Epaper – October 8 ISB 2021

Friday, 8 October, 2021 I 1 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 100 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

At leAst 22 killed, 200 injured in BAlochistAn eArthquAke

QUETTA

A

staff report

t least 22 people were killed and more than 200 injured when an earthquake struck parts of Balochistan, Disaster Management Authority Director General Naseer Nasir said on thursday. the earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 struck at about 3:01 am while people were sleeping. Rescue workers said the dead were mostly women and children. the quake was relatively shallow at 20 kilometres (12 miles) with an epicentre 102 kilometres (62 miles) east of Quetta, said the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). the USGS initially measured the quake at 5.7 magnitude but revised it to 5.9 a few hours later. It also revised the depth from 20.8 kilometres (12.9 miles) to 9 kilometres (5.6 miles).

More than 100 mud houses collapsed and a large number were damaged, including government buildings. Hundreds of people were rendered homeless, Sohail Anwar, deputy commissioner of the city of Harnai, told Reuters.

the death toll was expected to rise even further as crews searched in the remote mountainous area, said Anwar. the area, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Quetta, is dotted with coal mines, which has Anwar worried the death toll could rise. It struck in the early morning while scores of miners were already at work, he said.

At least four of the dead were killed when the coal mine in which they were working collapsed, said the deputy commissioner, citing coal miners in the area.

As many as 100 homes also collapsed, burying sleeping residents inside.

Social media showed houses shaking and light fittings swaying as the quake struck, and later stunned residents gathering in the street in the dark. the injured were rushed to hospital, while some were treated on stretchers in the street under phone torch light. the military was deployed to the earthquake area to airlift dozens of injured from mountain peaks. At least nine critically injured people were taken to the provincial hospital in Quetta. Search and rescue teams have arrived in the moun-

coronAvirus in

PAkistAn

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,255,321

LAST UPDATED AT 8:25 AM ON OCTOBER 7, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

46

1,453

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

1,182,894 28,032 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

461,869

434,647

KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

175,212 AJK/GB:

33,026 ISLAMABAD:

34,299/10,338

105,930

tains, an Inter-Services Public Relations statement said.

Army doctors and paramedics were assisting the civil administration with necessary medical care, the ISPR said, adding that food and medicines were also transported to remote mountainous district Harnai, which was the worst-affected area where a lack of paved roads, electricity and mobile phone coverage hampered rescue efforts.

Concern has grown about scores of coal miners who might be trapped.

Homes lay in heaps of mud and straw. Residents of small mountain villages were seen wandering stunned among the rubble.

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan shared that assistance and evacuation efforts were underway.

“Blood, ambulances, emergency assistance, [helicopters] and rest all things are placed […] All departments are working on it,” he tweeted.

All assistance and evacuations are underway for the #harnaiearthquake Medical, local administration and disaster management teams are on high alert and mobilized.

Concern has grown about scores of coal miners who might be trapped.

Homes lay in heaps of mud and straw. Residents of small mountain villages were seen wandering stunned among the rubble.

“Women, children, everyone, was running here and there,” said resident Ghulam Khan. “We were scared and we didn’t know what to do.”

Ambulances soon arrived to transport the injured to the hospital in Harnai.

Doctors treated patients outside the hospital as 4.6 magnitude aftershocks continued into the morning hours. Children with bloodied bandages were in stretchers outside the hospital as ambulances brought more wounded.

“So far we have treated more than 200 casualties,” said Manzoor Ahmed, medical superintendent of the Harnai district hospital. the small rural facility has been taxed to the limit, he said. As many as 15 bodies were brought there.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 04

Bilawal criticises govt for extending NAB chairman’s term KARACHI inp

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on thursday slammed the Pakistan tehreek-i-Insaf (PtI) government after it granted an extension to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chief through a presidential ordinance. the reaction comes a day after President Arif Alvi promulgated the National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, under which NAB Chairman Justice (R) Javed Iqbal will continue to serve the post until a new chairman is appointed.

Bilawal Bhutto said that the extension of Javed Iqbal’s term is “not only illegal but has malicious intent.” the PPP leader wrote on twitter: “the selected government wants to continue victimisation of opposition while ensuring the PM, his family, government and cronies continue

Int’l community should move forward in consultation with new Afghan govt: Moeed National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr Moeed Yusuf thursday said that the international community should move forward in consultation with the new Afghan government and play its positive role in achieving peace and stability. the NSA expressed these views in his article published in the leading American journal Foreign Affairs.

Dr Moeed said that there is no military solution to conflict in Afghanistan and Pakistan kept on warning the United States about the failure of a military solution to Afghan issue.

He said unrest in Afghanistan would have devastating effects on the Afghan people, adding, “Pakistan and neighbouring countries will also be affected from chaos in the region.”

Pakistan, he said, has paid a heavy price for the US war on terror, whereas over 50 militant groups have come into existence in this regard. “these terrorist groups targeted Pakistan for cooperating with the US,” he added.

to be immune from accountability.

Especially post #PandoraPapers.”

Bilawal had earlier said that PPP would “forcefully oppose” the “illegal extension” in the tenure of the NAB chief. the PML-N has also decided to give the government a tough time over the NAB ordinance that can allow the chairman to enjoy another four-year term.

However, the party still stands divided over how it will challenge the government.

Speaking to a private news channel, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said the party has decided to protest against the NAB ordinance but it is divided on how to challenge it. the former Punjab law minister has said the party will also try to ensure the opposition remains on the same page over the ordinance. “We will try that the opposition stands united for this protest,” he added.

more inside

US Deputy Secretary of State Sherman arrives in Islamabad STORY ON BACK PAGE

Pakistan calls for equitable distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, debt relief STORY ON BACK PAGE Dr Moeed highlighted that Pakistan is still hosting almost four million Afghan refugees at the moment.

“Detachment from Afghanistan is not an option for Pakistan. Stability in Afghanistan is important for regional connectivity with Central Asia and this is our vision,” he said.

He said Pakistan and Afghanistan share a more than 1600-mile border and cultural links that stretch back centuries. these geographical and socie-

tal connections compel Pakistan to advocate for peace in Afghanistan, as instability there risks spilling over into our country, he added. “the Pakistani taliban, the Islamic State, and other anti-Pakistan groups in Afghanistan cannot be allowed to harm Pakistan. Nor are we in a position to accept more Afghan refugees, who will inevitably be driven onto our soil by another spasm of violence in their home country,” he said. news desk

ECB chief Ian Watmore steps down from his post, after pressure over cancellation of Pakistan tour STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Friday, 8 October, 2021

ISLAMABAD

NEWS

NCOC allOwS SChOOlS tO reSUme NOrmal ClaSSeS frOm OCt 11 N

AgEncIES

ATIONAL Command and Operation Center (NCOC) head Asad Umar on Thursday announced that all educational institutions would start normal classes from October 11. The planning and development minister made this announcement in a post shared on his official Twitter handle.

“Based on the reduced level of Covid disease spread and the launch of the school vaccination programme, it has been decided in today’s NCOC meeting to allow all educational institutions to start normal classes from October 11,” he said in a tweet.

Educational institutions were earlier operating on 50 percent

capacity across the country after they had reopened following intermittent closures due to the prevalence of Covid-19.

Meanwhile, the NCOC, in a statement, said that the country reported 1,453 cases in the last 24 hours, taking up the positivity ratio to 2.82 percent, while 46 people lost their lives to the virus.

The country has recorded as many as 1.25 million coronavirus cases, 28,032 deaths, and 1.18 million recoveries from the pandemic, the forum said.

The country has administered more than 87 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, with 31 million second doses and 62 million first doses, according to the data shared by the NCOC.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi calls new NAB ordinance ‘NRO for govt’ ISLAMABAD staff report

LAHORE

Former PM and PML-N senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has stated on Thursday that the motive behind the extension of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal’s term was to hide the alleged corruption of the rulers.

Abbasi termed the presidential ordinance “NRO for the government”, While addressing a presser, Abbasi accused the NAB chairman of serving the PM’s interests.

“No official notification has been issued so far for the ordinance,” he said, adding that he had only seen the president tweet about it.

The PML-N leader criticized the federal government by stating that NAB takes no action against the elements involved in sugar, wheat and medicine scams, adding that it also does not ask probes from tax invaders. He went on to add that the NAB was unable to ask questions from the Pakistanis named in the Pandora Papers.

“The NAB chairman must pack up and leave if the prime minister does not hold consultations with the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly over the matter,” Abbasi added.

It is pertinent to note that the PML-N has decided to oppose the government by giving them a tough time the new ordinance.

PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah has stated that the party is determined to protest against the

staff report

NAB ordinance. It merits mention that President Arif Alvi has promulgated the National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 on Wednesday, under

which NAB Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal will continue to serve the post until a new chairman is appointed.

PM lauds preparations for ehsaas targeted subsidies ISLAMABAD staff report

In a high-level meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan was briefed about the ongoing preparations for the upcoming Ehsaas Targeted Commodity Subsidy programme.

Senator Dr. Sania Nishtar, SAPM briefed the PM on the ‘Subsidy Point of Sale’ system for the Ehsaas Targeted Subsidy programme that has been developed in collaboration with National Bank of Pakistan.

Prime Minister lauded the digital ecosystem being developed for Ehsaas targeted subsidy programme. He also lauded the special transparency measures being taken to ensure transfer of targeted subsidies solely to the deserving. PM directed to fast-track deployment of the ‘Subsidy Point of Sale’ system so that economic relief could be provided to the poor through targeted subsidies on essential food commodities.

Under Ehsaas, commodity subsidies will be administered through Ehsaas database by a network of Kiryana stores. These targeted subsidies will be given on selected essential commodities.

According to an official press statement, Dr.

Punjab ombudsman continues to provide relief

Sania said, “Our government firmly believes that target subsidy is the right of poorest households who have no or limited means of income. Ehsaas is collaborating with National Bank of Pakistan to pass on the benefit of targeted subsidies to the deserving households. All preparations are on track.”

Previously, under the untargeted subsidies, the benefits were availed equally by both the rich and poor. Even households who could easily afford market prices also availed benefits of subsidized pricing.

To ensure targeted subsidy transfer, Ehsaas Subsidy Mobile Point of Sale (MPoS) will be linked to the Ehsaas databases and eligible beneficiaries will be identified through their CNICs. The MPoS App will be used nationwide by Kiryana stores to provide subsidized commodities to Ehsaas eligible households.

Finance Minister, Shaukat Tarin; Defence Minister, Pervaiz Khattak; Information Minister, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain; SAPM Dr. Shahbaz Gill; Governor State Bank, Dr. Reza Baqir; President National Bank, Arif Usmani; Secretary Muhammad Ali Shahzada; Secretary Ismat Tahira; Chief Digital Officer NBP, Humayun Sajjad; and other senior officials also joined the meeting.

On the orders of Punjab Ombudsman Maj. (r) Azam Suleman Khan, the outstanding emoluments worth Rs5.2 million of a government employee, Ramzan, who died during service, have been paid to the complainant, Muhammad Aslam. Similarly, the state land has been retrieved from illegal occupants by removing encroachments on the thoroughfare and illegal possession of rural land in Chak 374 GB Toba Tek Singh. This has removed hurdles in the public passage. In another case, the widow of one Muhammad Nazir from Mandi Bahauddin has succeeded in getting her insurance claim amounting to Rs175,000 due to the intervention of the ombudsman office. Meantime, Suleman has given the decision in a case t at the payment of a farewell grant to complainant Muhammad Arshad Abbas has been made under Rule 3 (E) of Punjab Government Servants Benevolent Fund Part-I Disbursement Rules, 1965 while merging of annual pay in basic pay is a policy matter in which intervention of the office of Ombudsman Punjab would not be justified.

Similarly, any departmental mismanagement was not proved in this case, he further said. In another case, the remaining dues of family pension worth Rs254,802 have been paid to the widow of Ijaz Ahmed who retired as a forest guard in Attock. As a result of the intervention of Ombudsman Punjab, one lakh, ten thousand and thirty-one rupees have also been paid to Shakeel Ahmed of Gujranwala. This amount was, inadvertently, deducted under the head of income tax by Xen Buildings Division 2 of Gujranwala. The complainants have thanked Suleman for his keen interest and timely response to resolve their issues and added that this office is an effective platform for the common man.

U.S. partnership with Pakistan boosts student literacy in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ISLAMABAD pr

The United States Government, together with the Government of Pakistan and provincial partners, has helped increase the reading skills of students in Grades 1 and 2 through the Pakistan Reading Project. Over the course of seven years, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) project trained 27,000 teachers on reading instruction and reached 1.5 million children in areas with low levels of reading literacy, with girls representing 47 percent of the participants in the project.

Following the completion of the project, partners shared a reading skills assessment with provincial and national education officials, emphasizing students’ gains from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Being able to read fluently at grade level is tied directly to a student’s ability to learn across all curriculum subjects and indicative of future academic success. Girls represented 45 percent of the participants in Balochistan and 55 percent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Friday, 8 October, 2021

ISLAMABAD Pakistanis named in Pandora Papers must be investigated: President alvi nEwS DESk President Dr Arif Alvi has said that the 700 Pakistani people mentioned in Pandora Papers must be investigated for illegality and source of money.

He said that after Panama and Paradise, now Pandora Papers have confirmed that thousands of offshore companies were used for money laundering. In his tweets on Thursday, he stressed that the plundered money must be brought back.

Raising serious concerns about the tax havens protected by the West, the president said Pakistan is cleaning its system to stop its wealth from going out. He said that the FATF has also helped in this regard. He, however, regretted that “the receivers of our wealth have enriched themselves at the cost of poor of the world for too long”.

minister questions ‘colonial mindset’ in UK policy of Covid vaccine recognition StAff REpORt He added that despite widespread evidence of fake certificates in the United States and Europe, Britain is sticking to the policy. “Chinese vaccines are WHO approved,” he said, asking whether the British government upholds the policy out of “health considerations or hangover of a colonial mindset.”

Umar’s tweet came a day after the British government said that due to it only approves European and US Covid-19 vaccines, it is working with authorities to recognise the vaccine certificates issued by the National Database and Registration Authority. The British government recently removed Pakistan from its red list after a decline in new cases in the country, but put it on the “rest of the world” list, according to the fact that vaccinated Pakistan nationals travelling to the country have to undergo the same mandatory Covid-19 prevention measures like the unvaccinated people, as the vaccines they took or the vaccination certificates they hold are not recognised by Britain.

Pakistan, Saudi naval chiefs witness drill ISLAMABAD staff report

Saudi Arabian and the Pakistan naval forces continued on Thursday joint exercise, Naseem Al-Bahr 13, in the Arabian Sea off the Pakistan coast. The two forces started the exercise in Karachi on Sunday. On Monday, Saudi naval chief General Fahad Bin Abdullah Al Ghofaily arrived in Pakistan to witness the drill. The Saudi air force is also participating for the first time in the 10-day joint exercise. The major features of the exercise include training on how to respond to a naval attack from booby-trapped boats, using radars and follow-up to monitor water submarines, and how to use live anti-ship “air-surface” ammunition. Besides naval ships of both navies, aviation units including RSNF and PNF helicopters embarked on board ships and aircraft of RSAF are participating in the exercise. On the first day of the exercise Wednesday, various harbour evolutions were conducted to provide synergy in different naval operations. It also afforded an opportunity for both navies to conduct operational planning for the joint naval operations to be conducted in the subsequent sea phase of the exercise. During the first phase, various training exercises were organized onboard RSNF and PNF ships and in harbour facilities.

