EpaperISB_21-01-16

Saturday, 16 January, 2021 I 2 Jamadi-ul-Sani, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 198 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

Malaysian authorities seize Pia aircraft over legal disPute g

NatioNal flag carrier says MalaysiaN court gave a oNe-sided verdict oN $14 MillioN lease dispute

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pakistan international airlines (pia) plane was held back in Malaysia as part of a legal dispute between the airline and another party, the national flag carrier said on friday. the boeing 777 aircraft was seized after a court order, the airline said, and alternative arrangements were being made for passengers due to fly from kuala lumpur back to pakistan. the case involved a $14 million lease dispute, a pia official said. in a statement posted on twitter, the airline said: “a pia aircraft has been held back by a local court in Malaysia taking a one-sided decision pertaining to a legal dispute between pia and another party pending in a uk court. “the passengers are being looked after and alternate arrangements for their travel have been finalised,” the statement said. “it is an unacceptable situation and pia has engaged support from the government of pakistan to take up this matter using diplomatic channels.”

“We were told that the plane has been impounded on a court order,” pia spokesperson abdullah Hafeez khan said later in a video statement. “pia’s legal team will pursue it in the Malaysian court, and we hope that we will resolve this issue as soon as possible.” commenting on the legal dispute, khan told dawn.com that it was a “payment dispute between us and the party peregrine” that had been filed in the uk courts about six months ago. the spokesperson refused to give further details on the dispute, adding that the Malaysian court took an “ex-parte decision causing inconvenience to the passengers who had already boarded the plane”. according to orders passed by the kuala lumpur High court on thursday seen by reuters, the plaintiff of the case is peregrine aviation charlie limited and the matter pertains to two jets leased to pia by dublin-based aercap, the world’s largest aircraft lessor, in 2015. they are part of a portfolio that aercap sold to peregrine aviation co ltd, an investment unit of Ncb capital, the brokerage arm of National commercial bank sjsc, in 2018.

coronavirus in

Pakistan

according to the interim injunction, pia is restrained from moving two aircraft in its fleet — a boeing 777- 200er with serial number 32716 and a boeing 777200er with serial number 32717 — once they have landed or parked at kuala lumpur international airport until a further hearing on the matter later this month. tracking data from flightradar24 showed only one of the two boeing 777s covered by the court order is currently in kuala lumpur. the other was last recorded in karachi last month. aercap, which continued as part of the agreement to provide lease management services to peregrine, declined to comment. Malaysia airports Holdings berhad, the country’s airport operator, and its subsidiary were ordered to make sure the aircraft do not leave kuala lumpur international airport.

Malaysia’s Ministry of transport said in a statement on friday that the aircraft was being held pending legal proceedings set for january 24. Malaysia airports Holdings bhd said the matter was not related to airport operations. in response to a question about the issue, foreign office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez chaudhri said the pakistani high commission in Malaysia was in close contact with the relevant Malaysian authorities and pia “to address the issue at the earliest”.

“Meanwhile, the passengers are being properly looked after and alternate arrangements for their travel to pakistan have also been finalised,” he said, adding that they will be departing kuala lumpur by emirates flight ek-343 later tonight. pakistani high commissioner in Malaysia amna baloch, while talking to dawnNewstv, said pia’s legal experts would deal with the situation. she said the high commission would provide all necessary assistance to the airline to resolve the matter. she said the passengers due to fly on the impounded aircraft were being provided with all possible facilities.

PM seeks strategies to safeguard labourers’ rights, agriculture promotion g

directs to Make puNjab police free froM political iNterfereNce LAHORE TLTP

prime Minister imran khan on friday emphasised the need for evolving comprehensive and effective strategies to ensure protection of labourers’ rights and industrial development, as well as capacity building of the agriculture sector and creation of a valueadded chain of products. addressing an inaugural ceremony regarding initiation of a new labour inspection regime (lir) in punjab, the premier said that protection of labourers’ rights should be ensured in the new regime and there should be no compromise in this regard. stressing the need for taking steps to prevent persecution of the labour class and to promote the ease of doing business, he said that in the wake of covid-19 pandemic, protection of the country’s labour and promotion of small and medium industries has become imperative. separately, prime Minister imran chaired a meeting that reviewed various matters related to the agriculture value-added chains and plans for increasing the agricultural production in punjab. pM imran directed the punjab agri-

Petrol price increased

by Rs3.2 per litre

culture department (pad) to develop a comprehensive plan for capacity building of the agriculture sector. He stressed the full support of the federal government in bringing reforms in the agriculture sector of the province. prime Minister imran also directed the meeting to pay attention towards value addition to agricultural products.

He said that progress of the agriculture sector and its transformation on modern lines is the top most priority of the government. He directed the meeting attendees to address the issues pertaining to food security in the province. He also instructed the punjab government to take measures to increase agriculture production and its standard. the premier said that the country’s progress is linked with the growers’ prosperity, adding that 60 per cent of the population was associated with the agriculture sector. He asked the concerned authorities to focus on valueaddition in the agriculture sector. in another meeting on friday, prime Minister imran ordered to make the punjab police free from any political interference by implementing a meritocracy. He directed to devise a comprehensive strategy to introduce reforms in punjab police.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

more inside

Pakistan will continue to support Afghan peace process: COAS

CONFIRMED CASES:

514,338

STORY ON BACK PAGE

primary, middle schools to remain closed till feb 1: shafqat

LAST UPDATED AT 7:46 AM ON JANUARY 15, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

45

NEW CASES:

2,417

STORY ON PAGE 03

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

469,306 10,863 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

231,953

147,953

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

62,719

18,515

8,567/4,882 39,749

the federal government has jacked up prices of petrol, diesel and other petroleum products following the approval of prime Minister imran khan. the pM okayed an increase of rs3.2 per litre in the price of petrol, a little over a third of what the oil & gas regulatory authority (ogra) had sought, radio pakistan reported. the premier also approved an increase of rs2.95 per litre in the price of high-speed diesel (Hsd). additionally, the prices of kerosene and light diesel oil were increased by rs3 per litre

and rs4.42, respectively. the state-run news agency app reported that the price changes would be applicable from midnight. this is the third time in four weeks that fuel prices have been increased. on december 15, the ex-depot prices of Hsd and petrol were increased by rs3 per litre while the prices of kerosene and ldo were raised by rs5 per litre. then on december 31, the price of petrol was increased by another rs2.31 per litre, while that of Hsd was in-

creased by rs1.80 — a little over one-fifth of what the ogra had recommended. at the same time, the price of kerosene and light diesel oil (ldo), meanwhile, were jacked up by rs3.36 per litre and rs3.95, respectively. a statement from the prime Minister's office had said, "While considering relief for the people, prime Minister imran khan approved the minimum possible increase in prices of petroleum products against ogra's recommendations." NEWS DESK

Saleem Mandviwalla puts NAB centerstage during Senate debate STORY ON PAGE 02

psb officials set off intense fireworks at night, frighten citizens STORY ON PAGE 04

02

Sarurday, 16 January, 2021

NEWS

Covid-19 ClaiMs 45 lives in a day: nCoC ISLAMABAD

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HE coronavirus pandemic claimed 45 more lives while 2,417 new infections were reported during the last 24 hours, said the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Friday.

According to the NCOC, 45 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 10,863 while the national tally of cases currently stands at 514,338 with fresh inclusion of the infections. The NCOC said that 2,072 patients recovered from the virus on Thursday and the number

of total active cases stands at 34,169. A total of 2,294 patients were stated to be in critical condition.

According to the NCOC, a total of 40,359 tests were conducted across the country during the last 24 hours, while so far 7,284,009 samples have been tested.

Overall 469,306 people have recovered from the deadly disease The highest positivity rate of Covid19 cases was recorded in Karachi at 15.97 per cent in the past 24 hours, while the countrywide positivity ratio stands at 5.99 per cent. The second highest positivity ratio was witnessed in Peshawar (13.62 per cent).

Province-wise, Sindh recorded the highest Covid-19 positivity ratio at 9.49 per cent, followed by Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) 7.36 per cent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) 5.55 per cent, Balochistan 4.75 per cent, Punjab 4.49 per cent, Islamabad 2.43 per cent and GilgitBaltistan (GB) 0 per cent.

The NCOC's detailed province-wise data revealed Lahore's positivity ratio to be at 6.69 per cent, Rawalpindi's at 4.04 per cent, 2.52 per cent in Faisalabad, 4.25 per cent in Multan and 5.26 per cent for Bahawalpur in Punjab.

In Sindh, Karachi's positivity ratio was recorded at 15.97 per cent and 8.01 per

cent in Hyderabad.

As for KP, a positivity ratio of 13.62 per cent was recorded in Peshawar, 3.65 per cent in Swat and 3.45 per cent in Abbottabad.

In Balochistan, Quetta's positivity ratio was recorded at 1.87 per cent. Meanwhile, the positivity ratio in AJK's Mirpur stood at 11.49 per cent and 5.56 per cent in Muzaffarabad.

The case fatality rate (CFR) for Pakistan stood at 2.12 per cent compared to the global 2.14 per cent. Around 69 percent of patients who succumbed to the virus were males and 77.6 per cent of all who died were over the age of 50.

Pakistan yet to place orders for the coronavirus vaccine yet: report NEWS DESk Top federal government health officials have confirmed that Pakistan has yet to officially place any final order on the procurement of the Covid-19 vaccine, adding that so far no vaccine manufacturer has accepted the country’s request for supply of the vaccine.

While several developed nations have already begun vaccinating their frontline workers against the coronavirus, developing countries like Pakistan still struggle to acquire safe and effective vaccines.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan stated: "Although, we are striving hard to get the first batch of Covid-19 vaccine at the earliest for our frontline workers and others the final order has not yet been placed and accepted [by any vaccine manufacturer]".

China's Sinopharm has submitted its data with Pakistan's Drug Regulatory Authority (DRAP), the SAPM confirmed,

adding that the health authorities are engaged in negotiations for the supply of vaccines. However, there has been no agreement with them currently, he clarified. It is pertinent to mention that two Chinese anti-coronavirus vaccine candidates have submitted their data to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), seeking a grant for emergency use. According to a health official, the first limited supply for the vaccine is likely to start from February.

The phase III clinical trials for Ad5nCoV vaccine, being developed by CanSino Biologics and the Chinese military-backed research unit, at the Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad will end this week. “The trials began in September last year with a target of 17,500 volunteers," said the lead physician of the clinical trial, Dr Ejaz A Khan. The clinical trial is being supervised by the National Institute of Health.

The physician, who is also the chairman of infection control at the hospital, said the sample will be reviewed

by Dalhousie University in Canada. “The university will determine the efficacy of the vaccine.” The trial will then enter phase IV which is when a vaccine is greenlighted for manufacturing, marketing, and distribution, he added.

The first-ever large-scale trial in Pakistan was conducted at five centres; two in Karachi and Lahore each and, one in Islamabad.

In the federal capital, the Shifa International Hospital repurposed a building previously used for Covid-19 testing for the trial where volunteers, recruited through NGOs, hospitals, and corporations, arrived by appointment.

To volunteer, the individual must be 18 and above, not have tested positive for Covid-19, not have immune deficiencies, and not be pregnant for the trial duration.

The hospital also provided a one-time Rs2,000 compensation for travel and food expenses.

Meanwhile, heath authorities shared that the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine was only found to be 50.4 per cent effective in

Brazilian clinical trials which shows that more data is required as using a 50 per cent effective vaccine would be a total waste of efforts and resources.

“We need to assess the data of the vaccine’s efficacy ourselves before selecting it for the population. We would prefer a vaccine which has an emergency use authorisation either from US FDA, European authorities or the World Health Organisation or its data shows at least 8090 per cent efficacy and safety,” a DRAP official said.

“The [third] vaccine candidate is Cansino, whose trials are currently underway and they are a couple of weeks away from submitting their data to us. We are also interested in Russian vaccine Sputnik V, who have submitted some data but we have sought more data from them,” SAPM Dr Faisal added.

"We are trying to get AstraZeneca vaccine both through the Covax facility and through direct procurement," he added, explaining that Pakistan is also in negotiations with Western manufacturers.

Minister welcomes passage of bill on domestic violence against women PESHAWAR News desk

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Minister for Social Welfare Dr Hisham Inamullah Khan on Friday termed the passage of a bill to protect women against domestic violence by the provincial assembly as a welcome move, saying that it would greatly help curb the deeply-rooted menace in society. In a statement, the KP social welfare minister said that the bill envisaged a number of measures for curbing or eradicating violence against women who were effectively contributing towards socioeconomic development of the country. Dr Hisham Inamullah Khan said that the bill was very important and added that economic and psychological pressure and enforced sexual contact would now fall under the category of violence against women. It has defined economic abuse as the denial of food, clothing or shelter in a domestic relationship. Psychological abuse includes the abuser limiting the victim's freedom of movement, as well as conditions such as anorexia, suicidal ideation, and clinical depression. He further stated that this bill be help ensure security against exploitation and violence within their homes as well. Under the bill, he said, district protection committees would be constituted to help the victims of domestic violence by providing shelter, medical aid and reasonable financial assistance. Similarly, it had also been decided to set up a helpline for reporting incidents of domestic violence, the minister explained. In case of violence, the bill provided that an application would be submitted to the court within 15 days and it was mandatory for the court to decide such a nature case within two months. Under this bill, the violator will be liable to imprisonment for a period not less than one year and up to a maximum of five years. The violator will also be slapped with a fine 'provided for the said offence in the Pakistan Penal Code'. He expressed hope that the implementation of the bill would reduce the incidence of domestic violence.

Saleem Mandviwalla puts NAB centerstage during Senate debate OPP DEMANDS INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO POWER OUTAGE ISLAMABAD APP

Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla continued his battle against the top anti-graft watchdog and put the National Accountability (NAB) on centerstage during the Senate session on Friday.

Mandviwalla asked what hope ordinary citizens can have if the parliament itself remains silent out of fear.

He further questioned why the federal government was hesitant to hold NAB accountable.

The deputy chairman reiterated that NAB was making doing business in Pakistan difficult.

"We stopped the Federal Board of Revenue [FBR] from going into people's accounts, but now NAB is doing the same thing. The State Bank of Pakistan is a hostage to NAB's antics. This is a dangerous precedent."

"The families of NAB officers live abroad, who will check their returns? Our fight will continue until NAB officials declare their assets," he said.

Mandviwalla claimed that he had received threats of more inquiries if he did not stop speaking out against the watchdog. To this, he asserted he would speak out even more, adding that he would hold weekly press conferences with others affected by the NAB's actions.

Speaking about the statement by NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal, who had claimed that he was being blackmailed, the deputy chairman advised him to

come before the Senate and parliamentary panel and appraise them of the who was behind the blackmail.

"On December 29, the bureau announced it was filing a reference against me but when asked, they said it has not been filed yet. Now, at long last, they have filed a reference," he said, demanding an open trial.

Moreover, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Babar Awan said that no government had taken the initiative to change the laws of NAB, adding that the current NAB set up was put in place by the previous government. "Institutions were set up but never allowed to function and become strong," he said, stressing that legislation on accountability cannot be done by courts.

He claimed that the PTI was the first ruling party "that has wanted to introduce reforms", adding that the government was ready to hold talks on the matter.

He said that institutions were active under the incumbent government because they knew "no one will be given an NRO" and dismissed the notion that NAB was only going after politicians.

Regarding accountability of NAB officials, Mandviwalla said that no one was above the accountability hence the NAB officials should also declare their assets. During the Senate session, opposition lawmakers blamed the incumbent government for the crippling inflation and energy crisis in the country, and demanded independent inquiry into country wide power outage that occurred last week.

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Senator Sherry Rehman underscored that the unprecedented gas and energy crisis, the unabated price increases, and the rising trend of food insecurity are all becoming unsustainable for common Pakistanis.

She said that the country witnessed complete power blackout last week, adding that the opposition would not accept an inquiry conducted by National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NADRA), which works directly under the government.

