaving dogs on a young girl in Jahanian, the chairperson will follow up on the accused until they are really punished,” he said. On the other hand, Chairperson CP&WB revealed that crackdown against child begging is going on while rescue teams of Bureau and Police are conducting rescue operations from 9am to 1pm, on daily basis.

“The number of begging children has come down by 90 per cent due to the antibegging campaign and people should report begging children to the Child Helpline 1121. We have set up computer labs in Lahore, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and other districts for children residing in the Bureau

Pakistan needs law exPerts with strong character: gcU Vc NewS DeSk A session for aspirants of admission to law degree programme was held at the Government College University Lahore under the auspices of its newlyestablished Allama Iqbal Law School on Saturday.

Eminent lawyer and old Ravian Naeem Bokhari chaired the session, which was also addressed by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi. In his address, the VC said the country needs law experts with strong character, adding that the university’s Allama Iqbal Law School would also focus on ethics, character building and personality development of law students besides imparting world-class education of local and international laws. The VC said Bokhari has come back to his GCU Lahore almost after 55 years and the same is the case with eminent spiritual scholar and old Ravian Prof Ahmad Rafique Akhtar, who visited GCU last week after 60 years.

CMYK

where nursing classes have been arranged exclusively for girls. After the nursing training course, female students will be able to secure their financial future through decent employment. Similarly, sewing classes and martial arts classes have also been started for the girls residing in the bureau,” Sarah stated.

Speaking about the results of rescue operations, the Chairperson informed that the Bureau has so far rescued 1054 beggar children from all over Punjab during the last one month while 385 beggar children were taken into custody from Lahore during the last one month.

“The begging children taken into custody from Lahore include 276 boys and 109 girls. A total of 933 boys and 121 girls were taken into custody in the district offices of the bureau across Punjab. Rescue operations are also being carried out on Saturdays and Sundays on complaints about begging children. Under the anti-begging campaign, rescue operations are being carried out in all the district offices of the Child Protection Bureau, including Lahore. FIRs are also being registered against the parents for forcibly begging from their children,” she concluded.

Bitcoin crosses $48,000 mark as cryptos consolidate gains ISLAMABAD TLTP

The bullish trend in the cryptocurrency market continued for the third day in a row on Saturday, with the market capitalisation gaining 3.4 percent to reach $2.2 trillion as of 1400 hours GMT. The price of bitcoin (BTC), the largest cryptocurrency, gained 1.54 percent to reach $48,033. With this increase in price, the market capitalisation of the biggest cryptocurrency has reached $904.5 billion.

Likewise, ether (ETH) price went up by 3.39 percent to reach $3,332. With this increase in price, the market capitalisation of ETH has reached $391 billion.

Similarly, XRP price gained 0.97 percent to reach $1.04. The market capitalisation of XRP stands at $103.7 billion after this increase.

Similarly, cardano (ADA) price gained 1.86 percent to reach $2.26. Its market capitalisation has reached $73.1 billion after this increase.

Following suit, dogecoin (Doge) price gained 2.55 percent to reach $0.220. With this increase in price, the

market capitalisation of doge has reached $28.9 billion.

According to experts, Bitcoin (BTC) is facing the next level of resistance at $50,000 where some profit taking occurred in early September. Technical indicators show improving upside momentum on the daily chart, which is the first positive reading since July. This means the intermediate-term uptrend is stabilising, albeit within a range of $40,000 support and $50,000 resistance.

The relative strength index (RSI) is not yet overbought on the daily chart, which could keep buyers active over the short-term. On the weekly chart, the RSI is neutral, and upside momentum remains weak. This suggests a period of consolidation could persist below the $50,000-$55,000 resistance range, according to experts.

They said the buyers defended support around $40,000 over the past few days, which is also where a price breakout occurred on August 6. Further, BTC is back above the 200-day moving average, which provides an advantage for buyers aiming to return on pullbacks, they added.

Sunday, 3 October, 2021

ISLAMABAD

US will hAve to reCogNiSe tAliBAN govt: PM iMrAN h CONtINUed FROM pAge 01

E said the well trained 300,000strong Afghan army, fully equipped with weapons, could not resist Taliban, and former president along with his government functionaries fled the country.

The prime minister expressed his optimism that when this angle and rationality appeared, the US would realise how could Pakistan be held responsible for its policies over Afghanistan.

He also strongly rejected the allegations that Pakistan had been assisting Taliban in capturing Afghanistan. The Taliban were seen in Kabul while riding on motorcycles without shoes, he added.

The prime minister while drawing conclusion said that Afghan people had always resisted the foreign forces, and had been very independent minded people. ”You cannot control them from outside like US tried to,” he added.

To another query, he said from Pakistan’s point of view, “inclusive government means a stable Afghanistan after four decades of war”.

“As well wishers of Afghan people, we want them to be stable. They could be controlled from outside, it’s a fantasy.

Pakistan only suggested there should be an inclusive government, he said, adding Taliban also understood it.

Khan said Afghanistan was home to multi ethnic groups, where Pashtuns were in majority while Tajik, Uzbek and Hazaras were minorities.

The prime minister reiterated that Afghan people had been very democratic as they had a decentralised democratic system.

However, about the recent situation, he said that it was very difficult one. “I do not know what will happen. I pray for peace

and stability of Afghanistan,” he added.

About Pakistan-US ties, the prime minister said the two sides had been constantly in touch with each other.

To a question, he said US President Joe Biden was under a lot of pressure as he was being criticised for the awful airport scenes and the later happenings. Those scenes drew reaction from the US public.

Khan maintained that bilateral ties between the two sides had a long history in which there were ups and downs.

He asserted that on Afghanistan, US’ role was critical as it left the country after twenty years of war and spending over $2 trillion.

If there was a mess, like after USSR forces’ withdrawal during the late ’80s, it could once against result in bloodbath. If there was a chaos in Afghanistan, the international terrorist outfits could find safe havens there, he cautioned.

About terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, the prime minister said during, 2014, the security forces launched the biggest operation in North Waziristan and pushed out TTP elements towards Afghanistan.

There, he said, they were helped by the former Afghan intelligence agency and Indian RAW. They were used to conduct attacks inside Pakistan.

The TTP had recently attacked Chinese workers and other conducted attacks in Balochistan province, he said but expressing his confidence to overcome.

The prime minister also expressed his concerns and fears that members of TTP, even ISIS, could cross over to Pakistan, joining the ordinary Afghan people at the cross border points.

The prime minister, however, pointed out that the concern was temporarily and they would counter it.

To a query, he said Pakistan had been

talking with some groups within the TTP, which had been taking place in Afghanistan.

“We are in talks with some of the groups on a reconciliation process,” he said.

The prime minister further said that dialogue was the only solution. “I am anti-military solution, and as a politician, I believe political dialogue is the way ahead,” he added.

The prime minister opined that use of drone attacks to fight terrorism in Afghanistan was the most insane thing because when bomb exploded in a village, it could cause a collateral damage as happened near Kabul airport.

These tactics created anti-US sentiments, resulting in increased militant groups in Afghanistan while the affected families also joined those groups to seek avenge, he added.

About the human rights abuses in Indian-occupied Kashmir, he said Pakistan had raised the issue at different fora, including the UN, Human Rights and in media.

He stressed that the human rights groups and international community should also take up the rights abuses in Kashmir in the same manner, they had been concerned about the protection of human rights in Afghanistan.

They should not be selective over what was happening in Kashmir as they would lose credibility, he added.

He said India had deployed about 800,000 occupation troops in Kashmir who had been indulged in heinous human rights violations, he added.

To a question, the prime minister observed the attempts to form blocks, in the world, could result into another cold war.

He wished that it could not happen again because with cooperation and support, the world could gain more.

About Pakistan-Chinese ties, he said these relations had always been very strong and for the last seventy years, these relations stood tests of time and all the ups and downs.

He said that he frequently held conversations with the Chinese leadership.

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was heading in the right direction despite the Covid pandemic which had caused disruption throughout the world.

About recent hike in petroleum prices, the prime minister said that Covid pandemic had disrupted supplies all over the world causing hike in the prices of daily commodities.

However, he maintained that prices of petroleum and commodities had been cheaper in Pakistan when compared with the entire region.

The prime minister said Pakistan had been affected with the rise in prices of commodities caused by imported inflation.

He said in the international market, the oil price witnessed surge by several times, similarly, price of palm oil had been almost the double, which was caused by imported inflation.

The prime minister said the phase was temporary and would subside once the supplies across the globe were restored.

Expressing his satisfaction, the prime minister said, Pakistan had been among the top five countries in the world which not only saved its people, but also its economy during the Covid outbreak.

To another question regarding opposition parties’ criticism of his government, he said that opposition had been divided and fighting for its survival.

Their leadership was facing cases of huge corruption and now in total disarray, he added.

The prime minister said the two families in the past had plundered the country.

NEWS

05

Not stepped down as Balochistan CM, Jam Kamal clarifies Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) leader Jam Kamal Alyani on Saturday clarified he has not resigned as the chief minister of the province. He clarified his position as CM a day after he relinquished his role of party president. On Friday, he had announced that he is stepping down as the party's president after completing a "good" three-year term. The chief minister had asked BAP Central Organiser Jan Jamali and BAP General-Secretary Manzoor Kakar to hold intra-party elections at the earliest. "Alhamdulillah, for me, seat, position, and status has never been the criteria. Alhamdulillah worked for BAP from the first day, and Inshallah as a normal member would work more for it," the chief minister said. NEWS DESK

Children dying of malnutrition in Afghanistan: officials KABUL

Protests in Bahrain over new Israeli embassy MANAMA REuTERS

Anti-Israel protests broke out in Bahrain on Friday, a day after Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's visit to open the Jewish state's first embassy in the country.

Police fired tear gas during one rally as scattered, small-scale protests took place around the tiny Gulf state.

Protesters marched waving Palestinian and Bahraini flags, chanting "Death to Israel" and "No to the Israeli embassy in Islamic Bahrain". No arrests were reported.

Lapid's visit on Thursday came a year after Bahrain normalised ties with Israel, breaking with decades of Arab consensus that there should be no relations without a resolution to the Palestinian question.

The United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Morocco also established relations in a series of US-brokered agreements known as the Abraham Accords.

"His Majesty's leadership and inspiration have led to true cooperation and our meeting outlined the path forward for our relationship," Lapid had said on Twitter after landing in Bahrain.

"Our opportunities are shared. Our threats are also shared, and they aren't far from here," Lapid said in remarks to reporters, apparently alluding to Gulf power Iran.

Touring the Bahrain headquarters of the US Navy's

Fifth Fleet, which has faced off Iranian vessels amid tensions over Tehran's regional aims, Lapid said: "Our three countries work together because we have similar interests in the region."

"When we speak about peace, we need to remember that peace must be protected from those who would harm it," he added, according to his office.