The respective force commanders of RSNF and PNF closely monitored and supervised the training activities.

The joint exercise commander, Rear Admiral Sajer AlAnezi, said that the Naseem Al-Bahr 13 manoeuvres include all dimensions of naval operations, such as air, surface and subsurface wars, along with electronic warfare and mine warfare. “Several assumptions and formations for naval units will be implemented, as well as training on ships while sailing,” he said. Al-Anezi said the Saudi Royal Navy and Air Forces have the ability to compete with other powers of the world, and they can reach any area of operations whenever it is asked. “The two Saudi forces are in Pakistan today to work in a different threat environment, far from their areas of operations. All branches of the Saudi forces are able to reach and confront the threat areas, while sustaining operations when ordered to do so, in light of the work on developing advanced and modern systems,” he added. The exercise was aimed to consolidate the existing strong bilateral relations between Pakistan Navy and Royal Saudi Naval Forces, according to Pakistan Navy sources. The drill included joint conduct of maritime security operations across the traditional and non-traditional warfare domains thus enhancing interoperability between both the navies, the sources said in a statement.

NEWS

03

IrreSPONSIBle StatemeNtS are BeINg ISSUed agaINSt State INStItUtIONS: SheIKh raSheed LAHORE

t

News Desk

HE interior minister Sheikh Rasheed lashed out at at PMLN Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Thursday, and cautioned Opposition leaders from uttering “irresponsible statements” against state institutions.

“Individuals represent institutions,” said Sheikh Rasheed. “You don’t become a corps commander without performing duties at tough terrains such as mountains and deserts,” he added while speaking of former DG ISI Faiz Hameed.

While reacting to former PM Nawaz Sharif’s earlier statement on reconciling with the PML-N’s opponents for maintaining the rule of law in the country, the interior minister said the “ship has sailed”.

On the NAB ordinance approval,

Rasheed said it was a “legal step taken to remove objections raised by people and the business community.”

He said it was a “calculated step” by the government, reiterating that it had been taken to facilitate people.

Upon asking that why he was kept out of the loop on the government’s discussions with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Rasheed said it was Pakistan’s wish that Afghanistan’s soil would not be used for subversive activities. “No talks, as per my knowledge, have taken place yet [between the government and the TTP],” he stated. He went on to say that Pakistan would continue aid to Afghanistan, without caving under any pressure from the rest of the world.

“They (Afghans) are our brothers, and they are our neighbours,” Ahmed said, while addressing a press conference in Lahore, adding that as had been

clarified by Prime Minister Imran Khan, once the world moves towards making a decision on Afghanistan, Pakistan would follow suit.

The interior minister’s statement in this regard has come as a US delegation, led by Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman, arrives in Pakistan for talks aimed at bridging a growing chasm between Washington and Islamabad on the Afghan issue. While talking about the General Elections 2023, Rasheed said only two years are left in the government’s constitutional tenure, adding it plans to spend the six months of its rule in electioneering campaigning.

However, he predicted that a “new alignment between the PPP and the PML-N” would emerge for the next elections. “I am Imran Khan’s companion; I came with him and will also go with him,” he added.

In response to a question about the

PML-N to block NAB ordinance: Sana ISLAMABAD staff report

The PML-N has decided to challenge the National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, which will reportedly allow the incumbent anti-graft chief to enjoy the office until the appointment of a successor.

The president approved Wednesday the amended ordinance allowing retired Justice Javed Iqbal to continue to work until a new chief is finalised. Iqbal’s successor will be appointed for a period of four years and their term may be extended.

However, the PML-N was divided as to how it will force the government to suspend the extension plans.

Speaking during a television programme, PML-N Punjab president Rana Sanaullah Khan said the party has decided to block the ordinance but it was still divided on how to do it.

Khan said the party will also attempt to ensure the opposition remains on the same page over the new law.

He rejected speculation that the party had raised objections internally over PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz’s recent statements concerning the outgoing chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency.

NCOC daily update: 1,453 new cases, 46 deaths from Covid-19 ISLAMABAD staff report

Pakistan on Wednesday confirmed 1,453 new Covid-19 cases and 46 more deaths, the National Command and Operation Center said on Thursday.

The NCOC, a department leading campaign

against the pandemic, said the country has conducted 19,736,872 tests so far and confirmed overall 1,255,321 cases, including 1,182,894 those who have recovered.

The number of active cases has dropped to 44,395 who are under treatment across the country, while 2,934 are in critical condition.

New Zealand team’s backing off from playing the series by claiming that they had security threats, Rasheed said it “has been proven” that India had a hand in New Zealand’s last-minute withdrawal from Pakistan. “I am saying this to you after a thorough verification. The security personnel that we deployed for the New Zealand team were more in number than the soldiers in their army.”

He said 8,000 security personnel were deployed to keep the New Zealand team safe while “they [New Zealand Army] are only 7,800 in number”.

On the issue of Covid-19 vaccination, Ahmed claimed that it was being made questionable deliberately, as part of a conspiracy.

“Breaking news of the vaccination of the dead is also being aired. In doing so, who is being served?” the minister asked, without referring to any particular incident of such nature.

Seminar held to promote vaccination drive LAHORE staff report

A seminar was held at Regional Information Office of Press Information Department on Thursday to highlight the importance of vaccination to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prominent journalists, bureaucrats and people from civil society participated in the moot. Stressing the importance of implementation of SOPs devised by NCOC, Deputy Postmaster General Pakistan Post Shahid Javed Malik said that the developing countries have eased restrictions on movements of people because they have vaccinated their masses. We will have to work together to overcome this challenge.

Addrrssing the participants, DIG Motorways Mehboob Aslam said that Pakistan will have to educate its people to ensure that everyone follows guidelines of the government. Former Senior Vice President Supreme Court Bar Murtaza Chaudhary, former DG PID Ijaz Hussain were among the other prominent participants.

Friday, 8 October, 2021

04 NEWS

ISLAMABAD

FBR DEvELoPS SINgLE SALES TAx PoRTAL To FACILITATE TAxPAyERS ISLAMABAD Pr

B

UILDING further on its ongoing drive for digitization and automation of various processes involved in revenue collection, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has developed “Single Sales Tax Portal” to facilitate the taxpayers and ensure the ease of

PM for taking measures to remove doctors' reservations about MTCAT, NLE exams

doing business. This watershed development of the Single Tax Portal developed by FBR is the outcome of various rounds of negotiations between FBR and the provincial revenue authorities.

FBR has already offered this portal to the provincial revenue authorities in order to facilitate the taxpayers through one-link facility. The portal is in the final stages of testing and is likely to be launched by the last

week of October, 2021. It is pertinent to mention that till now, Sales Tax registered persons had to file their monthly Sales Tax returns separately to every tax jurisdiction where they conducted business, such as FBR, Sindh Revenue Board, Punjab Revenue Authority, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority and Balochistan Revenue Authority. Some of the taxpayers had to file returns with revenue authorities of Azad

Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. This was a cumbersome task, which often led to complications and disputes over jurisdiction.

Single Sales Tax Portal will also help in simplification of the tax procedures. It will enable the taxpayers to save time and effort, and reduce their compliance costs. By minimizing data entry, it also addresses the issues of data and calculation errors.

The system will automatically apportion

October 8 to be observed as National Resilence Day: President

ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD

APP

APP

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday describing doctors as country’s precious asset directed to take measures on priority for the removal of their reservations regarding the entry test (MDCAT) and National Licensing Exam (NLE) for doctors. “The whole world recognizes the capabilities of Pakistani doctors,” Imran Khan said while talking to President of Insaf Doctors Forum Dr. Mudir Khan, who called on him here. Special Assistant to PM for National Health Services Dr. Faisal Sultan and Provincial Health Minister Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Taimoor Saleem Jhagra were also present in the meeting. During the meeting, the Prime Minister was briefed in detail about the progress of reforms in health sector. Dr. Mudir apprised the Prime Minister of the reservations regarding MDCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and NLE examination.

President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday said 8th October would be observed as the National Resilience Day in the country to express solidarity with the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad who lost their near and dear ones in the October 2005 earthquake.

In a message on the occasion of remembrance of 8th October earthquake, he said the catastrophic earthquake resulted in the loss of thousands of human lives, besides affecting livelihoods of the people and damaging the health, education and road infrastructure of the country.

“The day is also a reminder that we live in a region marked as highly vulnerable to natural disasters, and there is a strong need to strengthen and equip our departments and create awareness among the people about disaster prevention and preparedness.

“Over the years, Pakistan has witnessed multiple natural disasters in the form of earthquakes, landslides, and recent urban flooding which caused the loss of millions of dollars, not to mention the irreparable loss of

lives,” he added.

The president noted that the people of Pakistan had faced disasters with courage and resilience, however, there was a strong need for unrelenting efforts to boost our capabilities, understand the role of climate change and global warming in causing fires, heatwaves, floods and cyclones.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the government devised a wise strategy to effectively respond to the pandemic and contain it by enforcing the policy of smart-lockdowns and creating awareness among the people, he added.

Dr Arif Alvi said, “It is heartening to state that the international community widely acknowledged Pakistan’s strategy to overcome the pandemic.”

The government of Pakistan was determined to make communities resilient, build the capacity of departments like the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and make Pakistan a prosperous and stronger country.

“Today, we reaffirm our resolve to continue to invest our energies in this direction to make our future generations safer.

8th October to be marked as National Pink Illumination Day across Pakistan ISLAMABAD Pr

Breast cancer has been declared by the World Health Organization as the most common cancer, globally affecting women and claiming the lives of thousands of women every year.

More than 100 iconic buildings of Pakistan will turn pink to support Pink Ribbon’s Breast Cancer Awareness campaign on October 8.

The buildings of provincial assemblies, Supreme Court, high courts, governor houses, Minar-e-

Pakistan and Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum besides several buildings of the banks will wear pink lights to highlight the issue, encouraging regular health checkups.

Omer Aftab, Chief Executive Officer Pink Ribbon Pakistan, said, “The illumination is aimed at creating widespread awareness while bringing the subject into the mainstream, urging the policymakers to take this issue as a priority. Moreover, it is to draw attention to the early detection of breast cancer and in solidarity with the survivors.”

He added that over the years,

Pink Ribbon has illuminatedhundreds of buildings of national significance.

The illuminated buildings will become a symbol of hope and a reminder to the public that prevention may not be in our hands but early detection is.

This year, Pink Ribbon is once again illuminating major buildings to highlight the issue.

October is marked as the breast cancer awareness month every year and people all over the world, by different methods, contribute in creating the awareness like Pink aware-

ness walks, pink tea parties, fundraising/charity events, and illumination campaigns.

Illumination specifically instills a ray of hope in the suffering patients, portraying a message to the public to help breast cancer patients and also protect themselves from this deadly disease. This campaign makes the sufferers realize that they are not alone in this fight.

Pakistan has the highest rate of breast cancer in Asia with 90,000 breast cancer cases being annually reported in the country out of which 40,000 die, reports suggest.

HBL, The Bank of Punjab and TPL Insurance join hands to launch Area Yield Index Insurance in Pakistan KARACHI Pr

HBL, The Bank of Punjab (BoP) and TPL Insurance Ltd. have entered into a strategic partnership for the pilot testing of the Area Yield Index Insurance (AYII) product, proposed by Pakistan Agriculture Coalition (PAC) with PULA Advisors as implementation partner & SCOR as global reinsurer.

The signing ceremony was held at HBL and BoP Head Offices simultaneously. The MoU was signed by Kashif Umar Thanvi, Head – Rural Banking HBL, Asif Riaz, Group Head - Retail & Priority Sectors Lending - BoP and Muhammad Aminuddin, CEO - TPL

CMYK

Insurance Ltd. The event was also attended by Muhammad Aurangzeb, President & CEO – HBL, Zafar Masud, President & CEO – BoP, Ali Jameel, Group CEO - TPL Corp, Aamir Kureshi, Head - Consumer, Rural and SME Banking and Kazim Saeed, Strategy Advisor - Pakistan Agriculture Coalition along with representatives from the partnering organizations. The representatives of international partners i.e. PULA & SCOR virtually participated in the event. Under the product, farmers availing crop production loans from HBL and BoP in pilot districts will be provided yield insurance coverage bundled with their loan product.

input tax adjustment as well as tax payments across the sales tax authorities. Through this system, officers of all revenue authorities will be able to make better informed decisions about matters related to Sales Tax. The single portal system is a significant milestone towards taxpayers’ facilitation and a big leap forward towards harmonization of taxes between the Federal Government and the provinces.

Bank Alfalah Limited secures PCI DSS certification in collaboration with Risk Associates KARACHI Pr

Bank Alfalah has secured the prestigious PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) v3.2.1 certification, working in close collaboration with Risk Associates, one of the pioneering PCI QSA companies in Pakistan. The certification is another milestone in Bank Alfalah's journey towards enhanced data security. The occasion was graced by the CEO Bank Alfalah - Atif Bajwa, CIO - Mohib Hasan Khan and Head Contact Center and PCIDSS –Rahim Pirani. From Risk Associates end, Managing Director Kashif Hassan, Sr. Manager Enterprise Risk Services - Raheel Iqbal and Sr.Manager Business Strategy -Hashim Mufti attended the session.

Kashif Umar Thanvi, Head -Rural Banking – HBL, Asif Riaz, Group Head Retail & Priority Sectors Lending – Bank of Punjab and Muhammad Aminuddin, CEO - TPL Insurance Ltd.Muhammad signed the agreement. Muhammad Aurangzeb, President & CEO – HBL, Zafar Masud, President & CEO, The Bank of Punjab, Ali Jameel, Group CEO - TPL Insurance Ltd and other senior members from the organizations were also present at the occasion. Pr

At least 22 killed, 200 injured in Balochistan earthquake ContInueD fRoM pAge 01 Witnesses in the area said residents were wrapped in blankets against the cold, sitting on the side of the road waiting for the aftershocks to subside and for help to arrive. The area is remote and already the autumn nighttime temperatures are chilly. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Quetta in 1935, killing between 30,000 and 60,000 people, making it one of the deadliest quakes to hit South Asia in recorded history.

CALLS FOR RELIEF: Prime Minister Imran Khan ordered authorities to provide immediate assistance to Harnai and the quake victims and conduct an assessment so relief and compensation could be dispensed.

“My condolences and prayers go to the families who lost their loved ones,” he tweeted. President Arif Alvi offered condolences over the loss of lives in the earthquake. He hoped the authorities would swiftly assist in relief operations. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif said he was saddened over the loss of lives. “The authorities must act on war footing to rehabilitate those affected by this disaster,” he tweeted.

Friday, 8 October, 2021

ISLAMABAD

NEWS

PaKistan calls For EquitablE Distribution oF coviD-19 vaccinEs, DEbt rEliEF UNITED NATIONS

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aPP

AKISTAN called for ensuring vaccine equity to defeat the coronavirus, maintaining that while developed countries have inoculated most of their population, their developing counterparts have only managed to do so to less than 5 percent of their eligible populace.

