EpaperISB_21-07-31

Saturday, 31 July, 2021 I 20 Zil-Hajj, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 31 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

Sindh govt impoSeS lockdown till Aug 8 Amid dAngerouS Surge in covid-19 cASeS

KARACHI Staff RepoRt

t

he Sindh government on Friday decided to impose an immediate lockdown till August 8 as the province continues to battle the dangerous surge in Covid-19 infections.

The lockdown goes into effect to on Saturday and would impose the following rules: n Government offices will be closed from next week. n Those who do not get vaccinated will not get their salary after August 31. n Vaccination cards of anyone roaming the streets will be checked. n The export industry will remain open. n All markets in the province will remain closed, but pharmacies will stay open. n Inter-city transport will be closed This was decided in a meeting of the coronavirus task force on Friday, chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, with provincial ministers, medical experts and representatives of the Pakistan Medical Association in attendance.

For the first time, parliamentary leaders of political parties were also invited to the Covid19 task force meeting. Besides this, the Sindh Rangers director-general was also invited.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting on Friday, CM Murad Ali Shah main-

tained that it was due to the tough decisions taken by the provincial task force that Sindh was able to tackle the first, second and third waves of Covid-19 relatively better than other provinces.

“But in this fourth wave, the Delta variant is the main concern,” he added. he noted that Karachi was the most affected city now, saying the virus spread fast in closed spaces and cases would multiply if measures were not taken to curb it.

“Just a month ago, there were an average of 500 cases daily in Sindh by the end of June. And now by July’s end, the number of daily cases has increased to 3,000,” he said.

Shah revealed that after the task force meeting, he had informed federal minister Asad Umar and SAPM Dr Faisal Sultan about its decisions, and “they assured us of helping us in implementing these decisions.”

“This is not a complete lockdown. This is a partial lockdown,” he said, noting that complete lockdown was the one that had been imposed last year on March 20.

The chief minister appealed to the people to help the government successfully implement its decisions, saying “we will move towards reopening” from August 9.

“If you help us, we will be able to contain the spread of this disease. People are asking what will happen after August 8. We have to take measures so that our hospital facilities are not choked.”

Citing increased travelling during eid holi-

coronAviruS in

pAkiStAn

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,024,861

LAST UPDATED AT 10:25 AM ON JULY 30, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

86

4,537

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

938,843 23,295 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

377,231

355,483

KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

143,213 AJK/GB: 23,819/8,008

30,162 ISLAMABAD:

86,945

days, Shah said the Covid-19 positivity ratio which was 1pc at many places had now jumped to 6pc in 4-5 days. “It is necessary to take effective measures to break this virus chain,” he stressed. he shared a three-pronged approach to contain the virus: 1- Prevent its spread by social distancing, following SOPs and imposing lockdown 2- Improving hospital facilities. “We need to make more interventions to ease the burden on hospitals,” he said.

3- Vaccination. “In this lockdown, we will ensure that vaccination does not suffer in its wake,” Shah added.

A day earlier, the federal government on Thursday set August 31 as the deadline for antiCovid vaccination, following which only vaccinated staff and people would be allowed to enter both public, private sector offices, businesses and high-risk sectors.

“This is being done for you. This is not a punishment but an acknowledgement to make you realize that you play an important role in this society and economy. And we, on a priority basis want that your health is not compromised so that your livelihood continues and economy also continues,” Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said while addressing a press conference.

The federal minister was flanked by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on health Dr Faisal Sultan.

Asad Umar, who is also Chairman of the National Command and Operation Centre, said that NCOC had already made a decision earlier that unvaccinated people would be barred from travelling in domestic flights from August 1, likewise teachers and staff would also not be allowed to enter educational institutions unvaccinated from this date. he said that we cannot take risk of children, adding that around 80 per cent of teachers have already been vaccinated.

The minister said the ban would be extended from August 31 on other sectors and places where the risk of coronavirus spread is high due to excessive assembling of people, including the transport sector, markets and public-dealing offices.

“These are all facilities where people visit in bulk and have to get in touch with people there and are exposed to the virus,” he said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Peace in Afghanistan is Pakistan’s earnest desire: Gen Bajwa RAWALPINDI Staff RepoRt

A15-member Afghan media delegation visited GhQ and met General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

Speaking on the occasion, the COAS said media can act as a bridge to create conducive environment for promoting cultural / social and people to people engagement between the two countries.

“It is the responsibility of media and people to identify and defeat the spoilers of peace. Peace in Afghanistan is Pakistan’s earnest desire because peace of the two countries is interlinked,” COAS said, adding that the spoilers will not be allowed to derail peace process.

Referring to Pakistan’s comprehensive border man-

Pak, US NSAs meet, agree to sustain ‘momentum’ in bilateral cooperation WASHINGTON app

National Security Advisers of Pakistan and the United States have agreed to “sustain the momentum in Pak-US cooperation” at their follow-up meeting in Washington on Thursday during which they also discussed the situation in Afghanistan.

In a tweet on Thursday night, NSA Moeed Yusuf, who conferred with his American counterpart Jake Sullivan, called the meeting “positive”, without elaborating.

This was their second meeting after Geneva in May, as part of the high-level bilateral engagements between the two countries, “We discussed the urgent need for a reduction in violence in Afghanistan and a negotiated political settlement to the conflict,” Jake Sullivan, the American NSA, said his tweet.

NSA Moeed Yusuf, who arrived in Washington on July 27, also wrote on Twitter, “Took stock of progress made since our Geneva meeting & discussed bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. Agreed to sustain the momentum in Pak-US bilateral cooperation.”

Sullivan wrote that during the meeting with his Pakistani coun-

agement regime, he said security of borders is in the best interest of the two countries.