The Fleet said on Twitter that Lapid and his hosts discussed regional maritime security cooperation.

The kingdom accuses Iran of stoking unrest in Bahrain, a charge that Tehran denies.

The island state, which quashed an uprising led mostly by Shi'ite Muslim members of its population in 2011, saw some sporadic acts of protest after the Abraham Accords were signed.

The accords have been denounced by Palestinians as abandoning a unified position under which Arab states would make peace only if Israel gave up occupied land.

In Gaza, the Hamas group criticised Bahrain for hosting Lapid, who returns to Israel on Thursday evening. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said this represented "an encouragement" of what he described as Israeli "crimes against our people".

Lapid's office said he and his Bahraini counterpart signed deals on cooperation in medicine, healthcare, sports, and on water and environmental conservation.

Lapid also inaugurated Israel's embassy in Manama.

Separately, the first Gulf Air commercial flight touched down in Tel Aviv, launching a twice-weekly direct connection.

afp

Children are dying of starvation in Afghanistan, local and international sources said Saturday, following warnings that a million youngsters there could face life-threatening malnutrition by the end of the year. In Ghor, one of the affected provinces, at least 17 children among those who made it to hospital have died from malnutrition in the last six months, the province's public health director Mullah Mohammad Ahmadi told AFP. Almost 300 have been treated for the effects of hunger. undreds of children are at risk of starvation in central parts of the country, he said. A spokesman for the United Nations children's agency in Afghanistan said he could not confirm the number of deaths in Ghor but feared "a lot of children are paying the ultimate price". UNICEF's Salam AlJanabi said the agency's monitoring network had been disrupted and was relying on anecdotal reports, but "we are very painfully aware that this is something we are on the brink of, or in the middle of". Since the Taliban swept to power in mid-August, Afghanistan has plunged deeper into an already dire humanitarian crisis. The effects of drought, soaring food prices and job losses have been compounded by international aid and financing all but grinding to a halt. The UN has warned that by the end of the year one million children under the age of five in Afghanistan are expected to need treatment for life-threatening "acute severe malnutrition", while another 3.3 million will be suffering from acute malnutrition.

Google announces more powerful search engine technology CALIFORNIA TLTp

Google has announced a more powerful search engine technology that combines search criteria for more accurate and tailormade results, as it seeks to leverage its artificial intelligence expertise to streamline user experience and maintain its hold on web traffic.

The company unveiled the platform at its Search On '21 event, during which Google executives discussed how their AI developments aim to make information on the web more useful while curbing the spread of misinformation.

"There’s more information accessible at people’s fingertips than at any point in human history. And advances in artificial intelligence will radically transform the way

we use that information, with the ability to uncover new insights that can help us both in our daily lives and in the ways we are able to tackle complex global challenges," Prabhakar Raghavan, a senior vice president at Google, said.

Google is seeking to claw back and retain market share, particularly in the shopping space, as more users are bypassing its search engine to directly access platforms.

It has already lost the top spot to Amazon as more people now directly shop from the e-commerce company's platform. For Apple users, a search can simply be done by executing a voice command to its AI assistant Siri.

The Covid-19 pandemic caused a major shift in consumer preferences and accelerated the shift to digital as home-bound users increasingly turned online to shop, keep en-

tertained and work. A recent PwC survey showed that 44 percent of consumers shop using a smartphone, with 42 percent saying they use voice assistants at home.

Google teased the MUM technology during its annual I/O summit last May. It uses its so-called T5 - Text-To-Text Transfer Transformer - framework and is said to be 1,000 times more powerful than the Bert (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) technology the company currently uses.

The revamped search technology, using the company's image-recognition tool Google Lens, will combine data from text, images and even videos, which would then provide more accurate and tailor-made results. Lens has been updated with new AIpowered language features that will narrow searches further.

CMYK

Sunday, 3 October, 2021

06 COMMENT

The dire need for palliative care

Amnesty for terrorists Secret deals will raise serious questions

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perception is being formed among Afghanistan’s neigbours that the Taliban want to use various terrorist groups operating from their soil for seeking advantages from these countries, instead of taking action against them. The perception was strengthened when a Taliban spokesman advised Pakistan to make peace with the TTP which has killed thousands of Pakistanis over the years including 134 children in APs Peshawar. Instead of pressing the Afghan Taliban to act against the notorious network, the PTI govt is willing to welcome it to Pakistan. In response, a TTP faction led by commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur has announced 20 days’ ceasefire in North Waziristan. It cost the government an estimated $1.9 billion and hundreds of lives lost to get the district cleansed of the TTP .

The name of TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud was put by the UN on its sanctions list in July this year for “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of entities associated” with the Al-Qaeda terrorist network. only days later the UN security Council (UNsC) put the TTP on its international anti-terrorism sanctions list. Both actions were praised by the PTI government. Its sudden decision to offer amnesty to the group would raise many eyebrows and cause serious problems.

Everything about the government’s talks with the TTP remains opaque. There is no clarification about who is talking to which ones of the butchers’ brigade which has recently issued a stark warning to the national media, asking them to refrain from calling them a “terrorist outfit” or else be treated as enemies. How will the government treat those involved in heinous crimes like killing APs children? What are those being promised amnesty required to do in return for the favour?

Why weren’t the opposition parties taken into confidence about the talks? Was China consulted, as that country wants those involved in the Dasu killings to be punished? Was the UsA taken into confidence as the TTP was also linked to an attempted bombing in Times square, New York, last year?

The least that the government needs to do now is to take the issue to Parliament. The offer of amnesty is likely to be interpreted otherwise as an act of appeasement.

Rabia ahmed “All of medicine, not just cadaver dissection, trespasses into sacred spheres. Doctors invade the body in every way imaginable. They see people at their most vulnerable, their most scared, their most private.”

–Paul Kallanithi

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osPITAls in Pakistan cater to most fields of medicine, cardiology, oncology, rheumatology, gastroenterology, but the crucial field of palliative care is sorely neglected, in fact it barely exists. It is said that the ratio of palliative services to population in Pakistan is 1:90 million, which is a staggeringly woeful picture.

What is palliative care?

Palliative care is the help offered to a patient when his or her disease no longer responds to curative treatment, in other words at a ‘terminal’ stage, where the disease is considered likely to lead to death. That is when palliative care and hospices are required. of all other fields of medicine, palliative care is the one that caters most holistically to a patient.

Palliative care includes non-medical care for the dying person, it caters to a person’s physical as well as emotional needs, such as providing religious facilities where required, addressing the patient and his family’s questions and concerns, and generally making that period of life as easy as possible.

Palliative care takes into account a person’s quality of life, and works towards making death as peaceful, as dignified and as painless as possible.

At a certain stage, such care is ideally provided in the patient’s home, when the role of the family

Rizvi’s release Saad Razvi’s release result of feeble prosecution

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HE bail granted to Tehrik labaik Pakistan (TlP) Amir saad Rizvi was made inevitable by the lahore High Court’s review board’s rejection of the extension of his detention order. His arrest because of his rejection of the government’s request that he extend further the deadline set by the TlP for the expulsion of the French Ambassador was greeted with widespread protests, which led to a countrywide shutdown, and to violent protests in which several protesters were killed, as well as two policeman, besides scores more injured. The TlP was supposedly banned after his, but the participation of TlP ticket-holders in the recent Cantt Board election has created confusion about whether the ban had been imposed or not.

That the head of such an organization has been released shows that the government was unable to prepare a sufficiently strong case against him. It may also show that it was unwilling to do so, because it did want to offend the TlP too far, mainly because the issue of Finality of the Prophet (PBUH) it espouses, is a sensitive one. However, it also should have considered what would be the possible result of releasing Mr Rizvi unpunished, but with the prestige of having done jail time for the cause.

How exactly the government intends to proceed with an organisation which not only deals with a very sensitive issue, but also has something of a votebank, is not clear.

Considering that the French government has not taken kindly to the idea of its ambassador being sent home, and considering that it is a leading member of the European Union, before which Pakistan’s GsP Plus status is up for renewal, Mr Rizvi’s release sends the wrong signal. There is also the unexplained distribution of cash by a senior uniformed officer to protesters at the original Faizabad sit-in, during the lifetime of Mr Rizvi’s late father, Maulana Khadim Husain Rizvi. That threw a rare light on who might be backing the TlP. The TlP’s entry into electoral politics, in 2018, was designed to hive off the religious vote from the PMl(N). However, it did not have sufficient impact to decide the election. That might change, now that Mr Rizvi has done time.

Protected Property A society mistreating its animals mistreats its people Faiz Ullah Khan niazi

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s a member of the legal profession, I am of the firm belief that the substance of the laws enacted in a country are reflective, at least to a certain extent, of the ethos of that country. And so, it follows that amendments to laws are reflective to a change, or evolution, in that very ethos. For if the laws are incoherent with what the larger society believes, those laws will either be rendered obsolete, practically, or will be protested against, sometimes violently. such is my view.

I was recently invited as a guest on PTV’s show Qanoon Bolta Hay, hosted by Barrister Fatima shaheen, to speak on a legal issue that is not usually a part of our national discourse– animal rights in Pakistan.

This was the first time I witnessed national television taking an active interest in this side of the law. Bravo! so, in an attempt to ensure that I don’t make a complete fool of myself on national television, I started researching on the topic. What laws are there to protect animals?

Do animals have any rights? What can be done to protect animals against abuse, torture and cruelty?

During the course of my research, I happened to come across multiple provisions of the law relating to animal abuse. However, when going over the text of some of these provisions, I noticed a certain peculiarity. For reference these provisions are: section 2(1) of the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act 1890, section 428 & section 429 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860. What is noticeable, and rather troublesome, in these provisions is the manner in which these ‘protective’ laws view animals. section 2(1) of the 1890 Act defines animal as “any domestic or captured animal”. section 428 and 429 of the PPC 1860 make it an offence to kill, poison, maim or render useless any animal of a value of Rs 10 or upwards (section 428) or any elephant, camel, horse, mule, buffalo, bull, cow, ox or any other animal with a value of over Rs 50 (section 429).

All three of these provisions have the same underlying theme– the animals considered therein are those which are the property of someone. These provisions, which aimed to provide protection to animals from abuse or harm, are only applicable where either the animal is kept domestically, captured by someone, or has a value on it. This is rather troublesome, espe-

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pain and help the dying person move forward with the least possible suffering. Unfortunately, that is antakes on even greater importance, but that depends other misconception, that allowing morphine into on the individual situation. In a poverty-stricken mainstream medical care is the same as encouraging country like Pakistan this might not always be possi- drug addiction. That is highly incorrect. To equate the ble, therefore adequate facilities must be available in two is like equating breathing polluted air with suihospitals, and professional training, equipment, and cide. You need to prevent pollution, which would minimize deaths related to it. In the same way, the personnel provided.

