Epaper – September 15 LHR 2021

Wednesday, 15 September, 2021 I 7 Safar, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 76 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

Unvaccinated citizens to face stricter restrictions from sept 30: asad

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

a

s Pakistan inches closer to its ambitious target of administering Covid-19 vaccination to 70 percent of the eligible population by year-end, the government warned that people who are not vaccinated will not be allowed to work from offices from October.

In a televised message Tuesday, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said unvaccinated people will also not be eligible to enter shopping malls, use public transport or travel by air after the september 30 deadline.

Umar also asked people to keep social distancing in comments that came hours after Pakistan reported a steady decline in cases of coronavirus.

Umar said about 52 percent of the adult population in Islamabad had been vaccinated and other cities should also try to vaccinate at least 40 percent of their eligible population as soon as possible to avoid lockdowns and Covid-19

related restrictions.

Pakistan has reported 1.2 million infections and nearly 27,000 deaths since the pandemic began in February last year.

The minister also announced the lifting of additional non-pharmaceutical interventions in 18 of 24 districts where the restrictions were enforced earlier this month following a surge in daily cases.

He said the decision was taken after a decline was observed in new cases in those districts.

On september 4, the National Command and Operation Centre had enforced additional curbs in districts of Punjab, Khyber Pakthunkhwa and Islamabad, including a ban on indoor gatherings, closure of indoor gyms, ban on intercity transport and closure of educational institutions. Residents in these districts would now have to comply with pandemic restrictions as in the rest of the country but with no additional curbs, Umar said Tuesday. schools in these districts could open from september 16 (Thursday) but with 50 percent attendance and on alternate days. similarly, the intercity trans-

coronavirUs in

pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,210,082

LAST UPDATED AT 08:17 AM ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

78

2,580

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

1,097,416 26,865 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

446,045 415,654 KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

169,040

32,618

33,432/10,168

103,125

port will also start resume service with 50 percent capacity.

The timing for outdoor dining has also been extended from 10:00 pm to 12:00 am, however indoor dining will remain suspended, the minister announced.

Outdoor gatherings with a maximum of 400 people have been allowed, he said. But indoor gatherings will remain banned.

Umar, who also heads the NCOC, said the burden of coronavirus-positive patients on the health facilities was mounting as over 5,300 patients, who needed either oxygen or ventilator, were admitted to intensive care units. During the last few weeks, the demand for oxygen for medical purposes increased by 100 percent in proportion to the rising number of daily infections. But Umar expressed confidence that the commodity was available in sufficient quantity.

Although the situation had relatively improved, the danger had not subsided yet, he said. Therefore, the need for accelerating the vaccination rollout had become more necessary than ever.

He warned the towns with low vaccination percentages would again be put restrictions. “The government wants to lift the restrictions as soon as possible so that normalcy can return,” he added.

He said the government was spending Rs200 billion on the procurement of the vaccine. “Our target is to vaccinate at least 40 percent of the eligible population across the country,” he said. Islamabad had already achieved the target, he recalled. Meanwhile, Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas announced that all public and private schools in the province will reopen on september 16 with a staggered approach.

“Only 50 percent students will be allowed in schools on any given day,” the provincial education minister said in a tweet. “Please follow Covid sOPs issued by the government. Welcome back,” he added.

Dollar touches highest ever mark at Rs168.9 NewS DeSk The exchange rate of Pakistan rupee depreciated by 85 paisas on Tuesday against the Us dollar in interbank trading and closed at Rs168.94 as compared to the previous day’s closing of Rs168.09.

According to Forex Association of Pakistan, the buying and selling rates of dollar in the open market were recorded at Rs168.8 and Rs169.8 respectively.

The price of euro was appreciated by Rs1.57 and closed at Rs199.74 against the last day’s trading of Rs198.17, the state Bank of Pakistan reported.

The Japanese Yen gained one paisa to close at Rs1.53, whereas an increase of Rs 2.21 was witnessed in the exchange rate of British Pound, which was traded at Rs234.39 as compared to its last closing of Rs232.18.

The exchange rates of Emirates Dirham and saudi Riyal increased by 23 paisas each to close at Rs45.99 and Rs45.04 respectively.

The highest value of the dollar against the rupee was last recorded at Rs168.43 on August 26 last year.

The dollar had hit a 13-month high on september 10, 2021, when it reached close to the record high and was traded at Rs168.02. since May this year, the dollar has been rapidly marching to-

Integration of arms and services imperative for response to adversary during war: COAS newS deSk

Chief of Army staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa Tuesday said effective integration of various arms and services during training was imperative for befitting response to an adversary during the war.

He visited Pano Aqil and witnessed training of formation at Field Firing Ranges, salehpat, said an Inter-services Public Relations (IsPR) news release.

The COAs was given a detailed briefing on operational preparedness of the desert formation training in the field.

The participating troops demonstrated integrated battle drills by various components as part of the defensive battle in the desert including fire and manoeuvre.

Interacting with troops, the COAs appreciated their combat readiness, training standards and high morale while training under such tough conditions.

He also planted a tree as part of the sarsabz-o-shadab Pakistan campaign.

wards its peak value attained in August 2020 after foreign investments, including hot money invested in domestic bonds, started flying back to their destinations amid the pandemic impact, which began from the middle of March 2020.

However, the current situation is different from the previous episodes of increase in the dollar’s value because the foreign exchange reserves of the country are at their peak. The rising import bill played a key role.

However, the fear of higher current account deficit in FY22 is also a strong force convincing the buyers to book more dollars for future imports.

The widening trade gap is creating fear among importers that the exchange rate would further support the greenback against the local currency.

For its part, the sBP remains silent over the recent steep fall of the local currency. sBP Governor Dr Reza Baqir, during the presentation of monetary policy last month, made it clear that the current account deficit would be higher than FY21.

He had said the deficit would be in the range of two to three per cent and the exchange rate would respond to this deficit in the form of appreciation of the dollar.

He had also not identified the limit of devaluation of local currency or the point of stability of exchange rate.

more inside

Pakistan will recognise Taliban govt if it upholds commitments to human rights: ambassador STORY ON BACK PAGE

PM Imran, Russia’s Putin discuss Afghanistan situation STORY ON PAGE 02

He commended formation for this undertaking in unfavourable desert conditions aimed at preservation of the environment and strengthening the defence of the area.

Later, the COAs visited the family of sepoy Hizb Ullah Jatoi shaheed, in village Dattar Dino; Pano Aqil, who embraced shahadat on septem-

ber 5, 2021, due to an improvised explosive device attack on Frontier Constabulary troops deployed at Quetta.

The COAs inquired about the well-being of the family and directed all concerned to ensure the welfare of the families of shuhada; who had sacrificed their lives for the defence of the motherland.

Taliban thank world for promised aid, urge US to show ‘heart’ STORY ON BACK PAGE

Cabinet decides to introduce reforms in criminal justice system: Fawad STORY ON PAGE 02

02

Wednesday, 15 September, 2021

LAHORE

NEWS

PM IMran, russIa’s PutIn dIscuss afghanIstan sItuatIon ISLAMABAD

r

Mian abRaR

uSSIAN President Vladimir Putin Tuesday made a telephone call to Prime Minister Imran Khan and discussed measures to help the Afghanistan situation stabilise.

Recalling their earlier telephone conversation of 25 August 2021, the two leaders exchanged views on the latest developments of Afghanistan, bilateral cooperation, and collaboration in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Prime Minister Imran Khan underscored the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan for regional security and prosperity. He emphasized the urgent need for the provision of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and the imperative of averting an economic crisis.

Prime Minister Imran Khan underlined the need for the international community to

remain engaged in Afghanistan. He stressed that the Afghan people should not be abandoned at this crucial juncture.

He stressed that close coordination and consultations between Pakistan and Russia on the evolving situation in Afghanistan were of crucial importance.

In the bilateral context, the Prime Minister emphasized the growing cooperation across a range of sectors and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further upgrade the overall relationship.

He underscored that strengthening trade and investments and energy cooperation were the cornerstones of engagement with Russia. The premier also reaffirmed the Government’s resolve for early realization of the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline Project.

The PM reiterated his invitation to President Putin to visit Pakistan while President Putin renewed his invitation to Prime Minister Imran Khan to undertake a visit to Russia.

Pakistan reports decrease in coronavirus cases ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Average daily new coronavirus cases in Pakistan have dipped below 3,000 for the first time in more than four weeks, but experts cautioned on Tuesday that infections remain high and precautions to slow the pandemic must remain in place. The National Command and Operation Centre reported 2,580 new infections over the last 24 hours, it said in its daily update. Before this, the daily count has mostly been hovering between the 3,000-4,000 range for a month. The NCOC, department leading campaign against the pandemic, said the total cases rose to 1,210,082, including 1,097,416 recoveries, adding that the number of active cases rose to 85,801, including 5,304 critical patients.

The national coronavirus positivity rate in the last 24 hours was recorded at 5.44 percent, said the NCOC. The NCOC statistics showed that 78 patients died from the virus during the last 24 hours, pushing the overall death toll to 26,865.

Sindh is the worst-affected province of the country with 446,045 infections followed by Punjab which has reported 415,654 cases. Meanwhile, Pakistan has opened vaccination for the 15 to 18 years old age group in a bid to inoculate maximum people.

With parents and political leaders eager to have children around the country back in school for inperson learning, it is important to observe precautions, a health official said. “We need to all take responsibility to decrease that community spread, including mask-wearing so that we can get our kids and our society back,” she said.

Relations between Pakistan and Russia have been on an upward trajectory propelled by converging views on important regional and international issues, growing trust, and increasing bilateral cooperation manifested by recent high-level interactions.

The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact.

The situation in Afghanistan was the focus of a telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Kremlin press service said.

“The sides exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and expressed interest in coordinating their countries’ approaches to its stabilization,” it said.

Putin and Khan also discussed prospects for the development of bilateral relations in various spheres.

After the Biden administration announced the end of its uS military operation in Afghanistan and the launch of

its troop pullout, the Taliban embarked on an offensive against Afghan government forces.

On August 15, Taliban fighters swept into Kabul without encountering any resistance and gained full control over the Afghan capital within a few hours.

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani

said he had stepped down to prevent any bloodshed and subsequently fled the country.

On September 6, the Taliban said it had taken control of the entire country and announced a new interim government on the following day. The government is formed by Taliban members only.

Cabinet decides to introduce reforms in criminal justice system: Fawad NewS DeSk The federal cabinet on Tuesday made a landmark decision to introduce comprehensive reforms in the obsolete and outdated criminal justice system in the country in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision for the provision of timely and inexpensive justice.

Briefing the media about decisions of the Federal Cabinet meeting chaired

by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said Minister for Law and Justice Farough Naseem gave the cabinet a detailed briefing on the proposed law, adding, these reforms would entirely change the criminal justice system.

Fawad said the reforms would fulfil Prime Minister Imran Khan’s agenda of improvement in the criminal justice system to ensure timely justice.

He said the focus of reforms would be an inexpensive and timely provision of justice besides ending delay in trial and hurdles in registration of First Information Report.

He said now the matter would be discussed in the Cabinet Committee on Law and Justice and after that, it would be implemented.

He said the cabinet rejected the proposal of giving 10 percent adhoc relief to the Senate chairman and deputy chairman, National Assembly speaker and deputy speaker and members of Senate and National Assembly in their salaries.

He said the cabinet had also rejected an allowance traditionally given to members of the federal cabinet.

The minister said the decision was part of the austerity measures taken by the incumbent government from day one to reduce the burden on the national exchequer.

He said the decision was meant to show the nation that people in corridors of power were setting an example for other people to save the national kitty.

He said the Prime Minister House has made big saving in its expenditure as part of the PM’s authority drive and the National Assembly secretariat has returned Rs 1.54 billion to the government.

The cabinet, he said, was informed

that the cabinet allowed the Federal Board of Revenue to hire services for making its data more secure following a cyber attack on August 14 this year.

Fawad said hackers attacked the website of the Federal Board of Revenue, however, most of its data remained safe and an operational emergency was declared to secure its data.

He said the cabinet was informed that this year about a million cyberattacks were made on Pakistani websites which were thwarted by the National Telecom Company. It was informed that a comprehensive framework of cyber security was in place which was being further strengthened.

Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the

Ministry of Science and Technology briefed the cabinet on the process of electronic voting machines and overseas Pakistanis voting right.

The minister said the Ministry of Information Technology would launch 5G technology in the country from next year in which multiple companies had already shown interest.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan directed the Pakistan Telecom Authority to ensure good telecommunication services in all parts of the country so that everyone could benefit from the revolution in the sector.

The minister said the cabinet gave approval for the establishment of the Quaid-e-Azam Foundation.

He said the Prime Minister expressed disappointment over the delay in procurement of wheat despite his clear instructions for early procurement. He said Punjab province was issued directives for the immediate release of wheat which, he said, would help in a gradual reduction of wheat and flour price in the market.

On the proposal of the tariff policy board, the cabinet approved a reduction in additional customs duty on auto parts from seven to two percent to promote indigenous production of vehicles.

He said additional customs duty on heavy commercial vehicles had also been reduced from seven to two percent.

Moreover, he said that prices of 1000 cc and below cars would fall after the abolishment of additional duty on their equipment.

Voters ‘rejected’ PTI in cantonment elections: Nawaz NewS DeSk Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has said that voters had “rejected” the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the cantonment board elections held in Pakistan on Sunday, adding that he will be returning to Pakistan when the time is right.

The former prime minister, who has been living in London since November 2019, was speaking to around a dozen Pakistani reporters at his son’s office near Hyde Park Corner. The meeting lasted for two hours during which the journalists asked him questions about his relations with the military, his return to Pakistan, friction within the PML-N, the situation in Afghanistan and the cantonment board elections, reported Geo News.

The PML-N supremo said he has “no issue” with the establishment of Pakistan and the pivot of his struggle is the supremacy of the Constitution and democracy.

Sharif said he has been put in jail on several

occasions on “fake and concocted charges” in order to punish him for the stance he has taken for democracy in Pakistan. “I have no fight with the establishment or anyone, and there never will be (such a fight). I want respect for the democratic mandate of the people’s elected representatives, no interference in the functioning of the government and supremacy of the parliament and the Constitution.”

The PML-N supremo said he will be returning to Pakistan once cleared by his doctors. He said he was getting treatment in London and will be returning to Pakistan “at the right time” without fearing the consequences.

