Epaper – September 17 LHR 2021

Friday, 17 September, 2021 I 9 Safar, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 78 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

Pakistan to facilitate foreign investors, PM says in tajikistan g

PM laMents cost of electricity in Pakistan, anticiPates coMPletion of casa Power Project

P

riMe Minister imran khan on thursday has said that the country will provide all means of help to foreign investors to create ease in doing business within the country. the PM reached tajikistan on a twoday visit, wherein he will attend the 20th shanghai cooperation organisation’sHeads of state summit in Dushanbe, according to a tweet by the Prime Minister’s office. “the prime minister was received by tajik Prime Minister kokhir rasulzoda and was accorded a red carpet welcome at Dushanbe international airport,” the tweet said. foreign Minister shah Mahmood Qureshi is accompanying the premier on the visit. after reaching Dushanbe, he tweeted: “Pleased to be in tajikistan with PM imran khan for his third visit to central asia, underlining Pakistan’s enhanced engagement with the region.” shortly after arrival, the prime minister inaugurated the maiden meeting of the Pakistan-tajikistan Business forum, for which a group of Pakistani businessmen have also travelled to tajikistan. “i believe we have representatives of 67 Pakistani companies here in Dushanbe. they come from different

fields, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, and logistics,” the premier said while addressing an event where businessmen from Pakistan and tajikistan were in attendance, the premier said he wanted to speak to a joint gathering of businessmen from both countries. the prime minister lamented that the cost of electricity was too high in Pakistan. “we want the kasa 1,000 energy project to be completed soon,” he said. “there are lots of opportunities related to the clean energy projects in tajikistan.”

He extended an invitation to tajikistan’s businessmen to invest in Pakistan, adding that the Pakistani government was creating opportunities and removing hurdles for its own business community as well. “we will provide every help possible to investors in Pakistan,” said the prime minister.

He said Pakistan, with a population of 220m people, was a “huge market” for the tajik business community and investors. inviting them to Pakistan, he assured them of government facilitation to make the business activity easier. the premier said that both countries would benefit from more trade.

He also praised tajikistan’s cheap and clean energy, particularly hydroelectricity, saying: “Unfortunately we have very expensive electricity in Pakistan.” the premier said work on the casa-

1000 power transmission line would be expedited so Pakistan too could benefit from “your clean and cheap energy [such as] hydroelectricity”. on afghanistan, the prime minister prayed for peace in the country, saying that it was “extremely important” for Pakistantajikistan trade due to better connectivity. “your president and i will be trying everything to make sure there is peace [in afghanistan], especially between the two major communities of tajiks and Pakhtuns. we will be doing our best to make sure they get together and there is an inclusive government,” he said. earlier, radio Pakistan had reported that the prime minister was accompanied by a high-level ministerial delegation and “will have bilateral meetings with other participating leaders on the sidelines of the sco summit”. it added that the prime minister will hold bilateral meetings after the moot.

PM imran’s talks with the tajik president will cover “the entire gamut of bilateral relations, especially enhancing trade, economic and investment ties with a particular focus on regional connectivity”, the report said. the prime minister will also inaugurate the maiden meeting of the Pakistan-tajikistan Business forum, for which a group of Pakistani businessmen will also visit Dushanbe. the joint business forum will catalyse growing trade and investment relations and promote business-to-business contacts between the trading communities of both countries, the report added. a meeting of the Pakistan-tajikistan joint Business council will also be held on the sidelines, the report said. the sco was founded in shanghai in 2001 by the leaders of kazakhstan, kyrgyzstan, tajikistan, Uzbekistan, russia and china. it evolved from an earlier regional security grouping formed in 1996 after the collapse of the soviet Union, when the central asian states gained independence from Moscow. news desk

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

UNHCR, COAS discuss humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan His excellency Mr filippo Grandi, United nations High commissioner for refugees (UnHcr) called on General Qamar javed Bajwa, chief of army staff (coas) at GHQ, today.

During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security, current situation in afghanistan & collaboration in humanitarian assistance were discussed. coas reiterated the need for convergence of global efforts to avert humanitarian and refugee crisis in afghanistan. coas also appreciated the role of UnHcr in promoting Un core values and their response during crises. the visiting dignitary acknowledged Pakistan’s effort for hosting four Million afghan refugees for over four decades. He also appreciated Pakistan’s role in afghan situation including provision of humanitarian aid/assistance and pledged to play their role for further improvement in cooperation with Pakistan at all levels. currently, the Pakistan air force is engaged in the provision of humanitarian assistance as well as facilitating recent evacuation operations from afghanistan, which, along with other ongoing projects, have been appreciated by the army chief. chief of army staff Gen Qamar javed Bajwa on friday last, while chairing a meeting of the corps commanders conference, said constructive engagement and sus-

tained humanitarian support by the international community was “imperative” for achieving enduring peace and stability in war-torn afghanistan. the meeting, which was held at the General Headquarters in rawalpindi, comprehensively reviewed the global, regional and domestic security situation, the director-general of the isPr said in a series of tweets. it was informed about the situation in neighbouring afghanistan, the security along the Pakistan-afghanistan border and safeguards put in place against various threats, the isPr DG added. the army chief expressed “satisfaction” regarding the efficacy of Pakistan’s border management system because of which the country’s borders remained secure and internal security remained intact amid the rapidly unfolding situation in afghanistan.

He also appreciated the Pakistan army’s role and support in the “overall and transit-related efforts undertaken in support of evacuation of foreign and afghan populace from afghanistan to other countries”.

He reiterated Pakistan’s firm commitment to peace, the DG isPr said.

During the meeting, the forum termed close cooperation among all regional stakeholders necessary to establish peace and stability in south asia. news desk

02

Friday, 17 September, 2021

LAHORE

NEWS

PUnjab EdUcaTiOn miniSTEr hOldS inTEracTivE SESSiOn wiTh jOUrnaliSTS On Snc LAHORe

P

ShAhAb Omer

ROvINCIAL Education Minister Dr Murad Ras on Thursday said that the aim of Single National Curriculum (SNC) is to clear concepts of students through Urdu language. He expressed these views during an interactive session with journalists on SNC. Senior journalists, including Saleem Bukhari, Khalid Farooqi, Ajmal Jami, Raees Ansari, officials of Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB), and education specialists were present on the occasion.

The minister informed the journalists that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has

so far upgraded 8,000 government primary schools with a cost of Rs7 billion.

However, when this scribe asked the minister if any student would have to read the curriculum in Urdu only till class 10, the minister replied that it would not be the case.

“Books for first to fifth classes are definitely in Urdu with the aim of enabling children understand their mother tongue. But students from sixth grade to tenth grade will read subjects in English. In addition, NOCs have been issued to various private schools for various books, but NOCs will be available only for books that fall within the scope of the SNC,” he said.

Talking about implementation of SNC in madrassahs, the minister said that

madrassahs have been taken on board. “This is just the beginning and a lot of work is needed. The Aga Khan Board is also on board. Now that we have got our hands on the private school mafia, we will deal with the academies mafia as well. The PTI is going to launch an online academy programme under which all students will get online education. The academy will have online quizzes and the results will be available immediately. The online academy will be available on mobile phones and students will not have to turn to academies for further studies in the future,” he said.

The managing director of PCTB informed that syllabi for first to fifth classes have been printed and are easily

available in the market, and rumors regarding the shortage of syllabi were spread by a certain mafia.

During the occasion, some journalists criticised the SNC as Jami said that details about Islamic events have also been added in the Urdu book which will be read by nonMuslims as well.

“In my opinion, it is a good practice that Islamic events will also be taught in Urdu books, but a book on Islamic studies is available in the syllabus to teach about Islamic events and Islam. The chapters about Islamic events in the Urdu book will have to be read by non-Muslims as well, while Urdu is a secular language and should be taught as a language,” he said.

Opposition rejects increase in prices of petroleum products News Desk The opposition has rejected the increase in prices of petroleum products.

On Wednesday, the government approved an increase of Rs5 per litre in the price of petrol.

According to a notification issued by the Finance Division, the price of petrol has been increased by Rs5 per litre and new price will be Rs123.30 while High Speed Diesel price increased by Rs5.01 and the new price will be Rs120.04.

The price of Kerosene Oil has been increased by Rs5.42 per litre with new price Rs92.26 whereas Light Diesel Oil

Educational institutions across Punjab, KP reopen LAHORe/PesHAwAR

FAWAD SAYS POL PRICES STILL LOW IN AS COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION price increased by Rs5.92 per litre and its new price will be Rs90.69.

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has robbed the poor by hiking the price to the highest level in history.

The scion of the Bhutto dynasty, in a statement, said that with petrol and dollar at historic high, everyday use items will soon be out of reach of the masses.

The PPP chief said that PM Imran,

Pakistan wants to build constructive relationship with US: FO

who came into power with promises of cheap petrol, has not only increased the price to historic high but is trying to defend the massive hike. Separately, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Hina Pervez Butt submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly against the increase in prices of petroleum products.

The resolution stated that the common man is already dealing with inflation and an increase in price of petrol every 15 days is a clear proof of anti-

people government. The incumbent government has failed miserably in providing relief to the people, it added.

On the other hand, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that petroleum prices in Pakistan are still low as compared to other countries in the region.

In a post on social-networking website Twitter, the minister said that if you want to purchase petroleum products from outside, you need to pay more.

Joint Action Committee terms PMDA as ‘unacceptable’, expressed reservations

News Desk

News Desk

Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmed on Thursday said that sustainable peace in Afghanistan has been the shared objective of Pakistan and the United States, and Islamabad looks forward to build constructive relationship with Washington, Radio Pakistan reported.

Responding to a question during his weekly press conference in Islamabad, he said that Pakistan facilitated the evacuation of foreign nationals, international media persons, and other people from Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan’s positive role was acknowledged and appreciated by the international community, including the United States. He said Pakistan has played a critical role in helping the United States in degrading Al-Qaeda’s core leadership in Afghanistan, but at the same time Islamabad maintained that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and a political settlement is the way forward for sustainable peace in the war-torn country. The spokesperson, however, said that recent statements from US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and some other US lawmakers, during congressional hearing on Afghanistan, were not in line with the close cooperation that Pakistan and the United States had in recent years. He said Pakistan effectively facilitated the Afghan peace process with commitment. Replying to another question regarding trade of nuclear material in India, Asim Iftikhar said it is a serious threat to peace and security of the world. He said it also exposed India’s institutional inability to control and stop such kind of incidents and the international community and relevant agencies should take notice of this practice.

A Joint Action Committee comprising representatives of the media industry and the government have made efforts to discuss the Pakistan Media Development Authority, wherein the media representatives of the committee have termed the proposed authority as “unacceptable”.

According to a press release, the meeting was held between the Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Minister of State Farrukh Habib and representatives of the Pakistan Broadcasters Association, All Pakistan Newspapers Society, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors.

Issues relating to media regulation and proposed PMDA were discussed with the information minister.

The Joint Action Committee expressed its reservations on the proposed PMDA, reported Dawn.

It was mutually agreed to form a committee to address the issue amicably. The committee will address the issue of fake news particularly on social media, the rights of the media workers and ways to further improve laws and regulatory framework.

Senate committee briefed on the concept behind proposed media authority; minister asked to share draft law with all stakeholders Meanwhile, the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting met with Senator Faisal Javed Khan in the chair. The meeting was attended by

ministers Fawad Chaudhry and Farrukh Habib and newspaper editors, media owners and representatives of journalists’ organisations.

The information minister briefed the meeting on the concept behind the setting up of the PMDA. Senator Faisal Javed of the Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) assured the committee that Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government would not impose any restrictions on freedom of the press.

However, the standing committee members sought details about the concept behind the PMDA from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The committee chairman said all the parties needed to work together for development of media and promotion of freedom of expression, adding that there is no draft law of the PMDA for consideration before the committee.

“We will review the draft law only after it is presented before the committee and then we will give our recommendations,” Senator Javed said.

Later, a meeting of the subcommittee of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting was also held.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb is the convener of the subcommittee while other members are Kanwal Shauzab of the PTI and Dr Nafisa Shah of the Pakistan Peoples Party. The meeting considered the draft law of the controversial PMDA and stressed that the information minister should share the draft with all stakeholders.

Farooqi suggested that Urdu literature and Urdu language writers who worked for the development of Urdu need to be taught in Urdu subject. “When it comes to teaching mother tongue, Urdu is not our mother tongue but Punjabi is the mother tongue of the people of Punjab. Punjabi was not included in the syllabus. Similarly, if we keep in account the national language, which is Urdu, then there is a lot to teach in the Urdu subject. The curriculum needs to teach fiction by writers like Saadat Hassan Manto, Munshi Prem Chand and Krishn Chandar. The poetry of Allama Iqbal, Faiz, Ghalib and other high profile Urdu poets should also be included in the curriculum,” he said.

INP

All public and private educational institutions in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were reopened on Thursday. According to a notification issued by the education department, only 50 percent of students are allowed in schools. All the concerned authorities have been asked to ensure strict adherence to coronavirus-related restrictions and standard operating procedures, as well as 100 percent vaccination of all the teaching and non-teaching staff, and students. In KP, teaching will continue in Mardan, Peshawar, DI Khan, Malakand, Haripur, Swabi, Abbottabad and Mansehra with 50 percent attendance after decline in Covid-19 cases. It may be noted that the educational institutions in Punjab and KP were announced to close from Sep 6 to 11 but due to continuous rise in cases the National Command and Operation Centre extended the closure of institutions till Sept 15.

Zardari seeks acquittal in Toshakhana case News Desk Pakistan People’s Party Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has filed an application with an accountability court for his acquittal in the Toshakhana reference, The Express Tribune reported on Thursday. Zardari had been accused by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of illegally retaining expensive vehicles gifted by various foreign states and dignitaries instead of depositing them in the Toshakhana. According to the anti-corruption body, Zardari retained the vehicles “against a nominal payment of 15% of their total value” through “dishonest and illegal means for personal benefit and interest”. In September 2020, an anti-graft court had indicted the former president along with ex-prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in the reference. On Thursday, the former president’s counsel Farooq H Naek filed a application under Section 265-K of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) The application states that the Zardari is “innocent and has been falsely implicated” in the reference on account of “political victimization”. “The applicant who has been made a victim of circumstances languished in jail for more than eight years without any fault on his part in innumerable cases ultimately resulting in acquittal in all the cases,” the application further stated.

Kashmiris continue to suffer despite UN’s repeated concerns, call for inquiry IsLAMABAD APP

As a United Nations report seeking an international inquiry into multiple human rights violations and abuses and deliverance of justice for people in Kashmir gathers dust, the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continue to suffer in silence.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet at the start of the 48th session (2021) of the UN Human Rights Council on human rights developments around the world voiced her continued concern over the situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), saying the ongoing use of

a tough law, was aimed at quelling dissent, was “worrying.”

“Indian authorities’ restrictions on public assembly, and frequent temporary communication blackouts, continue in Jammu and Kashmir, while hundreds of people remain in detention for exercising their right to the freedom of expression, and journalists face ever-growing pressure.”

“Ongoing use of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act throughout India is worrying, with Jammu and Kashmir having among the highest number of cases in the country,” the UN rights chief said in the session on the disputed territory, adding that “such restrictive measures can result in human rights violations and foster further tensions and discontent.”