There are the usual set of people who say that manner in which morphine is dispensed needs to be death is not the concern of hospitals and medical pro- controlled, to prevent it from falling into the wrong fessionals. Those are generally the people who also hands.

Morphine, a crucial narcotic, is not available in say that since it is God who determines the manner of death, everyone else should stay out of the matter. Pakistan. At least not legally, not even in hospitals.

Morphine is an extract derived from the opium Again, these are generally the same people who fail plant. Also made from the to rationalize religion, who opium plant is heroin, which in fact imagine that reason is used as an addictive subcontradicts faith. stance.

God is certainly the one It is time morphine was who determines the manner of death. However, if humans Afghanistan is the world’s largest made available in hospitals for pain relief. must stay out of that matter, producer of opium. Its opium Afghanistan is the then we should all also stop harvest accounts for 80 percent world’s largest producer of taking medications and going opium. Its opium harvest acin for surgery, since ‘all of of the world supply. So now, counts for 80 percent of the medicine trespasses into sacred spheres,’ yet no one ex- instead of simply batting our eyes world supply. so now, instead of simply batting our pects this. There are other at the new Taliban leadership, eyes at the new Taliban leadmisconceptions. authorities in PakPalliative care is someauthorities in Pakistan should ership, istan should look at times confused with eulook at importing opium, the importing opium, the most thanasia, when in fact these abundant and useful comare two very different things. most abundant and useful modity produced in their Euthanasia is the practice of country, instead of importing actively ending a person’s commodity produced in their the Taliban brand of relilife to minimize suffering. gion. And then to use this Palliative care does not end country, instead of importing the opium to make morphine, to life, it strives to make the livTaliban brand of religion. And help all who need this naring easier and the ending – then to use this opium to make cotic in this country. when it comes, less difficult. care is probaPaul Kalanithi, an Amermorphine, to help all who need bly Palliative a difficult concept for ican neurosurgeon who opted our authorities to underto work in palliative care until this narcotic in this country. stand, the fact of making he himself died of metastatic death easy for its people, lung cancer, was 37 at the when they seem to find it so time of his death. His book on difficult to make it easy for this subject, When Breath Bethem to live, but it is well to comes Air, is worth a read. obviously, after a certain point Paul was unable to remember that we all have to experience death, which write himself, and then the tale was taken up by his is an integral aspect of life, and not all of us can be wife. one of the most remarkable features of the book airlifted to another country and treated in foreign hosis her description of the way Paul dies. The quote at pitals when the time comes. the head of this piece is taken from this book.

Rabia Ahmed is a freelance columnist. Read more one of the most important requirements of palliative care is morphine, which is used to minimize by her at http://rabia-ahmed.blogspot.com

It is time morphine was made available in hospitals for pain relief

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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cially in Pakistan where there are ample amounts of stray animals, on the streets and in fields in the villages, with no sanctuary or safe haven available where they may be kept, fed, and trained.

The undertone of these provisions is that even in these modern times, the laws in Pakistan view animals, and their respective rights, in connection with their ownership/independence status. These laws only provide protection to animals where their wellbeing is directly linked to the utility these beings may serve to their masters (or owners. Rather than viewing animals as sentient beings able to feel pain, happiness, discomfort and contentment on their own, these provisions, and these laws, view animals as property and only protect them as such.

This portrays a much larger issue in society: we, as humans, have yet to realise that animals deserve protection, inherently, regardless of their ‘ownership status’.

The very fact that these laws are still present, and that they are yet unamended to the extent of their perception of animals, is a vivid example of just how far we are, as a society, from according empathy to animals and from realising that they are sentient beings.

The Islamabad High Court in a recent judgment has taken a step towards a more empathetic approach towards animals and their rights. The Honourable Court has stated that animals have rights, similar to humans, and the responsibility to enforce or guarantee those rights, rests with human beings. It is a fiduciary duty upon human beings to protect animals and enforce their rights. However, it does seem doubtful that this wisdom of the Honourable Court will permeate into the larger society.

As I said at the start of this article, I believe that

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

the substance of laws in a country reflect the ethos of that country or that society. The scheme of the laws which has been mentioned herein, shows that perhaps there is a much larger problem prevailing in Pakistan.

That problem is perhaps the cause of many social issues that we face as a society. That problem is this: we are incapable, or perhaps unwilling, to show empathy towards anyone facing a problem in our society unless that problem relates to, or affects, ourselves. No wonder we have ever present issues relating to gender inequality, minority rights, or tolerance towards anyone with an opposing view on any subject.

We must focus on our problems. Yes, that is true.

However, we must also look towards our surroundings and, at the very least, show some regard to those around us. Moving forward, we have to be empathetic, tolerant and ensure that those without the strength to fight for themselves are provided with adequate support from the larger society.

My focus is primarily on animals for the very simple reason that they are unable to communicate their distress or have their demands noted down before the concerned quarters. We have to take am initiative or else these voiceless beings will be damned to suffer without relief (as they are suffering now). Proactive government policy, realization of societal obligations and a general sense of responsibility are all key to ensuring that Pakistan moves itself towards a more humane approach to animal rights rather than viewing them as mere property.

Amendment of such provisions of law is the most basic first step that can be taken towards protection of animals. It is also one of the most important ones.

But the real question is: who will take the initiative?

We have to take am initiative or else these voiceless beings will be damned to suffer without relief (as they are suffering now). Proactive government policy, realization of societal obligations and a general sense of responsibility are all key to ensuring that Pakistan moves itself towards a more humane approach to animal rights rather than viewing them as mere property

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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The writer is an Advocate, Lahore High Court

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Sunday, 3 October, 2021

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

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Renewable energy is the answer

Now that the war is over groups and stakeholders. such a combined regional approach was not envisioned by the UsA non-state actors for the Taliban in 2021 offensive, and its allies. They thought that differences would keep these countries apart. But, much to and for launching the Panjshir offensive, and 3. Prepare an inventory of all United states- their surprise, when things seemed to be moving origin defence articles and services provided to smoothly in that direction, a plot has been the Government of Afghanistan, their current lo- hatched to disrupt the unity so as to give the UsA cation, assessment of the risks that such articles and its allies an opportunity to deal with these pose to the United states citizens and interests countries individually to drive its plan home.

With China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran and Cenand regional security, location of the Afghan forces who received the most sensitive training, tral Asian countries fully on board, a unified apand an assessment of counter-intelligence risk if proach seems to be the likeliest thing to happen. the Taliban provide access to such equipment to There is uninterrupted engagement with the TalRussia, Iran or China, and a plan to retrieve all iban government and they are being urged to come good on their promises which they have such equipment and allied facilities.

It would be premature to comment on the made in the past and which constitute an essenoutcome of this initiative as it is a partisan bill tial prerequisite to proceed with establishing moved exclusively by the Republicans. But, this diplomatic relations with their government. It bitterness is not confined to the Republicans must also be noted that, although formal relaalone. The Democrats are equally disturbed as tions have not been established with the new has been amply demonstrated by the recent hear- government in Kabul, it has also not been abanings in the senate and the House of Representa- doned. The approach is to continue working tives. so, it may not be far-fetched to say that this with the Taliban in an effort to urge them to take bill may become a bipartisan act to avenge the necessary steps towards accomplishing the coveted objectives. humiliation of a defeat The Americans are in Afghanistan. There extremely eager to crehas already been much ate division among the speculation about what regional ranks to adthe Americans would do The future of this region lies in vance their ‘contain to settle scores with China’ policy. They alpeace, connectivity and a those who worked ready have India in their against their interests in coordinated effort to move basket. What they desire the region, Pakistan is to create ground for forward by all countries being one such country.

The narrative of this together. Even a hint of strife will continued violence in this part of the world so argument about ‘defeat’ be exploited by powers which that there is no cohesive is excessively faulty. coordinated strategy The Us withdrawal are not interested in facilitating and linking the countries of from Afghanistan is the regional countries to reap the region in a closelyowed to a voluntary economic network deal it signed with the dividends of a rare opportunity toknitadvance the cause of Taliban in February which has come their way. As their development. The 2020 which also inprospect of China fast cluded the timeline to for the Americans: if they are emerging as a viable leave the country. Yes, genuinely interested in knowing challenge to the Us suthe war had dragged on for years without a vic- what went wrong in Afghanistan, premacy is anathema to its policy-makers and tory in sight, but this they would do every bit they need not go beyond the can be attributed, as to sabotage the seemconceded in the sIGAR SIGAR papers. They will find all ingly inevitable papers, to an absence of prospect.

Under the cirthe answers there, neatly lined strategy rather than the cumstances, the regional support that they did not up. Looking outward is an countries should accelget from other counattempt to find scapegoats for erate their efforts further tries, or the support that to facilitate recognition the Taliban may have their own failures of the new government ‘received’. The same in Afghanistan. Any sIGAR papers contain undue delay will cause further evidence of why ripples which may be the mission in Afghanistan could not achieve the results that it exploited by the UsA and its allies. such a situation will not be conducive to the cause of forging had been originally launched for.

But this tendency to punish others for faults peace in the region and around it as well as makwhich can be traced to the UsA’s own conduct ing full use of the economic opportunities which is dangerous. It is not the first time it appears to will accrue as a consequence of this development.

The future of this region lies in peace, conbe happening. It has been a systematic and a favourite indulgence of the past as well. on nu- nectivity and a coordinated effort to move formerous occasions, Pakistan has ended up at the ward by all countries together. Even a hint of receiving end of such dispensation which, over strife will be exploited by powers which are not time, has contributed immensely to a loss of interested in facilitating the regional countries to faith in its friendship with the UsA which has reap dividends of a rare opportunity which has been, at best, of a transactional nature, never come their way. As for the Americans: if they are genuinely interested in knowing what went founded in lasting values and objectives. one should also keep an eye on the larger wrong in Afghanistan, they need not go beyond game plan. An effort seems to be afoot to create the sIGAR papers. They will find all the answers divisions among the regional countries which there, neatly lined up. looking outward is an athave been deliberating ways and mechanisms to tempt to find scapegoats for their own failures. pursue a collective approach with regard to dealThe writer is a political and security strateing with the Taliban government. This has ingist, and heads the Regional Peace Institute – cluded exerting pressure on them to ensure human rights and formulation of an inclusive an Islamabad-based think tank. Email: Twitter: government with representation from all ethnic raoofhasan@hotmail.com. @RaoofHasan

A sinister plan to ignite strife and violence

Candid Corner RaooF hasan “At the outset, the US invasion of Afghanistan had a clear, stated objective: to retaliate against al-Qaeda and prevent a repeat of September 11 attacks. But, as war dragged on, the goals and mission kept changing and a lack of faith in the US strategy took root inside the Pentagon, the White House and the State Department. Fundamental disagreements went unresolved. Some US officials wanted to use the war to turn Afghanistan into a democracy. Others wanted to transform Afghan culture and elevate women’s rights. Still others wanted to reshape the regional balance of power among Pakistan, India, Iran and Russia. With the AfPak strategy, there was a present under the Christmas tree for everyone. By the time you were finished, you had so many priorities and aspirations, it was like no strategy at all.”