“I didn’t care for jails and sufferings when my wife was dying in London and I went to jail with my daughter, from London, in a fake case which was made to oust me from power to rig the 2018 elections. Those who ask if I am scared of jails should know that jails are nothing new for me: I spent months in Landhi jail and was tortured in a fake hijacking case. Pervez Musharraf imprisoned me in a fort but I didn’t

compromise on my stance, didn’t withdraw from my principled position. I stood by my stance and this stance has to win. It will win Inshallah. ” About the recent cantonment board elections, he said that he was grateful to Allah that his party candidates swept Punjab but alleged that there was “rigging” in these elections and that government machinery was used to support PTI candidates.

“Pakistan is suffering as a result of the policies of this government, I wonder who could vote for such a party which has brought so much misery to the people. We have been vindicated in these elections.”

Sharif told reporters that he was disqualified for life by the Supreme Court judges — many of whom are now retired — for not taking a salary from his son, but their “double standards have been exposed”.

“Judge Arshed Malik, before his death, said that he was blackmailed to convict me and Justice Shaukat Siddiqui told the Supreme Court of Pakistan how was put under pressure to victimise me and Maryam before 2018 elections. “Is this justice?” he asked.

Wednesday, 15 September, 2021

LAHORE

EcP rEjEcts MInIstErs’ claIMs, dEMands Proof of allEgatIons

t

NewS DeSk

HE Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday categorically rejected the allegations made by incumbent ministers last week against the top electoral body and moreover, demanded evidence to back up the claims made therein.

On Friday last, Railways Minister Azam Khan Swati had lashed out at the ECP, accusing it of “always” rigging polls. During a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, chaired by PPP Senator Taj Haider and called to discuss proposed amendments to the Elections (Amendment) Act, 2021, he had commented that institutions like the ECP should be “set on fire”. Swati had also alleged that the commission took bribes to rig polls.

The amendments, proposed by the government, primarily seek the use of electronic voting machines in elections and giving expatriates the right to vote — two issues that have been a point of contention between the government and the opposition for long.

Swati’s comments on the matter have drawn strong criticism from the opposition, including censure by Rafique on Saturday.

In a press release issued today after a meeting presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja and attended by senior ECP officials, the institution said it “objected to and rejected” the accusations against itself and the CEC.

The press release said evidence would be demanded from Swati for the comments he made about the ECP in the standing committee meeting.

Regarding the comments in the press conference, it said “the election commission has decided to issue notices to both ministers so further proceedings can be brought into effect regarding this matter.”

It added that the ECP has also sought the record from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority as well as all material regarding the standing committee incident and the press conference to be presented before it.

Reacting to today’s development, Chaudhry in a tweet said: “Respect for the ECP aside, if [you] don’t like [people] talking about individuals’ political role then [you] should maintain a non-political conduct.”

The minister said if he received a notice from the ECP, he would give a “detailed reply” to it. He added that individuals were not “immune to mistakes”, and that “criticism is done on individuals’ conduct, not on an institution.”

Separately, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Senator Shibli Faraz on Tuesday said that a peaceful and transparent election through an electronic voting machine was crucial for improving the electoral system.

Talking to a private news channel, he said the dream of a developed country could not be materialized without giving modern techniques in the electoral system, adding, the government was following a

comprehensive programme of promoting information technology and modern knowledge.

Minister for Science said that it was the need of the hour to use technology for improving the country’s electoral system.

EVM would reduce the human interface and make the electoral system more efficient, free and credible, Shibli said.

He said that the government was repeatedly asking all stakeholders including the opposition and the Election Commission of Pakistan before the finalization of the electronic voting process.

He said that it was ECP’s job to train people about the use of EVM and removed all objections in this regard.

Criticizing opposition for raising objection on EVM, he said it was not possible to get the results without being tested first.

“They (opposition are just criticizing the government even without checking the working system of machine,” he said. On September 11, a day after Railways Minister Azam Khan Swati passed scathing remarks against the Election Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Khawaja Saad Rafique urged the relevant institutions and civil society to take notice of the minister’s “threats” and take action on the matter.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the PML-N leader said while referring to Swati’s remarks: “They need to hold their tongue.”

He said it was perhaps for the first

time in history that “the ECP has taken a stand on principles,” and in that case, it was the collective responsibility of the civil society, lawyers and political parties to take notice of the threats made against the ECP and take measures to defend and protect the country’s institutions.

“If the government is making such threats, it is the responsibility of Pakistan’s civil society and political parties to fulfil their responsibility and their voice [against such verbal attacks],” he reiterated.

He said that instead of responding to the ECP’s objections over electoral reform with logical answers, the ruling party resorted to threatening the body.

On the matter of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf expressing the resolve to pass the election reforms bill, the PML-N leader said the bill could not be passed as it lacked the majority in the National Assembly. He added that no one, including Pakistan’s civil society and intelligence, would accept an election conducted via electronic voting machines.

“Their majority in the National Assembly is fake,” he said. “Who will accept legislation that is based on a fake majority?”

He further stated that electoral reforms had more to do with reaching common ground with the opposition than legislation. “And if we don’t agree [with the reforms], who would accept them?”

He then reiterated that relevant institutions, whose responsibility was to serve justice, should take notice of action over threats made against the ECP.

PM directs for transparent privatisation of public entities ISLAMABAD tLtp

Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to ensure transparency in completion of the privatisation process of various public entities, including Pakistan Steel Mills and Jinnah Convention Centre.

In a meeting with Federal Minister for Privatisation

Muhammad Mian Soomro, the prime minister was briefed on the current status of privatisation of different bodies. The prime minister was also updated on the encouraging results of the ongoing road shows, being held on September 13-21, aimed at attracting foreign investors for the revival of Pakistan Steel Mills.

The process regarding the privatisation of National Power Parks Management Company Limited

(NPPMCL), Jinnah Convention Centre (JCC) and Services International Hotel (SIH) Lahore also came under discussion.

Soomro said that investors from different countries have shown keen interest in revival of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), which is very encouraging. He said that best possible investors will be shortlisted through a transparent process.

With Taliban’s rise, India sees renewed threat in Kashmir SRINAGAR the aSSociated pReSS

India’s leaders are anxiously watching the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, fearing that it will benefit Pakistan and feed a long-simmering freedom campaign in occupied Kashmir, where fighters already have a strong foothold.

Neighbours India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir and both countries rule parts of the Himalayan region but claim it in full.

Indian officials worry that Afghanistan under the Taliban could be a base for organising fighters in Kashmir, many of whom wish to join Pakistan, in the struggle against the New Delhi occupation.

Jump on the propaganda bandwagon it helped pioneer, New Delhi has declared the Taliban Pakistan’s “proxy terrorist” group and supported Afghanistan’s uS-installed government before it was overthrown in August.

Syed Salahuddin, the leader of an alliance of a freedom group, called the Taliban’s victory “extraordinary and historical” in a voice message shared across social media days after the fall of Kabul.

Salahuddin, who is based in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, said he expected the Afghan group to aid Kashmir cause. “Same way, in the near future, India too will be defeated by Kashmir’s holy warriors,” he added.

In the last few years, anger in Kashmir has deepened after the Indian government — led by a rightwing Hindu nationalist party — stripped the Muslim-majority region of its semiautonomous status.

Indian officials with direct knowledge of strategic planning for the region say that the Taliban’s rise could draw more recruits and weapons for Kashmiri fighters coming from the world over. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity keeping with government regulations.

“Pakistan’s geopolitical stature has risen with the coming of Taliban and this will result in hardening of its position on Kashmir,” explained Pravin Sawhney, a military expert and editor of FORCE, a monthly magazine focused on India’s national security.

Spy chief Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed travelled in early

September to Kabul amid speculation that he was there to help in the formation of the new Taliban government.

Around the same time, India’s foreign secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, dashed to Washington where he said the united States and his country were “closely watching Pakistan’s actions in Afghanistan.”

Ahead of the final uS withdrawal, India was one of the first countries to evacuate its diplomats after Taliban fighters entered Kabul on August 15, fearing for the safety of its staff.

Indian officials maintain that proscribed groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba could use Afghanistan as an operating base and training ground.

“We do have concerns about the free ingress that these two terrorist groups have had in Afghanistan,” India’s top diplomat Shringla said when in Washington.

“The role of Pakistan has to be seen in that context,” he added.

Pakistan also accuses India of fomenting violence within its own borders. Islamabad has maintained Indian intelligence agents were operating out of Afghanistan and using global terrorist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army to carry out attacks.

India was the region’s largest provider of development aid to Afghanistan’s uS-backed government, investing around $3 billion in two decades.

Even though it had no military boots on the ground, India trained the Afghanistan army and police and supplied military equipment — something which could not keep it from melting in the face of rapid Taliban advances.

With no diplomatic presence left in Kabul, India held its first official meeting with a Taliban representative in Qatar on August 31.

New Delhi said it raised its “concern that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in any manner.”

Indian policymakers and experts say they see no guarantees that Afghanistan won’t become a haven for militants.

“Afghanistan may be poised to become a bottomless hole for all shades of radical, extremist and jihadi outfits somewhat similar to Iraq and Syria, only closer to India,” speculated Gautam Mukhopadhaya,

who was India’s ambassador in Kabul between 2010 to 2013.

He added the Taliban victory could have an “inspirational effect” not only for Kashmir’s fighters but wherever religiously-driven groups operate in the broader region.

In 1989, partly inspired by the defeat of Soviet troops at the hands of Afghan guerrillas, Kashmir erupted into a full-blown armed rebellion against Indian control. Many Kashmiri rebels were trained in Afghanistan in the years before.

People of Kashmir continue to support the goal for a united Kashmir that would either be independent or ruled by Pakistan. In recent years, tens of thousands of locals have defied police restrictions and participated in street protests, as well as the funerals of freedom leaders. After Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed Kashmir’s special status in 2019, the crackdown on dissent and civil liberties in the territory intensified. Hundreds of resistance activists remain in Indian jails.

Experts say such a stifling environment partly feeds insurgency, opening up the space for more pro-freedom groups.

The Taliban has indicated it wants India to continue with its developmental projects in Afghanistan, but the group has also made statements challenging New Delhi.

Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman recently told the BBC that the group had a right to “raise our voice for Muslims in Kashmir, India or any other country.”

Those who have fought against India in Kashmir see renewed hope.

Ahmed, a former fighter who guided a few Afghans across the mountains into Kashmir in the 1990s, recalled them as “good fighters” who “motivated and trained” young men to join the armed struggle.

Two decades on, Ahmed, who gave only his middle name for fear of retribution from Indian authorities, said he anticipated local militants, facing a shortage of weapons, would receive the “latest arms” from Afghanistan.

“Their victory has instilled a tremendous hope. It’s a shot in the arm, at a time when we are not even allowed to speak openly,” he said.

NEWS

03

schools’ union opposes decision to pass, promote all students ISLAMABAD: The association of private schools has opposed the decision to pass and promote all students of matriculation and intermediate classes, terming it a “joke” with the deserving students. In a statement, All Pakistan Private Schools Federation President Kashif Mirza also deplored the decision to commence the academic session from August, instead of March, every year. The statement was issued in response to a meeting of the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference held on Monday which decided to declare as pass all students and award 33 percent marks, the minimum requirement to clear a board test, to them if they fail in any subject. Presided over by Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood, the meeting had decided since students had faced difficulties in preparing for their assessments during the health crisis, they should be given concession. Staff RepoRt

PIa gets new jet ISLAMABAD: In a move aimed at expanding flight operations and provide improved facilities to its customers, Pakistan International Airlines Tuesday inducted an Airbus A-330 into its fleet. The flag carrier has secured two Airbus jets on lease via open tender.

One of the aircraft reached Islamabad today, while the other is expected to reach by month-end. A niche product aimed at countries with congested domestic markets, the wide-body 2017-born jets are aimed at replacing the ageing fleet of the airline. Commenting on the development, PIA Chief Executive Officer Arshad Malik thanked the efforts of the team. inp

Mansoor, Muttaqi discuss ways to strengthen Pak-afghan cooperation KABUL: Pakistan Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan called on de-facto Afghan Foreign Minister-designate Amir Khan Muttaqi on Tuesday and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The meeting discussed ways to facilitate humanitarian, economic and people-topeople exchanges between the two countries.

“Called on the new Afghan Foreign Minister H.E Amir Khan Mutaqi and discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation particularly facilitating humanitarian, economic and people-to-people exchanges,” Mansoor Ahmed Khan said in a tweet after the meeting. He is the first foreign envoy to meet the Afghan foreign minister, suggesting Pakistan’s policy of staying engaged with the new dispensation in Kabul. The meeting, according to the Taliban spokesperson, took place at the ministry of foreign affairs of Afghanistan. Sohail Shahin, Taliban spokesperson, said the two discussed “smooth movement of people at Torkham and Spin Boldak borders and problems of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.” Zabiullah Mujahid also tweeted the development. tLtp

Wednesday, 15 September, 2021

04 NEWS

LAHORE

KP gOveRnment cOmPLetes eIght hydROPOweR PROjects PESHAWAR

K

AZiZ BUnERi

hyber Pakhtunkhwa Energy and Power Department has completed 8 different hydropower projects with a total capacity of 161MW through which Rs3.98bn annual revenue is expected. Similarly, under the solar project, five different schemes of 3.12MW have been completed which have resulted in an annual saving of Rs86m. Work is also in progress on the construction of other seven hydropower projects with a total capacity of 232MW and 7 solar projects with a total capacity of 43MW as well. These projects are expected to generate annual revenue of Rs9bn and savings of Rs865m, respectively.

This was told in a meeting of the Energy and Power Department held here with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in the chair on Tuesday. Special Assis-

tant to CM for Energy Taj Muhammad Tarand, Secretary Energy Muhammad Zubair, PEDO Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Naeem and other concerned officials attended the meeting.

The forum was briefed about the major achievements and overall performance of the department and was told that so far 8 hydropower projects had been completed in the province that includes 81MW Malakand-III Hydropower Project Dargai, 18MW Hydropower Project Pehur, 1.8MW Shishi Hydropower Project Chitral, 4.2MW Reshun Hydropower Project Chitral, 2.6MW Machai Hydropower Project Mardan, 36.6MW Daral Hydropower Project Swat, 17MW Ranolia Hydropower Project Kohistan and 10 mini micro-projects on Canals. Similarly, it was informed that 7 Hydropower Projects were under construction in the different parts of the province including 10.2MW Jabori Hydropower Project Mansehra, 11.8MW Karora Hydropower Project Shangla,

40.8MW Koto Hydropower Project Dir Lower, 84MW Mataltan Hydropower Project Swat, 69MW Lawi Hydropower Project Chitral, 10.5MW Chapri Charkhel Hydropower Project Kurrum and 6.5MW Barando Hydropower Project District Torghar. These seven projects would be completed with a total estimated cost of Rs73bn.