She insisted that a committee of the parliament should be formed to ascertain the real cause of countrywide power blackout. The PPP leader added that the common people were facing an acute problem due to low gas pressure in various areas of the country. She alleged that the government had to float emergency tenders to purchase liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Sherry said that record loans had been incurred by the government in the last two-and-a-half years.

National Party leader Senator Muhammad Akram said: "We have been facing an energy crisis for a long time. Balochistan has been supplying gas since 1954 to the rest of the country but most parts of the province itself are still without the facility." He alleged accountability was being used as a tool to suppress the opposition members. He said Balochistan was future of the country and the government should focus on it.

PPP leader Robina Khalid also blamed the government for high price of commodities in the country and demanded to take practical steps for giving relief to the people.

PPP leader Dr Sikandar Mandhro, while taking part in the debate, said that Sindh was producing 66.7 per cent of the total gas in the country, but only 34 per cent was being given to the people of the province.

He said that it was a clear cut violation of Article 158 of the Constitution.

He concurred that there was no doubt on the gap between demand and supply of gas, but added that it was the responsibility of the government to manage the crisis.

Jamiat-e-Islami (JI) leader Sirajul Haq said that the country was facing host of problems which could only be overcome with introduction of Islamic system.

He said that the government has made tall claims but could not even abolish prevailing interest system in the country. PTI leader Waleed Iqbal, in defence of the ruling party, said that the government has faced two major challenges, namely the Covid-19 pandemic and the locust attacks, in 2020. He said that the whole world had acknowledged Pakistan's steps to curtail Covid-19.

He explained that 63 districts of the country had come under the attack of locusts, but through the efforts of the PTI, Pakistan was declared locust free in October.

In this regard, he appreciated the cooperation of the local people, Natural Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and the National Locust Control Cell in their efforts to make the country locust free.

They all worked day and night to fight locust attack, he said. Regarding inflation, Iqbal said that inflation had been at 14.6 per cent last year, but now stood at only 8 per cent. Despite all challenges, the government brought the inflation down 6.6 per cent, he added.

Saturday, 16 January, 2021

NEWS

03

PriMary, Middle sChools To reMain Closed Till Feb 1: shaFqaT ISLAMABAD

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APP

HE federal Government on Friday extended the date for reopening of primary and middle schools (Class 1-8) from January 25 to February 1 after scrutiny of current Covid-19 situation in order to ensure safety of students.

Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood announced the decision at a press conference after a detailed meeting with provincial education and health ministers and secretaries at the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

The members of the committee had thoroughly reviewed the current Covid-19 situation in the country before formally announcing the decision on the reopening of educational institutions across the country, he explained.

600 petrol pumps sealed in campaign against oil smuggling: PMo NEWS DESk Over 600 petrol pumps across Pakistan have been sealed after a campaign to combat oil smuggling was launched on the orders of Prime Minister Imran Khan, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) read. The campaign is led by the Ministry of Interior and is showing significantly good results, the statement added. “If the sealed pumps do not show valid documentation within seven days of sealing, these will be confiscated by the State under the Customs Act, along with all properties of the owners, as it would be deemed that these properties were acquired with smuggling proceeds,” it read. Earlier, PM Imran had approved a comprehensive action plan against 2,094 illegal petrol retail outlets in three provinces and halt the smuggling of petroleum products at the border stations in Balochistan as these illegal activities had been inflicting a loss of Rs150 billion per annum to the national exchequer. On January 10, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Javed Ghani had directed all field officers and staff to effectively curb the sale of smuggled petroleum products as per directions of the prime minister. According to FBR’s action plan, the crackdown started against illegal petroleum outlets in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Sindh wherein a first information report (FIR) would be lodged against the owner, and proceedings for forfeiture of oil station and other properties of the owner in favour of the federal government would be initiated. Later, similar action will be taken against corrupt elements in Balochistan, one of the major supply routes of smuggled petroleum products for selling to end consumers.

He clarified that the second wave of the pandemic is being considered as more lethal than the first one, and had forced the closure of educational institutions in order to protect students and teachers.

In his briefing to media, Shafqat said that the government’s prior decision will be followed regarding reopening of high-and intermediate-level schools (9-12) from January 18, while universities will reopen from February 1. “This year no student will be promoted without examinations”, he added.

He said that the government would again review the pandemic situation during the next week prior to opening of primary schools on February 1. In the meeting, further decisions will be taken keeping in view positivity ratio in cities, he added.

“Everyone is concerned about the loss of education during the previous lockdown but we have to strike a balance so as to ensure the safety of students,” Mehmood

CEC for strict implementation of code of conduct in by-polls ISLAMABAD TLTP

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja on Friday issued directives for the upcoming by-elections in the country in order to ensure free and fair and transparent polls.

In his directives, the CEC said that measures should be taken to ensure that the polls process should remain transparent and free and fair.

“The code of conduct for the election process should be implemented in its true letter and spirit,” he said and warned that strict action would be taken over any violation of the code of conduct.

He directed the ECP officials to take assistance from district administration, police and Rangers for the implementation of the code of conduct. “Action should be taken against

NEWS DESk Dr Noman Haqqani, brother-in-law of prominent journalist Humayun Gauhar, passed away on Thursday due to coronavirus-related complication. The deceased’s funeral prayers were offered in London, England, where he was buried.

government employees for influencing the election process,” he said while further directing for action against DRO, RO and DMO over any failure to implement the ECP rules.

It is pertinent to mention here that in a major development, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on December 17 decided to hold by-elections on all the vacant seats across the country, which earlier faced a delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the details, the decision was taken at a meeting of the ECP, presided over by CEC Raja, in Islamabad.

On the occasion, Sultan Raja directed to issue a schedule for by-polls on the vacant posts. He also directed measures to ensure implementation of the Covid-related standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the byelections.

General Musharraf’s mother passes away in Dubai ISLAMABAD TLTP

dr noman haqqani passes away

said, adding that the current positivity rate has come down to 6.10 per cent, which was 7.14 per cent when the educational institutes were shut down on November 26.

The number of coronavirus cases, he said, were still increasing in the country and added the education sector had faced huge loss due to pandemic during the last eight months. "One thing is clear: all those associated with education in politics or the government realise that learning levels of children has been severely affected because of the closure of schools," Mehmood said.

"But health is important too," the education minister said, emphasising that the need of the hour is to keep a balance between continuing education and minimising the risk to students.

He said that the infection in major urban centers was still higher, therefore in the next week, NCOC would decide about re-opening of educational institutions in high risk cities.

Former president and chief of army staff General (r) Pervez Musharraf’s mother, Begum Zarin Musharraf, passed away on Friday. She was 100.

All Pakistan Muslim League SecretaryGeneral Mehreen Malik said that Begum Zarin died at the age of around 100 after a prolonged illness. Begum Zarin was born in the early 1920s, grew up in Lucknow and received her schooling there, after which she graduated from Indraprastha College at Delhi University, taking a bachelor’s degree in

English literature.

She had earlier been hospitalised in the United Arab Emirates after suffering from respiratory issues. Musharraf is in Dubai since long for his treatment.

The former president is also in Dubai and suffering from amyloidosis, a rare disease caused by a build-up of an abnormal protein called amyloid in organs and tissues throughout the body.

The 78-year old was diagnosed with the rare disease at a hospital in Dubai in 2019.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa offered his condolences over the demise of Begum Zarim.

"While I desperately want education to continue, the final decision will be on health grounds. Students' well being will always be a priority," Mehmood wrote on Twitter.

He said that currently average deaths had been counted 44 per day as compared to 46 few days back.

The daily cases average in the country was around 2,300 as compared to 3,000 few days back, added.

He further informed that the critical patients in the country have increased from 1,958 to 2,339.

Mehmood's remarks come as Pakistan battles a second wave of the coronavirus with cases constantly on the rise.

According to the latest statistics, confirmed cases due to Covid-19 pandemic in the country currently stand at 514,338, while the recorded deaths stand at 10,863. A total of 469,306 recoveries from the infections have been reported so far.

suleman shehbaz’s arrest warrant issued in money laundering case LAHORE TLTP

The court of a judicial magistrate on Friday issued nonbailable arrest warrant for Suleman Shehbaz in a Rs25 billion money laundering case. Suleman, along with his father, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, and brother, Hamza Shehbaz, has been named in the money laundering case. The court has ordered police to present Suleman Shahbaz before the court on January 19. The warrants were issued at the request of the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) anti-corruption cell.

According to the charges, Suleman, Shehbaz and Hamza are accused of money laundering and suspicious bank transactions worth Rs25 billion were traced through fake accounts between 2008 to 2018. Last month, a three-member FIA team visited the Kot Lakhpat prison and grilled the opposition leader over his alleged role in money laundering to a tune of upto Rs25 billion. According to sources, the FIA team, led by Assistant Director (AD) Muhammad Mardan, had asked five questions from Shehbaz Sharif during the investigation process, including queries on his foreign assets and offshore companies. While responding to queries, Shehbaz had said that he had not committed corruption of a single rupee and was neither aware of any hawala and hundi mechanism nor about transaction of Rs25 billion to the account of clerical staff.

PM accepts nadeem afzal Chan’s resignation ISLAMABAD TLTP

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday accepted the resignation of Nadeem Afzal Chan from his portfolio of special assistant to prime minister on parliamentary coordination. Chan, a seasoned politician known for his independent views, tendered resignations from both of his positions, spokesperson and special assistant to the PM. “The Prime Minister has been pleased to accept the resignation tendered by Nadeem Afzal Gondal, from the post of Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Coordination, with immediate effect,” reads the notification issued by Cabinet Division. In a meeting held on Wednesday, PM Imran had criticised his aides and ministers for disagreeing to the government’s official policies.

PTI urges ECP to decide foreign funding case against PPP, PML-N ISLAMABAD TLTP

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Farrukh Habib has said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) have failed to submit their accounts detail with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Talking to the media persons in Islamabad on Friday, the PTI lawmaker said that PTI has now requested the chief election commissioner that the meeting of scrutiny committee be held on a daily basis so that the foreign funding case of the PPP and the PMLN could be decided.

He said the PTI has submitted a new application to

the ECP to seek expediting the scrutiny process against the PML-N and PPP in the foreign funding cases. He claimed that PTI has submitted ‘foreign funding proofs’ against PML-N and PPP. “We had filed a petition against PML-N in 2017 and so far, dozens of sessions of the [ECP] scrutiny [committee] were conducted. We have submitted another plea to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) today and sought daily hearing of the case. Till today, no decision is made despite having clear guidance of the Supreme Court (SC),” he said.

He said that both political parties are just wasting the time of the ECP’s scrutiny committee and the facts have been revealed now. He claimed that PML-N is also

facing an allegation of toppling late Benazir Bhutto’s government after receiving funds from Osama Bin Laden. The PTI leader challenged Bilawal BhuttoZardari and Maryam Nawaz to do whatever they wanted to do during their protest outside the ECP office on January 19.

He continued that ECP has summoned leaders of both political parties on January 18, whereas he has submitted proofs against PML-N and PPP. Habib said that PPP had hired a lobbyist in the United States to get NRO to whom they paid over $3 million after 2008. Habib said that both parties will have to respond to the ECP. It may be noted here that the scrutiny committee of

ECP had issued notices to PPP and PML-N in foreign funding case and asked to appear and submit their response on January 18.

Furthermore, the opposition parties have announced their plans to protest outside ECP headquarters to expedite proceedings of foreign funding case against PTI. The committee had also issued a notice to petitioner Habib, PPP’s Farhatullah Babar and PML-N’s Rana Muhammad Afzal to appear before the committee for further proceedings.

Habib alleged that both the parties used their accounts for money laundering. He said the that PTI is the only party which has submitted the details of its accounts with ECP.

Saturday, 16 January, 2021

04 NEWS

PSB OffiCiALS Set Off iNteNSe firewOrkS At NigHt, frigHteN CitizeNS LAHORE

CDA withdraws NOC for Park View City Housing Scheme ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has withdrawn the layout plan (LoP) and No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the development of Park View City Housing Society (PVCHS), which is owned by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Punjab Senior Minister Aleem Khan. In a letter to PVCHS Chief Executive Officer Umer Farooq last Monday, the CDA informed about the withdrawal of LoP and NOC, which it had earlier issued on June, 2018. Through the letter, CDA Director Regional Planning Abdul Haque Brohi directed the PVCHS to stop development and construction work, and sale and purchase of property in the scheme, besides handing over all lands, assets, record and other important things of the scheme to the authority, so that the authority could complete the scheme as envisaged by regulation 22 (a) of the Revised Modalities and Procedure 2020. The CDA had issued the LoP and NOC for the development of the scheme over 1067.90-kanal area in Mauza Malot before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended the NOC issued to PTI leader Aleem Khan for his housing society and declared the society as illegal. “It is astonishing to note that the board of the authority had approved the summary, proposing issuance of the NOC, in its meeting on April 17, 2014 and the NOC was issued in May, 2014. At the time of approval and grant of the NOC, no housing scheme could be planned or developed in Zone IV,” the court order had said.

Orange Line staffers thrash labourers LAHORE INP

The staff of Orange Line Metro Train brutally thrashed some labourers at the Awan Town station in Lahore on Friday. A footage showed several staff members, including a woman, were carrying sticks at the station. According to details, the employees asked the labourers to hold their ears with their hands and while the labourers were sitting like that, the staffers attacked them with sticks. However, the labourers were later rescued by the police. The labourers had set fire under the metro station to avoid cold weather. On the instructions of Lahore CCPO Ghulam Mahmood Dogar, the local police took action against the staffers and arrested Farman, Tanzeel, Javed, Aamir, and Waqas.

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SHAHAB OMER

HE Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on Thursday night set off intense fireworks in the provincial capital for the anthem of Kashmir Premier League (KPL) without intimation to the district administration and police, which spread fear and panic among the citizens.

According to details, the fireworks, which were set off in Qaddafi Stadium between 3 a.m. to 3:30 a.m., were so intense that they echoed in most parts of the city and frightened the people.

The fireworks were heard in Gulberg, Muslim Town, Ichhra, Garden Town, Shadman, Cavalry Ground, Walton Road, DHA, Cantt and other parts of the city.

After the fireworks, many people expressed outrage over the incident and termed the move as highly inappropriate.

They not only noticed the intensity of the

DISPLAY WAS IN CONNECTION WITH KASHMIR PREMIER LEAGUE, PSB ADMINISTRATOR fireworks, but also shared their reactions on social media. Some people made pictures and videos of the fireworks and expressed their concerns on social networking sites Twitter and Facebook while some even felt as if a war had broken out between Pakistan and India.

Some of the people believed that since the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was about to start, the organisers had set off fireworks for their anthem and rehearsals.

However, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director Commercial Babar Hamid told Pakistan Today that the fireworks that went off late night had nothing to do with the PSL or PCB. “The rumours that fireworks were set off for a PSL event or the PCB set off fireworks are false. Qaddafi Stadium has three portions, a cricket

ground, a football ground and a hockey ground. I guess, the display of fireworks took place at the football ground and its details can only be revealed by the Punjab Sports Board,” he said.

The sources in the Lahore Municipal Corporation (LMC) informed that permission is obtained from the district administration for any kind of large-scale fireworks in the city. “Even the government departments obtained NOCs from the district administration to set off fireworks on the New Year’s night. If the fireworks on Thursday night were managed by the Punjab Sports Board (PSB), the district administration would not have received any permission request for it,” they said.

The sources also claimed that the district administration was silent and ig-

norant on the whole issue while maintaining the past traditions.

When Model Town Assistant Commissioner Zeeshan Ranjha was contacted, he was unaware of the matter too. “Large-scale fireworks cannot take place in Lahore without permission,” Ranjha said.

Similarly, when the police stations of Gulberg, Muslim Town, Garden Town and Model Town were contacted, the concerned officials said that their police stations had no information about any such event, adding that no emergency calls or complaints of any kind were received.

PSB Administrator Mohammad Azhar told that the fireworks were set off at the football ground. “The fireworks were set off in connection with the KPL anthem. The firecrackers were brought from Kashmir. We had permission to do so,” he said. However, Azhar also admitted that the fireworks were very intense and set off late at night.