–An excerpt from the SIGAR Papers

S

oME countries, most notably the UsA, are quite disturbed about the way events have unfolded in Afghanistan and the speed at which all this has happened. They still seem to be caught up in a state of shock and cries for revenge are getting louder.

The bill for “imposition of sanctions with respect to Taliban and persons assisting the Taliban in Afghanistan, and for other purposes”, moved by a group of Republican senators, is reflective of some of the issues which are difficult to digest by the losing side in a war they thought they had won a long time ago. But, as things continued to unfold, the realisation began to sink in that they, too, were following in the footsteps of their predecessors who had tried their best to overawe the Afghans only to end up on the losing side. There were lessons both in the distant history and in the recent times to learn from. But, intoxicated in the might of their arsenal and their grandiose planning, the Americans did not, even for a moment, consider the option of a loss. The original operation to liquidate al-Qaeda gradually and disastrously turned into a mega-operation to transform Afghanistan into a country distinctly different and opposed to what it has been through centuries– a legacy the Afghans cherish passionately.

Apparently, and among others, the proposed bill has three specific objectives: 1. Isolate and punish the Taliban, China and Russia; 2. Indict Pakistan for providing sanctuaries, financial support, intelligence support, logistics and medical support, training, equipping and tactical, operational or strategic direction to the Taliban, similar support provided by state and

AT the moment , we have predominantly costly fossil fueled power generation in the energy mix , as a result of which electricity production cost and tariffs are higher , unaffordable and contribute to green house gasses at the same time .

The international prices of solar power , in particular , have dropped down dramatically and we need to seize this opportunity by expanding the power system through installation of solar Powerplants ( PV operated ) as fast as possible harnessing the abundant sunshine in the country and by phasing out and retiring the costly and environment unfriendly fossils powered powerplants. The World Bank ( WB ) has advised the government to go for solar & wind power to bring down the power prices and at the same time control the environment . It has promised to fund such projects and also to use its influence on other financial institutions to assist in this regard. our government needs to seize this good offer of the Bank and work on the solar & wind projects jealously for ultimate good of the public and the country by achieving at least 30 percent share of solar power by 2030 in the energy mix . other countries in the region like India and Bangladesh are ahead of us in this regard. Worldwide , all the countries are striving hard to maximise the production of renewable energy from solar and wind . our future lies in going solar , in particular , so that it becomes the largest source of electrical power for the economic well being of the country .

EngR RIAz BHUTTA LAHORE

Pakistan’s environmental challenge THE majority of Pakistan industrial sectors for example fishing and agriculture , which count for more than one for of the output and two fifth of employment in Pakistan are highly dependent on country natural resources. Hence in order to sustain economic growth there is a high demand on already scarce resources. However it is ironic that what the country depends on for growth is also what threats the future welfare and success of the country. The World Bank report in 2013 started in Pakistan top environmental issues air pollutions inadequate supply of uncontaminated drinking water noise pollution and the health detritions of urban and rural populations due to pollutions.

These environmental concems not only harm Pakistani citizens but also pose a serious threat to the country economy. The report also state that the increase in industrialization, urbanizations and motorization will inevitably worsen this problem. Pakistan is classified as a water stressed nation by the world bank there are seven main river that enter Pakistan from upper riparian states including the Kabul River that enters from Afghanistan and the Indus river, Jhelum river, Chenab river and sutlej river that enter from India. Among these Ravi and sutlej and diverted in upstream India, for which consumptive use was awarded to India under the Indus water treaty.

The magnetic of Pakistan such as Karachi, lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi face the issue of noise pollutions. The main source of this pollution is the traffic noise caused by busses, cars, trucks, rickshaws and water tankers. A study showed that on one Karachi main roads the average noise level around 90 dB and was capable of reaching about 110dB. This high level of noise pollution can cause auditory and nonauditory health issues. Auditory issue include the loss of auditory sensory cell, non-auditory health issues include sleep disturbance noise and cardiovascular disease.

SHEHzADI HASAn ALI KARACHI

Grim practice “BlINDlY following the customs and traditions does not show dead are alive but living are dead “Ibn khaldun. Tribes and clans follow their customs and traditions in order to commemorate their demised elders.

They follow the footprints of their elders as last words written on pebbles and claim as being the custodians of customs. Traditional tribes have hardcore rules and practices which cites to the fabrication by their forefathers. In mere pure words ,customs and rituals reveal the truly identity of community. It preaches integration as it gathers every individual of community on special occasions at one venue but their few ruthless actions spread segregation. one of the gigantic surreal and staunch custom being followed in most of the tribes in sindh is “sawara”. It is the custom of handing over young and innocent girls in compensation of robbery, killings, or an other major fueds. It’s the rule of anarchy in rural areas of sindh where women have zero status and null rights. Men are considered as steward of their lives and the decisions by men as considered as holly descends.

Patriarchy society in sindh is being worshipped at length due to feudal lord’s and their flattering audience. It doesn’t matter whether a woman is highly qualified or reformist as compared to dormant and ridiculous man. The word of men in tribes is the pedagogy of the day .

The fueds are initiated by men but it’s termination falls upon women as compensation. Its merely ruthless, ridiculous and irrational to snatch the freedom of speechless women as she has been given birth to be in shackles. These practices and followings crumble the feeling of being Ashraf-ul- makhlooqat .

How can we force one to act willingly against his sweet wishes?.

Can we sustain such catastrophic facets in our lives?. Keeping these symmetries in minds, the civil rights activists has took up a number of scrambles to cure and curb out this malaise which has moulded the entire activity of society into smears. These hollow practices fruit nothing but miseries and segregation. I hope relevant authorities must assist human rights activists to debacle this grim tradition as human have right of self determination. “Human is born free but everywhere he is in chains “. Jean-Jecques Rousseau. zUBAIR AHmED RInD JACOBABAD

Sunday, 3 October, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

we now know why biden wAs in A hurry to exit AfghAnistAn HE MADE SEVERAL MISSTEPS, BUT ON THE BIG PICTURE, HE WAS RIGHT

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FrEd KaPlan

Here was a moment in Tuesday’s senate hearing on the withdrawal from afghanistan when it became clear why President Joe Biden decided to get the troops out of there as quickly as possible.

It came when Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff, explained why he and the other chiefs—the top officers of the army, air Force, Navy, and Marines—all agreed that we needed to pull out by aug. 31. The doha agreement, which President donald Trump had signed with the Taliban in early 2020 (with no par-

ticipation by the afghan government), required a total withdrawal of foreign forces.

If u.s. troops had stayed beyond august, Milley said, the Taliban would have resumed the fighting, and, in order to stave off the attacks, “we would have needed 30,000 troops” and would have suffered “many casualties.” and yet, as Milley also testified on Tuesday, he, the chiefs, secretary of defense Lloyd austin, and other military officers advised Biden to keep 2,500 u.s. troops in afghanistan beyond the aug. 31 deadline.

The difference is that those troops wouldn’t be attached to any “military mission.” Instead, they would “transition” to a “diplomatic mission.”

However, it is extremely unlikely that the Taliban would have observed the semantic distinction. In their eyes, 2,500 u.s. troops would be seen as 2,500 u.s. troops, regardless of whether their mission was officially said to be “military” or “diplomatic.”

Therefore, the Taliban would resume fight-

ing, as Milley said they would, and Biden would then have been faced with a horrendous choice—to pull out while under attack or send in another 30,000 troops. some historical-psychological perspective is worth noting. In the first nine months of Barack Obama’s presidency, the generals were pushing for a major escalation of the war in afghanistan—an increase of 40,000 troops—and a shift to a counterinsurgency (aka “nation-building”) strategy.

Biden, who was then vice president, was alone in suggesting an increase of just 10,000 troops, to be used solely for training the afghan army and for fighting terrorists along the afghan-Pakistani border. as Obama recalls in his memoir, Biden urged the new and relatively inexperienced president not to be “boxed in” by the generals. Give them 40,000 troops now, and in 18 months, they’ll say they need another 40,000 to win the war. as Obama later acknowledged, Biden was right. and so, as Milley was advising Biden to

fAteful moments in globAl politics JapaN times

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EdiTorial Board

T has been a busy month for politics, with national elections taking place in a number of countries around the world. In almost every case, continuity has prevailed, even when leadership has changed.

The recent events in Japan are typical, with the election of Fumio Kishida as president of the ruling Liberal democratic Party (LdP) assuring that the policies of the last decade, or since his party retook power, will remain in place. While stability is important, more will be required of governments at a time of sharp and growing challenges.

Last month, russia held parliamentary elections that, to the surprise of no one, were won

by President Vladimir Putin’s united russia party. united russia claimed 314 seats, which, while a loss of 20 from the previous ballot in 2016, allowed it to maintain its supermajority in parliament.

While the government did its best to crack down on the opposition, independent observers have alleged widespread fraud was the eventual guarantee of the landslide win. The victory, however achieved, will be used to show that Putin maintains his iron grip on the political system and commands the support of the russian people.

Canadians went to the polls that same weekend after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a snap election that was intended to secure a majority after serving for two years as head of a minority government and to shore up his standing.

Trudeau’s Liberal Party prevailed, and while it won four more seats over the previous ballot in 2019, it remained 11 seats shy of a parliamentary majority.

Not only was he denied a mandate, but the Liberal Party’s 31.8% share of the popular vote, noted one commentator, is the smallest for any winning party in Canada’s history.

In perhaps the most consequential election, German voters went to the polls last weekend to pick a successor to Chancellor angela Merkel, head of the Christian democratic union, who has been a pillar of stability for her country and europe for 16 years. It was expected to be a close election, with predictions of a winner shifting throughout the course of the campaign.

The results were indecisive. While the social democrats took the largest share of the popular vote — 25.7% — neither they nor the Christian democrats (who won 24.1%) can claim a mandate to govern. The leaders of those two major parties represent stability and policy continuity, which may account for the cool reception both received from voters.

German politics are evolving. young voters are increasingly unhappy with policy stasis and they want change, especially when it comes to dealing with climate issues. yet as the parties negotiate and jostle for advantage in the formation of a new government, the grounds for any eventual compromise are unclear. as a result, Merkel will remain in office, perhaps even through the beginning of next

IN MOST ELECTIONS, CONTINUITY HAS PREVAILED, EVEN WHEN LEADERSHIP HAS CHANGED year. and then there was last week’s LdP election, a prelude to the national ballot that must be called in a few weeks. Kishida prevailed, as many anticipated, in a vote for continuity and stability. He will maintain policies launched by shinzo abe when he reclaimed the Prime Minister’s Office in 2012 and continued by his successor, yoshihidesuga.

