Epaper – September 13 KHI 2021

Monday, 13 September, 2021 I 5 Safar, 1443 I Rs 40.00 I Vol XII No 74 I 48 Pages I Karachi Edition

IndIa Involved In war crImes, genocIde, gross Hr vIolatIons In IoK: PaKIstan ISLAMABAD

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staff report

akistan on sunday shared with the world another dossier comprising incriminating audio, video and documentary evidence on gross human rights violations, war crimes, genocide and torture against the kashmiris by the “fascist Modi regime” in occupied kashmir. the huge 131-page document, along with a CD comprising 15 audio and several video recordings, GPs data coordinates of five indian funded and managed isis training camps, graphic pictures of victims of the suspected use of chemical weapons also carrying documentary proofs of how the naren-

dra Modi regime was trying to portray the kashmir Freedom struggle as a terrorist activity.

Foreign Minister shah Mehmood Qureshi, national security adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf and Minister for Human Rights Dr shireen Mazari shared the document with the media at a special briefing at the Foreign Office. the top government representatives demanded of the international community, including the United nations and its relevant human rights machinery, civil society organisations, media houses and other defenders of human rights to fulfil their obligations towards besieged kashmiris by playing their part to end the indian rule of tyranny and oppression in the occupied territories.

“We expect the United nations to compel the Government of india to allow free access to special Procedure Mandate Holders of Un Human Rights Council for independent investigations of human rights violations,” Qureshi said. in probably what was for the first time, Pakistan shared with the world the details of war crimes perpetrated by the indian occupation forces. it covers accounts of 3,432 cases of war crimes in which 1,178 personnel Of iOFs have been found to be involved including one major general, four inspectors general, seven deputy inspectors-general, five brigadiers, 31 colonels and 188 majors and captains.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

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Monday, 13 September, 2021

KARACHI

NEWS

Voting in cAntonMent BoArDs enDs, unofficiAL resuLts show inDePenDents in the LeAD LAHORE/ISLAMABAD

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sTAff rePorT

OLLING for local government elections in the 39 cantonment boards ended at 5:00 pm on Sunday after having started at 8:00 am, wherein the unofficial results showed independent candidates in the lead.

As of the time of filing, independent candidates had won 39 seats so far, followed

by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, who have won 38 seats. Among the opposition parties, PML-N has won 24, PPP has won 11, and the Jamaat-

e-Islami has won one. Of the candidates vying for a total 219 wards, seven candidates have already been elected unopposed. In addition, there is no competition in four wards of Kamra, none in one ward of Rawalpindi and none in one ward of Pano Aqil.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, over 5,000 polling booths had been set up in 1,644 stations. A total of 2.1 million voters, including 1.1 million men and 1 million women, are registered in all the 42 cantonment boards.

There are 42 cantonment boards nationwide but no polling was held in Kamra, Cherat and Murree cantonments for a variety

‘Defender of Lahore’ Major Aziz Bhatti remembered on 56th martyrdom anniversary RAWALPINDI

of reasons. In addition, candidates in several wards were elected unopposed.

A total of 1,513 candidates were in the run for 206 seats in as many wards. Though all major political parties have fielded their candidates, a close contest among the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party was seen. 878 candidates competed for 112 wards of 19 cantonments in Punjab, 418 in 53 wards of eight cantonments in Sindh, 170 in 33 wards of nine cantonments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 47 in eight wards of three cantonments in Balochistan.

Major oxygen supplier asks hospital for alternate arrangements in face of rising demand ISLAMABAD

iNP

GhulAm AbbAs

Pakistan Army and the nation paid tribute to the 1965 war hero and ‘Defender of Lahore’ Major Aziz Bhatti on his 56th martyrdom anniversary on Sunday. September 12 marks the 55th death anniversary of Maj Aziz Bhatti who was a company commander deployed in the Burki area of Lahore front during the 1965 war. Pakistan Army spokesperson and ISPR DG Major General Babar Iftikhar said, “Nation honours supreme sacrifice by Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed, NH in 1965 war.

Major Aziz’s gallant actions and exemplary leadership inflicted heavy losses on Indian forces. His heroic feat inspires us to defend Pakistan, whatever the cost”. Major Raja Aziz Bhatti (1928 –September 1965) was a staff officer in the Pakistan Army who received Pakistan’s highest award for valour. He was born in Hong Kong in 1928 and later moved to Pakistan before it became independent in 1947, living in the village of Ladian, Kharian, Gujrat and commissioned to the Punjab Regiment in 1950. On 11th September 1965, as a company commander in the Burki area of the Lahore sector, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti chose to stay with his forward platoon which was under incessant artillery and tank attacks for five days and nights while defending the strategic BRB Canal. Major Aziz was kept on reorganising his company and directing the gunners to shell enemy positions. In order to watch every move of the enemy, the brave son of soil had to place himself in an elevated position. He led his men from the front, under constant attack from Indian Artillery batteries. He countered every Indian offensive in his area and later he was struck in the chest by an enemy tank shell while watching the enemy’s moves, and was martyred on 12th September 1965. It is pertinent to note that Nishan-eHaider is conferred upon soldiers who perform acts of great heroism in circumstances of extreme danger, or to those who demonstrate bravery of the highest order or devotion to the country in the presence of the enemy.

Pakistan Oxygen Limited, a leading supplier of oxygen across the country, has issued a force majeure notices to hospitals as major hospitals about the increasing demand the company is unable to meet increasing demand.

In a letter sent to major hospitals, Pakistan Oxygen has stated that the gap between demand and supply of

Kamyab Jawan becomes largest employment generation programme: official ISLAMABAD APP

Pakistan has witnessed an ambitious increase in economic activity and subsequent employment generation, creating more than 50,000 jobs since the launch of the Kamyab Jawan programme, an adviser to the prime minister said. Launched in October 2019 with an initial budget of Rs100 billion, the initiative aims to support youth nationwide through technical and financial assistance. In a press statement issued Sunday, Usman Dar expressed satisfaction over the latest data of the programme, observing the number of its beneficiaries has increased manifold. Dar said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government was extending financial and technical assistance to the youth to train them in high-tech trades and in opening their own businesses in various segments. He said youth could secure soft loans worth millions of rupees by submitting business plans under a youth employment scheme. For a successful business, the youth needed a viable business model instead of heavy investment, he said. The official said he was aware of the problems being faced by youth in getting loans under the initiative. The partner banks of the Jawan programme have been requested to expedite the disbursement process, he added. Separately, Dar also tweeted the success story of one Muhammad Asif who succeeded in opening a dairy business in Khanewal after acquiring a loan under the programme. Asif, in a video message, extended gratitude to Prime Minister Imran Khan and Jawan team for providing the youth with employment opportunities.

PTI fielded over 170 candidates in all four provinces, followed by 140 of the PML-N and 112 of the PPP. 105 candidates of the Jamaat-i-Islami are also in the run in the four provinces.

Both Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and the Pak Sarzameen Party fielded 41 and 33 candidates, respectively, in Karachi and Hyderabad.

EARLY CLAIMS OF VICTORY: While the results continued to trickle in, various party leaders took to claiming victory in the polls and thanked people for their support. PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif on Twitter thanked God and the people who had shown the party

support through their votes in the polls. “We assure the people that we will not disappoint them and will leave no stone unturned in resolving their hardships and issues,” he said.

“We will take the country on the path to development, progress and prosperity with renewed vigour. InshaAllah,” he added.

Similarly, PPP leader Murtaza Wahab declared victory in several wards of Karachi’s Clifton Cantonment Board. He claimed the party has won for the first time from polling stations of PNT Colony in Ward 9 and 10 of the Board. He further claimed PPP’s triumph in Ward 2 in a later tweet.

PML-N FOR EXTENDED VOTING TIME: Meanwhile, with inundated streets after intermittent rain in Lahore hampering voters, PML-N MP Khawaja Saad Rafique demanded an hour extension in polling time.

Drizzling has left the streets of Lahore water-logged with two to three feet of water accumulated in some areas, he tweeted, sharing a video of a flooded street.

oxygen is widening beyond the control of the company despite running its three oxygen plants on full capacity.

POL has requested the hospitals to make alternate arrangements for procuring oxygen from other sources from here onwards till further notice.

POL has mentioned that it will not be liable for any circumstances on account of its inability to meet any demand for supply of oxygen to the hospitals.

It is pertinent to note that due to Covid-19 pandemic, demand for oxygen has reached

unprecedented levels, despite the continuous increase in supply, which is still far less than what is needed.

“This is the situation beyond our control, to which we are responding to the best of our ability and capacity.

While we are doing everything possible to respond to any hospital emergency, we are unable to meet this increasing demand,” the company said adding the company is operating all three of its existing plants at Karachi and Lahore to their maximum stated capacity, yet the demand for oxygen continues to increase.

Opp leaders join PFUJ protest against PMDA outside parliament NEWS DESk Opposition leaders have joined the protest arranged by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists outside of the Parliament House to show solidarity and criticise the government’s proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, while speaking to the journalists, said that while journalism is becoming more and more independent across the globe, the opposite is happening in Pakistan.

“Laws regarding how to control the press are being introduced in Pakistan under the guise of the PMDA,” Abbasi said, adding that if the government had some problems with the content being aired by different channels, then merely phoning the channel concerned would have been enough instead of creating an entity like PMDA. The former premier went on to say that in countries where the press is not free, its citizens are not free either. “It is the constitutional right of the people of the country to express their views; we are not talking about politics here,” Abbasi said. “Was the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority not enough that we needed another media authority?”

He said that different military dictators that ruled Pakistan — from Ayub Khan to Pervez Musharraf — made efforts to suppress the press, adding that the incumbent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government is following the same path by trying to silence journalists.

“Today, policemen are standing with sticks in their hands to stop journalists [from protesting]” Abbasi pointed out. “An attempt is being made to bring such a law to suppress the truth.”

Similarly, his party mate and PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the PTI-led government’s proposed media authority law is “not only devised to suppress journalism but it is an attempt to eliminate

journalists.”

“The government has made a dictatorial move and the PML-N stands in solidarity with the journalist community against it,” she said. On the occasion, Pakistan People’s Party leader Shazia Marri said that the PMDA is solely proposed to control the media.

“All opposition parties reject the PDMA bill,” Marri maintained. “Sadly, the information minister continued to lie that the PFUJ had been supporting the bill.”

“You cannot resort to policing [freedom of speech],” she said to the government. “We reject this media martial law”. PPP leader Farhatullah Babar, Senator Akram Dashti and Tahir Bizenjo of the National Party, JUI-F leaders and several members of the National Assembly from Opposition parties also joined the protest.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also expressed solidarity with the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and, in a statement, said that “PMDA is a draconian law” “The PMDA bill is PTI government’s attempt to further stifle freedom of expression in the country,” the HRCP said in a statement.

Earlier, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has announced to hold set-in protests outside the Parliament House against the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority. In a statement, the PFUJ has appealed to the journalist community, civil society, human rights groups, trade unions and the people to join the sit-in that will be staged on the eve of the president of Pakistan’s annual address to the joint sitting of the Senate and National Assembly scheduled for September 13, says a press release.

“It is time to demonstrate unity for a common cause.

The proposed PMDA will not just be a body to regulate the media sector but will serve as the central censorship office of the state aimed at regulating the freedoms of expression of all citizens of Pakistan,” the statement issued by PFUJ President Shahzada Zulfiqar and General Secretary Nasir Zaidi said.

Police arrest purported child abusers, seek suspects LAHORE The AssociATed Press

Police said they were searching for members of a gang accused of abusing minors and making pornographic videos in a marriage hall in Punjab. Four suspects from the group were already arrested in a raid late Friday in the Sahiwal district, said officer Umar Daraz. The men were presented before a court on Saturday, allowing police to question them for four days. Daraz said police seized 46 pornographic videos from cell phones and a USB drive, which allegedly show the suspects sodomizing boys aged between eight and 12 years. Initial questioning revealed that one of the gang members is a vendor at the city’s main bus terminal, he said, adding that the man would lure boys who were runaways or begging into the marriage hall. Evidence indicates more suspects are involved in the crime, and police are searching for them, Daraz said. Earlier this year, federal investigators arrested two men on suspicion of links to an international child pornography network. Investigations in that case revealed that one of the men was posting child pornography videos on the dark web. The parliament has recently passed laws to increase punishments for those convicted of child abuse.

Ali Zaidi demands proof of visiting polling stations in response to NA-244 expulsion orders NEWS DESk Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi has demanded proof from the Election Commission of Pakistan regarding his so-called visits polling stations other than where he had cast his vote during the cantonment board elections.

The above was said on Twitter in response to the District Election Commissioner East Amin Bashir Ali Qureshi ordering law enforcement agencies for the expulsion of the minister from the NA-244 Karachi East-III constituency “on account of visiting the constituency as reported by the monitoring constituted by the Election Commission of Pakistan for the transparent, free and fair elections”. “…He is creating problems [for] the voters and the code of conduct does not permit him to visit the constituency till culmination of election process,” the order stated.

“Challenge the ECP to show me one polling station

that I visited today, EXCEPT THE ONE WHERE I CASTED MY VOTE and I will resign as Federal Minister and even as MNA,” Zaidi wrote on Twitter, while attaching a copy of the orders.

“Can the District East Election Commissioner Amin Qureshi show the same courage and issue a public apology if proven wrong?” he asked.

Voting took place today in 41 cantonment boards across Pakistan, with 1,560 candidates contesting against each other in 206 wards, Geo News reported.

The polling began at 8 am and continued till 5 pm.

According to Geo News, seven candidates have been elected unopposed; election will not take place in Kamra Cantonment Board and polls have been postponed in one ward in Rawalpindi and Pano Aqil each. Most of the candidates — 684 — are independent while as many as 876 belong to different political parties. The ruling PTI has fielded the most candidates — 183.

Similarly, PML-N has fielded 144, PPP 113, JI

104, banned TLP 83, MQM-P 42, PSP 35, PML-Q 34, and JUI-F 25 candidates.

Earlier in the day, Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Haider Zaidi announced that Port Qasim will gift hybrid buses to the University of Karachi, Dow University of Health Sciences, SMC and NED University. Talking to journalists, Ali Zaidi said that the government will launch a new bus service between Port Qasim and the Karachi Port Trust to facilitate the employees and people.

In order to resolve the traffic issue in the metropolis, the minister said that they would construct bridges to ensure free flow of traffic. Responding to a question, Ali Zaidi said the government will not allow KPT land to be leased for pennies. Talking about port affairs, he said past governments had neglected the sector, adding that an internal audit of the department had not been conducted since 2010. Highlighting the importance of ports, the minister said that the economy of any country depends on them.

Monday, 13 September, 2021

KARACHI

NEWS

At leAst 14 killed in kP monsoon rAins IsLAMABAD

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Staff RepoRt

4 people were killed and two others injured in torrential monsoon rains and mudslides that hit residential units in the Torghar District district of Hazara Division on Sunday, Radio Pakistan reported.

A police officer, Mohammad Nawaz, said 11 bodies were recovered from the debris of mud and brick houses, and rescuers were searching for the remaining victims, which included women and children.

Nawaz said three adjacent homes were completely swept away in the remote village, while other houses were less affected. 16 members of separate families were residing in those houses and the search for the remaining two has been underway. Authorities in Abbottabad said a mudslide in the suburbs also killed a couple and their child and injured three others.

The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital, rescue officials said.

Streets and homes were flooded with sewage water over the weekend, where the city’s outdated drainage and waste systems were overwhelmed by another

spell of heavy rain.

The disaster management authorities said they were dispatching relief aid to the affected area but mudslides in mountainous areas were delaying delivery.

Efforts were underway to clear the roads.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan expressed grief over the loss of life. In a statement issued by his office, the chief minister directed the rescue officials to leave no stone unturned in facilitating the families displaced in the tragedy.