The authorities told that an agreement had been signed with the Asian Development Bank for the construction of the 300MW Balakot Hydropower Project, adding that an agreement had also been inked with the World Bank for the construction of 157MW Madain Hydropower Project and 88MW Gabral Kalam Hydropower Project.

They informed that under the Public-Private Partnership, 188MW Naran and 96MW Batakundi Hydropower Projects were also under construction whereas feasibility for 496MW Spatgah Hydropower Project was in

progress. It was further informed that PCIs of three different projects having the total capacity of 564MW had been prepared, adding that these projects would be reflected in the next Public Sector Development Program. It was also told that under the first phase of Mini Micro Hydropower Projects, 356 minimicro Hydropower Projects were being constructed in the different parts of the province out of which 266 projects had been completed and operationalized so far while under the second phase of the project more 672 mini micro-hydropower projects would be constructed in the province. Briefing about the solar projects, the authorities informed that 2323 mosques had been solarized in the province adding that under the project a total of 4000 mosques would be converted to the solar system. Similarly, 8000 schools were also being solarized in the province out of which the solarization of 3000 schools had been completed so far. They added that a contract had been awarded for the construc-

Punjab govt prepares for participation in Dubai Expo LAHORE SHAHAB OMER

The Punjab Government has intensified its activities regarding the representation in Dubai Expo 2021 while a meeting of the Steering Committee on Expo was also held under the chairmanship of Provincial Minister for Industry and Commerce Mian Aslam Iqbal.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Secretaries of Finance, Industry and Commerce, Information and Culture besides officers of concerned departments. The meeting reviewed the arrangements and budget proposals for participation in Dubai Expo while on this occasion the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) Dr Arfa Iqbal briefed about the arrangements made for the participation of Punjab in Dubai Expo.

However, sources in the Industries Department informed that letters have been sent by PBIT and Industries Department to all the departments of Punjab to showcase their projects at the Dubai Expo.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Dubai Expo

was scheduled for October to April 2020-21. Following a change in schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has now been rescheduled and the Expo will be bigger and better following its opening on 1 October 2021 and will continue till 31 March 2022 in which countries from all over the world will participate.

However, while talking to the participants of the meeting, Iqbal said that investment opportunities and the environment in Punjab would be fully highlighted through Dubai Expo.

“The Punjab government will hold a cultural and commercial ‘showcasing’ of the province at the Dubai Expo in November. All concerned departments should soon finalize their arrangements for participation in the Dubai Expo. The Dubai Expo will host investment conferences, seminars, panel discussions and other events,” the minister said.

Addressing the participants, Provincial Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht said that highquality documentaries should be prepared regarding investment opportunities in various sectors of Punjab and a plan should be drawn up for organizing the events.

tion of 13 mini solar grid stations in merged areas, further stating that transmission and grid companies of the province had been established. A 10 years business plan has also been approved for the funding of power projects under the PEDO whereas the E-Bidding system has been launched by the department.

Expressing his satisfaction over the performance of the energy department, the CM has directed the quarters concerned to prepare a workable operational plan for operating completed mini micro hydel power stations further directing them to ensure participation of the local community for better management of these hydel power stations.

He was also directed to immediately initiate work on phase-II of mini-hydropower projects and solar projects as well. He further directed to finalised arrangements to perform groundbreaking of Balakot Hydropower Project and to start work on the construction of solar grid stations in the merged areas without any delay.

Overseas Pakistanis provided URL to file tax returns: FBR ISLAMABAD APP

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) here on Tuesday said that it had provided URL to overseas Pakistanis to get access to IRIS for filing of income tax returns. FBR Spokesperson in a tweet said that considering the problems faced by the overseas Pakistanis to get access to IRIS for filing of Income Tax Returns, FBR has provided the following URL (https://iiris.fbr.gov.pk) for their facilitation to access IRIS for filing the annual return.

"Considering the problems faced by the overseas Pakistanis to get access to IRIS for filing of Income Tax Returns, FBR has provided following URL for their facilitation to access IRIS for filing the annual return:

Indonesian envoy urges businessmen to enhance trade ties SIALKOT APP

ISLAMABAD: Government employees protest in favour of their demands in the federal capital. OnlinE

Petroleum prices likely to go up by Rs10.50 per litre ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADAni

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has worked out up to Rs10.50 per litre hike in the price of petroleum products (POL) and forwarded its work to the petroleum and finance divisions for further necessary approval in this regard.

According to sources, already burdened masses should get ready to bear a heavy jolt in the form of a massive hike in the per litre price of petroleum products (POL) as OGRA has prepared a summary related to future oil prices and forwarded the

summary to petroleum and finance divisions. Similarly, the finance division will announce the future oil prices in consultation with Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan. The Finance Division will announce the new oil prices (POL) on September 15 for the remaining days of the current month, said sources.

“Finance Division has received the working of OGRA pertaining to future POL prices and the new oil price will become effective across the country from 16 September 2021 after getting the PM’s nod,” said the sources. As per details, OGRA has suggested the government approve

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an increase of Rs 10.50 per litre in the price of high-speed diesel (HSD), Rs1/litre in petrol price, and Rs5.50/litre hike in the price of kerosene oil. Similarly, the OGRA has worked out an Rs5.50/litre rise in the price of Light Diesel Oil (LDO) for the second half of the ongoing month of September 2021.

Sources also informed that new oil prices will become effective from tomorrow’s midnight across the country. The POL price hike summary has been prepared following the current levy and General Sales Tax (GST) imposed on POL prices, said the sources.

Indonesian Ambassador to Pakistan Adam Mulawarman Tugio has called upon the Sialkot exporters to explore the international trade markets of his country to promote bilateral trade between the two countries.

Addressing a meeting at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Tuesday, he said Pakistani businessmen should focus more on the markets of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to increase their exports.

He promised all-out efforts to boost mutual trade between his country and Pakistan. He said the two countries enjoyed cordial trade, and both share many cultural values. He also stressed people-to-people contacts between the two countries.

He showed keen interest in SCCI's documentary "Sialkot, the city of progressive people", which was screened during the meeting.

SCCI President Qaisar Iqbal Baryar, Senior Vice President Khurram Aslam Butt, Vice President Sheikh Ansar Azizpuri and the Sialkot business community also attended the event.

Qaisar Baryar said there was great potential for increasing bilateral trade between Pakistan and Indonesia. He said the total trade volume between the two countries in 201920 stood at $2.5 billion, with the balance of trade strongly in favour of Indonasia. He said Sialkot could export specialised products to Indonesian markets including sports goods, surgical instruments, leather products and gloves of all sorts, textile items, sportswear, martial arts uniforms and accessories, musical instruments, kitchenware and tableware, hollowware, hunting knives, table cutlery/flatware, and military uniform badges.

Earlier, the ambassador visited leading industrial units in Sialkot. He showed interest in the production process of sports goods and surgical instruments.

Wednesday, 15 September, 2021

LAHORE

NEWS

VAVACArs AwArDED ConsumEr ChoiCE AwArD KARAcHi

V

PRESS RELEASE

AvACARS, one of the country’s leading online car trading platforms, has been awarded the prestigious Consumer Choice Award at a glamorous ceremony held in Marriott Hotel, Karachi. The event was held on 11th September and was attended by members of the Federal as well as Provincial governments, businessmen, senior executives from leading corporations and a host of other prominent individuals from their respective fields.

The Consumer Choice Awards is the largest network of consumer rights in Pakistan. For the past 15 years, the platform supported by the Consumers Association of Pakistan has awarded organizations for excellence in customer service. vavaCars has risen to new heights of recognition and service provision to drive customer satisfaction.

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The company won the Consumer Choice Award this year as ‘Pakistan’s Most Trusted Used Car Trading Platform’ for revolutionizing the traditional method of used car sales, purchase and exchange. vavaCars started its operations in Pakistan in January 2020. While injecting foreign investment in the local market and encouraging job creation as well as organizing an otherwise completely unorganized used car market, this startup offers a fast and secure way to buy, sell and exchange an automobile through a digital platform. Selling your car through vavaCars is a hassle-free experience; whether you are at home or the Customer Center– car inspection experts conduct a thorough, free inspection, based on which the customer gets an immediate offer, and can get an instant payment if they agree. This process of inspection across 200+ checkpoints, offers, detailed explanation of the car condition report, and price offer takes only 45 minutes.

Aslam for exploring investment opportunities through Dubai Expo LAHORE TLTP

Punjab Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal has said that investment opportunities in Punjab would be explored through Dubai Expo. The provincial trade minister said this while presiding over a meeting of the steering committee regarding Dubai Expo arrangements on Tuesday.

Mian Aslam said that the Punjab government would showcase its cultural and trade activities in Dubai Expo in November. He asked all the relevant departments to finalise their arrangements for participation in Dubai Expo. The minister said that an investment conference, seminars, panel discussions and other events would be organised in Dubai Expo. Addressing the meeting, Punjab Minister Finance Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht said state-of-the-art documentaries would be prepared for exploring the investment opportunities in different areas of Punjab. He directed to present the final plan of events scheduled for the Dubai Expo. The meeting reviewed arrangements and budget proposals for participation in Dubai Expo. On this occasion, CEO Punjab Investment Board Dr Erfa Iqbal briefed about the arrangements of Punjab participation in Dubai Expo.

The additional chief secretary and secretaries of finance, industries and trade and information and culture departments along with officers of other relevant departments attended the meeting.

PSX wins Best Islamic Stock Exchange Award 2021 KARAcHi PRESS RELEASE

In a significant development on a global level, especially in the Islamic world, Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has been awarded the Best Islamic Stock Exchange Award 2021 by Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA).

PSX has a robust platform for providing Shariah-compliant products including dedicated Islamic indices, Shariah-compliant equities and debt instruments. PSX has listed Modarabas and Islamic Commercial Banks as well as products such as Islamic Mutual Funds and an ETF. It boasts of the total listed capital of Shariah-compliant companies of Rs77bn of the total listed capital of all listed companies.

PSX presents a strong product suite for investors looking to invest according to Islamic principles of finance. It is also a cost-effective and efficient platform for Shariah-compliant companies to raise debt and equity capital, utilising Shariah-compliant products.

Speaking at the occasion, the PSX Chairperson, Dr Shamshad Akhtar, stated, “It is an immense achievement for PSX to have won the Best Islamic Stock Exchange Award 2021 presented by GIFA. Islamic equity and debt products form a large portion of the demand in international capital mar-

kets. PSX winning this accolade shows that it is a premium platform for listing and investing in Islamic capital market products”.

She added, “The winning of this award endorses that PSX is heading in the right direction in terms of facilitating and providing Islamic capital market products and offerings. We intend to build on Islamic finance business at PSX, and ensure furthering PSX’s regulatory, operational, technological standards and products in providing diversified Islamic products and facilitating Shariah-compliant equity and debt listings' '.

PSX MD, Farrukh H. Khan, added, ‘Pakistan Stock Exchange is truly honoured and proud to win the Best Islamic Stock Exchange award 2021, under the auspices of the GIFA. This award is a recognition not just of PSX’s standing in the world of Islamic finance but of Pakistan as well. Both PSX and Pakistan have been working for many years to introduce Islamic modes of financing, in both the banking and capital markets.

This has filled a real need of the financial sector customers. Today, Islamic financial products are the fastest growing in Pakistan.

He further stated, “Pakistan Stock Exchange boasts of the total market capitalization of Shariah-compliant companies of Rs 4,770 Bn which makes up 57% of the total market capitalization of all listed companies (as of June

30th, 2021). With Sukuks, an ETF, Modarabas, Mutual Funds and equity listings that are Shariah-compliant, PSX provides for a viable and convenient conduit for capital raising for those who want to list their products and companies following Shariah compliance. At the same time, PSX presents an attractive avenue for investors who want to invest as per Islamic principles of finance”.

“This award, which has been presented to PSX for the first time in the 10-year history of GIFA, is an international vote of confidence in PSX as a robust and active bourse, facilitating all types of companies and investors – whether Shariah-compliant or otherwise. None of this would have been possible without the great team at PSX, support of SECP, the brokerage community, our board and shareholders. And of course our listed companies and investors. We thank them all and look forward to continuing on this path of progress for PSX and Pakistan”, he added. SECP Chairman, Aamir Khan, felicitated PSX; “The PSX has made commendable strides over the last two years, and winning ‘Best Islamic Stock Exchange Award 2021’ is a testament to its efforts in promoting Islamic products and offerings in the capital market. SECP strongly supports PSX’s continued efforts to serve a wider client base and meet the needs of Shariah conscious issuers and investors”.

Apple doubles down on 5G with new iPhone 13, upgrades iPad Mini REUTERS Apple Inc on Tuesday unveiled a new iPhone 13 and 13 Mini with brighter screens to entice customers into 5G plans, while also announcing updates to its iPads and watches.

The iPhone 13 will have a new chip called the A15 Bionic that will power features like automatically detecting when the phone's camera is pointed at text. Apple said the iPhone 13 will have custom 5G antennas and radio components for faster speeds and will come in five colours.

The phone will start at $699, and participating wireless carriers will offer up to $700 off for qualifying trade-ins. The iPhone 13 Pro starts at $999 and the Pro Max starts at $1,099, with trade-in offers of up to $1,000.

All three models will be available from September 24.

“The competition is still playing catchup to our chips — not just from last year, but even from two years ago,” said Kaiann Drance, an Apple iPhone marketing executive.

The Series 7 smart watch will feature a larger display and faster charging. It will

start at $399 and be available later this autumn. The company also updated its iPad Mini with 5G connectivity and a reworked design that makes it look like the higherend iPad Air and Pro models. Apple also updated its base-model iPad with a new camera for working and learning from home. The base model iPad starts at $329, and the Mini starts at $499. Both will be available next week.

Apple shares were down 0.5 per cent, in line with a slight downturn in broader markets. “It seems like there's nothing really revolutionary announced, but of course, as usual, they announced enough improvements to at least generate some enthusiasm among consumers,” said Rick Meckler, partner at family investment office Cherry Lane Investments.