IHC seeks govt’s reply over plea against MTI ordinance

ISLAMABAD TLTP

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday sought response from the federal government over a plea seeking directives to declare the recently-promulgated ‘Federal Medical Teaching Institutes Ordinance’ null and void, and alleging the document was in field to dole out state resources to the existing government’s blue-eyed man.

Making the president of Pakistan, secretary Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, Establishment Division and chairman Board of Governors of Medical Teaching Institution as respondents on behalf of his clients, Advocate Mudassar Khalid Abbasi termed the ordinance derogation of a large number of non-gazetted staff and nurses of the institution.

It is pertinent to mention that the employees of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) have expressed grave concern over the

ordinance, claiming in consequence of the instrument, they would lose job security, pension and entitlement to government accommodation and plots of Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF), besides a number of other benefits.

Appearing before a singlemember bench of Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, the advocate urged the court to issue a restraining order against the incumbent chairman of PIMS till final adjudication of the matter in hand.

Challenging legality of the ordinance while citing a number of verdicts of the apex court and high courts, he made a point that the ordinance was not promulgated in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

He alleged that the president has misused power while promulgating the ordinance as the instrument will have infringed constitutional guaranteed fundamental rights of employees of the PIMS. During the course of hearing,

he apprised the court that the ordinance has changed the structure of civil servant rules and regulations, saying in 1969 PIMS was established and currently the incumbent government has promulgated the ordinance with an objective to privatise the institution.

He further alleged that incumbent chairman of the PIMS is a blue-eyed man of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), expressing that after promulgation of Act of Shaheed Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto University, the ordinance has been promulgated. The PIMS’ affairs are being operated under the ambit of two laws.

To which, Justice Kiyani observed, “Unfortunately powers of ordinance promulgation have been misused in the country. The Act was demolished under an ordinance. So it means affairs of one institution would be run under two laws.”

Later, issuing notices in the matter, the court sought reply from the respondents and adjourned hearing till January 28.

SHC issues notice to govt over plea regarding ordinance of islands KARACHI TLTP

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notice to the federal government, seeking its reply over the Pakistan Islands Development Authority Ordinance 2020. At the outset of the hearing on Friday, the deputy attorney general of Pakistan informed the court that the ordinance has expired and it has no legal status now. He sought time from the court for submission of a written reply in the court. Later, the SHC adjourned the hearing of the case till January 27 and sought response from the federal government.

The ordinance was challenged by Shahab Usto, stating that federal territory in the sea starts after 12 nautical miles and Bundal and Buddo are the properties of the province as they fall under 12 nautical miles. On the last hearing of the case, AGP Khalid Javed Khan had said that the federal government respects the resolution passed by the Sindh Assembly and the reservations of the provincial government would be resolved. The AGP had further said that development at the islands would be done only after the consultation with the Sindh government. On August 30 last year, the president had promulgated the ordinance for establishing Pakistan Islands Development Authority for “development and management of islands in internal and territorial waters of Pakistan.”

KCFR holds webinar on US-Pak relations KARACHI PR

A webinar was held on “Reset of US-Pakistan Relations” under the auspices of Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR).

KCR Board of Governors’ member Moin Fudda moderated the webinar.

Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security and Strategic Planning Moeed Yusuf said, “We were now in a very different world due to the changed dynamics, The Pak-US relationship should focus on having peace in Afghanistan, partnership and mutual assistance for improvements in all area by leaving the past behind. For the Afghan peace process, it was important to reach the finish line. Pakistan has no issues with US-India partnership as long as there is objectivity and no negativity by India.”

Former US Ambassador to Pakistan

Cameron Munter said that Pakistan must engage early with Biden’s administration to create a positive approach with a new style and focuss on playing the role of an eco-

nomic and diplomatic player. “Quite a few US staff members on the Afghan and other foreign policy matters will be willing to solve multilateral matters. There is a need

to have new business areas like information technology in private sector engagement,” Munter said.

John Hopkins University’s Senior Research Professor Daniel Markey emphasised that bilateral mechanisms need to be developed. He said, “Opportunity areas are pandemic response, climate change, clean energy and nuclear diplomacy. US-India relationship will be derived from India’s minority protection approach and strategic competition with China. Only a responsible approach will avoid an India-Pak crisis in future. Business relationships need to be made in new commercial areas by unleashing the power of the youth in Pakistan and having partnerships and connectivity.”

In her analysis, IBA Professor Huma Baqai spelled out that President-elect Biden would have to do a tight rope walking to undertake a damage control due to recent events under the Trump presidency. “There

is a need to have a “new relationship” with specific actions and Pakistan should not be paired with China. There is a mismatch on certain strategic matters between US and Pakistan, which needs to be addressed and Pakistan should not be considered a “contingent partner”,” she said.

In his concluding remarks, KCFR Chairman Ikram Sehgal said, “Pakistan wants to have a neutral stance with both Saudi Arabia and Iran, as we do not consider the Sunni and Shia differences as an issue. The US private sector can make a lot of money in Pakistan as there is untapped potential in the South along the coast from Karachi to Gwadar, which presents a golden opportunity. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shattered his relationships with all neighbouring countries, which is positive for Pakistan. The Afghan peace process is critical for Biden, who has a reputation of being a fair person, and Pakistan can play a major role.”

Saturday, 16 January, 2021

NEWS

Pakistan mulls alternate CPeC route to Cut Down DistanCe to China borDer ISLAMABAD

i

GHULAM ABBAS

N a major development, Pakistan is going to consider another major route connecting China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The new route would be around 350km shorter than the existing routes via Khunjerab pass.

According to documents available with this scribe, the Gilgit-Baltistan's Works Department, through a letter on January 8, was asked to prepare the 'concept clearance proposal' for the new route of CPEC, which would pass through Shigar, Skardu and Astor dis-

tricts of GB and connect to Muzaffarabad district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The concerned departments in these districts have also been asked to submit the concept clearance proposals for the "Construction of 33 feet wide truckable road from Yarkand (China border) to Gorikot in Astor via Shagarthang, Skardu" at the earliest.

Talking to Profit, GB Minister Maisam Kazim, who held a meeting with Federal Communications and Postal Services Minister Murad Saeed on Friday, informed that the communication minister was also optimistic on the approval of the new route, which would be

DGPC opens bids for 20 onshore blocks

a historic step by this government.

"After the approval of concept clearance proposals by relevant CPEC forums, the government would initiate work on the mega project by the end of this year," he quoted the federal minister as saying. According to the minister, the route from Yarkant to Skardu via Shigar was an ancient trade route between China and Baltistan region. Restoration of the already existing route would revolutionise economic activities in the area, he opined.

It may be noted that a Chinese delegation had earlier visited Shigar and Skardu districts of GB where the locals and political representatives had in-

formed them about the historic trade route between Baltistan region and China's Yarkand.

According to officials, this new route would be around 350km shorter than the existing land route between Pakistan and China. The route, after crossing the border at Yarkand, an oasis city in southwestern Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang, far western China, would connect Shigar, Skardu and Astor districts of GB before finally touching Muzaffarabad in AJK, they added.

This route, according officials, is comparatively straighter, safer and more weather resistant.

Mobile phone imports surge 52pc to $938m in July-Dec FY21

ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD

AHMAD AHMADANI

STAFF REPORT

In order to meet gas demands with local resources, the Director General of Petroleum Concession (DGPC) on Friday opened bids for the grant of petroleum exploration rights on 20 onshore blocks. The successful exploration & production (E&P) companies would have to invest over $71 million in three years on E&P activities. In addition, the companies would also be spending over $1.3 million in social welfare of the areas where their respective blocks are located. Sources in the Petroleum Division informed this scribe that the companies would be paid in local currency for E&P of indigenous resources. "The DGPC has opened bids for Block No 3068-6 (Killa Saifullah), Block No 2762-2 (Desert), Block No 3067-7 (Sharan), Block No 3272-16 (Lilla), Block No 3372-25 (Abbottabad), Block No 3471-1 (Nowshera), Block No 3372-26 (Hazro), Block No 3273-5 (Jhelum), Block No 3372-27 (North Dhurnal), Block No 2663-23 (Khewari East), Block No 30689 (Nareli), Block No 3068-10 (Block-28 North), Block No 3170-11 (D I Khan West), Block No 3069-9 (Suleiman), Block No 3072-9 (Okara), Block No 3171-2 (Nupur), Block No 2972-7 (Vehari), Block No 2972-8 (Sutlej), Block No 2770-4 (Islamgarh) and Block No 2467-17 (Sujawal South)," documents available with this scribe read. According to the Petroleum Division, the auction of new oil & gas blocks is part of the incumbent government's strategy to revive E&P activities in the country which had been ignored by previous governments. The government also aims to lessen its reliance on oil and gas import by introducing ease of doing business and transparency in the petroleum sector so as to ensure a level-playing field for all competitors. Earlier, in a bid to reduce dependency on imported gas and to meet gas requirements of the country, the Petroleum Division (PD) had decided to award 20 exploration licences to interested E&P companies.

The import of mobile phones jumped 52pc year-on-year (YoY) to $938 million during the first half (July-December) of the current fiscal year (2020-21).

According to the data issued by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the import bill of the machinery group increased 18.16pc month-on-month (MoM) and 1.76pc YoY to $867 million in the month of December 2020.

The major portion of this import was associated with the telecom sector, which increased 59pc MoM and 26.32pc YoY to $258 million during December 2020. This was followed by the import of power generating machinery, which was up 49pc YoY to $152 million. Electrical machinery and apparatus was third in line with $126 million worth imports during December 2020.

The imports of mobile phones under the head of telecom witnessed a considerable increase of 82.5pc YoY and 29.28pc MoM, clocking in at $214 million during the month under review.

Meanwhile, during the July-December period, ma-

chinery group imports fell 4.34pc YoY to $4.24 billion.

The biggest contributor to the import bill, in terms of value, remained the telecom sector, imports of which increased 36.8pc to $1.15 billion.

Earlier in December, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced that legal mobile phone imports increased by more than 90pc since the implementation of Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) in 2018. The PTA said that the import of mobile devices via legal channels increased to 28.02 million sets in 2019 from 17.2 million in 2018, while till December 9 in the ongoing calendar year 2020, more than 32.8 million devices have been imported.

The PTA said that 175,000 devices have been blocked based on their IMEI number that were reported stolen through Dirbs, adding that the system has also identified and blocked 24.3 million fake or replica mobile devices and 657,645 IMEIs which were cloned or duplicated, since the Dirbs system began. The PTA has also said that successful execution of the system has led to establishment of 29 local smartphone assembly firms while smuggling and inflow of cheap sets have been contained.

05

Pm seeks strategies to safeguard labourers’ rights, agriculture promotion ContInueD froM pAge 01 The premier advised the police to utilise the latest technological innovations and all available resources to combat crime and ensure the protection of the lives and properties of Pakistan’s citizens.

He reiterated this sentiment especially to the inspector general of police (IGP). He regretted that political appointments were made in the police force during previous tenures, which impacted performance of the department. He said that no one is above the law and asked the police personnel not to succumb to any political influence or pressure. He directed them to resolve public issues on merit.

Strict action should be taken against those police personnel who create hurdles in the provision of justice to the masses, he said. The people will be satisfied only when they are treated equally and according to the law, the prime minister added. Prime Minister Imran called for postings and transfers on the basis of merit only to ensure the proper dispensation of justice. He directed the police forces to actively nab the bigger criminal players, but to give a warning to minor offenders, asking them to refrain from indulging in such activities. IGP Inam Ghani briefed the Prime Minister about the progress on reforms related to Punjab Police. He informed the premier that proposals on financial autonomy of police stations and mechanism on reconciliatory council has been presented to the Punjab chief minister. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed CM Usman Buzdar to expedite the efforts to provide relief to the masses. Upon arrival in Lahore on a day-long visit, CM Buzdar called on PM Imran. The meeting discussed various matters related to development projects and the overall situation of the province.

Buzdar briefed the premier about the law and order situation of the province and development projects being carried out by the provincial government.

Apart from briefing PM Imran about preparations for upcoming Senate elections, Buzdar also briefed him about the performance of the provincial cabinet. On the occasion, the premier directed the Punjab CM to gear-up efforts to provide speedy relief to the masses.

Food exports decline 7.64pc, imports jump 52pc in 1HFY21 ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Pakistan's food group exports declined 7.64pc year-on-year (YoY) to $2.03 billion during the first six months (July-December) of the current financial year (2020-21).

According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the food group contributed around 17pc to the total exports of the country during 1HFY21.

Rice, fruits and fish & fish preparations were the major sources of foreign exchange earnings, as their exports clocked in at $963 million, $223 million and $195 million, respectively, during the period under review.

In terms of percentage, the export of rice and fish & fish preparations declined by 6.74pc YoY and 13.32pc YoY, respectively, whereas that of fruits witnessed a meagre growth of 1.84pc YoY during

1HFY21. As per the data, the export of food products in December 2020 increased 11.83pc YoY and 21.44pc MoM to $494 million.

On the other hand, food imports surged 52pc YoY to $3.90 billion during July-Dec FY21 as compared to the same period of FY20. Data showed that the import of milk and dairy products increased 19.56pc YoY to $91 million during 1HFY21 (27,267 metric tonnes).

During the period under review, Pakistan imported 1,629,769 metric tonnes of palm oil at a cost of $1.11 billion, which was 32pc higher than the same period of the last year. A sharp increase was also seen in tea imports, which jumped 25pc YoY to $285 million.

In the month of December 2020, food group imports clocked in at $886 million i.e. around 85.5pc YoY and 20.3pc MoM higher than Dec 2019 and Nov 2020.

Qureshi terms the British Parliament debate 'success of Pakistan’s diplomatic approach' ISLAMABAD APP

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Friday that the debate on Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) earlier in the week in the British parliament had made it clear that “Kashmir is not India’s internal issue”. The foreign minister was referring to a debate moved in the House of Commons by Sarah Owen from Luton North on January 13 on the situation in occupied Kashmir. Qureshi said in a statement that contrary to India’s portrayal of Kashmir as its internal issue, British parliamentarians had made clear that the issue was in fact a globally recognised dispute that had been addressed through several resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. He termed the development in the UK as “success of Pakistan’s diplomatic approach” and a

“source of encouragement for Kashmiris”, expressing confidence that such voices would further expose the “real face of India”.

“Pakistan has been exposing the ongoing Indian atrocities in IOK for a long [time] and now the same echo is being heard in the British parliament, endorsing Pakistan’s stance against India.” Qureshi stressed the need for delegations from the US Congress, British parliament and the European parliament to visit IOK in order to get first hand information about the serious human rights violations and the law and order situation there.

He said that the situation in occupied Kashmir was “extremely worrying” as millions of Indian troops continued persecution of Kashmiris. The foreign minister said that life there was marked with extrajudicial killings, illegal arrests of Kashmiri youth, abuses of women,

communication blockades and denial of access to independent observers.

About the upcoming administration of US President-elect Joe Biden, who is due to take oath on Jan 20, he said that many congressmen were familiar with the region and the atrocities perpetrated against Kashmiris.

“We expect them to raise [their] voice in the US Congress to save the unarmed Kashmiris from Indian tyranny and prolong[ed] military siege,” he said.

AN IMPASSIONED PLEA: Earlier in the week, UK Member of Parliament Sarah Owen from the Labour party made a moving speech in Westminster Hall, where a discussion took place on the situation in occupied Kashmir.

A vocal supporter of the Kashmiri people who has in the past expressed solidarity with those living under

occupation, she called on the British government to do more to condemn the situation in Kashmir. In her speech, Owen highlighted how the pandemic had affected the everyday realities of Kashmiris.

“Muslims have reported being turned away from hospitals. This is shocking at the best of times, but especially so during a pandemic,” she said, adding: “There are numerous reports of Kashmiri women and girls being raped. Senior officials in the BJP put on record their intentions to make Kashmiri women a part of this conflict. And I have heard [that there are] women in Kashmir that are terrified of being assaulted by the thousands of soldiers on their doorstep. Women fear for their lives and do not feel safe.”

Owen is from Luton North, a constituency which has a significant number of British Pakistanis. The Pakistan diaspora

across the United Kingdom has played a significant role in highlighting the plight of people living under Indian occupation in Kashmir, especially since August 2019 when the Narendra Modi-led government illegally stripped the valley of its special status.