Michelle Bachelet has been expressing her concerns regarding the plight of people in IIOJK since 2018 after the first-ever report of the UN on the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir was issued by the world body. The report also expressed an urgent need to address past and ongoing human rights violations and abuses and deliver justice for all people in Kashmir, who for seven decades have suffered a conflict that has claimed or ruined numerous lives.

The main focus of the report was the human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir from July 2016 to April 2018.

The Indian government on August 5, 2019, revoked Articles 370, 35A and other related provisions from its Constitution. The

Narendra Modi regime locked down the region, detaining thousands of people, imposing movement restrictions, and enforcing a communications blackout.

What is happening in IIOJK post-August 2019 is nothing new. In the past, the valley witnessed coercive measures that caused killings, debilitating pellet injuries, unlawful detention and torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearance, etc.

The members of civil society and international humanitarian agencies have documented and campaigned around some of the gravest forms of human rights violation in Kashmir.

The partition of the subcontinent in 1947 plan gave the right of self-determination to the people to decide their future.

Ironically, India forcefully and illegally annexed Kashmir and took the matter to the United Nations, prompting the world body to declare that a plebiscite was the only legitimate solution to the problem.

However, India backed off its own commitment and started to dilly-dallying the implementation of the UN Resolutions.

Kashmir, today, is the most militarized zone in the world. Illegal and draconian laws like PSA fully provide the cover to the Indian Occupation Forces to torment the innocent civilians and make them yield to the demands of India.

Indian forces have resorted to lockdowns, curfew, communication blackouts, rape, arson, kidnapping, illegal detentions etc.

Friday, 17 September, 2021

LAHORE

NEWS

03

nEd PricE clariFiES US STaTEmEnT On hOw iT will ‘rEaSSESS’ rElaTiOnShiP wiTh PaKiSTan

S

News Desk

TATE Department Spokesperson Ned Price has offered clarification on what US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meant when he said that Washington will reassess its relationship with Pakistan following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, ensuring that the US has been in touch with Pakistan.

“Pakistan we know has frequently advocated for an inclusive government with broad support in Afghanistan, and what the Secretary was referring to yesterday is that we

are going to continue to look to Pakistan and to other countries in the region to make good on their public statements, on commitments they have made, to in different ways step up to support the people of Afghanistan and to work constructively not only with us but the international community to see to it that the priorities that we share,” he said on Thursday while addressing a media briefing.

“This includes the humanitarian concerns, it concerns the rights and the gains of the Afghan people over the past 20 years, as well as the counter-terrorism concerns that we all have – to ensure that we are all

walking in the same direction. That’s what the Secretary was referring to yesterday.”

“Pakistan was represented at the ministerial that Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Maas convened last week at Ramstein Airbase in Germany. Pakistan contributed to that forum, echoed much of what we heard from other participants.”

“And as I said before, there was a good deal of consensus that the gains of the past 20 years, especially on the part of Afghanistan’s women and girls and minorities, is – preserving those is in everyone’s interests,” he added.

Defence counsel casts doubts on police probe in Noor Mukadam case during bail hearing News Desk The defence counsel in the Noor Mukadam murder case during a hearing for the bail petition of the accused’s parents at the Islamabad High Court highlighted that there are “grey areas” within the police probe.

Justice Amer Farooq Kayani heard the case in which Khawaja Haris, representing Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee — parents of accused Zahir Jaffer — told the court that the police were solely relying on statements given

by Zahir, adding that the police have not spoken to the parents since remand was granted.

Zahir’s parents were taken into custody on July 25 following the arrest of their son for allegedly concealing material facts from the investigation team. Subsequently, they had approached a district and sessions court for bail.

The sessions court had on Aug 5 dismissed the post-arrest bail applications of Zahir’s parents and observed that they had abetted the murder and had attempted to conceal material evidence.

In the case hearing today, the defence counsel pointed out that while it was admissible that suspect Zahir called his parents, “but it could not be said what was talked about during the conversation.”

He said it was also not clear whether Zahir had informed his parents about the

murder. “Even if it is known, and Therapyworks employees went there to destroy the evidence, the case [against parents] is still not justified,” Haris told the court.

The counsel said police only sought a two-day physical remand of Zahir’s parents, adding that the investigators could have sought a longer remand had there been enough evidence against them.

“It is written in the police challan that Zahir Jaffer informed his parents after the murder and they sent Therapyworks employees to the spot,” he argued.

He said the murder couldn’t have been assisted if it had already taken place. “The police also mentioned in its report that the gardener prevented Noor from leaving the house, however, it is another debate that the gardener was not present there,” Haris claimed.

The counsel insisted there were “grey areas” in the police probe.

Before adjourning the hearing till Friday, the court asked Haris whether the Therapyworks employees were nominated in the case as suspects to which the counsel replied in the affirmative.

He also told the court that he would try to wrap up arguments in the case by tomorrow.

In a challan submitted by the police to the trial court in the murder case on September 11, it was asserted that the father of prime suspect Zahir Jaffer,

enabled the crime.

Noor was found beheaded at Zahir’s residence on July 20 in Islamabad’s F7 area. Noor is the daughter of Shaukat Mukadam, who served as Pakistan’s ambassador to South Korea and Kazakhstan. The Islamabad police arrested suspect Zahir on the night of July 20 from his house where, according to Noor’s parents, he killed her with a sharp instrument and severed her head. The gruesome incident sparked a nationwide campaign seeking justice for her.

The interim challan was submitted to Additional District and Sessions Judge Atta Rabbani on September 9.

Earlier, the challan was filed in the court of District and Sessions Judge Kamran Basharat Mufti. However, the court tried the case on September 9 and later transferred it.

In the challan, the police also stated in the challan that the crime could have been avoided had Zakir informed the police instead of helping his son.

The challan also stated that prime suspect Zahir had confessed to killing Noor and a DNA report confirmed she was raped. Zahir also gave a statement about beheaded Noor, the challan stated.

According to the police investigation report, Zahir said that when Noor refused to marry him, he forcibly locked her up in a room. He told his guard to not let anyone in and not let her out. He hid her mobile phone

Earlier on September 14, US Secretary of State Blinken had said that Washington will reassess its relationship with Pakistan in the coming days.

According to Reuters, the US had made it clear to Pakistan that it did not want Islamabad to recognise the Taliban government until it doesn’t give women their due rights and allows Afghans who want to leave the country, to do so.

In the first public hearing in Congress about Afghanistan since last month’s collapse of the US-backed Afghan government, US Secretary of State Blinken

in another room, which was retrieved by the police from a closet in his house on his identification.

Zahir informed his father about Noor’s murder and the father told him there was no need to panic and that his “men were coming to dispose of the body”, the challan said.

The interim challan says if Zakir had informed the police in time, Noor’ murder could have been avoided. The father helped his son, it said.

According to the statement of the suspect, a quarrel with Amjad Mahmood, one of the employees of Therapy Works who was present at the crime scene, took place over a misunderstanding.

The employees of Therapy Works tried to hide the act of the suspect and destroy evidence, the challan said, adding that injured employee Amjad lied to the hospital administration and said he got injured in a road accident on his medical slip.

The interim challan states that the photographs and fingerprints stored in the DvR also belong to the prime suspect.

According to a DNA report from August 12, the suspect raped Noor. The interim challan also states that Zahir had booked a flight to the United States on July 19 but did not travel.

When she jumped from the washroom window to escape, the watchman did not facilitate her. The gardener, Jan Mohammad, also did not allow Noor to open the gate. If he had allowed Noor to open the gate, she could have escaped her death.

Reports said that no poison or drugs were found in the victim’s body.

Meanwhile, the results of the forensic analysis of the victim’s mobile phone and laptop are yet to come.

The challan also states that there is evidence against 12 suspects in the case.

PIA decides to operate flights between Lahore and Peshawar News Desk The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Thursday decided to operate flights from Lahore to Peshawar.

According to the PIA spokesperson, weekly two flights will be operated between Lahore to Peshawar from October 1. The first flight will take off for

Peshawar from Lahore airport on October 1 at 11.40 am.

The flights would be operated on Monday and Friday every week, the spokesperson said and added that ATR planes will be used for the flight operations.

Yesterday, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the

cabinet had approved US$130 million cash support for Pakistan International Airlines (PIAC).

A decision to this effect was taken at the ECC meeting, which was held in Islamabad with Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin in the chair.

Earlier, the new Afghan government contacted the Civil Aviation Authority

(CAA) Pakistan and sought permission for scheduled flights for Afghanistan Airlines Ariana and Kam Air. According to details, the Afghan Ministry of Civil Aviation wrote a letter to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) seeking permission for the scheduled flights of Afghanistan Airlines Ariana and Kam Air to Pakistan.

Cantonment Boards’ elections: a significant political process of engaging people in decisions-making PesHAwAR APP

Attaching high hopes from the newly elected representatives of the cantonment boards, the residents of all cantonments foresee speedy completion of socioeconomic projects and resolutions of their basic problems at the gross root level.

Following successful holding of the cantonment boards (CB) elections across the country including KP, the electorates have pinned high hopes from the newly elected representatives of political parties and independent candidates for speedy resolutions of their basic problems including pavement of streets, sanitation, drinking water, street lighting, cleanliness and other services. “Water

sewerage, encroachment and quick disposal of waste are among the major problems being faced by residents of Peshawar cantonment and the newly elected representatives are expected to deliver as per the expectations of masses,” said Farman Khan, owner of Abbas Tower in Peshawar cantonment told APP. “Earlier, we had to visit cantonment board offices for resolution of our basic problems, which required substantial time and official procedures for execution and approval of projects,” he said. Expressing satisfaction over the overwhelming majority of PTI candidates in cantonment boards’ polls in Pakistan especially in KP, he said like the PTI Government in the Khyber Pakthunkhwa, the elected representatives of the party would also deliver and

swiftly address problems of the residents of the cantonment boards.

Great enthusiasm was witnessed among workers of all political parties including PTI, PML-N, PPP, Jamaat-iIslami, ANP and independents during CB elections.

According to sources in the provincial election commission, PTI had clinched maximum seats against other religio-political parties in KP during the said elections. In KP, PTI had clinched 15 seats, nine by independent candidates, four by PMLN, 3 PPP and 2

by ANP. Out of 37 total wards in nine cantonment boards in KP, election was held in 33 wards as four candidates including two each from Charat and Murree Galis Abbottabad cantonments have already been elected unopposed.

PTI had won four seats in Abbottabad, three in Risalpur, two each in Nowshera and DI Khan and one each in Kohat, Bannu and Havalian. Similarly, PMLN clinched three seats in Abbottabad and one at Havalian. PPP bagged two seats at Peshawar and one seat at Abbottabad while ANP secured victory on one seat at Peshawar and Mardan cantonments. Two independent candidates elected each from Kohat and Nowshera, one each from Peshawar, Mardan and Bannu cantonments.

In KP, a total of 169 candidates have contested elections on general seats in seven districts of the province where election was peacefully conducted in 33 wards. A total of 131 polling stations and 402 polling booths were setup for 122,940 registered voters.

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

Asked by lawmakers if it is time for Washington to reassess its relationship with Pakistan, Blinken had said the administration would soon be doing that.

nation won’t forgive opposition for its irresponsible behavior: buzdar LAHORe StAff rePOrt

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Thursday said that the nation will not forgive opposition for its irresponsible behavior. In a statement, the CM said that opposition has also tried to do politics on coronavirus pandemic for its own interests. The opposition parties have always left the people of Pakistan alone in difficult times, he added.

Earlier, CM Buzdar said that the opposition violated parliamentary norms and its conduct during the address of President is condemnable. The chief minister said that address of President Dr Arif Alvi to joint session of Parliament was a symbol of national unity. Alvi’s address, on completion of three parliamentary years, was a true representation of public’s aspirations, he added. The CM further said that attitude of opposition parties was unparliamentary and undemocratic.

cm buzdar suspends 15 officers over negligence, public complaints LAHORe NewS DeSk

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar directed to remove 15 officers from their posts over negligence in duties, public complaints and poor performance during his visit to Sambrial and Sialkot on Thursday.

The CM visited various government offices responsible for providing services to the people to review their performance. On his directions, AC Sambrial, XEN (Irrigation) Marala, DSP Daska and DSP Traffic Sialkot were removed from their posts. Sambrial’s Chief Officer Municipal Corporation, MS THQ Hospital, AD Land Record and Sialkot’s CO Tehsil Cooperation, Excise and Taxation Officer, DHO, Superintendent District Jail Sialkot, Assistant Superintendent Women District Jail Sialkot, CO MC Pasror, CO MC Daska, Sub Registrar (Rural) and District Health Officer were also suspended. Buzdar approved repair of Sambrial road and carpeting of 12-km sub-line from Sialkot to Sambrial road. During his visit to THQ Hospital Sambrial, he directed to improve the medical facilities.

He said a new road would be constructed for THQ Hospital Sambrial and for this purpose, he directed the DC Sialkot to complete the land acquisition work.

Daska-Sambrial road’s construction and improvement funds would be provided and Shahab Pura bridge would also be completed, the CM said. He announced to release 20 crore rupees for the construction of the bridge and directed MD NESPAK to complete the project on priority basis.

maryam asserts unity between Sharif family News Desk PML-N vice President Maryam Nawaz on Thursday urged party workers to pay no mind to “propaganda by the enemy”, saying that PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif and and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif “are one”. “This is a democratic party. Differences in opinion may exist. This does not mean that one raises questions pertaining to party leadership,” she said, addressing a gathering of workers belonging to the party’s Bahawalpur division. “When it comes to the party leadership, everyone agrees with Nawaz Sharif as well as Shahbaz Sharif,” she said. The gathering was attended by party secretary-general Ahsan Iqbal and senior members Rana Sanaullah and Khurram Dastagir.

Friday, 17 September, 2021

04 NEWS

LAHORE

UNICEF URGEs sChools to REopEN ComplEtEly NEWS DESK

s

INCE the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic 18 months ago, the schools of millions of children worldwide remain almost totally closed, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said, urging institutions to reopen.

In an urgent warning released on Thursday, the organization said schools for almost 77 million students in six nations are still nearly completely shut, while around 27% of countries continue to experience full or partial closures of educational institutions.

Henrietta H Fore, the agency’s executive director, warned that “the losses that students are incurring from not being in school may

never be recovered,” with almost 131 million pupils in 11 nations having missed over 75% of their in-person teaching.

The report dubbed education closures as having “created a shadow crisis for children”, where kids are forced to skip school meals and vaccinations. The lack of access to in-person learning has also plunged minors into experiencing social isolation and increased anxiety, and left some prey to abuse, violence, child labor and marriage, the agency remarked. To draw attention to the “18 months of lost learning, deferred potential and uncertain future, and to urge governments to reopen schools as soon as possible, UNICEF and partners will close down their digital channels today at 13.00 GMT for 18 hours”, the statement further read.