Apple last year introduced its iPhone 12, which featured a new look and its first devices with 5G connectivity. This year, analysts expect modest hardware upgrades and a deeper focus on 5G. In particular, carriers such as AT&T Inc, verizon Communications and T-Mobile that have significantly built out their networks

since the start of this year are likely to offer new incentives around the devices that can take advantage of the faster speeds those networks can offer, said Ben Bajarin, head of consumer technologies at Creative Strategies. “There seems to be way more [5G network capacity] than was in place even six

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months ago,” Bajarin said. “They want people upgrading. They're going to be really aggressive.” Apple's biggest product launch of the year comes as some of the shine has come off its stock as business practices such as charging software developers commissions on in-app payments have come under

regulatory scrutiny.

Apple shares were up about 15.6pc year to date, trailing the Nasdaq Composite Index, which was up nearly 19pc over the same period.

The Apple Watch has become a cornerstone of its $30.6 billion accessories segment, which was up 25pc in Apple's most recent fiscal year even as its iPhone revenue declined slightly.

Analysts widely believe that Apple users who buy more than one product — such as an Apple Watch and iPhone — are more likely to stick with the brand and spend on the company's apps and services.

Apple focused on fitness features such as improving how the watch tracks bicycling workouts, and dust protection for hiking.

The watch is paired tightly with Apple Fitness+, a paid service offering guided workouts with Apple instructors.

The company added pilates and skiing-oriented workouts, and a group workouts function designed to let users work out together. The company also bundled three months of free service with its watch devices.

Wednesday, 15 September, 2021

06 COMMENT

The SNC’s constitutional invasion

President Alvi’s problematic speech Lacking neutrality and nuance

Among other problems, the SNC is constitutionally dubious

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DDReSSING a joint session of parliament on Monday, President Arif Alvi suggested that Pakistan and other countries of the world, rather than unjustly criticizing Prime Minister Imran Khan, should not only praise but try to benefit from his unmatched understanding of issues that includes, but is not limited to, complex geopolitical issues like Afghanistan, by coming under his tutelage and becoming his devotees. Perhaps he was referring to the same level of devotion he has shown Mr Khan over the past many years in the PTI that allowed him to secure the prestigious post of President of Pakistan. unfortunately, as evidenced by his contentious statement, he is seemingly unaware of the political expectations from his role as laid down in the constitution, that of being bipartisan and neutral. Granted, he is a senior member of the PTI whose leader is Mr Khan, but as President, he represents the entire country and therefore must maintain neutrality in the discharge of his official duties. That there were a series of protests, both inside and outside Parliament, against the government’s relentless pursuit to muzzle the media further by passing the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) bill, warranted a much more nuanced and balanced speech as opposed to the divisive rhetoric the President opted for.

It is also unfortunate that in the face of a rapidly deteriorating situation across the border in Afghanistan that all regional players are monitoring closely and are concerned over the ramifications each would face in terms of a rise in terrorism, the brunt of which Pakistan would face, was mentioned only in the context of how Mr Khan’s ‘advice’ to the uSA eventually proved correct, instead of outlining a short- to medium-term strategy that Pakistan would adopt in the coming days. An embarrassing incident where he looked up at the National Assembly’s press gallery to thank the media for its role in curbing the spread of covid-19, only to find that it was empty as it was locked on the orders of the National A ssembly Speaker during the President’s speech, perfectly encapsulates the condition and trajectory of democratic norms in the country.

mohsin saleem ullah

M

uch has been debated on the electronic media, passing misinformed memes on social media and presenting counter narrative essays have overwhelmed the newspapers on the Single National curriculum. Late last year, the debate mainly focused on the content of the curriculum and the agony of the private school chains with discontinuing of their flashy syllabi, highlighted the economic disparities of the society which was described as education apartheid.

Since the curriculum dust has settled down, a new point of contention was expressed by the members of the civil society, academics, and minority rights activist about the Islamisation of the national curriculum that violates the Article 22 of the Pakistani constitution, allowing for freedom of religion at the academic institutions. however, religious minorities were later exempted from studying specific parts of syllabus highlighting Islamic core concepts that formed the bases of their debate.

The constitutional challenges brought by the SNc deserve to be examined. Before I delve deep let me recall that the Government of India Act 1935, contained three legislative lists, the federal, concurrent, and provincial lists. The partition of the state subjects falling in each specific category, precluded any effort

Rising tension between bar and bench And the need to resolve it

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he issue of the tension currently prevailing between the Bench and the Bar popped up during the ceremony at the Supreme court marking the advent of the new judicial year. Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan observed that the tension had never reached the present level. This was thrown into relief by the absence of the ScBA President and PBc Vice President, who sent instead their proxies to speak. Last month the lawyers bodies boycotted the oath-taking ceremony of Mr Justice Muhamad Ali Mazhar for being elevated to the Supreme court out of turn. This month the lawyers organizations strongly opposed the move to elevate Justice Ayesha A. Malik to the Supreme court for being a junior judge, which they claimed was yet another unjustified deviation from the seniority principle in the appointment of judges to the apex court. The boycott by the lawyers organisations of the farewell reception-cumdinner in honour of Mr Justice Mushir Alam was yet another indicator of the bench-bar tension.

In an era of hybrid democracy characterized by powerful institutions extending their turf in disregard of constitutional provisions, doubts and suspicions are bound to be generated whenever courts take decisions by exercising discretion rather than through uniform criteria.

Of late brows have been raised and questions asked about the assignment of cases, formation of benches and selection of issues for suo motu action through the cJP’s discretion rather than precisely spelt-out and uniform criteria. At a time when attempts are afoot to silence independent judges and media persons, there is a need on the part of the courts to be extra careful. In a somewhat left-handed compliment, PBc member Amjad Shah praised the agility displayed by the Supreme court to sentence elected PMs, wishing at the same time that the same should have happened in General Pervez Musharraf’s case, who had abrogated the constitution twice.

Both competence and seniority matter while elevating a judge to the Supreme court. Measuring competence through personal discretion in the interesting times that the country is passing through can give birth to suspicions and raise questions as one has seen happening during the last few months. under the circumstances, there is a need to work out objective criteria to judge a candidate’s competence.

Till this is done, seniority remains the only uniform criterion for making appointments without causing disputes.

The US failure’s roots go back

Washington Watch Dr James J Zogby

W

hILe first responders were still sifting through the rubble of the World Trade center, the George W. Bush administration was laying the groundwork for domestic and foreign policies that put the uSA on a dangerous path, with devastating impact on our country and the world.

While President Bush made forceful statements cautioning Americans not to retaliate against Arabs and Muslims, his attorney general, John Ashcroft, was already rounding up of thousands of mainly Arab immigrants for deportation. Guilty of no crimes and never charged, they were summarily deported without due process, ruining lives and tearing families apart.

Then, two special “call-ups” of thousands more Arab immigrants and visitors were followed by a “Special Registration” programme requiring more than 180,000 immigrants to report to authorities.

Poorly conceived and arbitrarily implemented, the program resulted in thousands being unfairly given deportation notices. Importantly, a review of these “counter-terror, national security” measures found that not a single person rounded up or deported posed a terrorist threat to the country. These draconian measures only resulted in creating fear in immigrant

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami M. A. Niazi

Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

The writer reports for Fox News Digital and also a freelance columnist. He is currently pursuing an LLM at UC Berkeley and can be reached at mohsin.saleemullah@berkeley.edu

How Bush’s handling of 9/11 made a mess

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

of transgression if made by a province or the federal government. Any matter in relation to devising educational policy, implementation and curriculum, fell into the provincial legislative list. Later, when Pakistan had its first constitution in 1956, which ensured to place all sorts of education of all levels in the domain of provinces, the same practice was continued in the making of the 1962 constitution.

A major shift of education was noticed in the 1973 constitution, which was placed in the concurrent and federal legislative list in contrast to retaining it as a provincial subject. Both the lists dealt with specific entries of education, but the concurrent list included some additional functions for instance planning curriculum and maintaining standards of education, empowering the central government to become a major stakeholder in running the affairs of education. In the pre-18th Amendment era, education in the concurrent list was a jointly run function of the federal as well as provincial governments.

In 2010, the passing of 18th amendment revised the constitutional framework of distribution of power between the central and provincial governments, including abolishing of the concurrent list, that brought several subjects, including education, under the direct control of the provinces. Since then, the provinces have been empowered with the developing of the curriculum, and running the education sector independently.

In line with a bunch of promises of Naya Pakistan including having a uniform curriculum nationwide, the SNc feels like a dream come true. But coercing private school bodies to enforce the SNc and scrapping the provincial autonomy has never been the mandate of the public, which elected the PTI. In support of the curriculum, the federal government has transgressed the 18th Amendment, which had transferred the curriculum making power to the provinces. It is baffling everyone, whether this action transpires so as to take back some subjects that were devolved to the provinces, or this move is an effort to exercise federal autonomy over provinces. But if that is the case, the 18th Amendment should be revoked and not just the SNc, for as well as hurting the sentiments of the people of Pakistan, it should not be used for political gain.

In a futile effort to re-centralize the curriculum, the federal government has developed a flawed curriculum of social studies that ignores the awareness about the district, and the province, where a child lives. however, it directly jumps from awareness about the neighbourhood to the national facts. using a curriculum lacking information about a child’s sur-

roundings, will affect his understanding of the world.

Like always, we have remained divided over religion, sects, festivals. And now the SNc is added to a long list of debatable subjects, for despite the SNc having the slogan of “One Nation One curriculum”m Sindh, and Baluchistan are not ready to make any changes in their current curriculum, and only KPK and Punjab are following the SNc. Given this situation, I doubt Pakistan can ever get 25 million children under the umbrella of SNc, which purportedly aimed for removing class distinctions, especially mainstreaming nearly three million madrassah going students, in an effort to address the concerns of religious radicalisation.

Another looming question with respect to the inclusion of Pakistan’s regional languages in public education has raised concerns about the social justice, and respect that each province’s values, beliefs, and customs should be legitimately reflected in the National curriculum.

Article 251(3) of the constitutions reads “Without prejudice……... law prescribe measure for the teaching, promotion and use of a provincial language in addition to the national language.” In breach of the constitutional provision, the SNc considers the promotion of other regional languages as unworthy by providing that the curriculum will be taught in urdu, which means urdu will replace all regional languages and cultures. In a country, rich in diverse cultures there are over 66 languages spoken other than urdu that hold educational and cultural value to the provinces.

But they are deliberately ignored by the federal government in its obsession with the SNc, and apathy towards the country’s cultural and linguistic diversity.

Since Pakistan’s inception in 1947, the country has been facing a national identity crisis that has led to its obsession with the search for a collective identity. This time the country’s incumbent government has further deepened that identity crisis by illegitimately employing educational policies and developing a curriculum that has never been its constitutional mandate.

For the betterment of the country, already marred by political and financial crises, the PTI or any successive government should aim to collaborate with the concerned stakeholders. And by setting aside political aims and gains it can foster national integration, which is the need of the hour.

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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communities.

Then came the massive surveillance programs and use of informants to entrap some young Muslims into planning bogus acts of terror, followed by Justice Department press conferences at which Ashcroft would announce, “We caught another one.” civil rights groups argued that no crimes were committed nor even would have been planned had the “perpetrators” not been entrapped.

Again, these efforts served only to create fear in the Arab and Muslim communities and to fuel anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiment.

The use of subjective profiling, mass surveillance, and lack of due process had started during the clinton administration, but were intensified during the Bush years, and have lasted until the present day— taking a toll not only on my community, but also on the civil liberties of all persons in this country— without contributing one iota to our security, according to civil rights organizations.

Then, just weeks after the horrors of 9/11, prominent neo-conservatives, within and outside the Bush administration, began planning wars to demonstrate uS resolve and power, premised on ideology and grounded in neither reality nor good intelligence. These ideologues argued that we had been attacked because we were seen as weak; therefore, a decisive blow against the terrorists and their supporters was necessary to show the strength and reach of American power.

Additionally, the crisis was an opportunity to resurrect their longstanding pet project— overthrowing the regime in Iraq— to project uS power insuring our hegemony in the post-cold War world. They argued

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

it would usher in a friendly, democratic government in Iraq, to “serve as a beacon of light” spreading democracy across the region. This entire enterprise was based on fantasy born of ideology and its consequences endure.

Though they succeeded in overthrowing the Taliban, for a time, and eventually killing Osama bin Laden, the job in Afghanistan was never finished, if it ever could have been, before they shifted resources and attention to Iraq.

Saddam was overthrown and an uninformed uS viceroy established a model of sectarian-based governance that has had disastrous consequences. hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, and almost 5000 Americans, died; and trillions of dollars were lost.

The uS military was drained and depleted, and uS prestige plummeted. Iran found a foothold in Iraq to pursue its sectarian agenda and was emboldened to expand its meddlesome reach across the region. Instead of defeating extremism, the wars contributed to its metastasizing. Rather than ushering in an era of uS hegemony, the war created a multi-polar Middle east with global and regional powers competing for influence.

A year after 9/11, James Fallows wrote Bush’s Lost Year in which he lamented the administration’s decision to act unilaterally with hubris in response to the attacks. Instead of building on the world’s support, Bush arrogantly squandered it. The results of these fateful choices still haunt us today 20 years later.

The US military was drained and depleted, and US prestige plummeted. Iran found a foothold in Iraq to pursue its sectarian agenda and was emboldened to expand its meddlesome reach across the region.

Instead of defeating extremism, the wars contributed to its metastasizing. Rather than ushering in an era of US hegemony, the war created a multi-polar Middle East with global and regional powers competing for influence

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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The writer is President of the Arab American Institute

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Wednesday, 15 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

Misunderstanding Islam NOT a single religion on the planet supports brutality, bad form and contempt against the presence of various cultures and human advancement. Thus, Islam is one of the quick scattering religion which consistently confers the lessons of affection and harmony.

Islam is the main religion that elevates the norm of humankind and guarantees correspondence. Sadly, the current world delineates the helpless picture of Islam. From pre 9/11 to post 9/11 Islam has been accused for obliteration and springing up dread mentality on the planet. Be that as it may, the truth of the matter is that fear based oppression knows no religion. As of late, Islam announced outrageous religion for stopping the development of hindu sanctuary in Islamabad. Pakistan was made as Islamic state and it is impermissible in Islamic state to fabricate a sanctuary by the costs of Muslims. Now from over the world, Turkey president, Tayyab erdogon is being censured for remodeling hagia Sophia as a mosque inside his domain.