British Pakistanis, many of whom have family in both Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and in the Indian occupied territory, have protested the Indian government’s move by writing letters to MPs, staging demonstrations and posting on social media.

Saturday, 16 January, 2021

06 COMMENT

Cold Justice….

How long will PDM last?

Managing the differences is no cakewalk

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The LHC backlog grows while a third of posts remain vacant

hE PDM comprises different parties with each one having a separate programme. they also have a history of bitter rivalries as well as of alliances against common enemies. Differences within PDM components are therefore natural and have continued to appear during the last five months of the alliance’s life. the PDM is presently united to pursue a long-term and a short-term agenda. While it has so far managed to prove itself to be more resilient than expected by the PtI leadership, more divisive issues are likely to emerge as time passes. It remains to be seen if the PDM leadership has the capacity to resolve the fresh challenges to its unity. the PDM’s ultimate goal is the restoration of civilian supremacy. Its short-term goal is to expose and, if possible, to dislodge the PtI government through constitutional means. there are differences within the alliance over tactics to be employed to achieve its aims. the PPP showed reservations when the PMl(N) chief named names. It still does not favour taking on the military establishment in public speeches. After an initial frontal attack to convey in unambiguous terms what the PDM’s ultimate target was, the alliance has taken recourse to unobjectionable euphemisms and generalities. It now wants institutions to strictly abide by their constitutional mandates. When the PDM President asked the rally in loralai whether the country belonged to the people or the “institutions”, everybody understood what he meant.

Sharp differences over resignations from the assemblies have been temporarily resolved by putting the issue on the backburner till all other tactics have been exhausted. the PDM has also managed to hammer out a consensus over participation in by-elections and the Senate polls. Meanwhile the PDM components have jointly or individually organized more than a dozen rallies with impressive participation. After a demonstration outside the ECP’s office, the PDM is scheduled to march on Islamabad. two challenges to the unity of the PDM would merge after the march. the controversy over the issue of resignations will re-emerge, while the PPP’s keenness to have a foothold in Punjab could stand in the way of having a joint panel. only time will show if the alliance would have the ability to resolve these differences.

AkhtAr Aly kureshy

A

lthough it is not an amazing story that a high-chill season is at its peak, leaving behind the dangerous spread of the coronavirus and chasing the wave of the killing price hike, it as no answer from our Prime Minister who is lost in the minus-plus calculations of the current account deficit, the remittances gimmick and the opposition NRo. one who survived the brutal coronavirus will be killed by the merciless chill and ultimately will be stabbed by the flood of the uncontrollable price hike. So, living in Pakistan is really a great phenomenon and not less than a jihad for nothing. Please kept in mind I am not talking about the Riasat-e-Madina, but it is the story of poor Pakistanis who have been obliged to live in an independent state of Pakistan and who voted for Imran Khan to get a change to comfort their tough lives.

Another invisible earthquake just surfaced, apart from so many others, that the Chief Justice of the lahore high Court, Mr Justice Qasim Khan, has withdrawn his list of nominees for appointment of lahore high Court judges while attending the meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan in the Supreme Court, Islamabad. It is a matter of great concern that 20 empty seats of judges are seeking the indulgence of whom? the Prime Minister or the Chief Justice Pakistan, Mr Justice gulzar Ahmad, or somebody else? For the last two years, this judicial pingpong is going on and every time the list is rejected for review or for the addition of new names. the point to be concentrated on is that justice is already evaporated and some monkey business is being played in the name of so-called justice. Where is justice in our society?

No need for eyeglasses, it is being demonstrated in every moment of our life?

PTV chief Is the government doing what its predecessors did?

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hE suspension of Mr Naeem Bukhari as Chairman of PtV was done by the Islamabad high Court because the age relaxation for him violated a previous Supreme Court judgment, which gives rise to the suspicion that the PtI government is guilty of the same sort of abuses that it came to power by accusing its predecessors of committing: of using state resources to provide jobs for the boys, even where it violates laiddown agreements. the IhC order, which ordered Mr Bukhari to stop working as PtV MD, along with a number of other PtV directors nominated by the government, relied explicitly on the Supreme Court judgment in the case of a previous PtV Chairman, Mr Ataul haq Qasmi, appointed by the PMl(N) government. the decision provides yet another example of the kind of amateurishness that seems to plague this government. the appointment of Mr Bukhari should have kept in view the criteria laid down by the Supreme Court in the earlier case, but did not, apparently in the anxiety to find a slot for Mr Bukhari, who established a claim on the PtI by appearing for it in the Panamagate case which led to Mian Nawaz Sharif being disqualified as Prime Minister. the criterion set does not forbid overage persons being appointed, it only makes it necessary for reasoning to be provided for the necessary waiver.

Mr Bukhari himself said that PtV was governmentowned, and the opposition would not get equal time on it. the clear partisan bias was not the reason for the restraint order, but his role, though it had not had time to develop, seemed oddly old-fashioned. his task should have been to turn around the state-run channel, and the PtI will have to find a replacement who will be able to achieve that and who meets the Supreme Court’s criteria. PtV has not yet recovered from the shock, nearly two decades old, of losing its monopoly. the PtI government should also note that this is yet another example of its being badly served by its legal advisers, who have lost yet another case.

The slaughter of Hazaras: Foreign involvement?

Kulbhushan Jhadav had confessed to fomenting such sectarian violence AyeshA ChAudhry

A

drastic situation was being faced by the individuals of the hazara community in Balochistan once again because 11 persons from it were slaughtered by terrorists of Islamic State of Iraq and levant’s Khurasan chapter that continued the legacy of sectarian and ethnic violence that used to be conducted by the terrorists of the lashkar-e-Jhangvi in the region. the hazara community is quite vulnerable and the violence against them has no doubt the capability of becoming a potential fault line for the state of Pakistan being exploited by foreign players among the antistate elements which fuel the violent sectarian elements and ethnonationalists of Balochistan. this piece will focus on the possibilities of foreign intervention in the case of hazara persecution in the region which has been proven to have had involvements of Indian agencies via the territory of war-affected Afghanistan. the persecution of hazara peoples had been a major violation of International humanitarian law because it is not only common in but also inside. the historic factors of their settlement in the regions of Pakistani Balochistan and Afghanistan, as well as their strong connection with the Shia Muslim community of Iran, are major catalysts which makes them as the easy target of being killed, tortured or slaughtered by those with extremist Wahhabi tendencies or racist tendencies among Pashtuns and Baloch. In the current era, especially after the events of 9/11 and the further strengthening of Wahhhabi extremist doctrines in the region, had paved the way for the spreading of sectarian violence against the Shia hazara Muslims inside Balochistan. the major events of persecution that are important in the unfortunate violence being committed against the hazaras were the massacre in Quetta on

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Asher John

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

tle that issue once and for all.

A big change we are observing is that you will not find a person without a headache in our country.

As if somebody high up has joined hands with a company making painkillers to earn a kickback. It is an open secret that every new day in Pakistan brings a new crisis or scam, giving unequivocal tension on which media channels their business to flourish and the lahore high Court, which is full of new nobody is taking care of the public being assured of cases and as a large backlog, is severely lacking one living in a Riasat-e-Madina, which has become a third (20) of its strength (60) for the last two years joke. If stern actions and policies not followed sooner and nobody is taking it seriously, which indicates the or later, Mr Khan will have to face the same position that we have no priority for justice to be served to which our corrupt leaders are facing either right or helpless citizen of Pakistan. It needs no mention here wrong, but nobody knows for sure until the system that no state can be run without having an efficient of efficient justice eliminates those corrupt persons and instant system of inexpensive justice, particularly from the scene. our history is evidence that Nawaz in the Riasat-e-Madina, or even in a secular state, and Sharif made the cases of corruption against Benazir and Zardari; then they made cases against Nawaz which we are loudly claiming.

Neither Prime Minister Imran khan is willing to Sharif, but both families are enjoying everything and claiming more and nothing give NRo to those who acas been eliminated, rather celerated this disaster and they ave become more powturmoil, nor as his governerful. ment the capacity and sysFacing cold justice in no way this is not an open invitem to incarcerate the tation to mobilize wisdom, it culprits and looters of nato redesign or revamp our is merely a simple matter, a tional wealth as the present university student can tell present judicial system to accountability system is a how to clean up the dirt with replica of earlier regime meet the fast and innovative iron hand in one go for all to who spent millions and bilmake a smooth and lovely lions for accountability and lifestyle of modern world Riasat-e-Madina to rule and nothing came out except a where everything is confined make the life of a common lip service and waste of man easy with full comforts money. A highly rated in mobile apps and the and also save him from a charming business of cormajority of Pakistanis and our chronic headache. ruption is touching its new Enjoying winter is a heights in Pakistan, and governments are using mobile charming dream for every everybody is victim of this Pakistani if the government corrupt system and there is phones and not apps to manages to achieve some no way out. resolve the issues, suffering prosperity and greatness to one thing is signifithe life of a common cance to take notice that and living still in the previous uplift man coupled with the promthe present government has ises Mr Khan made of estabcentury, playing the blame totally neglected making lishing a system of efficient any legislation, forget ingame and kidding others justice. A man wearing evitable law reforms, and warm clothes, eating healthy as badly failed to control food, can easily enjoy the the spike in the prices of cold season, but not the cold life utilities, and made the life of a common man a nightmare even though justice we are obliged to face. there is no concept of Nawaz Sharif, Shabaz Sharif, Asif Zardari and oth- peaceful life without ending the cold justice, as our ers are under siege. If the common man becomes judicial system has a heavy reflection of cold justice, angry, then nothing will be left to rule and there will and once you are involved in litigation you are be no need of making any Riasat-e-Madina. What booked forever in an abuse of justice.

Facing cold justice in no way to redesign or reapparently was sighted that the government has lost its claim of change for betterment? Is it an unholy vamp our present judicial system to meet the fast and passion of Imran Khan to fulfill his dream of sitting innovative lifestyle of modern world where everyon the chair of Prime Minister for five years and thing is confined in mobile apps and the majority of Pakistanis and our governments are using mobile nothing else?

We have seen that issues taken up by the Chief phones and not apps to resolve the issues, suffering Justice of Pakistan, either suo motu or in routine, can and living still in the previous century, playing the resolve those issues which may be even of a tangled blame game and kidding others. nature like te extension of the Army Chief’s tenure The writer is an Advocate Supreme Court of or the Senate election of. unfortunately, the frequency of suo motu actions is going down leaving the Pakistan, Law Professor, member International Bar public helpless. A burning issue which goes to Association and former Assistant Attorney General Supreme Court is a blessing for Pakistan so as to set- for Pakistan.

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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the day of Ashura in 2004, the killings of hazaras in the Mastung Massacre, the playground massacre in Quetta, the slaughter of hazara pilgrims coming back from Iran, the two major bombings against hazaras in 2013, the massacre in Akhtarabad, the 2003 bombing on hazara Imambargah and most importantly the recent slaughter of hazaras in Machh. Even in the target killings, some major political figures, social workers and sportsmen also been targeted for killings in the extremist and sectarian violence.

No doubt, such massacres and large scale killings of the people, specifically of the hazara community, who also remained the target of socio-economic discrimination and structural violence, were due to factors that had been created by the administrative bodies in Pakistan, but there was also the confirmation of involvement by Indian agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)’s major agent Kulbushan Jadhav. he confessed in the statement he made after he was arrested by Pakistani authorities for espionage operation that India had been involved in the fueling of ethnonationalist and sectarian violence in the region. the government of Pakistan had also shown many concerns about the way that the Indian state agencies and government can possibly be involved in the backing of outfits like ISIl (Khurasan) which operates from Afghanistan while conducting acts of violence in the Pakistani province of Balochistan. the dots are being joined up by different Pakistani officials and think tanks about the involvement of the Indian government, with confirmed sources towards the secessionist tendencies in the province in shape of the Baloch liberation Army (BlA) and Baloch Republican Army (BRA), and the possibility can be there also of its backing the extremist militants and terrorists of ISIl (Khurasan) while fueling the violence in the region on sectarian basis. Prime Minister Imran Khan said in his statement that the hands of India are there in the recent activities of sectarian violence that was happened in Machh district. the possibilities of Indian government and state agencies backing the

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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militant factions against the state of Pakistan had been also proved by the state intelligence agencies of Pakistani state, including Directorate of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), the Directorate general of Military Intelligence (MI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

It has even been confirmed through the sources in form of statements of leading Indian think tanks, journalists and retired military officials that the fault lines inside Pakistan are to target the Shia communities for paving ways for the violence and to make platforms for the conduct of violence on sectarian basis by creating a lot of chaos among the different Muslim sects inside Pakistan. these are the major possible factors which had proven the point that the sectarian violence, especially the recent act which was conducted against the coalminers belonging to the hazara Shia community, has proven the very point that the possibility is very much there of the involvement of the Indian government as an actor of fueling violence.

In the very crux of this argument, the point is to be added that the persecution of hazaras had been a major violation of International humanitarian law because it is not only common in Pakistan but also inside Afghanistan. the historic factors of their settlement in the regions of Pakistani Balochistan and Afghanistan as well as their strong connection with the Shia Muslim community of Iran are major catalysts. the difficult condition being faced by individuals from the hazara community in Balochistan was shown once again by 11 persons from that community being massacred by extremist elements. the possibility of the terrorist wings being supported by the Indian government exists because of the past confirmed terror activities in which the position of India was very much clear. Such massacres and large-scale killings of people, specifically of the hazara community, is not just because they were the target of socio-economic discrimination and structural violence due to the factors that were paved by the administrative bodies of the country, but also because a senior RAW man confessed to it.

The writer is a freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Saturday, 16 January, 2021

COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. e-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan today exclusively

PIA 777 impounded at KL

Trump and his love of power

ZAfAr AZiZ ChAudhry

A

DMIttEDly uS President Donald trump has a towering personality very fit for his office. over six feet tall, with an unusually large jawbone and a large head on which he has grafted very expensive and artfully crafted auburn hair which distinguish him from all previous Presidents. he keeps their colour changing from orange to slivery grey as suits his mood. this hairstyle reflects his power, and he cherishes his hair by frequently running his hands over them to keep them in shape. Always meticulously dressed in lounge suit with diamond cufflinks, he truly represents an impressive President of the uSA. trump’s personality is certainly extreme by any standard, and particularly rare in a President. People who encounter him seem to find him confounding. But a look is needed at Donald trump the man, his disposition and his inner motivation, that make his unique psychological makeup. there is overwhelming evidence that Donald trump’s moral vision is centered on the notion of power. looking at the way he governed te uSA, it is clearly his disregard for policy process, his use of twitter as a political power tool to stir negative emotions among his followers, a desire to crush his opponents, and his unchecked narcissism which are the features which illustrate his idea of power. thus he can go to any limit to save his presidency. his morality does not matter as long as he adamantly follows his policy. his decision to move the uS Embassy to Jerusalem was the product of his thinking influenced by the Evangelicals who believe that the restoration of Israel as an exclusively Jewish state with Jerusalem as its capital is the fulfillment of a biblical prophecy.

In an address to the united Nations, trump said he was elected “not to take power, but to give power to the American people where it belongs,” but his rhetoric was in fact meant for his political supporters, most of whom were evangelical Christians, and the white nationalists. trump was a staunch follower of theologian Norman Vincent Peele according to whom there should always be a fusion of power and virtue. this theology is controversial and is not shared by all American Christians. his love for power and his contempt for losers were more akin to Nietzsche than to Christ. Moreover his love of power was influenced more by his personal power and material wealth, rather than his vision and deep political convictions. he was an iconic financial real estate tycoon before taking up politics.

More than “moral excellence,” virtue was and climate change, included some of his mileunderstood by him as self-restraint whereas for stone achievements. his growing ties with the Founding Fathers of America, virtue meant India and forging of other military pacts was to to foster prosperity and preserve liberty. If reli- contain the growing influence of China in the gion was central to their political thought, it was Asia-Pacific region. the most prominent feature of trump’s fornot for its spiritual significance but for its social role in making an ideally good society. they saw eign policy was the withdrawal of the uSA from virtue as an antidote to the threat of passion and international pacts and treaties. he withdrew from the trans-pacific Partnership, uNESCo, divisions to secure their freedom.