Alluding to the benefits of regional connectivity for the two countries, COAS highlighted the importance of restoration of peace in Afghanistan for sustainable development of the region.

Appreciating Pak Afghan Youth Forum’s initiative for organising the journalists’ visit, COAS hoped for more frequent exchange of visits in future. Pak- Afghan youth is the hope for future peace and progress of the region, COAS concluded.

The Afghan journalists thanked COAS for the opportunity for candid interaction and appreciated Pakistan’s sincerity and efforts for Afghan people including hosting of refugees and facilitative role in Afghan peace process.

more inside

PM’s aide Dr Ishrat Hussain calls it a day STORY ON BACK PAGE

Grenade blast martyrs policeman in Peshawar STORY ON PAGE 03 terpart, regional connectivity and security, and other areas of mutual cooperation were discussed along with a need for a ‘negotiated political settlement to the conflict’ in Afghanistan.

Besides the meetings between NSAs of the two countries, US State Secretary Antony Blinken has had contacts with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Army Chief of Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa. In addition, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has had conversations with COAS Gen Bajwa.

Blinken returned to Washington on Thursday evening after visits to India and Kuwait.

Before his departure from New Delhi, he told an Indian channel, “Pakistan has a vital role to play in using its influence with

the Taliban to do whatever it can to make sure that the Taliban does not seek to take the country by force. And it does have influence, and it does have a role to play, and we hope that it plays it.” earlier this week, Yusuf said that Afghanistan is being embarrassed daily due to “idiotic” statements passed by its senior officials.

“Vitriolic & delusional statements from some spoilers in Kabul who, unfortunately for our Afghan brothers and sisters, are imposed on them as their senior officials & are constantly attempting to vitiate bilateral relations on purpose to deflect attention from their own failures,” Moeed wrote on his official Twitter handle.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Reforms underway to improve tax system with consultation of all stakeholders: PM STORY ON PAGE 03

eU parliamentarians urge european Commission president to raise voice on Kashmir issue STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Saturday, 31 July, 2021

ISlAMABAd

NeWS

IndIa CoerCes eCB Into forBIddInG enGlIsH CrICKeters from PlayInG KPl ECB HURLS DIRECT THREATS OF BANNING FOUR ENGLISH CRICKETERS IF THEY PLAYED KPL ALSO WARNS CRICKETERS ON THEIR SAFETY ISLAMABAD

U

MiAN AbRAR

NDER immense pressure from the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has refused to allow four English cricketers to play in the first edition of Kashmir Premier League (KPL).

The KPL tournament is set to run in Muzaffarabad between 6th to 17th August. Well-placed sources have informed Pakistan Today that under

pressure from the BCCI, India, four English players – Monty Panesar, Owais Shah, Matt Prior, and Phil Mustard – who had signed for the KPL have now withdrawn themselves.

According to the sources, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has conveyed the KPL management that a senior ECB official has rung the ECB, asking it to convey to the four English cricketers that if they played in the KPL, “they would not be allowed to travel into India, again”.

The message further added that the four players were also threatened about

their security if they played the KPL. “They should also be conveyed that If they go to Kashmir, it’s not safe”, an official told who saw the related documents of communication between the ECB and the KPL. It may be mentioned that India was also blamed for funding terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore, Pakistan, back in March 2008. Interestingly, prior to the terrorist attack, Sri Lankan cricketers were also threatened for their security if they decided to play in Pakistan.

“Also, they won’t be allowed to work in anything Indian cricket related,” the official added.

The source said that following the ECB threat, the ECB decided to suspend its players from playing the KPL. KPL, taking notice of threats hurled to the English cricketers, is now mulling not to include any foreign player in the contest and commence with only the Pakistani and Kashmiri talent.

As a consequence, Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan and South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs were informed not to voyage the cricket-loving nation.

Dilshan, however, has promised to play during whatever the circumstances are.

Arshad Khan Tanoli, the owner of the Muzaffarabad Tigers informed Dilshan’s presence amidst all the odds.

It is pertinent to mention that the KPL has once again opened up a list of local players to choose from for KPL 2021 to replace the foreigners.

Pakistan Navy, PMSA successfully recovers stranded crew members of Merchant Vessel SUVARI H RAwALPINDI stAff RePoRt

Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) Friday successfully ensured recovery of stranded crew members of Merchant Vessel SUVARI H during conduct of joint assistance operation south of Karachi.

PMSA’s Maritime Rescue

Coordination Centre received the report that Merchant Vessel (MV) SUVARI H which had sailed from Kandla, India for Bossasso, Somalia got stranded approximately 180 Nautical Miles south of Karachi along with 18 crew members onboard at sea, said an Inter Services Public Relations news release.

Pakistan Navy in coordination with the PMSA, immediately tasked ships and

aircraft to provide assistance to the stranded ship and save precious lives.

Pakistan Navy and the PMSA aircraft, after arriving at scene of incident dropped life rafts to assist stranded crew at sea and coordinated their recovery through nearby Merchant Vessel MT ELAN VITAL. “Up till now, 15 crew members have been recovered whereas three crew

members are still missing,” it said.

Pakistan Navy and the PMSA ships were also conducting search and rescue operation for the missing crew around the reported position. Pakistan Navy, being overall coordinator of NAVAREA IX, always accords priority to maritime safety and responds immediately to render assistance to shipping community in distress at sea.

APP

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved $100 million in financing to support Pakistan’s efforts to increase literacy and student retention rates in the Sindh province.

The amount has been approved for the Sindh Early Learning Enhancement through Classroom Transformation (SELECT) project that is aimed at helping the provincial government enhance investments in basic education in disadvantaged and remote

communities, said WB press statement received here Friday.