Monsoon rains are lashing the province at a time when authorities are trying to contain the spread of the

coronavirus, which has caused more than 5,250 deaths since February last year when the country reported its first case.

Pakistan reported 58 more Covid-19 deaths Sunday, one of the lowest numbers of daily fatalities in more than two months. Every year, many cities in Pakistan struggle to cope with the annual monsoon deluge, drawing criticism about poor planning. The season runs from July through September.

Climate impacts including cloud bursts, which lead to heavy downpours, are becoming more frequent in Pakistan in recent years, causing casualties and damages.

Islamabad becomes first city to hit 50pc vaccination target: minister IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Sustaining its rapid vaccination rate, Islamabad became Pakistan’s first city to fully vaccinate 50 percent of its eligible population against Covid-19, said the chief od the National Command and Operation Centre on Sunday.

“Islamabad has become the first city in Pakistan to have at least 50% of its eligible population [15 years & older] fully vaccinated,” Asad Umar tweeted.

“71 [percent] of Islamabad eligible population has received at least 1 dose,” said he, stressing the need to further ramp up the rollout in other cities.

Last month, the government announced that from September, workers in schools, shopping malls and hospitality businesses, and the transport and air travel industries would be barred from entering public offices unless they had a vaccine certificate.

Over the weekend, the NCOC had decided to

further lower the eligibility age for vaccination to 15 years. The government has decided to launch vaccination of youth up to 15 to 18 years of age as part of its efforts to inoculate the public.

The vaccination for the people in the said age group will begin from September 13 (Monday) and will utilise the Pfizer vaccine.

The government in June reached an agreement to procure 13 million doses of its vaccine from Pfizer.

An exact timeline was not provided but the government said at the time that the jabs would arrive by year-end.

Pakistan has primarily used Chinese vaccines — Sinopharm, CanSino Bio and Sinovac — in its inoculation drive but has now begun to allow those needing it to travel abroad to vaccinate with Pfizer and Moderna doses of which the government has a limited supply. With the new infections, the overall case count reached 1.2 million with over 1 million recoveries.

Pakistan has seen soaring coronavirus infections, fuelled by the highly transmissible Delta variant, putting its poor health infrastructure under extreme pressure. Officials say more than 70 percent of new cases are Delta variant infections.

The death toll climbed to 26,720 with another 58 fatalities due to the virus in the past 24 hours.

Out of a population of 220 million, more than 50 million have received at least one vaccine shot, and 21 million have been fully vaccinated, according to the NCOC. After a sluggish start to the inoculation campaign, the new requirement for certificates of vaccination has led to a rush of people seeking shots, with queues stretching over a kilometre outside some vaccination centres, notably in Karachi.

The Sindh government has put extra pressure on people to get vaccinated, warning that it would withhold the salaries of government servants and block people’s cell phone SIM cards unless they had the required certificates.

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Govt increases federal employees’ house rent by 44pc News Desk Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved a 44 percent increase in the rental ceiling for federal government employees. Per a notification issued in this regard by the Prime Minister’s Office, the increase in house rent will be applicable to federal government employees, starting from grade 1 to grade 22. Moreover, the increase in rent will be applicable to employees stationed in different cities of the country, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta.

nCoC daily update: 3,153 new cases, 58 deaths from Covid-19 IsLAMABAD

Interior minister calls on world to unfreeze billions in Afghan bank accounts News Desk Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed called on the world to unfreeze the bank accounts of Afghanistan’s government after the United States reportedly froze about $9.5 billion of the Afghan government’s reserves in US banks due to the Taliban’s takeover of the country. Along with other countries doing the same, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have also seized its reserves in Afghanistan, leading to a shortage of reserves in the country Talking to journalists, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said, ”There was no wisdom in freezing the bank accounts of Afghanistan’s government.”

Rubbishing Indian media’s false propaganda, the interior minister said that fencing at Pak-Afghan border was aimed at curbing terrorism.

“We are the facilitator of peace,” he said, adding that Pakistan arranged a meeting between Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and the US officials in Doha.

Talking about Pakistan’s efforts for peace in Afghanistan, the interior minister said that InterServices Intelligence Director-General Lt Gen Faiz Hameed hosted a meeting of eight intelligence chiefs of various countries on Afghanistan.

Sheikh Rasheed said that Pakistan is only interested in peace and stability in the neighbouring country. Responding to a question, he said that there

was not a single refugee camp across the country.

On August 17, a US administration official had said that the Taliban will be denied access to any Afghan reserves held in US accounts.

“Any Central Bank assets the Afghan government has in the United States will not be made available to the Taliban,” the US official had told AFP, adding that the US forces were evacuating Afghanistan’s capital after the Taliban’s swift takeover. According to the IMF, the central bank’s gross reserves totaled $9.4 billion at the end of April. But most of those funds are held outside of Afghanistan, according to a person familiar with the matter. It was not immediately clear what share of the assets are held in the United States.

Punjab, Sindh governors hold talks in Karachi

Staff RepoRt

Pakistan on Saturday reported 3,153 new Covid-19 cases and 58 more deaths, the National Command and Operation Centre said on Sunday. The NCOC, the department leading the campaign against the pandemic, said the number of overall confirmed cases has risen to 1,204,529, including 1,086,785 recoveries. The number of active cases has dropped to 91,015 who are under treatment across the country, including 5,370 in critical conditions. According to the NCOC, the pandemic killed 58 people on Saturday, increasing the death toll to 26,720. Sindh is the most affected province of the country in terms of the number of cases with 444,464 infections followed

by Punjab which has reported 413,182 cases so far.

murad leaves for private Us visit kARACHI INp

News Desk Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar called on his Sindh counterpart Imran Ismail at Governor House in Karachi on Sunday and discussed development measures for both the provinces with the support of the federal government.

Sarwar said that special attention is being paid to the

improvement of education, health and infrastructure in Punjab and the provincial government was also working on development projects in urban and rural areas. He said that the development in Pakistan is not possible without improving economic conditions and he hoped that the opposition would cooperate in electoral reforms.

He also said that Afghanistan was undergoing rapid changes and Pakistan wants a peaceful Afghanistan. He

expressed his support for the people of Kashmiris who were going the difficult times.

Ismail said that the present government made progress in every field and completion of development projects will raise the living standards of a common man. In the province.

He said that the development and stability of the country were the top priority of the government.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah left late Saturday for a third tour to the United States in three months. The flight EK-603 of the Emirates airline took off from Jinnah International Airport in Karachi at 10:30 pm and reached Dubai at 11:48 pm, according to a flight tracking company. Shah is expected to stay in the US for a week.

India involved in war crimes, genocide, gross HR violations in IOK: Pakistan CoNtINueD fRoM pAge 01 The FM also demanded that the UN record names of individuals and units involved in war crimes and place sanctions on the individuals and entities.

“We expect EU, the UK and others to impose sanctions on India under their specific global human rights sanction regimes for perpetrating state-sponsored war crimes.”

The document states that since Indian brutalities in IOK largely remain unreported, “a comprehensive dossier on Indian Human Rights Violations in IIOJK has been compiled which underscores that Modi government continues to obliterate Kashmiri indigenous identity’ due to differences in religion, culture, ethnicity and political views.”

Pakistan’s last dossier was shared by Foreign Minister Qureshi and Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar in November last year which gave details how Indian intelligence RAW in collaboration with the Afghan intelligence NDS was running 66 training camps to prepare terrorists working for TTP, ISKP, BLA and smaller outfits.

The new dossier that focuses on Kashmir points out that with coming into power by the Indian hardliner BJP in 2014, “human rights violations in IIOJK reached epic proportions, and accounts of human suffering are reminiscent of dark ages.”

The document gave gruesome details of the Indian atrocities since 1989 that include over 96,000 extra-judicial killings, around 162,000 cases of arbitrary arrests and torture, over 25,000 pellet gun injuries, rape of 11,250 women, around 23,000 women were widowed while over 108,000 children were orphaned.

The document also provided details of the 8,652 unmarked mass graves that have been identified in 89 villages of 6 districts in IOK. Another key factor highlighted by Pakistan was the suspected use of chemical weapons by India against the Kashmiris.

It pointed that bodies of 37 Kashmiris burnt alive by IOFs were completely beyond recognition. The document which showed images of charred bodies and pointed that the use of chemical weapons was in complete contravention to the ‘Chemical Weapons Convention’ and said that it necessitates “an impartial international investigation.”

The document with a five-page executive summary highlighted the areas where the Indian occupation forces were ruthlessly violating all international laws and conventions.

It gave detailed figures about Indian atrocities since 1989, including war crimes

by Indian Occupation Forces, turning of Kashmir into the world’s largest open prison, mass graves, torture, violence against women and children, enforced disappearances, use of pellet guns, use of snipers and cluster ammunition against civilians, military siege since August 5, 2019, Kashmir freedom struggle, ISIS funding, fake encounters, change in demographic composition and expectations from international community.

The dossier said Kashmiris were also being used as human shields by positioning women and children in the line of fire during encounters, making them sleep at military camps forcing them to dig minefields and tying youth on military jeeps.

Pakistan said India had resorted to the use of snipers and cluster ammunition to target innocent Kashmiris living along the Line of Control. As many as 16 Kashmiris had been killed by Indian snipers, details of

10 victims have been included in the dossier.

One of the victims of sniper fire was only 9 years old. Ayyan Zahid resident of District Kotli who was killed by an Indian sniper on 18 February 2019. India has also been violating the international ban on the use of cluster ammunition and said in July 2019, India deliberately targeted 14 villages along the Line of Control with cluster ammunition causing four deaths and 14 injuries.

The ministers urged the international community not to show callousness and apathy towards the Kashmiris. They said the world must force India to comply with its international and moral obligations and allow Kashmiris to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in international law and the relevant UNSC resolutions.

The document included 12 annexures, including letters related to human rights abuses, a list of major fake encounters, reports and letters by EU. It also contained a section depicting the genesis of the indigenous Kashmir Freedom Movement and how the brewing movement got triggered on 19 April 1931 when the Dogra rulers denied permission for Eid Sermons. It

also mentioned a Times of London Report of Oct 10, 1948, which detailed how the Dogras “exterminated” 237,000 Muslims.

Quoting the British newspaper ‘The Guardian’, the dossier said the number of enforced disappearances in Kashmir range between 6,000 to 10,000. About 2,500 women, whose husbands “disappeared” were being treated as ‘Half Widows’ and were experiencing extreme distress. Since 2010, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance (WGEID) has approached the Indian Government nine times to arrange a visit but has always been declined. Pakistan also demanded of the Indian government to immediately; stop human rights violations of innocent Kashmiris, Proceed against perpetrators highlighted in the dossier and bring them to justice, halt demographic change and apartheid by lifting military and digital siege and release of all political prisoners, allow unhindered access of UN, independent journalists & human rights and civil society organizations to IIOJK. The dossier also shared the GPS coordinates of five ISIS training Camps. It said evidence pointed that one such camp was located at Gulmarg, three in Rajasthan and one in Uttarakhand. “The Latitudes and Longitudes of these ISIS camps have been included in the Dossier.”

Monday, 13 September, 2021

04 NEWS

KARACHI

Current aCCount defiCit to widen in 2021-22: fitCh LONDON

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TLTP

ITCH Solutions expects Pakistan’s current account deficit to widen in fiscal year 2021-22 to 2.2 percent of GDP from 0.6 percent in the previous fiscal year.

“This is due to our expectation for imports to grow faster than exports because of a strong rebound in domestic demand, alongside elevated oil prices,” said Fitch Solutions in a recently issued report.

Remittance growth is expected to slow from the fiscal year 2020-21 highs as the one-off impact on remittance growth, from switching to formal banking channels, will fade. “That said, we believe that external

EXPECTS TRADE DEFICIT AT 11.7PC OF GDP: FORECASTS 4.2PC GDP GROWTH vulnerabilities will ease in the near term amid bilateral and multilateral funding support,” it said.

Fitch Solutions forecasts Pakistan to register a larger trade deficit of 11.7 percent of GDP in FY 2021-22, from 9.9 percent in FY 2020-21. “We expect goods import growth to slow slightly to 16.5 percent in the current fiscal year from 23.2 percent in FY 2020-21, due to waning base effects.”

Fitch forecasts the economy to expand by 4.2% in FY 2021-22 following an expected GDP growth outturn of 3.9% in FY20/21, given the government’s reluctance to implement lockdowns despite Covid-19 outbreaks.

An improving economic outlook will most likely see consumer spending rebound and increase demand for capital goods, driving up imports value. With petroleum products accounting for approximately 18.0% of total imports value in FY20/21, elevated fuel prices will also further increase Pakistan’s imports bill. “While we expect exports to rise in FY21/22, it will be insufficient to offset the increase in imports,” said Fitch Solutions.

Fitch said that Pakistan’s lacklustre foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows will

continue to fall short of financing its current account deficit. Averaging about USD2.3bn in the last four years, net FDI slipped to USD1.8bn in FY20/21, which was only sufficient to cover approximately 10 days’ worth of goods imports. This is due to structural issues which continue to deter investors.

A key issue is the threat of terrorism, which will pose significant threats to foreign business assets and workers. The instability in Afghanistan may exacerbate terrorism risk. Another key issue is the uncertainty surrounding regulations, which creates hesitancy for businesses to invest.

“We believe that external vulnerabilities will ease for Pakistan in the near term. While the country’s gross external debt remains el-

Rupee falls by 0.67pc against dollar on weekly basis NEWS DESK Pakistan rupee continued its losing streak against the US dollar in the interbank and shed Rs1.11 (-0.67 percent) during the last week, mainly due to volatile situation in neighbouring Afghanistan and high import bill.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan, the US dollar opened at Rs166.91 on Monday last in the interbank and closed at Rs168.02 on Friday, the last working day of the week.

Overall, the Pakistani rupee’s depreciation during the fiscal year 202122 has been Rs10.66. The local unit has shed Rs7.83 against the US dollar in the current year 2021. The rupee has depreciated 6.2 percent since June 2021 while devaluation has been 9.4 percent since May 14, 2021 when it

reached its recent high against the US dollar at around 152 mark.

During the last week, the rupee weakened by 32 paisas (-0.19 percent) against the US dollar on Monday and closed at Rs167.23. The local united continued its losing streak on Tuesday and weakened by 40 paisas (-0.24 percent). However, the rupee turned around on Wednesday against the US dollar and gained 38 paisas (+0.23 percent) on Wednesday.

However, the rupee was back on track of a losing streak on Thursday which continued till Friday and shed 41 paisas (-0.24 percent) on Thursday and 36 paisas (-0.21 percent) on Friday. As a result of struggling for four out of five days, the rupee has hit its lowest level against the US dollar since August 26, 2020. The dollar

made the historic high against the rupee at Rs168.44 on August 26, 2020. Within the open market, the rupee was traded at Rs168.20/169 per dollar.

The rupee has been witnessing sharp decline due to dismal trade data during the last two months, situation in Afghanistan and higher import bill.

The country faced a trade deficit of $4.229 billion in the second month of the fiscal year 2021-22, which surged by 144.17 percent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis in August 2021 as compared to a deficit of $1.732 billion recorded in August 2020. According to the data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the trade deficit on a month-on-month basis surged by 29.68 percent in August 2021 against a deficit of $3.261 billion

Cautious optimism may lead PSX to range-bound trading KARACHI TLTP

After ending the last week in positive trajectory, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) is likely to remain range-bound in the the week starting today (Monday) due to rupee-dollar parity, rising import bill, lack of clarity on the macro-economic front, foreign selling, and inflationary concerns.

However, a dip in coronavirus cases, reclassification of Pakistan to Frontier Market Index, surge in remittances, and any positive indication from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) about its review of the loan programme can push the market towards the 48,000 points mark.