President trump on the other hand, dis- and also withdrew from Iran Nuclear Deal, the plays the direct antithesis of virtue. his lack of uNhRC (Palestine Agency in the Near East), moderation, his constant exhibition of emotion and the Banned land-based Missiles treaty. By and exaggeration which he called “truthful hy- these steps he really damaged what were useful perbole,” his habit of lying and exchanging networks of alliances and international institutruths for “alternative facts,” and his steady ap- tions for the uSA, making its position much peal to passion, fear and hatred; his attempt to weaker in the world.

President trump’s taped admission to Bob pit one group against another and to bully his critics, were all his peculiar features. his Cab- Woodward that he deliberately misled Ameriinet was full of rich people who indulged in un- cans about the danger of the coronavirus makes him morally culpable abashed displays of in the ensuing tragedy. wealth, which was these were the result reminiscent of a pluof his systematic cynitocracy rather than a The world warily watches te cism which was sympmodern democracy. he tomatic of everything did not care for any USA’s postelection he disliked or which moral vision that has aftershocks. The move inside did not benefit him. always characterized In the aftermath of uS presidential rhetothe government for the the present elections, ric. Whatever he said he deliberately raised as President, power impeachment of Trump keeps the bogey of their was the main underlyhim unmoved. He still desires being rigged, and reing idea. It was also a fused to vacate the lens through which he to make a mess of the White house. Whersaw the world. inauguration ceremony on ever he went after the In so far trump’s elections, he addressed foreign policy was conJanuary 20. As the things rallies to incite them to cerned, he showed his grit by pulling uS stand, it is speculated that the revolt against the socalled rigged elections. troops out of the region President will be dragged out this created a chaotic of the Middle East, subfeeling in the masses, stantially reducing his of the White House by force, especially when trump forces in Afghanistan making a mockery of the had no proof to prove and Iraq, even after losthat the elections were ing the November elecdemocratic values of the USA. in fact rigged. his lust tion. A recent survey revealed that threeThis would exemplify the greed for power made him believe that some Diquarters of Americans of the President to remain in vine power may reinwanted uS troops to stall him in power. leave Afghanistan and power even if there is no Such was his greed to Iraq, and trump did ground for him to hold his remain in power. the very well by pulling out recent attack on the a substantial number of office after January 20.

Capitol hill was sysuS troops from tematically organized Afghanistan, Iraq and by the hooligans of his other parts of the Midparty. this kind of dle East where those had been deployed during the previous 20 years mayhem and attack on the seat of government without any political or monetary gains. on the was unprecedented. In the past even when some other hand he saved millions of dollars by avoid- Presidents had doubts about the fairness of elecing or reducing American involvement in foreign tions, no objection or protest was ever made to countries. But trump did all this without a fol- save the democratic values of the uSA. the low-on strategy or after consultations with allies. world warily watches te uSA’s postelection afBut it is expected that his successor Biden shall tershocks. the move inside the government for adopt a deft regional diplomacy with a residual the impeachment of trump keeps him unmilitary presence capable of surgical operations. moved. he still desires to make a mess of the But he should capitalize on the political gains due inauguration ceremony on January 20. As the to uS retrenchment from the Middle East. Import things stand, it is speculated that the President competition from China has cost the uSA at least will be dragged out of the White house by two million jobs since 1999, many of them in the force, making a mockery of the democratic valmanufacturing sector. opinion surveys reveal ues of the uSA. this would exemplify the greed that most Americans see international trade as of the President to remain in power even if there benefiting the uS economy, but they want trade is no ground for him to hold his office after January 20. deals more favorable to uS workers. the trump Administration’s foreign policy, The writer is a former member of the including the uSA’s ties with allies, relations with China and Russia, and policies toward the provincial civil service and can be contacted at Middle East, North Korea, Venezuela, trade, zafar.aziz.ch@gmail.com.

SIR, A PIA B777 has been impounded on court orders before departure at Kl, because of default in lease payments. Any experienced professional CFo and CEo of a commercial airline operating on international sectors should have been aware of repercussions involved in international default and instead of contesting the matter in court should have managed by making partial payments. A default in lease can trigger a default with international lenders and any qualified aviation industry executive with experience is required to manage through skillful negotiations. the aviation industry is facing a crisis and as long as CoVID19 pandemic is not curtailed, airlines have embarked on cutting operating costs. these are not times to embark on increasing the fleet and I fail to understand the commercial justifications on leasing more aircraft. Funds should be utilized to pay lease installments for aircrafts already in use, while making efforts to return utilized leased aircrafts. PIA has been restrained from using two B777 aircrafts leased from Dublin-based AerCap in 2015, which sold this portfolio to Peregrine Aviation Co ltd in 2018. the aircrafts with manufacturer serial numbers 32716 and 32717 should never have been sent on international flights. What more will it take for the Federal government to understand that those at the helm in the Aviation Ministry, CAA Pakistan and PIA lack the capacity to handle the affairs of an airline, already in crisis? the EASA issue was mishandled by everybody involved. the Minister for Aviation must have been given this list of over 800 pilots employed by Pakistani and foreign airlines by CAA alone, which has this information. What were the motives, remains to be investigated? the Secretary Aviation should have advised the Minister of the repercussions of making such an irresponsible statement in NA. Malik Tariq ali lahore

Revamping Agriculture Sector FoR decades we were taught that agriculture is the backbone of our country. It is drowning in shame being an agri-state, a devastating situation came today i.e. Import of basic commodities such as wheat and sugar. At the time of independence, 13 agri-based districts of British ruled Punjab went to India while 17 districts merged in Pakistan. these 13 districts are fulfilling the requirement of a 1.353bn population. Why these 17 districts can’t meet the needs of the 220million population?

Agriculture wasn’t ever a priority in both civil and military rule. the incumbent government is no longer different from the previous one. Khan & his selected team can’t introduce even a single agriculture reform. the federal government keeps focusing to facilitate the businesses, introducing energy relief packages.

Now under the umbrella of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Khan’s government is going to privatize the agriculture sector. this private-sector plunges agriculture into crisis, govt. employees deliberately damaged the Agri-business and are co-offender with the mafia.

India Five times bigger than Pakistan, 600 seed companies are registered all over India while in Pakistan 300 seeds providing companies are registered. Although the tahreek-e-Insaaf government announced to do agriculture reforms but probably Khan and the glorified selected team don’t have time for agriculture -development, and reforms.

Agro-business termed as the economic backbone of the country but due to outdated, impractical policies of subsequent government & conflict of interests damaged the agriculture sector resulting in static growth. 60% of the country’s population lives in rural areas. Not developing the agriculture sector may affect the rural economy badly, as the population of Pakistan is growing wildly due to the lack of family planning.

Because of the mercurial policies & delaying tactics used by sugar beneficiaries, cotton production drastically reduced in a cotton belt in south Punjab. farmers are in deep distress, suffering in silence. Sugar mills shifted to South Punjab, expanding housing societies ruined the agricultural land. one of the reasons behind this land grabbing by real estate tycoons is farmer’s fear of not getting their due share in crops harvesting. this illegitimate land grabbing needs to be stopped. In Pakistan, only wheat has a support price while in India 23 crops have a support price. engr. M. UsMan Javed sial BahawalpUr

Secure food supply AgRICultuRE research centers (PARC) across the country are ineffective due to incompetent, dishonest & inadequate staff & lack of interest and support from the government. Currently, there is no research happening at their, become a white elephant on the national exchequer. universities can play a pivotal role in the socio-economic uplift of rural Pakistan & developing agriculture into the export mode. the Islamia university of Bahawalpur is whole-heartedly contributing to the welfare of Pakistani living in rural areas especially the south Punjab region by leading in agriculture research.

Professor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Bandesha (Chairman Plant breeding & genetics Department, IuB) is Pioneer in agriculture research all over Pakistan. IuB provided Cottonseed is being cultivated in 70% of total cotton cultivation land across Punjab with the highest yield ever. While on the government side, Pakistan’s biggest cotton research center Multan introduced only 23 Bt& non-Bt cotton seeds in 48 years since their inception. Professor Dr. Bandesha & his team of scientists developed IuB-222, MM-58 & IuB-13 cottonseeds to revive the dying cotton sector which was gifted to cotton growers of the Bahawalpur division.

Bahawalpur division contributes 36% of total cotton production in Pakistan. Recently IuB’s whitefly resistant cottonseed (IuB-4) showed outstanding performance. Islamia university under the vision of Dr. Bandesha through mentoring development programs keeps focusing to bring R&D of different agro-products such as cotton, wheat & fruits to a new horizon. Furthermore, the value addition of agriculture products, illiterate farmers, small scale farming & outdated field practices needs to be seriously addressed. At the time of every crop, most of the resulting crop wasted because of the lack of value-addition & marketing strategies.

Imran Khan government should facilitate value-addition of agro-products & introducing technology such as drip irrigation prior to the training of farmers including interest-free loans trespassing provincial governments.

Javed lahore

Saturday, 16 January, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

Encircling china and praising india: ThE Us sTraTEgic framEwork for ThE indo-pacific A POTENTIAL CONCERN IS THE PROSPECT THAT INDIA IS BEING THROWN INTO THE US-CHINA SCRAP

counter currents

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Dr Binoy kampmark

hE feeling from Rory Medcalf of the Australian National University was one of breathless wonder.

“The US government,” he wrote in The Strategist, “has just classified one of its most secretive national security documents – its 2018 strategic framework for the Indo-Pacific, which was formally classified SECRET and not for release to foreign nationals.”

Washington’s errand boys and girls in Canberra tend to get excited by this sort of thing. Rather than seeing it as a blueprint for imminent conflict with China, a more benign reading is given: how to handle “strategic rivalry with China.” Looming in the text of the National Security Council’s US Strategic Framework for the IndoPacific (SFIP) is a generous doffing of the cap to Australia’s reckless, self-harming approach towards China. As an unnamed senior US official (of course) told Axios, the Australians “were pioneers and we have to give a lot of credit to Australia.”

Australian senior intelligence advisor John Garnaut is given high praise for his guiding hand. When war breaks out between Beijing and Washington, we know a few

people to thank.

The SFIP, declassified on January 5, is very much a case of business as usual and unlikely to shift views in the forthcoming Biden presidency. The timing of the release suggests that the Trump administration would like to box its predecessor on certain matters, notably on China.

In a statement from National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien, the SFIP “provided overarching strategic guidance for implementing the 2017 National Security Strategy within the world’s most populous and economically dynamic region”. The National Security Strategy, in turn, recognised “that the most consequential challenge to the interests of the United States, and those of our allies and partners, is the growing rivalry between free and repressive visions of the future.” Beijing is cast in the role of repressive force in “pressuring Indo-Pacific nations to subordinate their freedom and sovereignty to a ‘common destiny’ envisioned by the Chinese Communist Party.”

The imperium’s interests, according to the SFIP, must be guarded (“strategic primacy in the Indo-Pacific region”); a “liberal economic order” must be promoted while China is to be prevented “from establishing new, illiberal spheres of influence”.

North Korea is deemed of high importance in terms of whether it threatens the US and its allies, “accounting for both the acute present danger and the potential for future changes in the level and type of threat posed” by Pyongyang. The US is also to retain “global economic leadership while promoting fair and reciprocal trade.” One of the “top interests” of the US in the IndoPacific is identified in pure power terms:

retaining “economic, diplomatic, and military access to the most populous region in the world and more than one-third of the global economy”. Washington is keen to preserve “primacy in the region while protecting American core values and liberties at home.” But there is the spoiling presence of China, aspirational superpower, and keen for its bit of geopolitical pie. “Strategic competition between the United States and China will persist, owing to the divergent nature and goals of our political and economic systems.”

China is ever the cheeky opportunist, seeking to “circumvent international rules norms to gain an advantage.” Beijing “aims to dissolve US alliances and partnerships in the region” exploiting “vacuums and opportunities created by these diminished bonds.”

With this in mind, US defence strategy should be “capable of, but not limited to: (1) denying China sustained air and sea dominance inside the ‘first island chain’ in conflict; (2) defending the first-island-chain nations, including Taiwan; and (3) dominating all domains outside the first island-chain.”

The document also acknowledges an untidy region of shifting power balances and increased defence spending, which will “continue to drive security competition across the Indo-Pacific”. Japan and India are singled out for special mention in that regard. A measure of angst is registered: “Loss of US pre-eminence in the Indo-Pacific would weaken our ability to achieve US interests globally.”

The authors of the SFIP are unashamed about the fistful of principles that will maintain US power, the sort that masquerades in popular language as the “liberal rules-based order”. Desirable objectives include the US

being the “preferred partner” of “most nations” in the region; and that these powers “uphold the principles that have enabled US and regional prosperity and stability, including sovereignty, freedom of navigation and overflight, standards of trade and investment, respect for individual rights and rule of law, and transparency in military activities.” No wobbling will be permitted; allies will have to get in line.

India, “in cooperation with like-minded countries,” figures as a shining hope. Its rise is deemed essential, serving as “a net provider of security and Major Defense Partner”. What is envisaged is a strategic partnership “underpinned by a strong Indian military able to effectively collaborate with the United States and our partners in the region to address shared interests.”

For its spiky anti-China message, the nature of the economic relationship with Beijing is hard to ignore, provided it is conducted on US terms. The strategy is, to that end, most Trumpian in character, emphasising the need to “prevent China’s industrial policies and unfair trading practices from distorting global markets and harming US competitiveness.”

In what has become a tradition of the Trump administration, the Framework document does not tally with messages from other equivalent national security assessments. The officials of empire are not speaking with a coherent voice.

The 2019 Indo-Pacific Strategy Report by the Department of Defense, for instance, makes good mention of Russia as a “revitalized malign actor”. (Pentagon pundits can never seem to give the bear, or their paranoia, a rest.) Despite tardy economic growth occasioned by Western sanc-

At the mercy of big tech billionaires INDIA NEEDS STRINGENT DATA PROTECTION LAWS. IT ALSO NEEDS TO ENCOURAGE ITS TECH INDUSTRY TO DEVELOP COMPETITIVE SOCIAL MEDIA PRODUCTS

HindustAn times

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ViVek WaDhWa

hE United States (US) technology industry has shown us that it is more powerful than world leaders. Not only were social media companies such as Twitter and Facebook able to muzzle the US president, with the help of Amazon, they were able to shut down an emerging competitor.

I am not saying that this was not justified.

President Donald Trump did incite violence and cause an insurrection — while the social media platform, Parler, fanned the flames of hatred and facilitated the planning of atrocities by white nationalists.

What is concerning is that the same companies now claiming to act in the interest of public safety were the ones that enabled the rise of Trump and divided America in the first place. The monopolistic powers of these companies enabled them to demand that we accept their terms and conditions or be locked out of online social discourse. They made themselves the judge and jury and refused to accept responsibility for the damage they caused.

Facebook has been at it for years, facilitating the spread of misinformation on a global scale, and denying responsibility for its actions. In 2018, it ignored the United Nations, which accused the company of having a “determining role” in stirring up hatred and genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar. Before this, it enabled data firm Cambridge Analytica to acquire 50 million user profiles, thereby facilitating the spread of fear and misinformation by Trump and his 2016 election victory. Facebook data was also used to influence the Brexit vote in Britain, and, possibly, regional elections in India.

But the damage didn’t just stop at data.

WhatsApp, in particular, has enabled the fermentation of hatred and civil unrest in almost all of the countries where it is popular because it lacks moderation and other critical checks and balances.

Social media companies have been reaping huge profits from the spread of disinformation. They perfected the art of manipulating the news we read so that we spend time on their platforms — and become more opinionated. They watch everything we do and keep track of who we interact with. Until the political winds shifted and the Democrats won control of all three branches of government, they refused to change their ways or take responsibility for what transpired on their platforms. There are important lessons to be learned. Just as the Americans did, India is placing itself at the mercy of billionaires who don’t seem to care for anything but money.