While his main challenger, administrative reform minister Taro Kono was more popular with the general public, distrust of the opposition remains high and all odds are on the LdP maintaining its majority after the national vote in November.

There is a case for continuity. It is reassuring.

Many of the policies in place make sense. and, importantly, stability appeals to power brokers in Tokyo, Berlin, Ottawa and Moscow. Continuity avoids uncertainty, confusion and hard choices and allows minority governments or those with bare majorities to claim legitimacy. absent a crisis, they reason, there is no need to change course.

That assumes that trends are favorable. That is by no means clear to be the case. COVId-19 appears to be under control, but experts anticipate yet another wave during the winter months. There is a steady movement in geopolitics. Inequality, within and among nations, is growing. Climate change is accelerating and its impacts growing. The election results suggest that nationalist and populist pressures may not dominate politics, but they are present, nonetheless.

In this world, leadership is vital. These elections do not augur well. While forces of illiberalism consolidate and gain traction, democracies spin their wheels. Trudeau continues to head a minority government. Germany plays an outsized role in european politics, allowing Merkel not only to guide her country but the european union as well.

Her departure will create a vacuum and there is no obvious replacement in Berlin or any other european capital, although French President emmanuel Macron harbors ambitions. Moreover, her continued presence in the Chancellery in Berlin means that no German leader can begin to try.

That absence means that yet more is demanded of Japan’s leaders. It is not enough for Kishida to merely continue policies that were launched by abe. Tokyo must do more to keep pace as regional dynamics accelerate amid intensified great power competition.

The region needs a leader who actively supports democracy, rule of law and respect for human dignity. Creativity, energy and stamina are required. It is unclear if Kishida is that champion.

For the sake of Japan, the region and the world, we hope he will prove to be.

keep 2,500 troops in afghanistan, even while acknowledging that another 30,000 might be needed if the Taliban resumed fighting, it’s easy to imagine Biden thinking, “They’re trying to box me in, just like they did before, just like they’ve always done since the Vietnam War,” which was raging when Biden first entered the senate in 1973 and has shaped his views on war and peace ever since.

Milley and Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the head of Central Command, both acknowledged at the hearing that the u.s. military was flying blind through much of its 20-year war in afghanistan, the longest war in american history. The officers of the day tried to mold the afghan army in their own image, making them too dependent on u.s. technology and support, so

that once we withdrew, collapse was inevitable. Milley also noted that he and the other officers paid too little attention to afghan culture and to the corrosive effects of the afghan government’s corruption and lack of popular legitimacy. so, Biden might well have been thinking, why should he pay attention to anything these guys had to say on the war in afghanistan, which they’ve been wrong about from the very beginning?

Biden made several missteps, some of them disastrous, in the pace and sequence of the withdrawal. Most of all, he should have pulled out all the spies, contractors, u.s. citizens, and afghan helpers before pulling out all the troops. But on the big picture, he was right, and the generals, as they now grudgingly admit, were wrong.

AfghAnistAn wAs A fiAsco And our woke militAry, politicAl leAders will never be held AccountAble THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP OF OUR ARMED FORCES

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K T McFarland

uesday, the u.s. military’s three top generals testified at the senate armed services Committee about the botched afghanistan withdrawal. secretary of defense General Lloyd austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff General Mark Milley, and the head of the u.s. Central Command General Franklin McKenzie, were like three little kids who put their hands over their eyes, ears, and mouths – see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. The generals insisted they did nothing wrong, they bore no responsibility for what happened. They deflected, bobbed, weaved and tried to spin one of the most significant military disasters into u.s. military history as a great success.

Nothing was their fault! It was the incompetent afghan military! It was the corrupt afghan president! It was the weather! By the time the generals were finished, they even threw President Joe Biden under the bus. all three military leaders claimed they advised Biden, in person, that a sudden and complete withdrawal would lead to the immediate collapse of the afghan military and government. yet President Biden has said that all his generals agreed in his withdrawal plans. He was just carrying out their recommendations. That just doesn’t square -- either the generals are lying or the president is. But don’t hold your breath that anyone will take responsibility or be held to account for one of the most shambolic and shameful events in modern american military history.

These three generals, over time and in other positions, trotted up to Capitol Hill year after year telling us that victory in afghanistan was right around the corner, that all they needed was a few billion dollars more, a few more months, a few thousand more troops. If they knew it would end this badly, why didn’t they tell us years ago?

If their motives are so pure, why can we expect them to inevitably take off their uniforms and take

lucrative positions with defense contractors inside the Beltway, or become defense lobbyists on K street? Why did Gen. Milley spend hours with authors like Bob Woodward and various reporters spinning himself as a brilliant strategist and politically correct soldier instead of crafting an afghanistan withdrawal plan that would save american lives and prevent the rise of a super armed terrorist regime?

Contrast their behavior to Marine Lt. Col. stuart scheller, who last month spoke out on behalf of the rank-and-file military and junior officers who want answers from the senior military leaders. Their response? His military bosses relieved him from command.Tuesday, while the generals were busy wrapping themselves in the bloody flag of the men and women who fought, bled and died in afghanistan, scheller was hit with a gag order and thrown in jail.

He is being held in pre-trail confinement, although the date, time, and specific charges against him are not public.scheller is behind bars for speaking the truth, while america’s top three generals spin failure as success and get off scot free.

The people responsible for the afghanistan fiasco – the generals, the politicians, the civilian leaders – will never be held accountable.

For decades they pushed a war they knew we couldn’t win. They failed to create a stand-alone afghan military or build a modern society. When it came time to leave, they were practically criminally incompetent. In in the end, they abandoned thousands of americans behind enemy lines.

There is something seriously wrong with the senior leadership of our armed forces. They have taken a sacred, non-partisan, universally respected organization – the american military -- and turned it into a woke, politically correct, media-focused, often militarily incompetent institution.

Contrast them to scheller. He risked his life fighting in afghanistan. Then he threw away his storied career by asking that senior leaders answer questions and be held accountable for a lost war. He’s a hero. The three generals? They’re not heroes. They’re not leaders. They’re political hacks in uniforms.

K.T. McFarland was President Trump’s first deputy national security adviser and helped formulate his maximum pressure campaigns. She is the author of the book “Revolution: Trump, Washington and ‘We the People.’’

Sunday, 3 October, 2021

BUSINESS 09

ISLAMABAD corporate corner UAE Embassy’s youth internship programme concludes in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The United Arab Emirates Embassy in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan concluded ‘Brightening the Future’– a six week professional and skill development program for Pakistani youth in a graceful ceremony held at the Embassy here in Islamabad. The UAE Ambassador H.E. Hamad Obaid Al-Zaabi presided the ceremony attended by senior leadership from Pakistan’s corporate sector and graduates of the ‘Brightening the Future’ internship program. Mirroring UAE’s long term commitment to the wellbeing of brotherly country Pakistan, the initiative focused on preparing Pakistani youth for fulfilling professional careers ahead in their lives. The youth were selected from leading universities through a highly competitive selection process and placed at leading corporate organizations, PTCL, Ufone and Bank Alfalah to train, up-skill and motivate them for personal and professional growth and pursuance of successful careers. The companies also organized a range of social and team building activities to promote learning and skill enhancement, Hiking up the picturesque Margalla Hills in Islamabad remained a stand out event for the youth which helped them forge lots of fond memories of their time together. On the other hand, Bank Alfalah trained the youth on digital and financial literacy and exposed them to the inner workings of the banking and finance sector in the country Press release

Philip Morris Pakistan Ltd. collaborates with SEED Ventures to promote innovation, tech KARACHI: Philip Morris (Pakistan) Limited (PMPKL), financially supported Social Entrepreneurship and Equity Development (SEED) for an initiative led by Entrepreneurship & Youth Development Society (EYDS) to support startups in their business ventures through the Social Technology Entrepreneurship Program (STEP). The focus of the initiative was to identify, mentor, and develop social startups and entrepreneurs who are using technology to deliver sustainable, techfocused interventions for socio-economic issues facing the country. Under this project, STEP helped out 40 startups in developing their plans and provided funding of USD 10,000 each to the top three finalist start-ups with continuing mentorship for the next three months.

It further connected candidates with industry experts and provided them with support for capacity-building and for honing their ideas. The three finalists of the STEP Program include Greenovation; which produces Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from non-biodegradable plastic waste, Modulus Tech; a startup that aims to revolutionize the construction sector by using economical and green building materials, and DeafTawk; a technology startup that aims to empower the deaf community across the globe by providing quality sign language services through a digital platform. Press release

Zong 4G partners with Sehat Kahani to provide Free econsultation sessions KARACHI: Sehat Kahani collaborates with Zong 4G, Pakistan’s leading cellular and digital services provider, to offer thousands of free remote and online consultations for the marginalized strata of the society.

The underprivileged members of the community who are Zong4G users can now avail more than 12,000 ehealth consultations via the Sehat Kahani Retail app.

The process is simple and requires Android/IOS users to download & signup for Sehat Kahani App. After signing up users can search for doctors that are available online on the App offering consultations in different fields of medicine. Users from the marginalized strata of Pakistan would be able to avail free consultations by utilizing promo code ZONGSEHAT. Once this process is complete, users from low income communities would be able to connect to a doctor in less than 60 seconds, making healthcare services more accessible and inclusive. Press release

IncrEASE In cnG PrIcES notIFIED LAHORE

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sTaFF rePOrT

HE prices of all CNGs in Punjab and Sindh running on imported RLNG will be charged at higher prices effective immediately, the All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) said in a notification on Saturday.

According to the statement, an increase of Rs15 per kg has been announced in Sindh whereas the natural will be sold at Rs8 per liter in Punjab.

The association said that the increase in prices was due to the increase in sales tax, expensive purchase of spot market and the appreciation of the dollar.

"We demand from the government that like petrol and LPG, sales tax on LNG imports should be reduced immediately so that the fuel of the poor can be made cheaper," the statement added.

Earlier on Friday, the government notified an in-

OGRA HAD RAISED RLNG PRICES FOR GAS UTILITIES ON FRIDAY crease in the price of re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) by up to 16.5% for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) for September 2021, signaling a further increase in inflation in the country.

The RLNG price for September 2021 is almost 122pc higher than that for the same month last year when it stood at about $6.93 per mmBtu. Pakistan imported two cargoes at the historic high price of $20 per mmbtu from the spot market in September. The price of gas under long-term contracts, however, stood at around $10 per mmbtu (or on an average 12.5% of the prevailing Brent price) in the month.

During the month, around 60-65% of LNG was

‘Govt to sell non-functional PSM in early 2022’

imported through long-term contracts and the rest from the spot market.