During the last week, the market commenced on a negative note that continued for three successive sessions due to concerns over the trade deficit of $4.1 billion in August 2021, depreciation of the rupee against the dollar to Rs168.02 and the decision of the MSCI to reclassify Pakistan to the Frontier Markets Index from the Emerging Markets in November 2021. However, during the last two days of the week, the market turned around and oversold scrips were traded for being available at attractive valuations.

However, the net buying and selling trend shows that major buyers on Friday last were brokers proprietary trading and individuals, and major buying was witnessed in stocks of cement ($2.77 million), technology ($2.39 million) and oil and gas exploration companies ($0.91 million) sectors. According to market experts, buying by individuals and brokers normally does not sustain for long.

On the other hand, selling was mainly from foreign corporates and companies, which was due to the decision of the MSCI to reclassify Pakistan to the Frontier Markets Index from the Emerging Markets. The benchmark KSE-100 Index gained 240.82 points (+0.51 percent) last week to close at

47,198.29 points. However, the KSE-30 Index shed 66.55 points (-0.35 percent) to close at 18,784.61 points. Average trading volumes declined 7 percent to clock-in at 429 million shares/day, while the average value of traded securities surged 5 per cent to $87 million/day.

Foreign selling continued throughout the outgoing week, settling at $18.6 million against a net selling of $5.9 million in the previous week. Selling was witnessed in commercial banks ($10.9 million), cement ($6.1 million) and oil and gas exploration and production ($0.9 million). On the domestic front, the major buying was reported by individuals ($12.9 million) and insurance companies ($6.2 million) during the week.

The benchmark KSE-100 index of the Pakistan

recorded in July 2021.

Although the exports from the country witnessed an increase of 41.04 percent during August 2021 as compared to the corresponding month of last year, they declined by 4.53 percent as compared to the previous month’s exports.

According to currency experts, the rupee is under immense pressure due to unfavourable macro economic data and Afghanistan’s situation. They said that the rising deficit in the current account is also a major concern for the market. They said that dollar outflow to Afghanistan was also a big concern for rupee stability. However, in order to address the Afghan trade problem, the federal government decided last week to trade Afghanistan in the Pakistani rupee.

Stock Exchange (PSX) is currently trading at a PER of 5.8x (2021) compared to Asia Pacific regional average of 14.5x while offering a dividend yield of 7.8 percent versus 2.2 percent offered by the region.

Sector-wise positive contributions came from technology & communication (214 points), miscellaneous (168 points), commercial banks (148 points), pharmaceuticals (59 points), and food & personal care products (14 points). Whereas, sectors which contributed negatively were cement (155 points), oil & gas exploration companies (56 points) and fertilizer (34 points).

However, the financial gurus reiterate longterm positive outlook on the local equities. They said that any near-term volatility in the index cannot be ruled out, adding any short-term corrections should be taken as an opportunity to accumulate positions in banks, fertilizers, steel, autos, and technology sectors.

Again, entry of new players in the market, like Octopus Digital, which received huge interest from investors and was oversubscribed by 27 times — the highest since book building was introduced at the stock market — gave a boost to the technology sector, in particular, and the market in general.

CMYK

evated, reaching a high of 47.9% of GDP (USD122.9bn) in FY20/21, short-term gross external debt remains low, coming in at 1.7% of GDP (USD4.3bn). Pakistan’s involvement in the G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative has eased the need for short-term repayments amounting to USD3.7bn across a fiveor six-year period,” said Fitch.

Meanwhile, external financing prospects remain robust. Loans from bilateral and multilateral sources have amounted to USD7.7bn in the first nine months of FY20/21, mostly from the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, IMF and China.

Furthermore, Pakistan has managed to raise an additional $1 billion in July through the issuance of its eurobonds, alongside the new global, special drawing rights disbursement of USD2.8bn by the IMF. “Consequently, we forecast reserves (excluding gold) to come in at approximately USD20.8bn in FY 2021-22, which represents an import coverage ratio of 3.6 months.

This is slightly higher than the IMF’s recommended minimum of 3.0 months and is also relatively better than the average import coverage ratio of 2.7 months across FY16/17FY20/21,” said Fitch.

On the upside, the sixth review of the IMF Extended Fund Facility programme will further disburse approximately $1.1 billion should a consensus be reached.

Gold’s near-term outlook turns neutral with bearish bias NEWS DESK After closing last week on a negative trajectory with 2.23 percent loss on a week-on-week basis to reach $1,787.80 per ounce against last week closure price of $1828.60, gold’s nearterm technical outlook seems to have turned neutral with a bearish bias. However, the experts see a rebound next week with an average target of $1,813, as both the monthly and the quarterly outlooks show that the bullish bias is expected to remain intact. Meanwhile, the price of gold decreased by 1.63 percent in Pakistan during the week. The depreciation in gold price was lower as compared to international level mainly due to depreciation of rupee against the US dollar. The local currency depreciated by 0.67 percent against the US dollar during the week, as the dollar opened at Rs166.91 on Monday last and closed at Rs168.02 on Friday last. The price of 10 grams of yellow metal in Pakistan was Rs98,200 at the opening of the last week and it decreased to Rs96,600 to close the week. During this week, the first high-impact data release will be Tuesday’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report from the US. A stronger than expected CPI reading could cause investors to start pricing in a reduction in the Fed’s asset purchases and provide a boost to the USD and vice versa. Retail Sales and Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Survey will be featured in the US economic docket on Thursday ahead of the University of Michigan’s preliminary Consumer Sentiment Index data on Friday. From a technical point of view, gold closed below both the 100-day and the 200-day SMAs for the fourth straight day on Friday, and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator retreated below 50. On the downside, the initial support is located at $1,790. A daily close below that level could open the door for additional losses toward $1,780 and $1,760. On the other hand, initial resistance is seen at $1,800-1,805 area ahead of $1,810 (200-day SMA) and $1,815 (100-day SMA). It is pertinent to mention that TLTP Research Wing predicted on September 05 that gold was expected to stay in a consolidation phase in the one week view.

Bitcoin crosses $46,000 as crypto market cap hits $2.21tn NEWS DESK The cryptocurrency market snapped the two-day losing streak on Sunday, with the market capitalisation gaining 2.1 percent to reach $2.21 trillion as of 1235 hours GMT. The price of bitcoin (BTC), the largest cryptocurrency, gained0.88 percent to reach $46,053. With this increase in price, the market capitalisation of the biggest cryptocurrency reached $866.4 billion. Likewise, ether (ETH) price jumped by 3.55 percent to reach $3,442. With this increase in price, the market capitalisation of ETH has reached $403.4 billion. However, XRP inched down by losing 0.02 percent to reach $1.11. The market capitalisation of XRP stands at $110.6 billion after this decrease. Following suit, cardano (ADA) shed 3 percent to reach $2.68. Its market capitalisation has reached $86.6 billion after this decrease. On the other hand, dogecoin (Doge) price inched up by 0.27 percent to reach $0.247. With this increase in price, the market capitalisation of doge has reached $32.3 billion. Meanwhile, the parliament in Kyiv has passed legislation determining the rules for crypto-related operations in Ukraine. The law “On Virtual Assets” recognises cryptocurrencies as intangible goods while denying them the status of legal tender. It also regulates the activities and obligations of crypto businesses. The long-awaited law will enter into force after lawmakers approve amendments to the country’s tax code pertaining to the taxation of cryptocurrency transactions. The Ukrainian legislature is yet to vote on these changes. The law also introduces the term “financial virtual assets” that must be issued by entities registered in Ukraine. In case these assets are backed by currencies, they will be regulated by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), the country’s central bank. If the underlying asset is a security or a derivative, the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC) will be the main regulator.

Monday, 13 September, 2021

KARACHI

Daily wagerS Unable to get work in afghaniStan PESHAWAR

t

AZIZ BUNERI

HERE is shortage of work opportunities and even daily wage employees are unable to earn their living following Taliban’s seizure of Afghanistan.

According to a survey by an Afghan News Agency, only 46 per cent of daily wage earners are now lucky enough to get some daily work.

The survey noted that before the overthrow of Ashraf Ghani's government, 300 to 400 daily wage workers used to gather at Kota Sangi Marwais Maidan area of Kabul on a daily basis and up to 200 would get work but now most return home without empty handed.

Earlier at Pul-e-Charkhi, where dozens of workers used to gather to look for work, 70-100 were able to feed their families but now hardly four or five get

a chance to earn a living.

In Timani, about 60 who used to come in search of employment, about 20 were able to get jobs but now 30 people gather here out of which only five or six labourers find work.

Similarly in the Baharistan region, about 150 people out of 350 daily gatherers would get job opportunities but now about 250 people have to wait from morning till noon while a mere 15 are offered jobs.

According to the survey, the Taliban's control over Afghanistan has reduced daily work opportunities due to the reduction in trade activities.

On the other hand, the daily wage has also decreased. Before the Taliban took over, it was 400 afghanis a day, but now it has dropped to 300 afghanis.

As per economists, unemployment in Afghanistan had increased in recent years but the situation has worsened after the Taliban took over Kabul.

Need to enhance trade among SAARC countries stressed China plans green power trading between corporates, producers BEIJING AGENCIES

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said this week the country will roll out a pilot scheme for green power trading between corporate consumers and renewable energy generators. The programme is being carried out by the Beijing Power Exchange Centre and the Guangzhou Power Exchange Centre. Under the pilot scheme, users who have demands for green power will directly trade with wind power and photovoltaic power generation enterprises.

According to Shi Lianjun, general manager of the Beijing Power Exchange Centre, 222 enterprises have applied to participate in the pilot programme. "Some regions have been hoping for an overall design from the national level to pinpoint the basic standard and regulations for the trading," said the NDRC, adding that there are feasible technologies which can guarantee the sound operation of the trading market. "New technologies such as blockchain can help to thoroughly record information on green power production, transactions, consumption and other procedures," the commission said. Blockchainbased technologies could help realise automatic, accurate, and highly efficient green power transactions, as well as the approval and issuing of certificates for green power consumption, said Wang Dong, head of State Grid Blockchain Technology (Beijing). He said that “Aside from greatly optimizing trading procedures, reducing costs and enhancing efficiency, these technologies could effectively rule out risks of errors.”

CITy NoTES M A NIAZI

t

HERE was a time when if a cop was killed, every Busta Alif bad character in the district, or even range, was summoned to the police station where he was registered. (There used to be an ‘A’ Register which contained the name of every badmash, or bad character, in the police station’s limits. Everyone in that register had to appear when summoned. Not appearing was an offence.) And when summoned, they would be thrashed to within an inch of their lives. The idea was that if anyone got the impression that the cop killing meant that there was any lessening of the control of the police, they were swiftly disabused of the notion.

So would the criminal assault of a female ASI in Muzaffargarh merit such treatment, or did the local flatties rely on what the prime minister and noted that the accused was not a robot, and had been pro-

ISLAMABAD TLTP

A top business leader has stressed the need for tapping the potential of regional economic cooperation and integration to boost trade among South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member countries, especially with Afghanistan at this critical juncture.

SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Iftikhar Ali Malik said this while talking to a traders' delegation on Sunday, according to a press statement.

Malik mentioned that inter-regional trade in South Asia is less than one third of its potential, which indicates 67 percent of trade is not being

fully exploited. He said that in the current scenario, the role of Afghanistan as a bridge between Central Asia, Middle East and South Asia needs to be reviewed with primary focus on promotion of trade and investment.

"Afghanistan is a viable doorway to South Asian countries for direct access to oil and gas rich republics of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Better trade ties would help promote economic growth and alleviate poverty in the region especially in Afghanistan thus enhancing its cross border and transit trade with neighbouring countries," he maintained.

He was of the view that poor trade facilitation at borders and prevalence of a variety of non-tariff barriers are hampering promotion of

trade with Afghanistan. He suggested for up-gradation and strengthening of existing facilitation at the PakistanAfghanistan borders, besides consolidation of initiatives taken by the new regime of Taliban.

Malik said that after Iran and China, Pakistan is the third largest trading partner of Afghanistan, which exports cement, pharmaceuticals products, sulphur, stone, plaster, peel of citrus fruit, melon, vegetable fats, edible and oil etc. While, Afghanistan's main exports are carpets and rugs, dry fruit and medicinal plants etc. He said main export partners of Afghanistan are Pakistan 48 percent, India 19 percent and Russia 9 percent, and Iran, Iraq and Turkey 24 percent.

NEWS corporate corner Sui northern gas to continue gas supply

Lahore: In order to facilitate consumers, Sui Northern Gas has decided to continue supply of gas to its consumers on Monday September 13, despite dry docking. According to the company Spokesperson, the decision regarding gas supply on 14 and 15 September will be taken in light of the system gas's situation. The company Spokesperson also said that SNGPL is making every possible effort to minimize gas disruptions even during the dry docking period, for its esteemed consumers. PRESS RELEASE

US tightens scrutiny on stablecoins amid crypto boom WASHINGTON AGENCIES

The US officials are discussing launching a formal review into whether Tether and other stablecoins threaten financial stability, which could lead to dramatically ramped-up oversight for a fast-growing corner of the crypto market. After weeks of deliberations, the Treasury Department and other federal agencies are nearing a decision on whether to launch an examination by the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), according to Bloomberg sources. FSOC has the power to deem companies or activities a systemic threat to the financial system – a label that typically sets off tough rules and aggressive monitoring by regulators. Such a designation would probably be a game-changer for stablecoins, which are considered crucial to the crypto market because traders widely use them to buy Bitcoin and other virtual currencies. Stablecoins have thrived in the unregulated shadows, with tokens in circulation now worth more than $120 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.com.

And they are increasingly being used for transactions that resemble traditional financial products – like bank savings accounts – without offering anywhere near the same level of consumer protections. A hallmark of stablecoins is that they are pegged to fiat currencies, meaning they are supposed to be immune to the wild price swings that have plagued Bitcoin. Tether and other firms achieve that by backing their tokens with assets like US dollars and corporate debt. The President’s Working Group on Financial Markets, which is led by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, has been particularly focused on Tether’s claims that it holds massive amounts of commercial paper – debt issued by companies to meet their short-term funding needs. In a private meeting US officials held in July, they likened the situation to an unregulated moneymarket mutual fund that could be susceptible to chaotic investor runs if cryptocurrencies plunge. The President’s Working Group plans to issue stablecoin recommendations by December and a consensus is building among regulators involved that an FSOC review is warranted, sources said. The groups overlap, as Ms Yellen, Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell and Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Gary Gensler are members of both the PWG and oversight council. A Treasury spokesman declined to comment. The FSOC process includes a lengthy study and an assessment of which federal agencies should respond and how. In the end, the council could direct those agencies to intervene in the market and reduce the dangers posed by stablecoin transactions. While Tether is the most popular stablecoin, there are multiple rivals, including Coinbase Global’s USDC token and a dollar-linked offering from Binance Holdings.

a new Crime againSt CopS voked beyond endurance by her uniform? I hope that the next step is not the commission of criminal assaults upon SHOs. Or those like a recent CCPO Lahore who believe that assaults are the victim’s fault.

Of course, the Muzaffargarh case was pretty straightforward when compared to the one in Indian Punjab. It seems there a lady constable, a married woman, was persuaded by her SHO to convert, so that her marriage was dissolved, and marry him. He was already married.

And then there is the case in our own Gujrat, where a woman was murdered after being criminally assaulted by three. The only thing the death sentence for rape seems to have done is make criminal assaulters kill their victims, to prevent them identifying them.

The Nigerian police have got different problems. The latest victim of a kidnapping-for-ransom was Nelson Effiong, an ex-

senator, who was kidnapped from his sit-ou in Oyo. A sit-out ‘is roughly what we would call a dera, though I don’t think it would have any buffaloes wandering around, or any dungcakes on the wall. Of course, our police won’t allow any senators, no matter how ex, to be kidnapped.