The project would focus on strengthening reading and comprehension skills of primary-level students, skills which are foundational to early learning. The project would also institute an adaptive education system to better manage school disruptions and mitigate future school dropouts.

This will be achieved using innovations in technology and communications to help students return to and stay in school when they expect to fully reopen in August this year.

“School closures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have disproportionately affected children, especially girls, from low-income households and hard-to-reach rural areas across the Sindh Province,” said Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.

“The SELECT project aims to tackle learning poverty in the Province’s most vulnerable communities. It will mainly focus on early learning and ensure a safe learning environment that is equipped for remote learning, so that students can continue education in case of further

NewS DeSk King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain on Thursday underlined that Bahrain valued its historic relationship with Pakistan and desired to further augmenting the bilateral relationship for mutual benefit. He also expressed appreciation for the contribution made by Pakistani expatriate community towards Bahrain’s progress and economic development. The King of Bahrain expressed these view during a meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who called on in Manama. The Foreign Minister conveyed the warm regards of President Dr. Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to His Majesty, as well as best wishes for the continued progress and prosperity of the brotherly people of Bahrain. His Majesty reciprocated the sentiments. Foreign Minister Qureshi said that Pakistan attached importance to its close relations with the Kingdom of Bahrain and remained committed to expand this relationship in all spheres of bilateral cooperation. He expressed deep gratitude to the Kingdom of Bahrain for hosting a large number of Pakistani citizens, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Minister expressed gratitude for inviting Prime Minister Imran Khan as Guest of Honour at the National Day of Bahrain in December 2019 and decorating him with Bahrain’s prestigious award “King Hamad Order of the Renaissance”. Thanking His Majesty for the generous gift of King Hamad Nursing University and Associated Medical Sciences Hospital in Islamabad, Foreign Minister Qureshi said that the facility would be a symbol of enduring friendship between the two countries. He said that the project reflected the special and deep relations between the countries. The Foreign Minister extended the invitation, on behalf of the President and Prime Minister, to His Majesty to visit Pakistan at the earliest convenience. Pakistan and Bahrain enjoy traditionally close and fraternal ties, rooted deep in common faith and shared values. Bilateral relations with Bahrain have been following an upward trajectory since Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain in December 2019, on the invitation of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Buzdar for emergency relief operations without any delay in case of torrential rains

WB approves $100m to support increase literacy in Sindh ISLAMABAD

Bahrain desires augmented ties with Pakistan, King Hamad tells Qureshi

school closures,” Benhassine added.

The project aims to transform teaching practices for early learning through professional development programs.

These programs offer interactive, distance-learning techniques using audiovisual tools that complement in-class literacy lessons and include new teaching and reading materials geared to foundational learning.

It will also upgrade school infrastructure to ensure safe learning environments, particularly for girls through grade eight.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has directed all concerned departments to start emergency relief operations without any delay in case of torrential rains. He issued the instructions during his visit to different areas of Lahore today (Friday). The Chief Minister said no effort should be spared to protect lives and properties of the citizens during devastating rains and floods. Meanwhile, chairing a meeting in Lahore today, the Chief Minister directed that flow of water in rivers should be monitored continuously along with maintaining close liaison with relevant federal agencies. He said flood emergency control rooms should be functional round-the-clock and line departments should be fully prepared to deal with any possible challenge of floods. News Desk

Pakistan could overtake India in trade with China in eight years: official BeIJING APP

KKH between Chilas, Gilgit blocked for all types of traffic The Karakorum Highway between Chilas and Gilgit was again blocked for all types of traffic. The road was hit by landslides at Raikot to Lal Padi and Tatta Pani Areas. The torrential rains and floods also blocked Babusar- Naran road at Lolosar. The flush flood also damaged KKH at Phasu, in upper Hunza this morning. However, workers of FWO made alternate route to continue the flow of traffic in Lower and Upper Hunza. Our Gilgit correspondent reports that efforts of FWO are underway to restore traffic. News Desk

Pakistan could overtake India in trade with China in just eight years, even though its trade volume with China was only one-fifth of India’s in 2020, a Pakistan diplomat said.

In 2020, bilateral trade between China and Pakistan stood at $17.49 billion while between China and India it was $77.7 billion.

“India has a population five to six times larger than that of Pakistan, so I hope that it will take eight to ten years to overtake them,” Badar U Zaman, commercial counselor of the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing, told the Global Times at the 2021 China-Pakistan Trade Forum.

Although Zaman did not provide more details to support his projections, analysts said the two country’s iron-clad relationship and the substantial progress already made in construction of the multi-billiondollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects could

provide economic propulsion to boost bilateral trade.

A Chinese scholar studying China-Pakistan relations pointed out that there are obstacles for Pakistan in realizing this ambitious trade target.

But such a scenario is not entirely impossible.

“If Pakistan hopes to overtake India in trade with China in eight to ten years, Pakistan has to increase its purchasing power and improve the standard for export goods to meet international standards,” said Zhou Rong, a senior researcher at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China.

India has a large market, given its population of nearly 1.4 billion, while Pakistan has a population of 220 million, Zhou noted, adding that Pakistan needs time to build and cultivate its own purchasing power.

India also has a large amount of raw materials that can be exported to China while Pakistan has less of such resources, so it might be tough for

Pakistan to overtake India in eight to ten years unless the bilateral trade relationship between China and India continues worsening, said Zhou.

However, there are meaningful changes taking place. Amid frayed bilateral ties following a deadly border clash as well as the Indian government’s ban on Chinese investment into the country, bilateral trade between China and India stood at $77.7 billion in 2020, down from $85.5 billion the previous year.

At the same time, the relationship between China and Pakistan has become stronger and investment has been increasing. There has been a 34 percent increase in exports from Pakistan to China year-to-date, thanks to the bilateral free trade agreement, according to Zaman.