Islam isn’t as inflexible as world consider. Spreading love, guaranteeing harmony and controling prejudice are the welcoming standards of Islam.

HAYA FATIMA KARACHI

Necessity of engagement with Taliban The international community must not abandon Afghanistan

malik muhammaD ashraf

F

OuR decades of conflict in Afghanistan, particularly during the last two decades of war between the Taliban and the uSA besides the loss of thousands of Afghan lives and internal displacement of the Afghan people, have left the infrastructure of the entire country badly devastated. Though with the dramatic change in the scenario in Afghanistan, prospects of peace finally returning to that country have increased manifold but it is an irrefutable reality that the Taliban regime cannot cope with the challenges confronting them without the support of the international community and the regional countries.

Afghanistan is facing a looming human catastrophe. According to uN sources nearly half of Afghanistan’s 38 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. One in three Afghans do not know where their next meal will come from. half of all children under the age of 5 are predicted to be acutely malnourished in the next 12 months.

The uN secretary General has rightly appealed to the international community to remain engaged with the Taliban regime to avert any human tragedy. he has also convened a high-level ministerial humanitarian meeting on 13 September in which he is likely to advocate for a swift scale-up in funding so the lifesaving humanitarian operation in Afghanistan could continue.

The uN commitment to keep delivering humanitarian assistance to millions of people in need is a timely and visionary step, as any humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan could undermine the gains of whatever development takes place and also affect medium- and long-term stability in the country. The international community has to prove its humanitarian credentials by supporting the people of Afghanistan to avert the possibility of the country relapsing into a period of instability. Pakistan has done well by sending three shipments of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan with more to follow.

Support of the international community is also absolutely imperative in helping the newly installed Taliban government to be able to fulfill their pledges made in regards to human rights, women rights and to banish the terrorist organizations from the Afghan soil, whose terrorist ac-

tivities have also badly affected neighbouring countries of Afghanistan besides their repercussions at the global level.

In view of the emerging situation, Pakistan which has played a significant role in hammering out the deal between the uSA and the Taliban, paving the way for exit of uS forces, is rightly urging the international community to remain engaged with the Taliban regime and not to abandon it. It has lobbied intensely with the international community in this regard and also spearheaded the efforts to garner support of the regional countries to remain engaged with the Taliban government to foster the chances of peace and stability returning to Afghanistan at the earliest possible.

To begin with Pakistan hosted a virtual meeting of the special representatives of Iran, china, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbhaijan and later the same exercise was repeated at the foreign ministers level on September 5 in which a consensus prevailed in regards to continue engagement with the Taliban regimeand extending humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.

On September 11, DG ISI L Gen Faiz hameed also presided over a meeting of the intelligence chiefs of Russia, Iran, china, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and uzbekistan in which the

participants exchanged views on the security situation in Afghanistan. Recently the spy chiefs of uSA and uK also visited Pakistan and deliberated on the evolving situation in Afghanistan and security situation with the military leadership.

The foregoing initiatives and developments are not only an acknowledgement of the role that Pakistan has been playing in promoting peace in Afghanistan but also its relevance and importance in ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan. If the international community really wants peace in the region and elimination of the phenomenon of terrorism from the Afghan soil, it must remain engaged with the Taliban and extend all possible help to them in meeting their international obligations. however, so long as the Taliban respect human rights and rights of women and fulfill their commitment not to allow the use of Afghan territory for terrorist acts, the international community should not try to dictate to them what kind of governance system they should adopt and how the Afghan women dress up. They have the right to live their lives according to their faith and cultural norms. The biggest reason for the uSA failing in Afghanistan was that they tried to change the Afghan culture without understanding the dynamics of a tribal society and its religious moorings.

However, so long as the Taliban respect human rights and rights of women and fulfill their commitment not to allow the use of Afghan territory for terrorist acts, the international community should not try to dictate to them what kind of governance system they should adopt and how the Afghan women dress up.

They have the right to live their lives according to their faith and cultural norms. The biggest reason for the USA failing in Afghanistan was that they tried to change the Afghan culture without understanding the dynamics of a tribal society and its religious moorings

Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic.

He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail.com.

Private schools fees The private sectors are going to demand for the fees after reopening the institutions. Owing to covid-19 there was lockdown and it almost took about 7 months to take off everything smoothly and slowly. In Turbat, there were not even online classes due to lack of Internet. But, private sectors will still ask for fees as now after 7 months of closure they can face bankruptcy. Despite being the richest province in Pakistan, Balochistan is quite poor and people over here face a lot of hardships due to poverty. Parents work day in day out, so there children can get education but demanding for couple of months fees together despite of teaching nothing can push them to drop-out their children. henceforth, I request the private sectors to lessen their fees as everyone is already in lose due to closure of every business.

ZAHRA BAIG HOTH TURBAT

Extinction of wildlife The increasing rate of extinction of wildlife is a matter of worry for us. As animals have been very useful to human for ages. They balance our environment and are the beauties of nature. Its really dissapointing that humen are hunting them for fun or money. According to In Defense of Animals, over 200 million animals are reported killed by hunters every year. Approximately 30,000 species per year about three per hour are being driven to extinction. Over 90 species of animals facing extinction in Pakistan: including 50 mammals, 27 birds and 17 reptiles. We need to raise awareness about endangered species.

Pakistan is a member of the World Organisation on Animal health She must enforce laws relating to animal welfare. The government must also formulate a national policy on animal protection and welfare.

AFROZ MJ TURBAT

Corona tests for teachers PuNJAB School education Minister Dr. Muraad in his latest press conference which was held at QAeD said , “ it is mandatory for all School teachers to conduct corona test before joining the schools which will reopen on 15th September.”

Minister must be acknowledged that Govt. School teachers are the most vulnerable community of civil servants. Their salaries are very low. They cannot afford huge fee of corona test. Govt has already denied to increase salaries of its employees in budget 2020-2021 and has been deducting conveyance Allowance from teachers salaries since march 2020. The entire teacher community is worried on latest announcement of Minister. Did all others Govt. employees joine their respective offices after conducting corona test? If it is necessary to curb the spread of this deadly virus then Govt should pay the fee of this test or sanction “ corona test fee allowance “ in upcoming pay so the teachers can conduct their tests before joining the school again.

Minister should review his decision.

MAHTAB AlI KHAn BAHAwAlnAGAR

Keeping informed NeWSPAPeR which was firstly introduced in 16 century,in china,has become a supreme part in every individual’s life in the present age. however, it is not wrong to say that newspaper is a store house of knowledge. It provides current newses related the country and the world. Further, it gives information about the governmental programs and it’s works for the country. Newspaper reading informs one about the latest science discoveries and technological changes about many industries. Besides, now-a-days there are some pages in newspapers which are particularly printed for students. It not only acquaints them with all important happenings , but also supplies various knowledge about different subjects. newspapers have removed the global distance between the countries. In fact, one part of the world has been linked up with another through newspapers. In the modern world newspapers are the part of civilization and a product to facilitate human beings.

So,we must accept the habit of reading newspaper regularly.

FARAHnAZ FAROOq AHMEd TURBAT

Wednesday, 15 September, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

How BIden’s famIly used HIs posITIon for profIT

new york PoSt

“J

Ben schreckinger

IM’S job,” one of his former business partners told author Ben Schreckinger of President Biden’s younger brother Jim, “is to ensure the lifestyle is good for the family.” Son hunter Biden later joined that pursuit, as Schreckinger reveals in his new book, “The Bidens: Inside the First Family’s Fifty-Year Rise to Power.” In this exclusive excerpt, Schreckinger reveals how Jim and hunter opened doors and profited using Joe Biden’s name and influence.

In January 2006, hunter Biden was a lobbyist for William Oldaker, who had served as a campaign counsel and treasurer to Joe Biden. Jim Biden, Joe’s younger brother, called his friend Anthony Lotito for a favor. hunter needed a new job. Joe was getting ready to run for the Democratic presidential nomination, and his son’s work for a Washington lobbying firm would be a problem.

At least that was what Lotito later alleged in court filings. Jim and hunter denied that a call like that ever took place. One way or another, the three of them decided in early 2006 to get into the hedge-fund business.

Owning a hedge fund in New York in the years before the financial crisis was like being a sea captain in 18th-century Nantucket. It was the thing to do.

They set their eyes on Paradigm Global Advisors, founded by James Park, who was married to the daughter of religious leader Sun Myung Moon. Paradigm’s success was helped by the fact that the firm’s labor costs were low. Many of its employees were Moonies who accepted rock-bottom salaries in exchange for the honor of working in close proximity to Moon’s son-in-law. About half of its investors were Moonies as well, according to a former executive.

Financial success could not solve Park’s personal problems, however. he developed an addiction to cocaine. As his drug use began to complicate his management of Paradigm, Park went looking for a buyer. Lotito connected him with the Bidens. Jim and hunter offered to buy the firm out for $21 million. For financing, they leaned on family allies.

Larry Rasky, a lobbyist and longtime political adviser to Joe, was going to pitch in a million dollars in financing, though it is not

EXCERPTED FROM “THE BIDENS: INSIDE THE FIRST FAMILY’S FIFTY-YEAR RISE TO POWER clear if he ever did. The law firm SimmonsCooper, donors to Joe and business partners to Beau, did provide a million dollars in financing. hunter would have his new job, CeO of Paradigm, with a starting salary of $1.2 million. his experience in the financial sector amounted to a few years on the payroll of a credit-card issuer.

The former chief compliance officer of Paradigm Global Advisors says he will never forget the day in the summer of 2006 the Bidens showed up at his Midtown Manhattan offices to take control of the business.

The executive recalled that Jim and hunter showed up with Beau and a couple of large men. The new owners ordered him to fire the firm’s president, Stephane Farouze. The large men showed Farouze out of the building.

At the time, Jim and Anthony Lotito coowned Americore International Security, a company that employed private security guards. The company also employed a “director of cabaret security,” who oversaw the protection of nightlife establishments. The chief compliance officer recounted his experience with the Bidens on the condition that his name not appear in print. he cited a fear of retaliation, saying he did not want large men like the ones who came to his office to come knocking on his door.

Jim had a plan. “Don’t worry about investors,” he told the executive that day.

“We’ve got people all around the world who want to invest in Joe Biden.” In case the chief compliance officer did not get the picture, Jim painted it more vividly for him: “We’ve got investors lined up in a line of 747s filled with cash ready to invest in this company.”

Beau was then in the middle of his first attorney general’s race. his face turned red with anger, the executive recalled. “This is not why we are making this investment,” Beau told his uncle. “This can never leave this room. And if you ever say it again, I will have nothing to do with this.”

Farouze did not respond to my attempts to contact him. A lawyer for Jim and hunter said no episode like the one described by their former chief compliance officer ever

HUNTER WOULD HAVE HIS NEW JOB, CEO OF PARADIGM, WITH A STARTING SALARY OF $1.2 MILLION. HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR AMOUNTED TO A FEW YEARS ON THE PAYROLL OF A CREDIT-CARD ISSUER occurred. But some things are beyond dispute: While Beau followed in Joe’s footsteps, hunter took after his uncle Jim, becoming a Biden family breadwinner. hunter and Jim did seek to enlist the family’s political allies as investors in Paradigm. Under their ownership, the firm became entangled in legal disputes and financial scandals before quietly winding down. And during their time at the helm of the firm, the Bidens were learning to tap the global demand for business partnerships with the relatives of a powerful American official.

When Jim and hunter took over Paradigm, Joe was the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. A few months later, when Democrats took the Senate, Joe became the committee’s chairman.

The United States was near the height of its global power and prestige. Few people had more say over the running of this globespanning empire than Joe did. At Paradigm, hunter and his uncle found themselves in over their heads. Before the deal was completed, they realized that Paradigm had only a fraction of the assets under management that it purported to possess, making it far less valuable than they initially believed.

They also discovered that the lawyer they had brought on, at Lotito’s urging, to advise them on the acquisition, John Fasciana, had been convicted the year before on a dozen counts of mail and wire fraud. Jim and hunter backed out of the deal. The botched acquisition attempt cost them north of a million dollars. To pay back SimmonsCooper, they took out a loan from the lobbyist William Oldaker, hunter’s old boss.

Nephew and uncle still wanted Paradigm, but for a reduced price. They decided to ditch Lotito and make Park a new offer, an $8 million IOU. Park accepted. Given their lack of relevant experience, Jim and hunter realized they needed Park’s help to keep the business afloat, so he stayed on.

The chief compliance officer said the collaboration was complicated by the fact that Park and hunter were avid users of cocaine, both during work and after hours. The executive said hunter once offered him the drug,

but he declined. “I figured that wasn’t right for a compliance officer to be doing drugs,” he said. The executive also said that after work, Park and hunter would sometimes go to a nearby hotel to do coke and party. he would get notifications that cash had been withdrawn from a company account from an ATM on the route between the two.

The Bidens, though, needed Park to be at the top of his game. Jim talked Park into checking into a rehab center in Florida. even so, Paradigm turned out to be an albatross. In January 2007, Lotito sued Jim and hunter, saying they had improperly gone behind his back to acquire the firm.

Lotito also claimed his former business partners wielded their family’s clout as a cudgel. “The Bidens refused to pay the bill, repeatedly citing their political connections and family status as a basis for disclaiming the obligation,” his complaint alleged.

“The Bidens threatened to use their alleged connections with a former United States Senator to retaliate against counsel for insisting that his bill be paid, claiming that the former senator was prepared to use his influence with a federal judge to disadvantage counsel in a proceeding then pending before that court.” Nephew and uncle denied Lotito’s claims, and the case eventually settled, but more problems lay ahead.

The Lotito suit came just as Joe was preparing to announce his second White house bid. At the same time, hunter and Jim were bringing on Chuck Provini, a veteran of the investment industry, as the firm’s new president. Provini told me Jim and hunter recruited him in part for political reasons. They wanted a non-Biden face atop the troubled firm. “Joe Biden needs to distance himself from this,” they told him, “Would you consider the job?”

Jim and hunter assured Provini that Joe’s labor connections would help them land investments from union pension funds.

“I was told because of his relationships with the unions that they felt as though it would be favorably looked upon to invest in the fund,” Provini told me.

But Provini said that during his tenure, Paradigm was not able to land union pen-

sion investments. It did not help that Jim and hunter were industry novices. “They knew nothing about the hedge-fund business,” he said. (Provini later sued Paradigm in federal court in New Jersey, alleging it stiffed him out of salary he was owed. The case was settled.)