However, as the coup in Guinea reminded us, there are other concerns beyond senators. The coup was carried out by the Guinean special forces, which were being trained at home by the US Green Berets. The new president is a mere colonel, not a four-star officer. Well, there are still some patriots left in Guinea, it seems. Actually, a colonel is an improvement. As recently as 2008, a captain had carried out the coup. This coup overthrew Alpha Conde, who had been elected last year to a third five-year term.

Bef condemned iore Alpha Cone Tal-

CMYK

05

iban dulde was elected, the 2008 coupmakers had taken over after President Lansana Conte had died. He himself had come to office after a 1984 coup, when he had been a colonel, and the President, Ahmad Sekou Toure, had died.

So this coup was a little unusual, for the president hadn’t died. Well, he was 73.

And he was a mere civilian, so by definition corrupt.

The Guinean Special Forces seems to have done better than the Afghan, for when the Afghan National Army collapsed, it was basically its Special Forces that did the running. I didn’t hear any regrets from anti-Taliban leader Ahmad Massoud that he didn’t have any Special Forces. He still had to surrender Panjshir, which was the first time it fell to an enemy. The Soviets had never been able to occupy it despite several offensives, and the Taliban failed to take it last

time in ls. office. No wonder there were celebrations in Kabul by heavy aerial firing.

I wonder how the Taliban celebrated the Great Escape by six Palestinians from an Israeli jail. Four have been recaptured, but maybe the Israelis should put their jails under their special forces. After all, they had put their government under a commando, Ariel Sharon, who followed up founding the Israeli special forces by becoming PM. And the having a stroke and dying later.

Speaking of special forces, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has not ordered in commandos, but has changed his chief secretary and IGP again, for he sixth time. That means a CS or an IGP has an average tenure of about six months. I wonder if Buzdar has heard the saying that it’s a bad workman that quarrels with his tools.

Maybe he should look harder for Shehbaz Sharif’s Wellington boots. The monsoon has been particularly harsh only now, and areas in Buzdar’s capital which have never been flooded before, have now come under water.

Monday, 13 September, 2021

06 COMMENT

‘Green Development Bank’

Spy chiefs moot

The region as a whole must tackle the issue

T

he meeting of the spy chiefs of the region, including Iran, China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, in Islamabad, hosted by the ISI, showed that all these countries were taking seriously the issue of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan following the US withdrawal. Incidentally, the meeting paid to speculation about Pakistan’s importance in the region after the US withdrawal. It is worth noting that the countries represented not only border Afghanistan like Pakistan, but in the case of all except Iran and China, have their nationalities forming an ethnic minority in Afghanistan. This diversiy in Afghanistan should be one reason why Pakistan should not take a unilateral approach to the change, but should participate in a multilateral approach, like that which is apparently developing.

Like other countries of the region, Pakistan too can be destabilized by terrorists obtaining refuge in Afghanistan.

Pakistan faces the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan, who claim inspiration from the Afghan regime, and who seem to have declared war on Pakistan’s state institutions. China is made very uneasy by any revival of the east Turkestani Islamic Movement, which consists of Uighur separatists.

Uzbekistan would not like the revival of militancy as before. The US-backed regime did have the advantage of preventing all of these movements from prevailing. however, now that that has gone, the intelligence agencies are among those who will have to coordinate to prevent these threats from taking shape. It cannot have escaped the spy chiefs’ notice that the threat of militancy has not disappeared, and that it cannot be dealt with unless all cooperate.

The end all must seek is stability in Afghanistan. The Taliban must provide a stable regime which can provide the country the law and order it needs, and which is a responsible member of the international community. The Taliban had appointed its own intelligence chief, and his absence from the Islamabad meeting meant that the country where the meeting’s decisions were to be operationalised was unrepresented. Apart from its problems of legitimacy, Afghanistan faces a financial collapse, and the Taliban can only avoid that if they ensure that they obtain international recognition. Two important players were not present in Islamabad, the USA and Russia, but the USA CIA chief met Pakistan’s COAS just before the meeting, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met his Pakistani counterpart. This indicates that all are engaged towards he common end.

The climate crisis is right now

Dr Omer JaveD

T

he climate change crisis is fast unfolding, and while Pakistan contributes little to overall global warming, it is one of the leading countries to be affected by it. At the same time, lack of policies and institutional approach to effectively deal with the climate change crisis and air pollution has meant that the country is facing a huge challenge in terms of greening the economy, and shifting reliance away from fossil fuel burning, and more and more to renewable sources of energy. And making that shift fast since, some of the most polluted cities in the world are in Pakistan, the negative impact of global warming is already raising alarm bells for its glaciers; and important source of water, agriculture, and producing electricity.

The severity of air pollution, both globally, regionally, and in the specific case of Pakistan, could be gauged from a recently released report ‘Air quality life index’ whereby it is pointed out: ‘The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) shows that strong pollution policies pay back in additional years of life for people across the world. The AQLI’s latest data reveals that reducing air pollution to meet the World health Organization’s (WhO) guideline would add 2.2 years onto global life expectancy. …Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan account for nearly a quarter of the global population and consistently rank among the top five most polluted countries in the world. As a result, South Asia accounts for 60 percent of the person-years that are expected to be lost globally due to pollution levels exceeding the WhO guideline. Average life expectancy across these four countries would be 5.6 years higher if pollution concentrations complied with the WhO guideline. … In Pakistan, the average resident could live 4.2 years longer, with those in Lahore, the second largest city, living 5 years longer.’

Rupee in free fall If normal measures are not taken, how to handle the coming inflation?

T

he Pakistan rupee is in free fall, and there seems a reluctance to do anything about it. The rupee lost considerably in the previous week, and the weekend seems likely to cause only a temporary break.

The inexorable downward slide of the rupee is likely to continue. The State Bank of Pakistan has ruled out the possibility of borrowing and pouring the dollars thus obtained into the market, a tactic famously used by the previous goverment’s financial czar, Ishaq Dar. The other option, which can be taken when the Monetary Policy Committee meets, is to raise interest rates. That will attract only ‘funny money’ which will flow out as soon as it finds a more attractive interest rate abroad. however, as the agreement with the IMF precludes this, this will not be taken. It cannot escape notice that Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves are at record levels. That same understanding with the IMF prevents the use of the reserves for the purpose of defending the rupee.

Perhaps the more worrisome aspect of the whole affair is that one major reason for the downward pressure on the rupee has been the need to make payments for imports.

These are not payments for luxuries, but for food and fuel.

Another complicating factor has been the closure of Afghanistani banks, which has meant that there has been downward speculative pressure on the rupee.

The biggest problem for the government is that the devaluation is going to cause an inflationary spiral.

Imported goods are going to be more expensive, with the cost being passed on to the consumer. One rise the government can ill afford is the rise in the fuel surcharge in electricity bills. Not only will consumers be affected as manufacturers and commercial enterprises increase their prices to meet higher bills, but they will have to pay higher bills themselves. how exactly he government plans to extricate itself from his straitjacket is yet to be seen. It will take some doing.

Incessant Indian propaganda against Pakistan How the Indian media is used

amJeD JaaveD

I

NDIA suffered many setbacks in its hybrid warfare against Pakistan. eU-based eU DisinfoLab revealed an India-sponsored dis-informational network of 265 fake media outlets in 65 countries, including the US, Canada, Brussels, and Geneva. The network was being run by the Srivastava Group of India. It listed New Delhi Times as one of its assets, and also ran a thinktank called International Institute for Non-Aligned Studies. The Institute paid for the travel and accommodation of an unofficial far-right delegation of 23 european Union parliamentarians to Srinagar on 30 October 30, 2013.

The trip was arranged by Indian –intelligence surrogate Madi Sharma who posed as a self-styled “international business broker”. The delegation’s shikara (boat) ride in Kashmir Lake (dal) pictured Kashmir as heaven in serene peace.

Digital Rights Monitor found More than 84,000 fake tweets were generated with false hashtags, with 6688 tweets/hour being made at the peak of the trend.

Macdonald-Laurier Institute, a registered Canadian

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami M. A. Niazi

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

having said, another recently released report by tivization, and transparency for attracting such inClean Air Fund, and titled ‘The state of global air flows is for the government to establish a ‘Green Dequality funding 2021’ highlights the lack of develop- velopment Bank’ (GDB), with oversight from State ment funding with regard to tackling an otherwise Bank, and the Council of Common Interests, but havvery acute global issue in the shape of air pollution, ing full operational independence.

Among the main functions of the Bank is to both whereby it points out ‘Air pollution is one of the most urgent and deadly global challenges. In 2016 the highlight investment opportunities for greening the World health Organisation estimated outdoor air pol- economy, and environment, which its research wing lution led to the early deaths of 4.2 million people evolve within itself, and also to screen and advertise and studies since suggest the actual toll could be 9 projects from the government-, private sector, and in million a year or more. … In 2019, over $1.4 billion the shape of public-private partnership. The main disin official development spending was disbursed to tinguishing feature of GDB, in addition to being oneprojects with the primary or secondary objective of window resource and platform for potential bilateral, improving air quality. This is less than 1% of total aid multilateral, and private investors and donors, is to also spending. …Air quality projects received 21% less monitor progress of projects, and making available inofficial development funding in 2019 and 2020 than dependent on-going and timely projects/programmes projects that prolong fossil fuel and contribute to air risk assessments; enabling investors/donors in turn to remain confident and interpollution and greenhouse ested in financing greater gas emissions. … The volnumber of green projects. ume and pace of funding Moreover, another important does not match the 153% As climate change crisis, function of the Bank could rise in deaths caused by air and related consequences in be to look for opportunities pollution in low- and midand create appetite for innodle-income countries over terms of pollution and vative green/climate bonds the last 30 years.’ for tapping greater portfolio hence, there is a signifpandemics, become more investment opportunities. icant lack of funding, which potent and frequent In time, perhaps, and it is essential for developing make good sense, developcountries like Pakistan, phenomena, business as ment partners will globally along with the fact that rich, usual will not provide the evolve strategy to spread such advanced countries are still banks, regionally, and globto come true on their pledge momentum needed to meet ally for greater connectivity of providing $100 billion in and network effect. As cliclimate finance on a yearly the needs of a fast-closing mate change crisis, and rebasis to developing counwindow of keeping global lated consequences in terms tries, as pointed out by the of pollution and pandemics, chair of Africa group of newarming below 1.5°C; an become more potent and fregotiators at COP26 meetimportant ceiling for quent phenomena, business as ings, which are to be held in usual will not provide the moNovember this year in Glasensuring that life as we mentum needed to meet the gow (UK), as follows: ‘Deneeds of a fast-closing winveloped countries are know it can go on. dow of keeping global warmcurrently not pulling their ing below 1.5°C; an important weight or keeping their ceiling for ensuring that life as promises on their obligations to provide climate finance. Like any negotia- we know it can go on. GDB could be an important step tion, you need to have faith that pledges and in pushing up the otherwise wanting levels of funding commitments will be met. In 2009 and 2015, they for greening the economy, and overall, environment. promised to deliver climate finance by 2020. Yet this The writer holds PhD in Economics degree from is still to be met, and we don’t have a clear plan to the University of Barcelona, and previously worked achieve it.’

Although the Government of Pakistan has ac- at International Monetary Fund.Prior to this, he did tively and successfully been pursuing an ambitious, MSc. in Economics from the University of York nation-wide, tree-plantation campaign for a number (United Kingdom), and worked at the Ministry of of years now, but for developing countries like Pak- Economic Affairs & Statistics (Pakistan), among istan, with difficult balance of payments, and fiscal other places. He is author of Springer published book situation, need active and significant international fi- (2016) ‘The economic impact of International nancial assistance and investment for appropriately Monetary Fund programmes: institutional quality, shifting towards a green economy and overall envi- macroeconomic stabilization and economic ronment. One important step to create greater incen- growth’.He tweets @omerjaved7

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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charity, published a Pakistan-bashing report Khalistan—A project of Pakistan which found mention in almost all leading Indian newspapers. Another proIndia “think-tank” is the “International Terrorism Observatory” chaired by Roland Jacquard.

Inspite of these setbacks, there is no lull in India’s smear campaign against Pakistan. India considers the Taliban the other side of the Pakistan coin. It alleged without proof that PAF ndia bombed Panjshir. In its over ebullience, India omits to plug up gnawing contradictions in its fake news, views and analyses. A recent example is the appointment of Mosarrat Alam Bhat, the successor to life-time chairman, Ali Shah Gilani, All Parties hurriyat Conference. Bhat spent about 25 years in Indian jails, but no case was ever proved against him. he was schooled at Tyandle Biscoe, and graduated from Sri Pratap College.

Ali Gilani resigned from the hurriyat last year.

But, the APhC announced the change only in September, 2021 India’s national investigation Agency claimed “that immediately after his arrest, Muslim League chairman Masarat Alam Bhat revealed in the investigation that Pakistan-based agents routed funds through hawala operators and these were transferred to separatists, including Syed Ali Geelani” . “The NIA had said that immediately after his arrest, “Muslim League chairman Masarat Alam Bhat revealed in the investigation that Pakistan-based agents routed funds through hawala operators and these were transferred to separatists, including Syed Ali Geelani”. “Bhat was also instrumental in linking banned naxal groups with Kashmiri separatists. An indicator to this link came during 2010 when Bhat, the mastermind behind stonepelting incidents that left 112 people dead in several months of the agitation in 2010, circulated a pamphlet about the plan for strikes by separatists”.* A detailed examination by the Questioner of examined Document of the paper showed that the font used in the pamphlet circulated by Naxal leader Kishenji and by Bhat were identical and even the printers were the same, they said.

An earlier report is based on presumption that Ali Geelani had appointed Pak-based Abdullah Geelani as his successor. In the report, they even claimed that

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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the APhC was being funded by income from narcotics. An extract from the tell-tale report is given here to shoe how little even a prestigious newspaper like The Hindu cared for ethics when it come to Pakistan bashing.

“Syed Ali shah Gilani quits his faction of All Parties’ Hurriyat Conference and named Rawalpindibased Abdullah Geelani as his successor amid speculation that he was doing ISI”s bidding.. “Abdullah Geelani is known to be close to ISI. Ali shah Gilani was forced to quit his post and hand over the reins to Abdullah Geelani because ISI was not in favour of either Hizbul Mujahideen chief Salahuddin or Hurriyat veteran Ghulam Mohammad Safi, an insider said. The feud within the secessionist setup erupted last January when Ali Shah Gilani removed Safi, once a close aid and, as chief of the Hurrriyat POK[Pakistan Occupied Kashmir] Chapter. The bone of contention was apparently distribution of the spoils of the narcotics trade that funds terrorism in the valley, sources said. The recent attempt on the life of Hizb chief Salahuddin in Rawalpindi was allegedly master minded by Abdulah Gilani with the ISI’s support. Kashmir born Salahuddin wanted to head the Hurriyat, the sources said.

So what now for the Hurriyat after the exit of Ali shah Gilani? The buzz is that the conglomerate might function differently now that all orders would come directly from Pakistan. Baramullah- based Abdullah Gilani, 55, crossed over to Pakistan in 2000 and has been based there since. Two of his three wives are Pakistani” Indian media has become a handmaid of Indian intelligence agencies. even prestigious Indian newspapers do not hesitate to publish reports or articles that smack of being pieces of state-sponsored disinformation. harvard’s criteria for detecting fake news could be applied to disinformation bloomers. harvard suggests `everyone should vet a publisher’s credibility first and then check all the sources and citations’.