“The pandemic has illustrated the oneness of humanity. It should have evoked unrestrained solidarity. Instead, advanced nations appear to have reverted to tribal instincts,” Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, told the Second Committee of the General Assembly that deals with economic and social matters.

Noting that this year marked the Decade of Action to implement the 2030 Agenda, Akram, who was speaking in a general debate, said that the basis of the present trend lines, it would not be possible to achieve most of the SDGs (Sustainable Development goals) by 2030.

In this context, he said Pakistan welcomed China President Xi Jinping’s Global Development Initiative with the hope that both developing and industrial

countries will join together within the framework of this important Initiative to advance the SDGs and promote a common future of prosperity for all nations and peoples.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has also outlined a plan of action to ensure the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, he said. His proposals, besides vaccine equity, also called for lifting the unsustainable debt burden on developing countries by further extension of the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), participation of the private sector in debt restructuring, debt cancellation and suspension, especially of vulnerable least developed and African countries and the SIDs (Small Island Developing countries).

In this regard, Akram said the proposals suggested the establishment of a global debt authority and an independent rating agency, with UN-mandated at least to rate the companies.

Significantly, larger concessional assistance should be mobilized for developing countries, especially by meeting the 0.7 GNI (Gross National Income) commitments by donor countries, he said.

While welcoming the creation of $650 billion in new Special Drawing

Rights (SDRs), he said Pakistan agreed with the UN secretary general this was not a “silver bullet”, and emphasised that at least $150 billion of the unutilised SDRs of richer countries should be reallocated to the developing countries.

The cost of borrowing by developing countries should be lowered through innovative financial mechanisms, such as the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility proposed by the Economic Commission for Africa, he said.

The flight of an estimated $1 trillion in resources from the developing countries each year in the form of Illicit Financial Flows (IFF) must be halted and reversed, Akram said, observing this was a root cause of their under-development.

“We must stop these flows and secure the return of stolen assets,” he said, noting FACTI (High-Level Panel on Financial Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity) report that such a move “could enable the developing countries to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, build back better after the Covid-19 crisis, address climate change and strengthen human rights”.

The envoy also called for addressing tax havens, tax abuse, especially by multinational corporations, and other il-

licit financial flows through an equitable international tax regime and a universal UN intergovernmental forum to enable developing countries to generate adequate domestic revenues to finance the SDGs. The goals and targets of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change can be fulfilled only if predictable and adequate climate finance is ensured, he said, while calling for implementing the developed countries’ pledge to provide $100 billion annually in climate finance.

Also highlighted was the need in sectors aligned with the SDGs, in particular, investment of $1 trillion annually for sustainable infrastructure, from public and private sources.

Akram called for discarding old and new trade protectionism and establishing a fair international trading system that enables developing countries to continue to pursue export-led growth.

The digital divide — the new face of the development divide — must be bridged through technology access, IT infrastructure and skills development, he said. “Integration into the digital economy can enable developing countries to leapfrog into the modern knowledgebased global economy.”

LHC serves notices on chief secy, DC over poor sanitation arrangements

Punjab imposes section 144 to tackle smog LAHORE inP

The Punjab government on Thursday imposed section 144 for a period of one month in order to prevent people from burning the residue of different materials so that the chances of development of smog could be minimised.

According to a notification issued by the provincial Home Department, the burning of tyres, the residue of different crops and rubber products has been banned for one month.

The notification says the Punjab government is taking steps on a war footing to control smog which develops in the province at the onset of the winter season.

According to the directives, old-fashioned brick kilns will also remain closed.

Similarly, burning polythene bags and leather items will also be prohibited.

LAHORE inP

The Lahore High Court on Thursday served notices to the Punjab chief secretary, Lahore deputy commissioner and Lahore Waste Management Company over poor sanitation arrangements.

The complainant, Sheeraz Zaka, moved the court over poor sanitation arrangements in Lahore due to which the number of dengue cases is

increasing rapidly. “The administration has failed to ensure cleanness in the city, despite court orders,” the applicant stated.

The applicant pleaded with the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings.

After conducting the initial hearing on the plea, Justice Shahid Karim served notices to the chief secretary, waste management authority and deputy commissioner into the matter.

On Monday, Punjab reported 234 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever in the province.

Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Punjab, Imran Sikandar Baloch, had stated that out of 234 cases 153 dengue fever infections in the province were “This year 2423 dengue fever cases have surfaced in Punjab so far,” the health secretary had said.

“In Lahore 1887 dengue fever cases had been reported in this season.”

corporate corner Pakistan firmly stands by global, regional institutions & states to bring sustainable peace in the region and beyond; says Khattak ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Pervez Khattak Thursday said Pakistan firmly stands by the global and regional institutions and states to bring sustainable peace in the region and beyond. He expressed these views while addressing the participants of 24th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) attended by heads of Defence Universities, Colleges and Institutions (HDUCI). The forum was chaired

by NDU Pakistan and co-chaired by NDU Malaysia which was held here at NDU Islamabad from 4-7 October. 21 countries (part of ARF) countries attended the event on campus in NDU Islamabad and virtually through Zoom-link. Defence Minister, Mr Pervez Khattak visited the forum. Defence Minister welcomed by President NDU, Lieutenant General Muhammad Saeed. Defence Minister highlighted the purpose of the event and emphasized the importance of cooperation in security studies, peacebuilding, and research for futuristic confidence-building in the region. He reiterated that Pakistan’s contribution to the global war against terrorism is a clear reflection of our desire for peaceful resolution of all disputes, and that Pakistan is opposed to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Later, military leaders and scholars from different defence institutions from ARF countries delivered presentations on the given themes and topics. Press release

Fauji Fertilizer collaborates at Dubai Expo 2020

ISLAMABAD: Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFCL) – Pakistan’s foremost conglomerate and leading fertilizer manufacturing and marketing business, has disclosed its official sponsorship of the Pakistan Pavilion – the country’s largest foreign exhibition feature at Dubai Expo 2020.

192 countries are participating in the expo and a footfall of over 25 million visitors is anticipated between 1st October 2021 – 31st March 2022.

Themed at “The Hidden Treasure”, FFCL through its collaboration on Dubai Expo intends not only to capitalize upon this prospecting opportunity of presenting Pakistan’s soft image at the International arena, but also promote its own diversified portfolio of ‘Core Business’, ‘Renewable Energy’, ‘Processed Food Products’, ‘Food Security’ and ‘Specialized Technical Services’ through its premier business concerns such as FFC, FFCEL, FFFL, FACE and OLIVE during the six-month Expo. Press release

Suspects in Noor murder to be indicted on October 14 ISLAMABAD staff rePort

A district and sessions court in Islamabad fixed October 14 for the indictment of suspects in the murder of the daughter of a former diplomat.

Noor Mukadam, 27, was found murdered at the residence of one Zahir Zakir in Sector F-7/4 of Islamabad in July. Zakir, widely believed to be the killer, was arrested the same day for his purported involvement in the gruesome incident. Investigators say the two were friends, and Zakir lured Mukadam to his home, held her there for two days, and then brutally murdered her.

A first information report registered on the complaint of Ambassador Shaukat Ali Mukadam, Mukadam’s father, nominated Zakir under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

A total of 12 people will be indicted in the case, including Zakir, his parents Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee, three household

staff — Iftikhar, Jan Muhammad and Jameel — and six Therapy Works employees including Tahir Zahoor, Amjad, Dilip Kumar, Abdul Haq, Wamiq and Samar Abbas.

Jaffer and Adamjee were arrested days later on charges of abetting the murder and concealing material facts from the investigation team. Subsequently, they had approached a district and sessions court for bail — a request which was turned down.

Later, they approached the Islamabad High Court for bail which also rejected their petition and ordered authorities to keep them under detention until the completion of the trial.

They filed a fresh petition with the Supreme Court on Wednesday, requesting it to approve their bail application and set aside the September 29 order of the IHC. The court had last month set October 6 for framing charges in the case, but deferred it after the suspects filed fresh petitions, seeking certain documents along with the copy of the challan.

This killing though, which touched a

segment of society that is often thought to be immune to that systemic injustice, has sparked a public outcry, unlike any other recent case.

“The status of the families involved, especially the family of Zahir Jaffer, and of course Noor’s father being a former ambassador, and this happening within the elite circles of Islamabad […] all of that combined definitely has brought more attention to this case,” commented Nida Kirmani, Associate Professor of Sociology at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, said at the time.

Mukadam’s murder has become the most keenly reported femicide in recent history. Social media erupted with furious disgust, and there have been protests and vigils in major cities, as well as among the Pakistan diaspora as far away as Canada and the United States.

Facing public anger, the Jaffer family took out full-page advertisements in newspapers distancing themselves from the murder and calling for justice.

CMYK

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Friday, 8 October, 2021

06 COMMENT

Bloodied but unbowed

PTI’s penchant for Ordinances Inputs from all stakeholders make legislation more comprehensive

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US looking for someone to blame for Afghanistan

Or three years the PTi government allowed the naB to cripple the bureaucracy and demoralize the business community for no other reason than to satisfy its craze for vengeance against political opponents through an overly empowered and zealous naB. With talk about the elections in the air, a number of PTi ministers and advisers started having cold feet over what could happen if they were to land in opposition and naB was used by those in power to bring them to book.

The exercise to cut off one’s nose to spit on one’s face had gone on too long, they told the leadership, and must come to an end at bonce. What needed to be done was to make the required changes in the naB Ordinance through a law passed by Parliament.

The new naB Ordinance excludes the federal and provincial cabinets and collective decisions of the committees or sub-committees and other administrative bodies from the ambit of naB. it is easier for a government succeeding the PTi administration to change or altogether annul the provisions of this Ordinance by peomulgating a new ordinance as the PTi has done. it is not however that easy to change a law made through consensus. The PTi could have got much of what it wanted through normal legislation by bringing a drafingt of proposals before Parliament, getting it through the concerned parliamentary committee and legislating it after a debate in Parliament. This would have required some give and take, which is a common practice in parliamentary democracy. Presumably the government would have been asked not to extend the tenure of the present naB chief and not to allow any accountability chief a second term. Bargaining with the opposition is however in contradiction with the PTi’s penchant for “my way, or the highway.” Similarly, a parliamentary debate on the issue might have led to the exposures of some of the government’s shenanigans which is the last thing the party leadership wants. it is keen to judge others but resents anyone putting it in the dock. it has therefore gone the ordinance way which should only be taken in emergencies.

At Penpoint M A NIAZI

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merican generals were on show in the US Senate Defence committee hearings into the afghanistan withdrawal, doing what military men inevitably do when they’ve been beaten: blame someone else. it is a very human trait to try and see that blame for an untoward incident does not stick to oneself. it is perhaps worse for military men than others, because defeat might mean that their country has suffered, and accompanying that, it might mean that their military career has come to an abrupt halt. it is no coincidence that a bill has been introduced in the US Senate seeking to impose sanctions on the Taliban, and which demands a report on who, including which countries, helped them. That shows that the US military is flailing wildly, and wants to find someone, other than itself, to blame.

This reached the extent that in testimony by the Defence Secretary (himself a former four-star general), the chairman Joint chiefs and the cenTcOm chief, blame was assigned to President Biden for the botched withdrawal. Well, they didn’t go as far as accuse him, but they did say he had ignored recommendations to keep troops in afghanistan.

That Biden chose to withdraw showed that he was not afraid to go against military recommendations. actually, that expert recommendation was merely a repetition of the military solution that had proved wrong repeatedly over the last 20 years, to send in more troops. at the end of the day, the Taliban came back to power, and the whole enterprise, which had entailed driving them out militarily, and then building afghanistan as a modern state. They failed. Someone had to be blamed, and it wasn’t the military.

Pakistan experienced such a moment 50 years ago, when the military passed on the blame for a defeat to politicians. Whoever was responsible for the secession of east Pakistan and the surrender at Paltan maidan in Dhaka, it wasn’t the army. it is possible for bad decisions by political masters to cause militaries to lose, but in 1971, Pakistan was ruled by the commander-in-chief, so the political direction was coming from someone who was supposed to be an expert. as a matter of fact, Gen Yahya Khan had had a reasonably distinguished military career. Similarly, the general responsible for east Pakistan, Lt Gen a.a.K. niazi, also had a good career, which had included winning the military cross on the Burma Front in World War ii. The only politicians involved

Twin earthquakes CM being ousted as earthquake hits Harnai

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He political crisis, as his own Balochistan awami Party (BaP) attempts to depose Balochistan chief minister Jam Kamal, could perhaps not have come at a worse time for the province, which was hit on Thursday, the day after Jamal was supposed to have resigned by Wednesday, the day before. Five members of his cabinet, three ministers and two cm’s advisers, had followed his noncompliance by announcing they would resign, and that they would join the no-confidence vote against him, which 11 mPas had moved, including a member each from the his own BaP and from the Pakistan Tehrik-i-insaf. The BaP is in alliance with the PTi, to the extent that not only does BaP have a place in the Federal cabinet, but it also has the Senate chairmanship in Sadiq Sanjrani. indeed, mr Sanjrani is so important a member of BaP that he made an effort in a flying visit to Balochistan to convince disgruntled mPas to retain Jam Kamal.

The BaP was put together to remove the PmL(n) from office just before the 2018 election, but Jamal Kamal, who had been a minister of state under nawaz Sharif, became BaP President when he became chief minister of the province after the 2018 election. To an extent, the travails of Jam Kamal reflect the PTi government’s failure to deliver, but it also reflects the pitfalls of trying to impose an extraneous choice, someone who has neither risen through the political ranks nor been through the political mill, in the province. it should not be held against Jam Kamal that he is the hereditary Jam of Lasbela, nor that his father and grandfather were cms before him. However, pedigree appears no guarantee of success. it may be a coincidence that the province has also been struck with an earthquake, but it is an unfortunate one. Just at the time that Jam Kamal would have justified the choice of those who chose him, by providing decisive leadership, he has been distracted by a struggle for survival. Prompt relief measures must be taken to minimize the adverse impact of the earthquake.

The phenomenon of hate Antisemitism is making a comeback in Europe

ShAZIA ANwer CheeMA

O

n October 5, the european commission presented the first-ever eU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life. The foremost reason for such a strategy is a perceivable rise of nazism in some countries of europe and eastern europe.

President of the european commission, Ursula von der Leyen says the Strategy sets out a series of measures articulated around three pillars: to prevent all forms of antisemitism; to protect and foster Jewish life; and to promote research, education, and the Holocaust. The Strategy proposes measures to step up cooperation with online companies to curb antisemitism online, better protect public spaces and places of worship, set up a european research hub on contemporary antisemitism, and create a network of sites where the Holocaust happened. These measures will be reinforced by the eU’s international efforts to lead the global fight against antisemitism.

Vice-President for Promoting Our european Way of Life, margaritis Schinas indicates the strategy that is the first of its kind would work to ensure a better

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

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Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

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in those events were Zulfikar ali Bhutto and mujibur rahman, who took power after the War. it may be that the US military can learn from the Pakistan military in this respect, because there is another country to blame. in this searching for excuses, afghanistan has proved worse than Vietnam, or even the Soviet debacle in afghanistan. in both cases, the local regime lasted longer, much longer, than the Karzai regime, which collapsed in a matter of days. it should not be forgotten that the US military had long withdrawn from Vietnam when the final collapse came; in afghanistan, there had been one withdrawal, then a security operation to allow flights out, 13 personnel (out of 182) killed in a bomb blast there. it was messy.