According to a notification by OGRA, average delivered ex-ship (DES) price for Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) stood at $13.105 per mmBtu for September this year, almost 27pc higher than that for August. PLL’s two cargoes were delivered at $8.45 and $8.687 per mmBtu because of long-term contracts, but its average price surged due to four spot cargoes at significantly higher prices between $15.20 and $15.50 per mmBtu. The new prices of RLNG include charges of LNG terminals, transmission losses, port charges, and margins of the importers – Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL). The new weighted average sale prices of RLNG have been computed based on the 11 cargoes imported during the month of September 2021, including five cargoes

by PSO and six cargos by PLL to meet the gas demands of SNGPL and SSGC consumers.

ADB to provide $2bn to Pakistan under 3year strategy ISLAMABAD sTaFF rePOrT

The government is planning to sell Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), shut since 2015, early next year after an encouraging response from companies including a Chinese and a Russian one, Minister for Privatisation Muhammad Mian Soomro told Bloomberg in an interview following the conclusion of a series of roadshows with international and national investors for the revival of PSM. The sale process has been revived after the government carved out the core business into a separate subsidiary which has no loans, employees and substantial liabilities, Soomro said, adding that differences between the federal and provincial government, a major stumbling block in the past, have also been resolved. The land will be given in a lease as

part of the transaction.

He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government is looking to sell closed and lossmaking units that will help curb losses and raise revenue aimed at reviving a $6 billion loan program with the International Monetary Fund.

The steel mills is among the largest loss making units that costs 17 billion rupees ($100 million) a year.

"The final two years of the government’s five year tenure “are going to be very active” for privatisation, Privatisation is important, thing is to keep losses low and bring in good management," Soomro said.

The steel complex near the port in Karachi will need investment but it is still viable since there is a shortage of steel

that’s imported into Pakistan, said Soomro.

On Friday, the treasury had informed the upper house of parliament that PSM suffered an overall loss and liability of Rs67.1 billion from June 30 to December 31, 2020.

“The PSM has suffered overall loss and liability of Rs67.1 billion from 30th June to 31st December 2020,” State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan replied to a query during question hour of Senate session.

Citing further details about the state, the minister said the major reasons for the loss worth Rs8.247 billion from July 2020 to December 2020 were “periodic cost, depreciation expenses and accrued markup on bank and government loans”. NeWs DesK

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide $2 billion to Pakistan under the 3-year Country Partnership Strategy. As per details, ADB Country Director Yong Ye paid a courtesy call on Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin at the Finance Division earlier this week during which he was briefed on the reform process in the power sector as well as efforts to enhance revenue collection that are bearing fruit. Tarin assured Ye that the government is firmly committed to pursue all-inclusive and sustainable economic growth with efficiency, productivity and meritocracy as its hallmarks. The finance minister also apprised about formation of short, medium and long-term plans under the umbrella of Economic Advisory Council (EAC) which has prepared recommendations to bring structural reforms in 14 sectors of the economy over the period of time.

He underlined the key features of the Kamyab Pakistan Program (KPP) to be launched soon.

"The programme will disburse microcredit to 3.7 million under-privileged households for promoting financial empowerment under various schemes." In his remarks, the ADB country director briefed about approval of a vaccine support project for Pakistan to the tune of $500 million, out of which $314 million have already been disbursed. Under the 3-year Country Partnership Strategy approved for Pakistan, $2 billion will be provided for each of the three years. Moreover, ADB is looking at various options to support Pakistan through a single window. "This will add value to the already existing working equation between Pakistan and ADB," ye said. In his concluding remarks, the finance minister commended the support extended by the Bank during testing times and affirmed to identify priority areas for further strengthening the working equation between the two sides.

UK’s CDC Group backs Fatima Gobi Ventures’ Pakistan-focused fund LAHORE Press release

CDC Group (CDC), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, has made an anchor investment in Techxila Fund I, a fund managed by local venture capital (VC) firm Fatima Gobi Ventures (FGV). CDC’s commitment will help to boost Techxila Fund I’s investments in Pakistan-focused early stage startups, helping to drive transformational impact and spurring economic and social development in the country.

Increasing interest from international investors such as global VC firms, bodes well for Pakistani startups. In the first half of 2021 alone, Pakistani startups raised more funding from VCs than the previous five years combined. Despite a global pandemic, foreign funds accounted for over 70 per cent of Pakistan’s total VC funding in 2020 and 2021. This rise in VC funding has helped fuel the country’s economic growth – the country has seen an increase in its middle-class over the last two decades, with estimated 84 million Pakistanis (42 per

cent of the population) considered middle-class in 2017. In the first half of the year, 101 million broadband users and 98 million 3G/4G subscribers were recorded in the country – indicating the significant market penetration and showing there is still much room for growth.

CDC’s funds injection into Techxila will enable FGV to expand its investment portfolio across a myriad of verticals including FinTech, Logistics, EdTech, and HealthTech sectors. Such tech-enabled business models can contribute to job creation at scale and enhance consumer access to essential goods and services. By partnering with local VC firms such as FGV, CDC aims to catalyse domestic VC markets and channel funding to early-stage entrepreneurs. Additionally, the partnership will support FGV in putting Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices at the forefront of its investments and this alignment is expected to have a positive demonstration effect for other investors in the market.

FGV itself is a joint venture between Pakistan conglomerate Fatima

Ventures and pan-Asian VC Gobi Partners. Now the most active investor in Pakistan, FGV’s investees were involved in more than 40 per cent of the country’s announced funding deals as of September 2021. FGV’s strong combination of Fatima Ventures’ local expertise and Gobi Partners’ regional know-how has helped the VC spot first movers and get ahead of key trends.

Ali Mukhtar, General Partner for FGV, said, “We are elated to welcome CDC, a pioneer in impact investing and renowned partner in ESG integration, to the Techxila team. CDC’s backing is a vote of confidence in the massive growth potential of Pakistani startups. Now, FGV can leverage CDC’s expertise in ESG, sustainability, and impact matters for the benefit of Techxila’s portfolio companies. This partnership is an exciting development for both FGV and Pakistan’s burgeoning startup ecosystem.”

Techxila Fund I portfolio companies have set several milestones for Pakistan’s nascent startup scene. In August 2019, the fund backed Lahorebased logistics company Airlift’s seed round. Three months later, Airlift

raised US$12 million, then Pakistan’s largest Series A round. In August 2021, Airlift’s mega Series B round of US$85 million was another recordbreaking feat, being the largest Series B for a Pakistani startup.

Techxila also backed Lahore-based B2B marketplace Tajir in a June 2020 seed round. A year later, the Y Combinator graduate raised a US$17 million Series A round led by renowned US VC Kleiner Perkins, marking the firm’s first investment in a Pakistani startup. Separately, FGV-backed digital payments startup Safepay has received funding from US fintech giant Stripe.

In June 2021, Techxila participated in Islamabad-based fintech TAG’s US$5.5 million seed round, the largest seed round in the MENAP (Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan) region. In addition to being backed by general partners of leading US VC Andreessen Horowitz, TAG was accepted into Y Combinator.

Techxila also joined TAG’s follow-up seed round in September 2021, which at US$12 million, more than doubled its past record-setting raise. TAG is now valued at US$100 million.

sunday, 3 October, 2021

10 FOrEign nEws

islamabaD

Global Covid-19 deaThs hiT 5 million as delTa varianT sweeps The world LONDON

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ReuteRs

ORLDWIDE deaths related to Covid-19 surpassed 5 million on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, with unvaccinated people particularly exposed to the virulent Delta strain.

The variant has exposed the wide disparities in vaccination rates between rich and poor nations, and the upshot of vaccine hesitancy in some western nations.

More than half of all global deaths reported on a seven-day average were in the United States, Russia, Brazil, Mexico and India. While it took just over a year for the Covid-19 death toll to hit 2.5 million, the next 2.5 million deaths were recorded in just under eight months, according to a Reuters analysis.

An average of 8,000 deaths were reported daily across the world over the last week, or around five deaths every minute.

However, the global death rate has been slowing in recent weeks.

There has been increasing focus in recent days on getting vaccines to poorer nations, where many people are yet to receive a first dose, even as their richer counterparts have begun giving booster shots.

More than half of the world has yet to receive at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to Our World in Data.

The World Health Organization this week said its COVAX distribution programme would, for the first time, distribute shots only to countries with the lowest levels of coverage.

Co-led by the WHO, COVAX has since January largely allocated doses proportionally among its 140-plus beneficiary states according to population size.

“For the October supply we designed a different methodology, only covering participants with low sources of supply,” Mariangela Simao, WHO Assistant Director General for Access to Vaccines, said in a recording of a conference presentation last week posted on the WHO’s website.

The United States, which has been battling vaccine misinformation that has caused

about one-third of the population to avoid inoculations, surpassed 700,000 deaths on Friday, the highest toll of any country.

US cases and hospitalizations have been trending lower, but health officials are bracing for a possible resurgence as cooler

weather forces more activities indoors.

Russia reported 887 coronavirus-related deaths on Friday, the largest single-day death toll it has recorded since the pandemic began and the fourth day in a row it has set that record. Only 33 percent of Russia’s eligible population has received a first vaccine dose.

As a region, South America has the highest death toll in the world accounting for 21 percent of all reported deaths, followed by North America and Eastern Europe contributing more than 14 percent of all fatalities each, according to Reuters analysis.

However, India, one of the first countries ravaged by the Delta variant, has gone from an average of 4,000 deaths a day to less than 300 as its vaccination campaign is rolled out.

About 47 percent of India’s eligible population has received a first shot, with officials administering around 7,896,950 doses per day over the past week, a Reuters analysis of Our World in Data showed.

The Delta variant is now the dominant strain around the globe and has been reported in 187 out of 194 World Health Organization member countries.

For first time, Dubai Expo 2020 says 5 workers died on site THE AssOcIATED PrEss

Taiwan angered

by Chinese air force’s largest ever incursion TAIPEI ReuteRs

Taiwan sharply criticised China on Saturday after Beijing marked the founding of the People’s Republic of China with the largest ever incursion by the Chinese air force into the island’s air defence zone. Chinese-claimed Taiwan has complained for a year or more of repeated missions by China’s air force near the democratically governed island, often in the southwestern part of its air defence zone close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands.

Taiwanese fighters scrambled against 38 Chinese aircraft in two waves on Friday, the Taiwan Defence Ministry said. It said Taiwan sent combat aircraft to warn away the Chinese aircraft, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them. “China has been wantonly engaged in military aggression, damaging regional peace,” Taiwan Premier Su Tsengchang told reporters on Saturday morning.