The writer is a freelance journalist, has served in the Pakistan government for 39 years and holds degrees in economics, business administration, and law. He can be reached at amjedjaaved@gmail.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Monday, 13 September, 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

Incorporating Technology in Education

The Chinese rise in East Asia A credible threat for the USA aqsa BatOOl

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hINA’S history is multifaceted. Its culture has been tagged both passive and belligerent. China was formed by conquest and mainly ruled by a series of fighters. It has also practiced in different eras passiveness and vigorous trade with its neighbors. It has been a long time since China emerged from external influence to become a stable civilization. These practices have deepened Chinese philosophy and tactical thinking to attain stability in the region. The Chinese Communist Party got prosperity in many ways but along with the stability it has maintained many territorial, maritime and airspace disputes with states like the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, India and Japan.

The occupation by Japan in the 1930s and 1940s and the civil war that brought Mao Zedong and the CCP to power in 1949 were a tumultuous period in Chinese history. From this civil war, the People’s Republic of China emerged. however, it ushered in another era of isolation in which China sought to revive itself.

Under Mao, China was able to become self-sufficient in almost all resources and technology, but it was 25 years behind modern technology.

The economic reforms introduced by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s revolutionized the Chinese economy and created a period of explosive growth. China’s GDP grew at an average 9.3 percent between 1979 and 1993. During that period, the world grew 2.6 percent. China’s GDP quadrupled in just 15 years. It also improved its position as a trading nation, ranking 11th in 37 years.

Prior to the starting of the economic reforms China had policies which did not prove successful, but since 1979, china has been expanding economically. It is obvious China focused on its natural resources and brought stability in the region. The economic prosperity of China made it the world’s largest economy.

China is considered the mechanical heart internationally because its production contains a variety of goods and its strategy of inviting other states for purchasing, modification, labour, and investment. It is operating the manufacturing of external goods and then selling them to the interested states. Thus China has got influence all over the world.

The strategy of China is keeping the labour wages low to attract other states. In spite of having huge disputes with the USA, the USA still operates inside China only for cheap labour. The main parts of the mobile accessories, manufactured in China, then backed by the USA in this way, had an influx of the labour globally attracted by the domestic work inside China which expanded automatically. The cheap labour gave an advantage to the consumers by keeping prices and other services very low. It expanded the government revenue. This came from the huge labour force and additional taxes from workers.

Since 35 years, China got tremendous economic prosperity from trade. It is considered the heart of the Chinese economy, and China is the only country which largely links states to one another globally. It creates paths to other states as well by investing and building railways, roads and other ways to enhance the effects of globalization. China has started trade from exporting its local goods. Then it joined the WTO to increase its potential . Yet China heightened the tariffs on agricultural products and reduced those on non-agricultural products to increase its trade.

Many foreign countries claimed China was

engulfing many small states by a debt trap policy. Actually, China was investing in many other states to increase both influence and trade. China has huge foreign exchange reserves, the second largest in the world after Japan’s. China’s global investments and construction activities are valued at $100 million. China’s investment has been shifting from Central Asia toward North America and europe, where the Chinese companies invested $624.4 billion. Also In Pakistan China invested $50 billion in CPeC projects.

Chinese FDI will boost its economy in future.

Above all China has established its economy; then it moved into the military area with military expenditure and heavy investment.

Now, China is heavily investing in its military posing a serious threat to the USA. China brought a global shift, from a unipolar world to a bipolar world again.

China has a large population, representing not only a large domestic market, but also an affordable source of manpower for about 800 million people, and it is expected to become the world’s largest economy in coming years. It has an active defence policy, focused on military modernization and the PLA has gained attention. There have been advances in small arms and artillery, but the military does not have the advanced tanks that can challenge modern Western technology.

The real development of China was the expansion of the elite forces.

These forces, called Rapid Response Units (RRUs), are better skilled and armed than conventional forces.

In 2019, China’s Finance Minister stated that China’s defence budget was $177 billion, yet some analysts argue that it was higher than this figure.

It has conducted a lot of military exercises to prepare for real time war. The PLA has conducted military exercises such as STRIDe 2018 (A heavy combined arms were tested and practiced three times), FIRePOWeR 2018 (to test air defense and artillery) , BLUe ShIeLD and ReD SWORD (these were air force exercises). Beside these, some other military exercises were also conducted

by PLA like The Strategic Support Force (SSF) and Joint Logistics Support Force (JLSF).

The main purpose of these military exercises was to enhance the military capabilities and also show aggression to adversaries and to the whole world. China has a vigorous inter-space database and is pursuing a policy of information domination. China has deployed a number of satellites that will focus on radar, electronic and electrooptical data collection, high-speed missile alerts, navigation and wind conditions.

There are also programs for anti-intrusion radar, signal information sites, and tactical maintenance vehicles. Promoting China’s command, control, communications, and intelligence systems is a top priority. Accordingly, it is proposed to upgrade the limited communications capability provided by the existing six communications satellites.

Since 1996, administrative reforms internally and externally have spotlighted China internationally. In the international system states wanted to maintain their hegemony, so an emerging power can not be borne by other hege-

mon states. Wars have been fought for this reason and the same situation is happening between China and the USA. The USA wanted to contain China by posing different threats to it, but China deterred the USA in many ways. It is very obvious China is emerging. It got economic stability first, then moved towards military might.

Now China is spreading its influence all over the world. Also Chinese prosperity is hindered by hostile neighbours like India, Japan, Taiwan and other states in east Asia. The USA kept an open eye on China. Whenever China tangled with a neighbour, the USA stepped in to escalate the animosity as it is doing in the South China Sea where it is backing the states with claims opposing China like Malaysia and the Phillipines.

Despite the Sino-US animosity, they stepped into many indirect wars, and recently the imposition of tariffs on each other’s goods caused a serious disturbance in the Sino-US trade which is the backbone of the global economy.

Nevertheless, the Taiwan crisis in March 1996 reminded Canadian politicians of their potential to destabilize the Asia-Pacific region.

Although the incident drew attention to Canada’s “One China’’ policy, it has not changed. Canada has decided to adopt a security strategy for the Asia-Pacific region, which includes China through bilateral and multilateral organizations.

There being no threat to its security, China is about to radically change its strategy and military capabilities. In the 1980s, we realized that the USSR was no longer in danger of a major conflict, and that the Gulf War had had a profound effect on Chinese military thinking.

Now the strategic focus is on the attack. The main theme is the expectation of power and the ability to fight modern wars using modern technology.

If current developments continue, China will gain economic and military power in the future, posing a threat to the region and the West. economic and military developments in China are in full swing. It is important that the West does not talk about its goals. The ground claims, the challenges they face in meeting the needs of their people, and the insecure and dubious nature of their communist government pose a serious threat to the future of Canada, the West, the United States and China.

China’s astonishing growth in the last three decades surprised the world. Today all the countries are anxious to manufacture products inside China, including the USA and India. Apart from the animosity, this will make China an economic superpower onwards.

According to some analysts, China should not be seen as intent on deposing the USA as the global superpower, but as a peaceful status-quo power with no ambition. Such views are belied by the struggle of foreigners to engage Beijing apart from Asia. China is not as timid as it was before to declare itself powerful, hence there is a shift of power from the West to Asia. While domestic stability and security remain the first priority, also China has declared China has the ability to fight for itself to protect its interests.

China is not as timid as it was before to declare itself powerful, hence there is a shift of power from the West to Asia. While domestic stability and security remain the first priority, also China has declared China has the ability to fight for itself to protect its interests

The writer is a freelance columnist

AS the saying goes, “ in the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunities.”

As the covid-19 has taken its toll on education sector, it has also open new avenue of incorporating technology in our education system. Coronavirus has compelled authorities to digitalize education delivery system in order to provide distant learning during the closure of educational institutes. however, owing to capacity issues, digital divide and digital illiteracy, government is unable to provide dividends of technology to everyone, particularly in the remote areas of Pakistan. A recent decision by the Universal Service Fund (USF) to provide high-speed mobile broadband services to the remote areas of Pakistan is a welcome news in this regard.

This will enable residents of these remote areas to access modern education on internet. This will not only revolutionize education delivery but also help in education management in far flung areas. The need of hour, therefore, is to digitalize educational system so that students in distant area can get education in this time of crisis.

FAISAl HAyAT OKArA

Karachi’s strays I have finally become compelled with how to raise this issue to the government, because now the issue has now become critical. The issue is that the number of street dogs in the city of Karachi is on the upsurge.

Because of this increase, they are becoming more dangerous for the people and especially the children. Day by day, the number of incidents involving dog biting is rising. Unfortunately, our government doesn’t seem to take this vital issue seriously. People going to the mosque for Fajar and Isha prayers are the most vulnerable. Mothers are constantly in fear when they send their kids to school and or errands because of this issue which is completely neglected by the corrupt officials of the government. Whenever the suggestion/demand of poising these mad dogs is brought up to the respected officials they are more concerned about animal cruelty than the safety of our children. Therefore, I appeal to the Army Chief and the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take note of this serious situation and convince our government to act accordingly.

MuHAMMAd AzEEM KArAcHI

Increasing sexual violence ANOTheR incident of sexual abuse within one month has set a wave of fear and unrest across the district. A minor girl Jamila of around 8 years, daughter of poor labor was subjected to sexual assault by an unknown miscreant in Banu a locality of Taluka Mirpur Bathoro district Sujawal. The girl found semi-unconscious was shifted to civil hospital Sujawal for treatment, where her condition is stated to be stable. Parents of the miseryridden girl have demanded justice while no FIR of the incident has been lodged yet. This case is second of its kind in the district followed by the Ayshiya Themore Rape case that had taken place a month back in a village near Jati. The higher authorities of the districts have opted to remain silent on that ensuing imprecation. It seems that the people of the remote district are unaware of the ferociousness that has started to pullulate in an otherwise peaceful district. Chief Minister Sindh, Chief Justice of SIndh high Court and IG Sindh are requested to take notice of this gruesome incident KAMrAN KHAMISO KHOWAJA SuJAWAl

Gender problems PROBLeMS surrounding gender have always been present in our society.

From Pakistan ranking the third last country on the human Rights index, to the failure of exercising gender based laws. however as most of us think gender inequality is not just limited to men and women, but transgenders too; a large portion of our population which is largely stigmatised, and mostly ignored.

This was further highlighted when a transgender woman Julie, who happens to be an activist, was imprisoned based on a false allegation, and unlawfully kept in men’s jail despite her identifying as a woman. her suspicious arrest took the social media by storm, since Julie had earned her self quite a rapport with social media activists for her ardour to blatantly state the truths about our society. Which were otherwise shunned into silence; issues like sectarian unrest, sexual exploitation of transgenders, and the prevalent class culture. The rage of her supporters resulted in her release after 7 days. however in the past even when she was not a social media sensation Julie had faught for injustices against her gender, which are far too many to state. The question is how long will we, as a nation, continue to opress the voices of truth and justice into silence, rather than addressing the issue at hand. It is high time that the order of law should be implemented and hold accountable even the keepers of law (police), if they’re caught missusing. There needs to be further revision in law which cater to minorities whether gender based, race based or religion based.

SAKINA rIzvI KArAcHI

Concerning situation he challenge for India and Pakistan is how to make certain that they manage their relation in a way that annihilate all points of contention, the convergence between the two countries remain dominant and the pessimistic aspects are manageable. The gap between the two is also expanding. There is growing distrust on the terms between the two countries and the challenge for Pakistan is how it manages that distrust and begins to shrink that distrust.

As far as the US is concerned, US is aspiring super power but its aspirational ambitions are built on great deal of insecurity, the way it perceives Pakistan’s relations with the China it is being hemmed in by close understanding cordiality between Pakistan and China so lets not discount the insecurity on the US side.

SHAFI AHMEd KHOWAJA

Monday, 13 September, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

Post-9/11 ‘nation-building’ in afghanistan and iraq was nothing but destruction THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT IN LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC RECONSTRUCTION DATES BACK NOT TO VIETNAM IN THE MID-20TH CENTURY BUT TO THE US CONQUEST OF THE PHILIPPINES IN THE LAST YEARS OF THE 19TH CENTURY THE DEBACLE IN VIETNAM WAS SO SHATTERING THAT LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC NATION BUILDING SHOULD HAVE BEEN BURIED THERE AND THEN Foreign Policy in Focus

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WALDEN BELLO

n one of his interviews before the Taliban retook Afghanistan, John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, blamed the American failure in Afghanistan on a change in Washington’s mission from anti-terrorism to “nation building.” In his view, Washington should just have held strategic sites in the country to keep terrorists off balance and not engaged in an ambitious reconstruction of Afghan society.

Bolton, one of the hardline conservatives who served as a high level official in the George W. Bush administration that invaded Afghanistan in response to 9/11, was engaging in what Americans call “Monday morning quarterbacking,” or declaiming in all-knowing fashion what “ought” to have been done. But it was all wishful thinking.

Like all other imperial powers, the US could not just wreck a society and engage in a purely military occupation of Afghanistan. Like all of them, it had to reconstruct a society, if only to reduce the costs of military occupation and give its venture a patina of legitimacy among both Afghans and Americans. And, like all, it could not help but attempt to reconstruct a society in its own image, even if the result was in reality a disfigured or distorted copy of itself.

In the case of the United States, reconstructing Afghanistan and later Iraq in its own image meant trying to create an avatar of American liberal democracy. The term for this process given by American policy makers was “nation-building.” However, a more accurate term to describe the American way of politically managing conquered societies is “liberal democratic reconstruction.”

THE PHILIPPINES AS PARADIGM: The American experiment in liberal democratic reconstruction dates back not to Vietnam in the mid-20th century but to the U.S. conquest of the Philippines in the last years of the 19th century. As in the case of Afghanistan, it was an afterthought following a brutal suppression of a nationalist movement, which in this case took the lives of an estimated 500,000 Filipinos.

Liberal democratic reconstruction had two objectives: 1) To justify to the people at home an operation that had been undertaken to expand American naval power and acquire a strategic archipelago off the Asian mainland in order to corner the China trade. And 2) to come up with a solution for how to manage a conquered people.

Ironically, to legitimize a colonial war of conquest, Washington came up with a rationale that reflected America’s origins in an anti-colonial, pro-democratic revolution: “to prepare Filipinos for democratic self-rule.” The contradiction was not lost on many Americans, including the writer Mark Twain, but they were overwhelmed by the outburst of nationalist mass hysteria celebrating the U.S. joining the ranks of colonial powers.

The U.S. succeeded in the liberal democratic reconstruction of the Philippines. But that success was predicated on two necessary conditions: total victory over the resistance and the cooptation and cooperation of credible local elites in the creation of the liberal democratic order.

The wholesale transplantation of formal political institutions began shortly after the conquest. American colonial authorities and Protestant missionaries served as instructors, and an indigenous upper class constituted a dutiful student body. By the time the country was granted formal independence in 1946, the Philippine political system was a mirror image of the American one, with a presidency balanced by an independent Congress and judiciary. A two-party system emerged in the next few years.

On the ground, however, reality belied democratic ideology. Formal democratic institutions became a convenient cloak for the continuing rule of feudal paternalism in the highly stratified agrarian society the Americans inherited from the Spanish empire.

Wealthy landowners, those whom the United States had detached from the national liberation struggle and formed into a ruling class, enthusiastically embraced electoral politics. But it was hardly a belief in representative government that turned the local elites into eager students. The reason they so easily adapted to the U.S. system of governance was that it allowed competition for power among themselves via elections at the same time that it united them as a ruling caste over the unorganized rural and urban lower classes.

RECONSTRUCTING DEFEATED JAPAN: The next U.S. experience in liberal democratic reconstruction took place in Japan in the aftermath of the latter’s total defeat in the Second World War. In describing the American post-invasion effort in Afghanistan and Iraq, officials of the George W. Bush ad-

TO A LOT OF AFGHANS, THE TALIBAN, FOR ALL THEIR HOSTILITY TO LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS AND PRACTICES, REPRESENTED ROUGH JUSTICE AND SECURITY FOR LIFE, LIMB, AND PROPERTY; THE KABUL GOVERNMENT, IN CONTRAST, STOOD FOR HOPELESS CORRUPTION ministration compared their political project to the postWorld War II reconstruction of Japan by the United States under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur. noted Japan scholars like John Dower and Chalmers Johnson dissented, however, pointing out that there were conditions in Japan that were not present in Afghanistan and Iraq. Indeed, Japan was more like the Philippines in terms of possessing the two necessary conditions for the success of liberal democratic reconstruction: total defeat of the subject nation in war and cooptation and cooperation of the ruling elite with the occupying power.