The chief compliance officer said his new bosses understood political relationships better than they understood the mechanics of hedge funds. he recalled one week where a succession of firefighters paraded into the office over the course of a few days and asked to speak with him. They would offer explanations like, “We’re friends of Joe, and we want to invest in the fund.”

The men would drop off modest personal checks. A few thousand dollars here.

A few thousand dollars there. The executive learned that there was a firefighters’ convention in town, and Jim had been working the room. “Jim told people they could invest in our hedge fund and that would help Joe,” the executive recalled. Because of legal restrictions on who can invest in hedge funds, and because Paradigm, like most similar firms, insisted that clients fork over minimum investments in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, there was nothing he could do with the checks. A lawyer for Jim and hunter said no incident like this ever occurred. Unable to attract big-time union money, Paradigm’s executives searched in vain to find an overseas bank or other foreign buyer to take the business off their hands, including in the banking haven of Switzerland. They struck out.

It might seem like a pipedream, but there’s a good case for a four-day working week THE SUCCESS OF TRIALS OF FOUR-DAY WORKING WEEKS IN ICELAND, IN PARTICULAR, SUGGEST PERHAPS WE’RE ALREADY THERE. NOT ONLY WERE WORKERS HAPPIER, BUT FIRMS REPORTED INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AMONG WORKERS

Sydney Morning Herald

T

Jessica irvine

he COVID-19 pandemic has proved the catalyst for a massive experiment in new and innovative ways to arrange our working lives.

Could a four-day working week be one of them? I think it’s worth putting on the table.

Mainly because I don’t see much else coming in the way of wage rises for workers any time soon. Let me explain.

Despite bouts of global financial market jitters about the prospects for a bout of sustained global inflation, most sensible economists – including those in our Reserve Bank – remain in the camp of expecting “lower for longer” when it comes to both inflation and interest rates.

Yes, there’ll be some dead cat bounce as we reopen.

But it will probably only deliver us back to the economy we had pre-pandemic. That was one in which deep

structural forces were driving disappointingly weak price and wages outcomes. Those forces included the increased exposure of domestic labour forces to cheap foreign labour, increased automation of jobs and the rise of new information technologies, which make it easier for consumers to discover prices (think search engines and comparison websites).

Sounds good, right? Low inflation means lower increases in the cost of living. But the flipside of that is often lower wage rises. It becomes a chick and egg problem. Without surging prices, workers become more sanguine about demanding higher wages. Similarly, in the absence of general price increases, companies find it harder to sneak in price rises to cover higher wage claims.

Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe has been complaining hard recently that Australian companies have become too obsessed with “cost control”. They argue, in return, that they simply lack the pricing power to increase prices to fund higher wages.

Australia has escaped a double-dip recession, the Treasurer saying Australia’s economy is now 1.6 per cent above where it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our central bank is determined to make them, vowing to drive the joblessness rate so low that companies will have no choice but to engage in wage-bidding wars to

attract workers. But that process is likely to be “gradual” at best, according to Lowe.

The sad thing is that while all this is happening, Australian workers are, in fact, becoming more productive.

Thanks to new technology (think emails, phone calls, zooms) we’re working longer hours, and we’re producing, on average, more output while we’re at it. It seems only logical that at some point, we will reach the limits of our productive capacity as living, breathing humans, who need sleep, rest, time to cook healthy meals, participate in our communities and care for our children and elderly. The success of trials of four-day working weeks in Iceland, in particular, suggest perhaps we’re already there. Not only were workers happier, but firms reported increased productivity among workers. how can that be so? Well, it makes sense that workers who are more rested may be able to apply themselves more productively in a shorter working week. It has also been suggested that fewer meetings and emails helped boost productivity.

Crucially, the idea is not to try to squish a full 38hour working week into four days. Rather, workers continue to work the hours of a standard working day on just four days of the week. With no corresponding pay cut, this represents an increase in their hourly rates of pay of

20 per cent. But is it feasible for an economy’s entire workforce to move to a four-day week? While it sounds nice, it would require an offsetting change in consumer attitudes to when we expect things to be open.

We all want hospitals open every day and schools every weekday. We also quite like to be able to pop to the shops whenever it suits. employers, in general, prefer increased leisure time for workers to be delivered as increased annual leave, so that leave periods can be allocated flexibly to keep doors open. But for non-customer fronting jobs, the idea of a four-day week remains intriguing, indeed.

In reality, there is nothing set in stone about our current five-day or 40-hour working week. Before this century, much longer hours and weekend work were the norm. Our current working week is a product of evolution and worker campaigns. I see no reason for this to stop now. Far from it. economics suggests that the richer we get, the more we will tend to prefer more leisure to more money. Once we’ve attained a certain level of material comfort, our main problems stem not from a lack of money, but a lack of time in which to spend it.

Given that time, the advent of regular three-day weekends would probably lead to higher spending on tourism and retail. During the week, families with two working parents would also probably find it easier to share the responsibilities of work and care more equally – the stigma of shorter working weeks removed for both men and women.

It might all seem like a pipedream. But not so long ago, so too did the prospect of widespread working from home. If the emerging evidence is to be believed, a fourday working week could result in more relaxed and more productive workers. It’s something to consider before we all return to “business as usual”.

Wednesday, 15 September, 2021

LAHORE

PuBlIC DEBT on DEClInIng TREnD, InflaTIon To REMaIn aT 8PC: TaRIn ISLAMABAD

f

APP

EDERAL Minister for Finance and Revenue, Shaukat Tarin, said Tuesday that the country’s net public debt was on declining trend and reduced to 81.8 per cent of debt-to-GDP ratio during the fiscal year 2020-21 (FY21), and was expected to come further down during the current fiscal year (FY22).

Addressing a press conference here, the minister said that net debt was recorded at 86.8pc of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during FY19 and at 85.7pc during FY20, which indicated that it was on declining trend during the last three years of the incumbent government.

The minister, who was accompanied by Minister of State for Information Farrukh Habib and Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Food Security, Jamshed Cheema, said that the debt, however, was recorded at 74.1pc of GDP during FY18.

Explaining some underlining reasons for an increase in public debt, the minister said

that when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) assumed power in 2018, it had to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, which led to devaluation of rupee to 168 and an increase in discount rate to 13.25.

"Hence, an instant enhanced debt servicing from Rs1,500 billion to Rs2,900 billion, which enhanced the public debt," the minister added.

Giving absolute figures of net debt during the last four years, Tarin said that currently the country’s net debt stood at Rs39 trillion compared to the net debt of Rs35.6 trillion in FY20, Rs33 trillion during FY19 and Rs25.7 trillion during FY18.

He said that there has been gradual increase in foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

Briefing about inflation, the minister said the government had tried its best not to pass on the impact of international prices on to people, adding that the prices of various commodities were still low as compared to international and regional markets.

"For example, sugar prices increased by

CORPORATE CORNER

Engro, Meezan Bank sign Rs4,500m Islamic syndicated facility KARACHI PRESS RELEASE

Engro Enfrashare, a wholly owned subsidiary of Engro Corporation, has entered into an Islamic syndicate arrangement amounting to PKR 4,500 million, led by Meezan Bank and Faysal Bank. The proceeds raised through this Islamic syndication would be utilized to finance the development of tower sites for various mobile network operators (MNOs) operating in Pakistan. A signing ceremony of the agreement was signed at the Head Office of Engro Corporation, in the presence of Engro Corporation President & CEO Ghias Khan, Engro Corporation Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Mazhar Hasnani, Engro Enfrashare CEO Faisal Sattar, Meezan Bank President & CEO Irfan Siddiqui, Meezan Bank Deputy CEO Ariful Islam, Faysal Bank President & CEO Yousaf Hussain, and other senior representatives of both institutions. As per terms of the financing arrangement, the tenor of the financing will be seven years, including a grace period of two years. The syndicate includes Meezan Bank Limited, Faysal Bank Limited, National Bank of Pakistan, MCB Islamic Bank and Allied Islamic Bank. Last month, Engro had announced to enhance its total equity investment in the Telecom Infrastructure Vertical to Rs21,500 million. The Telecom Infrastructure vertical was setup in 2019 to accelerate the development of connectivity infrastructure in Pakistan, thereby providing an opportunity for the people to be part of the new digital era. Engro Enfrashare is engaged in the acquisition and construction of shared telecom towers, provision of various telecommunication infrastructure and related services, including state of the art network monitoring solutions. Since its inception, the Company has now established strong relationships with all MNOs active in Pakistan and is working closely with them to develop build-to-suit (B2S) sites across the country to serve their coverage and capacity requirements.

48pc in international market but the government enhanced it only by 12pc. Palm oil increased by 50pc, but it went up by 33pc in Pakistan, wheat prices increased by 32pc in one year and here it was enhanced only by 15pc, prices of crude oil increased by 58pc but in Pakistan it increased by only 9.39pc," he explained.

The minister said that increase in prices was an international issue right now. He said that in Pakistan, the Consumer price index (CPI) based inflation stood at 4.8pc in FY18, which went up to 6.8pc in FY19 and then 10.74pc in FY20 and reduced to 8.9pc in FY21 and would remain at 8pc during the current fiscal year.

Tarin said that the prices of various essential commodities has considerably increased in international market, citing that sugar was sold at $303 per tonne in 2018 now it is sold at $430 per tonne.

Likewise, wheat was sold at $188 per tonne in 2018 now it is sold at $274 per tonne while soyabean was at $775 per tonne in 2018 and is currently sold at $1436 per tonne, indicating a big jump whereas palm

oil prices increased from $621 per tonne to $1136 per tonne.

The finance minister stressed that the increase in international prices during the past couple of years was due to low food production and high demand owing to Covid-19 and supply chain disruption.

However, he was of the view that since Pakistan was linked to international market and had to import, wheat, sugar, pulses, ghee, global prices impact the local market.

He emphasised the need to enhance production, which he said was strategy of the government as it had already earmarked hefty amount for this purpose. In addition, he added, the government would make scientific engineering process to analyze profits in the supply chain and squeeze role of middleman administratively.

In addition, he said, the government was also building strategic reserves to flood markets at time of need.

In the medium and long term, the government would build commodity warehouses, cold-storages so that farmers and purchasers are linked directly without in-

BridgeLinx raises $10m in Pakistan’s largest seed funding round MONITORING REPORT Lahore-based digital freight marketplace startup, BridgeLinx, has raised $10 million in the country’s largest seed round.

The startup helps businesses and manufacturers connect with transport providers like truckers and private fleets while handling port operations, documentation, booking, and tracking and offers coverage over more than a hundred transport lanes in Pakistan.

According to an announcement made by the company on Tuesday, the deal was oversubscribed nearly twice and includes the participation

of Wavemaker Partners, Quiet Capital, TrueSight Ventures, Soma Capital, Flexport, Untitled, and some of the largest business groups of Pakistan, including Maple Leaf Capital. Several angel investors including founders of Convoy (USbased freight marketplace) and Bazaar (Pakistani B2B marketplace) also joined the round.

“The company intends to use the capital to expand into new verticals, invest and advance its technology, and bring on new talent,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Gul told TechCrunch.

The round, one of the largest seed of the region, was led by

Harry Stebbings’ 20 VC, Josh Buckley’s Buckley Ventures, and Indus Valley Capital.

This is Indus Valley Capital’s third noteworthy investment in South Asia after having funded Pakistan’s online retail platform, Bazaar. 20 VC and Buckley Ventures recently invested in e-commerce startup Airlift’s record-breaking $85 million funding round.

The company does not own any vehicles at the moment, but Gul said that the company envisions owning some of its own fleets like Rivigo does so that it can ensure 24-hour service to clients.

PCB to partner with Daraz for live streaming of 2021-22 international cricket season LAHORE PR

Pakistan Cricket Board has finalized arrangements with Pakistan’s leading online marketplace, Daraz, for exclusive live streaming rights for the 2021-22 home season in the Pakistan region.

The upcoming cricket season is set to be one of the busiest home seasons in Pakistan’s cricketing history with white-ball series tours by New Zealand, England (men’s and women’s) and West Indies followed by a full tour by Australia.

Daraz will have exclusive live streaming rights for the entire bilateral international cricket season which commences with the first ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi on Friday, 17 September. As part of the partnership,

BUSINESS 09

Daraz users will get a chance to see the live stream free of cost on the platform’s recently launched “DarazLive” – live streaming feature completely free of ads.

volving middleman.

The minister said that the government also intended to provide targeted cash subsidy to around 40 per cent of the poor population to buy essential items, adding that the subsidies would be provided for purchasing flour, sugar and pulses and data of Ehsaas would be utilised for this purpose to target deserving population.

"Similarly, that government also intends to increase income and affordability of people to buy commodities," he said, adding that the growth strategy introduced by the government was bearing fruit as the economy was growing by around 6pc.

The minister while talking about State Owned Entities (SOEs) said these were earning net profit of around 204 billion which declined to net loss of Rs286 loss in 2018.

During 2019, the first year of PTI government, the loss reduced to Rs143 billion.

He said that around ten top loss-making enterprises account for 89pc of the aggregate losses and therefore, attention was focused on these SoEs including PIA, Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Steel Mills, Discos and ZTBL. Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Food Security, Jamshed Cheema said that the government would also launch a programme to help maintain prices and quality of milk in the country.

He said the government wanted to shift agriculture towards promising crops keeping in view the growing population and increasing demand for food.

Pakistan-Tajikistan to sign transit trade agreement soon: Dawood MONITORING REPORT Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood, on Tuesday said that a transit trade agreement between Pakistan and Tajikistan will be signed soon. In a statement, Dawood said that increasing transit trade between the two countries would mark a new beginning for the region’s bilateral economic and trade ties as well as facilitate contact with other countries. The advisor said Pakistan was also working to promote bilateral trade and economic connectivity with other Central Asian Republics (CARs). He said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan would attend an investment and trade conference held in Tajikistan during his upcoming visit to the country, which starts on September 15. "The PM will meet leaders of various countries in the region, and will also meet Tajikistan’s business community," he added.

Chinese companies training locals, providing job opportunities: official ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Chinese companies are bringing investment in the special economic zones in Pakistan under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, advisor to the prime minister on CPEC affairs Khalid Mansoor said. Addressing a press conference, Mansoor said Chinese companies were hiring locals including university graduates and training them in modern technology. He said most of the projects of phase one of CPEC had been completed and the remaining are in the process, adding that the government was charting out plans to attract and facilitate more investors from China. “We are in the process of starting one window operation at CPEC Authority to facilitate Chinese investors and help them to save their time and efforts in formalities,” he said, adding that one window operation will soon start in the SEZs.