Experts also noted that Pakistan has its own advantage in that the CPEC has provided improved infrastructure for the country, and paved the way for its industrialization process. That means Pakistan will have more demand for imports and

more goods to export to China in the coming decade.

The construction of a string of industrial parks will also help Pakistan to improve the quality of its exports, experts noted.

Some of the potential items Pakistan could export to China include copper, for which there is great demand in China, as well as cotton, sugar and textile products, according to Zaman and Zhou.

In 2020, the total trade between China and Pakistan totaled $17.49 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 2.7 percent, with imports from Pakistan reaching $2.12 billion, an increase of 17.5 percent compared with the previous year, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce.

China has been Pakistan’s biggest trade partner for six consecutive years since the 2015 fiscal year. China is also Pakistan’s main source of imports and second-largest export destination, according to data from the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan.

Saturday, 31 July, 2021

ISlAMABAd

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03

reforms Underway to ImProve tax system wItH ConsUltatIon of all staKeHolders: Pm

a

NewS DeSk

LL the major Chambers of Commerce of the country has expressed satisfaction over the government’s pro-business policies and the steps taken for ease of doing business (EoDB).

The satisfaction was expressed at a meeting between Prime Minister Imran

Khan and the Presidents of all the main Chambers of Commerce in Islamabad.

The government and the business community also agreed to devise a strategy with mutual consultation to increase tax revenue.

Emphasizing industrial development for economic progress of the country, the Prime Minister said the government is providing incentives to industries for enhancing

exports.

Imran Khan said reforms are underway to improve tax system, and consultation with all stakeholders will accelerate this process. The Prime Minister directed the Federal Ministers to remain in contact with all stakeholders and hold regular meetings with them to listen to their problems and proposals. He said after providing facilities to industrialists and the

business community, the government is now focused to resolve issues through mutual consultations. The participants of the meeting appreciated the Prime Minister and his economic team for attaining four percent GDP growth despite Covid-19, fifteen percent increase in large scale manufacturing, incentives for export industry and removal of hurdles, incentives for small and medium

Grenade blast martyrs policeman in Peshawar NewS DeSk A grenade blast martyred a policeman in Peshawar’s Karkhano Market on Friday. According to Dawn, a passerby was also injured in the blast.

Reportedly, the police initially said that an unidentified person had hurled a grenade at the police mobile during an operation against Covid-19 SOP violations. However, Peshawar CCPO Abbas Ahsan — who visited the site to inspect the damage — later clarified that the mobile was on a routine patrol when it was targeted. There were four police personnel seated in the mobile at the time of the attack, he said.

The police official also said that the nature of the blast could not yet be determined. “It can’t be said for certain whether it was a grenade attack or some other

device was used for the explosion,” Ahsan said, adding that the explosion took place inside the vehicle.

The deceased police official was identified as police team in-charge Ibn Amin, according to the CCPO. He added that an unidentified passerby was also injured in the incident and had been shifted to the hospital.

Peshawar Senior Superintendent of Police (Operation) Yasir Afridi, while answering questions by reporters, said the investigation had determined that a hand grenade was hurled towards the driving seat of the police mobile.

He added the police team had been carrying out duties related to polio vaccinations. SSP Afridi said further information would be shared as CCTV cameras were recovered.

Terming the incident “saddening” for the city, he

Policy formed to monitor progress on PsdP projects, Pm informed ISLAMABAD: The government has formulated a comprehensive strategy to monitor the pace of development work and the efficient use of funds after a 40 percent increase in the amount allocated for development projects in the current financial year 2021-22. This was informed in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on the effective use of Public Service Development Programme. The prime minister in his remarks said the priority of the government was to ensure proper utilization of public taxes. He said steps should be taken to bring automation in the system, adding that measures like e-tendering were of fundamental importance to eradicate corruption. He emphasized improvement in functioning of ministries and in utilization of resources by categorizing the projects. The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Asad Umar, Hammad Azhar, Murad Saeed, Umar Ayub Khan, Special Assistants Malik Amin Aslam, Dr Faisal Sultan and relevant senior officials. Finance Minister Shaukat Fayyaz Tareen participated through video-link. The meeting was informed that in order to expedite the pace of development work, the process of disbursement of funds had been simplified to ensure continuity of projects. APP

said the police would continue to stand resolutely no matter “how much the enemy is scheming such plans”.

“We will give as many sacrifices as needed for this city,” SSP Afridi said.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Hayatabad Medical Complex said that the injured citizen had been discharged after receiving medical treatment. He said that the body of the martyred policeman had also been brought to the medical facility.

In October 2020, at least eight people were killed and around 120 others injured when a timed device went off inside a mosque in Peshawar’s Dir Colony.

A month before that, five people were killed and two others injured in a blast in the Akbarpura area of Nowshera after explosive material in scrap collected from the Kabul river detonated.

ttP leader’s interview with Cnn generates strong backlash ISLAMABAD: The interview of the leader of a designated terrorist organisation with an American news channel has generated lots of heat, with questions being asked about the timing of its airing and whether it was aimed at stirring instability, as the US forces withdraw from Pakistan. The analysts termed CNN’s interview of Noor Wali Mehsud an attempt to legitimize the terrorist organization and place it parallel to the Afghan Taliban, despite the fact that the TTP was a US-designated terrorist organization, already neutralized by Pakistan, while the US and other countries were holding negotiations with the Afghan Taliban. The TTP which had targeted innocent Pakistanis including women and children through several heinous attacks against Pakistani civilians and armed forces seemed to be changing its stance to protect its illicit activities under the cover of Islamization. Command Eleven – an Open Source Intelligence, think tank, specializing in counter-terrorism, insurgency and extremism pointed that the TTP was a defunct terror group that was fighting to regroup under the ISPP banner, as their strength and relevance in Afghanistan has been decimated. The TTP interview also revived the memories of the gruesome attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar in which 150 people including 134 school children were massacred. APP

Sindh govt imposes lockdown till Aug 8 amid dangerous surge in Covid-19 cases CoNtINueD fRoM PAGe 01 The minister said the drivers, who provide pick and drop facilities to schoolchildren would be required to vaccinate themselves while those travelling on public transport should also follow the deadline.