A summary of a major talk given by Dower at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2005, two years after the invasion of Iraq, laid down these and other preconditions of liberal democratic reconstruction’s “success” in Japan that were not present in Baghdad: n

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“Legitimacy of occupation. A formal war was followed by a decisive defeat and unconditional surrender. U.S. allies also saw the occupation as legitimate. Serious planning for the occupation of Japan began in 1942.”

“Consistency. Japan had an intact government.

Emperor Hirohito declared war, surrendered, and continued as head of state until 1971.”

“Cohesion. While politically diverse, Japan was socially cohesive, without…religious, ethnic, and cultural conflicts.”

“Security. Japan, an island, faced no domestic security issues. The hardships were staggering. But there was no terror.”

“Exhaustion. Japan was at war from 1931 to 1945, leaving 3 million dead, 10-15 million people homeless, rampant unemployment, malnutrition, and disease. Defeat brought liberation from death. Suddenly, the air raids stopped. They could start over.”

FROM AFTERTHOUGHT TO MISSION IN VIETNAM: Liberal democratic reconstruction’s successes in the Philippines and Japan, coupled with turning a blind eye to what made them unique—the total defeat of the resistance and the cooptation of credible local elites into the liberal democratic project—were probably what accounted for its elaboration from an afterthought to military conquest into a full blown missionary doctrine to counter communist-led national liberation movements during the Cold War. Competition with communism led to a fateful modification of Thomas Jefferson’s assertion that “Our revolution and its consequences will ameliorate the condition of man over a great portion of the globe.” Jefferson was thinking of America as an example.

But as Frances Fitzgerald pointed out in her acclaimed book Fire in the Lake, Jefferson’s conviction was transformed in the 1950s and 1960s into the creed that “the mission of the United States was to build democracy around the world… Among certain circles it was more or less assumed that democracy, that is, electoral democracy combined with private ownership and civil liberties, was what the United States had to offer the Third World. Democracy provided not only the basis for opposition to Communism but the practical method to make sure that opposition worked.”

Liberal democratic reconstruction was turned from an afterthought to manage a conquered population into a universalistic ideology that sought to remake the developing world in America’s image.

Vietnam provided a rude shock to America’s ideology of missionary democracy. American empire builders learned the hard way the three conditions that made Vietnam different from the Philippines and Japan. One was a national liberation movement that could not be defeated politically and militarily. Two, the local elites the U.S. allied with to build liberal democracy, like Bao Dai ngo Dinh Diem, were neither liberal nor democratic and had been discredited among the masses by their having supported or tolerated French colonialism. Three, the U.S. was seen by a people that had successfully expelled the French as stepping into the shoes of the latter.

The Republic of Vietnam was an ersatz state whose writ only extended to big cities like Saigon, while the countryside belonged to the communists. There was little doubt among the Americans that that state would collapse once the U.S. left. The unwritten goal of the 1973 Paris Peace Accord was to give the U.S. a decent interval for an “hon-

orable exit” before the communists took over the whole country. The north Vietnamese were, in fact, generous, giving the Americans over two years to return home before undertaking their final offensive in mid-March 1975.

The debacle in Vietnam was so shattering that liberal democratic nation building should have been buried there and then. Despite the efforts of a few right-wing historians like Max Boot to rewrite history to show that the American model could have succeeded there had the U.S. persevered in devoting the resources to nation-building, the consensus is that the raw materials for a successful transplant of the U.S. model were simply not there.

A NEW LEASE ON LIFE: NATION BUILDING IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN: The ideology of liberal democratic reconstruction had been merely shelved, not buried. It received a new lease on life in the early 2000s, after the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. There were a number of factors that went into the invasions of both countries, including vengeance for 9/11, but both countries were essentially seen as providing Washington opportunities to reshape the global political environment after the Cold War. The proponents of this strategy were the so-called “neoconservatives” that took over Washington with the triumph of George W. Bush in the 2000 elections, whose main personages were Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and Paul Wolfowitz, the deputy secretary of defense.

Afghanistan and Iraq were intended to be what the Romans called “exemplary wars” in the neoconservative playbook. They were the first step in a demarche that would eliminate so-called “rogue states,” compel greater loyalty from dependent governments or supplant them with more reliable allies, and put strategic competitors like China on notice that they should not even think of vying with the United States. The willingness to use force in Iraq and Afghanistan was designed to make future applications of force unnecessary owing to the fear they would engender in friend and foe alike. The collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s offered the neoconservatives the opportunity to make permanent a unipolar world and they were determined to take it.

The Vietnam debacle was forgotten and liberal democratic reconstruction was taken from the shelf and dusted off as the political project that would immediately follow the invasion. For the neocon Max Boot, U.S. leadership of the unipolar world was all about “imposing the rule of law, property rights, free speech and other guarantees, at gunpoint if need be.” Military power would go hand in hand with political reconstruction to achieve “democratic transformation,” said another neoconservative thinker, Philip Bobbitt. “Or it might be called ‘liberal imperialism.’ What is wrong with that idea?”

Despite the hoopla about liberal democratic reconstruction, it never got off the ground in Iraq. Following the invasion, the U.S. flew in Iraqi exiles from the West to lead the effort, only to find out that these long absent members of the political elite had no base within the country. Then followed a massive insurgency led by former members of Saddam’s army that dispelled any illusions that Iraq was a defeated society, a “clean slate” on which a liberal democratic regime could be built. Then, taking advantage of the ousting of Saddam by the Americans, the long-marginalized Shiite majority utilized the electoral processes Washington promoted to set up an illiberal sectarian government that made the formerly ruling Sunnis second-class citizens.

Unable to stop the insurgency, the Americans made a deal with Sunni clan chieftains in the rural areas for them to use blood ties to bring the insurgents under control. But the aim of this arrangement, dubbed “counterinsurgency” and associated with Gen David Petraeus, was to allow U.S. troops to depart with the fiction of having stabilized Iraq. The dream of a liberal democratic Iraq was in shambles, and the chaos, instability, and power vacuum created by the invasion provided the opening for the Islamic State or ISIS that was eventually to take over wide swathes of the country.

Liberal reconstruction was even more of a botched up job in Afghanistan. The Taliban were not defeated, a precondition for a successful reconstruction. They simply yielded the cities but remained in control of the countryside. nor were there credible local elites that would serve as reliable partners of the liberal democratic project. The regime that Washington tried to pass off as a

IN DESCRIBING THE AMERICAN POSTINVASION EFFORT IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ, OFFICIALS OF THE GEORGE W. BUSH ADMINISTRATION COMPARED THEIR POLITICAL PROJECT TO THE POST-WORLD WAR II RECONSTRUCTION OF JAPAN BY THE UNITED STATES democracy was really a deal among discredited, drugdealing warlords based in fortified cities that had no traction beyond the city gates.

According to Richard Clarke, the top anti-terrorism official of the G.W. Bush administration, Washington’s handpicked head of state, Hamid Karzai, didn’t really have authority outside Kabul and two or three other cities. The U.S. ended up with an unworkable arrangement uniting the weak central government it had set up in Kabul and powerful independent warlords who engaged in extortion and drug dealing. For the latter, “insecurity,” as then Un Secretary General Kofi Annan put it, was a “business” and extortion “a way of life.”

Despite U.S.-sponsored elections, Annan predicted as early as 2004 that, “without functional state institutions able to serve the basic needs of the population throughout the country, the authority and legitimacy of the government will be short-lived.” The U.S., in other words, substituted a failed state for a Taliban state that, for all its problems and sins in the eyes of the West, had worked.

As for the Taliban, they simply provided a parallel regime in much of the country that performed basic governmental functions such as dispensing justice. A leading women’s rights activist contrasted the effectiveness of Taliban rule with the U.S.-sponsored regime’s performance: “In the more remote provinces, in cases of theft or similar minor crimes, the Taliban’s justice system could act more effectively than the local police. While I am not supporting the Taliban’s practices, their so-called courts led by their elders would hold hearings to find the violator, and then force the thief to return the stolen goods, outcomes that were not possible with a corrupt local police force that was receptive to bribes because of poverty and other problems.”

Life for women was certainly better in the cities, but promotion of women’s rights suffered from the same problem as the rest of the paraphernalia of liberal democracy: To many Afghans it had the stigma of being associated with the invasion.

To a lot of people, the Taliban, for all their hostility to liberal democratic rights and practices, represented rough justice and security for life, limb, and property; the Kabul government, in contrast, stood for hopeless corruption. So with their prestige and firepower, the Taliban knew it was just a question of biding their time. And they could afford to play the long game while Washington could not, owing to the unpopularity of the so-called “forever wars” in the United States. Like the 1973 Paris Peace Accords, the peace deal to withdraw all U.S. troops by May 1, 2021, signed by the Trump administration and the Taliban, was designed to provide a figleaf of a decent interval for the U.S. to leave “with honor” before the Taliban took over the country.

What probably surprised even the Taliban was the swiftness with which the ersatz regime simply gave up as the U.S. withdrawal got going in earnest. Contrary to the western press’ image of a “brutal offensive,” the Talibans’ retaking of the big cities was largely a peaceful walkover with just a handful of casualties on both sides.

The amazingly rapid collapse of the government Washington had propped up for 20 years created precisely the image the Trump-Taliban deal had been designed to avoid: that of Americans frantically hightailing it from the country, leaving hundreds of thousands of their Afghan allies and their families behind. It was not the Taliban but the U.S.-sponsored failed state that did not give the Americans the decent interval that would allow them to leave with honor.

END OF THE LINE? nation-building in Afghanistan and Iraq was the resurrection of a doctrine that had been discredited in Vietnam.

It should have remained buried, but it was dredged up to provide a justification for the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and serve as a handbook for reconstituting the state following military victory in the Bush administration’s drive to reshape the global political environment in a unipolar direction. But lacking the preconditions for success present in the Philippines and Japan, the venture collapsed in Iraq and Afghanistan in much the same way it did in Vietnam.

Hopefully, this time around, nation-building or liberal democratic reconstruction will be buried once and for all.

Walden Bello is the co-founder and current senior analyst of the Bangkok-based Focus on the Global South and the International Adjunct Professor of Sociology at the State University of New York at Binghamton. He received the Right Livelihood Award, also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize, in 2003, and was named Outstanding Public Scholar of the International Studies Association in 2008.

Monday, 13 September, 2021

BUSINESS 09

KARACHI corporate corner FFC delegation visits PSX

GovT, IMF To rESuME TAlKS For SIXTh TrAnChE by SEPTEMbEr End

P

AkISTAN and the the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will start staff-level discussions for the release of sixth tranche under the $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) on September 29.

Federal Minister for Finance, Shaukat Tarin, will be in Washington for discussions with top IMF officials from Oct 15 to Oct 17, which is the last day of Tarin’s tenure as federal finance minister as a nonelected person who was appointed by the premier under Article 91(9) of the Constitution.

According to a report by Dawn on Sunday, a list of issues to be discussed was received from the fund whereas the final approval will be made in Washington by middle of next month.

On June 24, IMF spokesman Gerry Rice had declined to say if disbursements under that programme had been halted but said further discussions were needed about Pakistan’s fiscal spending plans, structural reforms, particularly in the tax and energy sec-

KARACHI: Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC) delegation comprising of Company Secretary Brig (r) Asrat Mahmood and Manager Shares Syed Imran Rizvi visited the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on September 08, and met with PSX Managing Director (MD) Farrukh H. Khan. Discussion covered the matters of mutual interests that include benefits of listings, implementation of ESG Index (environment, social and governance), issues of global equity markets and awareness of prospective individual shareholders on investment into the stock markets. The company secretary also presented the FFC shield to MD PSX. Press release

KE pioneers Whatsapp service launch for customer convenience in power sector KARACHI: K-Electric continues to leverage technology and digitization in its business operations with a focus on enhancing customer experience and offering them greater convenience. Another milestone was achieved in this regard as KE became the first power utility to launch a WhatsApp Service for residential customers in Karachi and adjoining areas. The 24/7 service has been launched to provide consumers a hassle-free experience with realtime responses. The fully automated service can be used to lodge technical or billing complaints, obtain duplicate bills as well as income tax certificates, and download the forms for new connections along with a checklist of required documents. The WhatsApp service has been launched with the support of Infobip, a global leader in omnichannel communication offering a suite of tools for advanced customer engagement and support. KE and Infobip signed an MoU in July of 2021 to roll out the service to consumers. Commenting on the launch, KElectric Chief Marketing and Communication Officer Sadia Dada said, “Leveraging technology is enabling businesses to become more agile and resilient in a post-pandemic world. We prioritize customer convenience and want to provide them with a plethora of services through which they can remain digitally connected with KE for their complaints or queries. We are constantly exploring innovative ways to revolutionize how we interact with our customers and modernize our digital touchpoints to create a richer, simpler, and more engaging customer experience.” Connecting with KE through the WhatsApp service is as easy as saying hello to a friend. Consumers simply need to add the number +92-348-0000118 on their phones and message to begin their journey. They may be prompted to provide their 13-digit KE account number only once, after which they will be registered in the system. The platform is free however, mobile internet data charges from telecommunication service providers may apply. The 24/7 WhatsApp service is another addition in the suite of existing services for customers including the call center 118, SMS service 8119, KE Live App, and social media platforms. Press release

tors, and social spending.

Tarin had said it was not possible for Pakistan to get out of the IMF programme at a time when the economy is reviving.

“It is not possible to get out of the IMF programme at this time,” Tarin had said, adding: “We were forced to go to the IMF.” “This time the IMF was not friendly with us and the programme was front-loaded and tough,” he further said, comparing the current programme to previous ones with the lender.

He said that the power sector measures would be sustainable and will increase revenue. “This is what IMF wants from Pakistan,” he had remarked.

In July 2019, the IMF had approved a 39-month $6bn EFF arrangement for Pakistan to support Islamabad’s economic reform programme.

The government has paused the IMF programme for three months and implements its indigenous policy measures to shore up revenue instead of putting

Pakistani goods have strong competitive force at CAEXPO: Ambassador Haque ISLAMABAD

aGeNCIes

El Salvador will exempt foreign investors from taxes on profits on bitcoin speculation in the country, a government adviser has said after it became the first to recognize the cryptocurrency as legal tender.

“If a person has assets in bitcoin and makes high profits, there will be no tax.

Islamic banking records highest growth since 2015

Expo, which are very important export products of Pakistan. As many as 14 Pakistani stores, which are set up by Pakistani traders, are displaying these different products.

Haque emphasised that CAEXPO is very important for Pakistan because it represents two large markets: “China, which is the second largest economy in the world, and ASEAN, which has become a very important trading block in the region, represents about 2 billion people and $18 trillion economy. Now these countries have set up RCEP regional cooperation partnership.”

To a question, he said that Pakistan has a close friendship with China and ASEAN. “Pakistan’s presence and cooperation with China and ASEAN, provides our traders new opportunities to come here and use this platform to export to RCEP block. So, we think that this platform will help in building trilateral cooperation in trade and investments.”

In recent years, both Pakistan and China have opened their markets and nearly 1,000 products are exported duty free under the FTA. In addition, the Pakistani government is also helping to promote trade and create an enabling environment for local traders to converge and share their projects.