India should know better, though, because it wasn’t that long ago that it was subjugated by the East India Company, which started as a money-obsessed but benevolent trading group and became more powerful — and evil — than governments.

WhatsApp is now the dominant mobile communication platform in India. The government made a serious mistake when it allowed the platform’s parent company, Facebook, to add payment services — because this will enable it to also monopolise Indian commerce.

Facebook will gain data on an unprecedented scale — and have the ability to create economic shocks greater than that of demonetisation. So far, there was a Chinese wall between WhatsApp and Facebook. Undeterred by commitments it had made to keep the data private, WhatsApp is now demanding that users accept its right to share extensive personal mobile data with Facebook. If users don’t comply with its demands by February 8, they will get kicked off its platform.

This is just the start. When Facebook expands its monopoly and gains the data on a billion Indians that it is seeking, it will be able to hold the government hostage too.

Note that Facebook didn’t dare to pull this

stunt in Europe because the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulations expressly prohibited social media companies from sharing such data. It feared the types of fines that the Europeans have been imposing on rogue tech companies.

India needs data protection laws that are at least as stringent as those in Europe. It also needs to encourage its tech industry to develop competitive social media products — and provide them the protections and support they need. That is what China did — it saw no advantages in letting foreign companies dominate its technology industry so it blocked Facebook, Google, Twitter and Netflix, and raised enough obstacles to force Uber out.

Chinese technology protectionism created a fertile ground for local startups by eliminating the fear of foreign predators. This led to the creation of companies that are the most valuable and successful in the world — and adhere to Chinese culture and values.

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu recently announced, over Twitter, that his company is creating an alternative to WhatsApp called Arattai (which means chat in Tamil). This could provide the alternative to WhatsApp that users fleeing to Telegram and Signal are desperately looking for. And it could become a platform for Indian mobile-app innovation.

India could also take a page from Trump’s book and demand that Facebook India be sold to one of its tech tycoons. Trump forced Tik Tok US to enter divesture negotiations with Oracle, Microsoft, and Walmart because he was worried about China gaining access to the personal data of more than 100 million Americans — and ability to influence public opinion and culture.

Imagine if Mark Zuckerberg decided that he did not like Narendra Modi’s farm laws or Shashi Tharoor’s tirades against the East India Company — and shut them off. This is what could lie ahead unless the country takes immediate action.

Vivek Wadhwa is a distinguished fellow at the Labor and Worklife Program of Harvard Law School.

tions and a fall in oil prices, Moscow “continues to modernize its military and prioritize strategic capabilities – including its nuclear forces, A2/AD systems, and expanded training for long-range aviation – in an attempt to re-establish its presence in the Indo-Pacific region.” The authors of the Framework document are, in sharp contrast, barely troubled by Moscow and, surprisingly, sober on the issue. “Russia will remain a marginal player in the IndoPacific region relative to the United States, China and India.” Abhijnan Rej of The Diplomat could not help but find this inconsistency odd. “So Russia is a threat in a public document but not one in a classified one?”

As for India, the 2019 IPSR does much to avoid exaggeration and elevation.

“Within South Asia, we are working to operationalize our Major Defense Partnership with India, while pursuing emerging partnerships with Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal.” The Pentagon notes an increase in the “scope, complexity and frequency of our military exercises” with India. But for all that, New Delhi hardly remains a jewel of defence strategy relative to such traditional allies as South Korea and Japan.

The SFIP, in contrast, makes a bold stab at linking the goals of maintaining US regional supremacy with New Delhi’s own objectives. This is bound to cause discomfort in the planning rooms, given Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rhetoric on regional multipolarity. An article of faith in Indian policy on the matter is ensuring that no single power dominates the region. Another potential concern is the prospect that India is being thrown into the US-China scrap. Medcalf concludes his assessment of the framework document with his own call for what promises to be future conflict. “America,” he insists, “cannot effectively compete with China if it allows Beijing hegemony over this vast region, the economic and strategic centre of gravity in a connected world.” The conflict mongers will be eagerly rubbing their hands.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne.

India clings to a failed status quo ONE REASON FOR DISTRUST IS MODI AND HIS GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN DISHONEST ABOUT THE ECONOMY AmericAn enterprise institute Derek SciSSorS

Earlier this week, India’s Supreme Court indefinitely stayed new, important farm laws, creating a court-appointed committee to . . . do something, maybe. This has been hailed as prudent and needed to protect farmers and attacked as a dishonest, tactical move to pacify them, with the laws implemented as is on only a few months’ delay. India and its farmers would be better off if the latter was true. It’s understandable why many people inside and even outside India support widespread farmer protests. They are democratic expression against a government that has taken anti-democratic positions, such as formally discriminating against Muslims and stifling human rights advocates. Farmers fear future policy changes and have reason not to trust Prime Minister Narendra Modi. One reason for distrust is Modi and his government have been dishonest about the economy. Prior to COVID, there were continuous, justified accusations that official statistics overstated economic performance. There were also serious doubts about the policy path, in light of poor results and the government’s unwillingness to persist with either liberalizing or populist steps. Twist: The new laws are the single best economic action the Modi government has taken in nearly seven years. They include the basis for most successful economic reform: more choices. Farmers for the first time would have the option of selling outside state-controlled markets on a broad scale. Auxiliary changes also remove important crops from government control. This to some extent mimics what China did 40 years ago, which itself set the stage for the industrial take-off many Indians long for. Yet much of India wants to continue sitting still. Agricultural collectivization is responsible for the deaths of tens of millions globally, and the immiseration of billions. Rural India in particular suffered per capita income below $600 annually in 2019 with an average farm plot that is tiny and shrinking due in part to weak rural land rights.

Collectivization means rural poverty for at least another generation, as population pressure rises. Against that, farmers fear future steps will reduce the level of support the government provides. This parallels urban workers employed in the “formal” sector opposing labor market liberalization that is aimed at helping the much larger group of informal workers. In both cases, an organized minority of the country is trying to block reforms that will definitely help the majority but *might* hurt them. Defenders of the Supreme Court ruling say implementation of the laws is being rushed. In fact, it’s decades overdue. There’s no serious implementation challenge in changes that simply give people more options and, as protestors correctly realize, more time can’t reassure them about hypothetical future harms. The only thing the Supreme Court has done is raise the chances these farm laws die on the vine and rural India remains impoverished. Ordinary and elite Indians share dreams of national economic greatness. There are some in the US and elsewhere who anticipate these dreams coming true. But 900 million people nowhere close to middle income and with no realistic path to getting there makes such greatness impossible. Indian farmers tying their future to government handouts would be an anchor the country cannot budge.

Saturday, 16 January, 2021

BUSINESS 09 corporate corner vivo introduces Y51s for clear shots, swift performance LAHORE: vivo, the leading global smartphone brand, has announced the launch of its latest mid-range smartphone, Y51s, in Pakistan. This new addition to the youth-oriented Y series will house an 8GB RAM + 128 GB ROM for the usage of multiple apps with ease. Featuring AI triple camera set up, the new Y51s houses a 48MP main rear camera with various built-in multiple shooting modes including super night camera, stylish night filters to enable users to capture ultra-clear shots, day and night. To support long lasting camera and app usage experience, vivo Y51s comes equipped with a massive 5000mAh battery complemented by 18W fast charge technology. Additionally, it also features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner that turns on the display and unlocks the phone at the same time effortlessly. Press release

ImPoRteRs' fAke CleARAnCe CeRtIfICAtes hAmPeRIng govt's Aml DRIve LAHORE

t

hassaN NaQVI

HE recent scandal regarding the 'use of fake stamps of Pakistan's Embassy in Japan to import used cars' is a clear example of how importers are damaging Pakistan's progress in tackling issues pertaining to money laundering.

Although the country has made some progress in its anti-money laundering (AML) drive in recent times, it still has to report back to the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in order to being blacklisted by the global watchdog.

According to sources, the Customs Appraisement Department had recently started an investigation wherein it was unearthed that a used luxury car was imported from Japan on a 'fake clearance certificate' of Pakistan's embassy.

Upon further probe, it was revealed that a number of vehicles have already been imported on fake documents of Pakistani Embassy in Japan.

"This incident shows that importers are damaging the government's efforts to curb money laundering," an official source privy to this development told Profit. "This is also a violation of the newly announced Auto Development Policy."

It may be noted that the government had recently issued SRO-52(1) 2019 to curb misuse of used cars' import policy, noting that it causes a massive flight of foreign exchange from the economy.

The conditions stipulated in the SRO were to facilitate genuine overseas Pakistanis, discourage the policy's misuse by unscrupulous commercial importers, ensure proper documentation of the entire transaction process, and help Pakistan comply international commitments towards FATF and AML laws.

"Now, once again, importers are trying to pressurise the government by proposing various import schemes," said the source, adding that this will only result in further damaging the local auto industry and the country's economy.

"The new Auto Development Policy has attracted several new entrants who have invested over $2 billion cumulatively and are about to start their volume production. Hence, liberalising the import of used vehicles will go against the spirit of this policy and discourage global OEMs from further investments in Pakistan," he reasoned.

"The government needs to consider that attracting and maturing new investments in large-scale manufacturing is a multiyear effort and one wrong step could seriously put to waste all efforts in this regard."

He opined that local manufacturers, combined with hundreds of parts' producers, dealers and the industry's four million

MARKET DAILY

ISLAMABAD: Shalimar Group of Companies has decided to bring the world’s best architects to Sargodha for its upcoming project, Shalimar Smart City. This housing project is being designed by the world’s best urban planners, Meinhardt Group Singapore. To celebrate their collaboration, an official MoU signing ceremony was held on Friday during an event organized by Elysium. Pr

Cement exports drop 8.6pc in December ISLAMABAD sTaFF rePOrT

The export of cement declined 8.58pc year-on-year (YoY) to $19.253 million in December 2020, as compared to $21 million in December 2019. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics attributed this decline to closure of ports, lower trade activity on the Pak-Afghan border, and lower demand from international buyers due to the Covid-19 pandemic. On a month-on month basis, however, cement exports rose 6.2pc when compared with exports worth $18.129 million in November 2020. In terms of quantity, cement exports increased 19pc MoM and 7.52pc YoY to 593,215 metric tonnes, from 498,091 metric tonnes in the previous month and 551,729 metric tonnes in December 2019. On a cumulative basis, cement exports during the first half (July-Dec) of FY2020-21 declined marginally by 1.61pc YoY, from $145.26 million in Dec 2019 to $142.927 million. It may be noted the export of cement had witnessed an increase of 8.27pc during the first quarter (July-Sept) of the current financial year as compared to the corresponding period of last fiscal year. The country had exported cement worth $72.296 million in 1QFY21 against the exports of $66.773 million in 1QFY20. In terms of quantity, cement exports had increased 30.09pc in the first quarter, from 2,196,835 metric tonnes in 1QFY20 to 1,688,687 metric tonnes.

Stocks lose 58 points in range-bound session KARACHI sTaFF rePOrT

Reminiscent of yesterday, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) endured another volatile session on Friday, with the indices swaying both ways in search of a clear direction before closing in the red.

Global equity markets displayed a mixed performance, whereas crude oil prices inched lower from the previous close; WTI crude price falling 1.34pc to $52.85 while Brent crude price dropping 1.61pc to $55.51 (as at 4:46pm PST).

According to an Arif Habib Ltd report, "Selling activity was observed across the board today, but was more prominent in cement, banks and oil & gas marketing sectors. Engineering (steel) sector, on the other hand, performed well in relative terms

mainly on the back of expectation of an increase in product prices.”

SUMMARY: The benchmark KSE-100 Index moved within a narrow range today, registering its intraday high at 46,177.38 (+188.03 points) and low at 45,875.21 (-114.14 points). It finally settled lower by 58.35 points at 45,931.00.

Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index lost 272.94 points to end at 73,741.98, while the KSE All Share Index dropped 129.05 points, closing at 31,914.59.

The overall market volumes declined from 620.58 million shares in the previous session to 529.96 million shares (-15pc). Average traded value also declined by 10pc, from $123.6 million to $111.3 million. Hum Network Ltd (HUMNL 0.72pc), Power Ce-

ment Ltd (POWER 4.81pc) and Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim Ltd (FFBL -0.94pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 66.33 million, 45.25 million and 23.72 million shares, respectively.

Sectors that dragged the benchmark index lower included cement (-138.13 points), banking (-134.24 points) and fertilizer (104.18 points). Among the companies, MCB Bank Ltd (MCB -119.09 points), Pakistan Tobacco Company Ltd (PAKT 89.90 points) and Habib Bank Ltd (HBL -69.63 points) dented the index the most.

Losing 1.02pc from its total market capitalization, the refinery sector ended as the session’s worst performer, with Pakistan Refinery Ltd (PRL 0.98pc), National Refinery Ltd (NRL 2.35pc) and Attock Refinery Ltd (ATRL 0.40pc) ending in the negative.

President Alvi for enhanced trade ties with Mexico ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has said that Pakistan desires to further expand cooperation with Mexico in various areas of mutual interest including trade, investment, culture, tourism and education.

President Alvi was talking to Ambassador-designate of Pakistan to Mexico Dr Aman Rashid, who called on him on Friday. The president asked the ambassador-designate to make concerted efforts for promotion of relations with Mexico in the fields of trade, investment, culture, tourism and education.

He also underscored the need to initiate high-

level visits between the two countries which would further enhance bilateral relations, and asked the ambassador to work for the image-building of the country as well as expose the atrocities and human rights violations being committed by India in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

The president congratulated Dr Aman Rashid on his assignment as the ambassador-designate to the United Mexican States and expressed the hope that he would work to further cement bilateral ties between the two countries. TlTP

employees, generate far more revenues, as compared to concessionary duties earned from import of used vehicles.

"Therefore, opening used cars' import will send a wrong message to all existing and new investors who have invested in Pakistan by trusting that the government will ensure a long term enabling policy environment."

Moreover, he said, import of used vehicles not only costs the economy over $2 billion annually, it also takes away thousands of job opportunities from youth of Pakistan to other countries.

"With a contracting economy, fewer employment opportunities and limited foreign exchange reserves, Pakistan cannot afford CBU imports in any form," he said, adding that every new vehicle manufactured in Pakistan only uses a fraction of foreign exchange for its CKD imported content versus a completely built vehicle, which costs three times more foreign exchange.

Customs foils bid to smuggle mobile phones worth Rs50 million ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Customs has foiled an attempt to smuggle 1,360 luxury mobile phones worth Rs50 million from Islamabad Airport. According to details, the customs’ staff posted at the airport identified suspicious bags on baggage scanners during the clearance of flight PK-134 which arrived from Dubai. During the search of the bags, 1,360 mobile phones, 14 Ipads and six video games were recovered from passengers, namely Muhammad Azeem from Sialkot, Nabeel Ahmed from Karachi, Hassan Ali from Sialkot, Muhammad Rashid from Sargoda, Nauman Hassain from Faisalabad, Muhammad Zafar from Lodhran, and Zafar lqbal from Vehari. Sources said that the above mentioned flight was bound to land early Thursday morning around 4am but it was diverted to Peshawar due to bad weather conditions and later it landed around 12pm in the afternoon. They said that a well organized group of travel agents working in Dubai give around 200 to 300 dirhams to passengers on the condition that they will transfer the mobile phones to people standing outside the airport. Customs Assistant Collector Salik Gondal told this scribe that they have arrested seven people in this case, who wanted to evade Rs13 to Rs14 million tax from this attempt. shahzad Paracha

‘Pakistan to launch its own WhatsApp-like app

by June’ ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has planned to launch its own WhatsApp-like messaging app, Smart Office, by June 2021, besides expediting work on finalising the Personal Data Protection Bill, it was learnt on Friday. After the recent security concerns raised by global users and masses in Pakistan over WhatsApp new privacy policy, Federal Information Technology (IT) and Telecom Minister Aminul Haque said that 'Smart Office' app will be launched by the Pakistani government by June 2021.