Global oil demand to rebound next month: IEA PARIS AGENCIES

Global oil demand has dropped for three straight months as Covid cases have risen in Asia but it is expected to bounce back next month, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday.

Demand fell from July after rebounding the previous month, with major crude consumer China leading the decline, the IEA said in a monthly report.

"Global oil demand remains under pressure from the virulent Covid-19 Delta variant in key consuming regions, especially in parts of Asia," the report said. Demand fell by 310,000 barrels per day on average over the three months to

September.

But it is expected to recover in October with an increase of 1.6 million barrels per day (mbd) and continue to rise until the end of the year, said the IEA, which advises developed countries on energy policy. "The latest news on the Covid front is more optimistic, with global cases falling in recent weeks, continued progress in vaccine manufacturing and inoculations, and less restrictive social distancing measures in many countries," it said. Global oil demand is expected to rise by 5.2 mbd this year, slightly lower than previously forecast, but 2022 growth will be slightly higher at 3.2 mbd, according to the report. The IEA said Hurricane Ida "wreaked havoc on the key US Gulf Coast oil producing

region" in late August and is "still causing problems for US and global markets."

Offshore installations and refineries have been slow to restart, forcing massive draws of stocks of both crude and products in key markets, it said. "It is only by early 2022 that supply will be high enough to allow oil stocks to be replenished," the IEA said.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said on Monday that it expects global oil demand to exceed its pre-pandemic level next year thanks to the roll out of vaccines and the economic recovery.

The forecast came as OPEC cartel nations and their allies, together known as OPEC+, are beginning to raise output to meet recovering demand.

Wednesday, 15 September, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

LAHORE

UAE SEEkS $1 trillion in Economic Activity with iSrAEl by 2031 ABU DHABI

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REUTERS

HE United Arab Emirates aims to raise the value of economic activity with Israel to more than $1 trillion in the next 10 years, hoping to work together on everything from healthcare to climate change and energy, the UAE economy minister said.

The Gulf Arab state has signed dozens of memorandums of understanding with its new ally in the year since it became the first Arab state to normalise ties with Israel this century.

It was not immediately clear how the two countries expect to reach $1tr in economic activity in the next decade. Each country has a gross domestic product of roughly $400 billion.

The UAE and Israel have between $600 million and $700m in bilateral trade, the minister, Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, told a virtual conference on Monday.

Reaching that level in one year was “an achievement by itself,” he said.

“We are looking to create over $1tr dollars of economic activity over the next decade,” he said, adding they are “moving into so many areas of economic opportunities”.

Israel says it expects $1bn in trade with the UAE by end-2021 and $3bn in three years, far below the UAE's $24bn of exports

in 2019 to its top destination, Saudi Arabia.

“A new window of opportunity has been opened since that agreement, and the economy is changing the face of the region and will offer a diplomatic infrastructure for strengthening ties between us,” said Adiv Baruch, chairman of the Israel Export Institute.

Publicly announced deals include around 40 MoUs and around 30 other types of agreements related to the financial, energy, sports, agriculture, aviation, aerospace and media sectors.

But a $3bn fund announced by the United States, Israel and the UAE on private sector investment and regional cooperation has gone quiet, as has a $10bn fund of UAE private and state money to invest in Israeli strategic sectors.

Israel's Export Institute and Hapoalim, one of Israel's largest banks, said it planned to send a mission of 250 businessmen and entrepreneurs to Abu Dhabi and Dubai next month.

The mission is aimed at companies designated by the UAE as having the potential for cooperation in high tech, as well as companies in construction, industry and smart transportation.

Official Israeli data shows Israel-UAE trade in goods was $610m in the first seven months of 2021, $400m of which was UAE exports to Israel and half of that was diamonds.

Putin criticises foreign forces in Syria

Militia leader jailed for 53 years over 2017 mosque bombing in US state of Minnesota WASHINGTON

MOSCOW REUTERS

REUTERS

Foreign forces being deployed in Syria without a decision by the United Nations are a hindrance to its consolidation, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Bashar al-Assad, the president of the Middle Eastern nation late on Monday. The Kremlin said the comments came during a meeting of the two men in the Russian capital after Putin congratulated Assad on his win in Syria’s presidential election. “Terrorists had sustained a very serious damage, and the Syrian government, headed by you, controls 90 percent of the territories,” Putin said, according to a Kremlin statement. Russian support has helped Assad win back nearly all the territory lost to rebels who tried to overthrow him during the civil war that began in 2011. Assad, whose last meeting in Moscow with Putin was in 2015, thanked the Russian leader for humanitarian aid to Syria and for his efforts to halt the “spread the terrorism”. He lauded what he called a success of Russian and Syrian armies in “liberating occupied territories” of Syria. He also described as “antihuman” and “illegitimate” the sanctions some nations imposed on Syria.

A militia group leader, who was convicted of the 2017 bombing of a mosque outside of Minneapolis that "terrorised" the community of Somali immigrants it served, was sentenced on Monday to 53 years in prison.

Emily Claire Hari, 50, was found guilty in December, after a five-week trial, on five federal charges related to the pipe bombing of the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Centre in Bloomington, Minnesota, while worshipers were in the building for morning prayers. No one was hurt in the bombing.

"Emily Claire Hari, 50, formerly known as Michael Hari, was sentenced to life in prison for the August 5, 2017, bombing of the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Centre in Bloomington, Minnesota", the US Department of Justice said in a statement.

In handing down the sentence on Monday, United States District Judge Donovan Frank described the attack orchestrated by Hari as a "highly sophisticated

and premeditated act of domestic terrorism".

"Diversity is the strength of this country," Frank said. "Anyone who doesn't understand that doesn't understand the constitutional promise of this country that brings a lot of people here."

Hari and two accomplices, all from Clarence, Illinois, about 56 kilometres north of Champaign-Urbana, were arrested by FBI agents in March 2018.

All three were indicted the following June, but the other two, Michael McWhorter and Joe Morris, pleaded guilty to their roles in the bombing in January 2019.

Prosecutors had earlier described Hari as the ringleader who recruited the others into a militia group called "The White Rabbits" and drove a rented pickup truck more than 805km on Aug 4 and 5, 2017 to bomb the Islamic centre.

"Hari sought to terrorise an entire faith community. Today's sentence makes clear that such acts of hate-fuelled terror will not be tolerated," Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement late on Monday.

Pentagon reliance on contractors hurt US in 9/11 wars WASHINGTON ThE ASSociATEd PRESS

Up to half of the $14 trillion spent by the Pentagon since 9/11 went to for-profit defense contractors, a study released Monday found. It’s the latest work to argue the US reliance on private corporations for war-zone duties that used to be done by troops contributed to mission failure in Afghanistan.

In the post-9/11 wars, US corporations contracted by the Defense Department not only handled war-zone logistics like running fuel convoys and staffing chow lines but performed mission-crucial work like training and equipping Afghanistan’s security forces — forces that collapsed last month as the Taliban swept the country.

Within weeks, and before the US military had even completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban easily routed an Afghan government and military that Americans had spent 20 years and billions of dollars to stand up.

President Joe Biden placed the blame squarely on the locals themselves. “We gave them every chance,” he said last month.

“What we could not provide them was the will to fight.”

But William Hartung, the author of the study by Brown University’s Costs of War project and the Center for International Policy,

and others say it’s essential that Americans examine what role the reliance on private contractors played in the post-9/11 wars.

In Afghanistan, that included contractors allegedly paying protection money to warlords and the Taliban themselves, and the Defense Department insisting on equipping the Afghan air force with complex Blackhawk helicopters and other aircraft that few but US contractors knew how to maintain.

“If it were only the money, that would be outrageous enough,” Hartung, the director of the arms and security program at the Center for International Policy, said of instances where the Pentagon’s reliance on contractors backfired. “But the fact it undermined the mission and put troops at risk is even more outrageous.”

At the start of this year, before Biden began the final American withdrawal from Afghanistan, there were far more contractors in Afghanistan and also in Iraq than US troops. The US saw about 7,000 military members die in all post-9/11 conflicts, and nearly 8,000 contractors, another “Costs of War” study estimates.

The Professional Services Council, an organization representing businesses contracting with the government, cited a lower figure from the US Department of Labor saying nearly 4,000 federal contractors have been killed since 2001.

A spokeswoman pointed to a statement last

month from the organization’s president, David J. Berteau: “For almost two decades, government contractors have provided broad and essential support for the US and allied forces, for the Afghan military and other elements of the Afghan government, and for humanitarian and economic development assistance.” US officials after the September 11 attacks embraced private contractors as an essential part of the American military response.

It started with then-Vice President Dick Cheney, the former CEO of Halliburton. Halliburton received more than $30 billion to help set up and run bases, feed troops and carry out other work in Iraq and Afghanistan by 2008, the study says.

Cheney and defense contractors argued that relying on private contractors for work that service members did in previous wars would allow for a trimmer US military, and be more efficient and cost-effective.

By 2010, Pentagon spending had surged by more than one-third, as the US fought dual wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In a post-9/11 America, politicians vied to show support for the military in a country grown far more security conscious.

“Any member of Congress, who doesn’t vote for the funds we need to defend this country, will be looking for a new job after next November,” the study notes Harry Stonecipher, then the vice president of Boeing, telling Wall

Street Journal the month after the attacks.

And up to a third of the Pentagon contracts went to just five weapons suppliers. Last fiscal year, for example, the money Lockheed Martin alone got from Pentagon contracts was one and a half times the entire budgets of the State Department and the US Agency for International Development, according to the study.

The Pentagon pumped out more contracts than it could oversee, lawmakers and government special investigators said.

For example, a Florida Republican Party official made millions on what lawmakers charged were excess profits when the US granted a one-of-a-kind contract for fuel convoys from Jordan to Iraq, the study notes.

The electrocution of at least 18 service members by bad wiring in bases in Iraq, some of it blamed on major contractor Kellogg, Brown and Root, was another of many instances where government investigations pointed to shoddy logistics and reconstruction work.

The stunning Taliban victory last month in Afghanistan is drawing attention now to even graver consequences: the extent to which the US reliance on contractors may have heightened the difficulties of the Afghan security forces.

Jodi Vittori, a former Air Force lieutenant colonel and scholar of corruption and fragile states at the Carnegie Endowment for Interna-

tional Peace, who was not involved in the study, points to the US insistence that the Afghan air force uses US-made helicopters.

Afghans preferred Russian helicopters, which were easier to fly, could be maintained

by Afghans, and were suited to rugged Afghanistan.

When US contractors pulled out with US troops this spring and summer, taking their knowledge of how to maintain US-provided aircraft with them, top Afghan leaders bitterly complained to the US that it had deprived them of one essential advantage over the Taliban.

Hartung, like others, also points to the corruption engendered by the billions of loosely monitored dollars that the US poured into Afghanistan as one central reason that Afghanistan’s US-backed government lost popular support, and Afghan fighters lost morale. Hillary Clinton, while secretary of state under President Barack Obama, accused defense contractors at risk in war zones of resorting to payoffs to armed groups, making protection money one of the biggest sources of funding for the Taliban.

The United States also relied, in part, on defense contractors to carry out one of the tasks most central to its hopes of success in Afghanistan — helping to set up and train an Afghan military and other security forces that could stand up to extremist groups and to insurgents, including the Taliban.

Wednesday, 15 September, 2021

SPORTS 11

LAHORE

everton hit BAck in Style to BeAt Burnley LONDON

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AFP

VERTON moved level on points with the Premier League leaders after roaring back from a goal down to beat Burnley 3-1 on Monday.

Ben Mee put the visitors deservedly in front at Goodison Park before a three-goal blitz in six minutes just after the hour continued Rafael Benitez’s strong start as Everton boss.

Michael Keane’s header against his old club equalised before two of Benitez’s signings Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray turned the game around.

The Toffees have taken 10 points from their opening four league games under the Spaniard to move alongside local rivals Liverpool, Chelsea and top-of-thetable Manchester United.

Everton’s comeback was all the more impressive as they had to cope without Dominic CalvertLewin.

Benitez confirmed before kick-off the England international

is set to be absent until October with a broken toe and a thigh in-

jury. The home side lacked the focal point Calvert-Lewin nor-

mally offers as Burnley had the better of the first-half.

Chris Wood and Mee both missed good chances, while Jordan Pickford denied Ashley Westwood.

Mee did not make the same mistake eight minutes after the break when Johann Berg Gudmundsson crossed and the Clarets captain stooped to nod home from close range.

But Burnley then capitulated as Keane was afforded far too much space to head home Townsend’s cross.

Many Everton fans were sceptical about Benitez’s appointment due to his past as a Champions League winning manager for Liverpool.

However, his smart recruitment and tactical acumen is already winning over doubters.

A change of system as Andre Gomes replaced Ben Godfrey straight after the equaliser helped the hosts overpower Burnley in the final half hour.

Kohli backed to continue as India captain in all three cricket formats NEW DELHI AFP

Virat Kohli will continue to captain India in all three formats, a top national cricket board official said on Tuesday, after speculation that the batting great could be replaced as skipper for limited-overs games.

Kohli's recent sketchy form with the bat has led to reports that changes could be made after the T20 World Cup, which begins next month in the United Arab Emirates.

But Kohli received a vote of confidence from Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah.

“There is no such proposal [to replace Kohli] and the team is led by Virat and we are backing him,” said Shah.

“We are sensitive to the fact that such a proposal is not in the interest of the Indian team when it will take part in a World Cup,” Shah told website Cricbuzz.

Indian media have reported that opening batsman Rohit Sharma could take over as Twenty20 and 50-over captain and that the change had been discussed by the BCCI.

“As long as a team is performing, the question of [a] change in captaincy doesn't arise,” Shah was reported as saying by the Indian Express newspaper.

Kohli led India to a landmark Test series win in Australia in January and they were leading 2-1 in England when the fifth and final Test was controversially cancelled last week because of a coronavirus outbreak in the tourists' camp.

The Indian team has not lost a Twenty20 series under Kohli, but they have failed to win either the 50-over Champions Trophy, World Cup or T20 World Cup since he became white-ball captain in 2017.

Shah also confirmed that the Indian team has offered to play two extra T20 matches in England next July in place of the cancelled Test.

The England board suffered huge financial losses from the refusal of Indian players to take part because of coronavirus fears. “Instead of three T20Is, we will play five T20Is. Alternately, we will be willing to play a one-off Test as well.