The students with an age of over 18 years would also have to vaccinate themselves to attend educational institutions while employees of private and public sector entities could not enter their office unvaccinated after August 31.

In addition, people in high-risk areas including hotels, restaurants, marriage halls would also have to get vaccinated in addition to those of law enforcement agencies, banks, NADRA, markets, shopping malls and chain stores.

He expressed the hope that the Pakistani nation would come out of this challenge successfully and would become an example of success among developing nations in dealing with the Covid-19 and also in the anti-coronavirus vaccination drive.

Asad Umar added that the implementation of SOPs was not the only solution, the people needed to be vaccinated as early as possible.

He said that the government had adopted a prudent strategy by striking a balance between controlling coronavirus and allowing economic activity across the country. He stressed that complete lockdowns did not work in India and Bangladesh and had a very negative effect. The minister said the government had the comprehensive framework and was taking data-based decisions. However, he said there were problems in compliance of coronavirus SoPs all across the country.

The Sindh government, on the other hand, had been mulling a complete lockdown in Karachi as the city’s hospitals are “nearing saturation point”, members from the provincial task force on coronavirus told Geo News on Thursday.

Provincial government officials told Geo News that medical experts within the task force have asked for a complete 14-day lockdown in the city.

“Hospitals are nearing a saturation point with cases

in Karachi rising rapidly,” the task force members said, adding that the Sindh government was consulting stakeholders on the imposition of a lockdown.

Representatives of the Pakistan Medical Association have already demanded a complete lockdown across Sindh, the members said.

The task force members said more than 370 patients had been admitted to hospitals across Karachi in just the last two days. “The pressure on oxygen supply is increasing with the influx of patients.”

Businesses will be shut and a complete ban on public movement will be imposed during the lockdown, the task force members said.

On a positive note, the Sindh government’s suggestion to block SIM cards of people who have not been vaccinated seems to be working, with hundreds of people lined up outside Karachi’s vaccination centres, Geo News reported.

Based on the decisions taken in the meeting today, the Sindh government, it seems, has decided that it does not care what the federation says and that the only immediate solution to bring down virus cases was a lockdown.

POSITIVITY RATIO REACHES 7.2%: The national tally of active Covid-19 cases was recorded as 62,723 on Friday, with 4,537 more people tested positive for the deadly virus and 1,489 people recovered from the disease during the last 24 hours.

86 corona patients have died during the past 24 hours, 82 of whom were under treatment in the hospitals and four of them perished in their respective quarantines or homes, according to the latest update issued by the NCOC. Most of the deaths occurred in Sindh, followed by Punjab. Out of the total 86 deaths that occurred, 50 of them died were under treatment on ventilators.

There were 3,117 Covid infected patients under treatment in critical condition with 33 of them admitted during the past 24 hours in various Covid dedicated healthcare facilities of the country.

The positivity ratio during the past 24 hours was recorded at 7.23 percent.

The maximum ventilators were occupied in four major cities including Islamabad 7 percent, Lahore 20 percent, Peshawar 18 percent and Karachi 18 percent.

Around 304 ventilators were occupied elsewhere in the country while no Covid affected person was on a ventilator in Balochistan.

Some 58,203 tests were conducted across the country on Thursday, including 20,475 in Sindh, 17,510 in Punjab, 10,091 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 3,484 in Islamabad Capital Territory, 4,689 in Balochistan, 864 in GB, and 1,090 in AJK. Around 938,843 people have recovered from the disease so far across Pakistan making it a significant count with over 90 percent recovery ratio of the affected patients.

Since the pandemic broke out, a total of 1,024,861 cases were detected that also included the perished, recovered and under treatment Covid-19 patients so far, including AJK 23,819, Balochistan 30,162, GB 8,008, ICT 86,945, KP 143,213, Punjab 355,483 and Sindh 377,231.

About 23,295 deaths were recorded in the country since the eruption of the contagion. Around 5,947 people perished in Sindh, 44 of them died in the hospitals on Thursday.

11,019 people died in Punjab died with 24 deaths occurred in past 24 hours. 20 individuals died in the hospitals and four out of the hospitals.

As many as 4,444 people expired in KP, nine of them died in hospitals on Thursday, 799 individuals died in ICT, two of them died in hospitals on Thursday, 327 people died in Balochistan, one perished in the hospital in the past 24 hours, 137 infected people perished in GB, four of them died in the hospitals in past 24 hours and 622 people in AJK died, two of them succumbed to the deadly virus in the hospitals on Thursday. A total of 15,936,674 corona tests have been conducted so far, while 639 hospitals are equipped with Covid facilities across the country.

Some 3,575 corona patients were admitted to hospitals.

enterprises by the State Bank of Pakistan, and providing the business community opportunity to benefit from trade potential of Uzbekistan.

They also lauded the government’s initiative to directly listen to the proposals of the business community for the first time and also pointed out hurdles in the business for a gulf between the government and the business community in the past.

stability in afghanistan crucial for Pakistan’s economy: minister NewS DeSk Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Friday said that Pakistan is not supporting or strengthening any one group in Afghanistan, but instead is trying to create an environment where all factions can come together to form a united government.

Addressing a ceremony organised by the PakAfghan Youth Forum, he said that it is the only way to establish peace and form a stable government in Afghanistan, reported Geo News.