In a statement issued by the IT ministry, Haque informed that the federal cabinet has issued orders to develop a WhatsApp-like app for government employees, adding that it was now necessary to expedite work on the Personal Data Protection Bill. INP

Telecom sector contributions to national exchequer rise 129pc in 2020: report ISLAMABAD sTaFF rePOrT

Telecom sector has emerged as a prominent contributor to Pakistan’s economy, as the sector's contributions to the national exchequer showed an increase of 129pc in 2020 when compared with 2019, despite the economy being under pressure due to the Covid19 outbreak.

As per the Pakistan Telecom Authority's 'Annual Report 2020' released on Friday, the sector contributed Rs278 billion (including PTA deposits to national exchequer) in FY2020 as compared to Rs121 billion in FY2019, registering a year-onyear growth of 129pc.

"A surge in demand for telecom services due to lockdown resulted in significant growth not only in subscriber base but also in the usage of telecom services," the report stated. "Today, data usage stands at 4,498 Peta Bytes (FY2020) as compared to 2,545 Peta Bytes (FY2019), showing a growth of

PTA MULLS SPECTRUM AUCTION OF LTE, VOLTE SERVICES THIS YEAR AS A PRECURSOR TO 5G over 77pc. This substantial growth would not have been possible if the networks were not upgraded."

Pakistan currently has international bandwidth connectivity of 3.1 Tera Bytes and around 47,000 cell sites, of which 90pc are 4G-enabled sites.

According to the report, total broadband subscription in the country grew by 175pc in the last five years. Broadband subscribers crossed 90 million in FY2020, showing a growth of around 8pc over last year, whereas the country's broadband penetration stood at 42.2pc during the year under review.

"Telecom networks are currently available to 87pc of the population and PTA is working with operators to increase their network coverage for the remaining 13pc unserved people of the

country," the report read. "The total teledensity now stands at 82pc with over 172 million mobile subscribers and 2.2 million fixed-line subscribers."

In 2020, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) across the economy was affected due to global lockdowns; however, telecom sector made a hefty share of 25pc ($623 million) in the total FDI received by the country. Total investments made by the local operators grew 14.25pc to $734 million in FY2020.

The overall revenues of the telecom sector reached Rs537 billion last year, which were generated mainly by the mobile sector.

Financial gains were equally enjoyed by telecom consumers; affordability of telecom services in Pakistan has improved over the years, as the per-GB broadband price is currently as low as $0.20, which is among the

CMYK

lowest in the region.

Similarly, due to the introduction of Device Identification & Registration System (DIRBS), government revenues increased manifold with tax collection on handset imports. The local manufacturing of handsets has enlivened the telecom ecosystem, with growth in local 4G device manufacturing crossing 34pc.

Pakistan experienced trials of 5G services which were one of the few firsts in the South Asia. PTA is aiming for spectrum auction of LTE, VoLTE services in 2021 as a precursor to 5G. The regulator is also gearing up for auction of spectrum for high speed broadband services in AJK & GB. The PTA report further stated that the regulator last year awarded 110 licences for different telecom services and issued 91 commencements of service certificates to the operators. PTA conducted QoS surveys across Pakistan for data, voice and SMS services and the operators were directed to take corrective measures where they under-

performed. It also conducted a number of successful raids against illegal VoIP setups this year to curb grey telephony.

PTA was ranked as 4th generation telecom regulator by the ITU, which places the authority in top five regulators of Asia-Pacific region. The Pakistan Citizen Portal also recognized PTA as the best performing organization in complaint redressal satisfaction.

Commenting on the situation arising due to Covid-19, the PTA report further stated that the year 2020 was an extraordinary year around the world, as unexpected, unforeseen and unanticipated events unfolded and changed the way world was functioning. "As the world’s focus shifted towards telecoms and digitalization, the global telecom sector responded to the demands and so did Pakistan. Being at the forefront, while the country was acclimatizing to the changed conditions towards normalization, PTA assured network upgradations, traffic optimization, load balancing that resulted in uninterrupted service provision."

Saturday, 16 January, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

ConCerns as IndIa to roll out homegrown vaCCIne NEW DELHI

a

Agencies

homegrown coronavirus vaccine will be rolled out in India from Saturday (today) even though clinical trials have not been completed. But the government insists it will be safe and effective.

The All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN), an independent watchdog, led a chorus of concern from experts saying it was "shocked" and "baffled" by the emergency approval of Covaxin.

India has been hit hard by the virus, logging the second-highest number of Covid-19 infections globally with more than 10.5 million cases, and over 150,000 deaths– behind only the United States and Brazil.

In early January New Delhi greenlighted Covishield, a version of AstraZeneca and Oxford University's shot made by India's Serum Institute, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer.

But it also gave "emergency approval" to Covaxin, developed in India by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research, even though phase 3 human trials were yet to be completed.

Authorities stated–without releasing supporting data– that Covaxin might work better against new Covid-19 strains than other vaccines that use different technologies.

According to Prabir Chatterjee, a community medicine specialist in West Bengal, the lack of data was causing "a lot of upset among doctors and very senior doctors and scientists."

"I would guess that the Bharat Biotech vaccine, after it has been evaluated, may be the best, the cheapest and the most practical for developing countries," he said.

"But... I do not think we should jumpstart the process by using it before it has been proved."

The main opposition Congress party accused the government of putting lives at risk. The health minister of one state, Chhattisgarh, has said the Bharat vaccine is "not safe" to deploy.

Critics suspect that the swift approval was motivated

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's protectionist push for "self-reliance", and by the desire to save money.

The government responded to the criticism by saying the vaccine is "110-per cent safe".

Husband and wife: Privately owned Bharat Biotech, set up in 1996 by husband and wife Krishna Ella and Suchitra Ella, is an established player in inoculations.

It has delivered over three billion vaccines for diseases worldwide including Zika and Japanese Encephali-

tis and an ultra-cheap shot for Hepatitis B. The firm intends to supply Covaxin to other countries including Brazil.

But activists have accused the firm of cutting corners and breaching rules in conducting trials in India.

In the central city of Bhopal, Bharat's local partner the People's College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre paid 750 rupees ($8) each to 1,722 recruits.

Rajesh Kapur, vice chancellor of the private hospital, said it adhered to all proper protocols and ethical practices, including counselling and monitoring subjects, seeking their informed consent, and arranging care in case of health complications.

But 10 participants, several of whom are illiterate, said they had not been properly informed.

Some said they were not given any documentation or briefing, while others said they were told they were being given a vaccine that would soon become mandatory nationwide.

Being informed of risks and signing consent forms have been mandatory since the government tightened the rules of drug testing – a booming industry in India – following a number of scandals.

Illiterate wage labourer Mannsingh Parihar, 70, said he and four others were driven to the hospital on December 21 and given the injection.

"They did not say a word (about it being a trial). They gave the injection and money and asked me to go," he said.

Similar allegations are echoed by other participants interviewed by Indian media and by activists.

"No informed consent was taken, no adverse events have been recorded, no monitoring and follow-up is being done," activist Rachna Dhingra said.

Public concern was fuelled by the widely reported death of one trial participant, nine days after being injected. A post-mortem said the cause of death was suspected poisoning and Bharat said the death appeared to be "unrelated" to the trial dosing.

A detailed email questionnaire from AFP to Bharat on the claims was not answered.

The Bhopal controversies have been a lightning rod for criticism across the nation about the trials and the wisdom of rushing the vaccine's roll-out.

"There seems to be clear misses in the way these trials have been conducted," said Anant Bhan, an expert on bioethics and health policy.

Indonesia finds casing of crashed Sriwijaya Air jet's cockpit recorder JAKARTA Agencies

Indonesian divers have found the casing of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) from a Sriwijaya Air plane that crashed into the Java Sea last week, but are still searching for its memory unit, a navy officer said on Friday.

Earlier this week, divers hoisted from the seabed the other so-called black box, the flight data recorder (FDR), of the 26year-old Boeing Co 737-500 jet.

Flight SJ 182 crashed into the Java Sea minutes after take-off from Jakarta with 62 people on board last Saturday.

Air accident investigators have downloaded data from the FDR, which they hope will help determine the cause of the crash though will also want to hear the cockpit voice recordings.

“We’ve found the (CVR) body or casing, we’ve found the beacon and now

we’re looking for the memory,” officer Abdul Rasyid told reporters aboard the navy ship Rigel, which was televised live.

Experts say most recorders have a strengthened housing containing the memory or tape, a chassis designed to fix it in place and an underwater locator beacon.

Abdul was confident divers would

find the memory unit within the next few days, adding that a plane’s black boxes were usually strong and could withstand a considerable impact. Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) has successfully downloaded information from the FDR, which contained 330 parameters and “all are in good con-

ditions”, the committee said in a statement on Friday. Parameters are a reference to the amount of data recorded from various aircraft systems including the flight path, speed, engine power and flaps configurations.

KNKT said the FDR data confirmed that both of the plane’s engines had been operating when the plane hit the water, as it had earlier stated based on the wreckage.

KNKT plans to issue a preliminary report within 30 days of the crash, in line with international standards, the agency’s head said on Thursday.

The search operation, which was initially planned for a week, has been extended for three more days to find more victims and recover parts of the plane.

The Sriwijaya crash is the biggest airline disaster in Indonesia since October 2018, when 189 people were killed onboard a Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX that plunged into the Java Sea soon after take-off.

Hiroshima plans Japan's first mass coronavirus tests TOKYO Agencies

Japan's Hiroshima prefecture is to conduct the country's first mass coronavirus tests as it battles a surge of infections, an official said on Friday.

Prefectural official Kazuhiro Saito confirmed reports that the tests would be offered to up to 800,000 people living and working in parts of Hiroshima City, home to 1.2 million people.

"We want to discover positive cases at an early stage to prevent the virus from spreading, especially in the city area," he said.

Eleven of Japan's regions are currently under a virus state of emergency as the country battles a third wave of infections, though Hiroshima is not among them.

Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki said on Thursday the number of infections in the city in December was "at the level where it could come under a state of emergency", warning that the city faced a rapid expansion of cases, the regional Chugoku Shimbun reported.

Details as to when and where the free testing would be conducted are yet to be decided, Mr Saito said.

Japan has faced criticism at times for avoiding the strategy of mass virus testing employed by some other countries.

Experts argue a targeted testing strategy, paired with contact tracing, can help bring infections under control.

The country has experienced a comparatively small outbreak so far, with just over 4,100 deaths since the first infection in Japan was confirmed a year ago.

Indonesia quake kills at least 42, injures hundreds JAKARTA Agencies

A powerful earthquake killed at least 42 people and injured hundreds on Indonesia’s island of Sulawesi on Friday, trapping several under rubble and unleashing dozens of aftershocks as authorities warned of more quakes that could trigger a tsunami.

Thousands of frightened residents fled their homes for higher ground when the magnitude 6.2-quake struck 6 km (4 miles) northeast of the town of Majene, at a depth of just 10 km, shortly before 1.30 a.m. The quake and aftershocks damaged more than 300 homes and two hotels, as well as flattening a hospital and the office of a regional governor, where authorities told Reuters several people have been trapped under the rubble. “Praise be to God, for now OK, but we just felt another aftershock,” said Sukri Efendy, a 26year-old resident of the area. As many as 42 people have been killed, mostly in Mamuju and the rest in the neighbouring district of Majene, the country’s national disaster mitigation agency said in a situation report on Friday evening. More than 820 people were injured, it said. The heightened seismic activity set off three landslides, severed electricity supplies, and damaged bridges linking to regional hubs, such as the city of Makassar. Heavy rain was also worsening conditions for those seeking shelter. No tsunami warning was issued but the head of Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Dwikorita Karnawati, told a news conference that aftershocks could follow, with a possibility that another powerful quake could trigger a tsunami.

There had been at least 26 aftershocks, she said, with Friday’s quake preceded by a quake of 5.9 magnitude the previous day.

Mamuju resident Muhammad Ansari Iriyanto, 31, told Reuters that everyone panicked and sought refuge in the nearby hills and mountains. “Mamuju is now empty, everyone went to the mountains,” he said. “Lots of buildings collapsed and people are afraid of a tsunami.” Another resident Syahir Muhammad said: “It’s raining and we need help.” Videos shared on social media showed residents fleeing to higher ground on motorcycles, and a young girl trapped under rubble as people tried to shift debris with their hands. Rescue workers used cutting and lifting equipment to free survivors and find the dead. President Joko Widodo offered condolences to the victims, urging people to stay calm and authorities to step up search efforts. Emerging workers are now trying to restoring telecoms and bridge links and ensure the delivery of tents, food and medical supplies, said West Sulawesi provincial government spokesman Safaruddin. About 15,000 people have fled their homes since the quake, the disaster agency has said, with the coronavirus pandemic likely to complicate the distribution of aid. “It is certainly one of the most challenging, this (disaster) was one of our fears and now we are putting all of that planning and protocols into place,” said Jan Gelfand, head of the International Federation of Red Cross in Indonesia. Straddling the socalled Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is regularly hit by earthquakes. In 2018, a devastating 6.2-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami struck the city of Palu, in Sulawesi, killing thousands. A 9.1-magnitude quake off the north of Sumatra island triggered a tsunami on Boxing Day in 2004 that lashed coastal areas of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and nine other nations, killing more than 230,000 people.

Saturday, 16 January, 2021

Root scoRes centuRy as england take chaRge against sl on Rain-hit second day GALLE

e

ENGLAND 320 FOR 4 (ROOT 168 NOT OUT, LAWRENCE 73) LEAD SRI LANKA 135 BY 185 RUNS

AGENCIES

NGLAND captain Joe Root hit an unbeaten 168 as his side built up a lead of 185 over Sri Lanka on a rain-hit second day of the opening Test.

England were 320-4 when rain halted play in Galle. Root and Dan Lawrence, who scored 73 on his Test debut, built a 173-run partnership after the tourists resumed the day on 127-2. Root, who is batting with Jos Buttler (7), hit his 18th Test ton and kept up the pressure on the home bowlers despite losing overnight partner Jonny Bairstow for 47 early in the day.

“I think the things could happen very quickly as the game moves forward, generally does here. It is really important that we make the most of this first innings lead that we have got now,” Root told reporters.

“We will be really ruthless. I have spoken about this ahead of the series and make

it count and put them under pressure. That way try and bat just once.”

After a full opening day in the empty stadium in Galle, rain started falling just before the start of the second day and wiped out the final session.

Root started the day on 66 and passed 100 soon after lunch with a single off Dilruwan Perera. He raised his bat and hugged Lawrence. It was the star batsman’s highest Test score in more than a year after going through 2020 without a century and said he felt “good” to make it count.

“Generally when I get a hundred I make it really count,” Root, who has a Test best of 254 in 98 Tests, said. “I have got a good record past 100. Tomorrow I will try to make another really big one and drive

the game forward from there.”

He added, “I felt I really got in a good mindset throughout this game so far. Will try and take that forward into the rest of this winter tour and beyond.” England will tour India for a full series including four Tests after the two matches in Sri Lanka as part of a hectic cricket calendar in 2021.

Lawrence, 23, stood firm with his captain, displaying confidence against the spinners as he brought up his fifty in 95 balls with five fours and one six.

Lawrence, who plays for English county Essex, survived two dropped catches on 60 and 68 and finally fell to Perera.

“Very impressed, I thought he played magnificently well,” Root said of the Essex batsman. “Showed exactly why he

deserves an opportunity to play and it’s the start of something very special for him.”

Earlier Bairstow became left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya’s third victim, caught at gully. The wicket ended a 114run third-wicket stand for the tourists.

Off-spinner Dom Bess returned careerbest figures of 5-30 to help skittle Sri Lanka out for 135 – the lowest first-innings score at the venue – in two sessions on Thursday after the hosts elected to bat.

“Obviously it has been a tough couple of days for us and probably we are a long way behind the game,” Sri Lankan fast bowling coach David Saker said.

“The best way we can start tomorrow [Saturday] is get these six wickets as quickly as we can. I think the opposition put us in a lot of pressure. I think Joe Root batted very well and the young kid on debut was very good as well.”