Bitcoin crosses $48,000 mark as cryptos remain on upward slide

Crude prices inch down after hitting six-week high NEWS DESK

NEWS DESK The cryptocurrency market remained bullish for the third straight day on Thursday, with the market capitalisation gaining 2.7 percent to reach $2.28 trillion as of 1310 hours GMT. The price of bitcoin (BTC), the largest cryptocurrency, gained 1.33 percent to reach $48,089. With this increase in price, the market capitalisation of the biggest cryptocurrency has reached $904.8 billion. Likewise, ether (ETH) price went up by 6.82 percent to reach $3,640. With this increase in price, the market capitalisation of ETH has reached $426.7 billion. Similarly, XRP price gained 2.41 percent to reach $1.12. The market capitalisation of XRP stands at $111.4 billion after this increase. Following suit, cardano (ADA) price gained 0.60 percent to reach $2.47. Its market capitalisation has reached $80 billion after this increase. On the other hand, dogecoin (Doge) price went 1.26 percent up to reach $0.244. With this increase in price, the market capitalisation of doge has reached $32 billion. According to experts, bitcoin is facing strong resistance near $50,000, which can limit upside moves. However, buyers will likely defend lower support levels as BTC consolidates. The relative strength index (RSI) is declining from overbought levels reached on Wednesday. This could encourage brief selling towards $46,000 support. The RSI on the daily chart is around neutral levels, indicating a period of price consolidation could persist around the 200day moving average, currently at $45,800. Upside momentum is improving on the daily and weekly charts, which suggests pullbacks could be limited, they added.

According to UNICEF, schools are “not the main drivers of transmission”, making it possible to keep schools open if measures are taken to mitigate the spread of the virus, such as providing handwashing facilities, masks, and ventilation.

The organization’s report echoes a similar statement issued last week, which found that poor internet connections and limited access to devices interrupted learning for around 434 million children in South Asian countries like Pakistan, India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.

Last July, UNICEF and the World Health Organization warned that children may suffer greater harm from lockdowns than from the pandemic itself, citing disruptions to education, primary healthcare and nutrition.

ISLAMABAD: A view of sunset from the fields. ONLINE

PSX turns around with rupee’s appreciation, gains 203 points KARACHI TLTP

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) turned around on Thursday amid Pakistani rupee’s appreciation against the US dollar, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining 203.74 points (+0.44 percent) to close at 46,920.46 points.

The market opened on a positive note but switched towards the red zone within an hour; however, the news of rupee’s appreciation attracted bulls back to the bourse and the market remained in the green zone for the rest of the session. The KSE-100 Index moved in a range of 334.9 points, showing an intraday high of 46,958.3 points and a low of 46,623.4 points.

Among other indices, the KSE All Share Index gained 113.46 points (+0.35 percent) to close at 32,172.45 points, while All Share Islamic Index gained 84.39 points (+0.37 percent) to close at 23,033.50 points.

A total of 385 companies traded shares in the stock exchange, out of them shares of 185 closed up, shares of 178 closed down while shares of 22 companies remained unchanged. Out of 95 traded companies in the KSE-100

Index, 49 closed up, 42 closed down, while four remained unchanged.

The overall market volumes increased by 72.39 million to 405.18 million shares. Total volume traded for the KSE100 Index was 133.58 million shares. The number of total trades increased by 14,632 to 130,559, while the value traded increased by Rs5.07 billion to Rs16.51 billion. The market capitalisation increased by Rs27.36 billion.

Among scrips, SERFR posted top volumes with 61.63 million shares, followed by WTL (44.9 million) and TRG (32.3 million). Stocks that contributed significantly to the volumes include SERFR, WTL, TRG, UNITY and TELE, which formed around 45 percent of total volumes.

The sectors propping up the index were technology & communication with 90 points, oil & gas exploration companies with 49 points, commercial banks with 42 points, textile composite with 29 points and investment banks/ investment companies/ securities companies with 19 points. The most points added to the index were by TRG which contributed 101 points followed by OGDC with 25 points, PPL with 23 points, UNITY with 20 points and FABL with 17 points.

OHCHR seeks moratoriums on sale, use of AI systems GENEVA TLTP

States should place moratoriums on the sale and use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems until adequate safeguards are put in place, said UN human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet.

Urgent action is needed as it can take time to assess and address the serious risks this technology poses to human rights, warned the High Commissioner, saying: “The higher the risk for human rights, the stricter the legal requirements for the use of AI technology should be”.

Bachelet also called for AI applications that cannot be used in compliance with international human rights law, to be banned. “Artificial intelligence can be a force for good, helping societies overcome some of the great challenges of our times. But AI technologies can have negative, even catastrophic, effects if they are used without sufficient regard to how

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they affect people’s human rights”.

The high commissioner’s call came as her office, OHCHR, published a report that analyses how AI affects people’s right to privacy and other rights, including the rights to health, education, freedom of movement, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and freedom of expression. The document includes an assessment of profiling, automated decision-making and other machine-learning technologies. According to the report, the states and businesses often rushed to incorporate AI applications, failing to carry out due diligence. It states that there have been numerous cases of people being treated unjustly due to AI misuse, such as being denied social security benefits because of faulty AI tools or arrested because of flawed facial recognition software.

The document details how AI systems rely on large data sets, with information about individuals collected, shared, merged and analysed in multiple and often opaque ways.

Crude oil prices edged lower after hitting the highest level since August 02 on Thursday amid reports that China releases some crude oil from its strategic petroleum reserve and sells it to control rising prices. At 1340 hours GMT, Brent, the international benchmark for two-thirds of the world's oil, shed $0.33 (-0.44 percent) to reach $75.13 a barrel. Similarly, the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) reached $72.26 a barrel, down by $0.35 (-0.48 percent). The price for Opec Basket was recorded at $73.29 a barrel with 1.82 percent increase, Arab Light was available at $74.53 a barrel with a 1.71 percent increase, while the price of Russian Sokol jumped to $75.46 after gaining 1.74 percent. According to experts, since the pandemic, the world's top importers of crude oil appear to have become increasingly sensitive to oil price swings, especially when the swing is upwards.

India's former oil minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, was especially prompt and vocal in his reactions to any OPEC move that aimed at boosting prices any higher than New Delhi was comfortable with. India responded to some of these moves by ordering its state refiners to curb purchases from Middle Eastern oil producers. China has been diversifying its suppliers, too. Now India is selling oil from its strategic reserve.

In fact, it announced its sale a few weeks before China. The purpose of the sale reported at the time was to lease space to refiners, but whether intentional or not, the sale would have an effect on prices.

Gold price falls by Rs3,000 per 10gm NEWS DESK Gold prices dipped around two percent in the international market on Thursday amid a modest pickup in the US Treasury bond yields and dollar’s strength.

Gold in the international market was available at $1,760.40 per ounce after shedding $34.70 at 1320 hours GMT. Meanwhile, the price of 10 grams of yellow metal in Pakistan decreased to Rs94,900 after shedding Rs3,000. The closing prices of the yellow metal in the country remained Rs97,900 on Wednesday last. The prices in the local market decreased due to appreciation of Pakistani rupee against the US dollar as well as overnight decrease in international prices when the local market was closed. According to experts, gold continued losing ground and dropped to over one-month lows. Given the recent pullback from the $1,832-34 supply zone, the overnight rejection near a technically significant 200-day SMA and the subsequent decline supports prospects for additional losses.they said that gold extended the previous day's rejection slide from the very important 200-day SMA and witnessed some followthrough selling for the second successive session on Thursday. A convincing break below the $1,760 area would set the stage for a deeper retracement to the $1,750 level. The downward trajectory could further get extended towards the $1,729-28 intermediate support before gold prices eventually drop to the $1,700 mark, according to experts.

Friday, 17 September, 2021

LAHORE

NEWS

PM IMran dIscusses bIlateral tIes wIth IranIan PresIdent

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RIME Minister Imran Khan had a bilateral meeting with President of Iran Seyed Ebrahim Raisi on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Dushanbe, today. The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations, and regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The Prime Minister conveyed heartfelt felicitations to President Raisi on his victory in the recent Presidential elections. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continue working with Iran to further strengthen and expand brotherly ties between the two countries.

The wide-ranging talks covered the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, with a special focus on trade and economic sphere and regional connectivity. The Prime

Minister highlighted his economic security agenda and Pakistan’s shift from geo-politics to geo-economics.

The Prime Minister thanked President Raisi for Iran’s consistent support on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, especially by the Supreme Leader. He highlighted the grave human rights situation in IIOJK and added that Iran’s just and principled position was a source of strength for the Kashmiri people, fighting for their right to self-determination.

On the situation in Afghanistan, the Prime Minister underscored Pakistan’s vital interest in a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. The Prime Minister stressed that there was an opportunity to finally end the conflict and war in Afghanistan after 40 years. It was essential to take urgent steps to stabilize the security sit-

corporate corner sui northern restored rlnG to different sectors

uation in Afghanistan, prevent humanitarian crisis and stabilize the economy. The Prime Minister added that the efforts for stabilization would be reinforced by respect for the rights of all segments of Afghan society and an inclusive political structure. The Prime Minister appreciated Iran’s support for Pakistan’s initiative on engagement with Afghanistan’s neighboring countries for a coordinated approach. The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of the international community’s engagement with Afghanistan through positive messaging and constructive practical steps.

The Prime Minister reiterated his cordial invitation to President Raisi to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience. For his part, President Raisi invited Prime Minister Imran Khan to visit Iran. nEWS DESK

“Construction Work is Underway at Full Pace for SKMCH&RC in Karachi” dr. muhammed aaSim YuSuf Construction work for the new Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Karachi is underway at full pace and the project is expected to be commissioned at a total cost of Rs. 16.4 billion. In a press-briefing organised in this regard, Dr. Muhammed Aasim Yusuf, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centres (SKMCH&RC) said, “Construction is progressing according to the planned project time-lines for our new hospital located in DHA City, Karachi. I am pleased to announce that structural work on the lower ground, ground and first floor are close to completion. The lower ground floor will house the clinical and radiation oncology department, which has ten bunkers for radiation machines and the department of nuclear medicine. The radiology department, the outpatient clinics, the emergency assessment unit, pharmacy and cafeteria will be located on the ground floor and the first floor will house the chemotherapy bays, the bone marrow transplant unit, the endoscopy unit, the pathology lab and the blood bank.”

He further added, “Even during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, SKMCH&RC remains committed to bringing state-of-the-art and comprehen-

sive cancer care closer to patients, especially for the people of Sindh and Southern Balochistan. The third Hospital, at one million square feet of constructed area, will be twice the size of our hospital in Lahore. It is planned to open as a fully-functional cancer hospital, with all clinical disciplines in place, in 2023. It is being constructed based on our experience of running two tertiary care cancer centres for over two decades, according to inter-

Go crosses 850 retail outlets thus becoming the 2nd largest retail network company in the private sector Pakistan’s fastest growing Oil Marketing Company (OMC), Gas & Oil Pakistan Ltd. (GO) now boasts of a robust network of more than 850 retail outlets across Pakistan. It recently achieved the milestone of its 850th retail outlet, having the 2nd largest retail network in the private sector and Oil Storage Depots & Terminals across Pakistan with a total storage of approx. 200,000 MTs. Highlighting the company’s strong commitment to the people CEO GO Khalid Riaz said: “Being the fastest growing OMC with an expanding footprint of retail outlets network, GO is taking immense strides to fulfil the energy needs of the nation in every urban city as well as distant areas of the country.” He further said, “We have achieved a major milestone this year by inaugurating our 850th retail outlet. GO is well on its way to establishing its presence on all motorways and major national highways.” GO strives to become Pakistan’s leading OMC serving all fuelling needs of customers in every corner of the country. The company’s announcement is part of their ambitious business growth strategy that will enable them to cater to their customers roundthe-clock, in all seasons and every situation. It is one of the leading OMCs to incorporate state-ofthe-art tools and high-tech resources; making full use of technology to hone their supply chain management functions and spearheading efforts to curtail fuel shortages in the future and to stabilize the petroleum sector in its entirety. PrESS rElEaSE

national healthcare standards. It will be equipped with the latest in medical technology and staffed by highly-trained professionals. The new hospital will continue the legacy of SKMCH&RC in Lahore and Peshawar, and all patients will receive the best possible curative and palliative therapy, irrespective of their ability to pay.”

Dr. Aasim Yusuf explained the urgent need for more specialised cancer centres in Pakistan. He said that according to one

estimate, there are over 170,000 new cancer cases recorded in Pakistan each year and the huge number of new cancer patients means that we are able to serve only a proportion of those suffering from cancer in Pakistan. The treatment of cancer is often a long and arduous process, with many patients having to make repeated, and expensive, trips over long distances in order to seek treatment. Successful completion of treatment is followed by several years of further visits for follow-up. It is for this reason that our second hospital was constructed in Peshawar, and this is why we have now turned to Karachi, where construction of the third SKMCH&RC will hugely enhance the country’s capacity to treat cancer and provide access to cancer care for ever-increasing numbers of patients.

In his appeal to the people of Pakistan residing around the globe, and especially in Karachi, Dr. Aasim Yusuf said that the new hospital is an opportunity for the public to create a lasting legacy by donating Rs. 100 for a brick every month or by dedicating rooms in memory of loved ones. He said, “Please give generously to enable the growing network of the Shaukat Khanum Healthcare System to defeat cancer in Pakistan”. For further information and guidance on how to donate, you may contact on 0800 11 555 or email at fundraising@skm.org.pk.

Pakistan to facilitate foreign investors, PM says in Tajikistan continued from page 01 Initially focused on regional security, its activities have expanded to cover economics and trade, transport and law enforcement. However, security and economic cooperation remain priorities. Pakistan was admitted to the SCO as an observer in 2005 and as a full member in 2017.

Separately, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhary Fawad Hussain has said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Tajikistan will prove to be an important milestone and further increase the prestige of Pakistan.

In a message regarding the Prime Minister’s visit to Dushanbe, the Information Minister said Imran Khan will hold meetings with the Iranian President, the For-

05

eign Minister of China and the leadership of Central Asian States on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.

The Information Minister said situation in Afghanistan will be discussed in the SCO summit. He said Pakistan recognizes Tajikistan’s important role in Afghanistan.

He said this visit will provide an opportunity to further our doctrine for a stable and inclusive government in Afghanistan and move towards a regional solution.

As regards bilateral relations, the Information Minister said Pakistan enjoys cordial relations with Tajikistan.

He said the Prime Minister will attend a business conference in Dushanbe which will discuss ways and means to further promote business linkages between the two countries. with additional input from INP

Pursuant to resumption of RLNG supply from LNG Terminal, the gas supply of non export industry, CNG and cement sectors was restored at 2100 hrs yesterday night.

In addition the RLNG supply will also be restored to Fertilizer sector from 0700 hrs on 17th September 2021 today.

The decision has been taken on account of restoration of RLNG from LNG Terminal.

Media Affairs Department Sui Northern Gas. PrESS rElEaSE

bankIslami Pays tribute to dr. amjad saqib on receiving the ramon Magsaysay award KARACHI: BankIslami, Pakistan’s leading Islamic financial institute, paid tribute to Dr Amjad Saqib, who was awarded the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award this year. The Award is also popularly known as the Asian Nobel Prize. The event was held at Movenpick Hotel, Karachi and was attended by President & CEO BankIslami Syed Amir Ali along with the senior management and BankIslami’s corporate client. Established in April 1957, The Ramon Magsaysay Award is an annual award that celebrates outstanding contributions in Government Service, Public Service, Community Leadership, Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts, Peace and International Understanding, and Emergent Leadership which is popularly known as the Asian Nobel Prize. Dr Amjad Saqib is a prominent author, social entrepreneur and former civil servant. He is the founder and Executive Director of Akhuwat Foundation, one of the world’s largest microfinance institutions. BankIslami paid homage to the notable by presenting a memento for his numerous selfless accomplishments. Dr Amjad Saqib reiterated; “As a person, I have always believed and pointed out that the manifestation of mawakhat is not merely a historic event, it is a complete philosophy. And that philosophy is always applicable as it is beyond the limitations of geography and time. Pakistan faces a lot of challenges and poverty is one of them. However, poverty is not just about lack of resources; it’s about deprivation–of a social network, justice and morality. But poverty, in its worst form, is of hopelessness.” PrESS rElEaSE

MetrO PaKIstan adds “cOnsuMer chOIce award” tO Its naMe KARACHI: Continuing the tradition, METRO Pakistan was the recipient of the “Consumer Choice Award'' in the Wholesale SuperStore category, at a ceremony held in Karachi recently organized by the Consumer Association of Pakistan (CAP). Federal Minister for Information Technology & Telecommunication Amin ul Haque was the chief guest for the occasion and presented the award and certificate to METRO Pakistan Sr. Head of Operations M. Thiru. The Consumer Choice Award, in its 15th year of recognition, is adjudicated by a renowned jury, comprised of leading professionals from all walks of life. The objective is to promote consumerism in Pakistan by creating awareness among consumers to protect their legitimate rights whereas on the other hand promoting healthy competition among business leaders for making quality consumer goods and providing the best services to Pakistani consumers. The simple but impressive ceremony was attended by many corporate organizations, diplomats, media persons and other notables. PrESS rElEaSE

No Confidence Move against Jam Kamal takes new turn as Sadiq Sanjrani fails to woo angry treasury members iSLamaBad Mian abrar

In a late night development, rebellion against Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan took a new turn as majority of the ruling party lawmakers refused to support him in wake of the No Confidence Motion tabled by around 16 lawmakers of the opposition parties in Balochistan Assembly.

However, the ruling party lawmakers have also told Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani that they would also support the no confidence motion as they were fed up with the Chief Minister.

Sources in the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) told Pakistan Today that they may acvept anyone

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as new chief minister but Jam Kamal Khan.

"We will vote for anyone but Jam Kamal as new Chief Minister of Balochistan. Sadiq Sanjarani's meetings with political leaders to thwart the no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister of Balochistan have failed," the sources said.

According to sources, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani had visited Quetta to help thwart the no-confidence motion against Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan.

In this regard, Sadiq Sanjarani met with the leaders of Balochistan Awami Party at the residence of Speaker Baloch Assembly Abdul Quddus Bizenjo.

Other than Bizenjo and Saleh Bhotani, the rebel leaders, Sanjrani also met Khalid Magsi, Manzoor Kakar, Sarfraz Bugti, Abdul Qadir, Ahmad Khan, Nasee-

bullah Baazi and other members.

However, the efforts of Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjarani failed when the members of the ruling party said in strong words that any Chief Minister of Balochistan is acceptable but Jam Kamal Khan.

Following the meeting, Sadiq Sanjrani said that he failed to convince the angry party lawmakers who insisted on supporting the no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan. Chairman Senate was accompanied by BAP Senators Sarfraz Bugti, Manzoor Kakar and members of National Assembly.

"We have tried to handle the situation in the last too but this time around, the issue is serious," Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani said and added that Sardar Saleh Bhotani and Qudus Bizenjo have stuck to their decision.

Friday, 17 September, 2021

06 COMMENT

The test that was not used

Why should anyone incentivize the Taliban?

Once in power the Taliban should act reasonably

Are there any precursors of the coming election?

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RIMe Minister Imran Khan, national Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi need to be more circumspect while issuing statements about Afghanistan and its new administration. Pakistan must not be seen to be acting as the Taliban’s spokesman for this would send a negative message to friendly countries in the region while unnecessarily annoying the USA. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are highly concerned about the Taliban’s failure to give representation to Afghan Tajiks and Uzbeks in the cabinet. Iran wants due representation for the Hazara community in the cabinet.

Among others, China and Russia want Taliban to take firm action against the terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan. Questions have been raised in the Chinese media regarding why the Taliban have done nothing so far against the terrorist groups. It has been suggested for instance that the Taliban might be keen to keep some terrorists in the country as bargaining chips to make deals with neighbouring countries. It has also been maintained that the Taliban might even be trying to pressure the West that “if you don’t build ties with the Taliban, China could play a bigger role in the country.” Hopefully presence at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation would be educative for the Pakistani delegation led by Mr Khan.

The Un has pledged $1 billion as humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan. One would readily agree with Dr Yusuf that the world needs to go beyond humanitarian aid for Kabul. But the world also wants the Taliban to take actions like formation of an inclusive government, jobs for women, education for girls and eradication of terrorist groups which are also Important. For the world it is unacceptable on the part of a government to be keen to receive but unwilling to deliver.

Pakistan needs to have friendly relations with the USA even if these are nowhere near those the USA has with India, as Mr Khan desires. India is willing to do the dirty work for the USA in the region. Pakistan on the other hand has strong ties with China and considers CPeC, which is maligned and berated by the USA, as its economic lifeline. While standing by China Pakistan should continue to seek friendly ties with the USA which is also one of its oldest friends.

At Penpoint M A NIAZI

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ne of the most encouraging things about the recent Cantonment Board elections is the almost entire absence of allegations of malfeasance, especially official inference sufficient to vitiate the results. However, that makes for a problem in itself. It means that the announced resolve of the government to have the next elections conducted while using electronic voting machines is rendered a little dubious. After all, the eVMs were to be introduced to stop such complaints.If there are no such complaints,why bother change the system? To quote a popular saying, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

However, that apparent willingness to accept results might not extend to a general election. The current elections were not even a full straw poll, being a part of one. They were by no means a national election, though they took place all over the country, and were not full-fledged local government polls, being to cantonment. Unlike most local councils, these are not fully elected, having certain ex officio members.

The law governing the boards, including their elections, is in purely federal hands, even though local government is a federal subject.

Though cantonment by their name would seem to mainly be populated by the military, and thus a primarily transient population, cantonments often include entire villages predating the granting of the land to the cantonment, as well as large civilian populations. The civilian influx is because the military has for long granted plots of land to its personnel, which they have sold onward to civilians. Therefore, they are not particularly different from other constituencies.

However, the utility of local elections to gauge the public mood is rather dicey. There is always a disadvantage to the sitting government, which suffers from an anti-incumbency factor. even in a partybased system, the ruling prty may lose control of a council at most, while in a national election, the national or provincial government is at stake. The premium on a local government vote is lower, as the stakes are not so high.

Because the cantonment boards include rural

Waziristan still unsettled

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He killing of seven soldiers and five terrorists in South Waziristan on Wednesday should help convince anyone who thinks differently that the return to power of the Afghan Taliban has not brought peace to the region, and even a supposedly pro-Pakistani government in Kabul was unable to control the uptick in violence there. Only last week, two soldiers were killed by an IeD. It must be too early for any saboteurs to have come across the border, but that danger is ever-present, with the lax visa policy for Afghan citizens, there is every likelihood of miscreants crossing over in the guise of refugees. The armed forces will bear the brunt of the laxness of the immigration authorities.

Another dimension that must not be ignored is that India, whose media is clamouring that it has lost a base from which to operate against Pakistan, has apparently not spared any effort in exploiting its ties with militant organizations to carry out activities which hurt the interests of Pakistan. The USA has withdrawn its forces from Afghanistan, and has left behind the menace of terrorism for India to go on exploiting, and for Pakistan to deal with. Pakistan finds that terrorism is now a bigger threat that before, and there is also the likelihood of a spillover into the rest of the country. Another thing that has become apparent is that the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan are not susceptible to any instructions from the Afghan Taliban. It is also possible that the Afghan Taliban may not have found either time or energy, so pressing are the problems of governance they face, to use their good offices.

Pakistan would do better to coordinate with other countries of the region, like Russia, China, and the Central Asian republics, on the lines of the recent conference of regional intelligence chiefs, in Islamabad. The TTP must be made to stop hounding the military. Pakistan alone may not have the necessary leverage, but the Kabul government’s need for international recognition is very much there, to avert a financial collapse of regimeshattering proportions. That can only be deployed in combination with others.

Afghanistan has become the cynosure of regional attention

WAlI EjAZ NEkokArA

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He Taliban’s rise to power has changed the geopolitical scenario in a very short period.

Afghanistan’s neighbours are striving hard to adjust to the Taliban regime. All the neighbours are vying for their interests. A sense of euphoria is noticed in Pakistan following the withdrawal of US forces and the Taliban’s ascendency to power. According to eurasia Group Analysts, “Pakistan will see the rise of the Taliban as a major setback for its arch-rival India and thus a positive outcome”.

Undoubtedly, the Taliban’s rise left India with little room to orchestrate terrorist activities against Pakistan.

The Taliban’s victory has decimated India’s diplomatic stakes and it has also scuttled $3 billion’s worth of investment in Afghanistan to win their consent against Pakistan. Deputy Director of the Asia Program at Woodrow Wilson Center Michael Kugelman maintains that the power shift in Afghanistan has pulled it into a “tough strategic state”. Pakistan can witness a huge influx of Afghan refugees and it can pave the way for further challenges. UnHCR estimates that approximately 400,000 Afghans have left their homes this year. Only a handful of people have returned to Afghanistan. There are 1.4 million Afghans in Pakistan out of 2.6 million all over the world.

According to South Asian Terrorism Portal, from 2010 to 2015, 10,000 Pakistani civilians lost their lives. However, the numbers of killings have declined since then, but they can rise again. Secondly, a strug-

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

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 is a member of staff.

Rise of Taliban and geopolitics

Terrorism not coming under control

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

areas, they are more representative of the nation as a whole than of the military, but they are still not a good measure of national opinion. They are not skewed by the concerns or opinions of the military, but are more representative of civilians than one would think.

At the same time, it should not be forgotten that local bodies are not really a good indicator of public opinion or voter intention. This is not just so in Pakistan, but in the more experienced democracies. There is also the experience of the PML(n), which has used the local councils not so much as a recruiting tool, as a campaigning tool for candidates. It is still a path to a party ticket, to take all of the councillors supporting an individual to the parliamentary board. This doubling of the local council as grassroots organisation for the party has made the PML(n) able to dispense with the need for party organisation.

One result is that it has avoided to some extent the clash between councillors and members visible in both the PPP and the PTI. Both are elected representatives, after all. However, it should be remembered that one reason why members (of national or provincial assemblies) clash with councillors is that often enough the difference is not so much ideological as local. The local body poll rivalry is often enough more atavistic than party affiliation the cantonment board polls cannot be, and may date back to a personality clash some generations back. That might explain why it illustrates why it is so easy to change party affiliation: the rivalry is more important than any superficial affiliation.

These rivalries are taken very seriously, with the result that local body polls are often enough more violent than even national elections, where the violent deaths of candidates have led to polls being countermanded. Luckily no one was killed, but there have been some clashes during the cantonment board polls that illustrate this.

Another important factor in local body polls is the incumbency advantage. Local councillors are near the bottom of the political food chain. They may be little more than glorified police touts. The ruling party’s candidates not only have the backing of the local administration, (and while the eCP might detect and frown upon ballot stuffing, what it is supposed to do about a remark by the SHO to a local ward healer?) also the aura of being better able to do things if elected. In short, getting development funds.

Boh the PPP and the PTI have thus avoided local body polls. It is a little ironic that the PTI has loudly proclaimed the virtues of local councils as the nurseries of democracy, where parties find candidates for higher office. It has held local body polls in KP, but it does not seem inclined to repeat the experience.

However, it seems that it is facing the most resistance in Punjab, where its attempt to dissolve the existing local bodies failed, but where it refused to restore the local bodies until their term expired.

Therefore, the cantonment board polls represent a missed opportunity, as they should have been used as a preparation for local body polls.

That they were not used to test the eVMs may not be a missed opportunity, so much as the eVMs not being ready for testing.

The only party which showed some signs of using these elections as a rehearsal for future polls, whether local body or general elections, was the PML (n). That was perhaps only to be expected, as that is how the party has generally operated. However, that is perhaps the reason why it cannot take the successes it has had in the polls all that seriously.

There seems to be resentment against the PTI, only to be expected because of the skyrocketing cost of living, but it has not translated into an overwhelming movement against the government which can be withstood by nothing.

Though the PPP have never been much for local body polls, its being wiped out in the Punjab in the cantonment board polls cannot be good news for it.

However, it has had previous experience of being thrashed in local body elections, and then coming back to win national polls. It indicates that it more or less ignored the polls, and participated only because they were held on party basis, and because there were ticket applicants.

The PTI itself might have noticed that it did not do well in Punjab, but did well in KP. KP has been a traditional stronghold, and it seems that it will continue to be a force there. However,that it will need independents to form majorities shows that it has not established the kind of hold it needs for long-term survival.

The cantonment board elections do not show a path to local body elections. How the PTI intends to overcome the pressure to hold them it faces from the Supreme Court is not known at the moment, but that it will resist even more strongly, is likely to be made more probable by the cantonment board election.

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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gling economy like Pakistan that depends upon a $6 billion IMF programme can witness further pressure.

In a nutshell, till now it is clear that India has lost its strategic position to perpetrate terrorist activities in Pakistan and this is advantageous to Pakistan. It is also true that a sense of complacency will be folly for Pakistan. Afghan refugees can pose threats to national security and they can prove to be a financial burden also.

Another important country that is thoroughly observing the situation in Afghanistan is China.

China has shown a willingness to establish amicable ties with the Taliban government. Beijing is eager to expand its economic and political network to Afghanistan. When the world was thinking about helping Afghanistan, China extended $31 million’s aid to the Taliban. It can be taken as a confidencebuilding measure. China and Russia may try to fill the gap left by the USA. China will try to get access to Afghanistan’s minerals worth more than $1 trillion.

There are two main objectives of Beijing behind supporting the Taliban. The first is to achieve a conducive environment for its infrastructure projects. The second is to ensure the seclusion of Uyghur militants. Some militants have been enjoying safe havens in the Pak-Afghan border regions for years.

China wants the Taliban to deprive them of refuge.

SaloniSalil, independent geopolitics and Security analyst, writes that ‘China-Pakistan and Taliban alliance might be a big national security challenge to India. Furthermore, if China includes Afghanistan in BRI and exploits its natural resources, it can

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

make India’s leverage in the region worse’ If we talk about Russia, that is another important factor in the region. Moscow is concerned about Central Asia and its economic partnership with China and Pakistan. Russia wants to bar the militants’ organization and movement into central Asia. Pakistan, China, and Russia are likely to form an economic bloc to attain economic and regional cooperation. China will be able to expand; Pakistan will get further proximity to Russia on one hand and will be able to initiate a trade with Afghanistan on the other. Interestingly, an estimate shows that the Pak-Afghan trade potential is about $10 billion a year.

Iran has its interests in Afghanistan. Iran’s goal will be to stem the tide of refugees and drugs on the one hand and to preclude the Taliban from persecuting Hazara Shiites. Hazara Shiites are the third-largest ethnic group in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan has become a center of attention for many countries like China, Russia, Pakistan, and Iran. The USA will hardly be able to hinder China’s march to Afghanistan. The USA was staying in Afghanistan for various interests and one of them was to keep an eye on China’s activities in the region. The USA did not want to see China as a regional power in Asia. Secondly, along with China, Russia can play a considerable role to fill the vacuum of power left by the USA. Last but not least is that withdrawal of US forces and India’s waning influence in Afghanistan can provide Pakistan with an opportunity to establish economic ties with Russia and Afghanistan.

Afghanistan has become a center of attention for many countries like China, Russia, Pakistan, and Iran. The USA will hardly be able to hinder China’s march to Afghanistan. The USA was staying in Afghanistan for various interests and one of them was to keep an eye on China’s activities in the region. The USA did not want to see China as a regional power in Asia. Secondly, along with China, Russia can play a considerable role to fill the vacuum of power left by the USA.

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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The writer can at waliejaz04@gmail.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

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Friday, 17 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

Child abuse in Pakistan

The accession by Junagadh Junagadh showed Kashmir was not an aberration

AMjEd jAAvEd

K

ASHMIR, Sir Creek and Junagadh are unresolved disputes on the US agenda. Sir Creek separates the Indian state of Gujarat from the Pakistan province of Sindh. India and Pakistan have had fisticuffs many times in this region.

Once a skirmish threatened to flare up into a fullfledged Indo-Pak war when then Pakistan’s Army Chief General Musa asked the PAF chief to strafe marching columns of the Indian army.

Air Marshal Asghar Khan phoned the Indian Air Force chief. They both agreed not to intervene.

Pakistan did not forcefully agitate the Junagadh issue at the Un. The underlying reason was that India then could have pleaded that Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir was contradictory. It owned the Junagadh accession but disowned the Kashmir accession to India.

Sir Creek forms the boundary between the Indian state of Gujarat and the Pakistani province of Sindh. It has been a subject of dispute between the two countries, often leading to clashes between security forces.

When the British were leaving India, there were 565 princely states under the overall suzerainty of the British crown. They were independent, but were given the choice of joining India or Pakistan or remaining independent.

The ruler of Junagadh, a princely state at the time of partition, was Muhammad Mahabat Khan Babi III. Besides Babi, the other influential individual was the dewan, or prime minister, of Junagadh state, Shah nawaz Bhutto, father of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

By August 14 and 15, nearly all of the princely state monarchs had signed their documents. Those who did not included the nizam of Hyderabad and the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir . Hence the subsequent disputes.

Junagadh had three vassal states. The ruler of Bantva-Manavadar (Manavadar, for short) acceded to Pakistan. But, the rulers of the two other principalities (Mangrol and Babariawad), declared that they would become part of India.

They thus unsuccessfully challenged their sovereign’s choice.

The Indian soldiers who had earlier invaded Kashmir ostensibly to repulse raiders, invaded Junagadh and Manavadar to annex them. Pakistan could not send its forces to Junagadh because of logistical problems. Pakistan has recently unveiled a political map including the additional territory as “Junagadh and Manavadar.”

Thus ended the short-lived period of Junagadh belonging to Pakistan. The nawab and the Dewan fled to Pakistan. On 20 February 1948, a referendum was held in Junagadh (including all of its vassal states) as a ruse to justify the in-

vasion. India’s results showed of 2,01,457 registered voters, 1,90,870 cast their votes for India and Pakistan got only 91 votes. A referendum was also held in five neighbouring territories.

Out of 31,434 votes cast in these areas, only 39 were for accession to Pakistan. Pakistan termed it a “farce”. Pakistan never accepted the results of the Junagadh referendum. nehru promised to hold a similar referendum in Jammu and Kashmir but never did.

India gives the impression that Home Minister Vallabhai Patel was a very reasonable and flexible person. He wanted to barter away the disputed Kashmir to Pakistan in exchange for Junagadh and Hyderabad. But when Pakistan insisted that Junagadh has already acceded to Pakistan, Patel changed his mind; He then decided to annex Junagadh and Hyderabad too.

India says Junagadh was mentioned by Pakistan when the Security Council took up the issue of the hostilities in the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir in January 1948. Under the Un Security Council resolution 39, a commission was set up for the “peaceful resolution of the Kashmir conflict”, and the mandate of this commission was to investigate allegations by India of the situation in J&K, as well as “other issues” raised by Pakistan, which included Junagadh that Pakistan accused India of “annexing and occupying by force”.

At the time of the British withdrawal, there were 565 princely states apart from thousands of zamindari estates and jagirs. In 1947, princely states covered 40 percent of the area of pre-independence India and constituted 23 percent of its population. The most important states had their own British Political Residencies: Hyderabad of the nizams, Mysore and Travancore in the South followed by Jammu and Kashmir, and Sikkim in the Himalayas, and Indore in Central India.

India annexed all the princely states by hook or by crook, barring the disputed states.

Indian leaders harboured a perfidious wish to annex all the princely states. Take the disputed Kashmir. The puppet Kashmir-governor had to publicly announce that `there were no plans to abrogate Article 35A [and Article 370 about special status]’. But then they repealed not only article 370 but also article 35-A. In his book India and Pakistan: Neighbours At Odds, Avtar Singh Bhasin quotes several instances of nehru’s perfidious commitment to promises made on Kashmir.(and by corollary on other princely states). Bhasin tells on the basis of nehruvian diaries, `nehru addressed a lengthy letter to him [Sheikh Abdullah] on 25 August 1952 from Sonamarg, where he was then camping. After narrating the events since the accession of the State in October 1947, he went on to assure him of his commitment to the people of the State that the future would be decided by them alone, and if they wanted India to be put out of Kashmir, there would be no hesitation. He

wrote, if the people of Kashmir clearly and definitely wish to part company from India, there the matter ends, however we may dislike it or however disadvantageous it may be to India. If the Constituent Assembly told India to get out of Kashmir, we would get out, because under no circumstances can we remain here against the expressed will of the people. nehru banked on so-called Instrument of Accession and its authentication by the ‘Constituent Assembly’. But in a strange volte face, nehru declared, ‘After consideration of the problem, we are inclined to think that it [plebiscite] should be held under United nations’ auspices (p. 28 ibid.).

He reiterated in new Delhi on 3 november 1951 that ‘we have made it perfectly clear before the Security Council that the Kashmir Constituent Assembly does not [insofar] as we are concerned come in the way of a decision by the Security Council, or the United nations’. Again, at a press conference on 11 June 1951, he was asked `if the proposed constituent assembly of Kashmir “decides in favour of acceding to Pakistan, what will be the position?”’ he reiterated, `We have made it perfectly clear that the Constituent Assembly of Kashmir was not meant to decide finally any such question , and it is not in the way of any decision which may ultimate flow from the Security Council proceedings’. He reemphasised his view once again at a press conference in new Delhi On 3 november 1951. He said ‘we have made it perfectly clear before the Security Council that the Kashmir Constituent Assembly does not [insofar as] we are concerned come in the way of a decision by the Security Council or the United nations’.

It is flabbergasting that during the period 1947 to 1952, nehru kept harping on a commitment to a plebiscite. Then there was a sudden metamorphosis.

Bhasin points out that `there was a perceptible shift in his [nehru’s] stand on July 24 1952` about the future of the State _ `if the decision of the Security Council was at variance with that of the Constituent Assembly’. nehru said, `Unless the Security Council functioned under some other Sections of the Charter, it cannot take a decision which is binding upon us unless we agree to it. They are functioning as mediators and a mediator means getting people to agree.’

Indian leaders accepted the Un resolutions willy nilly. At heart, they wanted to annex all the princely states as is obvious for instance from nehru’s somersaults. Like nehru, Vallabhai Patel also was not a man of his word. India had lame excuses to invade Kashmir, Junagadh or for that matter any princely state.

Indian leaders accepted the UN resolutions willy nilly. At heart, they wanted to annex all the princely states as is obvious for instance from Nehru’s somersaults. Like Nehru, Vallabhai Patel also was not a man of his word.

India had lame excuses to invade Kashmir, Junagadh or for that matter any princely state

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

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

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

HomEr Jan BalocH laHorE

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

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

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

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

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

SHoail raSHid laHorE

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

Friday, 17 September, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

WhAtever hAppened to the BA’Ath pArty?

IT NOW STANDS FOR TORTURE CHAMBERS AND CAR BOMBS. BUT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN BA’ATHISTS COULD HAVE INHERITED THE MANTLE OF NASSER AND THE CAUSE OF ARAB UNITY

ConSorTiuM newS

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As`Ad AbuKhAlil

here was a time in arab politics when the arab socialist Ba’ath party (Ba’ath is arabic for renaissance or revival) was a dominant force in the region’s affairs. even when egypt’s Gamal abdul-Nasser was the foremost leader of the arab people from 1950s until his death in 1970, the Ba`th was a force to contend with.

The party was founded in 1947, two years after syrian independence, by two syrian intellectuals, salah al-Bitar and Michel `aflaq. Both were influenced by the ideas and writings of syrian intellectual Zaki arsuzi, who died a bitter man because he felt, rightly, that his contribution to the Ba’ath ideology was forgotten or purposefully disregarded. (at one time he led his own Ba’ath party.) Ba’ath ideology was a mix of arab nationalism, socialism, non-alignment and anti-colonialism. in 1952, the arab Ba’ath party merged with the arab socialist Movement to become the arab socialist Ba`ath party. The party swept through schools and colleges in syria, iraq, and other arab countries. There was a party branch in every arab country and its rhetoric left its mark on the region’s politics.

CHALLENGES: The party, however, faced two major challenges. First, `aflaq and Bitar lived in the era of Nasser, who overshadowed and marginalized friends and foes alike. here were two obscure Damascene teachers competing with the most popular arab leader since the time of saladin (it would not be an exaggeration to say that Nasser and saladin were very popular arabs).

Nasser preached arab nationalism, as

did the Ba’ath party. But Nasser had a unique charisma and an ability to appeal to average people and intellectuals alike. The appeal of `aflaq and Bitar was far more limited, confined largely to school and college students. `aflaq was an eccentric man who did not feel comfortable in large crowds and seemed to enjoy the world of literature more than the political arena. he was a modest man who did not suffer from grand political ambition or a zest for power. he was more comfortable preaching the message of arab nationalism in small gatherings. Nasser did not like the Ba’ath party and had a low opinion of its leaders, which only worsened over the years. The party was very influential in syria and iraq in particular (and in lebanon and Gulf countries, but did not travel widely among the palestinian people). in the late 1950s, syrian leaders approached Nasser to merge egypt with syria and create the first unification of two nations in modern arab history. Nasser was hesitant and distrusted Baathist leaders who he accused of treachery and deception. But after a series of meetings, Nasser consented and the United arab republic (Uar) was founded in 1958.

The arab popular response to the unity was massive and hundreds of thousands of people traveled from lebanon to Damascus urging Nasser to include lebanon in the new republic. (Nasser declined because he feared fragmentation and divisions in lebanon and believed that lebanon had a “special situation” in reference to its sectarian conflict).

Nasser was president of the Uar while Baathist leader akram hourani, served as his non-ruling deputy.

The Uar project caused great consternation and alarm in israel, Gulf monarchies and the West. The official or unofficial alliance between the tripartite sides goes back to the 1950s. They collaborated to bring down the Uar after just three years and humiliated Nasser with the help of wealthy merchants and landowners of syria who opposed the socialist measures of the new regime.

The egyptian government had also ruled syria with a heavy hand through its secret police. Many syrians saw their political profile being overtaken by egyptian army officers. Western and Gulf intrigues followed and various attempts at overthrowing the

Syrian intellectual Zaki al-Arsuzi in the late 1930s.

regime were foiled. The lebanese rightwing president at the time, Kamil sham`un (a puppet of the U.s. and U.K.), collaborated with the West, Gulf countries, Jordan and israel to undermine the new republic. a civil war ensued in lebanon, and supporters of Nasser clashed with his foes, who received Western, Gulf, Jordanian and israeli support. sham`un failed to extend his presidential term and Nasser and the U.s. reached an agreement over the candidacy of Fu’ad shihab, who became lebanese president. The second challenge to the Ba’ath party was that while it preached arab unity, the party itself split from the start into factions, offshoots and splinter groups. how could a party that could not unite its own ranks be able to convince the arab people that it was the most qualified party to end the state of fragmentation and division of the arab world?

The party suffered further in 1961 when a reactionary coup finally split syria from the United arab republic, effectively bringing it to an end after just three years of existence. Nasser refused military plans to keep syria by force. Bitar and hurani also supported secession (al-infisal, the arabic name for the split of the Uar in 1961). Though the union was over, egypt retained the name of United arab republic until after Nasser’s death. in syria, the Ba’ath party seized control in a 1963 coup. The party was ascendant in

Salah al-Din al-Bitar, cofounder of the Ba’ath Party, while serving as prime minister of Syria, March 1963.

iraq until 1968, when it firmly took over the country. after 1963, the Baathists yet again pleaded with Nasser to unite with syria and iraq. Nasser held long sessions with Baathists leaders (including `aflaq) and the minutes of those sessions were published in egyptian newspapers (and later released in book forms). The release of the minutes of “unity talks” dealt a severe blow to `aflaq and the Ba’ath. The discussions put `aflaq in a bad light. The minutes showed Nasser dominated the talks and the Ba`athists present were intimidated by him. Nasser made his distrust of the Ba’ath very clear and the talks went nowhere. With the party taking power in syria and iraq, one would think it would dominate arab politics. That was not to be, not only because Nasser dominated arab politics until his death in 1970, but because the two parties had one of the longest and most bitter and violent feuds in the contemporary history of the region.

Both the syrian and iraqi regimes (which were ruled by different branches of the Ba’ath party) sent hit teams against the officials of the rival camp. Vladimir lenin wrote about feuds between different communist parties, but the feud between the two branches of the Ba’ath is legendary in the history of the region. They constructed gruesome repressive governments that were better known for torture techniques and suppression of the press than for campaigns

Decision to go nuclear is courageous and probably right, but is it too late?

THERE ARE ALSO POTENTIAL DOWNSIDES TO THIS DECISION

Sydney Morning Herald

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Anthony GAllowAy

OTh sides of politics in this country have long subscribed to the notion that any major defence acquisitions must be substantially built in australia, no matter the national security consequences. considering defence officials have warned the country no longer has a 10-year window to defend itself, it was always scandalous that our next generation of submarines would not arrive until the mid-2030s. Too often in australia, defence policy and local employment policy seem to be joined at the hip.

The decision to buy at least eight nuclearpowered submarines, made under a new defence pact with the United states and Britain to be known as aUKUs, doesn’t change this bipartisan consensus. The boats will still largely be built in adelaide, and will arrive later than the $90 billion French fleet we have just scrapped.

But the momentous decision to dump French builder Naval Group’s 12 submarines and use the american nuclear technology is the best option under the parameters we have set ourselves. according to prime Minister scott Morrison, this option wasn’t on the table until about 18 months ago. The Us was not willing

to provide its technology to make it happen. if it had, we could have gone down this route at any point after the 2009 Defence White paper recommended australia acquire a new fleet of submarines. There is no comparison between conventional and nuclear-powered submarines. a conventional submarine like australia’s current fleet – the swedish-designed collinsclass – can spend only about 11 days at a destination in the south china sea. even though it can deploy for about 50 days, it spends most of that time getting there and back. By contrast, a nuclear submarine operating out of perth could spend up to 77 days on station – that’s seven times as long. For a country closer to the south china sea such as singapore or Malaysia, having a conventional submarine, which uses diesel generators to power up electric batteries, might be fine. But australian submarines need to travel a much greater distance – and hence use a lot more fuel – to get to the disputed waterway.

Once in the south china sea, a conventional submarine must occasionally rise close to the surface for a “snorkel” to recharge its batteries, leaving it vulnerable. a nuclear submarine can stay underwater for days. if detected, a conventional submarine may be able to travel up to 35km/h to escape, while a nuclear submarine can reach 60km/h and stay at top speed for longer. and in terms of trying to sink a surface vessel in a potential conflict, a conventional warship can outrun a conventional submarine; it can’t outrun a nuclear-powered submarine. Finally, there are reasons why going with the american technology is the only route for australia to acquire a nuclear-powered sub-

marine. Other nuclear-powered submarines, such as the French, require their reactors to be refuelled every decade. The american and British submarines never have to be refuelled, meaning australia doesn’t have to develop a domestic nuclear industry to sustain these submarines. But there are also potential downsides to this decision. First, going nuclear will cost considerably more than the $90 billion that was estimated for the 12 attack-class submarines. second, we have already spent $2.4 billion on the work done by Naval Group and will have to pay potentially hundreds of millions more in compensation for scrapping the deal. We have damaged our credibility with France, the most important european power in the indo-pacific.

Third, the first nuclear-powered submarine won’t be operational until 2036 at the earliest – two years later than the first French-built submarine was scheduled to be in the water – and may arrive as late as 2040.

There is no room for error. The first collinsclass submarine, after undergoing a life-of-type extension, will be out of action in 2038. if there are any slippages in the schedule for the nuclearpowered submarines, we will have a serious capability gap.

This is where the other elements of the aUKUs pact – long-range hypersonic missiles, unmanned undersea capabilities, and more troop deployments down under – need to kick into gear. The decision to go nuclear is courageous, and probably the right one. let’s hope it wasn’t made too late.

Anthony Galloway is foreign affairs and national security correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Michel ‘Aflaq, cofounder of the Ba’ath Party, in 1963.

of arab unity. The Ba’ath party in iraq was ousted from power by the 2003 U.s. invasion, although there are still people in iraq who speak on behalf of its ideology. There are still Ba`athist personalities and organizations throughout the arab world, but their influence is rather negligible.

The party that once symbolized sincere efforts at arab unity now stands for torture chambers and car bombs. in syria, the name of the party has been sullied to such a degree, that even the ruling regime has been downplaying its role — although it remains formally the ruling party.

There was a time when the Ba’ath party could have inherited the mantle of Nasser, but it was already damaged by 1970.

Within syria and iraq, there were splits and schisms within the party, but nothing that an assassination here or a car bomb there would not settle it. For all intents and purposes, the Ba’ath party is a relic of history. it earned that status, and had little merit to seize power in any arab country. a party that promoted arab unity will be remembered for driving the arabs further apart.

As`ad AbuKhalil is a Lebanese-American professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus. He is the author of the Historical Dictionary of Lebanon (1998), Bin Laden, Islam and America’s New War on Terrorism (2002) and The Battle for Saudi Arabia (2004).

Punjab’s water crisis THE FIGURES ARE INDEED ALARMING: THE GROUNDWATER LEVEL IS GOING DOWN BY 70 CM IN THE STATE ANNUALLY

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Tribune, india

special Vidhan sabha committee has reaffirmed that unceasing groundwater depletion is pushing punjab towards desertification, which could become a reality in a decade and a half. in its report, the committee has recommended agricultural zoning and metering of the groundwater supply for arresting the slide in the water table. The panel has also suggested a water credit scheme, under which farmers and the industry will be incentivised for using the precious natural resource judiciously. The figures are indeed alarming: the groundwater level is going down by 70 cm in the state annually; the volume of groundwater recharged every year is far less than what is being extracted. punjab’s groundwater crisis has been red-flagged repeatedly over the years, but successive state governments have desisted from taking drastic measures that could antagonise the farming community — a decisive vote bank that has become even more assertive and restless of late, especially amid the ongoing agitation against the three contentious farm laws brought in by the centre last year. With the state going to the polls early next year, the congress government is expected to tread warily on the committee’s recommendations. There is no denying that lack of political will has brought things to such a pass. The situation on the ground is unlikely to improve as long as political parties keep viewing the problem through the prism of electoral gains or losses.

The silver lining is that the state government is banking on israeli know-how to curb groundwater depletion and give a fillip to replenishment. Once a water-deficient country, israel has established itself as a global leader in the water sector in recent decades, thanks largely to recycling and reuse of treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation. israel’s holistic approach to water consumption and management can benefit punjab in the long run. For a start, various categories of users — agricultural, domestic and industrial — need to be sensitised to their collective responsibility towards preventing the not-too-distant disaster. Taking all stakeholders along holds the key to effective water conservation. it’s time to make every drop count.

Friday, 17 September, 2021

BUSINESS 09

LAHORE

Senate body foR comPleting cPec PRojectS on PRioRity

corporate corner

ISLAMABAD

KARACHI: Emaar Pakistan held their Quarterly Brokers Awards for the second quarter of the year along with the launch of their master plan 'EMAAR oceanfront at the Karachi Emaar sales office on September 8. PR

KARACHI: Osaka batteries has signed a deal with the New Zealand cricket board for Pakistan Vs. New Zealand T20 Series. The New Zealand team is coming to Pakistan after 18 years and the deal is a first of its kind in Pakistan. PR

President stresses financial inclusion of women, disabled ISLAMABAD APP

President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday urged businessmen and industrialists to take steps for the financial inclusion and empowerment of women and persons with disabilities by employing them in their respective organisations. He said disabled persons constituted 12-14 per cent population of the country and needed to be uplifted financially by providing them jobs and equipping them with marketable skills with the special cooperation of the business community. The president was talking to a delegation of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), led by its President Qaiser Iqbal Baryar, here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. The delegation briefed President Alvi about the export potential of SCCI and its contributions towards the socio-economic development of the country. Baryar apprised the president about certain problems being faced by the business community of Sialkot over which he was assured that the issues will be addressed. Talking to the delegation, the president highlighted that the government was focusing on the empowerment and financial inclusion of youth, women and disabled persons. He mentioned that the government, in this regard, had allocated Rs100 billion under the Kamyab Jawan Programme to help them establish their own businesses. He regretted that people were unable to take full benefit of the loans being offered by the government due to lack of awareness and emphasised the need to facilitate and guide them to avail loans.

APP

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HE Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives on Thursday directed the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority to complete the under implementation projects on fast-track basis by regaining the confidence of the Chinese companies.

“According to my sources, the Chinese are not happy with the current progress of CPEC projects as they have approached me to help remove the bottlenecks,” Chairman of the Committee Senator Saleem H. Mandviwala said.

The chair asked Special Assistant to Prime Minister on CPEC Affairs Khalid Mansoor to take responsibility of early completion of under-construction projects and removed all bottlenecks in the way of approval of the under consideration mega projects including up-gradation of ML-1 railway project and the hydropower projects.

“My number one priority is to regain the Chinese confidence,” Khalid Mansoor said, adding that in this regard he had personally met with representatives of 40 out of 135 Chinese companies working in Pakistan.

“I will take responsibility for implementation of the projects, and I will go myself to all the concerned ministries and divisions to implement the CPEC projects,” he added.

Mandwiwala deplored the government departments were very slow and they needed to be pushed to expedite the implementation process.

Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar responding to the complaints of Senator Danish Kumar about ignoring Balochistan

under CPEC, said in the first phase of CPEC, twothird of projects were related to power which had minimal impact on the local area.

He said a lot of development work was going on in the province particularly in Gwadar such as desalination plants, technical training institutes, Eastbay Expressway etc.

Apart from the projects under CPEC, a special historical package of Rs560 billion had also been announced for the development of least developed Southern Balochistan districts under which IT parks, industrial zones, power plants, dams, and road projects would be developed.

Further, he said, “we are working on four priority Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under CPEC, one of which is being constructed in Gwadar.”

The one named South Zone has been completed at an area of 60 acres while the other gigantic 2500 acres North Zone is under construction in the city, he added.

Further, he informed that a virgin 100,000 acres of land was lying vacant near Mirani Dam which would be utilised for agriculture purposes in which some Chinese investors were interested to develop an agriculture zone.

According to Senator Danish Kumar the ground realities said there was no development in the area.

The residents of Gwadar were not enjoying basic facilities including water and electricity.

Asad Umar proposed the committee to arrange a visit to Southern Balochistan to see the underprogress development.

Saleem Mandviwala questioned how a new project could be included in the current fiscal year’s development budget, the minister responded that once the development budget is approved by the National Economic Council (NEC), it was not possible to add

any new project. However, he said to include any new project in the next development budget, it should be presented before March 31.

Senator Muhammad Tahir Bazinjo said instead of investing heavily in other projects like the airport, the investment should be poured into the drinking water projects on priority.

Furthermore, he stressed the need to turn N-25 to the motorway as it had become a bloody road and accidents on that road had become a routine matter.

Asad Umar said the construction of the KarachiChaman N-25 road project had already been approved. The Khuzdar-Kuchlak section of the N-25 would be funded through PSDP while the rest would be constructed through Build Operate Transfer (BOT) basis. Senator Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen said that the private sector partnership projects were not implementable.

Asad Umar said the present government was fully committed to complete all the projects under BOT basis on priority and the tariff for road taxes would be determined by the government, not by the private sector. Talking about the electricity problem in Gwadar, the minister maintained that the biggest problem was that there was no transmission line connected with the national grid.

“Balochistan government has requested the federal government in this regard, and we have given approval for the project for connecting Gwadar with the national grid and the project would be completed by March 2022,” he added.

Further, he said electricity from Iran to Gwadar would also be streamlined and the 300MW coal power plant in the Gwadar city was already under construction. So, the electricity problem in the city would be resolved soon.

German investors keen to bring capital in various sectors ISLAMABAD APP

Investors have expressed interest to bring investment in various sectors and also observe new avenues to enhance the business and investment ties between Pakistan and Germany.

During a meeting between Secretary Board of Investment (BOI), Fareena Mazhar and a high level business delegation from Germany here on Wednesday, Pakistan mentioned food processing, automotive, IT, energy, textiles, logistics and housing and construction sectors as some of the potential sectors for investment in Pakistan.

The delegation comprised 16 members, headed

by Oliver Oehms, CEO AHK Dubai.

It included several German business giants like Lufthansa, AHK, SIG MEA, Weidmuller Middle, Emltc Emerging Solutions among others.

All these companies have prominent presence in most parts of the world and are visiting Pakistan to analyze the business climate and explore lucrative investment opportunities in Pakistan.

German company Weidmüller announced to start a production plant in Pakistan in the near future dur-

ing the meeting whereas the delegate representing German AirLine, Lufthansa, shared that the airline was really keen on resuming flight operations in Pakistan after 13 years. The secretary, in response, offered to arrange a meeting with the minister for Aviation to ensure that the plan materialises.

The prospect of this development was earlier discussed in a meeting between the Secretary and German Ambassador to Pakistan, Bernhard Stephan Schlagheck held on September 8.

The potential foreign investors also expressed interest in the dairy industry, communication, automobile and service sector as potential sectors in regards to investment in Pakistan.

During the meeting, Fareena Mazhar briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s investment policy, highlighted the tax incentives available to investors in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and mentioned the 22 SEZs approved by BOI across Pakistan including Allama Iqbal Industrial city, Rashakai SEZ, Khairpur SEZ, M3 Industrial City Faisalabad, National Science and technology Park, Hattar SEZ etc.

The visit has come about as an encouraging prospect for Pakistan in terms of attracting new investment in several sectors.

Rupee breaks downward slide, gains 94 paisas against US dollar The Pakistani rupee broke a five-day losing streak on Thursday, gaining 0.56 per cent against the US dollar in the inter-bank market, an increase that comes after the currency registered fresh lows in the past two days. According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the local currency closed at Rs168.18 on Thursday against the greenback, recording a gain of 94 paisas or 0.56 per cent. On Wednesday, the local currency continued its slide against the greenback, touching a new all-time low for the second straight day at 169.5 in the interbank market at the onset of trading session. The currency has maintained the downturn since touching a 22-month high of Rs152.27 on May 14, losing a cumulative 9.4pc or Rs15.91 in the past four months. M O N I TO R I N G R E P O RT

Injection or not: the rupee slide explained KARACHI ARIBA SHAHID

There is a lot of buzz surrounding the rupee’s slide against the dollar and more importantly of an injection by the SBP into the forex market. In a scoop, Shehbaz Rana of Tribune claims that the SBP pumped $1.2 billion into the interbank market in three months to defend the weakening rupee.

The Pakistani rupee on Wednesday continued its slide against the greenback, touching a new all-time low for the second straight day at 169.5 in the interbank market at the onset of trading session.

The local currency had closed at an alltime low value of Rs168.94 a day earlier, on Tuesday.

The rupee depreciated by 45 paisa against the greenback and was being quoted at 169.10 to 169.50 while trades were reported at 169.50.

The rupee, which has been termed the worst-performing currency in Asia, seems to have opened the field for the bullish US dollar to move forward unchecked and erode the remaining value of the local currency, maintaining downturn since it touched a 22-month high of Rs152.27 in May 2021, losing a cu-

mulative Rs17.36 in the past four months.

So is there any way to actually confirm an injection?

If we’re being candid, there is no way to know for sure unless the SBP confirms it.

Sources inside the SBP can hint towards it, but one can never be too sure.

“SBP does not comment on speculations about market interventions,” said Qamar.

That means that official confirmation is not a possibility.

While some suggest that weekly changes in the SBP reserve positions may help determine whether this is true or not, it’s not that simple. Because if one is looking for a $1.2 billion withdrawal from reserves, it is not that simple considering there are also additions made to the reserves. Thus, this is itself not an accurate means.

“People are not clear on the interventions, as SBP does not make details public.

So data and timing of these interventions are unknown,” says Sayem Z. Ali, Division Head at Bank of Punjab.

It is also very important to note that in the situation where an injection is made, it will be temporary.

“SBP also stated that the interventions will be temporary and they will maintain a

net zero position at the end of each quarter.

So, whatever they sell to the market, they will purchase back at a later date,” explains Ali. Profit reached out to the SBP for a comment on the intervention and its nature. Abid Qamar, spokesperson at SBP said, “Since June 2019, Pakistan has adopted a market based flexible exchange rate system, where the exchange rate is determined by market demand and supply conditions. Under this system, the role of SBP’s interventions in the FX market is limited to prevent disorderly market conditions, while not suppressing an underlying trend. When the exchange rate does not reflect realistic market conditions it can contribute to unsustainable current account deficits and repeated balance of payments problems.”

So what’s up (or should we say down) with the rupee?

There are a number of reasons at play.

“Usually during volatility SBP used to issue statements explaining the reasons.

However, they have gone into sleep mode.

As per the last policy statement SBP stated that depreciation witnessed in the rupee is due to higher commodities prices and depreciation of regional currencies against the USD,” says Waqas Hussain, Head of Sales

at Tresmark.

However, with no such statement or comment currently, Profit has asked experts what they believe are the reasons behind the rupee’s behavior.

“The sharp rise in trade deficits and CAD over the last 3 months is showing a significant increase in demand for dollars (imports, freight charges, debt repayments etc) whereas supply (export, remittances etc) have not kept pace. so despite record high SBP reserves the demand supply equation necessitated a correction on the PKR,” says Ali. “Moreover, the $2.8 billion IMF SDR cannot be used for meeting import payments,” reminds Ali. On the trade front, commodities are adding pressure to the rupee. Rising international prices for commodities have not been kind to Pakistan. This means more dollars are spent to buy the same quantity Pakistan was buying.

“We are short of major commodities such as wheat and sugar and have been importing them for some time. International commodity prices have also gone up, including oil. In addition, the government is making payments for the vaccines which is also putting pressure on the import bill,” says Hussain.

The TERF scheme by the SBP also means greater imports of machinery. Considering that it is expiring in December, there may be a greater rush for imports before that.

Moreover, there has been an upswing in car sales which adds to the import bill considering Pakistan imports parts. All this means more outflows with exports not increasing by the same proportion.

“On the CAD side, it is only a month or two that have been going out of control.

These have had a disturbing impact on the market sentiments,” says Hussain.

However, international pressure on the rupee can also not be ignored.

“We now have a serious situation in Afghanistan, which is further fueling demand for dollars. There is now greater demand from Afghanistan as people are dumping the local currency in exchange for the dollar,” says Ali. Hussain further adds, “Yesterday some news outlets said that China has also asked for repayment for $3 billion. Because Afghan reserves are frozen by the US federal bank, a lot of flows from the open market are going to Afghanistan, technically one could say Pakistan is unofficially bearing the burden of their trade.”

Friday, 17 September, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

LAHORE

Macron says French Forces killed is leader in GreaTer sahara PARIS

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AP

RANCE’S president announced the death of the leader of the Islamic State (IS) in the Greater Sahara late on Wednesday, calling Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi’s killing “a major success” for the French military after more than eight years fighting in the Sahel.

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted that al-Sahrawi “was neutralised by French forces” but gave no further details. It was not announced where al-Sahrawi was killed, though the IS group is active along the border between Mali and Niger.

“The nation is thinking tonight of all its heroes who died for France in the Sahel in the Serval and Barkhane operations, of the bereaved families, of all of its wounded,” Macron tweeted. “Their sacrifice is not in vain.”

Rumours of the leader’s death had circulated for weeks in Mali, though authorities in the region had not confirmed it. It was not immediately possible to independently verify the claim or to know how the remains had been identified.

“This is a decisive blow against this terrorist group,” French Defence Minister Florence Parly tweeted. “Our fight continues.”

Al-Sahrawi had claimed responsibility for a 2017 attack in Niger that killed four

US military personnel and four people with Niger’s military. His group has also abducted foreigners in the Sahel and is believed to still be holding American Jeffrey Woodke, who was abducted from his home in Niger in 2016.

The leader was born in the disputed territory of Western Sahara and later joined the Polisario Front. After spending time in Algeria, he made his way to northern Mali where he became an important figure in the group known as MUJAO that controlled the major northern town of Gao in 2012.

A French-led military operation the following year ousted extremists from power in Gao and other northern cities, though those elements later regrouped and again carried out attacks.

The Malian group MUJAO was loyal to the regional Al Qaeda affiliate. But in 2015, al-Sahrawi released an audio message pledging allegiance to the IS group in Iraq and Syria.

The French military has been fighting in the Sahel region where France was once the colonial power since the 2013 intervention in northern Mali. It recently announced, though, that it would be reducing its military presence in the region, with plans to withdraw 2,000 troops by early next year.

News of al-Sahrawi’s death comes as France’s global fight against IS is making headlines in Paris. The key defendant in the

Taliban leader Baradar among Time's 100 most influential people of 2021 NEWS DESK Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban co-founder and now deputy prime minister of Afghanistan, has been named among the "100 Most Influential People" of 2021 by Time magazine, Dawn reported on Thursday. Baradar's profile for Time's list noted that he "is revered" among the Afghan Taliban as a founding member, "a charismatic military leader and a deeply pious figure".It said that when the Taliban took over the Afghan capital in August, it was on the terms negotiated by Baradar, which included amnesties offered, the lack of bloodshed upon seizing power and contacts and visits with neighbouring states such as Pakistan and China. The 100 list, which is not ranked, included 54 women. It also comprised political figures such as US President Joe Biden, US Vice President Kamala Harris and former US President Donald Trump. Also included in the list is Afghan women's rights activist MahboubaSeraj, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President EbrahimRaisi. The UK's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have also made the list, under the section devoted to "icons" alongside popstar Britney Spears and countrysinger Dolly Parton. Athlete Simone Biles — who withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics to focus on her mental health— and tennis star Naomi Osaka have also made the cut as well as Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

2015 Paris attacks trial said on Wednesday that those coordinated killings were in retal-

iation for French airstrikes against IS, calling the deaths of 130 innocent people “nothing

personal” as he acknowledged his role for the first time.

Outcry as Faroe Islands slaughter 1,400 dolphins in a day COPENHAGEN AGENCIES

The government of the Faroe Islands, an autonomous Danish territory, faced an outcry on Tuesday over the culling of more than 1,400 white-sided dolphins in a day — as part of a traditional practice — in what was said to be the single biggest hunt in the northern archipelago.

The Associated Press reported that a local activist published gruesome video footage of Sunday’s slaughter of 1,428 white-sided dolphins on the central Faeroese island of Eysturoy in the North Atlantic archipelago.

Photos showing the bloodied corpses of more than 1,000 Atlantic white-sided dolphins on the beach sparked outrage on social media.

“There is no doubt that the Faroese whale hunts are a dramatic sight to people unfamiliar to the hunts and slaughter of mammals,” a government spokesperson told AFP. “The hunts are, nevertheless, well organised and fully regulated.” Traditionally, the North Atlantic islands — which have a population of around 50,000 people — hunt pilot whales and not dolphins, the spokesperson said.

“There are usually a few of them in the 'grind', but we normally don't kill such a large number,” said a local television journalist, Hallurav Rana.

The “grindadrap” is a practice whereby the hunters first surround the whales with a wide semi-circle of fishing boats and then drive them into a bay to be beached and slaughtered.

According to av Rana, some 53 per cent of the islands' population are opposed to hunting dolphins. There are, however, no plans to abolish the “grind”, which authorities insist is a sustainable way of hunting.

Meanwhile, Fisheries Minister Jacob Vestergaard said everything this year was done by the book in the dolphin hunt.

'BARBARIC PRACTICE': Sea Shepherd, a charity that campaigns against the

hunting of whales and dolphins, described it as a “barbaric practice”.

The international animal rights group said on Wednesday it hopes that pressure will build from within the Faeroe Islands to end its traditional drive of sea mammals into shallow water, where they are slaughtered for their meat and blubber.

“It was a complete disaster, completely unprecedented in fact, it could even be the largest single hunt of cetaceans in documented history anywhere in the world,” said Robert Read, campaign director for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Environmental activists have long

claimed the practice is cruel. But this year, even people on the Faeroes who defend the four-century-old practice have spoken out amid fears that this year’s slaughter will draw unwanted attention.

“We must admit that things did not go as we would like to,” said Hans Jacob Hermansen, the former chairperson of the Faeroese association behind the drives.

“We are going to evaluate if anything went wrong, what went wrong and why, and what can we do to avoid that in the future.”

Sea Shepherd says it is hoping for “much tighter restrictions” around such hunts and, if not, “at least a ban on the killing of the Atlantic white-sided dolphins.” Faeroese hunters are used to criticism from animal rights groups and push back at what they see as an interference in a cultural practice.

Each year, islanders drive herds of the mammals — chiefly pilot whales — into shallow waters, where they are stabbed to death. A blow-hole hook is used to secure the beached whales and their spine and main artery leading to the brain are severed with knives, turning water in the bay red with blood. The drives are regulated by law and the meat and blubber are shared on a community basis. According to local estimates, there are around 100,000 pilot whales in the waters around the Faroe Islands and around 600 were killed last year.

Two killed, dozens injured as shallow quake hits China’s Sichuan BEIJING AFP

Two people were killed and dozens injured when a shallow earthquake struck southwestern China in the early hours of Thursday, triggering the second-highest level of emergency response by rescuers in Sichuan province.

The quake struck Luxian county before dawn on Thursday around 120 kilometres southwest of the sprawling megacity of Chongqing, which along with its surrounding area is home to around 30 million people.

The US Geological Survey put the magnitude of the quake at 5.4 but the China Earthquake Networks Centre measured it at magnitude 6.0. Both put it at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres (six miles).

National earthquake authorities said the seismic event left "two dead, three seriously injured and 57 slightly injured."

Dozens of houses in Luxian had collapsed and many others were damaged,

while communications to tens of thousands of people had been disrupted, authorities said. Live footage from Luxian by state broadcaster CCTV showed workers climbing up ladders in pouring rain to remove hazardous debris hanging off buildings, including half-broken panes of glass.

Another video from the Sichuan Daily

showed students evacuating their dormitories in the dark, clutching umbrellas and wearing backpacks.

Authorities downplayed the immediate threat of a larger aftershock.

"It is unlikely there will be a larger earthquake in the area in the near future, but aftershocks will continue for some time,"

Du Bin, deputy chief of the Sichuan Earthquake Administration, told reporters.

State-run CGTN confirmed the death toll, sharing security camera footage showing TVs and refrigerators shaking on the walls of houses as the quake struck, as ornaments smashed onto floors and cracks ran through buildings. Bricks were strewn across roads and trees felled in some areas as firefighters clawed through the rubble of collapsed houses, the images showed.

Residents were urged to stay outside of their homes, state media reported, although images showed there was little sense of wider panic by residents in an area of high seismic activity. The USGS said that "significant damage is likely and the disaster is potentially widespread", in a preliminary assessment. Multiple power lines had been disrupted and 62,000 households were hit by power cuts after the earthquake, the local government in Sichuan said in a Weibo post.

Traffic on highways passing through the area has been rerouted to make way for emergency vehicles and to avoid damaged roads, the local government said.

China is regularly hit by earthquakes, especially in its mountainous western and southwestern regions. A powerful 7.9-magnitude quake in Sichuan province in 2008 left 87,000 people dead or missing.

Among them were thousands of children, killed when poorly constructed school buildings collapsed, but the government failed to release an exact number of dead as the issue took on a political dimension.

Police detained activists who attempted to count the number of children who had died and mark the buildings that collapsed amid suspicions of poor construction.

Thursday's quake comes months after a series of strong earthquakes shook sparsely populated areas in northwest and southwest China in May, killing at least two people and injuring dozens.

Friday, 17 September, 2021

SPORTS 11

LAHORE

MessI quIet IN PsG Draw as MaN CIty, LIverPOOL wIN thrILLers LONDON

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AFP

IONEL Messi made his first Paris Saint-Germain start in a 1-1 draw at Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, while last season’s runners-up Manchester City and Liverpool won high-scoring thrillers.

Real Madrid, the record 13-time European champions, left it late to beat Inter Milan at the San Siro in a section topped by Moldovan debutants Sheriff Tiraspol after the first round of group stage matches.

Argentine star Messi lined up with both Neymar and KylianMbappe for the first time, after being limited to just 24 minutes in a PSG shirt since his shock exit from Barcelona. Ander Herrera, who scored twice in the weekend win over Clermont, gave PSG the lead by steering in Mbappe’s cross on 15 minutes, but Brugge soon levelled through Hans Vanaken.

Messi curled against the bar from the corner of the area but PSG then lost Mbappe to injury and had to settle for a point against a team viewed as

makeweights in a demanding Group A. “We need time for them to get to know each other,” PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino said of his all-star attack. “We have to improve and find the right balance, I said that before, but we must stay calm. I’m happy with how Messi played, his desire and his attitude, and the way he’s adjusting.”

Pep Guardiola’s City, beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in May’s final in Porto, overcame a hat-trick from Christopher Nkunku to beat RB Leipzig 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium.

Nathan Ake headed City ahead from a corner and NordiMukiele’s own goal doubled their advantage, but Nkunku nodded in to get Leipzig back in the game.

RiyadMahrez added a third with a penalty before half-time only for Nkunku to head in again early in the second period.

Jack Grealish notched his first Champions League goal following his British record £100 million ($136 million) signing, with Nkunku completing his treble before Joao Cancelo and Gabriel Jesus strikes wrapped up a wild victory for City.

Leipzig finished with 10 men after former City player Angelino was sent off for a

second booking. “I loved it. I’ve been waiting a while. The past few weeks, I couldn’t wait for this game. It’s a great night,” Grealish told BT Sport.

“It was one of those games. It had absolutely everything.”

HENDERSON STARS FOR LIVERPOOL: Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson hit the winner for JurgenKlopp’s side as they came from behind to defeat Milan 3-2 at Anfield in a meeting of two clubs who have combined for 13 European Cups.

FikayoTomori inadvertently deflected in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s effort to put Liverpool in front but Mohamed Salah saw his penalty saved by Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

The momentum swung sharply in Milan’s favour as Ante Rebic and Brahim Diaz struck twice in as many minutes before the break. Salah atoned with an equaliser on 49 minutes that was initially discounted for offside before Henderson drove in on the half-volley from the edge of the box.

“It is a tough group. That is why it is important we won this game. It does not decide anything but it gave us a winning start,”

Klopp told BT Sport.

In the other Group B game, Spanish champions Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 at home to Porto, who were frustrated by a decision to disallow Mehdi Taremi’s late goal.

Rodrygo snatched victory for Real as he flicked in with a minute to play in Milan, stunning Inter who had dominated much of the game and forced Thibaut Courtois into several saves.

Newcomers Sheriff defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 thanks to goals from Mali international AdamaTraore and Guinean forward MomoYansane.

Sheriff, from a tiny pro-Russian separatist region in Moldova, are the first club

Injured Blundell out of New Zealand's ODI series in Pakistan

Pakistan to play aggressive cricket: Babar NEWS DESK Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Thursday said that his team will play "positive and aggressive" cricket during the matches with New Zealand, starting at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday (today).

Addressing a press conference, Babar said,“Finally, the day has arrived and our entire camp is very excited to play New Zealand at home. We have practiced hard for this series and I am sure we will take full advantage of our home conditions. We have a balanced squad and I am optimistic about our chances in the series. I am sure fans at the stadiums and millions watching us on screens will enjoy these matches.”

New Zealand captain Tom Latham said, “We know it is special for Pakistanis to have cricket in their country and we are excited to be here. Pakistan are a quality side and they have some talented white-ball players in their line-up. We have desired fire-power in our ranks to win this series and I am sure our batters and bowlers will rise to the occasion and make this historic series memorable for us.”

It's the tail-end of the monsoon season in Pakistan, but there's little chance of rain on the day. Conditions should be hot and humid, and dew may kick in towards the back end of the second innings.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled the national team's kit for the series.

The kit has different shades of green, from dark to a lighter tone.

Sharing the news on Twitter along with the pictures of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hassan Ali, a PCB statement said, “Unveiling Pakistan's new ODI kit!”

Earlier on Wednesday, the PCB had announced the 12-man squad for the first ODI against New Zealand.

The second and third ODIs will be played on September 19 and 21 at the same venue after which the two sides

from the ex-Soviet country to reach the group stage of the Champions League.