There is a lot of rage out there in the USa. There was also much rage in 1975, when Saigon fell, and the disaster merged with the disaster in domestic politics that was Watergate. But while it was a loss in the cold War, probably its worst loss, it was the first. afghanistan joins Vietnam. all the intervening successes, basically Grenada and Panama, were balanced out by iraq, Benghazi and Somalia. But afghanistan has probably been the worst. There have been calls in the media for sackings of US generals. However, they will survive, and those lower down the line will rise to senior rank in the years to come. They will not like afghanistan to be a blot on their copybook, but a credit, an advantage over those who were not part of the War The problem is that the blame is being shifted to Pakistan when there are elements in it that are only too willing to take credit for the USa’s discomfiture.

The problem comes because these elements are in conflict with those elements of the establishment that want a closer relationship with the USa. Because of the credit they are taking, they are strengthening the anti-Pakistani narrative within the USa. Historians have not had time to form an opinion, but US military men seeking to blame someone, anyone, might turn to Pakistan. at the moment they are refraining, but the alternative, that of afghan senior commanders’ corruption, raises questions about the training the USa was giving. even that narrative is getting some pushback from afghan generals, with Special Operations chief Gen Hibatullah alizai, who became the last Ghani government army chief, claiming that the troops had fought well. Since the afghan national army is to be partially included in the new army, the Taliban is raising. accusations of lacking will to fight will count for those who wish to build a career.

US generals and other military leaders will also face tough questions about whether the taxpayer is

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future for Jewish life in europe and beyond.

We understand “Hate” against any group, religion, state, and even individual is unacceptable. Hate earns further hate and this vicious circle never ends.

The Independent reports that neo-nazis are on social media and they’re making money through Facebook, instagram, YouTube, and Twitter by selling hate and to promote their brands. meanwhile, the Office of the United nations High commissioner for Human rights and Human rights council on October 5, started the general Debate on racism and racial Discrimination to find out and fix contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related forms of intolerance as a follow-up activity for implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of action.

The Durban Declaration suggested actions against any kind of discrimination (gender, ethnic, racial, religious, etc) to contest human rights abuses, racially discriminatory structures, and technologies (use of cyber world).

While living in europe, one can feel that gender, ethnic, racial, and religious discrimination is morally unacceptable. nevertheless, it is present everywhere like a lethal gas that cannot be seen but kills human relations with its existence. in the same europe where discrimination is a moral crime, there are people like former Prime minister of United Kingdom Tony Blair who believes that islamism, both the ideology and the violence, is a first-order security threat. i cannot consider his statement just as islamophobia rather more than that. This is not a phobic statement rather a strategic, intelligent, and calculated move to tag islam again with violence.

Unfortunately, neither the Organization of islamic cooperation responded to Blair’s statement nor did the european commission express any concern over such discriminatory, hateful and dangerous statements that can trigger further hate crimes against muslims. We remember the majority of hate crimes took place in europe were race and religion hate crimes, accounting for around three-quarters of offences (76 percent; 78,991 offences). These increased

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getting his money’s worth, what with $725 billion spent in 2020.The US military is not just responsible for defending the USa (with 9/11 showing it was not particularly good at that either), but projecting power abroad. That is a recognition that the USa has global interests, and thus global responsibilities. if the USa, despite vast expenditure, has not got a military machine that can do its will, then the whole world has got a problem.

The rise of china creates a potentially unstable situation. Pakistan has not taken sides with it against the USa, but it seems that it might be forced into it if the USa pursues it for helping the Taliban. india would want Pakistan to make this choice, as a complete realignment which accepts that the USa’s new alignment with india cannot continue with Pakistan aligned with the USa. The US relationship is perhaps not as immediate a problem. more pressing is the impending amnesty talks with the Tehrik -e-Taliban Pakistan. The afghan Taliban have already said that they have no control over the TTP, but the example they have set, of taking power, cannot be healthy for the present set-up. That the afghan Taliban brought the USa to talks by inflicting losses on its forces in guerrilla warfare, without defeating them in pitched battle even at the end of the fighting, will indicate to them that their method is correct. it should be noted that the TTP has included the chinese among their recent targets. is it a coincidence that the army and the chinese, india’s biggest bugbears, are among their targets?

There is the danger of overreach. The USa had its confidence shaken by Vietnam. its defeat in afghanistan was equally demonstrative of its limitations. However, to assume that this means it is weak is to overestimate one’s strength. That is a mistake that should be avoided, as it will inevitably lead to more of them. it should be noted that the USa has not given up in afghanistan. clausewitz famously said, “War is a continuation of policy by other means.” as war has not worked, the USa must return to other means, like economic pressure, to press for its agenda. The treatment of women is supposed to be on it, but it really means ensuring that terrorists do not get a refuge there.

One problem is that much as the USa dislikes it, the Taliban did win, and would like to follow the policies they want, not the ones the USa imposes.

But much as there may be schoolboy delight at US discomfiture, the real world, the adult world, intervenes. and the USa remains very powerful. it is at moments like these that it is most important to realize that US military power is not the greatest element of its power. The Taliban may have won a battle, but the war has probably not even begun.

The writer is a member of staff.

by 11 percent between 2017-18 and 2018-19.

The leading western psychotherapist Dr erin Leonard, who writes regularly to western newspapers, including The Huffington Post, believes that Hate primarily has two origins. The first is an unconscious defense mechanism called as projective identification. The second cause of hate stems from an individual’s experience of feeling dehumanized. ironically, projective identification is what compels an individual to devalue or dehumanize another person, so a cycle exists. Breaking the chain of hate requires an understanding of both projective identification and the experience of being dehumanized.

We understand projective identification is an unconscious defense mechanism that guards a person with an extremely fragile ego, and the person hides behind a grand façade of smoke, mirrors, and bravado in order to protect a weak ego. This person who hates others is unable to tolerate parts of himself or herself, so he or she projects the hated parts onto someone else, which allows him or her to feel entitled to blame, control, dominate, punish, and humiliate the other person. in other words, the person gains his or her security by making someone else feel inferior. in a comprehensive review of classic as well as more contemporary conceptualizations, several researchers describe hatred as the most destructive affective phenomenon in the history of human nature.

These destructive implications of hatred on human life have been widely documented in several recent contributions. The literature shows that hate has been defined in a variety of ways, a problem characteristic for emotions in general. Hate has been considered an emotional attitude, a syndrome, a form of generalized anger, a generalized evaluation, a normative judgment, and a motive to devalue others.

The topic of Hate is no longer a subject only for psychologists; rather in-depth empirical researches on hatred have been conducted in the last four decades by other disciplines, such as sociology, political science, communication, and social justice.

Western societies should remember the fact that generating hatred against any group (Semitic) or any religion (islam) would not stop there because hatred is a social poison that would harm the entire body of society.

The writer Shazia Anwer Cheema is a Praguebased Foreign Affairs expert and can be reached at @ShaziaAnwerCh and shaziaanwer@yahoo.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Friday, 8 October, 2021

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

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

Child abuse in Pakistan

Health emergency in Afghanistan The Taliban might be back, but people could still die

Dr. ZeeShAN KhAN

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nce US author George William curtis said that happiness lies first of all in health. access to health care may vary across countries, communities, and individuals, influenced by social and economic conditions similarly as health policies. afghanistan has one among the foremost precarious healthcare systems within the world. Due to decades of ongoing conflict, the life expectancy has been left just 42 years, and therefore the country trails most of the planet in just about all health indicators. afghanistan’s health system has been slowly advancing over the last 17 years, with increasing coverage of health services across the country. in 2018, a complete of 3,135 health facilities were functional, which ensured access to almost 87 percent of the population within two hours’ distance. There are five policy areas involving governance, institutional development, public health, health services and human resources of afghanistan’s national Health Policy 2015-20.

The recently developed One Un strategy focuses on Health System Strengthening among other health topics. WHO and Un agencies were helping the government implement the national Health Policy 2015-20 and Strategy 2016-2020.

However, it was problemtic meeting Un SDGs 3 (towards health for al) and 16 (towards justice and peace), approaches to guard and maintain health care services in armed conflict. afghanistan has one of the world’s lowest per capita ratios of physicians (30 every 100,000 people), and therefore the same goes for hospital beds (40 per 100,000 people), and nurses (20 per 100,000 people). This is often far below the ratio of other South asian countries, which still rank among the very lowest in development levels globally.

The afghan economy isn’t strong enough to supply the Health ministry with the funds and resources needed to support a reliable and widespread healthcare system. So far, the government has been dependent heavily on international aid to support and build its healthcare infrastructure.

Before the Taliban, nGOs were often subcontracted to supply care, train local staff, and build hospitals round the country. according to the red cross, over 2000 health facilities closed in the conflict-ravaged country after the Taliban takeover. afghanistan’s health system is on the brink of collapse. People might agree to work without salaries only for some time. 20,000 medical experts within the country were now not working, or were working without being paid, over 7000 of them women.

afghanistan faces an imminent humanitarian catastrophe. implementing the Un principles of neutrality and independence, WHO engaged in constructive dialogue to deal with differences and find solutions that would allow it to continue life-saving work for a lot of innocent afghans including children and women littered with decades of conflict.

Sehetmandi, the country’s largest health project with thousands of health facilities, owing to cuts in donor aid, has suffered a lot due to shortage of medical supplies. many of those facilities have now reduced operations or been finished off, forcing health providers to make hard decisions on who to save and who to let die.

Sehatmandi health facilities are functional only up to 17 percent .

This breakdown in health services has a knock-on effect in regards to basic and essential supply of health care, as also on emergency response. nine of 37 covid-19 hospitals have already closed, and every single aspect of the covid19 response has dropped, including surveillance, testing, and vaccination.

The Un released $45 million emergency funds to assist and prevent afghanistan’s battered healthcare system. People across the country are often denied access to primary health care like emergency caesarian sections and trauma care. The world must determine to help the people of afghanistan in their hour of need.

Workers of different nGOs are scared of the new regime, and they have to face the music because of cooperation with western organisations for the provision of basic health facilities to afghans. Borders have far-reaching repercussions and it doesn’t matter on which side of a border we exist. People are fleeing from afghanistan. This drain would not only be prove a brain drain, but other than that risks eliminating the essentials of all rudimentary systems of society, like education, justice, and— especially troubling, given the continued pandemic— healthcare.

The million dollar question is now “can the Taliban sustain a healthcare system”?

The USa froze the country’s assets. The World Bank and imF have suspended aid to

afghanistan so that the Taliban don’t have a chance to run the affairs, whether in a good or bad way.

The Taliban has given some preliminary indications that they intend to retain a minimum of a number of the apparatuses of the previous government’s ministry of Health, which might reduce to a minimum the expected chaos which will be following the onset of a regime with no experience of running a system. This might also make it more likely that international aid for health care may be reinstated— though the volatile situation doesn’t lend itself to accurate forecasting. even so, international humanitarian organisations are willing to continue their services for afghans. But their personnel, especially those that are local or female, are petrified of becoming a target of the Taliban, thanks to their past tarnished image. many are attempting to flee from afghanistan, and at a minimum they need evidence that the Taliban’s statements on guaranteeing human rights aren’t hollow.

This exodus-turnedcrisis has pushed up the amount of displaced people and conflict victims, increasing the necessity for emergency medical services as disturbances continue in various areas of the country.

There’s also danger of cases of measles and diarrhoea ramping up, and polio becoming a “major risk”. according to the WHO, the covid19 response has also declined and almost half the country’s children are in danger of malnutrition. Firstly, the World Food Programme and UniceF can rescale their aid to the country, with new mobile health and nutrition teams.

Secondly, international organisations and world leaders can help afghans to survive as food is running out and by fast-track funding can prevent avoidable deaths, displacement and may reduce suffering. Thirdly, Taliban must strengthen international humanitarian law compliance and must prioritise humanity specially.

There’s also danger of cases of measles and diarrhoea ramping up, and polio becoming a “major risk”.

According to the WHO, the covid-19 response has also declined and almost half the country’s children are in danger of malnutrition.

Firstly, the World Food Programme and UNICEF can rescale their aid to the country, with new mobile health and nutrition teams.

Secondly, International organisations and world leaders can help Afghans to survive as food is running out and by fast-track funding can prevent avoidable deaths, displacement and may reduce suffering.

Thirdly, Taliban must strengthen international humanitarian law compliance and must prioritise humanity specially

Dr. Zeeshan Khan is a medical doctor and has tCanadian Certification “CCRP” in Clinical Research.

He tweets @DrZeeshanKhanA1 and can be reached atdr.zeeshan.alias.ghazikhan@gmail.com

arTicLe 25 (1) of the pakistani constitution states that “all citizens are equal before Law and entitled to equal protection of Law” children also need to be protected but unfortunately children are suffering from child abuse as child abuse is one of worst issue by which Pakistan is suffering . child abuse is an action of abusing the children when they are at a young age .children are abused sexually and also you say the child Labour one of the abuses on children when at young age they go for work they are beaten and sexually abused that makes their physical contact bad. There are many people who involve the children in bad works like drugs, sexual participation and force them to do bad things .

Furthermore children are very innocent and are most vulnerable, least powerful and they are unable to protect themselves from the abusers.child abusers often know how to emotionally manipulate their intended victims , gaining their trust well in advance of the actual abuse . furthermore there were many children who were raped and killed in these following years , some of the following cases have occurred in workplace the issue is pending and children are unsafe according to the international Society for the Prevention of child abuse (iSPcan), overall ust41.69 percent respondents were sexually abused in one form or another. child abuse is become social problem in Pakistan this all because of the poverty , the poor families who send their children for work and are often abused in near 1,780 cases, children were abused by their acquaintances while service providers, such as teachers, shopkeepers and drivers, were involved in 91 such cases. We live in such a sick society where fear of sending the children outside when a children is abused due lack of support from family members, friends and neighbours or the community leads to the isolation of the victim, making him hesitant to share his experience about his abuser.and many of commit suicide Besides other factors responsible for child abuse are socio-economic stresses; unemployment, low selfconfidence and feelings of incompetence, loneliness .more ever ,according to data released by an nGO, eight children were abused every day in Pakistan in one form or the other while 51pc of the victims were girls and 49pc boys and. 2,960 major crimes against children were reported in the four provinces, including islamabad capital Territory (icT), azad Jammu and Kashmir (aJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) in 2020. What is going on in our country is how our society is so sick and in the worst condition of kidnapping the children and abusing them. as the children are the future of the nation and it is a rising issue and media can also play an important role in it by creating awareness and the government needs to establish stronger laws regarding children. if once better laws are made against child abusers children can be protected.

HomEr Jan BalocH laHorE

Curing corruption cOrrUPTiOn is the utilization of public offices, official positions, ranks status, and powers for private benefits. The word corruption is experienced almost everywhere. The most triggering spurs, which encourage corruption, are the paucity of transparency, ineffective accountability, and institutional vulnerabilities. Here, everything is possible by spending a penny either legal or illegal. Owing to this shortcoming, corruption is continuing despite multiple preventive paces. its hazardous implications are immense such as it is a big barricade to social, political, and economic development. Furthermore, it imposes its stringency and curse in multiple modes. These corrupt behaviors include bribery, fraud, embezzlement, nepotism, and appropriation of public assets and property for illicit use. it is verified that corruption spread is the yield of great neglect.

Lastly, The wise committee should be arranged to check the outcome of devised policies. making policies isn’t a big act, but its complete implementation till its requisite results is a tremendous job. However, Plentiful policies are planned, but their fruits can’t be harvested. These are useless and futile in this regard. The useful conclusion can emerge that corruption is a proven fact, corruption hampers the countries from attaining development. Firstly, Owing to massive corruption, many projects do not meet the deadlines timely. muHammad afzal KHairpur mirS

Menace of drugs DrUG addiction is one of the most detrimental dilemmas in Pakistan . it is alarmingly ruining the lives of hundreds of thousands people in Pakistan . it takes the youth towards a dark and egregious future and it kills and destroys their lives awfully . afghanistan is a neighboring country of Pakistan which rapidly supplies dozens of kinds of drugs to Pakistan.

UnODc gauged that 800000 youth of Pakistan are addicted to drugs. Due to these drugs , the life of every soul is falling into destruction and misery.

Lastly, i would like to plead to the government of Pakistan to stop the drugs so that the future of Pakistan’s youth would be secured .

SHoail raSHid laHorE

Tech troubles TODaY’S world is jamed with technology .The main inventions which are playing an important role to destroy our health’s such as computers, mobiles and social media etc. Which almost every family owns. Originally it was created to make our lives more easier then before but later on researches were carried on and it came up that our physical and mental health suffers because of immoderate usage of technology. Technology appears to create global network bringing people together but infact this technology ends up the importance of real life communication the enjoyment of life even because of this we forget to give time to our relatives,families and friends. in today’s world it’s a habit of almost every people to live in their own world stuking at the device screen even when surrounded with the kith and kins. This technology have ruined the peace of people specially, the most inferior impact of technology is that it reduced the quantity and quality of sleep and today’s generation have become habitual of technology. So we should not fail to think of that this technology have harmful effects too for our health so we should not accustomed to technology. We should take care of our health also. urooJ nadEEm HydEraBad

Friday, 8 October, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

OPEC stays tHE COuRsE dEsPItE RIsIng OIl PRICEs LAST MONTH CHINA HELD THE FIRST-EVER SALE FROM ITS STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVES, AUCTIONING ONLY 4.43 MILLION BARRELS BUT SIGNALLING THAT IT COULD INTERVENE MORE DIRECTLY IN THE FUTURE TO COOL INFLATIONARY PRESSURES

CeNtre for StrAtegiC ANd iNterNAtioNAl StudieS

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Ben cahill

HE organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (oPEC) and its allies in oPEC+ are proceeding with their production plans despite the run-up in oil prices. on october 4 the group decided to continue adding 400,000 barrels per day (b/d) to the market each month, ignoring pressure from oil-importing states for greater volumes. For now, oPEC+ is shrugging off concerns over the economic impact of higher oil prices, perhaps mindful of a softer outlook for next year.

Q1: What happened at the OPEC meeting?

A1: oPEC+ is sticking with its plan to gradually add more volumes to the market as it unwinds the largestever production cut it instituted in April 2020. in July oPEC+ accommodated demands from some members for higher production quotas and targeted output increases of 400,000 b/d each month from August until

April 2022, with slightly higher volumes in subsequent months. the group is on track to phase out its production cuts by next September but will leave some room for flexibility in the second half of 2022. Speculation that oPEC+ would open the taps and add more than 400,000 b/d in november proved to be unfounded. the group will meet again on november 4.

Q2: Why didn’t OPEC decide to produce more?

A2: Policymakers in Europe and the United States are concerned about rising energy prices, and in the runup to monday’s meeting there were calls for oPEC to raise output. But oPEC attributes the dramatic rise in energy prices to structural factors that it cannot resolve on its own. oPEC officials point to underinvestment in fossil fuels over the past six years, arguing that governments have overestimated the pace of the energy transition and investors have prematurely cut off capital for the industry. the market will probably remain tight in the coming months. Saudi Aramco’s chief executive estimates that gas to fuel oil switching in the power sector could temporarily boost demand by 500,000 b/d. China has directed state energy firms to secure sufficient supplies for this winter, adding to concerns over potential scarcity.

Still, oil ministers are wary of overreacting to temporary market conditions. So far, monthly increases of 400,000 b/d seem to be the sweet spot for the group, satisfying countries that are anxious to raise production as well as others more wary of downside risks. oPEC+ seems to have concluded that prices above $80 per barrel will re-

Israel runs last-minute diplomatic blitz against nuclear deal with Iran

Al MoNitor

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Rina Bassist

EPortS oct. 6 said that a meeting between Prime minister naftali Bennett and russian President Vladimir Putin could take place oct. 22. the reports said that the meeting would focus on iran and on other strategic regional issues. Still, it seems that the date has not been finalized yet for a Bennett visit to moscow, and could be postponed. Foreign minister Yair Lapid visited moscow Sept.

9 and met there with his russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. the possibility of a BennettPutin meeting was discussed on that occasion, but without naming a date.

At his September meeting with Lavrov, Lapid referred to recent reports by the international Atomic Energy Agency (iAEA) about iran, saying, “the two [iAEA] reports are damning. they include serious violations.

Fraud, deception and outright lies. the picture is clear and very worrying. A rapidly advancing nuclear program without any effective supervision. the message to iran must be loud and it must be clear. iran’s march toward a nuclear weapon is not only an israeli problem. it’s a problem for the entire world.”

Lapid himself is scheduled to visit the United States on oct. 12-14, at the invitation of Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Lapid and Blinken last met in rome June 27, shortly after Lapid assumed office. Since then, they have spoken on the phone a number of times. reports say that apart from Blinken, Lapid is expected to meet in Washington with other American senior officials, including US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Walla news site said that Lapid’s visit to Washington will focus on iran. Jerusalem has been pressuring Washington lately to consider other options on the iran talks. Such options would be needed, argues Jerusalem, in case the talks are not renewed soon or in the case that tehran refuses to take up the constraints that were included at the time in the original

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement. this message about the necessity of formulating other options is reportedly the message Lapid would relay to his American interlocutors next week.

But what could these options be? one option could be a new set of American economic and other sanctions against iran and iranian officials. A second option could be gestures demonstrating to tehran that there is indeed an American military threat against them. the issue of the iranian talks was also discussed this week, at an oct. 5 meeting in Washington of the US-israel Strategic Consultative group. Sullivan hosted his israeli counterpart, Eyal Hulata, and a senior israeli interagency delegation at the White House, to exchange views on the different regional threats israel is facing. the israeli delegation included senior defense, military, intelligence and diplomatic officials. For the israeli side, the no. 1 issue was certainly Jerusalem’s concerns over a resumption of nuclear talks with tehran, but also iranian terror activities in the region. Jerusalem fears that iranian-made attack drones will reach the hands of terror groups to be used against israel.

A White House readout of the oct. 5 meeting said, “mr. Sullivan emphasized President Biden’s fundamental commitment to israel’s security and to ensuring that iran never gets a nuclear weapon. mr. Sullivan explained that this administration believes diplomacy is the best path to achieve that goal, while also noting that the President has made clear that if diplomacy fails, the United States is prepared to turn to other options.” the upcoming trips of Bennett and Lapid suggest that Sullivan’s words did not reassure israel, especially on the backdrop of a meeting oct. 6 in moscow, between iranian Foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Lavrov. After the meeting, Amir-Abdollahian said that talks on reviving iran’s nuclear deal will resume soon in Vienna. to this israeli diplomatic blitz, we can also add the upcoming visit, on oct. 10, in israel of outgoing german Chancellor Angela merkel. merkel is paying israel a farewell visit, ahead of leaving office. Among the many events planned for her visit, merkel is scheduled to meet with Bennett and with Lapid. And while merkel allegedly carries now little political clout in Europe and on the international arena, the meetings will offer Bennett and Lapid an opportunity to reiterate their message on iran. they can be sure that merkel will forward their message to her colleagues in Europe. With France pushing for the resumption of talks with iran, this could be for israel no less important than the trips already scheduled.

mind countries of the need for continued investment to prevent volatility. For now, oil producers will benefit from both higher volumes and higher prices. in short, oPEC+ is quite happy with the current state of affairs.

Q3: What does this mean for the oil market outlook?

A3: Following monday’s decision, Brent crude prices rose to their highest level in seven years, before falling back to just above $81 per barrel. market bulls are convinced that we are in the early stages of a rally, and cost inflation and a tight labor market in the sector are fueling this speculation. global crude inventories have dropped rapidly in the past few quarters but are likely to flatten or possibly grow in recent months as oPEC+ adds production. oPEC+ also still has a great deal of crude waiting to be brought online. Citi reckons that oPEC 10 (excluding iran, Libya, and Venezuela) has more than 5 million b/d in spare capacity. Both of these factors suggest the physical market is not as tight as some believe.

Looking beyond the immediate term, the run-up in energy prices could prove to be an inflection point for U.S. producers. So far this year, shale companies have kept an impressive level of capital discipline even with rising oil prices. rather than increase capital expenditures and ramp up drilling, companies are still focusing on paying down debt and returning cash to shareholders in the form of higher dividends and share repurchases. For now, shale players are wary of suggesting a return to growth. But market conditions are changing, and companies that fail

to raise output with prices at this level are arguably leaving money on the table. investors may well change their tune, and investor presentations by companies this fall will show whether the mantra of capital discipline is fading. Smaller and privately held companies are very likely to expand drilling programs.

Q4: How will the United States and other consumers react?

A4: the United States, india, and China have already raised concerns over rising oil prices. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan discussed oil prices with Saudi and United Arab Emirates (UAE) officials on a recent trip, and Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the White House will use every tool at its disposal to keep gasoline prices down. So far, the United States is leaning on oPEC but taking a measured approach. if prices continue this upward trend, the White House may explore other options to cool the market, but as always, presidents have very limited control over prices set by global market conditions. China, the world’s largest oil importer, is also sending important signals. Last month China held the first-ever sale from its strategic petroleum reserves, auctioning only 4.43 million barrels but signalling that it could intervene more directly in the future to cool inflationary pressures.

Ben Cahill is a senior fellow with the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen confirms our worst fears

CNN

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Jill Filipovic

romoting eating disorders. reportedly facilitating drug and human trafficking. Fueling conspiracy theories and misinformation so dangerous that people have lost not just their minds, but their lives. Allowing extremist groups to coordinate. those are just a few of the ills Facebook has long stood accused of by whistleblowers, politicians, and critics.

Facebook denies many of these accusations or says that the issues are more complex than they appear. But on tuesday, Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee who earlier this week gave an explosive interview to 60 minutes, testified before Congress that Facebook is indeed damaging girls’ body image, dividing the nation, and allowing extremism to thrive — and worse, that the company knows it, and chooses to largely ignore the problem to protect its profits.

Her words were damning. the question now is whether American politicians will stand up to one of the most powerful companies in the world, or whether they’ll continue to allow Facebook to rake in profits at the expense of the public — because many of them benefit from the misinformation campaigns Facebook allows.

Haugen, a former Facebook product manager who worked on civic integrity issues, testified that “Facebook’s products harm children, stoke division, weaken our democracy and much more.”

Facebook’s own internal research, she said, demonstrated just how dangerous the company’s products are, and yet the company did little to change — fearful, Haugen said, of compromising its own profits. that research showed, for example, that instagram, which is owned by Facebook, is devastating to girls’ self-esteem: “We make body image issues worse for one in three teenage girls,” said one company slide, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. in public, though, Facebook CEo mark Zuckerberg claimed that “the research that we’ve seen is that using social apps to connect with other people can have positive mental-

health benefits” — words he uttered under oath at a congressional hearing in march. the same Journal investigation showed that Facebook users in developing countries — potential growth areas for the company — were using the platform for all sorts of illegal activity, including the trafficking of drugs and human beings.

Facebook, according to the Journal’s reporting, was slow to respond even when it knew what was happening.

Haugen told similar tales. She also told Congress that Facebook has the ability to better regulate its product — to more effectively prevent the platform from being used to illegal activities, to identify underage users and present their content accordingly, and to prevent the spread of dangerous misinformation.

Facebook’s algorithm, Haugen said, organizes content based on engagement, which can lead to the most inflammatory and shocking posts getting preferential treatment and moving their way to the top of any given person’s feed. Essentially, the company makes decisions about what it wants you to see, and it keeps those decisions secret from the public, according to Haugen; changing the algorithm, she said, might impact the company’s earnings. that’s dangerous — especially since violence can follow the kind of outrage that Facebook’s algorithm seems intended to favor. the world has already seen this in several countries. in myanmar, the company admitted to failing to prevent its platform from inciting “offline violence” in 2018. in Ethiopia, critics blamed the social media company for allowing misinformation to spread during protests in the country in 2019. And in the United States, many of the insurrectionists who launched an attack at the Capitol on January 6 organized via Facebook. the company denies wrongdoing in the Capitol riots: “the responsibility for the violence of Jan. 6 lies squarely with the people who inflicted the violence and those who encouraged them, including President trump,” Facebook vice president of global affairs nick Clegg told Cnn’s Brian Stelter on Sunday.

Facebook, for its part, attempted to undermine Haugen’s credibility, saying in a statement that “today, a Senate Commerce subcommittee held a hearing with a former product manager at Facebook who worked for the company for less than two years, had no direct reports, never attended a decision-point meeting with C-level executives — and testified more than six times to not working on the subject matter in question. We don’t agree with her characterization of the many issues she testified about.

Despite all this, we agree on one thing; it’s time to begin to create standard rules for the

internet. it’s been 25 years since the rules for the internet have been updated, and instead of expecting the industry to make societal decisions that belong to legislators, it is time for Congress to act.”

Facebook is far from the only source of misinformation in the world — conservative media, and even members of the republican Party in the US, certainly hold some of the blame. At Haugen’s own hearing, tennessee republican Sen. marsha Blackburn asserted, without evidence, that 1.5 billion Facebook users had their data hacked and sold online. georgia goP rep. marjorie taylor greene still holds a seat in Congress, despite being a font of conspiracy-mongering, from believing that 9/11 was an inside job to spreading outrageous conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook massacre of elementary schoolchildren and California’s wildfires. And trump is perhaps the nation’s Chief misinformation officer — much of what worried critics are asking Facebook to regulate are conspiracy theories and lies that come from the former president’s fans, as well as the man himself. that makes this moment a challenging one. Haugen’s testimony about Facebook’s dangers, and its refusal to adequately regulate itself, should be a call for Congress to act. But what will Congress do given that the republican Party and its base have gone so off the rails that truth and reality, to borrow the words of comedian Stephen Colbert, now have a well-known liberal bias? the good news is that republicans and Democrats alike at least seem aligned on the narrow issue of children’s wellbeing, and say they are willing to take steps to protect minors who use social media — even if it’s not yet clear what those steps will be. But that’s just one piece of a vast problem. And while misinformation campaigns happen on the left and the right alike, the problem isn’t equal on both sides — a shocking number of republican politicians are regular purveyors of dangerous lies, and many of them benefit from and enable their voters’ growing extremism and divorce from reality. there needs to be much more oversight into how unaccountable and secretive companies like Facebook operate and invisibly shape all of our lives. But as American politicians are rightly figuring out how to rein in powerful tech giants, they should also look around the halls of power they occupy and realize that the lies and misinformation that are destroying the country aren’t just coming from Silicon Valley — they’re also coming from inside the House.

Jill Filipovic is a journalist based in New York and author of the book “OK Boomer, Let’s Talk: How My Generation Got Left Behind.”

Friday, 8 October, 2021

BUSINESS 09

ISLAMABAD corporate corner Al-Kabir and CEO Club Pakistan announce Al-Kabir CEO SUMMIT Islamabad event, book launch

ISLAMABAD: CEO Club Pakistan in collaboration with Al Kabir Town is organizing the most anticipated event of Pakistan’s Business Community “Al Kabir CEO SUMMIT Islamabad” and the launch of bestselling book “100 Performing CEOs, Leaders & Companies of Pakistan 2020-2021” embracing hundred success stories of Pakistani CEOs working on national or international level, surmounting all the difficulties and casting a softer image of Pakistan on the global spectrum. Those who are anticipated to speak on the occasion includes Andleeb Abbas – Parliamentary Secretary on Foreign Affairs, Thomas Seiler – Charge’ D’ Affaires of the Delegation of the European Union, Asad Umer – Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives, Syed Fakhar Imam – Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, Omar Ayub Khan – Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Abdul Razak Dawood – Adviser on Commerce, Textile, Industry & Production & Investment, Irfan Wahab Khan – CEO, Telenor Pakistan, Muhammad Tariq Malik – Chairman of NADRA, Ghazzanfar Azzam – President & CEO, Mobilink Microfinance Bank, Sardar Masood Khan – Former President of AJ&K, Moeed Pirzada – Journalist and Columnist, Gen. Zubair Mahmood Hayat NI – Former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC), Jamshed Iqbal Cheema – SAPM on Food Security, Lt. Gen. Haroon Aslam – President, Khilari Foundation and Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib – Founder, Akhuwat Foundation will be sharing their views on "Economic Growth in Testing Times: Reshaping the Future of Pakistan”. Along with these dignitaries, more than 25 ambassadors will be attending the event as a Distinguished Guest – some are as follows. ; Switzerland, Malaysia, Netherlands, Bangladesh, Belarus, Vietnam, Hungary, Japan, Sudan Tunisia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Russia, Somalia etc. Moreover, perspicacious and intellectual business mentors and leaders will enlighten the spectacular audience with their years’ experience and savoir faire. The event has created waves in the business elite in Pakistan and is now being launched on a global level. The magnum event will also be streamed online to more than hundred countries by social media. press release

ECC dEFErS vEgETABlE ExPOrT PlAN ISLAMABAD

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aHMaD aHMaDaNI

HE federal cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Thursday was unable to reach a decision regarding the imposition of a ban on the export of vegetables and deferred the plan for the next three months.

According to sources, the Ministry of Commerce tabled a summary titled ‘Ban on Export of Tomatoes and Onions’ during a meeting held under the chair of Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin.

Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister of State for Information Farrukh Habib, Advisor to PM on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, SBP Governor Dr Reza Baqir, secretary Power Division, secretary M/o NFS&R, secretary Commerce, FBR chairman, SECP chairman, USC MD and other senior officers participated in the meeting.

After a detailed discussion, the ECC constituted a sub-committee headed by the finance minister to consider monthly projections regarding the export of perishable commodities on the basis of estimated production, consumption and surplus to be presented by the Commerce Ministry. The power to take a final decision in this regard now rests with the sub-committee, which will be notified soon.

GOVT DIVIDED OVER MAINTAINING DOMESTIC SUPPLIES, APPEASING FARMERS, AND PROTECTING FUTURE EXPORTS TO HIGH-VALUE MARKETS As per details, the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) meeting held on September 22 had decided that the Commerce Ministry, with the consultation of MNFS&R will impose a ban on export of tomatoes and onions for the next three months.

It is relevant to note that the data for the current fiscal year from July to September (1QFY22) has shown that export of onions increased by 144 per cent to $21.55 million from $8.82 million during the corresponding period of last year (1QFY21).

Similarly, the export of tomatoes during 1QFY22 stood at $24,880 compared to no exports during the corresponding period of the last fiscal.

Sources said that MNFS&R has informed ECC that the imposition of a ban on onions and tomatoes may hamper exports in future with Pakistan losing high value markets due to non-consistent supply orders to international importers.

At the same time, unrest among the farming community may prevail, resulting in farmers not willing to grow the vegetables next year.

However, in order to maintain a smooth supply and prices in the do-

$5bn investment for textile sector in pipeline: Dawood ISLAMABAD staff report

Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood on Thursday announced that investment worth $5 billion is in the pipeline for the establishment of new textile units.

Highlighting the positive outcome of the “Make-in-Pakistan” policy, Dawood wrote on Twitter: “Our Make-in-Pakistan policy is beginning to show results. We have been informed that an investment of approximately $5 billion is in the pipeline under which 100 new textile units are expected to be established”.

The advisor said that apart from enhancing export capacity, these (new units) were likely to create about 500,000 jobs.

He said the incumbent government had reversed the de-industrialisation and, they were now on a path of industrial growth in Pakistan.

In August 2020, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan announced that the government was pursuing a Make-in-Pakistan policy in order to promote export-oriented industrialisation in the country.

Under the policy, the government had eliminated or reduced duties on hundreds of tariff lines involving raw material for the local industry to make domestic products competitive.

Earlier on Wednesday, the commerce advisor had appreciated the response received for the pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020.

“Having received a tremendously encouraging response to our launch for Pavilion at Expo 2020, I would like to thank all the visitors for coming to the Pakistan Pavilion and showing their interest in our culture and appreciating its richness and diversity,” he said, inviting participants to “connect again on October 9 to celebrate art, culture, diversity, and food.”

LAHORE

ISLAMABAD APP Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib Thursday lauded the role of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), for recovering billions from corruption cases.

NAB has recovered an amount of Rs 540 billion from different corruption cases, he said while talking to a private television channel.

There is need to make amendment in NAB laws to further strengthen the institution, he stated. Expressing serious concerns over dubious attitude of Opposition parties regarding extension to NAB chief, he said it is strange that Pakistan Muslim League-N and Pakistan Peoples Party had made appointment of NAB chief during the period of last regime. The PML-N was trying to make the national institutions controversial, he stated. The PML-N, wanted to close the NAB to get rid of corruption and money laundering cases, he added. The Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), government has taken steps for increasing number of courts to make the progress in the judicial system, he informed. Replying to a question about process of new NAB chief, he said the discussion is underway for appointment of NAB chief.

Ufone and MicroEnsure introduce family health insurance in Pakistan Islamabad: Pakistani telecom operator, Ufone and MicroEnsure, a subsidiary of the Micro Insurance Company Group, have collaborated to introduce a convenient and affordable health insurance product ‘U-Sehat Family’ in Pakistan. The insurance product brings every Pakistani Ufone user within a virtual health safety net through its affordable, easy to understand and hassle-free insurance system. U-Sehat Family simplifies the cumbersome traditional health insurance system by digitizing it in order to extend unparalleled ease and access to Ufone users and their family members during the time of need. It also facilitates the users with enhanced health provisions which are in dire need especially during the on-going Coronavirus pandemic. For greater convenience, the insurance policies have been tailormade according to the specific needs of every user. Special health packages including ‘Silver’ (PKR 6+tax/day), ‘Gold’ (PKR 12+tax/day) and ‘Platinum’ (PKR 19.5+tax/day).

Moreover, U-Sehat family plans offer benefits such as Daily Hospitalization Benefit, Daily Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Benefit and Funeral Expenses Cover and costs of hospitalization in Pakistan subject to the opted plan. Users can subscribe by dialling the USSD String*6070# and for more details can visit. press release

A recipe for disaster atYaB sHaYaN

Farrukh lauds NAB role for recovering billions from corruption cases

mestic market and as directed by NPMC, the MNFS&R has recommended imposing a short term ban on the export of onions and tomatoes from October 10 up to January 10, 2022.

Sources said that the Ministry of Commerce has backed the observation that a ban on export of these items is likely to adversely affect the country’s image as a reliable supplier.

Furthermore, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research presented a summary to update the forum about cotton seed prices during the months of August and September. It said that domestic prices remain above the threshold set, barring a couple of days due to rains. The meeting expressed satisfaction that farmers are getting their due prices.

MNFS&R tabled a summary regarding allocation release of 280,000MT of wheat to the Utility Stores Cooperation (USC) till December. A quantity of 90,000MT has already been provided as an interim arrangement whereas the remaining 190,000MT will be provided from PASSCO’s stocks, local or imported, as per stock availability. The ECC approved the allocation of remaining 190,000MT to USC to ensure

smooth supply of wheat through USCs across the country.

On another summary moved by the MNFS&R, the ECC recommended the allocation of total quantity of 300,000MT of wheat to the AJ&K government out of PASSCO stock during the current financial year. This includes 140,000MT of wheat which has already been released to AJ&K as an interim arrangement. The ECC directed the referring division to provide wheat to AJ&K with a combination of indigenous and imported wheat.

Moreover, the Finance Ministry also tabled a summary regarding incentives to overseas Pakistani remitters under the National Remittance Loyalty Program (NRLP), which has been branded as the Sohni Dharti Remittance Programme. Remitters will be awarded points against remittances sent by them to Pakistan through legal channels. After due deliberations, the ECC recommended that the option of cash redemption may only be offered to those who return to Pakistan permanently. However, they shall qualify to avail services such as PIA tickets, mobile phone duty payment etc. against the redemption of accumulated points awarded under NRLP. The ECC also approved a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) amounting to Rs6.4 billion in favour of Cabinet Division for Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) during the current fiscal (FY22).

Commonly referred to as the lifeblood of the modern economy, crude oil is a primary raw material for key economic activities and holds a cardinal status in supporting economic growth of any country. For an energy-intensive growing economy like Pakistan, oil is akin to the country's sustained economic acceleration and development and is also a matter of its national security. From an economic perspective, Pakistan is a developing country counting on oil and petroleum products as its biggest import item. Just as other countries with low or no oil production, Pakistan is predestined to meet its rapidly-expanding energy needs with large quantities of such oil imports such as petroleum, gasoline and diesel.

The role of oil refineries against this backdrop is of paramount importance as refineries play a pivotal part in meeting the country's energy requirements by processing raw fuel stock into finished material. In doing so, they save millions of dollars in terms of foreign exchange for the country by refining, finishing and producing the entire spectrum of petroleum products. Apart from saving sizable foreign exchange, refineries provide direct and indirect employment to tens of thousands of professional, skilled and semiskilled people, contributing billion rupees annually to the national exchequer in taxes, duties and levies.

Currently, Pakistan has five refineries: Parco, Attock Refinery, Pakistan Refinery, Byco Petroleum and the National Refinery. However, much to our regret, news is making rounds that a catastrophic proposal has been given by the chairman of Expert Group on Petroleum to the Pakistan government for shutting down three oil refineries, namely Pakistan

Refinery, Byco Petroleum and the National Refinery.

Producing kerosene oil and jet fuel, the three refineries together have been playing a decisive role to strengthen Pakistan’s energy security as they are able to meet the country's strategic requirements through import, processing, distribution, marketing, and conservation of petroleum products.

Formed by the Economic Advisory Council of the Government of Pakistan, the Expert Group on Petroleum is an independent body that advises the government on business matters and policies related to the petroleum sector. However, such an indecent proposal has been furnished by the official on the supposed premise that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would set up new refineries in Pakistan, thus giving no space for the existing refineries to carry on and they must call it a day by ceasing their operations. Lo and behold, nothing is yet confirmed about opening of new refineries by Saudi Arabia and the UAE as there is not a single word uttered at the ministry or government level with regard to such fancied refineries, which seem to exist only on papers and no tangible progress has been made so far in this vein.

In the first place, the ill-advised proposal to shut down the country's leading oil refineries to pave the way for new ones, reeks of self-serving agendas and vested interests of the unscrupulous mafia of fuel traders and importers, operating behind the scenes to permanently shut down the three refineries. One man's loss is another man's gain. Along the same line, the idea of closing down existing refineries, the major strategic assets of Pakistan, could better be termed as a recipe of disaster. Straight to the point, the illthought-of move will only benefit the lot of fuel importers and traders and will allow them to have a field day that too at the cost of strangulating the national

economy at one go.

As things currently stand today, Karachi ports have been running into a plethora of difficulties to transport oil, particularly since the establishment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals. As a case in point, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has paid millions of dollars in demurrage charges owing to the congestion at ports and terminals. On top of this, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs is planning to set up two more LNG terminals, which will cause further congestion at ports.

On that account, the imprudent closure of three major refineries will put more strain on Pakistan’s already dilapidated oil terminals and ports and the sinister move will also inflate the country’s oil import bill manifold. The proposal is more frustrating for local oil refineries since some refineries have even shared plans to expand their facilities and have allocated millions of dollars for the forthcoming projects.

A state is never supposed to root out its strategic assets. Being the backbone of an oil-dependent economy, refineries play a leading role in meeting the country's energy needs as well as by saving millions of dollars in foreign exchange by refining and producing different petroleum products on their own.

Thanks to local refineries, Pakistan is able to save billions of rupees every year by importing crude oil at low rates and refining it at home, instead of importing high-priced refined products costing a fortune.

For a developing country like ours, shutting down its long-standing oil refineries embodies a doomsday scenario and can never be considered as a recourse measure. In place of being played at the hands of oil traders and importers, the government must rise to the occasion to safeguard the oil refining sector, which equally deserves a fair shake and an adequate level of protection from the state it serves.

Friday, 8 October, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

ISLAMABAD

BideN, Xi plaN US-ChiNa virtUal SUmmit Before year’S eNd: US offiCial

t

Agencies

HE United States and China have agreed in principle for their presidents to hold a virtual meeting before the end of the year, a senior US administration official said on Wednesday, after high-level talks aimed at improving communication between the two countries.

The closed-door meeting at an airport hotel in the Swiss city of Zurich between US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi was their first face-to-face encounter since an unusually public and acrid airing of grievances in Alaska in March.

US officials had suggested that the meeting was a follow-on from President Joe Biden’s September 9 call with Chinese President Xi Jin-

ping, prior to which the world’s top two economies appeared to have been locked in a stalemate.

The White House said Sullivan raised concerns about contentious issues such as China’s actions in the South China Sea, as well as on human rights and Beijing’s stances on Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Taiwan.

At the end of the day, however, both Beijing and Washington said the talks, which lasted six hours, were constructive and candid. The US side said the tone was very different from Alaska.

“We do have out of today’s conversation an agreement in principle to hold a virtual bilateral [summit] meeting before the end of the year,” the US official told reporters.

Asked for further details, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: “We’re still working through what

World food prices hit 10-year peak: UN food agency

that would look like, when and of course the final details we don’t quite have them yet.” Early speculation had been that the two might meet in person at the G20 summit in Italy in October, but Xi has not left China since the outbreak of the pandemic early last year. “Today’s conversation, broadly speaking, was a more meaningful and substantive engagement than we’ve had to date below the leader level,” the official said, adding that Washington hoped it would be a “model for future encounters”. The official said it shouldn’t be seen as a thaw in relations, however.