It is up to them to choose either of the offers,” said Shah.

Lasith Malinga, who has a claim to being men's cricket's greatest T20 bowler, has officially called time on the last format he had not retired in, ESPNcricinfo reported.

It was always likely Malinga's playing career was over after he stopped being picked for the Sri Lanka side, while he also withdrew from several franchise tournaments, including the IPL. But if fans had held out hope for a farewell T20, that is no longer an option.

Malinga announced his decision via his new

PAkiStAn to PlAy three t20S And two teStS in BAnglAdeSh ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will play three T20s and two Test matches against Bangladesh soon after the T20 World Cup in November. Pakistan’s first tour to Bangladesh in five years will begin with T20s in Dhaka on November 19, 20 and 22. Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium at Chattogram will host the first Test from November 26-30, and the teams return to Dhaka for the second Test from December 4-8. Pakistan has directly qualified for the Super 12 in the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates from October 23November 14. Bangladesh, however, has to go through the qualifying round in Oman from October 17-22. the AssociAted PRess

India pulled out of the final Test at Old Trafford last week after head coach Ravi Shastri and other support staff contracted the virus and had to be isolated.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said on Monday that India was willing to reschedule the final Test as part of next year's series.

Malinga retires from all forms of cricket NEWS DESK

“The reaction of the players, it doesn’t matter the system, was very good,” said Benitez.

“You can see the fans, as soon as we attack, they are behind the team.”

Townsend previously played under Benitez at Newcastle and displayed his ability to do something spectacular with a longrange effort that looped over Nick Pope into the top corner.

Gray then scored his third goal in as many games by racing onto Abdoulaye Doucoure’s brilliant pass to slot past Pope.

Gomes should have made it four when he fired wide from another Doucoure through ball, but three goals were enough for another three points.

“Unfortunately it’s the second time this season we’ve had a mad spell out of nowhere really,” said Burnley boss Sean Dyche. “We just let it go for six minutes, gave the ball away too easily and misshapen for the third, you can’t do that in the Premier League.”

Youtube channel, in which he had been analysing Sri Lanka's limited-overs performances over the past few weeks. "Today I decided I want to give 100% rest to my T20 bowling shoes," he said. "I want to thank each and every one who supported me and blessed me throughout my T20 journey." Malinga went on to thank the officials and teammates of all the major teams he has been a part of, from the Sri Lanka national side, to Mumbai Indians, Melbourne Stars, and various other sides from around the world.

Recognised almost as much for his blonde-tipped

curls, as his unique round-arm action, Malinga claimed 107 T20 international wickets, and maintained an economy rate of 7.42 across 83 bowling innings.

He was among the format's primary innovators in its early years. Although his fast, swinging yorker was his primary weapon right through his T20 career, he also developed a well-disguised slower-ball, a slower bouncer, and was among the first and most successful bowlers to use wide yorkers at the death - a fairly commonplace strategy today.

He was an integral part of the Sri Lanka men's team's T20 success at the turn of the last decade. Malinga was leader of Sri Lanka's attack in the 2009 and 2012 T20 World Cups, when Sri Lanka made the final, and was captain of the team when they won the World Cup in 2014.

In addition to his international exploits, he was also a highly-sought after bowler in franchise tournaments in his heyday. In the IPL, his tally of 170 wickets is yet to be eclipsed, and his strike rate of 16.62 is the lowest for any bowler with more than 90 wickets in the tournament. The IPL has arguably never seen a more consistent death bowler.

Although he didn't pick up hard-ball cricket until relatively late in his teens, Malinga was discovered by Sri Lanka fast bowling coaches Anusha Samaranayake and Champaka Ramanayaka, who brought him into the domestic system and trained him in his early years. He made his international debut in 2004, and soon became a fixture in all Sri Lanka's teams. Repeated knee and ankle injuries threatened to end his career however, and in 2010, he made the decision to retire from Tests to focus on limited-overs cricket.

Malinga last played an international in March 2020.

He has retired at 38.

Originally published on ESPNcricinfo

Aston Martin break ground on new Silverstone F1 factory LONDON ReuteRs

Aston Martin have started work on a new Formula One factory and wind tunnel that team owner Lawrence Stroll said underpins his commitment to the sport and aim of fighting for world championships in the next three to five years. The Canadian billionaire told reporters the Silverstone factory and “campus” would cost 150-200 million pounds ($207 to $276 million) and be the most sustainable in Formula One. The facility over the road from the British Grand Prix circuit is expected to be completed by late 2022 or early 2023 with room for 1,000 people. McLaren’s Norman Foster-designed headquarters at Woking, which opened in 2004, is the most recent new F1 factory to be built in Britain but Stroll said his would be very different to that. “It will be the only one perfectly fit for purpose with the financial regulations (cost cap) taken into consideration,” said Stroll, whose son Lance drives for the team. “It shows my belief in the team, it confirms my ambitions and it confirms my belief in Formula One, because this is really an investment as well in Formula One. “This is a building that will truly represent our image, our culture and our DNA.” Formula One is considering banning wind tunnels for aerodynamic development and testing but Stroll doubted that would happen and said that even if it did, it would not be before 2030. “We believe it’s a worthy investment that will have seven to eight years to be able to use it before any decision is made. I personally don’t think wind tunnels will disappear,” he said. Stroll said the Aston Martin road car design team would remain at the British sportscar company’s Gaydon site.

Wednesday, 15 September, 2021

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PakisTan will recognise Taliban govT if iT uPholds commiTmenTs To human righTs: ambassador WAsHINGtON

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APP

AKISTAN was monitoring the ability of the new Taliban government in Kabul to deliver on its commitment to uphold human rights in Afghanistan it made to the world before extending recognition to it, Islamabad’s ambassador to the United States said.

“Whether the Taliban actually abide by those [commitments] is their call,” Asad Majeed Khan said in an interview with The Washington Diplomat.

“But we have basically laid out our expectations, which is that we want the rights of everyone to be respected,” he said when asked under what conditions

Pakistan would recognise the Taliban government.

“We want that Afghan territory not be used against any other country, including Pakistan. We want human rights and women’s rights to be preserved.”

At the same time, Ambassador Khan said Pakistan believed that “instead of indulging in give-and-take on these issues, right now what’s really important is to avert a humanitarian crisis.”

What was really important at the moment was to “basically not let things fall apart”, he said, adding “clearly, there is a new reality, which is a government under the Taliban.”

“The international community has to make a choice: between engaging — and that doesn’t necessarily mean

recognition — and abandonment.”

Replying to a question about Pakistan-US ties, he said since 9/11, Pakistan has essentially been seen through the prism of Afghanistan.

“I can tell you that today, we are together on the same side in terms of our interests and expectations in Afghanistan. The US wants to see the conflict end; that’s also what we want.

And we would like to see that the gains Afghanistan has made over the last few decades are preserved.”

Asked about the impression in the US that Pakistan supported extremist groups, Ambassador Khan said the facts needed to be looked at more closely.

“Pakistan has been a close partner and ally in decimating Al Qaeda, and in bringing about the peace negotia-

tions [on Afghanistan],” he said, asserting that it was unfortunate that Pakistan was associated with a lot of negative news.

About India-Pakistan ties, he said, “Unfortunately, we have a government in India which is fundamentalist and ideological, which believes in unilateralism, and which has regrettably rebuffed all our peaceful overtures.”

Prime Minister Imran Khan had publicly extended the hand of friendship to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, noting that the latter chose to indulge in military adventurism.

“The situation in [occupied] Kashmir continues to be very bad.

Pakistan wants to resolve all its disputes through engagement and dialogue. Our two countries have no other options but peace.“

Blinken says US will assess Pakistan ties over Afghanistan’s future WAsHINGtON ReuteRs

The United States will be looking at its relationship with Pakistan in the coming weeks, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday, to formulate what role Washington would want it to play in the future of Afghanistan.

In the first public hearing in Congress about Afghanistan since last month’s collapse of the USbacked government in Kabul, Blinken told the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee that Pakistan has a “multiplicity of interests some that are in conflict with ours.”

“It is one that is involved hedging its bets constantly about the future of Afghanistan, it’s one that’s involved harbouring members of the Taliban […] It is one that’s also involved in different points cooperation with us on counterterrorism,” Blinken said.

Asked by lawmakers if it is time for Washington to reassess its relationship with Pakistan, Blinken said

the administration would soon be doing that.

“This is one of the things we’re going to be looking at in the days, and weeks ahead — the role that Pakistan has played over the last 20 years but also the role we would want to see it play in the coming years and what it will take for it to do that,” he said.

The United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan culminated with a hastily organised airlift that left thousands of US-allied Afghans behind and was punctuated by a suicide bombing outside Kabul’s airport that killed 13 US troops and scores of Afghans.

Blinken also called on Pakistan to deny legitimacy to the Taliban unless they meet international demands. “What we have to look at is an insistence that every country, to include Pakistan, make good on the expectations that the international community has of what is required of a Taliban-led government if it’s to receive any legitimacy of any kind or any support,” he told the committee.

He said the priorities included ensuring the Taliban let out people who want to leave Afghanistan and

respect the rights of women, girls and minorities, as well as adhere to promises that the country not again become “a haven for outward-directed terror.”

“So Pakistan needs to line up with a broad majority of the international community in working toward those ends and in upholding those expectations,” Blinken said.

The United States and Western countries are in a difficult balancing act in the aftermath of the Taliban’s victory — reluctant to recognise the group while accepting the reality that they will have to engage with them to prevent a looming humanitarian crisis.

Pakistan had maintained diplomatic contact with the Taliban dating from the guerrillas’ rise in the 1990s and it was one of only three countries to recognise its 1996-2001 government.

Islamabad also quickly pledged cooperation in the US-led “war on terror” after the September 11 attacks. But Pakistan has frequently viewed Afghanistan through the prism of its historic rivalry with India, a major partner to the fallen regime.

Thousands protest against Taliban in Kandahar over evictions ReuteRs Thousands of Afghans protested against the Taliban in the southern city of Kandahar on Tuesday, according to a former government official and local television footage, after residents were asked to vacate a residential army colony.

Protesters gathered in front of the governor’s house in Kandahar after around 3,000 families were asked to leave the colony, according to the former government official who witnessed the crowds.

Footage from local media showed crowds of people blocking a road in the city.

The affected area is predominantly

occupied by the families of retired army generals and other members of the Afghan security forces.

The families, some of whom had

lived in the district for almost 30 years, had been given three days to vacate, the official, who had spoken to some of those affected, said.

Taliban spokesmen did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the evictions.

Sporadic protests against the Taliban, who swept to power in Afghanistan with the capture of Kabul almost a month ago, have ended in occasionally deadly clashes, although there were no confirmed reports of violence on Tuesday.

Taliban leaders have vowed to investigate any instances of abuse, but have ordered demonstrators to seek permission before holding protests.

The United Nations said on Friday the Taliban’s response to peaceful protests was becoming increasingly violent.

Pakistan reopens Torkham border for pedestrians IsLAMABAD AnAdolu Agency

Pakistan on Tuesday reopened a key border crossing with Afghanistan for pedestrian movement, an official said.

Torkham border — one of the two main crossings between the two neighbours — was closed by the Taliban on Monday after Islamabad rejected their demand for allowing all Afghan citizens gathered at the border to enter the Pakistan side. According to Mansoor Arshad, the deputy commissioner of the Khyber district in which the Torkham border falls, the border has been reopened for stranded Afghan and Pakistan nationals to return to their respective countries. Hundreds of Afghans had gathered at the border on Monday to enter Pakistan after rumours that Islamabad has opened its border. Only those who require medical treatment are being allowed to enter Pakistan, apart from the evacuees who are going abroad. Trade activities between the two sides have been going on smoothly. Since August 15, when the Taliban took over the control of Kabul, over 30,000 Afghans returned to their homeland through the Torkham border from Pakistan and some 4,000 entered Pakistan, according to officials. Pakistan and Afghanistan share 18 crossing points — the most frequently used are Torkham and Chaman.

Taliban thank world for promised aid, urge US to show ‘heart’ AFP The Taliban on Tuesday thanked the world for pledging hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency aid to Afghanistan, and urged the United States to show “heart” to the impoverished country.

A donor conference in Geneva on Monday saw countries promise a total of $1.2 billion in aid for Afghanistan, which was taken over by the Islamist group last month in a lightning offensive that took retreating US troops by surprise.

Afghanistan, already heavily dependent on aid, is facing an economic crisis, with the new authorities unable to pay salaries and food prices soaring.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the regime’s acting foreign minister, told a press conference the Taliban would spend donor money wisely

and use it to alleviate poverty.

“The Islamic Emirate will try its best to deliver this aid to the needy people in a completely transparent manner,” Muttaqi said.

He also asked Washington to show appreciation for the Taliban allowing the US to complete a troop withdrawal and evacuation of more than 120,000 people last month.

“America is a big country, they need to have a big heart,” he said.

Muttaqi said Afghanistan, which is also facing a drought, had already received aid from countries such as Pakistan, Qatar and Uzbekistan, but did not give further details.

Read: WFP chief thanks Pakistan for help in establishing ‘humanitarian air bridge’ to Afghanistan He said he had held discussions with China’s ambassador on the coronavirus vaccine and other humanitarian causes, with Beijing pledging $15m which

will be available “soon”.

Since the Taliban takeover, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund have halted Afghanistan’s access to funding, while the United States has also frozen cash held in its reserve for Kabul.

‘Very important to engage with Taliban’ UN chief Antonio Guterres on Monday said he believed aid could be used as leverage with the group to exact improvements on human rights, amid fears of a return to the brutal rule that characterised the first Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001. “It is impossible to provide humanitarian assistance inside Afghanistan without engaging with the de facto authorities,” the UN secretary-general told ministers attending the Geneva talks.

“It is very important to engage with the Taliban at the present moment.”

The Taliban have promised a milder

form of rule this time around, but have moved swiftly to crush dissent, including firing in the air to disperse recent protests by women calling for the right to education and work. UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said she was “dismayed by the lack of inclusivity of the so-called caretaker cabinet, which includes no women and few nonPakhtuns”.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has previously warned that the Taliban would have to earn legitimacy and support, after talks with allies on how to present a united front. The caretaker cabinet, he said, would be judged “by its actions”.

Meanwhile, Afghans are resorting to selling their household goods to raise money to pay for essentials, and bustling secondhand goods markets have mushroomed in most urban centres.

Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk