EpaperISB_2020-0-28

CMYK

28 June, 2020 I 6 Dhu-al-Qa’dah, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol X No 359 I 40 Pages I Islamabad Edition

PoL PriCe hike adds fueL to oPP’s fire g

Pti’S raja riaz jOinS OPP mEmbErS in g EnErgy miniStEr CLaimS PriCES CritiCiSing gOvt, LamEntS nOnOf PEtrOLEum PrOduCtS in diSburSEmEnt Of dEvELOPmEnt fundS PakiStan arE LOwESt in SOuth aSia

o

Covid-19 testing declines in Sindh, Punjab as death toll tops 4,000 ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD

staff report

staff report

the national Command and Control Center (nCOC) on Saturday observed a decline in the number of Covid-19 testing across the country, particularly in Sindh and Punjab. the observation came as the nationwide tally of coronavirus reached 198,883 with emergence of 3, 138 new cases over the last 24 hours. the total cases detected in Punjab are 72,880, Sindh 76318, khyber Pakhtunkhwa 24,943, balochistan 10,116, islamabad 12, 206, azad kashmir 1,003 and gilgitbaltistan 1,417. the death toll from the virus stands at 4,035 with 74 deaths reported over the last 24 hours. a total of 21,033 corona tests were carried out during this period. meanwhile, a meeting of nCOC headed by Planing minster asad umar reviewed the overall Covid-19 situation, including the implementation of smart lockdown in the virus hotspots. the meeting was attended by chief secretaries and health secretaries of the provinces through video link the Sindh health secretary told the forum that there has been a decrease in testing capacity due to some administrative issues “which will be resolved in the next two to

PPOSitiOn lawmakers and a member of the ruling Pakistan tehreek-e-insaf (Pti) on Saturday lashed out at the government over a recent hike in petrol prices, among other national issues, during a session of the national assembly.

On friday, Prime minister imran khan approved a recommendation to hike up the prices of petroleum products after which petrol prices rose by rs25.58 per litre. in Saturday’s session of the Lower house, Pakistan muslim League-nawaz (PmL-n) mna khurram dastgir said that petrol prices were never increased by 34 per cent in the history of the country. “the government is becoming a facilitator of mafias,” he said, adding that he can sense that the government benches are in a state of ‘fear’. describing other national issues, the PmL-n lawmaker said that the culprits of the Sahiwal incident, where members of a family were killed in cold blood, did not receive any punishment.

Speaking on the issue of the sugar crisis, he said that the federal investigation agency (fia) said that the prices of sugar rose after permission for exports was granted. addressing the house, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmaker abdul Qadir Patel said that the fia should probe who hoarded up petrol reserves, which exacerbated the national fuel crisis. “the fia should investigate who is behind this mafia and who is getting a cut out of it,” he said. the treasury benches were shocked when Pti mna from faisalabad, raja riaz blasted the government over the exponential increase in the POL prices. riaz, in his speech in the na, said the prices had been raised by rs25 within a night and added that they were not receiving development funds despite winning the elections and being in the government. who is getting these funds? he questioned.

PmL-n’s ahsan iqbal said an attempt was being made to turn the fia into “nab-2” and asked the police officers

serving in the agency to reject politicallymotivated orders.

PmL-n’s rana Sanaullah said the fia had been assigned with the task of targeting the opposition and questioned the increase in the budget allocated for the interior ministry. addressing the national assembly, he said the entire focus of the government was on propaganda. the increase in the POL prices was the biggest robbery in the country’s history and the government along with the petrol mafia had robbed the people of billions of rupees, the PmLn leader added. where were the intelligence agencies, he questioned, which, he added, had been tasked with targeting the opposition. about the interior ministry budget, rana Sana said the PmL-n government in its last budget had allocated rs109 billion for that, but the amount had been increased to rs139bn last year and to rs157bn for the next financial year.

‘PAKISTAN PETROL PRICE LOWEST IN REGION’: addressing the house, federal minister for Energy Omar ayub said that prices of petroleum products in the country are lowest in South asia. ayub said that the price of petrol has increased by 112 per cent over the last 46 days in the international crude oil market. “the price of OPEC [Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries] basket has in-

creased by 46pc last month,” he observed.

Crude oil prices in the world market have more than doubled since the recent slump, recovering to the pre-pandemic levels. by Saturday evening, OPEC basket, average of prices for petroleum blends produced by member states, stood at $37.18 a barrel (about 159 litres) from $28.45 per barrel last month today. ayub recalled that the government passed on the benefit of the oil market crash to the consumers “well in time”. “we will move forward as per the up and down in the international oil market,” he added.

Commenting on the 18-hour loadshedding in some of karachi neighbourhoods, the minister said that power outage has been eliminated and currently it is being carried out only in feeders where losses are high.

“Our focus is now on bringing improvement in the distribution and transmission system,” he said, adding: “we are now pursuing clean and green projects in the energy sector.”

POL prices raised by 25pc against 112pc surge in int’l market, govt claims STORY ON PAGE 03

in today’s issue

three days and there will be a significant increase in testing numbers”.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Coronavirus in

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

201,414

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

74

3,138

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

SINDH:

PUNJAB:

86,906 4,098 78,267

72,880

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

25,380

10,261

1,003/1,417 12,206

attention Some readers have complained that they are not getting the magazine with their newspaper copy. Please call or WhatsApp us at the following number to register a complaint.

Contact: 0307-7338168 irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk

02

Sunday, 28 June, 2020

NEWS

PM orders iMPleMentation of 6Pc job quota for balochistan to woo bnP-M ISLAMABAD

i

StAFF RepoRt

N a bid to placate his former coalition partner, the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday directed the federal ministries to implement the six per cent job quota reserved for Balochistan.

The directives issued from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to all federal ministries and departments said that PM Imran has expressed serious concern over the non–implementation of the job quota. “It should be implemented strictly in all ministries and government departments,” it said.

The PMO also summoned a record of all vacant posts on the reserved seats for Balochistan within 30 days.

On June 17, BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal had announced to part ways with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government after remaining part of the coalition for around 2 years.

Making the announcement in the Na-

tional Assembly, Mengal said that his party had decided to leave the coalition due to non-implementation of the two agreements made with his party.

The BNP-M is represented by the four parliamentarians in the NA including Akhtar Mengal himself, Muhammad Hashim Notezai, Agha Hassan Baloch and Dr Shahnaz Baloch.

Mengal said his party through two agreements demanded solution to the issue of missing persons and implementation on the National Action Plan in letter and spirit.

“Will anybody tell whether there was anything unconstitutional in these two agreements,” he questioned.

He observed that not accepting demands was the same mindset which had been witnessed since the year 1948 demanding that the agreements should be implemented if they were citizens of the country and were not what he said ‘bloody civilians’.

Mengal said that his party waited for implementation on agreements for two years. “We can still wait but you should start something,” he had said.

PMl-n's Musaddik Malik says journalist 'should be set on fire' for remarks on Pia plane crash NEWS DESK Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Musaddik Malik landed himself in hot waters after he said on national television that a journalist “should be set on fire” for not being respectful enough towards victims of the PIA plane crash tragedy. “This Tahir [the journalist] sahib, I don’t know who he is. Is he the head of some organisation? He came on television and said that our international image is being destroyed [by the revelation of deep-rooted issues in PIA],” the senator said in a video clip which has now gone viral on social media.

“We should throw such an international image into the fire and we should set fire to Tahir sahib who came [on TV] and said something like this and made a mockery of all of us,” an enraged Malik could be heard saying.

“Our plane crashed, should we not conduct an investigation and if there is a failure should we not go after whoever failed? Should we not do a root cause analysis?,” he questioned. Tahir Imran, an investigative reporter with the BBC, in a post on Twitter called out Malik for his remarks. “I've just been attacked on live TV show by this man Musadik Malik who instigated violence against me to "burn me alive". I am shaking after hearing this hate filled and vicious comment from this man who represents PML-N. Is this what PML-N stands for Maryam Nawaz Sharif,” Imran said in his tweet. To this, the PML-N leader responded that he deeply regretted using the strong language. “Dear Tahir, I just saw the clip. I deeply regret using strong language in the heat of the moment. A friend was burnt alive with hundred other people in the flight. We all mourn!,” he said. Malik added, “A comprehensive investigation must be done, irrespective of the image, and root causes must be removed.” “It’s good to see that you have accepted your fault and apologized for the behavior," the journalist responded. "We can all disagree with respect.

I respect your opinion and will defend your right to express it in civil manner. My sympathy for your loss and I also want full, across the board inquiry. Thank you."

File photo

The BNP-M had earlier parted ways with the government in June 2019, however, the party returned to the coalition after the government accepted all of the six

PIA moves to assuage concern over ‘dubious’ pilot licences KARACHI AGeNCieS

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has written to foreign missions and global regulatory and safety bodies, assuring them it has grounded all 141 pilots suspected of obtaining licenses through unfair means, the carrier’s spokesman said on Saturday.

The move looks to assuage safety concerns after Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said on Friday that the government had asked various commercial airlines, flying clubs and charter companies to ground a total of

KARACHI StAFF RepoRt

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members’ infighting went out of the cabinet on Saturday as Karachi PTI MNA Aslam Khan lodged a case against a PTI MPA seeking the return of money he spent on the election campaign of the provincial lawmaker. In this regard, PTI MNA Aslam Khan of Karachi has got registered an FIR against party MPA Abbas Jaffery for non-refund of election expenses. It is pertinent to note that Mohammed Aslam Khan grabbed 75,702 votes and won NA-254 Karachi Central-II, where MQM has its headquarters while model-turned-politician Abbas Jafferi from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) won Sindh Assembly seat PS-125 with 30, 687 votes. Aslam Khan bore all the expenses of Jafferi’s election campaign on the promise he will return the amount later. However, the cheque he gave to Aslam Khan bounced, infuriating the MNA who then registered a case against the MPA.

262 pilots until investigations into their qualifications are completed.

The action was prompted by a preliminary report on the crash of a PIA aircraft in Karachi last month, which found pilots had failed to follow standard procedures.

Global safety and transport bodies expressed concern about the alleged “dubious” licenses and said they were looking into the matter. PIA flies a number of international routes, including to the United States, Britain and Europe.

“It is also ensured that all pilots flying PIA flights are having genuine

licences endorsed by the government of Pakistan,” said a copy of the letter sent to the US Embassy in Islamabad.

The letter, signed by PIA Chief Executive Arshad Malik, also promised the airline would remain compliant with all international aviation safety and regulatory standards.

PIA’s spokesman said the letter had been sent to all heads of foreign missions in Pakistan as well as international aviation regulators and safety monitoring agencies.

Aviation Minister Khan had said the move to ground the pilots would help allay global concerns and show wrongdoing had been corrected. He added that five officials of the aviation authority were also suspended for abetting the suspected pilots.

The Pakistani pilots’ union did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

In a joint statement, The International Federation of Airline Pilots’ Associations and the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations called for the crash probe to be conducted on international standards, urging against “premature conclusions” based on incomplete or speculative information.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Saturday rejected an amendment in a bill that sought imposing bans and cancelling the licenses of the lawyers involved in violence or in any other adversarial activity which is unacceptable for the legal fraternity as the same is based on ill-will and malice. The bill was tabled in the National Assembly by the federal government for making the amendments through the introduction of sub-section 6 in Section 41 of the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Act, 2019. “It is hereby clarified for all concerned that proper accountability system for lawyers is already in place and practised by Pakistan Bar Council, the apex regulatory body of lawyers in Pakistan, alongside several tribunals who are fully empowered to take disciplinary actions against lawyers if so required,” SCBA said in a statement. SCBA “discarded the bill which challenged the sovereignty and independence of lawyers and through which a malicious effort is made to brush-off the freedom of expression and Rule of Law in order to undermine the dignity of an independent community (lawyers) of the country,” the statement added. “SCBA hereby advises the relevant segment of government to refrain from taking any such step which provokes the lawyers’ community and perturbed them or else SCBA along with enter legal fraternity of the country will resist the same through full force and battle the same legally as well as on roads,” the communique said. StAFF RepoRt

ihc forms bench for nfc hearing ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday constituted a division bench for hearing a petition challenging the constitution of the National Finance Commission (NFC). IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah formed the bench on the petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Khurram Dastagir Khan. The bench will comprise Justice Gul Hassan Aurangzeb and Chief Justice Athar Minallah. Earlier, a single-member bench of Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb had sent the case to the chief justice recommending formation of a division bench in view of the importance of the matter.

During last hearing, the single bench had allowed the petitioner to submit more documents in the case. It also ordered to make the letter of Sindh chief minister regarding reservations on NFC as part of case record. The bench had observed that it was a serious matter and also expressed concern over not submission of comments by the Finance Division. Earlier, the petitioner’s counsel argued that the Constitution of Pakistan, explicitly states that the country is to be run by elected representatives. He contended that nowhere in the constitution does it state that the prime minister’s adviser on finance can be the convener instead of the finance minister. The NFC is meant to distribute financial resources among the federal government and the provinces. It includes distribution of taxes collected by the federal government, which form a divisible pool. StAFF RepoRt

NA approves 23 demands worth Rs248.2bn for four divisions ISLAMABAD App

Pti Mna lodges fir against party MPa

points put forth by the former. One of the six demands made by the BNP-M at that time was to increase the quota of government jobs for Balochistan to 6 per cent.

scba rejects bill seeking ban on lawyers involved in violence

The National Assembly on Saturday approved a total of 23 demands for grants worth Rs248,269,842,000 for Interior Division, Industries and Production, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Secretariat, National Food Security and Research Division and National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Division.

Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar moved 10 demands for grants of Interior Division worth Rs. 172,479,640,000.

The cut motions were moved on eight demands for grants by the opposition lawmakers but all were rejected.

The House approved demands for grants worth Rs. 1,135,194,000 of Interior Division to meet expenditure during financial year ending on June 30, 2021; Rs. 5,854,041,000 in respect of other expenditure of Interior Division; Rs. 5,029,235,000 in respect of Miscellaneous Expenditure of Interior Division; Rs 9,933,189,000 in respect of Islam-

abad; Rs 2,964,943,000 in respect of passport organization; Rs 93,282,260,000 in respect of civil armed forces; Rs 11,311,962,000 for Frontier Constabulary; Rs 2,299,879,000 in respect of Pakistan Coast Guards; Rs 25,947,624,000 in respect of Pakistan Rangers; and 14,721,313,000 for development expenditures of Interior Division.

Parliamentary Secretary for Interior Shaukat Ali responded to the queries raised by the opposition during their speeches on cut motions.

Moreover, the House also approved five demands for grants of Industries and FATF secretariat worth Rs. 11,215,460,000 by rejecting all cut motions on them.

The House approved demands for grant of worth Rs. 320,098,000 for Industries and Production division; Rs 952,354,000 in respect of other expenditure of industries and production division; Rs 9,058,905,000 in respect of miscellaneous expenditures of industries and production division; and Rs 800,000,000 in respect of capital outlay on industrial development.

CMYK

The Lower House also approved demand for grant of worth Rs 84,103,000 for Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Secretariat. The House rejected all cut motions on aforementioned demands for grants.

Responding to the cut motions related to Industries and Production, Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar said that auto-mobile policy would be revised and all safety measures would be ensured in it.

He said ranking of Pakistan had improved in Ease of Doing Business while 14 out of 27 targets set for FATF had been met while action was underway on remaining 13 targets.

Hammad Azhar said Pakistan was put on grey list of FATF during previous tenure of PML-N, adding the proceedings of FATF were suspended for six months due to Covid-19 and every possible effort was underway to pursue all targets.

Four demands for grants of National Food Security and Research worth Rs. 24,879,742,000 were also approved by rejecting all cut motions on them.

Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam responded to cut motions submitted by the opposition legislators and informed the House that the government had decided to import the wheat to fulfill the need of the country.

Fakhar Imam said China had agreed to transfer of technology in the agriculture sector under the second phase of the China-Economic-Pakistan-Corridor. He said research was also required to enhance per acre yield of wheat crop.

He said there was a chance that the country may not achieve set target of wheat. The minister said the government had approved the purchase of six aircraft to spray pesticides over affected areas as part of its anti-locust operation. He said the federal government would spend Rs14 billion, along with the contribution of Rs 12 billion by the provincial governments, to counter the locust threat in the country.

In addition, the House approved four demands for grants of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division worth Rs.39,695,000,000 by rejecting all cut motions on them moved by the opposition lawmakers but all were rejected by the latter.

Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Nosheen Hamid responded to the queries raised by the opposition members.

Sunday, 28 June, 2020

NEWS

Pol Prices raised by 25Pc aGainst 112Pc surGe in int’l MarKet, Govt claiMs ISLAMABAD

t

StAFF RepoRt

WO senior government officials on Saturday defended the decision to increase the price of all petroleum products in the country, saying that the government had tried to provide relief to the people amid rising international prices.

Addressing a press conference with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Division Nadeem Babar, Petroleum Minister Omar Ayub Khan said that prices in the international market had risen by 112 per cent over the last 40 days.

In a sudden move on Friday evening, the government had increased the prices of all petroleum products by up to nearly Rs26 to share the impact of rising international prices with the consumers.

The price of petrol (motor spirit) was raised by a whopping Rs25.58 to Rs100.10 per litre from the existing Rs74.52, an increase of 25.6 per cent.

During the press conference, Babar explained that the government set the prices of petroleum products on the basis of Pakistan State Oil’s (PSO) monthly average. Like other government functionaries, he highlighted that Pakistan had the lowest prices among South and Southeast Asian countries.

“The price of petrol is Rs180 in India, Rs108 in Indonesia, Rs153 in the Philippines, Rs159 in Thailand and Rs196 in Japan,” he said, adding that the government had continued passing on

the effects of falling prices to the public.

Giving an “example”, he said that on February 28, before the pandemic started, petrol was priced at Rs116.60 and diesel cost Rs127.24. On June 1, the price was reduced by Rs42. He added that the government, despite its “lesser purchasing power”, was trying to charge as less as it could.

Clarifying why the government had announced the new fuel prices on June 26 instead of July 1, he said that according to calculations, if the “last cargo was priced at the current rate, there would be an increase of Rs31-32”.

“We didn’t want to do this,” he said, adding that by increasing prices now, the government had reduced the total increase by spreading it over 35 days.

“This means all the oil marketing companies (OMCs) will also face a minor

Govt to collect approx rs75bn in july from Pol consumers ISLAMABAD AhMAD AhMADANi

The government is expected to collect approximately Rs75 billion on account of different taxes, levy, duty etc from consumers of petroleum products in July, Pakistan Today has learnt. Informed sources said that following a record increase in the per litre price of petroleum products (POL), the government will collect around Rs45bn under petroleum levy and Rs25bn on account of GST in July. They added that the government has set Rs450bn collection target under the head of petroleum levy for the next financial year, while Rs5bn will be collected under regulatory duty from POL consumers. Sharing details of taxes, levy, duty etc included in the per litre price of POL products, the sources further said that the government has been collecting Rs47 on each litre of petrol, Rs30 per litre under petroleum levy, GST of Rs 14.55/litre, and Rs 2.44/litre customs duty. Similarly, the government has been collecting Rs51 on each litre of high speed diesel, Rs30/litre petroleum levy, GST of Rs 14.74/litre and customs duty of Rs6.20/litre. In a sudden move on Friday evening, the government had increased the prices of all petroleum products by up to nearly Rs26 to share the impact of rising international prices with the consumers. The price of petrol (motor spirit) was raised by a whopping Rs25.58 to Rs100.10 per litre from the existing Rs74.52, an increase of 25.6 per cent. It is pertinent to mention that petrol and HSD are the two major POL products that generate most revenue for the government due to their wide range use and growing consumption in the country. The government has been increasing the rates of petroleum levy ostensibly to meet revenue shortfall of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as petroleum levy remains in the federal kitty unlike GST that goes to the divisible pool taxes and thus about 57pc share is grabbed by the provinces.

loss in July [but there will be] net benefit for consumers.”

Referring to the oil crisis, Babar claimed that the reason behind it was “hoarding by certain OMCs”.

“Nearly all OMCs did not have stock of 21 days as per licensing agreements; PSO had an 18-day stock too. Not only did we repeatedly ask the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to issue notices to these companies, but also asked PSO to import more to fill this gap.

“Unless OGRA is strengthened and enforcement capability made so strong that it takes action against companies not keeping proper stocks, this is likely to happen again,” he cautioned. “[The government] will change rules and if needed then act itself [to ensure this does not happen].

“At this time, there are 9,000 legal

registered petrol pumps, which means they sell oil at some OMC level whereas there are 1,500 or more illegal pumps which have no agreement with any OMC. The government will crack down on these.

“Because the price had risen to very high levels in the international market and the price here was very less, companies started hoarding. This is why committees conducted raids. We have to get rid of this once and for all. We will change rules and laws and take administrative action against illegal pumps. It is unfair that the government cannot provide relief to the people when it wants to.”

Khan criticised the PML-N and alleged that when an investigation was instituted during the PML-N’s tenure, the [then] finance minister called Investigation Officer Tariq Khosa to his office and asked him to stop the investigation.

“The PML-N gave protection to these mafias. On the contrary, the premier’s stance is to break the back of and end these mafias and to go to the very end to do so.”

Earlier in the day, Information Minister Shibli Faraz tweeted that the pandemic had affected all economies of the world. “Such an increase in international prices has not been seen which is why we had to review our prices too.

“There has been less increase in Pakistan as compared to other countries in the region. Benefit of the people is our first priority and we will continue trying to provide them relief.”

Shehbaz and Bilawal call govt’s decision to raise POL prices ‘anti-people’ LAHORE StAFF RepoRt

The two main opposition leaders of the country, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, on Saturday rejected the federal government’s increase in petrol prices, terming it an “atrocity”. Calling the price hike “sugar scandal part two”, Shehbaz Sharif said that the prime minister’s statements about caring for the people had been “proven hollow”.

He claimed that the PTI government had “played a horrific game with the masses”, saying this was “proof the government did not want the economy to run”.

“After the sugar mafia, the petrol mafia has won. The government has given the petrol mafia licence to loot the public. Thus proven that this is a government of inefficient, insensitive and oppressive people. An oppressive government cannot continue,” he said in a statement.

He demanded that the government “immediately” take back the increase in prices, saying that this was “not the time to clean the people’s pockets”.

“We will protest against this atrocity on every forum

including the parliament,” he said. In a separate statement, PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto also rejected the hike in prices.

“Increasing petrol prices at a time when the public should be given further relief is anti-people. Those who have increased the prices by a record high are the same ones who used to criticise minor increases previously,” he said. He claimed that the prime minister “could not support the sinking economy as a result of his own inefficiency by looting the people’s pockets”. “Imran Khan has allowed the mafias to benefit by first reducing the prices so it (fuel) could be hoarded and then increasing them. The premier has no worry about the people,” he added.

03

PMl-n demands PM Khan’s resignation over fuel price hike ISLAMABAD StAFF RepoRt

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has demanded Prime Minister Imran Khan’s resignation over the massive hike in petroleum prices. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government increased the petrol price

by Rs25.58 on Friday, taking it to a little over Rs100 per litre. PML-N leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal strongly criticised the government for the hike at a press conference here on Saturday. They said if PM Khan was given more time and his policies continued, then the country would suffer an irreparable loss. “Businesses are closed and the economy is dwindling because of the coronavirus pandemic,” Abbasi said. “And the government has pushed petrol beyond the purchasing power of the masses.”

He hinted at supporting any constitutional move aimed at replacing the prime minister. Asif said the entire country was suffering because of the ego of the prime minister. This government is being blackmailed by mafias since the day it took over the country, according to Ahsan Iqbal. He said they were waiting to see what action the National Accountability Bureau takes on this “criminal negligence”.

transporters raise fares by 20pc in Punjab after fuel hike LAHORE StAFF RepoRt

Punjab’s transporters on Saturday raised fares by 20 per cent after the federal government increased the petrol price by Rs25.58 per liter. Inter-city bus travel is now more expensive. A liter of petrol will now sell for a little over Rs100 again. The price of high speed diesel has been increased by Rs21.31, according to a notification issued by the Finance Division. The prices of kerosene and light diesel oil have gone up by Rs23.50 and Rs17.84, respectively. “If you’re going to increase prices so much and so suddenly, obviously we will have to increase fares,” said one transporter. Another driver said the cost of a one-way trip has gone up

by Rs3,000-Rs4,000 because diesel prices have gone up. “We haven’t been able to get diesel for two days,” he said. Passengers say they were already troubled by the outbreak and now the increase in fares will make things more difficult. “They’ve doubled the fares. No one is around to ask about the poor,” said one passenger. No government official from the petroleum ministry was available for a comment. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) proposes new rates in a summary to the government at the end of every month.

But this time the government increased the prices on the recommendation of the Petroleum Division. The government has cut local prices four times since March 1, resulting in an overall drop of Rs42.1 per litre from Rs116.56 to Rs74.5 per litre (official rates).

It was able to do so after international crude oil prices crashed. However, the government doubled petrol tax from Rs15 as of January to Rs30 now. The government charges sales tax on petrol at 17%, but it keeps changing the amount of the petroleum levy, which is its main tool to increase tax revenue from oil consumption or pass on any relief to the consumers. Presently you pay Rs41 on every liter of petrol, including sales tax.

Covid-19 testing declines in Sindh, Punjab as death toll tops 4,000 CONtINuED fROM pAgE 01 The other provinces informed the NCOC that the demand for testing has decreased and people are preferring home isolation.

The forum observed there has been a slight decline in the number of symptomatic and suspected Covid-19 patients.

“Since June 14, 542 lockdowns in 20 cities across the country are enforced due to which movement is restricted in these areas,” according to the official statement.

The provinces also informed the forum that the positive behaviour has been noted among the masses in the smart lockdown areas with regards to compliance of the standard operating procedures against the contagious disease.

The provinces briefed the NCOC on the implementation of enforcement measures for industries, markets, transport, government offices, mosques and public gatherings.

With regard to the implementation of

health guidelines, courts followed guidelines the most, said the statement adding that more was needed to be done to implement safety measures in markets and shopping malls. Similarly, in hospitals and isolation centers, implementation of safety measures was the highest, while in the transport sector response was more wanting.

The provinces appreciated the NCOC’s TTQ [testing tracing quaratine] strategy and health guidelines which helped to slow the spread of virus in the

smart lockdown areas.

Asad, who is also a head of NCOC, appreciated the provinces, especially the hardwork of field staff who work day and night risking their own lives to ensure the safety of the people.

“We need to take precautionary measures, especially face masks and social distances, to control the pandemic,” he said, adding that the Center will extend all-out assistance to provinces to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

04

Sunday, 28 June, 2020

NEWS

KP CM for MaKIng CuLTurE and TourISM auThorITy funCTIonaL PESHAWAR APP

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister (KP) Mahmood Khan has directed the concerned authorities for necessary steps to complete all the formalities and requirements in order to fully functionalise the newly established Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) without further delay, said a news release issued here Saturday.

He further directed the authorities to complete all the legal, financial and administrative formalities to wind up the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP), hand over its assets and liabilities to the authority and absorb all its employees in the authority in a prescribed manner.

He issued these directives while chairing the 22nd board meeting of the Board of Directors of the TCKP here the other day. Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz, Ad-

ditional Chief Secretary, Shakil Qadir, Secretary Finance, Atif Rehman, Secretary Tourism, Khushal Khan and Managing Director, TCKP, Junaid Khan, private sector members of the board and other relevant authorities attended the meeting.

He termed the promotion of tourism sector in the province as one of the top priority areas of his government and said the provincial government, as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan was

taking result oriented steps under a wellplanned strategy to make the best use of the tourism potentials of the province with an aim to create maximum employment opportunities for the people and boost economy of the province.

The meeting was given a detailed presentation on the progress so far made on the liquidation of the TCKP after the establishment of the Culture and Tourism Authority as provided in the KP Culture and Tourism Act 2019.

The meeting decided to constitute a committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary, Shakil Qadir to streamline and expedite all the legal, administrative and financial matters with regard to the liquidation of the TCKP in a prescribed manner.

The committee will finalise and present its recommendations to the competent forum within a one-week time period.

Other members of the committee include secretary finance, secretary law, secretary tourism and secretary establishment.

PTI-PML-Q alliance to continue, Elahi assures Buzdar LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) on Saturday announced that both the allies will remain together and no one will be allowed to create hurdles in the mission of providing relief to the masses. The understanding was reiterated during a meeting between Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Saturday.

Provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat and Punjab Assembly Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti were also present on the occasion. Matters of mutual interest, political situation and projects of public welfare as well as working relationship affairs were coming under discussion discussed during the meeting. Both the leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to serve the people of the Punjab and said that journey of public service would be taken ahead with more speed.He lauded the services of Pervaiz Elahi for conducting the parliamentary proceedings of the House in an efficient manner, adding that Elahi set a new precedent by running the House in a balanced manner and his parliamentary services are commendable and he played his due role for taking the members along.Elahi also lauded the Punjab government, saying that it presented balanced budget in a very difficult economic situation and congratulated Buzdar and his team for presenting a tax free budget.He said that he is seeing Punjab moving fast on the road to progress and development, regretting that the opposition had put public welfare on a backseat for the sake of their ego. STAFF REPORT

MQM-P protests insufficient funds for Karachi in Sindh budget KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan may expand its protest against allocation of insufficient funds for Karachi in the Sindh budget, party leader Kunwar Naveed Jamil said Saturday. He was speaking to reporters at the party’s sit-in camp in Karachi. The MQM-P has been staging a protest sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly. Jamil accused the Sindh government of discriminating against Karachi. He questioned the allocation of only 11% funds for Karachi. “The provincial government collects taxes from urban areas, but it gets extremely difficult for them to spend this money on cities,” he said. The MQM-P leader lamented that the provincial government has not rolled out any new development scheme in Karachi over the past several years. He warned that his party could expand its protest if their demands were not met. STAFF REPORT

Sindh govt announces 1,949 fresh cases of coronavirus KARACHI: The Sindh government on Saturday said that 1,949 fresh coronavirus cases were detected in the province in the past 24 hours. In his daily update for the citizens of the province on Saturday, Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah gave a detailed report of the current situation.

“The total number of coronavirus infections in Sindh has soared to 78,267 as the province conducted a total of 4,26,149 tests,” he said.Shah said that 1,452 people were discharged to their respective homes after recovery, taking the tally of recoveries to 43,444 while 33,580 coronavirus patients were undergoing treatment, including 32,127 quarantined at homes, 78 at isolation centres and 1,375 at hospitals. Moreover, 696 patients under treatment at hospitals are in critical condition and 116 of them are on ventilators whereas the death toll had also increased to 1,243 with the death of 38 more patients as the new cases emerged. Shah said that from total 1,949 fresh coronavirus cases detected in the province in the past 24 hours, 1,139 were reported in Karachi as the city continues to report the majority of the cases in Sindh. He appealed to the people to take precautionary measures against coronavirus and also advised the general public that it is compulsory to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to avoid Covid-19. STAFF REPORT

LAHORE: Model Town has been sealed under smart lockdown strategy after emergence of Covid-19 cases in the locality. ZUBAIR MAHFOOZ

Sindh Opp leaders call for development work in Karachi KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Opposition leaders in the Sindh Assembly on Saturday emphasised the need for development projects in Sindh by criticising the provincial government’s budgetary allocations of annual expenditures worth Rs.1.2 trillion and annual development funds worth Rs232 billion for the fiscal year 2020-2021.

In this regard, MPA Firdaus Shamim Naqvi said that the wide gap in budgetary allocations reflect the level of the provincial government interest towards the uplift of the masses. Addressing a joint press conference organised

by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) in the Sindh Assembly's committee room, he said that the Sindh government’s ill-placed priorities had landed the province and its capital in a difficult situation pushing people towards poverty and frustration.

Naqvi, flanked by MPAs Hasnain Mirza and Nusrat Sahar Abbasi of GDA, Kunwar Naveed Jameel and Mohamamd Hussain of MQM and MPA Halim Adil Shaikh from PTI, said that the PPP government was more focused

on doling out money among non-deserving and corrupt elements with little attention towards meaningful development that may cast a lasting impact on the lives of masses.

He said that failure on part of the Karachi Electric (KE) authorities to end the ongoing load shedding would result in a joint movement for a long term solution to the issue, adding that the latest increase in Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) prices was unavoidable due to increased POL prices in the international market. Other leaders including Nusrat Sahar Abbasi, Mohammad Hussain and Halim Adil Shaikh taking exception to Sindh CM Syed Murad Ali Shah's budget speech claimed that the Sindh chief minister intended to divert attention from actual issues.

"He spoke of health and other subjects that would please big-wigs of his party but not about what his vision, if any, was to empower the masses," said MPA Nusrat Sahar Abbasi. MPA Halim questioned what steps were being taken to provide water, electricity, safe and regular waste disposal, quality and efficient healthcare besides infrastructure development for Karachi and other parts of the province. Similarly, MPA Mohammad Hussain advised PPP activists to disassociate themselves from corrupt elements in their ranks.

ASI injured, two dacoits held after shootout RAWALPINDI: An assistant sub inspector (ASI) and two dacoits were injured in crossfire between police personnel and the Khan Baba gang here on Saturday. According to the details, the injuries were sustained when criminals opened fire on a police party to force the release its members in the jurisdiction Perwadhai Police station. According to a police spokesman, the police party was on way with gang members for the identification of looted goods and their accomplices when the members of Khan Baba Gang opened indiscriminate fire on police due to which ASI Muhammad Zaheer and two accused identified as Khalil and Ali Noor were injured. Police have cordoned off the area and was conducting raids for remaining suspects at the time of filing of this report. “The gang is wanted to police in more than 50 cases of dacoities, robberies, attempted murder and snatching,” a police spokesman said. Cases have been registered against the nabbed persons while further investigation was underway. On other hand, City Police Officer (CPO) Muhammad Ahsan Younas has appreciated the performance. STAFF REPORT

Liquor permit rooms to open for two days next week LAHORE SHAHAB OMER

The Punjab Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control (ET&NC) Department has given conditional approval to hotels to open liquor permit rooms, Pakistan Today learnt on Saturday.

According to details, the permit rooms in Punjab hotels were opened on Thursday and will be allowed to open only for two days next week — Monday and Tuesday — before being shut down for the annual audit and renewal of liquor permits. The permit rooms in Punjab were closed on March 23 after the gov-

ernment imposed a lockdown in wake of surge in Covid-19 cases. However, the permit rooms remained closed even after the government shifted to smart lockdown strategy, allowing all other businesses to operate under the set standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Sources in the excise department confided to Pakistan Today that the permit rooms of nine hotels in Punjab were allowed to open on verbal orders as the coronavirus committee of the provincial cabinet had not yet taken a formal decision in this regard.

They added that hotel managements in connivance with excise officials were

black marketing liquor and selling it at almost 40 per cent more than the official price.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Today observed that managements of all four hotels in the provincial capital were ignoring implementation of SOPs in permit rooms, putting buyers and the staff at equal risk of contracting Covid-19.

Director ET&NC Multan Abdullah Khan, Director Faisalabad Ahmed Saeed and Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) Lahore Faisal Shehzad conceded that coronavirus tests of the permit room staff were not conducted by the authority. ETO Rawalpindi Rana Aurangzeb,

however, claimed that he had issued strict instructions to the management of all hotels in Rawalpindi district to test their staff. Talking to Pakistan Today, ETO Lahore Safeer Abbas Jappa said that permit rooms were opened for one day only on Thursday. “The permit rooms will again open only for two days on Monday and Tuesday after which they will be shut down for 10-15 days on account of annual audits and renewal of permits,” he added.

Jappa said that the department had directed all four hotels to ensure implementation of the Covid-19 SOPs if they want to continue operating the permit rooms.

Sunday, 28 June, 2020

forEIgN NEwS 05

US recordS biggeSt Single-day increaSe witH 45,000 new coronavirUS caSeS NEW YORK

t

AGENCIES

HE United States on Friday recorded the largest single-day increase of infections after it recorded 45,242 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday, bringing the total number of Americans who have tested positive to at least 2.48 million.

The new record for positive Covid-19 tests comes as several states at the center of a new surge in infections took steps back from efforts to ease restrictions on businesses. Covid-19 is the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus.

Governor Greg Abbott ordered bars across Texas to close by mid-day and required restaurants to limit indoor seating capacity to 50 per cent, while Florida state officials told bars to immediately stop serving alcohol on their premises.

Abbot’s announcement stunned Texas bar owners, who said the governor, a Republican in his second term, had given them little notice. Mark Martinez, owner of a Lubbock beer garden, learned only when friends texted him the news at around 8am.

“I spent thousands of dollars in inventory getting ready for this weekend. I could

Hong Kong police refuse permission for march to mark handover HONG KONG AGENCIES

The Hong Kong police department on Saturday denied permission for an annual march in the former British colony on July 1 to mark the anniversary of the city’s 1997 return to China, the organizer and the police said in separate statements. In a notice to the organizer, Civil Human Rights Front, the police cited the city’s current rules limiting gatherings to no more than 50 people due to the coronavirus pandemic, saying public assemblies and demonstrations are not exempted. The notice, posted on the front’s Facebook page, also cited violent incidents that took place after public assemblies and rallies organized by the group over the past 12 months. “Upon risk assessment, police considered that the public meetings and procession are high-risk activities,” the local police department said in a separate post on the department’s Facebook page. The move comes ahead of a three-day meeting from Sunday of China’s parliament, which is expected to enact new national security legislation on the eve of the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule. China says the national security law, which has alarmed foreign governments and democracy activists, will target only a small group of troublemakers and people who abide by the legislation have no reason to worry. China took back control of Hong Kong on July 1, 1997, under a “one country, two systems” formula that allows freedoms not enjoyed in mainland China, including freedom of protest and a much-cherished independent judiciary. In recent years, the anniversary of the handover has been marked by deepening despondency about what many residents saw as increasing meddling by the mainland and the erosion of freedoms.

have really used that (money) for my rent, which is due next week,” said Martinez, 44.

“We were just getting to where we could pay the bills,” said Tish Keller, owner of the Triple J Chophouse and Brew Co. in downtown Lubbock. “Taking us back down to 50% capacity means we won’t have enough business to pay staff, let alone the bills.”

Keller said she didn’t know how long she could stay open and dreaded trying to save her business from ruin twice in one year.

CASES SURGE IN FLORIDA: Florida issued its new rules after recording a startling 8,942 new cases of Covid-19, eclips-

ing the state’s one-day record of 5,511 reached on June 24.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said Friday that Imperial County, southeast of Los Angeles, has become so overwhelmed by the virus that he was recommending it issue a strict new stay-at-home order.

Imperial County health officials later tweeted that its stay-at-home order imposed in March remained in place. The county board of supervisors scheduled a meeting for Friday night to consider further action.

Newsom has paused allowing counties to further reopen their economies in re-

sponse to rising Covid-19 hospitalisations.

In Alaska, Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz issued an emergency order requiring residents to wear masks in public, indoor spaces after the state identified 836 cases as of Friday, 387 of them in his city.

Texas had been at the forefront of states peeling away restrictions designed to control the pandemic, allowing bars to reopen in May. It has since witnessed some of the biggest spikes in new cases, reporting 5,996 on Thursday. The state has also seen record numbers of hospitalisations in the last two weeks.

Almost 125,000 Americans have died of Covid-19, the highest known death toll from the highly infections disease in the world.

Despite the grim news from Texas, Florida and elsewhere, President Donald Trump said on Friday the United States was coming back from the crisis, which has halted large parts of the economy and left millions jobless.

“We have a little work to do, and we’ll get it done. We’re having some very good numbers coming out in terms of the comeback, the comeback of our nation, and I think it’s going very rapidly and it’s going to be very good,” he said at an event in the White House.

UN warns of 'unprecedented hunger crisis' in Syria GENEVA

UK ready to quit eU on 'australia terms' if no brexit deal, PM Johnson says LONDON AGENCIES

Britain will be ready to quit its transitional arrangements with the European Union “on Australia terms” if no deal on their future relationship is reached, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki on Saturday.

Britain left the bloc on Jan. 31. A transition period, during which Britain remains in the European single market and customs union, expires on Dec. 31 and pressure is mounting to agree a free trade deal before then. With the two sides still far apart, a round of “intensified negotiations” is due to start next week. “He (Johnson) said the UK would negotiate constructively but equally would be ready to leave the transition period on Australia terms if agreement could not be reached,” Johnson’s Downing Street office said in a statement. Australia does not have a comprehensive trade agreement with the EU. Much of EUAustralia trade follows default World Trade Organisation rules, though specific agreements are in place for certain goods.

russia offered afghan militants bounties to kill US troops: nyt

AGENCIES

WASHINGTON

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned Friday that Syria is facing an unprecedented hunger crisis, reporting 9.3 million civilians lacking adequate food in the civil war-stricken country.

“Syrians today face an unprecedented hunger crisis as the prices of basic foods reach levels unseen even at the height of the nine-year conflict and millions of people are pushed deeper into poverty,” said Elisabeth Byrs, a WFP spokeswoman.

Speaking at a biweekly UN press conference, she said that the number of Syrians who are food insecure has increased by 1.4 million in the last six months alone.

“A devastating combination of an economic standstill, the freefall of the Lebanese economy — which is a vital bridge to Syria’s — and Covid-19 lockdown measures, has pushed food prices more than 200% higher in less than a year.”

Byrs said that food prices are 20 times higher than their pre-crisis levels, with the price of a basic food basket that cost 4,000 Syrian pounds pre-conflict now 76,000 Syrian pounds.

AGENCIES

Families have been forced to adopt desperate measures from cutting meals and reducing portions to selling assets and going deeper into debt.

“Families in Syria have already been through more than they can handle, they have exhausted their savings and often fled their homes and now face a downward spiral into poverty and hunger,”

said Byrs.

The WFP urgently requires $200 million to continue to provide food assistance in Syria until the end of the year.

Unless new funding is available by August, it will be forced to drastically cut rations as well as the number of people reached with food as of October 2020, said Byrs.

India’s virus cases cross half a million NEW DELHI AGENCIES

India’s confirmed coronavirus cases crossed half a million on Saturday with another record 24-hour jump of 18,552 infections. The Health Ministry also re-

ported 384 new deaths, raising the total to 15,685.

The surge prompted authorities in the northeastern state of Assam to impose a two-week lockdown in the state capital of Gauhati. About 700 new cases were reported there in just four days.

Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the rest of Assam will be placed under a night curfew and weekend lockdowns.

He urged people to store essential goods and signaled a tighter lockdown where even grocery stores would be closed.

US intelligence has concluded that the Russian military offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants in Afghanistan to kill American troops and other coalition forces, the New York Times reported on Friday. Citing officials briefed on the matter, the Times said the United States determined months ago that a Russian military intelligence unit linked to assassination attempts in Europe had offered rewards for successful attacks last year. Afghan militants, or armed criminal elements closely associated with them, are believed to have collected some bounty money, the newspaper said. The White House, the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) declined requests from Reuters for comment on the Times report. President Donald Trump has been briefed on the intelligence finding, the Times said. It said the White House has yet to authorize any steps against Russia in response to the bounties. Of the 20 Americans killed in combat in 2019, the Times said, it was not clear which deaths were under suspicion.

After nearly 20 years of fighting the Taliban, the United States is looking for a way to extricate itself from Afghanistan and to achieve peace between the USbacked government and the militant group, which controls swathes of the country. On Feb 29, the United States and the Taliban struck a deal that called for a phased US troop withdrawal. US troop strength in Afghanistan is down to nearly 8,600, well ahead of a schedule agreed with the Taliban, in part because of concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, US and

EU holds off decision on borders, Americans set to be excluded BRUSSELS/CHICAGO AGENCIES

European Union countries failed to settle on Friday on a final “safe list” of countries whose residents could travel to the bloc from July, with the United States, Brazil and Russia set to be excluded.

Ambassadors from the 27 EU members convened from Friday afternoon to establish criteria for granting quarantine-free access from next Wednesday.

A redrawn text of 10-20 countries was put to them, but many said they needed to consult first with their governments, diplomats said. The list did not include the United States, Brazil or Russia, one diplomat said.

Discussions were continuing overnight, with the EU countries expected to give in-

formal replies by Saturday evening, people familiar with the matter said.

US passengers may be allowed to travel if they meet certain conditions such as passing temperature checks, two US officials said.

The European Commission had advised that the bloc first lift internal border controls and then gradually open up to outsiders.

However, the first step has not gone according to plan.

Greece is mandating Covid-19 tests for arrivals from a range of EU countries, including France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, with self-isolation until results are known.

The Czech Republic has said it will not allow in tourists from Portugal, Sweden and part of Poland.

There is broad agreement that the bloc should only open up to those with a similar

or better epidemiological situation, but there are questions about how to assess a country’s handling of the epidemic and the reliability of data.

A number of countries, such as Tanzania, Turkmenistan and Laos have no reported cases in the past two weeks, according to EU agency, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Based on ECDC data for the two weeks to Thursday, a range of countries are clearly in a worse situation than the European Union.

They include the United States, Mexico, Brazil and much of Latin America, Russia, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.

Despite pressure from US airlines and unions, the White House has not committed to mandating fresh air travel safety measures in the wake of the pandemic. Discussions be-

CMYK

tween airlines and government officials including Vice President Mike Pence on Friday over temperature checks ended without an agreement.

In a statement, Pence’s office said the parties also discussed “the best path forward for allowing Americans to safely travel internationally again.”

Sunday, 28 June, 2020

06 COMMENT

Khan under siege

Compounding peoples’ problems A petrol price hike without justification

Turning a new leaf?

M

UCh had been made by the PTi government about having ‘the lowest petroleum product prices in the region’ following a price reduction of Rs 7.06 earlier this month, made necessary by the fall in international oil prices. The new price level was said to remain in place until the end of the ongoing month but that has not happened as petrol prices were quite unexpectedly raised by a massive Rs 26 yesterday. That the price hike is not preceded by a recommendation from OGRa or a cabinet level discussion, rather just an abrupt finance division notification simply citing a ‘global rise in prices’, is unusual. There is also no justification provided for keeping the levy on petrol at the maximum level of Rs 30, resulting in a double-whammy for consumers. The suspicious urgency with which this increase has been brought about can perhaps be partly explained by pressure from the iMF that has, under the ongoing EFF, demanded higher energy prices and is currently withholding a muchneeded tranche of approximately $450 million. a few weeks ago an inquiry was launched against OMCs (Oil Marketing Companies) following an artificial shortage of petrol across the country. Strict action, such as cancellation of licenses, was threatened if anyone was caught hoarding stock. instead of any punitive measures, their price manipulation has been facilitated by the government and it has paid off as they can now sell the stock that was held back earlier in the month, at a higher price. a similar series of events is clear to see in the sugar and wheat shortage probes as well. Whatever the reasons for the untimely fuel price rise may be, it certainly puts a dent into the disposable income of the working class that is already suffering due to rampant unemployment and despite falling inflation, high prices of basic necessities in the markets that include sugar, wheat and medicines. The government can hide its economic shortcoming behind a ‘record-low current account deficit’ and the pandemic, but that does little to satisfy those at the bottom, who actually feel the pinch that hurts more with each successive governance and administrative failure.

aRif Nizami

F

iNallY, the prime minister deemed it fit to attend the ongoing National assembly budget session. his ‘surprise’ appearance in the lower house was ostensibly to answer to the criticism of the opposition against his government. Perhaps Khan has turned a new leaf to give the parliament the importance it deserves or his sudden presence was dictated by a dint of circumstances. admittedly, the past few weeks have not been good for the PTi (Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf) led coalition government. ironically it is not the opposition that is posing any immediate problems for the ruling party. Coalition partners and dissention from within the party are of his immediate concern.

BNP-M (Balochistan National Party–Mengal) left the coalition, complaining that none of the commitments made in writing were fulfilled despite verbal assurances. The other nationalist party from the province, JWP (Jamhoori Watan Party), led by Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti, has also put the government on notice, threatening to quit if its demands were not met within a week.

These nationalist parties from the geographically largest province of Pakistan pose no immediate threat to the government. But Balochistan can prove to be the casus belli for the government.

With security agencies dominant in the province coupled with elements that do not pay even lip service to Pakistan, it is a complicated matrix. all this along with rumblings within the ruling party at this juncture cannot be dismissed off hand. a more serious challenge poses a clear and present danger for the PTi led government. Dissensions and groups within the party were common knowledge. But now these differences are being expressed openly, even in front of the prime minister.

Khan’s star batsmen asad Umer and Shah Mehmood Qureshi did not see eye to eye with his erstwhile close confidant and point-man Jahangir Tareen. This was common knowledge in the echelons of the party.

But the enigmatic minister for science and technology Fawad Chaudhry spilled the beans in an impromptu interview with a foreign news entity.

A possible inflection point Resolving differences with young tribal leaders

i

T is a positive move on the part of the government to enter into dialogue with the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) and the MNas backed by it. Reportedly Defence Minister Pervez Khattak and National assembly Speaker asad Qaiser approached the PTM to formally offer a dialogue. Earlier Mr Khattak had said the people belonging to the tribal districts were lagging behind others in terms of education, healthcare and infrastructure and it was high time for the leaders to work for the region’s uplift rather than indulge in any confrontation. Mr Khattak has perhaps realized now that it takes two to tango.

For decades the people of the tribal areas were kept deprived of the rights enjoyed by the rest of their countrymen on the pretext that they were fiercely independent, disliked external interference in their affairs and were content with the jirga system, a stone-age relic enforced by the colonial rulers. They were denied the right to form political parties or seek representation in the assemblies. They also had no right to appeal against the decision of the Political agent in any court. Putting up demands through media, taking out rallies or organizing sit-ins were alien to them. it goes to their credit that they learnt the ropes in a short time. They might sometime exercise their right to freedom of expression in a way that is not liked by some but the issue can be resolved through talks.

The tribal areas have suffered most from terrorism. So when the PM calls OBl a “martyr,” he creates suspicions among the people of Pakistan in general, and the tribal people in particular, about the policy of his government towards the terrorists who carry the blood of thousands of civilians and security personnel on their hands. One hopes the issue would be clarified during the proposed government-PTM talks.

Terrorist groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, Jamaat-ul-ahrar, islamic State, and so on, have established safe havens in afghanistan from where they launch attacks inside Pakistan. Their attacks on law enforcement personnel and tribal people are currently on the increase.

Unless there is peace and security of life in the region through joint efforts of the government and the tribal leaders, the tribal districts cannot develop while the country will also remain unsafe.

Hijacked Where did the clergy emerge among Muslims?

S

Arif Nizami Editor Umar Aziz

Asher John

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

Rabia ahmed

ahih Bukhari quotes the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon him) as saying: ‘Make things easy for people, and do not make them difficult. Cheer people up and do not drive them away.’ it is strange then, that most of those who have a voice in the matter of religion and how it pertains to life consider there is something wrong with it if religion is simplified and made easy to understand, or if it fails to make life difficult for it followers. They like to surround religion by mystique and an aura of exclusivity so that not only are they alone supposed to know what is right and what is not, but disagreeing with them is considered to be tantamount to blasphemy.

Needless to say, there are many exceptions. Mercifully.

There is of course the fact that knowledge is power. The Church in medieval times wielded huge power over its people, investing heavily in the perception that it was the gatekeeper to paradise. “Cross

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Resultantly the proverbial hit the fan in a subsequent coronavirus pandemic. The very day that cases and deaths in the country spiked to highest ever he reascabinet meeting.

Shah and asad in unison protested against Fawad sured the nation that everything was under control openly washing dirty linen in public and reportedly thanks to the government’s consistent policies on how demanded his resignation but to no avail. The prime to contain the pandemic. Perhaps Khan badly needs minister, with a razor thin majority in the National a reality check here.

While he is consistent in opposing a lockdown, assembly is in no position to alienate more of his the provincial and federal governments have folparty men. it is well known that prior to 2018 elections, lowed a one step forward two steps backwards polQureshi had never hid his ambition to become the icy. Till the Covid-19 really spiked, lockdowns and chief minister of Punjab- the second most coveted other SOPs were neither seriously implemented nor followed. post after the prime minister.

True, that lockdowns hurt economic activity That is why he contested elections for the provincial seat, only to be sorely disappointed when he lost and more so the poor and the dispossessed. But to a relatively unknown person. he blamed Tareen there is no other means to bring the rising panfor the debacle alleging privately that he sent Rs 10 demic’s graph down. in this sense, we have the worst of both crores to see to it that he lost the MPa seat.

Similarly, when Khan took over as PM, asad worlds. People are dying at an alarmingly inUmar, his blue-eyed boy as finance minister, was creasing number. and the economy is not picking found to be clueless about how to handle the economy. up either. The WhO’s (World health Organizaasad opposed entering another iMF (interna- tion) dire prophecy that there will be more than tional monetary fund) programme. Soon, he was 200,000 corona virus cases by July has proved to be correct. shown the door.

The very day he made the Some powerful people, infaux pas in his speech of declarcluding Tareen, but more iming the slain al Qaeda founder portantly arif Naqvi, the Osama Bin laden a Shaheed discredited Dubai based equity (martyr) and that how much now fund top honcho, had the ears of the prime minister. he was conAs soon as he finished his the US president respects Pakistan, the US State Department tinually shuttling between Dubai and islamabad advising harangue, the speaker oddly lambasted islamabad for alharbouring terrorists on Khan on how to set up shop. declared a break for Asr legedly its soil. it was primarily him who inprayers to facilitate Khan’s in its annual Country Retroduced hafeez Sheikh (the port on Terrorism for 2019 the present advisor on finance) to Khan and after his nod met the timely exit. Clearly, based on US alleged that al Qaeda continarmy chief general Qamar Javed his 22-month record, the ued to operate from remote locations and safe havens in the Bajwa as well. prime minister neither region. Pakistan has officially Some MNa’s of the ruling expressed disappointment over party including Raja Riaz, wants to meet the the ‘self-contradictory’ report …

Khawaja Shiraz Mehmood and Riaz Mehmood Marzari have opposition nor even hear so much for trust.

Khan also claimed that the openly chastised their own party. them in the parliament economy was improving before Raja Riaz, ringing the the pandemic set in with scant alarm bells, claimed– albeit empirical evidence. without any evidence- that as soon as he finished his there were at least 22 PTi harangue, the speaker oddly demembers of the parliament waiting in the wings to revolt. another cabinet clared a break for asr prayers to facilitate Khan’s member aviation minister, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, timely exit. Clearly, based on his 22-month record, echoed the sentiments of the parliamentarians, the prime minister neither wants to meet the opposicomplaining that running of the government tion nor even hear them in the parliament.

This kind of contempt for political opponents has through unelected special assistants and advisors few parallels. and it does not auger well for the was anathema to a parliamentary system. in this context, Khan, deciding to attend the Na- healthy growth for democracy or democratic institutional assembly- a rare occurrence- is no surprise. tions.

Khan perhaps relies too much on the powers that Ostensibly, he spoke at length to rebut criticism of the opposition against the government. But perhaps a be for support. But the sort of backing he currently more immediate reason was to reassure his MNas enjoys has proved to be ephemeral for most of his predecessors. that all is well.

Unless he governs effectively the present hybrid The PM, in his 75 minutes speech, termed by many as more of a lecture, highlighted the real or per- system is doomed. ceived achievements of the government in virtually Arif Nizami is Editor, Pakistan Today. He can be every field. he claimed to be consistent in his handling of the contacted at arifn51@hotmail.com.

I

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

I

them in any way, shape or form, and you could yourself barred from the gates of paradise.” Nobody, neither a peasant nor a king, was able to pluck up courage, or sufficient power to oppose them.

Clergy is discouraged in islam because it tends to be this way. Few groups, after all, would not grab at such a ‘heaven sent’ opportunity for power if presented with it, and the clergy is not above it. and yet we have it, a clergy. and by this clergy, religion is presented as approving of acts analogous to putting pebbles in one’s shoe and self-flagellation, but the hardest to understand is the largely prevalent belief in unquestioning obedience without any attempt at understanding. anyone who raises a voice of reason, anyone who believes in education, who attempts to teach along the principles of logic, is made to leave. The recent dismissals from educational institutions of great minds and rational individuals show this, and such cases are increasing. To deprive our young from exposure to such minds is a loss that will not be easily overridden. if anything has brought Pakistan to the brink of where it is, it is this – more than corruption, more than the failures of its political regimes.

The fact is even more evident today in the way authorities appear powerless to implement their own rules. The way now, when distancing is so crucial in preventing the spread of covid-19, they were induced to resume congregational prayers. While some mosques are said to be adhering to SOPs, not all of them are, but they carry on. it is understandable that it is hard to impose a lockdown on commercial activity. But on prayer, when it can as well take place at home, what coercion is used unless it is that not to pray in a mosque is made out to be a sin?

This of course appears to have taken place in Saudi arabia as well where, following a statement

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

I

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

I

saying that haj would not take place this year. authorities appear to have changed tack and allowed a limited number of persons to perform the pilgrimage. it is a surprise to find that far from considering it wrong to put fellow humans at risk God apparently approves of it. and so we have witnessed a massive funeral for a respected religious scholar in Karachi, who died this month. The funeral was attended by many scholars, and thousands of the scholar’s students, in this time of covid-19. allah says in the holy Quran: “if anyone saves a single life, it is as if he has saved all of humanity.” if this injunction is followed to its logical conclusion, what of those who endanger many lives? Which taking part in that massive congregational event has certainly done.

We need to learn more about what has been taught by the great Prophet of islam (PBUh), to understand the religion better, for which we need discourse both verbal and in print. Yet this month in Sindh, the provincial assembly ‘unanimously adopted a resolution’ asking to make it mandatory to write “Khatim-un-nabiyyeen (last prophet)” along with the name of the holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUh) ‘wherever the holy name is used, in official documents, newspapers, magazines, television, radio and wherever this holy name was used.’ This measure hampers discourse, not the other way around. There is also the fact that there are non-Muslims in this country whose beliefs are protected by the Constitution. Why should they say any such thing, in exactly the same way as a Muslim would not wish to speak of Jesus the son of God in a Christian country? in which case, are only Muslims permitted to speak of the holy Prophet of islam (PBUh) in Pakistan? it is not pleasant to find something so precious hijacked towards an unsavoury destination, but it has been. May God bring us back to the straight path.

Who dares say that that is not expected in islam?

Rabia Ahmed is a freelance columnist. Read more by her at http://rabia-ahmed.blogspot.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Sunday, 28 June, 2020

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

Corona curse

The last rites of a crumbling system Let the people respond to the call of their conscience

Candid Corner Raoof hasaN “Without strong watchdog institutions, impunity becomes the very foundation upon which systems of corruption are built. And if impunity is not demolished, all efforts to bring an end to corruption are in vain.“ –Rigoberta Menchú

I

MaGiNE a country where a parliamentarian would demand on the floor of the house that the services of fake degreeand license-holder pilots should not be terminated; where a convict is allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment by merely signing a stamp paper of nondescript value; where the courts would repeatedly block the executive branch from performing its constitutional functions on one plea or the other, and where they routinely bail out alleged criminals to escape investigation of the corruption they are accused of; where judges are caught taking dictations over telephone; where fabrications, distortions and downright lies adorn the screens for hours every evening without a check by the regulatory body; where key state institutions have been reduced to a cacophony of skeletons making a mockery of their very existence; where, instead of coming forth with evidence to nullify the allegations, a sitting judge of the apex court would take recourse to petty technicalities to save his skin, with other judges of the bench acting as accomplices; or where the guilty roam free and the innocent are caged. imagine a country where state interests are compromised in lieu of advancing personal, profit-based relations; where political parties are run as family fiefdoms committed to ensuring state capture by a few to eternity; where merit is forfeited to enable family members and associates to occupy key positions in the government; where democracy is only an apparel deceitfully used to hide cruel and despotic indulgences; where a sitting Prime Minister would help an alleged criminal escape the law in his official plane; where members of a former ruling family, duly declared absconders, unashamedly keep claiming their innocence; where the entire executive and judicial organs of the state are helpless before the marauding inroads that a property tycoon made by “putting wheels to his files” and getting away with plundering the holdings of the

poor; where proven criminals step out of courts structing the executive branch of the state by exwith beaming smiles and victory signs; where ercising its right of issuing intrusive injunctions, politicians operate as mafias and businesses as thus stalling all potential corrective measures. cartels; where bureaucrats are criminally politi- The adjudication in favour of the sugar mafia is cised, judiciary has become a vehicle for provid- only the latest example of this morbid penchant. ing relief to criminals and state institutions are Then there are a large number of hirelings emused to perpetuate defilement of the constitution, ployed by the previous governments who are still positioned in various institutions to continue rules and procedures. imagine a country where the word of God is the spree of malpractices of the past and block hostage in the hands of a fleet of obscurantist the path of reform in every possible way.

The extent to which this system has been merchants of religion. and, worst of all, imagine a country where all this is done without remorse, bludgeoned by the corrupt beneficiary elite, it no without shame. That country is your country. longer remains fit to run the country. it is a piece That country is my country. That country, unfor- of stinking rubbish which does not even deserve a bin to be thrown into. it has lost its relevance tunately, is Pakistan. it is not what Pakistan was conceived for be- in the context of the challenges which have coming, or how its founding father would have emerged as a consequence of how it has been imagined it would evolve into. But, that is what manipulated through decades for the sake of it has become, and a large number of people may raising illicit empires on the carcasses of the yet be convinced that it is the right thing to have poor and the impoverished communities. it has been distorted beyond recognition, behappened. it is as if we are numb to a million wrongs yond reform. irrespective of a number of negawhich afflict this country. it is as if we are blind tive perceptions that prevail currently, some real to felonies, constantly driven by getting our and some fictional, this system has to be reneeds fulfilled irrespective of the methods em- placed by something more suited to the needs of ployed, or the instruments used. all which is the society which is intrinsically exploitative in nature, and where the self-interest-driven of the rights of the weaker segpowerful is construed as ments have to be ensured fair. however, if the same by the state beyond any is done by ordinary peoprospect of exploitation ple, we are quick to be- This decrepit system is sinking by the gangs of crony come moral vigilante brigades and raise accuin the poisonous juices of its beneficiary elite.

This system is to be satory fingers in their diown making. It is now for the so designed that, and i rection. in other words, we accentuate the malady people to do the rest. They are quote angel Gurria here, “integrity, transparency that doing a thing the the guardians of the state and and the fight against corwrong way is the excluruption should be part of sive right of the beneficithey must make a move to the culture. They have to ary elite.

This is how deep the transform it into a beneficent be taught as fundamental values”. alongside that, malaise has penetrated there should be strict enthrough layers and layers and welfare outfit where all are of the societal fabric with treated equally and where the forcement mechanisms to implement conforno hope in hell that it exploitative instruments are mance to these basic may, at some point in strictures and tenets. it is time, be reversible. in driven out of the realm of then that we would begin fact, with every passing to erect the edifice of a day, this thought process governance. fair, just and equitable is digging its tentacles state to ensure that the deeper with the whole sowelfare, safety and secuciety standing on the sidelines watching in total and criminal silence. rity of its people, particularly its marginalised it is not a few odd people who have gone astray. communities, is not left at the mercy and discreBy deliberately exercising our ‘right’ to stay tion of the crony beneficiary elite.

This decrepit system is sinking in the poisilent, we have all become accomplices in this sonous juices of its own making. it is now for crime spree. look at our institutions. look at the judici- the people to do the rest. They are the guardians ary and the way it is conducting itself, letting of the state and they must make a move to transcriminals simply walk away; or the NaB with form it into a beneficent and welfare outfit virtually no convictions to show by way of per- where all are treated equally and where the exformance; or the financial institutions failing ploitative instruments are driven out of the realm miserably in expanding the taxpayers’ base and of governance. let us see the people rising to the call of trying to extricate more from the ones who are already captive in their hands; or regulatory bod- their conscience. They should perform the last ies facilitating non-conforming organisations in rites of this rotten system. Otherwise, it is them expanding their illicit networks. These are symp- and the deluge which advances their way! toms of an inherently dishonest and diseased The writer is a political and security stratesystem which works by criminalising all annals gist, and heads the Regional Peace institute – of governance.

The state institutions have become impedi- an islamabad-based think tank. Email: Twitter: ments in the way of every possible effort to raoofhasan@hotmail.com. clean up things with the judiciary repeatedly ob- @RaoofHasan

WhEN the first case of covid-19 reported in the city of china wuhan, on 31 december 2019, no one mused that this disease is an uninvited invitation in the yard of many countries and we will be in its grasp so quickly.

On 26 february 2020, Pakistan confirmed two cases only but later on these two were multiplied into thousands and converted into deaths. let me report how Covid-19 is a curse in pakistan, as everyone is enlightened of the critical circumstances of pakistan, it led people to suicidal stages, mental illnesses, it has made people of pakistan poor to poorer. Those who were rarely eating two times a day, now they are unable to eat once but yet its a dime a dozen. No ones lives are functioning properly except those who are born with a silver spoon in thier mouths. Most of the doctors, police and government workers are infected, also killed and many more are at home. Pakistan is not so developed country that everything will be done by itself, even nothing is done by anyone and virus is free to roam in any street, home, parliament etc. it is harsh to write but the truth is we have called this virus ourselves by not staying safe, home and following SOPs. it is easy to say to stay home but people of pakistan are such fearless that they have been attending pool parties, gathering and all if its not a curse then what is it?

Pakistan has blind future, corona has slaughtered people and many are counting thier last breaths. Staying home is not an easy thing but we have to. and if we would not then this curse will swallow the whole country without a berp.

SuHAiL SAEEd Lahore

Hike in price of essential commodities

i am writing you to express my concern about hike in the prices of essential commodities which is making the life of poor people miserable. The prices of essential commodities like gas, pulses and vegetables for instance are going up day by day. Even such simple vegetables as potatoes and onions have gone beyond the range of the common man. Things that were easily available in plenty and at very reasonable prices have suddenly disappeared from the market. The poor consumer is left at the mercy of traders and shopkeepers. They charge anything they like from the helpless consumers. There is no one who can check this exploitation and profiteering. The government seems to be unconcerned about the problems being faced by the common man. it is only due to such situations that lead to public unrest and appalling rioting situations. it is high time that the government should take suitable measures to bring down the prices of essential commodities. Strict action should be taken against hoarders and profiteers. There is no real dearth of anything in the market. it has only been created. The government should not look the other way. it should be assured that people get all essential commodities at reasonable prices. The public distribution system should be geared up.

FATimAH KHAN Wah Cantt

Doing better this Eid This year Eid ul Fitr has been celebrated indoors without festive events or gatherings. Majority people preferred staying back home rather than going out due to pandemic fear. People locked themselves indoors due to Corona Virus fear. But, now by time acceptance and awareness level has been spread where 50% -60% of the nation is wearing masks and maintaining social distance. Eid ul adha is around the corner a religious ritual where Qurbani is an essential religious obligation for all the muslims who can afford so that the underprivileged can make the most out of this. i would request our nation to take this issue more seriously. One mask can save your and million other lives.This is my request to our nation to wear a mask so that we can overcome this pandemic and make our Eid ul adha more festive. Together we can win , together we can change the current situation. a little care is what is required and we will beat the crisis! miSAL SHEHzAd islamabad

Rich and poor The people who are not financially strong, they live their whole life thinking about how to survive next day, maybe it can't be felt but here i want to feel that situation and believe me we can't bear a single day of how they live. when i see them laying down on streets in hot summers or in the cold winter's night when they have nothing to cover their selves or to keep under their head. let's now talk about those ratio of people who somehow managed to live their whole childhood and teen age studying and working hard for their future on this hope that they might get a good job so they can get out of this hatred life, but the ways of earning are so very less, as job markets and business mafia has taken the game in their hands. if you go for job interviews, the references play a big role in selection of the candidates, and if we talk about business field, then some of the higher authorities have set their game that stops the newly joined individuals to build freely, so there are very less chances for the people to prove their values in the market. let's talk about those who are responsible for these issues, i am not so good in economics as i am studying international Relations but one thing that i understand is the rich people in the state have millions of ways to make money but their burden is raised by the poor people of the state. Paying taxes with every bill and even with a tooth paste, where as our politicians according to new bill approved by Senate which is' free air travel for parliamentarians and for their families' are we paying taxes for their free travel? We pay taxes on water to vegetables or other eatables which shows that we can't even eat before paying tax, and that tax money is utilizing for the free travel of parliamentarians or the monopoly of businesses in politics. Kindly open your eyes come out of your air-conditioned cars and feel the pain of your brothers, they are in pain,a state is responsible for all the people living in state not only for the people living in élite areas. let's start helping people, let's care for them, let's feel the situation, believe me helping them gives you the best feeling in the world.

SyEd HAidER SuLTAN islamabad

Sunday, 28 June, 2020

08 WORLD VIEW

Does the Russia-inDia-China tRilateRal still matteR? THE LATEST BORDER CLASH BETWEEN CHINA AND INDIA HIGHLIGHTS THAT RUSSIA’S DREAM FOR THE TRILATERAL GROUPING HAS ALWAYS BEEN DOOMED TO FAILURE

diplomat

t

aleKsei ZaKHarov

hE China-India standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the himalayas emerged as a serious test for Russia’s policy in Asia. Nurturing hopes for stability and prosperity in Eurasia, Russia’s diplomacy found itself in an intricate situation and forced to strike a balance.

Despite Moscow’s close proximity to Beijing, the Russia-China connection is still far from an alliance relationship, as both sides, even while deepening their military and political cooperation, often disagree when it comes to specifics. Still, it is hard to deny that overall Russia’s “pivot to Asia” has been overly dependent on its China policy.

Unlike the glory days of Indo-Soviet friendship, today there is more room for doubt in New Delhi as to whether Russia can qualify as a shoulder to lean on.

Since India and China are both strategic partners, Moscow quite expectedly has been following a very cautious approach toward their border crisis. Until the beginning of June, Russian officials did not comment on the standoff at all, apparently trying to clarify the situation – since neither New Delhi nor Beijing had officially elaborated on the developments at the LAC. On June 2, Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev met Indian Foreign Secretary harsh V. Shringla to discuss “key regional and international issues.” The meeting followed a statement from the Russian Embassy in India that both sides will be able “to find way out” of the crisis using “dedicated specific mechanisms and tools… including hotlines, special representatives dialogue, and even informal summits.” Moscow’s position was also articulated by Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federal Assembly, who stated that “Russia should not interfere

in these kinds of disputes… and would encourage dialogue and prevent the use of military force.”

After the June 15 clash between Indian and Chinese troops, Russia has been extraordinarily active at multiple diplomatic levels.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as well as officials from the Russian Embassy in India each commented on the incident, expressing hope for de-escalation. On June 17 there was also a phone call discussion of the situation at the LAC between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov and Indian Ambassador to Russia D.B. Venkatesh Varma, but that conversation was held at the Indian side’s initiative. Notably, during the same period there were no interactions between Russian and Chinese officials, nor has there been any references to the standoff by Russia’s Embassy in China.

Presumably, part of Russia’s diplomatic efforts could be behind-the-scenes. Some media mentioned Moscow’s “discreet moves” to defuse the India-China tensions, but Lavrov, during his press conference after the Russia-India-China videoconference, stated that he did not see “any reason for Russia or anyone else to impose its services to help India and China.” In fact, no particular Russian attempt to settle the crisis has come into public knowledge, though Moscow’s interest in ensuring peace between New Delhi and Beijing is quite obvious.

It is believed in Moscow that regional security and stability in Eurasia, to a wide extent, hinges on the interactions inside the New Delhi-Moscow-Beijing triangle. Accordingly, this trilateral is regarded as a key platform for many Russian foreign policy initiatives, from nuclear nonproliferation to international terrorism and drug trafficking.

That is to say nothing of Moscow’s “Greater Eurasian Partnership” – a geopolitical concept unveiled by President Vladimir Putin four years ago. Such regional mechanisms as that Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and Russia-India-China (RIC) are viewed as an integral part of this construct. In case of

the serious rift in New Delhi-Beijing relations, Russia’s vision for “Greater Eurasia,” having received limited enthusiasm from the partners so far, is likely to crumble as well.

Beyond that, the healthy functioning of BRICS is also largely dependent on its R-IC component.

Recent analysis by Russian leading thinkers resonates with decision-makers.

There is a consensus that Moscow should seek to preserve strategic autonomy in this increasingly bipolar world. In their report on ideas for the new Russian foreign policy, the team of respected scholars from the higher School of Economics headed by Professor Sergey Karaganov suggested that in the current scenario Russia should become the leader of a new “non-aligned movement” and hence, it is imperative to cooperate with India in order for this movement to become united.

Outlining a more regional perspective, the director of Carnegie Russia, Dmitry Trenin, argues that “Russia’s strategic goal is to upgrade its relations with India to the level of its relations with China” as this relationship will provide Moscow with a much-needed geopolitical equilibrium in Eurasia. These views testify to the growing apprehension in Moscow of the need to avoid sliding into a role as Beijing’s “junior partner” and to highlight India’s increasingly significant role in Russia’s geopolitical calculations.

The fact that the RIC videoconference was held a week after the Galwan Valley incident is a mere coincidence. The meeting was initially scheduled for March 22, but delayed due to COVID-19 outbreak; just a few days before the clash at the LAC the videoconference was prepared for June 22. It was important for Moscow to organize the trilateral against the backdrop of the upcoming summits of BRICS and SCO, which Russia is to host in St. Petersburg this autumn. That the Indian and Chinese foreign ministries agreed to proceed with the meeting indicates that Russia is in a good position as a comfortable partner to both countries.

Yet, some persistent questions concerning RIC’s viability remain. What is there to this format beyond symbolism? Is it just a talk shop? What are the outcomes of the tri-

lateral meetings?

Like many other multilateral forums, RIC provides the top diplomats of each country with an additional opportunity to express their respective foreign policy visions and discuss some common threats and issues. After all, the task of a diplomat is to talk and find points of convergence, even with tricky partners. The regularity of meetings, even at times of disputes, is often perceived to underline the enduring relevance of a grouping. Moreover, following the Russian initiative, since 2018 the trilateral format has been twice held at the leader’s level, in both cases on the margins of G-20 summits.

In spite of the ongoing tension between India and China, the results of the latest ministerial videoconference hint at the possibility of a trilateral leaders’ meeting and a separate consultation between the three countries’ defense ministers later this year.

Also, Russia, India, and China are going to “increase interaction with ASEAN-based structures…” including on COVID-19 issues. In short, the meeting paved the way for the dialogue’s expansion and more interactions at different levels.

With that said, it is also true that RIC meetings, albeit consistently rich in optics, quite often fall flat. Even at times of fruitful Sino-Indian relations, the format had yielded little practical results. Now that the strategic mistrust in India-China relations has been rising, the future deliverables of the trilateral mechanism are more doubtful. Adding new layers of interactions, such as a meeting between RIC defense ministers, is unlikely to considerably change the dynamics inside the triangle.

Actually, the trio’s regular engagements, including at other multilateral fora, have scarcely helped build trust between India and China. While India’s discontent with the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative is still in place, Beijing has been pushing ahead with the project. China has been irking India by raising the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council – and since August 2019 P-5 consultations on the matter have taken place twice, by the way under the passive eye of Russia. If New Delhi and Beijing diverge on regional issues, how can they come up with a common vision of a global order? Moreover, even as Russia supports India’s emergence as a global power, China openly road-blocks India’s rise – for instance, its membership in the UNSC and Nuclear Suppliers Group. hence, it is not useful to read too much into trilateral interactions.

From its very inception, the “strategic

triangle” envisaged by Russia’s then-Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov was doomed to failure. Even many experts in Russia doubted if the triangle could exist given uncertainty over India-China ties. Plus, initially both Beijing and New Delhi rejected the idea of RIC, as they were unwilling to be involved in an anti-Western bloc. however, in the late 1990s there were at least two clear reasons for pooling the troika’s interests together: first, gradual rectification of their respective bilateral relations and second, the quest for multipolarity. Today, there are obviously less prerequisites for a sense of unity in the grouping, since China’s rise as “a pole” which undermine India’s positions and in the course of time will be a threat to Russia’s interests as well.

Regardless of the RIC’s overall low efficiency level, the virtual ministerial meeting along with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s three-day visit to Moscow play into hand of developing Russia-India ties. New Delhi’s decision to go ahead with the trilateral videoconference should be viewed not as much through the prism of RIC’s significance – either in regional affairs or for New Delhi’s foreign policy priorities – but more as an attempt to preserve a good relationship with Moscow. Singh’s presence at the military parade on the Red Square, despite the tense situation at the LAC and concerns about the pandemic, indicated an enduring connection between the two countries and will be much appreciated in Russia. In its turn, Moscow has no other option but to support India and, to the extent possible, comply with its request to speed up delivery of required military equipment.

It appears that Russia’s dalliance with China has run too far, but Moscow’s reliance on Beijing is likely to stand unaffected for a long time, probably as long as Russia is facing financial and political pressure from the West. At the same time, admittedly, it is high time that Moscow recalibrated its relations with India, which is a key to achieving a genuine geopolitical equilibrium in the region.

Clearly, Russia will need both partners to promote its global and regional agenda. hence, it will continue to strike a delicate balance and RIC still will have value, even if merely symbolic, for Russian foreign policy.

Aleksei Zakharov is a research fellow at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He writes on Indian foreign policy, Russia-India relations and international affairs in the Indo-Pacific.

Racism has been the grinding backdrop to my life. Is a different future now possible?

AS A MIXED-RACE CHILD GROWING UP IN A LONDON SUBURB, SIGNS OF CHANGE WERE BRIEF BUT EXHILARATING. TODAY I FEEL THAT JOLT AGAIN

Guardian Hanif KureisHi

Last week I was reminded of something important: one of the most meaningful moments of my early life was walking into the newspaper shop where I worked as a paperboy – this was in the white London suburb where I grew up as a mixed-race kid – and seeing the image of Tommie Smith and John Carlos making the black power salute at the 1968 Olympics.

For a while I’d been trying to work out, on my own, in my head, and with a few books, what exactly it meant to be a child of empire. It hadn’t been going well; I was more than confused. So I remember almost staggering as I experienced a surge of exhilaration and pride at the sight of the two raised fists. I didn’t enjoy feeling strongly – there was a lot that people like me had to endure every day, so it was better to be bloodless – but I was overwhelmed.

Maybe, I thought, this is it: our time is coming. We will be recognised. Your face will not always be your fate. There will be resistance and change.

I was mumbling something about how moving the photograph was, when my employer, the shopkeeper, said, “Why have these people – including that Cassius Clay – involved politics in sport? Can’t sport just be sport? They should leave it right out.”

I’d like to say I responded appropriately, or, rather, inappropriately, but I

wouldn’t have been able to say much, saving my many thoughts for writing, the only place I could speak freely. But I was certainly aware that in April of that year, in Birmingham, Enoch Powell had made his infamous “rivers of blood” speech, which had, to say the least, a considerable impact on the lives of people of colour.

I was reminded of the photograph of Smith and Carlos when I saw something equally notable, disruptive and carnivalesque: footage of the 18th-century slaveowner Edward Colston’s statue being hurled into Bristol harbour by dozens of young, mostly millennial, anti-racists, cheering and dancing as the bronze effigy was drowned.

Two of my children went to university in Bristol; they had to walk past that statue of a slaver on the way to class. Now they ask, why did it have to be there at all? And that is indeed a question worth asking about everything like that, over and over. What is it doing, what does it say, and, more importantly, what are we doing today?

I grew up in the world colonialism made, and I was taught to be ashamed of where we came from. My father, brought up in British India, used to say: we were told by the white master what a lavish favour they were doing us by colonising us. While they wouldn’t want to be colonised themselves, they were, in fact, civilising us – and more: bringing us education, democracy, trains!

After so long, what a break this insurrection or uprising is. After Brexit, Trump, Orbán, Le Pen and the escalation of fatuous populism with its scapegoating and persecution of minorities, this celebration of new voices looks like being our #MeToo mo-

ment, a paradigm shift, with some significant acknowledgement of how unalike the experiences of black and white people are, and of how traumatic the infliction of racism is.

And of what a pleasure it is to inflict such a trauma on others.

What is usually left out of accounts of racism is the enjoyment it gives to those dishing it out – that hit of power and privilege, so easily obtained, telling the other who is boss, who would want to give that up? My father and his family, who came to the west, were soon aware that the white master wanted it both ways, to use immigrant labour to build their economy, and to enjoy their share of colonialism – racism. To do that, we had to stay in our assigned place and acknowledge that nothing is deeper than skin.

But that is over.

This raises an important question about merit. The wonderful US writer Flannery O’Connor knew she didn’t like black people, and when she met one, she liked to wonder if she’d like them if they were white. (She didn’t like the idea of James Baldwin, blackor white-skinned.)

When I was younger and a bit bored in film, theatre or publishing meetings, I’d sometimes conduct a thought experiment comparable to O’Connor’s: if these white people were of colour, would they ever get through this door? Would they be in this position? In this building at all?

The truth is that white people must be afraid. In their hearts they know it is only class, race and privilege keeping a lot of them in position. In a real competition these mediocrities would get nowhere. In a meritocracy they’d be sweeping the floor, as the immigrants do, if they were lucky.

This is strange, because isn’t capitalism supposed to be an ideology of individual liberation? We compete; our lives are projects; we could be entrepreneurs, reinventing ourselves for the market. Yet the ruling class use racism to shy away from real competition because they know it would relegate them.

Sometimes one is tempted to give up on the world, and dismiss it as a hopeless thing that can never be improved, but then something comes along to lift the heart, so that pessimism looks like another form of cynicism.

It takes a lot of effort to make the future.

One or even several demonstrations will not

achieve that. The effect will be cumulative.

Some things are now impossible, and other things have become possible. And so this moment of economic breakdown and capitalistic stagnation, when neo-liberalism is destroying the very ground on which it is built, is an opportunity.

It was unforgettable, the faces of all of those young people, no longer only puppets of the market, fighting injustice and making the future. If they ask what we want, say: only the future.

Hanif Kureishi is an author.

Sunday, 28 June, 2020

BUSINESS 09

CORPORATE CORNER Power Division’s prudent policies showing positive results: GEPCO chief GUJRANWALA: The Power Division in the last couple of years has taken direct and far reaching steps throughout Pakistan to reduce theft and losses. As a consequence, even on high loss feeders, losses and theft were reduced and hence loss management/ load shedding was also reduced significantly. This was stated by GEPCO Chief Mohsin Raza Khan here on Saturday. He added that It is also to be highlighted that the transmission system was not capable of transmitting more than 18,000MW of electricity. The capacity of the transmission system has been increased to almost 26,000MW. At present an average load of more than 22,000MW is being sustained successfull. Press release

UMT becomes 1st university in Pakistan to obtain QM membership LAHORE: During Covid-19 pandemic, the University of Management and Technology (UMT) has achieved another milestone by joining hands with Quality Matters (USA) – the international leader for quality assurance in online, digital teaching and learning environment. UMT is the 1st university in Pakistan to receive this International membership. UMT President Ibrahim Hassan Murad congratulated UMT Rector, DG & faculty and appreciated the efforts of Director Accreditation and Academic Quality Improvement Cell, Director UMT-Connected and their team for achieving this milestone. Press release

K-Electric urged to stop power outages, improve infrastructure

PaKiSTan finaLLy aDOPTS inT’L SafETy STanDarDS fOr vEhiCLES ISLAMABAD

D

GHUlaM aBBas

ESPITE lacking the required facilities, Pakistan has finally adopted the international safety standard regulations to ensure that the vehicles being manufactured/assembled in the country meet the global standard.

According to documents available with this scribe, Pakistan has ratified the United Nations treaty on "Adoption of Harmonized Technical Nations Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be fitted and/or used on Wheeled Vehicles and the Conditions for Reciprocal Recognition of Approvals Granted on the Basis of these UN Regulations, adopted at Geneva on 20 March 1958".

The agreement was entered into force for Pakistan on April 24, 2020, in accordance with Article 7 (3) of the agreement.

As per the documents, the Pakistani Mission in New York had informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) about the country's accession to the agreement, following which the MoFA on June 18 informed the Ministry of Industries and Production about the development.

It may be noted that the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) is a unique worldwide regulatory forum within the institutional framework of the UNECE Inland Transport Committee. Three UN agreements, adopted in 1958, 1997 and 1998, provide the legal framework allowing contracting parties (member countries) to attend the WP.29 sessions to establish regulatory instruments concerning motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment.

Earlier, the government had noticed that various models in Pakistan were not at par with international standards mainly due to the absence of regulatory framework in the country. To address this issue, it envisioned an Auto Development Policy (ADP) 2016-21, with the adoption of UNECE’s WP.29 Regulations.

According to an official of the Engineering Development Board (EDB), the WP.29 Regulations have been adopted and the Ministry of Industries and Production (MoIP) and other stakeholders were in talks to implement the international standards.

But insiders said there was a tug of war between the Ministry of Science and Technology and MoIP over the implementation of the regulations.

EDB, an attached department of MoIP, wanted to

Hyundai donates 3,000 protective suits to Pakistan to help fight Covid-19

take the affairs into its control while on the other hand, PSQCA, a department of Ministry of Science and Technology, wished to hold the power of enforcing standards despite the fact that both the organizations lack facilities like labs, testing centres etc.

According to officials, PSQCA has a legislative mandate to develop standards to which manufacturers must conform and certify compliance. At present, no authority/department was monitoring implementation of locally manufactured car standards as these were not on PSQCA’s mandatory list.

However, once the standards were developed and notified, PSQCA could ensure implementation of the said standards in cars manufactured locally.

In the absence of monitoring of vehicles by any regulatory body, the local manufacturers of cars/vehicles were being criticized for producing low standard/quality vehicles against comparatively costlier rates in the region.

"Although the government has entered into the international agreement to ensure the production of international standard vehicles, the implementation of the regulations could be a big challenge for the regulators as well as the manufactures," said an official on the condition of anonymity.

KP traders to protest imposition of 'SOPs violation fine' PESHAWAR

KARACHI

aZIZ BUNerI

TlTP

Expressing deep concerns over the poor performance of KElectric, Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) President Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan has urged the utility service provider to immediately stop the ongoing spell of load shedding and focus on improving its infrastructure, particularly power generation capacity and distribution network, which were in a "terrible state". He maintained that poor performance of K-Electric has led to massive load shedding in every nook and corner of the port city, including its seven industrial zones. In a statement issued on Saturday, Agha Shahab said industries in Karachi have suffered badly due to the outbreak of coronavirus and the subsequent lockdown of more than two months, adding that their sufferings have multiplied further following prolonged load shedding by KE. "What is the motive behind carrying out immense load shedding under such extraordinary circumstances?" he asked. "The unannounced and prolonged load shedding by K-Electric will prove to be the final nail in the coffin for the city's businessmen." He said the inhabitants from various localities of Karachi had asked KCCI to exert pressure on the KE management so that uninterrupted power supply in every area could be ensured. "K-Electric must adopt measures on war footings to minimise the hardships being suffered by the business community of Karachi, a city that makes more than 70pc of Pakistan's total revenue," he added. The KCCI president further noted that K-Electric has been earning huge profits of billions of rupees every year but unfortunately, it has not been adequately investing in improving the dilapidated distribution network. "As the monsoon season is approaching and heavy rainfall has been forecasted by the meteorological department, K-Electric must act sensibly and responsibly, avoid repeating mistakes and adopt stringent measures to ensure uninterrupted and safe power supply during the rainy season," Shahab advised.

The KCCI president also requested Prime Minister Imran Khan, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and other concerned ministers at the federal and provincial levels to review the situation and issue strict directives to K-Electric to improve its infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted power supply to the port city.

Leather industry seeks exemption from lockdown restrictions SIALKOT aPP

BUSINESS DESK Hyundai Motor Company has decided to donate medical equipment and personal protection items worth over $2.4 million to countries across the Middle East and Africa in an effort to help tackle the Covid19 pandemic.

Pakistan is one of the 37 countries that will benefit with Hyundai contributing 3,000 protective suits worth $66, 000, that will assist the front-line medical workers and the public during

these unprecedented times.

The contribution is part of Hyundai’s commitment to support those in need in the region.

All the equipment will be distributed by the respective government and non-government organizations.

In recent weeks, Hyundai has helped those in need around the world through donations and contributing medical equipment and personal protection items.

Bang Sun Jeong, Vice President, Head of Hyundai Motor Company Middle East

Business community resents ‘exorbitant hike’ in POL prices LAHORE CHAMBER FEARS AN INCREASE IN COST OF DOING BUSINESS; CALLS FOR REDUCTION IN PETROLEUM TAXES LAHORE TlTP

The Pakistan Leather Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PLGMEA) has urged the government to exempt the export-oriented units in Punjab from lockdown restrictions on Saturdays as well, besides allowing them to work in double shifts so that export orders could be met on time. In a statement issued on Saturday, PLGMEA Chief Syed Nadeem Abbas stated that export-oriented units were fully aware of Covid-19 and were strictly following the government’s SOPs. He said the implementation of social distancing during industrial operations could improve if the workers were allowed to work in double shifts. "This will help the units maintain the size of the workforce and avoid unemployment in this critical time." He said exporters were highly perturbed due to the Covid-19 situation and wanted to meet their pending export orders at the earliest. Enhanced working days will allow them to send shipments on time and avoid colossal financial losses, he added.

& Africa HQs, said, “Caring for humanity has always been at the heart of Hyundai’s vision and having assisted those in need in countries around the world, we are proud to expand our support to countries across the Middle East and Africa region that have been hardest hit by the pandemic. The contributions of personal protection items are another step forward of making a positive difference and we believe if we work together, we can overcome anything.”

The business community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has decided to launch an anti-government protest movement against the fines imposed on shopkeepers for violating coronavirus SOPs. Talking to this scribe, KP Traders Union President Mujeebur Rehman stated that due to the poor policies of the federal and provincial governments, traders were being forced to relocate their businesses to other provinces. "Under the guise of 'SOPs violation', fines of up to Rs100,000 on each shop were being imposed while a number of shops were being sealed," he said. "More than 4,000 traders in Peshawar's markets are at risk of losing millions of rupees if the administration continues to seal business centres." Rehman said traders were earlier severely affected by terrorism while now they were being robbed in the name of "smart lockdowns".

The district administration thinks that the imposition of heavy fines on shopkeepers was the best source of revenue generation, he said, adding that in 22 shopping plazas of Peshawar, the administration has so far sealed 3,000 shops. He recalled that the government had promised interest-free loans and relief in electricity bills to traders affected by the coronavirus outbreak, but none of the promises materialized into reality. "We've met the opposition leaders in the province and asked them to work out a plan of action to protect traders from the government's exploitation." Meanwhile, sources said the district administration was sealing the entire market even if they found one or two shopkeepers failing to follow the Coronavirus SOPs. They said the business community had fully cooperated with the government during the lockdown, but as the restrictions have been lifted, they should be allowed to do their businesses with any hindrance. The district administration did not respond to a request for comments.

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the government to withdraw the recent hike in oil prices, as it would jack up the cost of doing business in the country.

In a statement issued on Saturday, LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said that there was no denying the fact that oil prices were on the rise in the international market, but instead of passing on this surge to masses, the government should cut the number of taxes on petroleum products. "If fuel remains heavily taxed, the entire economy will suffer," he remarked.

Sheikh said a number of industrial

units have already shifted their operations to other countries due to the high cost of doing business in Pakistan, adding that the recent decision would force more industrialists to move their businesses elsewhere.

"Besides impacting the country's industrial sector, the increase in POL prices will also increase the input cost of agriculture production, as highspeed diesel is used in tractors, tubewells, harvesters, thrashers and other agriculture machinery," he stated. “In addition, the cost of thermal generation for the private sector will also go up."

The LCCI president further citicised the timing of the decision. "When the entire industry is suffering due to coronavirus, this sudden increase in POL

ICCI CHIEF CRITICISES TIMING OF DECISION, SAYS MASSIVE HIKE IN ONE GO WAS UNCALLED FOR UNDER PREVALENT CIRCUMSTANCES prices is a big blow to the industry."

'TOTALLY UNJUSTIFIED': Agreeing with the Lahore chamber, the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) also believed that the government's decision to increase the prices of POL products in one go would further add to the business community's woes.

In a separate statement issued on Saturday, ICCI President Muhammad Ahmed Waheed informed that the business community was already facing severe problems due to the devastations caused by Covid-19 and in such a situation, announcement of an exorbitant hike in the prices of POL products "was totally unjustified".

He explained that the price of crude oil in the world market was still around

$41 per barrel "while based on existing tax rates and PSO's import cost, the exrefinery or import parity price was worked out at about Rs45 per litre and the ex-refinery cost of diesel was now estimated at about Rs43 per litre".

However, he added, the government increased the price of petrol and diesel to over Rs100 per litre, which was “a great injustice with the people”.

“Under the current scenario, we were expecting the government to reduce the price of electricity in proportion to the reduction in POL prices so that the cost doing business could have been brought down. But on the contrary, the government has turned the tide on all hopes of economic recovery by increasing the petroleum prices.”

CMYK

E R I

T A S

Sunday, 28 - 04 July, 2020 I Issue 177 I Pages 04 I Sections 06 I Rs 30

Abbottabad Commission findings should be made public, says Osama Bin Laden

S

THE DEPENDENT

PeakinG to reporters who were brought blindfolded to an undisclosed location, al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden said that the government of Pakistan should declassify the findings of the abbottabad Commission and present them to the nation and the world at large.

“For too long, there have been a number of unsubstantiated rumours going about that

incident in abbottabad,” said the al Qaeda leader. “i want you all to be able to put to rest those rumours once and for all.” “i have a reputation to uphold and i want to be able to be look the public in the eye and tell them that it’d take more than seal team bloody six to take an institution like me out,” he screamed. “i’m Osama Bin Laden!!” “and we shouldn’t stop there. after we established that the story was a lie, we should

also go uncover other truths. that COViD-19 virus was unleashed on the world by Bill Gates, that it is undercover sikhs who were pretending to be taliban in Pakistan, that the nasa moon landing was fake.” at the end of the presser, he told reporters that he wanted to speak directly to the public. “i want you all to know that this is not fake news. You are reading this on Whatsapp and Whatsapp does not lie.”g

SAtire

Minister for Science & technology confirms sighting of new PM

t

How dare PM equate terrorist Bin Laden with martyrs like Hakimullah Mehsud: PML-N

P

ISLAMABAD THE DEPENDENT

akistan Muslim Leaguenawaz (PML-n) senior leader khawaja asif on thursday lambasted Prime Minister imran khan over his speech in the national assembly in which the premier referred to slain al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden as “martyred”. asif maintained that such a holy term, which is affiliated with many other holy personalities, should never have been used for Bin Laden.

“Bin Laden brought terrorism to our lands, he was a terrorist through and through and he [PM] calls him shaheed?

How dare he equate terrorist Bin Laden

with martyrs like Hakimullah Mehsud,” said asif during the national assembly session.

Other PML-n leaders also queued up to issue condemnations of the PM equating Bin Laden with some of the most illustrious figures in history.

“While i sort of agree with what he said, the party has instructed me to condemn his statement, and mention other shaheeds that i can think of. i think the most important figure in recent memory is shaheed Mumtaz Qadri,” said Captain safdar in a statement.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement issued, former PML-n leader Chaudhry nisar ali khan said that the current debate on martyrdom is damaging. g

He federal minister of science and technology Fawad Chaudhry has confirmed the sighting of a new Prime

Minister.

“We need to take a break from the earlier, unscientific way to sighting the new PM,” he said, speaking to the Dependent special Correspondent sohail Warraich. “it is time, now, to get a correct handle on this whole thing.”

“the new PM has been sighted, this might cause some discomfort for those who have been sitting pretty on their positions since quite some time, but they don’t get to call what the Great Umpire above has decided,” he said. “no. it will be decided in a scientific manner, by the Minister of science and technology.”

“With science at our disposal, all these things can be modelled very quickly and accurately,” he said.

“We know what happens when in every stage of the lunatic cycle.” “i think he has a correct grasp of what is about to happen,” said Warraich, after conducting the interview. “in fact, he has already picked out his own cell at the naB detention centre in islamabad.” g

SAtire

SAtire

India begins transition into pre-industrial, agrarian society after boycotting all made-in-China products

I

nDia has begun a massive transition into a pre-industrial, agrarian society after boycotting all products made-in-China products made it impossible to sustain any other mode of social organisation.

“Yes, it is sad, but it is what it is,” said finance minister nirmala sitharaman. “i hope we can adapt well to the new realities.” the ruling BJP has already dismantled its social Media Cell after their work being made redundant. “in order to ensure they have something to do, we are sending them across the villages of india for the recently created Village idiot positions,” sitharaman said.

“We will still have our armed forces, as none of our defence equipment has been sourced from China,” said Defence Minister Rajnath singh. “sorry, hold on…,” he said after an aide gave him a document. “Well… ..no, we’re not counting where our sources and sources’ sources have sourced the equipment from.”

“Mitron, i feel that we have put our….” said Prime Minister narinder Modi in his weekly Mann ki Baat from the Pradhaan Mantri Bhavan, before three De-sinofication Officers (DsOs) disconnected his made-in-Urumqi microphone. g

SAtire

E D I TO R ’S N OT E The Dependent is a completely satirical publication. The articles within are not true and meant to be taken in good humour.

The Dependent is an “equal opportunity offender” and we would urge all concerned to humour our attempts at humour.

The Dependent is a completely satirical publication. The articles within are not true and are meant to be taken in good humour.

Sunday, 28 June, 2020

SPORTS 11

10 plAyErs lEft out of pAkistAn squAD for EnglAnD tour ovEr coronAvirus: pcB Lahore

p

Agencies

AKISTAN'S cricket team will leave for its tour of England on Sunday without 10 players, after they tested positive for coronavirus at least once this week, the Pakistan Cricket Board has said.

The board's chief executive Wasim Khan, in a video conference with the media on Saturday, said that players and officials underwent two rounds of testing.

"Eighteen players who had tested negative in their first round of testing have again tested negative as have 11 officials from the team management," said Wasim.

Players Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Haider Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain and Kashif Bhatti first tested positive earlier this week.

Of these, four players were such that tested positive both times — Kashif, Haris, Haider and Imran,

whereas the remaining six — Hasnain, Shadab, Fakhar, Rizwan, Wahab and Hafeez — tested negative the second time around.

Wasim went on to say that the six players, despite having tested negative the second time around, will not be going to England, bringing the total number of players dropped from the squad to 10.

The team's masseur Malang Ali tested positive twice.

Waseem said that in England, the team will once more undergo testing within the first 24 hours of arrival.

"No questions have been raised

by England over our testing methods," he said.

Waseem said that bowling coach Waqar Younis underwent testing in Australia and has been diagnosed negative. Younis will fly for England from there, he added.

He said the players left behind "have not been abandoned" and can rejoin the squad of 18 players once they have taken two negative tests.

Of the five reserve players, he said four — Moosa Khan, Rohail Nazir, Bilal Asif and Mohammad

Nawaz — had tested negative and one — Imran Butt — had tested positive. Waseem said Zafar Gohar will also join the team in England. "He has only been called for practice," he added.

The PCB subsequently announced the 20-player side in a statement, with Azhar Ali to lead the squad and Babar Azam named as vice-captain.

Pakistan's tour of England is set to include three Tests and three Twenty20 internationals.

The squad will have a 14-day isolation period on arrival before continuing their preparations ahead of the first Test with two internal four-day warm-up matches.

It is expected that the first Test will take place in Manchester in August but the England and Wales Cricket Board said the behindclosed-doors match schedule would be announced in "due course".

Pakistan is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases, with nearly 200,000 declared cases and more than 4,000 deaths, while cases are falling in Britain.

Fans' behaviour 'unacceptable' says Liverpool FC London Agencies

Liverpool FC has condemned the behaviour of some fans who gathered in the city to celebrate the Premier League title win as "wholly unacceptable".

Flares were lit as thousands turned up at Pier Head waterfront despite restrictions on gatherings.

Firefighters also extinguished a small fire at the landmark Liver Building.

Mayor Joe Anderson said the events "brought Liverpool Football Club and the city of Liverpool into disrepute".

Fifteen people were arrested later in the evening for violent disorder and police officers were "subjected to a number of violent confrontations", Merseyside Police Chief Constable Andy Cooke said on Twitter.

"Last night, children and families were

present alongside others and heavy-handed police intervention was therefore not appropriate at the time," he said Assistant Chief Constable Jon Roy

said missiles were thrown at police, including at two officers who were trying to help the victim of an assault and make an arrest.

"Both those officers came under attack

from bottles being thrown at them and were injured as a result," he added.

Mersey Fire said it quickly extinguished a small blaze on a first floor balcony of the Liver Building thought to have been started by a firework.

A joint statement from Liverpool FC, the city's council and Merseyside Police said: "Our city is still in a public health crisis and this behaviour is wholly unacceptable. "The potential danger of a second peak of Covid-19 still exists and we need to work together to make sure we don't undo everything that has been achieved as a region during lockdown.

"When it is safe to do so, we will all work together to arrange a victory parade when everyone can come together to celebrate." Mr Anderson told BBC Radio Merseyside he was "frustrated and angry and upset".

Rahul Dravid taught me there is life beyond cricket: Cheteshwar Pujara MuMbai Agencies

I must have been eight years old when I saw Rahul bhai bat for the first time. I watched him bat on India's tour of England in 2002, and then that double-century in Adelaide, which remains my favourite innings of his.

I think I became a serious fan of him when I was around 13 years old. The thing that stood out for me was that he put a price on his wicket. He was a fighter - as long as Rahul bhai was the crease, it was very difficult for the opposition to take wickets. As a spectator you felt comfortable that India would not collapse; as long as he was at the crease, we would put up a reasonable total. To bowl India out, you had to get him out as the opposition. He provided that solidity.

I observed his technique and temperament closely. The way he spoke about the game, he had a lot of knowledge, but he always kept his game simple and did not complicate things too much.

By coincidence, both of us have used the same kit - from SG. I never used the same bat as him, though, but I always wanted the "Dazzler" batting gloves he used, that SG made. I really liked the design, and when I signed with SG for the first time, I asked them for those gloves.

Despite my enchantment with him, I did not copy him. There is a similarity in our games, but that's not because of my fascination with him. That came mainly through my experiences with Saurashtra, where I learned that scoring a hundred

alone isn't enough, you have to carry your team. That is how I learned responsibility - it is about helping my team to raise a big total, and for that I ought to attach importance to my wicket. I learned that from my junior cricket days with Saurashtra, which was a weaker team in domestic cricket.

Yes, you could say that I subconsciously imbibed that from Rahul bhai. His influence had shaped my thought process.

Meeting your idol is always special. I remember meeting Rahul bhai for the first

time around 2006 or 2007. It was the Race Course ground in my home town, Rajkot.

India were preparing for some series. I remember someone introduced me to him, and I think he had heard my name already: I had just played for India Under-19 and the Deodhar Trophy, and had scored some runs in the Ranji Trophy. I think he was a little busy at the time, but he said that I could always chat to him whenever I came to Bangalore to the National Cricket Academy.

As it happened, I made my India debut

CMYK

in Bangalore, in the second Test of the Australia series in 2010, which we won. It was a memorable few days for me, especially the 72 I made in the second innings that contributed to the win.

The best part about Rahul bhai has been that he understands a player's psychology. I was lucky that I had him around when I started playing cricket. He had already gone through so many things in his journey, so he was able to tell me what I could expect, in a way.

Battle of the Brits: Andy Murray beaten by Dan Evans in semi-final London Agencies

British number one Dan Evans overcame a strong start by Andy Murray to beat the three-time Grand Slam champion and reach the Battle of Brits final. Evans was outplayed by Murray in the opening set but won 1-6 6-3 10-8 to set up a final with Kyle Edmund or Cameron Norrie. Murray was playing in his first event for seven months after a pelvic injury. This is an exhibition event but the quality has been high and has given Murray a good measure of his fitness. Evans capitalised on a drop-off in energy from Murray in the second set, coupled with a change of his own tactics to come forward more, to draw level and take the match to a deciding tie-break. World number 28 Evans recovered from a 4-1 deficit in the match tie-break to claim victory with a backhand down the line. "He did a lot good in the first set. In the end it came down to the big points," Evans told Amazon Prime. "I got a little lucky today but I'm just happy to come through." Murray, 33, got off to a blistering start, his movement and dominance of the baseline rallies reminiscent of the days when he was world number one before hip surgery stalled his career. At the changeover at the end of the first set, his coach Jamie Delgado said: "He's played a fantastic set of tennis. It's the best set of tennis I've seen him play for a long time. "He's had glimpses through the week and dropped off a couple of times. This is the most consistent set he's played at this level for quite a while. "He naturally ups his level the more he knows he's playing a good player." That will be reassuring for Murray, as will the fact he has now come through four matches in five days, with one more - a third-place play-off - to play on Sunday.

Sunday, 28 June, 2020

NEWS

PayOneer PrePaId card crash tO affect thOusands Of PaKIstanI freelancers LAHORE/KARACHI

TAIMOOR HASSAN & MEIRYUM ALI

t

HOUSANDS of Payoneer users in Pakistan are expected to lose access to money in their prepaid cards with the company owing to the fallout from a devastating scandal that hit German fintech firm Wirecard AG. Payoneer is a global payments company that enables millions of businesses and professionals from more than 200 countries to make seamless cross-border payments.

One of its products is Payoneer Prepaid Mastercard, which is issued by Wirecard AG’s UK-based subsidiary Wirecard Card Solutions Limited (WCSL).

On Thursday, Wirecard AG filed for insolvency after it was revealed that the company was involved in the accounting fraud and reported that 1.9 billion euros from the company account were missing. Subsequently, the UK regulator of WCSL, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), ordered WCSL to freeze all prepaid card activity for the time being.

Pakistan slams India for issuing illegal IOK domiciles to non-Kashmiris

The FCA has communicated that they have taken these measures with the primary objective of protecting the interests and money of consumers who use Wirecard services. Pending further actions from the FCA, all payments services, including Payoneer, that subscribe to Wirecard, their cards will be blocked temporarily and the users will not be able to withdraw the funds on these cards, nor receive new payments.

Payoneer CEO Scott Galit stated, “We understand that the developing situation with Wirecard has created a lot of concern and challenges for Payoneer Prepaid Mastercard® ️ card users. We have been assured by the FCA that the freeze was put in place to ensure the protection of all cardholders funds. We have also been given repeated reassurances that all funds are properly safeguarded. Progress is being made to lift the freeze, and we will continue to update you as soon as more information is available.

This situation has impacted the customers of many companies, and we believe that it will be resolved soon.

In the meantime, incoming funds to Pay-

oneer users can be withdrawn to bank accounts, or held in a Payoneer Account which remains safe and secure. All funds held in Payoneer are fully liquid and available and held in global leading banks. Our company is strong and stable, and committed to safeguarding our customers’ funds in accordance with all relevant global regulations.

We know that our customers depend on these funds, and that this freeze has created hardships for many people. We have enabled alternative solutions for payment withdrawal, and are working to address any technical issues that have come up, and to help our customers in any way we can."

Payoneer, in its blog, also assured its users that the funds stored on individual Payoneer Prepaid Mastercard users were safe and secure.

“Although Wirecard Card Solutions Limited is a subsidiary within the Wirecard group and shares the same brand, they are an entirely independent entity with their own board, their own regulatory and capital requirements and are subject to regulatory oversight and accounting standards in the

UK,” the blog post read.

“As they are independent, your card is not impacted and you can continue to use it as usual. Nonetheless, we work with other issuers including our own, and are working on contingency plans to ensure we maintain continuity and redundancy now and in the future. Even in the unlikely event of insolvency of Wirecard Card Solutions Limited, funds held on your card remain secure as they are held in trust in safeguarded accounts at regulated credit institutions in the UK and the European Economic Area (EEA) and designated as your funds,” it read.

Payoneer prepaid cards are mostly used by freelancers in Pakistan to receive payments from offshore clients for the projects they deliver. Besides freelancers, small companies also use Payoneer’s services for international payments.

The payment can be retrieved into a prepaid card or an app-based virtual account.

People who use prepaid cards have temporarily lost access to cash as the cards have been blocked for an indefinite period of time. While no timeline has been given by

Payoneer for resumption of card services, the company says that users are able to transfer money from their virtual accounts to local bank accounts for withdrawal.

There is no reliable data on the number of Payoneer card users in Pakistan. Industry experts however estimate that there are between 50,000 to 100,000 total Payoneer users in the country. Payoneer did not respond to Profit’s queries about the number of Payoneer card holders in Pakistan.

“In the context of Pakistan, this should be a wakeup call to have multiple fall back plans and payment options for freelancers and small companies so that they are not reliant on one or two key providers to minimise the risk for freelancers,” said senior consultant and former P@SHA secretary general Shehryar Hyderi.

Freelancers in Pakistan have long been decrying the absence of secured payment options for international transactions. There had been a forceful demand from freelancers to bring payment platforms like PayPal to Pakistan.

On Friday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) also issued notices to commerce and information technology sectors for failing to meet the requirements quoted in the e-commerce policy, which has kept mega-companies like Paypal and Amazon at bay. The government had made an effort last year to bring PayPal into Pakistan. PayPal, however, refused to start operations in Pakistan.

India rejects Pakistan’s offer to open Kartarpur Corridor on June 29

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Pakistan on Saturday categorically rejected the grant of domicile certificates of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) to Indian nationals, which observers believe is an attempt to alter demography of the Muslim-majority area. The certificate, a sort of citizenship right, entitles a person to residency and government jobs in the region, which till last year were reserved only for the local population. A statement issued by Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said reportedly 25,000 Indian national were issued “bogus” domicile certificate, a move which was also rejected by the Kashmiris. “The certificates issued to non-Kashmiris including, among others, the Indian government officials under “Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure), 2020″ are illegal, void and in complete violation of the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and International law including the 4th Geneva Convention,” read the official statement. The latest action also vindicates Pakistan’s consistent stance that the major intention behind the Indian government’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019 was to change the demographic structure of IOJ&K and turn Kashmiris into a minority in their own land, the statement added. “This has long been part of the RSS-BJP’s ‘Hindutva’ agenda.” The spokesperson said Modi-led Indian government intends to undermine the exercise by the Kashmiri people of their right to selfdetermination through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nation as per the relevant UNSC resolutions. “Through these reprehensible actions, along with continuing restrictions, excruciating military crackdown, extra-judicial killings, arbitrary detentions and incarcerations, and unabated grave human rights violations, India seeks to further perpetuate its illegal occupation of IOJ&K,” the statement added.

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

India has rejected an offer made by Pakistan on Saturday for the reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims on June 29, saying that cross-border travel has been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan had issued a statement earlier in the day conveying its “readiness” to the Indian side to reopen the corridor on the occasion of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh’s death anniversary on June 29.

“As the religious places are gradually opening up around the world, Pakistan has also made necessary arrangements to reopen Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for Sikh

NEW DELHI DESCRIBES ISLAMABAD’S GESTURE TO REOPEN BORDER WITH SOPS AS ‘A MIRAGE OF GOODWILL’ pilgrims,” said the statement.

“To ensure adherence to the health guidelines, Pakistan has invited India to work out necessary SOPs for reopening of the Corridor,” it added.

The statement noted that the Corridor was inaugurated last year on Nov 9, three days before the 550th Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, fulfilling “the long awaited desire of Sikh devotees of the international community”.

The statement described the Corridor as “a true symbol of peace and reli-

gious harmony” and how the landmark initiative “has been immensely appreciated by the Sikh community all over the world including India”.

“The first Guru of Sikhism, Baba Guru Nanak Saheb, had spent the last 18 years of his life in Kartarpur,” it added.

According to the statement, the Corridor was “temporarily closed on 16 March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic” and Pakistan is now looking to reopen it after SOPs are put in place with joint consultation between both sides.

India, in response to Pakistan’s gesture, described it as “a mirage of goodwill”, according to Times of India.

“Government sources said this would only undermine the bilateral agreement which required India to share information with Pakistan a week before the date of arrival,” the publication added.

WAGAH BORDER REOPENED: Earlier this week, the country reopened the Wagah border between the two countries for three days to repatriate Indians stranded in Pakistan.

According to the interior ministry, 748 Indians stranded in Pakistan due to the coronavirus lockdown, were to return to their country in three phases.

In the first and second batches, 250 Indian nationals each were repatriated while the third batch was made up of the remaining 248 Indian nationals, the interior ministry said, adding that the Indian nationals were in different cities of Pakistan.

Pakistan, on March 19, had closed the border in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.

Potential coronavirus vaccine could be available from October NEWS DESK Potential coronavirus vaccine being developed by researchers at the University of Oxford could be up for release as soon as October, according to a leading scientist.

Professor Adrian Hill, the director of the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford, said the experimental COVID-19 vaccine has shown very good results in chimpanzees and has moved to the next phase of human trials. It has been said that the vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 developed together with pharmaceuticals group AstraZeneca is on the fast track for release.

Researchers said that the vaccine was already being tested on volunteers in Brazil and the reports thus far had been positive.

Mhlongo aged 24, a resident from Soweto has become the first South African to be injected with the vaccine and is one of about 2,000 South Africans who will take part in the trial. According to Oxford, more than 4,000 participants are enrolled for clinical trial in Britain, with another 10,000 due for recruitment. “This vaccine has shown very good results in trials with chimpanzees, and has already moved on to the next phase of human trials. One of its advantages at the beginning was to demonstrate in previous tests that similar inoculations, including one last year against a previous coronavirus, were harmless to humans,” said Dr Hill.

Pakistan to gift mangoes to heads of states ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Pakistan has decided to send mangoes to the heads of states of the existing as well as potential buying countries, it was learnt on Saturday.

According to officials, this initiative has a well-defined objective to further strengthen diplomatic relationships with friendly countries, besides introducing the fruit to new international markets so that export the country's horticulture exports could be enhanced.

During a high-level meeting, chaired by President Dr Arif Alvi, it was decided that Pakistan would promote trade diplomacy by gifting of mangoes to all friendly countries.

National Food Security Minister Fakhar

Imam, All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters, Importers & Merchants Association (PFVA) Patron-in-Chief Waheed Ahmed and Chairman Abdul Malik also participated in the meeting.

During the meeting, Waheed Ahmed briefed the president about the production and quality of mangoes and highlighted issues pertaining to the supply chain challenges confronted by exporters.

The president was also apprised of the current state of export of fruit and vegetable sector and the reason behind Pakistan’s meagre share of less than 0.5pc in international trade. Waheed further shared a roadmap titled “Horticulture Vision 2030” which was developed by the PFVA through extensive research and development.

The participants were informed that the

international trade of fruits & vegetables was around $200 billion, while Pakistan exported fruits & vegetables worth $651 million in 2018-19, which was just 0.33pc of this total revenue. "Pakistan is ranked sixth in terms of mango production and fifth in terms of mango exporting countries in the world, having around 5pc share. The country's mango industry has a volume of Rs100 billion while millions of people are employed in the industry."

During a comprehensive presentation which focused on export of mangoes, Waheed stated that Pakistan exports mangoes to 40 countries of the world and by adopting well meticulous planning and removal of barriers restricting the export, Pakistan can have access to high-value international markets. The anticipated international markets

include USA, Japan, China, South Korea and Australia.

He said the major challenges that the horticulture sector was confronted with included climate change, scarcity of water, lack of research & development activities, primitive agriculture patties leading to pre and post–harvest losses, inadequate cold storage facilities and issues of transportation.

Waheed strongly recommended the formulation of a special forum comprising representatives from the concerned ministries & PFVA for evaluation of issues related to the horticulture sector, finding realistic solutions and ensuring the provision of facilities.

He quoted the recent examples of excellent coordination among the concerned ministries which promptly resolved a serious issue of opening of the Pak-Iran border in the

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

shortest time period of just 3 days.

"The formation of a proposed special forum would play a vital role in speedy implementation of timely decisions taken by the forum to ensure facilitation of exports."

It was also suggested that realistic policies may also be developed for airlines & shipping agencies so that exports' consignments can be promptly taken care of and timely transported.

Capacity building of the Plant Protection Department and effective utilization of its capabilities, launching of promotional activities through sponsorship of PFVA, activation of Pakistan Horticulture Development Company (PHDEC) and payment of pending claims of DLTL through approved funds were also part of suggestions that were presented during the meeting.