The two-match series has resumed after being aborted last March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Labuschagne century guides Australia to 274 at stumps on day one Wayne Rooney announces retirement from football LONDON: Wayne Rooney has ended his illustrious playing career to take up a job as full-time Derby manager, the Championship club announced on Friday. Derby confirmed the 35-year-old former Manchester United and England forward had agreed a permanent deal until 2023, having succeeded Phillip Cocu on an interim basis in November. The club statement confirmed that in accepting the manager’s role, Rooney had “elected to call time on his illustrious playing career to fully focus on his job”. Rooney is second in the list of Premier League’s all-time leading goal scorers with 208 goals only behind Alan Shearer. Having started his career at Everton as a 16-year-old, he caught the eye with his quality and eventually moved to Manchester United in 2004 for a whopping fee of £25.6 million. At Old Trafford, Rooney achieved legendary status winning 16 trophies with the club that includes five Premier League titles, one Champions League crown and three League Cups. In 2017, he became the first Manchester United player to score 250 goals for the club before returning to Everton for a brief spell. He also had a stint in Major League Soccer with DC United before returning to English football with Derby County where he took up a player cum coaching role. AGENCIES

BRISBANE AGENCIES

An under-strength India fought back in the final session to leave the fourth Test against Australia evenly poised after the opening day at the Gabba in Brisbane on Friday.

Australia finished the first day on 274 for five, with Cameron Green on 28 and Tim Paine alongside him on 38 to put the home side marginally in front on a benign Gabba wicket.

With the four-match series locked at 1-1, Australia need to win the final Test to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. They looked certain to be in a much stronger position when they reached 200 for three shortly after tea, with Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Wade scoring freely. However, they lost Wade (45) to a rash attempted pull shot, then Labuschagne for a superb 108 in the space of 13 runs to leave them at 213 for five, before Green and Paine steadied the innings against a tiring attack.

India's efforts were especially admirable considering they were fielding two in their bowling attack following injuries to Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin. They also lost fast bowler Navdeep Saini to a groin injury midway through the second session.

AUSTRALIA 274 FOR 5 (LABUSCHAGNE 108, WADE 45, NATARAJAN 2-63) VS INDIA India started the game as underdogs following the loss of four player from the drawn third Test, which finished on Monday in Sydney. Pace spearhead Bumrah (abdomen), offspinner Ashwin (back), batsman Hanuma Vihari (hamstring) and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja (broken thumb) were all ruled out.

Pacer T Natarajan and all-rounder Washington Sundar made their debuts while there were also recalls for batsman Mayank Agarwal and seam bowler Shardul Thakur.

By contrast, Australia only made one change, with Harris coming in for Will Pucovski, who injured his shoulder while fielding in Sydney. Yet India got away to the perfect start when David Warner fell on the last ball of the first over, edging Siraj to second slip, where Rohit Sharma took a superb catch diving to his right.

Natarajan shared the new ball with Siraj and kept the pressure on with some tight bowling, his opening spell of six overs going for just eight runs.

The pressure eventually told when Thakur, playing just his second Test,

struck with his first ball, Harris chipping a simple catch to Sundar at square leg to leave Australia at 17 for two.

But Labuschagne and Steve Smith, Australia's saviours in so many recent matches, once again steadied the rocking ship.

Smith, who roared back to form with a century in Sydney, was impressive but on 36 he clipped a ball to short midwicket to Sharma to give Sundar his first Test scalp. Australia, now 87 for three, should have lost Labuschagne in the next over when he edged Saini to gully, but the normally reliable Ajinkya Rahane spilled a simple chance. To make matters worse, Saini appeared to injure his groin in the delivery stride and left the field.

Cheteshwar Pujara grassed a much harder chance when Labuschagne was on 48. From that moment, however, the Queenslander was in fine form, stroking nine boundaries and two allrun fours on his way to his century.

Siraj was the pick of the Indian attack with 1-51 off 19 testing overs, while Natarajan (2-63) also impressed despite showing signs of fatigue late in the day.

SPORTS 11 PcB announces test squad for home series against south africa LAHORE: Pakistan dropped batsmen Shan Masood and Haris Sohail along with fast bowlers Mohammad Abbas and Naseem Shah in a wholesale shake-up on Friday for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa. The changes were forced after Pakistan lost both Tests on their tour of New Zealand where they failed in all three departments of the game. Opener Masood had managed just 33 runs in the last eight Test innings since scoring 156 against England in August, failing miserably in New Zealand where he scored just 10 in two matches with three zeros. Left hander Sohail managed just 28 in two Tests in New Zealand. The 17-year-old Naseem and spearhead Abbas both managed just four wickets in the series. Left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar is the fifth player dropped from the last Test at Christchurch which Pakistan lost by an innings and 176 runs earlier this month. But new chief selector Mohammad Wasim refused to accept it was a “panic like situation”. “No, it is not panic,” said Wasim while announcing the squad. We have selected a squad after analysing the performance in New Zealand and areas of improvement are identified.”

Wasim said Naseem and Abbas were not up to the mark in New Zealand. “Both Naseem and Abbas were lacking that bite so we have not included them in the squad which will be trimmed to 16 before the Test,” said Wasim.

South Africa will arrive early Saturday (today) and after a five-day quarantine play the first Test in Karachi from January 26. The second Test will be in Rawalpindi from February 4 before three Twenty20 internationals on February 11, 13 and 14–all in Lahore. More consideration was given to performers of the just concluded domestic first-class matches from where six uncapped players–Kamran Ghulam (batsman), Saud Shakil (batsman), Nauman Ali (left-arm spinner), Sajid Khan (off-spinner) Tabish Khan (fast bowler) and Agha Salman (batsman) –are selected.

Ghulam, 25, created a new record for most runs in a Quaid-e-Azam trophy tournament with 1249 while Sajid took the most wickets with 67.

SquAD: Babar Azam (captain), Abid Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Yasir Shah, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tabish Khan. AGENCIES

Madison keys tests positive for covid-19 WASHINGTON: Madison Keys announced Thursday she tested positive for Covid-19, weeks ahead of the Australian Open. The No. 16-ranked woman in the world, Keys implied in her statement she would miss the Australian Open, which opens February 8. She was scheduled to fly to Australia and quarantine there for 14 days in advance of the season’s first Grand Slam tournament. On the men’s side, former World No. 1 Andy Murray also tested positive, and his appearance in the Australian Open is in doubt. “I am very disappointed to not be able to play in the coming weeks after training hard in the offseason and knowing Tennis Australia and the tours did so much to make these events happen,” Keys, 25, said in a statement posted to Twitter. “I am self-isolating at home and will continue to follow all the necessary health precautions. I look forward to being back on tour next month.” Keys, ranked five spots behind fellow American Serena Williams, has five career singles titles. Her best finish in the Australian Open came in 2015, when she lost in the semifinals to Williams. AGENCIES

Arsenal held at home by Crystal Palace, Mikel Arteta cites fatigue LONDON AGENCIES

Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal were suffering from fatigue after their recent revival ground to a halt in a scrappy 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace on Thursday.

Arteta’s side had won their previous four matches in all competitions, but they were fortunate extend their unbeaten run to five games. Palace were unable to convert several first half chances at the Emirates Stadium and, although Arsenal improved after the interval, they missed a chance to climb into the top half of the Premier League.

“I wanted to see a win and a few goals but we were fatigued. I cannot fault the spirit

but it wasn’t enough,” Arteta said.

“We created a lot of situations against the low block but there was a period when we gave the ball away too much. We are playing a lot of games and you can see fatigue. Many players aren’t fresh. We lacked the quality in the final third to win the game.” Arsenal sit in 11th place, eight points adrift of the Champions League places as they continue to pay the price for their worst start to a season since 1974-75.

Just before Christmas, Arsenal were only four points above the relegation zone, so their current position 12 points away from the bottom three affords Arteta some muchneeded breathing space.

But this disjointed display underlined the

attacking flaws that have stopped Arsenal building on last season’s FA Cup triumph.

Palace have only won one of their past eight matches in all competitions and are one point behind Arsenal in 13th. Emile SmithRowe, Arsenal’s promising young midfielder, started after scoring against Newcastle as a substitute last weekend.

But Kiernan Tierney was absent with muscle tightness and the Gunners missed the Scotland left-back’s busy presence. “Tierney is a real threat and the way we attack on the left is really important but he is injured and we have to find a solution. He will have an MRI scan tomorrow,” Arteta said.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has endured a difficult season and, once again, Ar-

CMYK

senal’s captain was a diffident figure.

The Gabon forward briefly sparked into life and tested Vicente Guaita with a fierce strike that was parried by the Palace keeper.

But Palace were finding their feet on a wet evening and Granit Xhaka had to make a perfectly timed sliding tackle to stop Wilfried Zaha getting a shot away after the forward slalomed into the penalty area.

Palace broke through the Arsenal defence again when Christian Benteke scooped his shot wastefully over from 10 yards after good work by Tyrick Mitchell.

James Tomkins was inches away from giving Roy Hodgson’s men the lead as the Palace defender got above Rob Holding to glance his header against the bar from

Eberechi Eze’s free-kick. Arsenal were struggling to get out of their own half and Bernd Leno had to make a superb save to repel Benteke’s header from Mitchell’s cross. Arteta’s half-time team talk seemed like it might have the desired effect and Hector Bellerin drilled just wide from the edge of the area in the opening minute of the second half.

Arsenal threatened again as Bukayo Saka forced Guaita to block at the near post before Alexandre Lacazette blasted into the side-netting after a flowing move.

Arteta sent on Nicolas Pepe and Thomas Partey, back after a month out with a thigh injury. But the expected push never came and Palace were able to keep the misfiring Gunners at bay with ease.

Saturday, 16 January, 2021

PrAyEr TImINGS

NEWS

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

5:45

12:18

3:44

7:12

5:22

6:50

pakistan will continue to support afGhan peace process: coas

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NEWS DESK

HIEF of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that Pakistan will continue supporting the ongoing intra-Afghan dialogue as peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan.

He said this while highlighting the dividends of border control measures at a briefing in Peshawar on Friday.

The army chief was given a detailed update on the security situation and border management, including fencing, capacity enhancement of the Frontier Constabulary (FC) and police in the newly merged districts.

Appreciating officers and men of Peshawar Corps, General Bajwa lauded the efforts of the law enforcement agencies, including FC and police, for bringing stability in the tribal districts.

Hailing sacrifices of local populace for peace and their earnest support to armed forces in war against terrorism, he said that ongoing consolidation efforts shall take the hard earned gains towards enduring peace and stability. On Tuesday, Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Afghanistan leader Karim Khalili met the army chief at General Headquarters (GHQ. During the meeting, the COAS said that peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. The army chief said that a stable and prosperous Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neigh-

Global coronavirus death toll tops 2 million AGENCIES The worldwide coronavirus death toll surpassed 2 million on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, as nations around the world are trying to procure multiple vaccines and detect new Covid-19 variants.

It took nine months for the world to record the first 1 million deaths from the novel coronavirus but only three months to go from 1 million to 2 million deaths, illustrating an accelerating rate of fatalities.

So far in 2021, deaths have averaged over 11,900 per day or one life lost every eight seconds, according to a Reuters tally.

“Our world has reached a heart-wrenching milestone ,” United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said in a video statement.

“Behind this staggering number are names and faces: the smile now only a memory, the seat forever empty at the dinner table, the room that echoes with the silence of a loved one,” he said, calling for more global coordination and funding for the vaccination effort.

By April 1, the global death toll could approach 2.9 million, according to a forecast from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Given how fast the virus is spreading due to more infectious variants, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned the worst could be ahead.

“We are going into a second year of this. It could even be tougher given the transmission dynamics and some of the issues that we are seeing,” Mike Ryan, the WHO’s top emergencies official, said during a Wednesday event.

The United States has the highest total number of deaths at over 386,000 and accounts for one in every four deaths reported worldwide each day. The next worst-affected countries are Brazil, India, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

Combined, the five countries contribute to almost 50 per cent of all Covid-19 deaths in the world but represent only 27 per cent of the global population.

Europe, the worst-affected region in the world, has reported over 615,000 deaths so far and accounts for nearly 31 per cent of all Covid-related deaths globally.

In India, which recently surpassed 151,000 deaths, vaccinations are set to begin on Saturday in an effort that authorities hope will see 300 million highrisk people inoculated over the next six to eight months.

bours is in Pakistan’s national interest, reported the military’s media wing.

According to the ISPR, matters of mutual interest, peace and stability in the region, connectivity, and current developments in the Afghan peace process were discussed during the meeting. The visiting dignitary appreciated the positive role played by Pakistan for Afghan peace as well as the army chief’s vision on future of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, said the ISPR. Last week, a United States delegation visited GHQ to hold formal consultations on Pakistan-US Strategic Level Defence Dialogue. The US delegation was headed

by Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Assistant Secretary of Defence David Hevley, whereas Pakistan’s delegation was led by Chief of General Staff (COGS) Lt General Sahir Shamshad Mirza.

Both sides exchanged views on regional security, deepening bilateral defence and security ties, as well as military cooperation, the military’s media wing added.

According to the statement, David Hevley reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to a long-term, mutually beneficial security partnership with Pakistan and thanked Lt Gen Mirza for Pakistan’s pivotal role in supporting Afghanistan peace negotiations.

The US envoy discussed opportunities for strengthening cooperation on counterterrorism and the urgency of reducing violence, restarting meaningful negotiations between Islamic Republic negotiators and the Taliban.

Climbers reach historic height during K2 winter expedition JAWAD ZULFIQAR/GHULAM ABBAS Inching towards the summit of K2, the world’s second highest mountain, a team of climbers from Nepal reached the Camp Four (7,800 metres) on Friday, thus becoming the first group to make it to this height during the winter season.

K2, also called the ‘savage mountain’, has never been climbed during the winter.

This year, over a dozen climbers from the United States, Iceland, Spain and Nepal arrived in Pakistan to make it to the top of the dangerous mountain amid the risk of avalanches, powerful winds, and temperatures falling as low as minus 65 degrees.

The mountain has been scaled by more than 300 climbers during the spring and summer seasons, but there had been only five winter attempts before 2019.

On Friday, while the four climbers made it to Camp Four, Pakistani Ali Sadpara and Nepal's Nirmal Purja were also on their way to the same altitude from Camp 3. Reports suggest that Sherpas Mingma David, Mingma Tenzing, Mingma Gyalze and Sona might be able to make it to the summit on Saturday and claim the last great prize the world of mountaineering has to offer. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has stated that the weather will be clear on Saturday, which might enable the summit climb.

Moreover, Jangbu Sherpa, a climber from Nepal, received head injuries on Friday and was shifted to the Base Camp for treatment. It is worth mentioning here that 86 climbers have died on the slopes of the savage mountain.

US troops in Afghanistan now down to 2,500, lowest since 2001: Pentagon WASHINGTON AGENCIES

The number of US troops in Afghanistan has been reduced to 2,500, the lowest level of American forces there since 2001, the Pentagon said on Friday.

In November, President Donald Trump’s administration said it would sharply cut the number of US forces in Afghanistan from 4,500 to 2,500 by midJanuary, stopping short of a threatened full withdrawal from America’s longest war after fierce opposition from allies at home

and abroad.

“Moving forward, while the Department continues with planning capable of further reducing U.S. troop levels to zero

by May of 2021, any such future drawdowns remain conditions-based,” acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller said in a statement on reaching 2,500 troops.

On Monday, Reuters reported the U.S. military had not halted an American troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, despite a new law prohibiting further reductions without the Pentagon sending Congress an assessment of the risks.

A Pentagon spokesman, Army Major Rob Lodewick, on Friday said Trump had signed a waiver allowing for the troop reduction, though it appears to have happened when the move was already complete.

“Convention dictates that reducing troop levels, associated equipment and adjusting associated force protection requirements across a country-wide combat zone is not something that can be paused overnight without increasing risk to the force and core mission goals,” Lodewick said.

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

US forces invaded the country after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States by the terrorist al Qaeda group based in Afghanistan. At its peak in 2011, the United States had more than 100,000 troops there.

President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office next Wednesday, has given few clues on what his plans are for Afghanistan. However, one option could be to leave a small counterterrorism force in the country, where its former Taliban rulers, al Qaeda and the Islamic State militant group still have a presence.