“What we are trying to achieve is a steady-state between the United States and China where we are able to compete intensely but to manage that competition responsibly,” the official said. China’s foreign ministry said in a statement that Yang told

leaders, and the two discussed the need to ensure that their competition does not veer into conflict.

Biden said on Tuesday that he spoke to Xi about Taiwan and they agreed to abide by the “Taiwan agreement”, as tensions ratchet up between Taipei and Beijing.

Taiwan has reported 148 Chinese air force planes in the southern and

Russia to invite Taliban to international talks in Moscow scheduled for Oct 20

Agencies

MOscOW

World food prices rose for a second consecutive month in September to reach a 10-year peak, driven by gains for cereals and vegetable oils, the United Nations food agency said on Thursday. The Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) also projected record global cereal production in 2021, but said this would be outpaced by forecast consumption. The FAO’s food price index, which tracks international prices of the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 130 points last month, the highest reading since September 2011, according to the agency’s data. The figure compared with a revised 128.5 for August. The August figure was previously given as 127.4. On a year-on-year basis, prices were up 32.8 per cent in September. Agricultural commodity prices have risen steeply in the past year, fuelled by harvest setbacks and Chinese demand. The FAO’s cereal price index rose by two per cent in September from the previous month. That was led by a near four per cent increase for wheat prices, with the UN agency citing tightening export availabilities amid strong demand. “Among major cereals, wheat will be the focus in the coming weeks as demand needs to be tested against fast-rising prices,” FAO Senior Economist Abdolreza Abbassian said in a statement. World vegetable oil prices were up 1.7pc in the month, showing a year-on-year rise of about 60pc, as palm oil prices climbed on robust import demand and concerns over labour shortages in Malaysia, the FAO said. Palm oil futures have rallied further in early October to hit record highs as a surge in crude oil markets has lent further support to vegetable oils used in biodiesel. Global sugar prices rose 0.5pc in September with concern over adverse crop weather in top exporter Brazil partly offset by slowing import demand and a favourable production outlook in India and Thailand, according to the FAO. For cereal production, the FAO projected a record world crop of 2.8 billion tonnes in 2021, up slightly from 2.78bn estimated a month ago. That would be below world cereal use of 2.81bn tonnes, a forecast revised up by 2.7 million tonnes from a month earlier mainly to reflect increased wheat use in animal feed, the FAO said in a cereal supply and demand note. Global cereal stocks were expected to ease in 2021/22 but would still be at a comfortable level, the FAO added.

Sullivan that confrontation would damage both countries and the world. “The two sides agreed to take action … to strengthen strategic communication, properly manage differences, avoid conflict and confrontation,” the ministry statement said. Biden’s call with Xi in September ended a nearly seven-month gap in direct communication between the

AFP

Russia will invite the Taliban to international talks on Afghanistan scheduled for October 20 in Moscow, the Kremlin’s envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said on Thursday. In response to a question from Russian journalists on whether representatives of the group would be invited to negotiations involving China, India, Iran and Pakistan, Kabulov said: “Yes”.

The talks will follow a G20 summit on Afghanistan on October 12 that will seek to help the country avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in the wake of the Taliban takeover. Kabulov was also asked whether Russia would deliver aid to Afghanistan, where the humanitarian crisis is growing worse, a top UN official warned on Wednesday. Russia would do so, but the details were still being decided, Kabulov said. “This is being worked out,” he told journalists, saying “cargo” was being col-

lected. Moscow has moved to engage with the Taliban but stopped short of recognition of the group, which is banned as a terrorist organisation in Russia.

On Monday, Kabulov said Moscow would not “exclude” revising the UN sanctions regime against the Taliban. “But at this stage we believe it is not expedient to rush,” he said. The Kremlin has in recent years reached out to the Taliban and hosted its representatives in Moscow several times, most recently in July.

Unlike Western countries that rushed to evacuate diplomats after the Taliban swept to power in August, Russia has kept its embassy in Kabul open.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticised the foreign involvement in domestic Afghan affairs and said Moscow had “learnt lessons” from the Soviet Union’s invasion of the country.

In the 1980s, Moscow fought a disastrous decadelong war in Afghanistan that killed up to two million Afghans, forced seven million more from their homes

and led to the deaths of more than 14,000 Soviet troops.

Putin has also warned about members of extremist groups exploiting political turmoil in Afghanistan to cross into neighbouring countries as refugees.

In the wake of the Taliban takeover, Russia held military drills with ex-Soviet Tajikistan — where it operates a military base — and in Uzbekistan.

Both countries share a border with Afghanistan.

Moscow also said it received orders for new arms and weapons from the Central Asian nations.

While the Taliban has said it does not pose a threat to Central Asian countries, the ex-Soviet republics in the region have previously been targeted by attacks attributed to allies of Afghan militants.

The Taliban were initially in power in Afghanistan from 1996 until they were toppled by the 2001 US-led invasion following the September 11, 2001 attacks that were plotted by Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden from Afghan soil.

Sober up or face beatings: Afghanistan’s new rulers fight drug addiction with a heavy hand Agencies The Taliban’s war on drugs is complicated as Afghanistan faces prospect of economic collapse, imminent humanitarian catastrophe.

Now the uncontested rulers of Afghanistan, the Taliban have set their sights on stamping out the scourge of narcotics addiction, even if by force.

At nightfall, the battle-hardened fighters-turned-policemen scour the capital’s drug-ravaged underworld.

Below Kabul’s bustling city bridges, amid piles of garbage and streams of filthy water, hundreds of homeless men addicted to heroin and methamphetamines are rounded up, beaten and forcibly taken to treatment centres. The Associated Press gained rare access to one such raid last week. The scene provided a window into the new order under Taliban governance: The men — many with mental illness, according to doctors — sat against stone walls with their hands tied. They were told to sober up or face beatings. The heavy-handed methods are welcomed by some health workers, who have had no choice but to adapt to Taliban rule. “We are not in a democracy

anymore, this is a dictatorship. And the use of force is the only way to treat these people,” said Dr Fazalrabi Mayar, working in a treatment facility. He was referring specifically to Afghans addicted to heroin and meth.

Soon after the Taliban took power on August 15, the Taliban health ministry issued an order to these facilities, underscoring their intention to strictly control the problem of addiction, doctors said.

Bleary-eyed and skeletal, the detained encompass a spectrum of Afghan lives hollowed out by the country’s tumultuous past of war, invasion and hunger. They were poets, soldiers, merchants, farmers. Afghanistan’s vast poppy fields are the source of the majority of the world’s heroine, and the country has emerged as a significant meth producer. Both have fuelled massive addiction around the country. Old or young, poor or once well-off, the Taliban view the addicts the same: A stain on the society they hope to create. Drug use is against their interpretation of Islamic doctrine. Addicts are also stigmatised by the wider, largely conservative Afghan community.

But the Taliban’s war on drugs is complicated as the country faces the prospect of economic collapse and im-

minent humanitarian catastrophe. Sanctions have made Afghanistan, long an aid-dependent country, ineligible for the financial support from international organisations that accounted for 75 per cent of state spending.

An appalling human rights record, especially with respect to women, has rendered the Taliban unpopular among international development organisations. A liquidity crisis has set in. Public wages are months in arrears and drought has exacerbated food shortages and disease. Winter is weeks away. Without foreign funds, government revenues rely on customs and taxation.

The illicit opium trade is intertwined with Afghanistan’s economy and its turmoil. Poppy growers are part of an important rural constituency for the Taliban, and most rely on the harvest to make ends meet.

During the insurgency years, the Taliban profited from the trade by taxing traffickers, a practice applied to a wide variety of industries in the areas under their control. Research by David Mansfield, an expert on the Afghan drug trade, suggests the group made $20 million in 2020, a small fraction compared to other sources of revenue from tax collection.

You’ve been hacked: How Dubai ruler’s eavesdropping was uncovered LOnDOn ReuteRs

In August last year, Fiona Shackleton, one of Britain’s most prominent divorce lawyers, received an urgent late-night phone call from Cherie Blair, wife of the former prime minister Tony.

Blair, who is a top human rights lawyer, told Shackleton that her phone may have been hacked along with that of her client, Jordanian Princess Haya bint al-Hussein.

In subsequent conversations, the two women believed there was only one explanation: Shackleton was Haya’s lawyer in her bitter London custody case with her ex-husband, Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, and he was be-

southwestern part of its air defence zone over a four-day period beginning on Friday, the same day China marked a patriotic holiday, National Day. Taiwan’s foreign ministry, which had sought clarification from the United States about Biden’s comments, said on Wednesday that Washington reassured them that its approach to Taiwan had not changed, and that its commitment to the democratically governed island claimed by Beijing was “rock solid”. In his comments on Tuesday, Biden appeared to be referring to Washington’s long-standing policy under which it officially recognises Beijing rather than Taipei, and the Taiwan Relations Act, which makes clear that the US decision to establish diplomatic ties with Beijing instead of Taiwan rests upon the expectation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means.

hind the hacking, court rulings show.

On Wednesday, the rulings by a senior British judge that the sheikh had hacked his ex-wife’s phones as well as those of her lawyers and security team were published after reporting restrictions were lifted.

A reconstruction of how the hacking was uncovered – based on expert testimony initially given in private and hundreds of pages of court documents – offers a rare account of an operation that would normally be shrouded in secrecy.

According to the documents, late at night on August 5 last year, Blair, who had been hired as an external adviser by the Israeli security group NSO, sent an email to Shackleton to say there was an “urgent need to speak with you tonight” and

it “doesn’t matter how late”.

Blair appeared “incredibly anxious”, Shackleton’s witness statement to the court said.

Blair said in her witness statement she had been told by a senior NSO manager that they were concerned that its sophisticated and powerful spyware tool Pegasus, only available to nation-states to tackle criminals and terrorists, had been misused against the lawyer and princess.

The firm wanted her to get in touch with Shackleton.

“The NSO Senior Manager told me they had taken steps to ensure that the phones could not be accessed again,” Blair said in a statement to the High Court in London.

The Israeli firm said it could not

immediately comment on the case, but said it took action if it received evidence of misuse of Pegasus.

The following day, the two women spoke again, when Blair said she was working for NSO and their Pegasus software was involved.

Over the course of the next week, Blair sought to learn more about the NSO’s investigation.

“Cherie we have no evidence that other parties involved in this operation that we believe was focused only (on) PH and FS,” the NSO manager told Blair in a WhatsApp message, apparently referring to Princess Haya and Fiona Shackleton.

On August 11, Blair spoke again to Shackleton, and while she had not been told who the NSO client was, she assumed that it was Dubai.

“This is because I assumed no one else would have an interest in targeting Princess Haya and Baroness Shackleton,” Blair said in her statement to the court.

“During a conversation with the NSO Senior Manager, I recall asking whether their client was the ‘big state’ or the ‘little state’. The NSO Senior Manager clarified that it was the ‘little state’ which I took to be the state of Dubai.” Neither Blair nor Shackleton had any immediate comment. On Wednesday, Mohammed rejected the court’s findings, saying the rulings were unfair and based on an incomplete picture.

“I have always denied the allegations made against me and I continue to do so. These matters concern supposed operations of State secu-

rity,” he said in a statement.

Separately, on the other side of the Atlantic, Bill Marczak, a researcher with the Toronto internet security watchdog group Citizen Lab, was tracking the use of Pegasus against a UAE activist, known only as Mr X, the court heard.

His work revealed that from July 2020, there had been an usual amount of activity involving Pegasus, a sophisticated “wiretap” system used to harvest data from the mobile devices of specific suspected major criminals or terrorists. Marczak found that on July 12 and August 3, Mr X’s phone was downloading data to four domain names which he concluded were connected to Pegasus. On August 4 — the same day NSO realised Pegasus was being misused — he discovered that the software was used to target lawyers at Shackleton’s firm Payne Hicks Beach (PHB).

Friday, 8 October, 2021

ISLAMABAD

NeW ZeAlANd resChedules PAkIsTAN Tour, rAmIZ rAjA BrIeFs seNATe

P

News Desk

AKISTAn Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has revealed that a “good news” is in the pipeline, which will be revealed in the coming week. He stated that the new Zealand cricket board was working on a new schedule to tour Pakistan after it refused to play the series last month because of “security threats”.

Earlier, on September 11, the new

Zealand cricket team had arrived in Pakistan for the very first time in 18 years to play five Twenty20 Internationals and three ODIs. The new Zealand squad had opted out of their tour of Pakistan a few minutes before the start of the first ODI on September 17, leaving the Pakistan’s cricket fraternity disappointed. According to the new Zealand team had cited a ‘security threat’ as the reason without giving any further justifications.

While briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination

Fawad Alam, Babar Azam, other cricketers ‘devastated’ over Balochistan earthquake News Desk A strong earthquake in different parts of Balochistan killed at least 20 people and injured more than 300 others early Thursday morning, as rescue efforts remain underway. Pakistani cricketers, including the national side’s skipper, Babar Azam, stated that the entire cricket fraternity is “devastated” to hear about the earthquake that struck Balochistan on early Thursday morning as they prayed for the victims. The earthquake affected Quetta, Sibi, Harnai, Pishin, Qila Saifullah, Chaman, Ziarat, and Zhob in Balochistan. The magnitude of the quake was measured at 5.9 on the Richter scale. Babar, Imam-ul-Haq, Shadab Khan, Ahmed Shahzad, and other Pakistani cricketers expressed their grief and asked the people of the province to remain strong. “Terrible to wake up to this sad news. Prayers with the lovely and brave people of Balochistan. I hope and pray that the situation remains under control with immediate rescue efforts. Stay safe and strong, Balochistan.”, stated Babar Azam. “May Allah comfort everyone in Balochistan and keep them safe. Lots of prayers for the people who have been affected by the earthquake.”, stated Imam ul Haq Fawad Alam also took to Twitter and stated that “Gutted to hear about the #earthquake in Harnai. May Allah keep everyone safe and give patience to all the families who lost their loved ones. Prayers all the way.”

“Devastated to wake up to this terrible news of Quetta #earthquake. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Harnai. May Allah keep everyone safe Ameen.” tweeted Ahmad Shahzad.

Psychologists to monitor players during T20 World Cup for ‘mental health’ issues: ICC AgeNcIes Psychologists will monitor players at the T20 World Cup to help cope with the growing number of mental health cases in coronavirus safety bubbles, cricket’s governing body said on Thursday. The pandemic strain has become increasingly apparent in recent months with England’s Ben Stokes on a prolonged mental health break, and other leading players complaining about the pressures of going from bubble to bubble in different tours and tournaments. A number of players missed or left the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the United Arab Emirates because of bio-bubble stress. And the 16 nations at the World Cup, starting in the UAE and Oman on October 17, will be confined to their hotels for the majority of the month-long tournament.

“Some people will be affected, their mental health will be affected by being in confined conditions again, particularly perhaps those who have done it for a prolonged period of time,” Alex Marshall, International Cricket Council head of integrity and biosafety, told reporters. “The ICC will have available a psychologist round the clock to speak to any individual who seeks help.” “We are also providing (a) lot of resources, so people can decide what the best way of addressing the issue is for them.” Following comments by leading players, including Indian captain Virat Kohli, many teams have increased their psychological support for players ahead of the tournament.

Players and support staff will have to spend six days in isolation on arrival and pass three tests before moving into a managed environment for training. Marshall said selfie-seeking fans will be kept away from players. “The players will be kept separate and will have to stay within the managed environment, so there won’t be mixing direct physically between the fans and the players and I am sure everybody understands,” he said.

on Thursday, Ramiz Raja has stated that the new Zealand cricket board was “now rescheduling the tour”.

In this regard, committee chairman Raza Rabbani has suggested the PCB chief not to accept new Zealand’s tour of Pakistan, as a sign of protest.

“What if we do not allow the new Zealand tour?” asked Rabbani. Ramiz Raja subtly refuted Rabbani’s concern by stating that “We have to live with them. But we can tell them that Pakistan can find a time win-

dow for the tour at some point in 2022.” He added that “if new Zealand were ready to play according to Pakistan’s conditions then we should have no problem”, he added.

He went on to reveal that Pakistan’s cricket affairs were managed through 50 per cent funding from the International Cricket Council (ICC), while 90pc of the ICC funding was provided by India. It merits mention that the PCB chairman would unveil the blueprint for cricket by next week.

While talking about the tour cancella-

SPORTS 11 tion, the PCB chief informed the committee that the new Zealand officials didn’t inform him about the nature of the threats, adding that “it’s not our fault”.

During the briefing, the PCB chairman stressed the need for fixing the system, adding that the salaries of domestic cricketers had been raised and they will now earn Rs40 million annually.

He said he had held “positive meetings” with various investors, adding that they were willing to offer money for the betterment of national cricket. “no cricketer will have to drive a rickshaw anymore,” he said.

The PCB chairman also said those cricketers who had tarnished the country’s image by being involved in match fixing should not be included in the team, adding that unfortunately, “our society sides with such cricketers”. Raja concluded by stating that work at the schools level would soon begin with an aim to overhaul the cricket structure.

Paceman Shaheen signs for Middlesex LONDON AFP

Pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has signed to play for Middlesex for the 2022 season, the English county cricket club announced.

The 21-year-old giant left-arm quick will play firstclass and white-ball cricket for the club until he joins up with Pakistan for international duty in mid-July.

Afridi has played 19 Tests, 28 One-Day Internationals and 30 T20 matches since he made his international debut. “We are absolutely delighted to have secured the services of one of international cricket’s most exciting talents,” said Middlesex chief executive Andrew Cornish.

“Shaheen is a world-class pace bowler, and we are thrilled that he will be representing us in 2022.”

Shaheen said he was delighted to have the chance to play at Lord’s, where Middlesex play most of their home matches.

“I am very excited to be playing for Middlesex next season,” he said. “I know from my time in England they are a great county and to play at the home of cricket really will be a dream come true.”

ICC to switch to inclusive ‘batter’ from T20 World Cup DUBAI ReuteRs

The International Cricket Council will change “batsman” to the gender-neutral term “batter” in its playing conditions starting from this month’s T20 World Cup, the world governing body said on Thursday.

The Lord’s-based Marylebone Cricket Club, the sole authority on the laws of the game since it was founded in 1787, last month made the change in the Laws of Cricket to stress the importance of the women’s game.

“The ICC has been utilising the term batter for some time now across our channels and in commentary and we

welcome the MCC’s decision to implement it into the Laws of cricket and will follow suit with our playing conditions that are derived from the Laws,” said ICC acting CEO Geoff Allardice.

“This is a natural and perhaps overdue evolution of our sport and now our batters are gender-neutral in the same way as bowlers, fielders and wicket keepers!

“It’s a small change, but one that I hope will have a significant impact on cricket being viewed as a more inclusive sport.” The preliminary round matches of the men’s T20 World Cup will start on October 17 in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

England won the 2017 women’s World Cup final in

front of a capacity crowd at Lord’s while the women’s World T20 final between Australia and India in 2020 attracted more than 80,000 to the Melbourne Cricket Ground in increasing signs of the popularity of the women’s game.

Women’s cricket will also feature at the Commonwealth Games for the first time in 2022 in Birmingham, England. “Why not take a small step to ensuring we’re a sport that doesn’t exclude 50 percent of the world’s population with outdated language choices,” Allardice said.

“Whilst some may have made lots of noise against this common-sense change, the majority of people within the game have welcomed the move.”

Barcelona were 'technically bankrupt' in March, says CEO BARceLONA AFP

Barcelona chief executive Ferran Reverter said Wednesday the club was "technically bankrupt" when Joan Laporta took over as president in March, and would have been "dissolved" if it was a public limited company.

The Spanish giant's financial woes were laid bare in August when they were forced to allow Lionel Messi to join Paris Saint-Germain after admitting they could no longer afford to keep the six-time world player of the year.

The new board inherited debts of 1.35 billion euros ($1.56 billion) and a bloated first-team payroll as Laporta returned for a second spell as president following the resignation of Josep Maria Bartomeu.

"If the club had been a PLC (public limited company) it would have been dissolved," Reverter revealed during a news conference in which he outlined the results of an audit carried out by accountancy group Deloitte.

"In March 2021, we were in a situation of technical bankruptcy, but as a sports association we were able to refinance the debt," explained Reverter, revealing the club had "difficulties in paying salaries" due to "almost zero cash flow".

To tide the club over in the short term, officials took out a temporary loan of 80 million euros ($92 million) "to cover the treasury obligations for a period of 90 days", and refinanced a debt of 595 million euros.

Barcelona have confirmed losses of 481 million euros for last season, which was even higher than the club anticipated.

According to Reverter, the audit, which studied the club's finances from 2018/19 until March 2021, showed there had been "serious administrative deficiencies" and that directors "bought players by being disconnected from reality".

Bartomeu was forced to resign in October last year

following mounting pressure from fans and his public falling-out with Messi over the Argentine's wish to leave the club.

"When they were signing players nobody considered if they could pay for them. The same night that (Antoine) Griezmann was signed, they realised that there was no money for him, and they had to ask for more funds."

Griezmann left to re-join Atletico Madrid on loan at the start of this season.

Between 2016 and 2020, Barca's wage bill soared by 61 percent, rising from 471 million euros to 759 million euros, Reverter added. The total has since been slashed by 155 million by the new management.

Reverter also pointed out the unusually high rates of commissions paid to intermediaries involved in player transfers of "between 20 and 30 percent".

Yet despite the club's financial struggles, Barca hope to finish this season with a profit of five million euros.

Friday, 8 October, 2021

Prayer Timings

NEWS

US DePUty SeCretary of State SherMaN arrIveS IN ISlaMabaD

U

NITED States Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman arrived in Pakistan on Thursday. Accompanied by a sevenmember delegation, Sherman will hold formal meetings with the Pakistani leaders to take up Afghanistan issue during the two-day stay, according to a report.

The foreign ministry officials and American diplomats welcomed the visiting dignitaries.

The trip comes as India, one of the

top allies of the Western-backed Ashraf Ghani government of Afghanistan that collapsed in the face of Taliban offences, as well as the US, ramps up propaganda campaign to scapegoat Pakistan for the collapse of the Ghani regime.

Pakistan was one of the backers of the 1996-2001 Taliban regime and has been accused by US officials of keeping the insurgents alive through covert support.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, in an opinion piece published last month in

The Washington Post, called his country a “convenient scapegoat.”

“In Afghanistan, the lack of legitimacy for an outsider’s protracted war was compounded by a corrupt and inept Afghan government, seen as a puppet regime without credibility, especially by rural Afghans,” he wrote, elaborating on themes in his address to the UN General Assembly.

He urged the world to engage the Taliban government “to ensure peace and stability.”

Following the article, Sherman called on Pakistan to take action against all extremist groups.

“We seek a strong partnership with Pakistan on counter-terrorism and we expect sustained action against all militant and terrorist groups without distinction,” she told reporters. “Both of our countries have suffered terribly from the scourge of terrorism and we look forward to cooperative efforts to eliminate all regional and global terrorist threats,” she said from Switzerland. news Desk

Lawyers’ bodies vow to counter ‘black’ law aimed at extension of NAB chief

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top turkey diplomat calls Qureshi, offers assistance after quake ANKARA anaDolu agency

The Turkish foreign minister has offered assistance to Pakistan after a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit Balochistan, killing at least 23 people. According to diplomatic sources, Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke to his Pakistan counterpart, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and conveyed his condolences over the loss of lives.

During the conversation, Cavusoglu also stated that Ankara stands ready to provide every kind of assistance to Islamabad. The quake was centred about 14 kilometres north-northeast of Harnai. The location is about 100 kilometres from Quetta. According to National Disaster Management Authority, a rescue and relief operation is underway. Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal said people were being evacuated by government departments along with support by army and security forces.

CONDOLENCE: Turkey also extended condolences over the loss of lives in the earthquake. “We received the news with deep sorrow that an earthquake of 5.9 magnitude, which occurred in the Balochistan Province of Pakistan claimed lives, left many injured and caused damage to property,” its Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “We extend our condolences foremost to the families of those who lost their lives, as well as to friendly Government and brotherly nation of Pakistan; wish [a] swift recovery to the injured and reiterate that, as always, Turkey stands ready to provide every kind of assistance,” the statement added.

fawad for reinforcing cultural linkages with Uzbekistan

PM Imran to chair NSC meeting today ISLAMABAD inP

Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) on Friday (tomorrow) to discuss matters of national security in the wake of the current situation in Afghanistan, it was learnt on Thursday.

According to the PM Office, the NSC session will be held to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan and the overall security situation in the region.

The meeting will be attended by the services chiefs, intelligence officials and civilian leadership.

During a recent visit of Tajikistan’s president to Pakistan in June, Prime Minister Imran Khan had underlined the need for peace in Afghanistan for trade between Pakistan and Tajikistan.

“Chaos in Afghanistan will ultimately increase the menace of terrorism,” Prime Minister Imran Khan had said while addressing a joint presser along with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Islamabad.

PM Imran Khan had said that trade between both countries will become easier through Gwadar.

Peace in Afghanistan is imperative for the PakTajik trade, he had added.

ISLAMABAD mian abrar

Pakistani lawyers’ associations have declared the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Amendment Ordinance a black law.

The Pakistan Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association have issued a joint statement in this regard.

According to the statement, lawyers’ associations declared the NAB Amendment Ordinance a black law.

The statement said that the lawyers were disappointed with the issuance of the NAB Amendment Ordinance, adding that the change in the NAB Act through a Presidential Ordinance was tantamount to humiliating the Parliament.

The joint statement said that it was against the law to allow NAB chief continue working till the appointment of a new chairman of the NAB, adding that the amendment for a particular individual was against

the law.

The Pakistan Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association said that the amendment for a particular individual was not acceptable to anyone, adding that the appointment of judges on lucrative packages violated the independence of the judiciary.

The joint statement said the Pakistan Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association would work together against the Draconian law.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Thursday emphasized the need to reinforce historical cultural linkages with Uzbekistan, as both countries shared immense commonalities and traditions. Talking to Ambassador of Uzbekistan Aybek Arif Usmanov, he emphasised that the strengthening of cultural ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan would help promoting people to people contacts. The minister underscored that both countries had an inspired history of Sufism which created a great bond between the people of two states on the notion of spirituality. He said that Sufism had travelled from Central Asian States to South Asian Region carrying its lofty ideals of piety, peace, harmony and co-existence. Fawad said that Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony could play a vital role in further cementing this historical connection. Both the sides agreed to take forward the proposal to produce joint movies on the lives of Mughal Emperor Zaheer ud Din Babar and legendry poet Asad Ullah Ghalib. The proposal in this connection came up during the visit of Prime Minister of Pakistan to Uzbekistan where it was agreed that an expert group would be constituted with the view to execute the project, the minister said. Fawad said that Pakistan would provide its dramas to Uzbekistan which could be dubbed in Uzbek language for telecast in Uzbekistan.

He also proposed that Pakistan Television could telecast documentaries of historical Uzbek sites of Samarkand and Bukhara. He informed the ambassador that a private Pakistani TV channel had already provided two dramas “Chupkay Chupkay and Humsafar” to Uzbekistan. aPP

ECB chief Ian Watmore steps down from his post, after pressure over cancellation of Pakistan tour England and Wales Cricket Board Chairman Ian Watmore has stepped down from his post, after facing pressure since the cancellation of England’s tour to Pakistan.

The 63-year-old is leaving after consultations with the board of directors this week and his resignation will go into effect immediately.

It is pertinent to note that Watmore served as the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board for only 10 months, despite having been appointed for a five-year term. As per the ECB, Watmore remarked that “It is with regret that I step down as Chair of the ECB, but I do so in mindfulness of my own wellbeing and that of the game which I love. I was appointed to the post in a pre-pandemic era, but COVID has meant the role and its demands on time are dramatically different to all our original expectations, which has taken a personal toll on me.

Given this, the Board and I feel the ECB will be better served by a new Chair to take it forward post pandemic. Leaving now, at the end of the season, gives the Board time to find a new Chair to support cricket through the challenges of the 2022 season and beyond.”

“On a personal level, I also retired last month after five years at the Civil Service Commission and recently became a grand-

father. I would now like to retire completely from work and enjoy our great game as a spectator” he added.

England’s men and women teams were to play two Twenty20s in Rawalpindi on October 13 and 14. The women’s team were also due to play three ODIs in Pakistan on October 17, 19, and 21.

Following England’s cancellation, and New Zealand’s pulling out of Pakistan at the eleventh hour, Watmore apologised to Pakistanis who were disappointed by the move.

Watmore’s first public comments after England’s decision garnered anger from the Pakistan Cricket Board and cricket fans around the globe, he said: “I’m very sorry to anyone who feels hurt or let down by our decision, particularly in Pakistan.”

“The decision the board made was an extremely difficult one and the board made it with the primary consideration being the welfare and mental health of our players and staff,” he added.

ECB while announcing the decision to cancel the tour to Pakistan stated that “we understand that this decision will be a significant disappointment to the PCB”, who have worked tirelessly to host the return of international cricket in their country.

The ECB said the “mental and physical

well-being” of its players and support staff remains their highest priority, and this was even more critical given the times “we are currently living in”.

“The ECB Board convened this weekend to discuss these extra England Women’s and Men’s games in Pakistan and we can confirm that the Board has reluctantly decided to withdraw both teams from the October trip,” ECB said in a statement.

“We know there are increasing concerns about travelling to the region and believe that going ahead will add further pressure to a playing group who have already coped with a long period of operating in restricted COVID environments,” the statement added.

The ECB acknowledged PCB’s support over the last two summers, which it termed had been “a huge demonstration of friendship”.

“We are sincerely sorry for the impact this will have on cricket in Pakistan and emphasise an ongoing commitment to our main touring plans there for 2022,” it added.

Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry stated that “PTV alone has suffered losses worth Rs220 million and we are now seeking our lawyers’ guidance on how to drag [New Zealand] to court.”

It merits mention that when the English team cancelled its tour of Pakistan, the UK

government immediately distanced itself from the decision and declared it an independent decision of the ECB. The British High Commissioner in Pakistan Christian Turner stated that his government was not opposed to the visit. The UK authorities were also not pleased with the ECB over the move and reportedly ex-

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

pressed disappointment with the board.

Earlier today, Pakistan Cricket (PCB) Board Chairman Ramiz Raja has revealed that New Zealand Cricket has contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board regarding the rescheduling of the home series against Pakistan and “good news will be announced within a week”. news Desk