He added that no one group has enough power to form a stable government. The information minister pointed that the future economy of the region depends on a stable and peaceful Afghanistan. He added that Pakistan wants to have access to Central Asian states and build strong ties with them. He said that Pakistan has already signed a railway track project with Uzbekistan which will run from Peshawar to Mazar-e-Sharif and then to Tashkent. He also spoke about promoting trade by truck to Central Asian states via Afghanistan and stressed that for such projects to be successful, peace in Afghanistan is necessary. Creating peace in Afghanistan is a difficult task and Pakistan and Afghanistan are suffering consequences from superpowers’ operations, he said. Earlier, the PaknAfghan Youth Forum was addressed by the prime minister and chief of army staff. The Afghan delegation met with the PM online with the aid of Pashto and Dari subtitles. The premier spoke to Afghan journalists and the youth about building a Pak-Afghan future, Chaudhry said.

Pak, Us nsas meet, agree to sustain ‘momentum’ in bilateral cooperation CoNtINueD fRoM PAGe 01 He said that Afghanistan is being embarrassed daily due to these idiotic statements, adding that Afghans should rest assured that everyone can see through the nefarious agenda of these spoilers. “We will not let a handful of venomous minds affect Pakistan’s support to all Afghans for peace and stability,” he added. The NSA said that Pakistan remained committed to facilitating an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan. “In this spirit, PM Imran Khan agreed to meet President Ghani recently to continue our engagement.” On July 16, Prime Minister Imran Khan told Afghan President Ghani that Pakistan would be the last country to try to destabilise his country and stressed the need for the Afghan stakeholders and the international community to gear up efforts for a “politically negotiated settlement” there. Responding to the speech of Ghani at a conference on ‘Central and South Asia Regional Connectivity, Challenges and Opportunities’ in Tashkent, Imran said that blaming Pakistan for the ongoing unrest in the war-battered country was “extremely unfair”. “President Ghani, I want to make it clear to you that Pakistan will be the last country to think about supporting turmoil and unrest in Afghanistan,” the prime minister said. “Blaming Pakistan for what is going on in Afghanistan is extremely unfair…Peace in Afghanistan is our foremost priority.” He asked Afghanistan to consider Pakistan as a “partner of peace” rather than blaming it for the ongoing unrest, which he said was the “outcome of using a military solution by the United States instead of a political one”. Rejecting the assertions of Ghani made against Pakistan for “not supporting peace”, Imran categorically stated that Pakistan did not want turmoil in its neighbourhood because peace was in its own interest. He added that Pakistan would continue to support reconciliation in Afghanistan. He mentioned that due to the decadeslong conflict in Afghanistan, Pakistan suffered heavily in terms of its 70,000 casualties, besides facing huge economic instability. He also mentioned 3 million Afghan refugees and added that Pakistan did not have the capacity to bear another influx.

Saturday, 31 July, 2021

04 NEWS

ISLAMABAD

PResIdent stResses use oF teCHnoloGy to CuRB tAx evAsIon ISLAMABAD

P

STaFF REPORT

RESIDENT Dr Arif Alvi has emphasised the need for using the latest technology to curb tax evasion. Addressing a public awareness seminar for taxpayers on Friday at the President House, the president said that tax evasion is a venom for any country, adding the nations fail due to corruption.

The President stressed that taxation is essential to run the affairs of the country.

He said, “Our tax to GDP ratio is merely 10 percent which is very low when compared with the rest of the world. This is the reason we have to take loans.”

He regretted that the people lack the spirit to pay taxes and present different pretexts for not paying taxes. President Alvi said the data is available with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and National Database & Registration Authority

CALLS FOR FIXING LOOPHOLES IN TAX SYSTEM (NADRA) to bring the potential people into the tax net.

He said loopholes in the system must be curbed. Simultaneously, he said it is essential to build the confidence of the people that their tax money will be used at the right place. The president said there is also a need to arrange tax awareness seminars in other cities where the traders and representatives of chambers of commerce are invited.

President Arif Alvi especially commended the performance of different ombudsmen including that of Federal Tax Ombudsman saying they are swiftly resolving the complaints of the people.

The president said that the government has taken effective decisions during the

IHC upholds PIC order against PHAF ISLAMABAD TLTP

The Islamabad High Court has dismissed a writ petition filed against by the Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation (PHFA) and has upheld an earlier decision of the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC). According to details, in pursuance of an appeal filed by a citizen Abdullah Rashed Waraich, the PIC issued a detailed verdict on June 12, 2021 and directed the director general of Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation to disclose information about the recruitment made for the post of Assistant Directors (E/M)/(Civil) as requested by the citizen. The public body was directed to comply with the order of the commission within 7 working days. However, the PHAF challenged the order of PIC in Islamabad High Court and took a stand that the petitioner (PHAF) has already submitted all relevant record/information before the PIC and the citizen in respect of the post of Assistant Director (E/M) against which the citizen applied. The petitioner stated, being custodian of records of applicants, who applied against the various posts, cannot be compelled or directed to provide all other records not relevant to the post of Assistant Director (E/M). Justice Babar Sattar in an order dated July 12, 2021 dismissed the learned counsel for the petitioner has failed to point out any infirmity in the order of the Pakistan Information Commission, the petition is therefore, dismissed in limine. Justice Louis Brandeis is often quoted as having said that “sunlight is the best disinfectant”, in the context of transparency and disclosure being an elixir to many societal and governmental malpractices.

coronavirus pandemic, which helped in containing its spread. He said the country's economy is also improving owing to the prudent economic policies of the incumbent government.

President Alvi said that key points of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) governance agenda are to do away with corruption, mismanagement, and menace of mistreatment of the people at the hands of public servants. The FTO is proving to be a key contributor to the state's responsibility to provide social justice, he added.

The President hailed FTO’s step to involve latest technology and IT gadgets including mobile app, interactive website and social media platforms to facilitate the tax payers in an easy access to FTO for registering, processing and handling complaints as well as publication of annual reports, short documentary and other informative material to disseminate information and awareness among the stakeholders which would ultimately take the

pace for benefit of tax payers and revenue collecting authority.

FTO Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera while addressing the seminar said that special attention is being paid to sensitise more and more people about existence, quick and inexpensive redressal of grievances of the taxpayers by the institution of FTO. Sukhera informed the audience there has been more than 135% increase in the number of complaints received and recommendations made. Pace of disposal of complaints picked momentum when FTO Secretariat adopted digital solutions to organise its load of work.

Sukhera said that out of total 3,888 complaints, 3,555 were disposed of during 2020, and 101 out of 103 recommendations of the FTO were up-held in revision by the competent authority. With strict monitoring and appreciable co-operation

by FBR, implementation status has improved to 87.20 percent during the past one year, Sukhera added.

Gilgit-Baltistan Council approves auction of 4G in GB ISLAMABAD GhuLam abbaS

As the government is going to auction Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) spectrum in the country, Gilgit-Baltistan Council has also approved auction of the fast internet services in the area.

The auction of 4G internet services was approved during 12th session of GB Council which was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan here on Friday. The constituted under Article 33 of the Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self-Governance) Order, 2009, headed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan as Chairman with the legislative domain over 68 Federal Subjects with regards to Gilgit-Baltistan. According to officials the Government of Pakistan is undertaking auction of licenses for Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) spectrum in Pakistan for which an Advisory Committee was constituted by the Federal Cabinet on the “Release of NGMS (Next Generation Mobile Services) Spectrum in Pakistan for Improvement of Mobile Broadband Services amid Covid-19. Subsequently, membership and TORs of the said Committee were revised and the regions of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and

Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) were also included in it along with the representation from the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & GilgitBaltistan.

Accordingly, in order to provide better telecommunication services to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan’s and to earn revenue, the draft Directive for the Auction of Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) Spectrum in Gilgit-Baltistan were unanimously approved by the Advisory Committee.

During the meeting on Friday the GB Council approved the Policy Directive for provision of Next Generation Mobiles Services (NGMS) spectrum in GB in order to provide better telecommunication service to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.

While discussing agenda about election of the GB Council, the body also approved the election of the council. The tenure of six elected Members GilgitBaltistan Council was completed on 18th May, 2021.

The existing Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly has to elect new Members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council in accordance with single non-transferable majority vote in the election to be conducted by the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner.

Gold price remains flat at Rs95,300 per 10gm Gold prices came down slightly on Friday due to the US dollar’s rebound from one-month lows. At 1400 hours GMT, gold in the international market was available at $1,825.40 per ounce after shedding $3.50 as compared to its closing value on Thursday last. Meanwhile, the price of 10 grams of yellow metal in Pakistan decreased to Rs95,300. The closing prices of the yellow metal in the country remained Rs95,300 on Thursday last and the reason behind the flat rate was depreciation of Pakistan rupee against the US dollar.

According to experts, gold traded with a mild negative bias around the $1,825 region, albeit lacked any follow-through selling. A goodish US dollar rebound from one-month lows in reaction to St Louis Fed President James Bullard's hawkish comments, saying that the US central bank should taper asset purchases this fall and go fairly rapidly. This, in turn, was seen as a key factor that weighed on the dollar-denominated commodity. Apart from this, a relatively flat opening in the US equity markets further acted as a headwind for traditional safe-haven assets, including gold, they added. NEWS DESK

Bitcoin slips to $39,078 as cryptos perform mixed NEWS DESK The cryptocurrency market remained mixed on Friday with the market cap decreasing 0.9 percent to $1.59 trillion as of 1415 GMT. The price of Bitcoin (BTC), the largest cryptocurrency, decreased to $39,078 after shedding 2.17 percent. With this decrease in price, the market capitalisation of the BTC has reached $733 billion. However, ethereum (ETH) price gained 1.58 percent to reach $2,353. With this increase in price, the market capitalisation of ETH has reached $275.1 billion. Similarly, XRP gained 2.08 percent to reach $0.725. The market capitalisation of XRP stands at $72.4 billion after this increase.

Cardano (ADA) price reached $1.27 with a 1.18 percent decrease in its price. Its market capitalisation has reached $40.8 billion after this decrease. Likewise, Dogecoin (Doge) price depreciated by 1.81 percent to reach $0.200.

With this decrease in price, the market capitalisation of Doge reached $26.1 billion.

According to experts, Bitcoin is being aggressively bought up by institutional entities this week as data shows over-the-counter (OTC) trading volumes spiking. According to them, high net worth individuals have clear interest in Bitcoin at current prices. Citing data from on-chain monitoring resource Glassnode, they eyed a sudden uptick in OTC activity just a BTC/USD hit local highs of $40,700. The OTC trading increases tend to accompany a BTC price spike. In May and June following the comedown from those highs, OTC entities bought on temporary price dips.

Brent breaches $76 mark as amid recovery in demand NEWS DESK Crude oil futures continued trading higher on Friday amid increasing demand. At 1405 hours GMT, Brent, the international benchmark for two-thirds of the world's oil, gained $0.29 (+0.38 percent) to reach $76.34 a barrel.