The Islamic banking industry (IBI) has achieved the highest year-on-year growth in assets and deposits since 2015 increasing the market share in the overall banking industry to 17pc and 18.7pc, respectively. A report by Dawn which compiled State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) latest bulletin for April-June quarter reported that assets and deposits of IBI grew 32 per cent and 29.7pc, respectively. The assets expanded by Rs408 billion to Rs4,797bn and deposits grew by Rs365bn to Rs3,822bn by June 30, 2021. Review of sector wise financing shows that major portion of financing was extended to textile (13.9pc) and production and transmission of energy (13.6pc) sectors. (Table 3)The report, however, stated that the profit-before-tax dropped by 13pc to Rs42.6bn by June 30 compared to Rs49bn in the same quarter last year. Before tax earnings ratios like return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) were recorded at 1.9pc and 31.1pc, respectively.

Client wise financing remained concentrated in the corporate sector, having a share of 68.8pcin overall financing of IBI, followed by commodity financing and consumer financing with a share of 15.2pc and 10.6pc, respectively. The share of SMEs and agriculture financing in overall financing of IBI was recorded at 2.6 per cent and 1.2pc, respectively. MONITOrING rePOrT

UAE lifts entry ban for residents from Pakistan, others

SHANGHAI: China’s industry ministry has told technology companies including Alibaba Group Ltd and Tencent Holdings Ltd to stop blocking each other’s website links from their platforms, the 21st Century Business Herald said Saturday. The newspaper, citing unnamed sources, said the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology proposed standards to companies on Friday for instant messaging services, telling them all platforms must be unblocked by a certain time. The ministry said it may have to resort to other measures if the firms did not comply, the newspaper said. The move is the latest in a regulatory crackdown spanning industries from tech to entertainment and gaming companies. Companies that attended the meeting included Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance, Baidu Inc, Huawei Technologies Co and Xiaomi Corp, the newspaper said. The companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

China’s internet is dominated by a handful of technology giants who have historically blocked links and services by rivals on their platforms, creating what analysts have described as “walled gardens”. Regulators in recent months have cracked down, accusing companies of building monopolies and restricting consumers’ choices. In July, the Wall Street Journal reported that Alibaba and Tencent were gradually considering opening up their services to each other, such as by introducing Tencent’s WeChat Pay to Alibaba’s Taobao and Tmall e-commerce marketplaces. aGeNCIes

aPP

Pakistan’s exports have recorded a new volume while exports to China are showing great momentum and the government hopes for a new breakthrough following the opening of China and ASEAN’s market by the end of this year.

This was stated by Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Moin ul Haque, in an interview with China Economic Net (CEN) on Sunday.

He said that Pakistan is one of the few countries which have a complete ecosystem of textile, from weaving to dyeing, making garments and clothes. “Textile is our strongest sector, so you can see the products from home textile to ladies’ clothes are all showcased here,” Haque said while referring to Pakistani stalls set up at the expo.

He said that the food sector in Pakistan is also very important as it is one of the largest leading countries in production of wheat, rice, sugarcane, cotton as essential raw materials, which have made it one of the most competitive countries in the region.

“Now, the government is focusing towards industrialisation for the value addition for these products,” he said.

Ambassador Haque said that the competitive commodity of

Pakistan is milk products and added, “We are the fourth largest country as equal to China in milk production. Now we are focusing on also bringing a revolution in the dairy sector by doing value addition such as making cheese, yogurt and other products, then exporting to ASEAN, China, in fact, to the whole region.”

He also mentioned sports products as his favorite Pakistani goods, and he is proud that Pakistan is the largest producer of footballs in the world, and most world-class tournaments have assigned Pakistani football as their official football.

“Not only football, but we also make other sports goods like boxing gloves, motorcycle gloves, and so on,” he added.

Ambassador Haque remarked that this is the second time that Pakistan has been invited to participate as a special partner country. “We were given this honor for two years continuously, which is unprecedented in the history of CAEXPO. In another sense, it is important because China and Pakistan are celebrating the 70th anniversary of our friendship this year.

Pakistan’s participation is dedicated to this milestone.”

He expressed his pleasure to see such a beautifully designed pavilion and Pakistani products at

After several months, UAE lifted restrictions on return of fully vaccinated residents from several counties including Pakistan. A new set of relaxed travel guidelines by the country’s National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority (NCEMA) and Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) came into effect starting Sunday. The new guidelines allow UAE resident visa holders who have completed all the doses of WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccines to return. It allowed such residents from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Namibia, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Liberia, South Africa, Nigeria and Afghanistan to return to the country. The decision to lift the travel restrictions comes as Dubai, one of the seven emirates of UAE, gears up to conduct Expo 2020 world fair which starts from October 1, 2021, after a year-long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The region has pinned its hopes on the event to boost the local economy hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. MONITOrING rePOrT

El Salvador to exempt foreign investors from tax on bitcoin profits SAN SALVADOR

an extra burden on the existing taxpayers.

Tarin has said that the revenue performance in the first two months is beyond expectations.

Earlier last week, the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that case studies highlight the need for more cautious assumptions on feasibility and growth payouts of structural reforms in Pakistan.

The IEO has released its report “Growth and adjustment in IMF-supported programmes”, which assesses how well IMF-supported programmes have helped to sustain economic growth, while delivering adjustment needed for external viability.

The report noted that in Jordan, Pakistan, and Tunisia, Fund staff underestimated the complexity of the political transition and the impact of intervening political, security-related and regional shocks.

It stated that several case studies emphasise that staff had unrealistic expectations regarding the feasibility and growth payoffs of reforms. NeWs DesK

This (is done) obviously to encourage foreign investment,” Javier Argueta, legal adviser to President Nayib Bukele, told AFP. “There will be no taxes to pay on either the capital increase or the income.”

El Salvador introduced bitcoin as legal tender on Tuesday alongside the dollar, which has been the official currency for 20 years. Experts and regulators have highlighted concerns about the cryptocur-

rency’s notorious volatility, its potential impact on price inflation in a country with high poverty and unemployment, and the lack of protection for users.

There are also fears over its potential for illegal use – notably in laundering money from criminal activities such as drug trafficking, and in financing terrorism. According to Argueta, the cyber “wallet” allowing Salvadorans at home

and abroad to buy and spend bitcoin, includes “relevant mechanisms” to ensure traceability.

“We are implementing a series of recommendations from international institutions against money laundering,” the adviser added. He said bitcoin transactions would be halted temporarily if its value were ever to collapse, in order to minimize the impact of extreme currency fluctuation.

The government says its experiment will give many Salvadorans access to bank services for the first time, and hopes it will shave millions of dollars off commissions on remittances sent home from abroad, mainly the United States. Remittances account for more than a fifth of the country’s GDP.

China tells Alibaba, Tencent to open platforms up to each other

Monday, 13 September, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

KARACHI

IrAn to Allow IAEA to sErvIcE nuclEAr monItorIng cAmErAs AftEr tAlks DUBAI

I

REUTERS

RAN is to allow the U.N. nuclear watchdog to service monitoring cameras at Iranian nuclear sites after talks on Sunday with IAEA head Rafael Grossi, according to the head of Iran's atomic energy body and a joint statement.

The talks with International Atomic Energy Agency chief Grossi were aimed at easing a standoff between Tehran and the West just as it threatens to escalate and scupper negotiations on reviving the Iran nuclear deal. The IAEA said this week that there had been no progress on two key issues: explaining uranium traces found at old, undeclared sites and getting urgent access to monitoring equipment so the agency can continue to keep track of parts of Iran's nuclear programme as per the 2015 deal.

"We agreed over the replacement of the memory cards of the

agency's cameras," Mohammad Eslami, who heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), was quoted as saying by state media.

"IAEA’s inspectors are permitted to service the identified equipment and replace their storage media which will be kept under the joint IAEA and AEOI seals in the Islamic Republic of Iran," the nuclear bodies said in a joint statement.

Grossi is expected to hold a news conference at Vienna airport around 8:30 p.m.

(1830 GMT) after returning later on Sunday, the IAEA said.

The IAEA told member states in reports this week that there had been no progress on two central issues: explaining uranium traces found at several old, undeclared sites and getting urgent access to some monitoring equipment so the agency can continue to keep track of parts of Iran's nuclear programme as provided for by the 2015 deal. read more

Israeli minister accuses Iran of giving drone training to militias

"These reports were the official stamp on what we have been saying for a long time already: The Iranians are advancing unobstructed on the nuclear (weapon) project,"

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in televised remarks on Sunday. Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful.

Separate, indirect talks between the

United States and Iran on both returning to compliance with the deal have been halted since June. Washington and its European allies have been urging hardline President Ebrahim Raisi's administration, which took office in August, to return to the talks.

Under the 2015 deal between Iran and major powers, Tehran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the deal in 2018, reintroducing painful economic sanctions. Iran responded as of 2019 by breaching many of the deal's core restrictions, like enriching uranium to a higher purity which makes it closer to that suitable for use in nuclear weapons.

Western powers must decide whether to push for a resolution criticising Iran and raising pressure on it for stonewalling the IAEA at next week's meeting of the agency's 35-nation Board of Governors. A resolution could jeopardise the resumption of talks on the deal as Tehran bristles at such moves.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

HERZLIYA REUTERS

Israel's defence minister accused Iran on Sunday of providing foreign militias with drone training at an airbase near the city of Isfahan, a month after Tehran came under global scrutiny over a suspected drone attack on an Israeli-managed tanker off Oman. Israel has combined military strikes with diplomatic pressure to beat back what it describes as an effort by its archfoe, whose nuclear negotiations with the West are deadlocked, to beef up regional clout through allied guerrillas. In what his office described as a new disclosure, Defence Minister Benny Gantz said Iran was using Kashan airbase north of Isfahan to train "terror operatives from Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon in flying Iranian-made UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)".

Iran was also trying to "transfer know-how that would allow the manufacturing of UAVs in the Gaza Strip," on Israel's southern border, Gantz told a conference at Reichman University near Tel Aviv. His office provided what it said were satellite images showing UAVs on the runways at Kashan. There was no immediate comment from Iran. A July 29 blast aboard the Mercer Street, a Liberian-flagged, Japanese-owned petroleum product tanker managed by Israeli-owned Zodiac Maritime, near the mouth of the Gulf, a key oil shipping route, killed two crew - a Briton and a Romanian. The U.S. military said explosives experts from the Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier - which deployed to assist the Mercer Street - concluded the explosion was from a drone produced in Iran, which was accused by other world powers in the attack. Iran has denied involvement.

Pilot error likely caused fatal Air India Express crash: report

Firefly Aerospace's first Alpha rocket suffers a catastrophic anomaly during its first launch leading to the loss of the vehicle 2 minutes, 30 seconds after liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, September 2. REUTERS

SpaceX gets ready to launch first all-civilian crew to orbit

MUMBAI REUTERS

REUTERS

Pilot error and a failure to follow safety guidelines probably caused the Air India Express crash that killed 21 people last year, the country's worst aviation accident in a decade, investigators said in a report on Saturday. The Boeing 737, repatriating Indians stranded in Dubai due to the coronavirus pandemic, overshot the table-top runway and crashed while landing at Calicut International Airport in the southern state of Kerala in heavy rain on Aug. 8, 2020. "The probable cause of the accident was the non-adherence to standard operating procedures by the pilot flying," says the report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, a division of the Ministry of Civil Aviation that probes plane accidents. The pilot "continued an unstabilised approach and landed beyond the touchdown zone, halfway down the runway", instead of doing a "go around", the agency says in the 257-page report, published after a year-long investigation. A go-around is a standard procedure in which the pilot abandons a landing attempt deemed unsafe and tries again. In spite of being asked to go around by the pilot monitoring the landing, the pilot flying the aircraft failed to do so, the agency said, and the monitoring pilot also failed to take over the controls and execute the order. The aircraft had already made one failed attempt to land before it overran the 2,700-metre (8,900-foot) runway. The airport is known as a table-top because its runways have steep drops at one or both ends. The crash at the airport in Kozhikode was India's worst passenger aircraft accident since 2010, when another Air India Express flight from Dubai overshot a table-top runway in Mangalore, a city in the south, and slid down a hill, killing 158 people.

Yet another billionaire entrepreneur is set to ride into space this week, strapped inside the capsule of a SpaceX rocketship, as part of an astro-tourist team poised to make history as the first all-civilian crew launched into Earth orbit.

Jared Isaacman, the American founder and chief executive of e-commerce firm Shift4 Payments, will lead three fellow spaceflight novices on a trip expected to last three days from blastoff at Cape Canaveral, Florida, to splashdown in the Atlantic.

The 38-year-old tech mogul has plunked down an unspecified but presumably exorbitant sum to fellow billionaire and SpaceX owner Elon Musk to fly Isaacman and three specially selected travel mates into orbit aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.

The crew vehicle is set for blastoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center atop one of Musk's reusable Falcon 9 rockets, with a 24-hour targeted launch window that opens at 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT) on Wednesday. That window will be narrowed, or possibly altered, a few days before, depending on weather.

Dubbed Inspiration4, the orbital outing was conceived by Isaacman primarily to raise awareness and support for one of his favorite causes, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a leading pediatric cancer center. He has pledged $100 million personally to the institute.

But a successful mission would also help usher in a new era of commercial space tourism, with several companies vying for wealthy customers willing to pay a small fortune to experience the exhilaration of supersonic flight, weightlessness and the visual spectacle of space.

Setting acceptable levels of consumer risk in the inherently dangerous endeavor of rocket travel is also key, and raises a pointed question.

"Do you have to be both rich and brave to get on these flights right now?" said Sridhar Tayur, a professor of operations management and new business models at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, in an interview with Reuters on Friday.

BEYOND THE BILLIONAIRE SPACE RACE: SpaceX is easily the most well-established player in the burgeoning constellation of commercial rocket ventures, having already

launched numerous cargo payloads and astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA. Rival companies Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin both recently celebrated their debut astro-tourism missions with their respective founding executives - billionaires Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos each going along for the ride.

But those two high-profile flights were suborbital in scale, sending their crews of citizen astronauts to space and back in a matter of minutes.

The SpaceX flight is designed to carry its four passengers where no allcivilian crew has gone before - into Earth orbit. There, they will circle the globe once every 90 minutes at more than 17,000 miles per hour, or roughly 22 times the speed of sound. The target altitude is 575 kilometers, or nearly 360 miles high, beyond the orbits of the International Space Station or even the Hubble Space Telescope.

Like Blue Origin, the 20-story-tall SpaceX launch vehicle and crew capsule will take off vertically from a launch pad on a flight directed entirely from the ground. Branson's suborbital rocket plane, by contrast, had two highly trained

pilots at the controls as it carried its four rear-seat passengers 50 miles high.

The Inspiration4 crew will have no part to play in operating their spacecraft, despite some largely honorary titles, though two members - Isaacman and geoscientist Sian Proctor - are licensed pilots. Isaacman, who is rated to fly commercial and military jets, has assumed the role of mission "commander," while Proctor, 51, once a NASA astronaut candidate herself, has been designated as the mission "pilot." She was selected to join the team through an online contest run by Shift4 Payments.

Rounding out the crew are "chief medical officer" Hayley Arceneaux, 29, a bone cancer survivor turned St. Jude physicians' assistant, and mission "specialist" Chris Sembroski, 42, a U.S. Air Force veteran and aerospace data engineer. He won a seat in a sweepstake that drew 72,000 applicants and has raised over $100 million in St. Jude donations.

The four crewmates have spent the past five months undergoing rigorous preparations, including altitude fitness, centrifuge (G-force), microgravity and simulator training, emergency drills, classroom work and medical exams.

Monday, 13 September, 2021

SPORTS 11

KARACHI

Ronaldo takes UnIted joInt top wIth Chelsea, CIty wIn and spURs slUmp MANCHESTER

t

REUTERS

WO goals from returning hero Cristiano Ronaldo sent Manchester United joint top of the Premier League after early season pace-setters Tottenham Hotspur fell to a surprise 3-0 loss at Crystal Palace.