England midfielder Jude Bellingham scored one goal and set up ErlingHaaland for Borussia Dortmund’s second in a 2-1 win away to Turkish champions Besiktas.

Javi Montero headed in a consolation for Besiktas in stoppage time.

Ajax powered to the top of Group D as Ivorian striker Sebastien Haller bagged four goals in a 5-1 demolition of Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon.

Steven Berghuis added the other goal for the four-time European champions with Paulinho grabbing a consolation for the hosts.

LAHORE REUTERS

will travel to Lahore for five T20Is between September 25 and October 3.

SQUADS: Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (captain), Saud Shakil, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Usman Qadir, Haris

Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

New Zealand: RachinRavindra, Finn Allen, Will Young, Tom Latham (captain), Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Cole McConchie, Scott Kuggeleijn/Doug Bracewell, Ajaz Patel, Jacob Duffy/Blair Tickner, Matt Henry.

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Blundell will miss the one-day series against Pakistan due to a left quad strain, the tourists said ahead of Friday’s (today’s) series opener in Rawalpindi. All-rounder Daryl Mitchell, who was initially picked for the subsequent Twenty20 series against Pakistan, will join the one-day squad ahead of the second match after completing his mandatory isolation. “Obviously everyone is gutted for Tom, he’s a quality player with a diverse skill-set,” stand-in coach Glenn Pocknall said in a team statement on Thursday. “He’ll remain with the squad and we’re hopeful he’ll be available again for the T20I series. “With Tom out, we do lose our first choice back-up wicket-keeping option.

“However, there are several guys in the squad with keeping experience and we’ll ensure they do the necessary work at training to be up to speed if called upon.” Pocknall and Shane Jurgensen will split coaching duties in Pakistan as regular coach Gary Stead stayed back in New Zealand. Blundell sustained the injury during their 3-2 Twenty20 series defeat in Bangladesh.

“The injury is not quite where we want it so we think it’s best for him to concentrate on his rehab given the big summer of cricket ahead,” physio Nishil Shah said. New Zealand will play three one-dayers against Pakistan before moving to Lahore for a five-match Twenty20 series.

Kohli to step down as India's T20 captain after World Cup NEW DELHI REUTERS

ViratKohli will step down as captain of the Indian Twenty20 side after the upcoming World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, the player said on Thursday.

Kohli, also the team's batting mainstay, cited the need to balance his workload as he vacated the role which is likely to go to his deputy Rohit Sharma. "...considering my immense workload over the last 8-9 years playing all 3 formats and captaining regularly for last 5-6 years, I feel I need to give myself space to be fully ready to lead the Indian team in Test and ODI cricket," Kohli said in a statement posted on Twitter.

"I have given everything to the team during my time as T20 captain and I will continue to do so for

the T20 team as a batsman going forward."

The 32-year-old said he consulted, among others, Rohit before taking the decision.

India are yet to win an ICC trophy under Kohli, while his Royal Challengers Bangalore team continue to chase their maiden Indian Premier League title.

Rohit is IPL's most successful captain, having led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles.

Kohli has a 27-14 win-loss ratio as India's Twenty20 captain and vice-president of the Indian cricket board Rajeev Shukla said the player made an "immense" contribution as leader of the Twenty20 squad. "This is his personal decision and we respect it," tweeted Shukla.

Inaugural champions India will begin their bid for a second Twenty20 World Cup title with a blockbuster Oct. 24 clash with arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai.

Friday, 17 September, 2021

PRAyeR tImIngs

NEWS

AfgHAN TAliBAN refUTe reporTS of rifTS wiTHiN THe groUp’S leAderSHip

S

day earlier by the Taliban foreign minister, Amir Khan Mutaqi, who deemed reports of friction within the group as “propaganda” Analysts say the friction may not amount to a serious threat to the Taliban — for now.

“We’ve seen over the years that despite disputes, the Taliban largely remains a cohesive institution and that major decisions don’t get serious pushback after the fact,” said Michael Kugelman, Asia program deputy director at the Washingtonbased Wilson Center.

“I think the current internal dissension can be managed,” he said. “Still, the Taliban will be under a lot of pressure as it tries to consolidate its power, gain legitimacy, and address major policy challenges. If these efforts fail, a stressed organisation could well see more and increasingly serious infighting.”

However, Taliban divisions today will be more difficult to resolve without the heavy-handed rule of the group’s founder, the late Mullah Omar, who demanded unquestioned loyalty. ReuteRs

eNIOR Taliban officials, including spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid and a member of the Haqqani network, have denied reports of rifts between the leadership of the group’s various factions since the formation of an interim government last week.

Reports of disagreements first began circulating after the Taliban formed a cabinet on September 7 that is more in line with their harsh rule in the 1990s than their recent promises of inclusiveness.

Late last week, rumours emerged of an alleged violent confrontation between pragmatists and ideologues in the Taliban leadership at the presidential palace, including claims that Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan Abdul Ghani Baradar was killed.

The occurrence of the row, reportedly between Baradar and minister for refugees Khalilur Rahman Haqqani, was confirmed to the BBC by a senior member of the Taliban based in Qatar and a person close to the factions at loggerheads.

The source identified Baradar’s unhappiness over

the interim government’s structure as the primary reason for the confrontation, but added that the two factions had also argued over who should get more credit, with Baradar purportedly wanting greater acknowledgment for diplomatic efforts such as his and the Haqqani group adamant that the fighting faction played a bigger role.

The rumours of Baradar’s death reached such intensity that an audio recording and handwritten statement, both by the leader himself, denied that he had been killed. He reiterated his well-being by appearing in an interview with the country’s national TV on Wednesday.

Other Taliban officials have also come forward to refute reports of cracks within the leadership, with Mujahid among those shooting down the rumours.

Anas Haqqani, younger brother of the Taliban’s newly appointed Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, also issued a similar statement on Wednesday, maintaining that “the Islamic emirate is a united front”.

Haqqani’s tweet follows a separate statement a

UN envoy meets Taliban government’s interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani

CPNE visits ISPR, discusses regional situation with DG Babar Iftikhar

A UN envoy has met Afghanistan’s new interior minister who was for years was one of the world’s most wanted militants and is now part of a government trying to head off a humanitarian crisis. The meeting between Deborah Lyons, head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, and Sirajuddin Haqqani focused on humanitarian assistance, Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman, said in a statement on Twitter on Thursday. “[Haqqani] stressed that UN personnel can conduct their work without any hurdle and deliver vital aid to the Afghan people,” he said. Afghanistan was already facing chronic poverty and drought but the situation has deteriorated since the Taliban took over last month with the disruption of aid, the departure of tens of thousands of people including government and aid workers and the collapse of much economic activity.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told an international aid conference this week that Afghans were facing “perhaps their most perilous hour”. The UN mission in Afghanistan said that in the Wednesday meeting Lyons had stressed the “absolute necessity for all UN and humanitarian personnel in Afghanistan to be able to work without intimidation or obstruction to deliver vital aid and conduct work for Afghan people”. The Taliban repeatedly targeted the United Nations during the two-decades-long US-led military mission in Afghanistan that ended last month with the rout of the Westernbacked government by the Taliban. In one of the bloodiest incidents, Taliban militants killed five UN foreign staff in an attack on a guest-house in Kabul in 2009. More recently, gunmen attacked a UN compound in the city of Herat in July with rocket-propelled grenades killing a guard, while protesters in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif in 2011 killed seven UN staff. The Haqqani network, a faction within the Afghan Taliban, was held responsible for some of the worst militant attacks in Afghanistan during the Taliban insurgency. The United States designated the group a terrorist organisation in 2012.

Haqqani, head of the eponymous network founded by his father, is one of the FBI’s most wanted men with a reward of $10 million for information leading to his arrest. ReuteRs

A Council of Pakistan Newspaper editors delegation visited the Inter-Services Public Relations office on Thursday and met ISPR Director-General Major General Babar Iftikhar, where they discussed the security situation.

With the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, there has been uncertainty surrounding the journalistic landscape of the bordering country, and how that may affect the situation within Pakistan itself.

The ISPR apprised the CPNe delegation about the prevalent security environment in the wake of recent developments in the region and the consequent impact on national security. He also apprised the CPNe delegation on the situation along borders and necessary safeguards in place as part of the western zone border management regime.

The CPNe delegation thanked ISPR DG for the interactive session and apprising the senior journalists of the latest developments in the security domain.

Currently, the Pakistan Air Force is engaged in the provision of humanitarian assistance as well as facil-

itating recent evacuation operations from Afghanistan, which, along with other ongoing projects, have been appreciated by the army chief.

Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday last, while chairing a meeting of the Corps Commanders Conference, said constructive engagement and sustained humanitarian support by the international community was “imperative” for achieving enduring peace and stability in war-torn Afghanistan.

The meeting, which was held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, comprehensively re-

viewed the global, regional and domestic security situation, the director-general of the ISPR said in a series of tweets. It was informed about the situation in neighbouring Afghanistan, the security along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and safeguards put in place against various threats, the ISPR DG added.

The army chief expressed “satisfaction” regarding the efficacy of Pakistan’s border management system because of which the country’s borders remained secure and internal security remained intact amid the rapidly unfolding situation in Afghanistan. news DesK

LAHORE: Petals start to wilt as fall sets in. AKIF RAsHID

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

4:20

12:01

3:35

5:41

6:20

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US Senator says Trump administration responsible for Taliban takeover Pakistan has been seemingly vindicated by the statements of US Senator Chris Van Hollen, who has asserted that the Taliban takeover was due to the actions of the Trump administration and not Pakistan. Moreover, he added that Pakistan has released three top Taliban commanders on the then US government’s request to push forward the Afghan peace process. The Democrat senator, who was born in Karachi, argued at the first senate hearing on the US withdrawal from Afghanistan that it was in Pakistan’s interest to “prevent chaos and civil war” in its neighbourhood.

According to a report by Dawn, Tuesday’s hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, some Republican lawmakers blamed the Biden administration for the chaos — and the Taliban takeover — that followed the US withdrawal from Afghanistan last month. Others — both Republicans and Democrats — also targeted Pakistan for its alleged support to the Afghan Taliban during the 20-year war. Responding to these allegations, Senator Van Hollen engaged in a dialogue with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was the main witness. “Is it not the fact that the Trump administration asked the Pakistani government to release three top Taliban commanders as part of that process?” he asked. “That’s correct,” Blinken replied. Van Hollen asked a number of questions from the secretary such as Abdul Ghani Baradar being one of those released to the US negotiators, not including the former Afghan government in the Doha talks and pressuring them to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners who were later involved in Kabul’s takeover, to which Blinken responded: “That’s correct.” news DesK

China fumes over US nuclear sub pact with Britain, Australia WASHINGTON/CANBERRA: China on Thursday denounced a new Indo-Pacific security alliance between the United States, Britain and Australia, saying such partnerships should not target third countries and warning of an intensified arms race in the region. Under the arrangement,dubbed AUKUS, the United States and Britain will provide Australia with the technology and capability to deploy nuclear-powered submarines. The United States and its allies are looking for ways to push back against China’s growing power and influence, particularly its military buildup, pressure on Taiwan and deployments in the contested South China Sea. U.S. President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not mention China by name in the joint announcement and senior Biden administration officials, who briefed reporters ahead of time, said the partnership was not aimed at countering Beijing. But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the three countries were “severely damaging regional peace and stability, intensifying an arms race, and damaging international nuclear non-proliferation efforts”. “China always believes that any regional mechanism should conform to the trend of peace and development of the times and help enhance mutual trust and cooperation… It should not target any third party or undermine its interests,” he told a regular briefing in Beijing. Johnson said the pact was not meant to be adversarial and said it would reduce the costs of Britain’s next generation of nuclear submarines. “Now that we have created AUKUS we expect to accelerate the development of other advanced defence systems including in cyber, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and undersea capabilities,” Johnson told parliament. The three leaders stressed Australia would not be fielding nuclear weapons but using nuclear propulsion systems for the vessels to guard against threats. “We all recognise the imperative of ensuring peace and stability in the IndoPacific over the long term,” Biden said. “We need to be able to address both the current strategic environment in the region, and how it may evolve because the future of each of our nations and indeed the world depends on a free and open Indo-Pacific enduring and flourishing in the decades ahead,” he said. Morrison said Australia would meet all of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

ADVANCED SYSTEMS: One U.S. official said the partnership was the result of months of engagements by military and political leaders during which Britain – which recently sent an aircraft carrier to Asia – had indicated it wanted to do more in the region. ReuteRs

Moderna says Covid-19 vaccine protection wanes, makes case for booster CHICAGO ReuteRs

New data from Moderna Inc’s large Covid19 vaccine trial shows that the protection it offers wanes over time, supporting the case for booster doses, the company said in a news release on Wednesday.

“This is only one estimate, but we do believe this means as you look toward the fall and winter, at minimum we expect the estimated impact of waning immunity would be 600,000 additional cases of Covid-19,” Moderna President Stephen Hoge said on a conference call with investors.

Hoge did not project how many of the cases would be severe, but said some would require hospitalization.

The data stands in stark contrast with data from several recent studies that suggested Moderna’s vaccine protection lasts longer than a similar shot from Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech Se . experts said the difference is likely due to Moderna’s higher dose of messenger RNA (mRNA) and the slightly longer interval between the first and second shots. Both vaccines proved to be exceedingly effective at preventing illness in their large Phase III studies.

Wednesday’s analysis, however, showed higher rates of infection among people vaccinated roughly 13 months ago compared with those vaccinated roughly eight months ago. The study period was from July-August, when Delta was the predominant strain. It has yet to undergo peer review.

Moderna on Sept. 1 submitted its application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking authorization for a booster shot.

Hoge said data from its booster studies shows the vaccine could increase neutralizing antibodies to levels even higher than were seen after the second dose. “We believe this will reduce Covid-19 cases,” he said.

“We also believe that a third dose of mRNA1273 has a chance of significantly extending immunity throughout much of next year as we attempt to end the pandemic.”

Briefing documents from the FDA’s analysis of Pfizer’s booster application, released earlier on Wednesday, suggest that a key issue the agency will consider is whether vaccine protection is waning.

In its analysis, Moderna compared the

vaccine’s performance in more than 14,000 volunteers vaccinated between July and October of 2020 with some 11,000 volunteers originally in the placebo group who were offered the shot between December 2020 and March 2022 following its U.S. emergency use authorization.

In the two-month period from July-August, researchers identified 88 Covid-19 cases among those who got the two shots more recently, compared with 162 cases among those vaccinated last year. Overall, only 19 cases were considered severe, a key benchmark in assessing waning protection.

Moderna said there was a trend toward a lower rate of severe cases among the more recently vaccinated, although the finding was not statistically significant.

Data from a separate study presented on Wednesday conducted with Kaiser Permanente Southern California health system, meanwhile, shows that Moderna’s vaccine continued to perform well against the Delta variant.

Researchers compared data on more than 352,000 people who got two doses of the Moderna vaccine with the same number of unvaccinated individuals and found the Moderna vaccine was 87% effective at preventing a Covid-19 diagnosis, and 96% effective at preventing hospitalization.

Hoge said the vaccine’s initial performance is strong, but argued that protection shouldn’t be allowed to wane.

“The first six months are great, but you can’t count on that being stable out to a year and beyond,” he said.

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