The first wave of incursions comprised 18 J16 and four Su-30 fighter jets plus two nuclear-capable H-6 bombers and an anti-submarine aircraft, while the second had 10 J-16s, 2 H-6s and an early warning aircraft, the ministry said. The first batch of Chinese aircraft all flew in an area close to the Pratas Islands, with the two bombers flying closest to the atoll, according to a map issued by the ministry. The second group flew down into the Bashi Channel that separates Taiwan from the Philippines, a key waterway that links the Pacific with the disputed South China Sea. China has yet to comment. It has previously said such flights were to protect the country’s sovereignty and aimed at “collusion” between Taiwan and the United States, the island’s most important international backer. The previous largest incursion happened in June, involving 28 Chinese air force aircraft. China’s latest mission came less than a day after its government launched a attack on Taiwan’s foreign minister, evoking the words of revolutionary leader Mao Zedong to denounce him as a “shrilling” fly for his efforts to promote Taiwan internationally. China has stepped up military and political pressure to try and force Taiwan to accept Chinese sovereignty. Taiwan says it is an independent country and will defend its freedom and democracy.

Dubai’s Expo 2020 on Saturday acknowledged that five workers had been killed on site during construction of the massive world’s fair, revealing for the first time overall statistics for worker fatalities.

Expo previously said that its 200,000 laborers who built the site worked some 240 million hours in its construction.

It had not offered any overall statistics previously on worker fatalities, injuries or coronavirus infections despite repeated requests from The Associated Press and other journalists.

The admission comes after the European Parliament last month urged nations

not to take part in Expo, citing the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) “inhumane practices against foreign workers” that it said worsened during the pandemic.

Ahead of Expo, businesses and construction companies are “coercing workers into signing untranslated documents, confiscating their passports, exposing them to extreme working hours in unsafe weather conditions and providing them with unsanitary housing,” the resolution said.

At a press conference a day after the event’s opening, Expo spokesperson Sconaid McGeachin claimed the information about fatalities was previously available but did not elaborate.

The AP previously had repeatedly

asked for the information and received no response from the Expo.

She also said authorities would offer more information about the casualties at a later, unspecified time.

McGeachin also acknowledged that authorities were aware of cases involving contractors “withholding passports” and engaging in suspect “recruitment practices” and workplace safety violations on site.

“We have taken steps to ensure those have been addressed and very much intervened in cases on that,” she said, without elaborating.

The UAE, an oil-rich sheikhdom that relies on low-paid migrant labor from Africa, Asia and Arab countries to keep its

economy humming, faces long-standing criticism from human rights groups for treating those workers poorly.

But officials have battled to present a positive image for Expo, the first world’s fair in the Middle East that seeks to show off Dubai’s pride and draw millions of foreign visitors.

Laborers in the UAE are barred from unionisation and have few protections, often working long hours for little pay and living in substandard conditions.

Dubai’s searing early autumn heat proved hazardous even for those visiting the site on its opening day on Friday, with some tourists fainting in the 40 degree Celsius humid weather.

Qataris vote in country’s first legislative elections DOHA ReuteRs

Qataris began voting on Saturday in the Gulf Arab state’s first legislative elections for two-thirds of the advisory Shura Council in a vote that has stirred domestic debate about electoral inclusion and citizenship.

Voters trickled into polling stations, where men and women entered separate sections to elect 30 members of the 45-seat body. The ruling emir will continue to appoint the remaining 15 members of the Council.

“With the chance to vote, I feel this is a new chapter,” Munira, who writes children’s books and asked to be identified by only one name, told Reuters. “I’m really happy about the number of women standing as candidates.”

The Council will have legislative authority and approve general state policies and the budget, but has no control over executive bodies setting defence, security, economic and investment policy for the small but wealthy gas producer, which bans political parties.

The latest government lists showed 26 women among about 183 candidates across 30 districts in the country, which has for several years held municipal polls.

Campaigning has taken place on social media, community meetings and roadside billboards.

“This is a first-time experience for me […] to be here and meet people talking about these things that we need,” said Khalid Almutawah, a candidate in the Markhiya district. “At the end of this day, the people of Qatar, they’re going to be part of the decision making,” said another male candidate in the same district, Sabaan Al Jassim, 65.

The vote indicates Qatar’s ruling al-Thani family is “taking seriously the idea of symbolically sharing power, but also effectively sharing power institutionally with other Qatari tribal groups,” said Allen Fromherz, director of Georgia State University’s Middle East Studies Center.

The election, approved in a 2003 constitutional referendum, comes ahead of Doha hosting the World Cup soccer tournament next year. Critics have said voting eligibility is too narrow.

A VOTING ‘EXPERIMENT’: Qatar’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Ab-

dulrahman al-Thani, last month described the vote as a new “experiment” and said the Council cannot be expected from the first year to have the “full role of any parliament”.

Kuwait has been the only Gulf monarchy to give substantial powers to an elected parliament though ultimate decision-making rests with the ruler, as in neighbouring states.

The huge number of foreign workers in Qatar, the world’s top liquefied natural gas supplier, means nationals make up only 10% of the population of 2.8 million. Even then, not all Qataris are eligible to vote.

The polls have stirred tribal sensitivities after some members of a main tribe were ineligible to vote under a law restricting voting to Qataris whose family was present in the country before 1930.

The foreign minister has said there is a “clear process” for the electoral law to be reviewed by the next Shura

Council.

“The Qatari leadership has proceeded cautiously, restricting participation in significant ways and maintaining important controls over the political debate and outcomes,” said Kristin Smith Diwan of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

But popular politics is unpredictable, she said. “Over time, Qataris may grow to see their role and rights differently as this public forum develops.”

Human Rights Watch has said thousands of Qataris are excluded from voting.

The organisation said Qatar arrested about 15 demonstrators and critics of the electoral law during small protests in August led by members of the Al Murra tribe.

A Qatari source with knowledge of the matter said on Friday two people remain in custody “for inciting violence and hate speech”.

Sunday, 3 October, 2021

SPORTS 11

ISLAMABAD

PreMIer League: ManChester unIted heLd by everton as Pressure Mounts on soLskjaer

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AFP

ANCHESTER United missed the chance to move top of the Premier League and needed a late VAR call in their favour to avoid another home defeat as Everton emerged from Old Trafford with a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Yerry Mina’s late winner for the Toffees was ruled out by a review for offside after Andros Townsend had cancelled out Anthony Martial’s opener for United.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s decision to rest Cristiano Ronaldo from the start will be questioned as the Red Devils have now won just two of their last six games in all competitions.

A point is enough to move both sides level on points with league leaders Liverpool, who face champions Manchester City on Sunday.

Ronaldo’s heroics deep into stoppage time against Villarreal on Wednesday saved United from having a mountain to climb to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.

But Solskjaer did not risk the 36-year-old with a third start in a week as he took his place on a star-studded bench alongside Jadon Sancho and Paul Pogba among five changes.

Martial’s inclusion was the surprise with Jesse Lingard and Donny van de Beek also left on the sidelines.

The Frenchman struggled to impress in his few previous outings this season and missed a glorious early

Morgan’s batting woes in IPL continue as World Cup approaches

Michael Keane flicked Townsend’s free-kick just wide, Abdoulaye Doucoure’s goalbound effort was blocked by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Demarai Gray tested David de Gea in the first half.

However, Everton’s good work before the break was undone on 43 minutes thanks to a moment of inspiration from Bruno Fernandes as he perfectly teed up Martial to

Top-seeded Rublev reaches San Diego Open semis

LONDON

SAN DIEGO

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England Twenty20 captain Eoin Morgan’s poor batting performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) continued as he scored only two runs in Kolkata Knight Riders’ defeat by Punjab Kings, raising concerns over his form ahead of the World Cup. Morgan, who also leads Kolkata, has scored a total of 17 runs in four innings since the IPL resumed in the United Arab Emirates last month. The 35-year-old has an average of 10.90 runs in the T20 tournament and Kolkata coach Brendon McCullum said the team expects more from the batter. “I think he’s captained the side really well. But look, you want some more runs from him there’s no doubt in there,” McCullum told reporters after Friday’s five-wicket loss.

“He’s one of our senior players. He’s one of our international batters and in his own head, he would have loved to contribute more runs. “You need runs from your overseas players and you particularly need in those key spots as well. I am confident he will come alright.” Morgan is set to lead England in the T20 World Cup, which will be held in the UAE and Oman. England face defending champions West Indies in their opening match on October 23 in Dubai.

chance when he mistimed his jump for a free header at the back post.

Everton do not have the same depth of resources in attacking areas as Rafael Benitez again had to cope without his two main sources of goals, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, due to injury.

The visitors still created plenty of chances as

fire beyond Jordan Pickford thanks to a slight deflection. everton level after ronaldo introduction: Solskjaer then called on Ronaldo and Sancho 10 minutes into the second half as he looked to put the game beyond Benitez’s men.

But it was Everton who struck next to expose United’s frailty on the counter-attack.

Gray won the ball back on the left and freed Doucoure into acres of space in midfield, the latter playing in Townsend to fire home his fifth goal in nine appearances for the club.

Solskjaer responded by adding another creative threat in Pogba for Fred.

England manager Gareth Southgate admitted on Thursday that Sancho’s performances since his £73 million move from Borussia Dortmund were not worthy of keeping his place in the national squad.

But Sancho was the most dangerous of United’s star substitutes as he constantly demanded the ball in search of a winner. Ronaldo’s only chance to be the hero once more came from Sancho’s reverse pass as the Portuguese blasted across the face of goal.

Pogba then curled wide from another promising Sancho break to destabilise the Everton defence.

Yet, but for a matter of inches, United would have succumbed to a second home league defeat in eight days after Aston Villa’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford last weekend.

Mina tapped home from Tom Davies’ cross, but the Colombian had just strayed offside to United’s relief.

ReuteRs

Top-seeded Andrey Rublev of Russia beat sixth-seeded Diego Schwartzman of Argentina for the second time in two weeks, prevailing 6-1, 7-5 on Friday in the quarterfinals of the San Diego Open.

Rublev edged Schwartzman last week in the Laver Cup at Boston, winning 11-9 in an extended tiebreaker that stood in for the third set after the players split the first two sets. Rublev helped Team Europe win the Laver Cup. Up next for Rublev is a semifinal matchup against Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie, who cruised past fourthseeded Denis Shapovalov of Canada 6-3, 6-1.

The final two semifinalists were due to be determined Friday night. Second-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway was set to oppose Lorenzo Songeo of Italy, and Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria was ready to face Aslan Karatsev of Russia.

Sofia open: Italy’s Jannik Sinner, the tournament’s top seed, overcame a slow start in both sets to emerge with a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win over Australia’s James Duckworth in the quarterfinals at Sofia, Bulgaria.

Duckworth won the first three games of the match and had a chance to seal the opening set while serving at 5-4, but Sinner rallied to pull level. Sinner took the opening four points in the tiebreaker, which he closed out on his third set point.

Duckworth broke serve again to open the second set,

but he dropped his final two service games to end the match. Sinner moves on to a semifinal match against fifthseeded Serbian Filip Krajinovic, who topped Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

The other semifinal will feature second-seeded Gael Monfils of France, a 6-2, 6-2 winner over Italy’s Gianluca Mager, and the United States’ Marcos Giron, who upset eighth-seeded John Millman of Australia 6-4, 6-2.

Deignan makes history by winning first women's Paris Roubaix PArIS ReuteRs

Britain's Lizzie Deignan rode to a landmark victory in the inaugural Paris Roubaix Femmes as rain, mud and crashes made it a memorable debut for the world's best female riders over the infamous cobbled course on Saturday.

The former world champion produced a dominant ride over the 115.6km course and held off a powerful late surge by Dutch great Marianne Vos to win by one minute and 17 seconds.

"I feel incredibly proud," Deignan, who adds the maiden Paris Roubaix to her other notable triumphs including last year's Liege-Bastogne-Liege, said.

"Women's cycling is at this turning point, and today is part of history. It proves the appetite for women's cycling and that the riders can do one of the hardest races in the world."

"Today I was the third rider (in the team) and I had to be in the front at the first cobbled section to protect my leaders. But then I saw there was a gap so I just kept going."

After three circuits around Denain, Trek Segafredo rider Deignan established a small lead over the pack just before the first of 17 cobbled sections with more than 80km remaining.

With riders struggling to organise a concerted chase, many of them slithering over on the greasy cobbles, former world champion Deignan powered into a

commanding lead.

With 30km remaining the Trek-Segafredo rider held a lead of two minutes 30 seconds over a group including

Vos (Jumbo Visma), team mate Audrey Cordon-Ragot and Germany's Lisa Brennauer (Ceratizit-WNT).

Deignan, handling the bone-shaking "pave" cobble-

stones with aplomb, maintained her advantage as several fancied riders including European champion Ellen van Dijk crashed heavily.

Vos finally put the hammer down to try and catch Deignan, slicing into the lead as she powered through the Carrefour de L'Arbre cobbled section.

Vos closed the gap to 1:18 as Deignan began the final 10km, but Deignan proved unshakeable out front as the famed Roubaix velodrome finish approached.

Deignan was so far ahead that the finale inside the Roubaix velodrome resembled a lap of honour as the Yorkshire rider wrote her name into the cycling history books. Vos finished more than a minute behind, with Deignan's team mate Elisa Longo Borghini in third place.

Organisers ASO, who also own the Tour de France, added a women's version of the 125-year-old Paris Roubaix last year, but the COVID-19 pandemic meant they had to wait another year to ride the so-called Hell of the North.

The debut for the Paris Roubaix Femmes race and for a women's Tour de France next year are seen as steps forward in the long battle for gender equality in professional cycling, although there remains a long way to go.

While Sunday's men's race over a longer distance boasts a total prize pot of 91,000 euros, the women's race has only 7,505 euros with Deignan receiving 1,535 euros - about 1/20th of what the winner of the men's race will take home.

sunday, 3 October, 2021

PRayeR TimiNgs

News

FAJR SUNRISE

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PM highlights iMPortance of int’l econoMic engageMent with afghanistan

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rime minister imran Khan has highlighted the "immediate" importance of economic engagement with Afghanistan to prevent economic meltdown.

According to a statement issued by the Prime minister's Office (PmO) on Saturday, the premier, during a telephonic conversation with Tajikistan President emomali rahmon, emphasised the important role of the international community in providing necessary humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan to alleviate the suffering of common people. imran thanked President rahmon for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation during their recent visit to Dushanbe on September 16-17.

According to PmO, the two leaders exchanged views on the follow-up to the talks

held in Dushanbe last month. Both expressed satisfaction on the existing level of bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed the resolve to continue mutual efforts to further strengthen close ties, it added.

On the occasion, Pm imran shared with President rahmon Pakistan’s contribution to efforts for sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan. He underlined the importance of national reconciliation in this context.

The statement said that the prime minister underscored the urgent imperative to address the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people.

He emphasised the important role of the international community in providing necessary humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, it added.

The premier also highlighted the immediate importance of economic engagement with Afghanistan to prevent economic meltdown

and to alleviate the sufferings of the common people.

The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact with a view to further coordinating their efforts in support of peace and stability in Afghanistan, the PmO statement further said.

Besides its own ongoing efforts, Pakistan has also been urging the international community to extend humanitarian aid to Afghanistan for the socioeconomic development of the wartorn country. in their multiple interactions with world leaders, both Prime minister imran and Foreign minister Shah mahmood Qureshi have asked the world community not to repeat the mistake of abandoning Afghanistan as it would lead to negative consequences of rise in terror incidents and spillover negative effects into neighbouring countries. earlier today, Pakistan handed over another consignment of aid to Afghan authorities at the Torkham border as a humanitarian crisis looms over Afghanistan after the US froze the new government's assets.

According to a statement, the Pakistani government sent six trucks full of flour, rice, and pulses to Afghanistan under the PakAfghan Cooperation Forum.

The aid was handed over by Landi Kotal Assistant Commissioner Akber iftikhar to Ghaziullah Hashmi, the in-charge of the Torkham border crossing. The statement said that the Afghan authorities expressed their gratitude for the aid.

On Wednesday, four trucks carrying 70 tonnes of humanitarian aid were handed over to Afghanistan. The trucks were carrying flour, sugar, rice, oil and pulses. News Desk

No further extension to be granted in returns filing date: FBR ISLAMABAD TLTP

The Federal Board of revenue has made it clear that the extension given in deadline for returns filing was only due to the fact that FBr’s iT system got overloaded, which since then has been fixed, and no more extension will be allowed beyond October 15, 2021. in a statement issued on Saturday, the revenue collection body said that unlike in the past, the FBr uploaded forms for filing of income tax returns for TY 2021 on July 01, 2021 and thus afforded taxpayers the statutory period of 90 days to file their tax returns by September 30, 2021.

On numerous occasions, the FBr reiterated its principled stance that it would not extend this period beyond the given deadline i.e September 30. At the same time, the FBr launched a comprehensive campaign on mainstream electronic and print media to maximise its outreach and awareness.

Besides, the FBr also engaged with national heroes and celebrities to disseminate the same message on social media. All cellular companies were mobilised to send customised messages to their 130 million combined subscribers, across the country, the FBr said.

The above unparalleled awareness campaign reached every household and sensitised the general public about the critical value of tax com-

pliance. This resulted in an immense traffic of taxpayers on the FBr website and for the first time ever over 1.8 million returns were filed within 90 days ending on September 30. Only in the last three days, FBr received around 600,000 returns from all over Pakistan, the statement added.

This extraordinary interest in existing and new taxpayers put huge pressure on FBr iris online portal which caused occasional disruptions and adversely affected its functional efficiency, particularly on September 30 being the last day.

“Keeping in view the unprecedented increase in users of our website and the hardships they faced owing to technical hiccups, FBr notified a one-time extension of 15 days on September 30 and extended the return filing deadline till October 15, 2021,” said the statement. Therefore, it is positively hoped that the taxpayers both old and new will benefit from this extended timeline and thus file their tax returns well ahead of the final date–October 15.

Separately in another statement, the FBr has categorically rebutted malicious in intent and misleading in content a photoshopped version of the interface of FBr official website, displaying a ticker with date of returns filing extended up to 2050. This is fake news being circulated on social media by some irresponsible elements which is strongly condemned, said the FBr.

Trump asks Florida judge to force Twitter to restart his account Former US President Donald Trump asked a federal judge in Florida on Friday to ask Twitter to restore his account, which the company removed in January citing a risk of incitement of violence.

Trump filed a request for preliminary injunction against Twitter in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, arguing the social media company was "coerced" by members of the US Congress to suspend his account.

Twitter and several other social media platforms banned Trump from their services after a mob of his supporters attacked the US Capitol in a deadly riot on January 6.

That assault followed a speech

by Trump in which he reiterated false claims that his election loss in November was because of widespread fraud, an assertion rejected by multiple courts and state election officials.

Twitter "exercises a degree of power and control over political discourse in this country that is immeasurable, historically unprecedented, and profoundly dangerous to open democratic debate," Trump's lawyers said in the filing. The filing was reported earlier by Bloomberg.

Twitter declined to comment on the filing when contacted by reuters.

Before he was blocked, Trump had more than 88 million followers on Twitter and used it as his social media megaphone. in the court filing, Trump argued Twitter allowed the Taliban to tweet regularly about their military victories across Afghanistan, but censored him during his presidency by labelling his tweets as "misleading information" or indicating they violated the company's rules against "glorifying violence." in July Trump sued Twitter, Facebook and Alphabet inc's Google, as well as their chief executives, alleging they unlawfully silence conservative viewpoints. in a news conference from his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump had railed against social media companies and Democrats, who he had accused of espousing misinformation.

"We are demanding an end to the shadow-banning, a stop to the silencing, and a stop to the blacklisting, banishing, and cancelling that you know so well," he had said. The suit had requested a court order to end alleged censorship. ReuTeRs

Big nations must stretch further to limit climate change: Kerry MILAN ReuTeRs

The world's major economies must "stretch to do more" at next month's UN climate talks to show they are serious about wanting to tackle global warming, US Climate envoy John Kerry said on Saturday.

The COP26 conference in Glasgow aims to secure more ambitious climate action from the nearly 200 countries that signed the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming to well below 2.0 degrees Celsius - and to 1.5 degrees preferably - above pre-industrial levels.

"We now have about 55% of global GDP (gross domestic product) committed to undertake tracks that will hold the temperature to 1.5 degrees. There are other countries now sharpening their pencils," Kerry said during a pre-COP26 meeting in milan, italy.

"Well below 2.0 degrees Celsius means well below ... the common sense meaning of that is not 1.9, 1.8 or 1.7 (degrees)," he added.

New energy and funding pledges from the United States and China have raised negotiators' hopes, but many G20 countries including major polluters such as China and india - have yet to announce updates of their short-term climate action plans.

Youth climate activists including Sweden's Greta Thunberg, who was in milan this week, have demanded that policymakers match words with action and stump up billions of dollars to wean the world off fossil fuels.

They have also called for a transparent climate finance system and more grants to help the people most exposed to the impact of climate change.

Wealthy nations that pledged a decade ago to mobilise $100 billion a year to help vulnerable countries adapt and transition to cleaner energy are still short of their 2020 goal.

Kerry said he expected donors to fulfil the $100 billion pledge, but added that a post-2025 finance plan "with an emphasis not just on billions, but on trillions" would be required.

"(The) private sector is needed for this ... We'll be announcing one specific agenda item in conjunction with the World economic Forum," he said, without giving further details. eU climate commissioner Frans Timmermans echoed Kerry's call for radical and swift action.

"We're fighting for the survival of humanity," he told reporters.

Asked about coal mining, Timmermans said the industry would gradually disappear even without specific climate action because it would eventually become economically unviable. "i'd be highly surprised if there is still a significant coal mining industry after 2040," he said.

China and india, the world's top two coal producers, still rely on coal-fired power stations for a big share of their electricity supply.

"We're in a very constructive dialogue with india and China ... there is a wish by both countries to be part of the success," Timmermans added.

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