Champions Manchester City made it three wins out of four with a 1-0 win at Leicester City while Arsenal got their first victory of the campaign, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on target in a 1-0 win over Norwich City. Manchester United and Chelsea lead on 10 points with an identical goal difference after four games with Manchester City a point behind along with Brighton & Hove Albion, who won 1-0 at promoted Brentford, and Spurs.

Chelsea beat Aston Villa 3-0 in the late game to register their 600th victory in the Premier League. Romelu Lukaku and Mateo Kovacic finally opened their accounts at Stamford Bridge, with the Belgian striker scoring twice, while goalkeeper Edouard Mendy denied Villa numerous times to keep his third clean sheet.

Ronaldo's return to United from Juventus last month brought with it the promise of excitement and goals at Old Trafford and his second debut certainly lived up to the billing.

The 36-year-old fired his side ahead just before the break, pouncing to slot home from close range after Newcastle keeper Freddie Woodman was unable to hold on to a low drive from Mason Greenwood.

After Javier Manquillo brought Newcastle level following the break, Ronaldo produced a trademark strike. He burst into the box as he collected a through ball from Luke Shaw before drilling it through the legs of Woodman. Bruno Fernandes made it 3-1 with a wonderful strike from 25 metres out and substitute Jesse Lingard completed the rout.

SPURS SEE RED: Ronaldo was not the only celebrating debutant -- Odsonne Edouard scored twice on his debut for Palace as 10-man Tottenham Hotspur fell to a 3-0 loss at Selhurst Park.

Spurs centre back Japhet Tanganga was shown a second yellow card in the 58th minute for a foul on Jordan Ayew, five minutes after the defender was adjudged to have illegally blocked winger Wilfried Zaha.

Matters got worse for the visitors as Palace were awarded a penalty when Ben Davies handled from a Conor Gallagher cross in the 75th minute, and Zaha dispatched the spot-kick past Hugo Lloris.

Palace scored again six minutes from time through Edouard, who slotted home

Mercedes see engine compromise to help VW enter Formula One REUTERS Mercedes are open to compromise on Formula One's future engine rules to make it easier for the Volkswagen Group to enter the sport, motorsport head and F1 team boss Toto Wolff told reporters at the Italian Grand Prix. The sport is due to introduce a new engine formula from 2025 and manufacturers are discussing how to make power units simpler, cheaper and more sustainable.

The Volkswagen Group, whose brands include Porsche and Audi, has attended engine manufacturer meetings as an interested party, with the latest held over the Monza weekend. Wolff said Mercedes would be willing to get rid of the MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit-Heat) element, with the new rules possibly delayed to 2026.

The current V6 turbo hybrid power units have two Motor Generator Units, the other being the MGU-K that recovers and

supplies kinetic energy from braking. The MGU-H recovers and stores energy from or to the turbocharger.

"The MGU-H is going to be dropped if we can find alignment of many other points," said Wolff.

"I think it's a compromise. I cannot speak for anybody else but at Mercedes we

are prepared to...in order to facilitate the entry of the Volkswagen Group.

"But there are several other topics where compromise needs to be found," he added. "If compromise cannot be found then we will probably revert to the governance and have 2026 regulations that the (governing) FIA and FOM (Formula One

from Zaha's cross 27 seconds after coming on, and the Frenchman completed his dream debut in stoppage time following a slick team move. Another Portugal international, Bernardo Silva, scored the only goal for Pep Guardiola's City at Leicester.

City striker Ferran Torres had a number

Management) are going to come up with."

Formula One is looking to boost the number of engine manufacturers with Honda pulling out at the end of this season and Red Bull taking over the Japanese manufacturer's intellectual property.

Red Bull are keen to simplify the engines and cut out the MGU-H element.

Champions Mercedes supply four of the 10 teams at present and Ferrari three, with Renault providing engines to their own Alpine-branded team. Honda work with Red Bull and sister team AlphaTauri.

Red Bull have worked with the Volkswagen Group in the past, notably in the world rally championship before the German manufacturer withdrew, and there has long been talk of a partnership with Audi or Porsche in Formula One. Former Volkswagen Motorsport head Jost Capito is now boss of the Mercedespowered Williams team, who last week announced Red Bull-backed Alex Albon would be racing for them next season.

Formula One's chief executive Stefano Domenicali was previously head of Italian sportscar marque Lamborghini, a subsidiary of Audi, while Renault CEO Luca di Meo joined the French manufacturer from VW brand Seat after a stint at Audi.

Raducanu, Fernandez mark depth of women's game, signal enticing future REUTERS With Serena Williams pulling out due to fitness issues even before a ball had been hit and Naomi Osaka and Ash Barty dispatched in the third round, a loss of interest in the women's singles draw at this year's U.S. Open was palpable.

But no one could have predicted that it would be left to two teenagers -- ranked 150th and 73rd in the world -to create the kind of frenzied hype in women's tennis as seen over the past fortnight with their fascinating journeys to Saturday's final.

Britain's Emma Raducanu and Canadian Leylah Fernandez - born two months apart in 2002 - took the U.S. Open by storm with their youthful exuberance and fearless style of play.

The appreciation of fans across the globe was reflected in the mood of the 23,000-strong crowd during Saturday's title clash in the colossal Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"I have never heard a crowd in Grand Slam tennis being this loud, this appreciative of the players and the player responding," said Mats Wilander, a seven-time major champion and Eurosport tennis expert.

"This was an epic of the U.S. Open. It was a great comeback of the U.S. Open, it was just an amazing two weeks."

While 18-year-old Raducanu bagged the ultimate prize to become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title, women's tennis was also a winner.

American Williams, who turns 40 this month, has been one of the biggest draws at Flushing Meadows for the last two decades and her withdrawal would have sent shivers down the spines of organisers hoping to bask in the glory of having full capacity crowd at a major for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak.

When Fernandez beat two-time U.S. Open winner Osaka in the third round, the mood further dampened as the Japanese player, who has been struggling with mental health issues, left the hardcourt major saying she was unsure when she will compete again.

The following day world number one Barty, who won

the Wimbledon title in July, was also ousted.

With Novak Djokovic staying on track to become the first man in 52 years to claim all four major titles in a calendar year, the women's competition in New York was in danger of turning into an undercard during the second week of the Grand Slam.

But Raducanu and Fernandez ensured it did not, keeping the global audience captivated with their scintillating runs from relative obscurity.

Eleven weeks ago, the ever-smiling Raducanu had just completed school when she made her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon as a 338th-ranked wildcard. The U.S. Open was only her fourth tour-level tournament.

Fernandez played in the main draw at majors for the first time last year and was ranked 73rd at the start of the U.S. Open. But what would have seemed like an outrageous title clash became a reality when Saturday's final featured two unseeded players for the first time at a major in the Open Era. NEW CHAMPIONS: While men's tennis has crowned only one new major winner outside the trio of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Djokovic in the last five years, there have been 14 different major champions in women's tennis since the start of the 2017 season.

The depth and unpredictability of women's tennis has been a cause for celebration.

Bianca Andreescu and Iga Swiatek were both 19 when they won the 2019 U.S Open and 2020 French Open respectively, while Osaka and Sofia Kenin have also been among the young women's champions on the biggest stage in recent years.

Add in 17-year-old American Coco Gauff, who has already registered some stunning wins in her fledgling career, to the mix and women's tennis is looking at an exciting future.

"Emma and Leylah represent two of the WTA Tour's very talented group of young prospects and are leading what is sure to be an incredible era of WTA Tennis," WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon told Reuters a few hours before Saturday's final.

"The final looks to be one of the most exciting sporting events of the year as millions of tennis fans around the world will be inspired by these two incredible young female athletes, as they continue to exude great joy in competing on one of the sports' biggest stages while embodying the true spirit of what it means to be a WTA player, both on and off the court.

"A sports league could not ask for two better role models."

While pundits are cautious about the prospect of either Raducanu or Fernandez dominating the sport like Williams did after winning her maiden slam in New York in 1999, the duo have already established their star power and can expect sponsors and brands queuing up.

GLOBAL CITIZENS: Data and analytics company GlobalData predicted Raducanu could earn millions after becoming the first British woman to win a major since Virginia Wade's Wimbledon triumph in 1977.

Their global profile should also be a major draw and prepare fertile ground for new tennis interest and fans for the WTA. Jorge Fernandez, the father of the 19-year-old Canadian, is from Ecuador while Raducanu's is from Romania. Raducanu's mother is from China while Fernandez's has Filipino origin.

The British player could potentially tap into the massive market in China the same way Osaka did in her native Japan. Her recent comments about looking up to China's two-time major winner Li Na while growing up and her message in Mandarin after Saturday's win would surely endear her more to fans in the Asian country.

The teenagers were "fantastic" advertisement for the sport in its bid to boost global footprint, feels Jorge.

"I'm glad that they're touching the Asian community. I think that's a huge opportunity in the women's game just to be able to expand and have a new style," he said this week.

"Those two ladies are touching a lot of young girls.

They're touching a lot of young people.

"I'm getting messages about, 'please pass this to Leylah', little girls saying, 'you're making us believe'. This can only be good for the tennis game and the WTA altogether."

of good chances in the first half but Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel was alert.

Jamie Vardy had a goal ruled out for offside four minutes into the second half but it was Manchester City who finally broke the deadlock as Silva pounced on a loose ball in the box to fire home in the 62nd minute.

BRIGHTON UP TO FOURTH: Brighton's excellent start to the campaign continued with their third victory in four league games.

Leandro Trossard's curler from the edge of the penalty area in the 90th minute secured the three points from Graham Potter's side who are now fourth in the standings.

Arsenal moved off the bottom of the Premier League standings and scored their first goal of the campaign after captain PierreEmerick Aubameyang's scrambled 66thminute effort gave them a 1-0 home win over Norwich. Mikel Arteta's side produced an improved performance after their opening three defeats but were made to work hard by a rugged Norwich side before Aubameyang, who missed two first-half chances, broke the deadlock. The Gabonese striker fired wide in the 10th minute and was denied in the 20th by a superb save from visiting goalkeeper Tim Krul before Takehiro Tomiyasu volleyed over the bar for the dominant hosts on the stroke of halftime.

Pepe twice hit the post within a few seconds from a flowing move and the second rebound fell kindly to Aubameyang, who was perfectly positioned to tuck the ball into an empty net.

It's scary that India are a highly successful side who can still improve ESPNCRICINFO IAN CHAPPELL

There's no doubt that India are a very good allround team. They have conclusively proved it by winning consecutive series in Australia and now having had success in England, albeit Covid-affected, while they are virtually unbeatable at home. However, that isn't to say they can't improve. That's how good teams remain at or near the top - by constantly searching for ways to be better. Herbie Collins, a shrewd Australian captain of the 1920s, reckoned the most important aspect of selection was finding the right combination. India's best combination includes R Ashwin. He is a fine bowler under all conditions, as he proved in Australia, so India need to find a way to fit him into the XI. In trying to find a balance between the rightand left-hand batters in the middle order at The Oval, they may have inadvertently stumbled on the solution - Ravindra Jadeja at No. 5. If Jadeja proves good enough to hold down that spot in the order, the other piece required to complete the puzzle is a seam-bowling allrounder. The ideal player would be a fully fit Hardik Pandya, but they do have a second choice in Shardul Thakur. That is the great strength of this Indian side. They have substantial depth. A middle order that reads Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Pandya and Ashwin should provide the runs expected of that section. With three fast bowlers to follow, the batting is then supported by a versatile attack. That's the advantage of having a strong, well-balanced attack - you don't need huge scores to chase victory. The simplest equation for winning Test matches is for the batters to score quickly in order to give the bowlers enough time to take 20 wickets. The other good point about that middle order is that it's interchangeable. Skill-wise, Pant is the best batter of that lot. He's capable of restraint when the situation demands, so he could easily handle No. 5, especially when India bat first. However if he's had a long stint in the field, he could slide down the order to allow Jadeja to come in at five.

Pandya also has the potential to handle No. 5, and given encouragement, he could fulfil the role. Another attribute of that trio is their powerful strokeplay. The ability to accelerate the scoring rate is essential in Test cricket and those three are an ideal combination to take advantage of a good start to the innings. They are also a perfect fit for situations where the team is either chasing or setting a target. The only downside would be the loss of Ajinkya Rahane's tactical input and his slip fielding to the spinners. Nevertheless Rohit Sharma is now an acclaimed captain and he's capable of handling the vice-captaincy role. On the subject of slip fielding, this is one aspect of England's selection process that is definitely flawed. They are besotted with having a wicketkeeper who can bat, and in doing so they have overlooked that slip-fielding standards tend to imitate the form of the man with the gloves. The recent batting contributions from Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow don't compensate for their below-par glove work. If Ben Foakes is the best keeper, he should play. He's no slouch with the bat, and his greater range standing back will help widen the slip cordon and lift the standard.

Monday, 13 September, 2021

pRayeR timings

NEWS

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

4:58

12:30

3:59

6:14

6:46

8:03

‘Like an eternaL fLame’: americans honor the faLLen on 20th anniversarY of sept 11 NEW YORK

t

ReuteRs

wentY years after hijackers slammed airplanes into new York City’s world trade Center and the Pentagon outside washington, Americans came together on Saturday to remember the nearly 3,000 killed on Sept. 11, 2001, and reflect on how the attacks reshaped society and tipped the country into an intractable war.

As a first responder struck a silver bell, the ceremony at the Sept. 11 Memorial in lower Manhattan began with

a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. eDt (1246 GMt), the exact time the first of two planes flew into the world trade Center’s twin towers. President Joe Biden was in attendance, his head bowed.

Mike Low, the first speaker of the day, described the “unbearable sorrow” caused by the death of his daughter, Sara, a flight attendant on the airliner that hit the north tower.

“My memory goes back to that terrible day when it felt like an evil specter had descended on our world, but it was also a time when many people acted above and beyond the ordinary,” he said. “A legacy from

Sara, that burns like an eternal flame.”

Relatives then began to read aloud the names of 2,977 victims to the thousands who had gathered on the cool, clear morning, among them former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, new York’s junior senator at the time of the attacks.

Bruce Springsteen sang “I’ll See You in My Dreams”. Uptown at Lincoln Center dancers performed in silver and white robes, signifying the ashes and purity of those who perished in the deadliest attack on U.S. soil.

Al Qaeda chief appears in new video marking 9/11 anniversary

FBI releases declassified 9/11 document after Biden order

Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri appeared in a new video marking the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks, months after rumours spread that he was dead. The SITE Intelligence Group that monitors jihadist websites said the video was released on Saturday. In it, al-Zawahri said that “Jerusalem Will Never be Judaised,” and praised Al Qaeda attacks including one that targeted Russian troops in Syria in January. SITE said al-Zawahri also noted the US military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war. the associated pRess

WASHINGTON: The Federal Bureau of Investigation late on Saturday released the first document related to its investigation of the September 11, 2021, attacks on the United States and allegations of Saudi government support for the hijackers, following an executive order by President Joe Biden. Relatives of the victims had called on Biden to skip memorial events to mark Saturday’s 20th anniversary. ReuteRs

Opening ceremony of Trilateral Exercise Brotherhood being hosted by Azerbaijan was held at Baku today.

The exercise will be conducted in counter terrorism domain from 11-22 Sep 2021. Special forces from Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Turkey are participating in the subject exercise. ISPR

in today’s issue

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Yemen: the seven-year war with no peace in sight DUBAI: Seven years have passed since Houthi rebels seized the Yemeni capital Sana’a in September 2014, sparking a war that has plunged the already impoverished country into the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Despite diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting between the allegedly Iran-allied rebels and the Saudi-backed government, there is no end in sight to a conflict that has put millions on the brink of famine. afp

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