Similarly, the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) reached $73.87, up by $0.25 (+0.34 percent). The price for Opec Basket was recorded at $73.62 a barrel with 0.81 percent increase, Arab Light was available at $75.76 a barrel with 0.61 percent increase, while the price of Russian Sokol reached $75.12 after gaining 0.64 percent. According to experts, prices have been on the upward slide due to the supply-demand issue amid recovery in demand. They said that jet fuel consumption in the United States has hit its highest level since March 2020. They said that rising vaccination rates would limit the need for the harsh lockdowns that gutted demand during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic last year.

They also pointed to a rapid rebound in India's gasoline consumption and industrial production following its Covid-19 surge earlier this year as a sign that economies are more resilient to the pandemic.

Rupee falls to over ninemonth low against dollar Pakistan rupee dropped to over nine months low against the US dollar on Friday and depreciated by 54 paisas (-0.33 percent) in the interbank.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan, the US dollar opened at Rs161.89 and closed at Rs162.43. Last time, the rupee traded at this level in the interbank on October 16, 2021.

Within the open market, the rupee was traded at Rs162.50/163 per dollar. Currency experts said that the local currency depreciated due to escalated import bill and decline in foreign exchange reserves. NEWS DESK

Sustainable bond issuance to total $850bn in 2021: Moody's NEW YORK TLTP

The global issuance of sustainable bonds, including green bonds, is expected to reach $850 billion in 2021, an increase of 59 percent from last year, because of strong investor demand, according to the latest report from Moody’s Investors Service.

Green bond issuance alone is expected to be about $450bn this year, while social bonds and sustainability bonds will total about $200bn each, Moody’s said.

"We expect sustainable bonds to account for around 8 percent to 10 percent of global debt issuance in 2021, as issuers across all

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segments of the market continue to explore how they can link their capital markets activities with their sustainability objectives,” Matthew Kuchtyak, assistant vice presidentanalyst at Moody’s, said.

The total volumes across three segments more than doubled to $427bn in the first half of the year, according to the ratings agency.

Green bond issuance during the period stood at $199bn, while social bonds totalled $136bn, and sustainability bonds touched $92bn. Green bonds are financial instruments structured to fund schemes relating to climate change and the environment. Globally, the green bonds market is estimated to reach $2.36 trillion by 2023, according to the World

Economic Forum. Their volumes in the second quarter reached $94bn, 10 percent lower than the record $105bn issued in the first quarter of the year, but 48 per cent higher than the first quarter of 2020.

“Given the record issuance levels observed in the first half of the year and our expectations that issuer interest in financing climate mitigation and adaptation projects with green bonds will only increase, we now believe issuance for the full year will top $450bn,” Moody’s said. Non-financial companies and financial institutions are leading green bond volumes with $64bn and $42bn of issuance, accounting for 32 percent and 21 percent of the total issuances globally.

Saturday, 31 July, 2021

ISLAMABAD

NEWS

05

PSX iMPoSeS ReStRictionS to PRevent coRonAviRuS SPReAd

Federal Railways minister Azam Khan Swati presiding high level meeting at railways head quarter lahore. PR

KARACHI

Ambassador asks exporters to focus on Morocco market ISLAMABAD TLTP

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Morocco Hamid Asghar Khan has asked the business community to focus on Morocco for boosting exports to North African countries as African region offers great potential to Pakistan for promoting trade and economic relations.

Interacting with entrepreneurs during his visit to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Friday, Khan said that Pakistani business community should increase its presence in Morocco to capture better market share in the North African region. He said that businessmen of Morocco are also interested in joint ventures (JVs) in Pakistan, especially in agriculture, fertilizer and other sectors.

He emphasised the importance of Morocco and North African markets for Pakistan for improving trade and exports. He said that ICCI and other trade bodies in Pakistan can play an important role in connecting the members of the business community with Moroccan counterparts for strong business linkages that would help in boosting trade relations and assured that his embassy would extend all possible cooperation in realising these goals. Speaking at the occasion, ICCI Senior Vice President Fatma Azim said that Pakistan has the potential to export many products to Morocco and other North African countries including rice, pharmaceuticals, textile products, surgical instruments, fruits, rickshaws, motorbikes. She emphasised that Pakistan and Morocco should focus on direct flights and set up strong air links to strengthen trade relations and people-to-people contacts. She said that the Embassy of Pakistan in Morocco should conduct market study reports and share them with chambers of commerce & industry in Pakistan so that Pakistani exporters could exploit all the available business opportunities in Moroccan market. She said that both governments should facilitate frequent exchange of trade delegations and organise single country exhibitions to explore all untapped areas of trade promotion. She emphasised that linkages between the businesswomen of both countries should be strengthened to boost bilateral trade in women related items.

FBR launches export facilitation scheme The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday formally launched the Export Facilitation Scheme 2021. The FBR issued an SRO 957(I)/2021 to implement the provisions for facilitating exports from Pakistan. Previously, the tax body issued draft law on July 9, 2021, inviting feedback from the stakeholders.

According to the latest SRO, the scheme would be available to businesses subject to the authorisation of import, warehouse and purchase of input goods under the rules and registration in the WeBOC and Pakistan Single Window facilities. The facility would be available to persons registered under the Sales Tax Act, 1990, as manufacturer-cum-exporter, who make not less than 10 percent value addition in the manufacturing and export of goods. The facility would also be available to those manufacturers who act or intend to act as contracted vendors of foreign principal, and as toll manufacturers. Further, commercial exporters and common export houses would also be entitled to avail the facility, according to the SRO. Under the scheme, a taxpayer will be entitled to acquire input goods without the payment of Customs duty, federal excise duty, sales tax, or withholding tax. The FBR said input goods may be imported duty-free and the taxes on filing of goods declaration giving the number of the authorisation granted. Further, the local input goods liable to the sales tax would be supplied against a zero-rated invoice. News Desk

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TLTP

HE Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday imposed standard operating procedures (SOPs) on entry into the stock exchange to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

The PSX issued instructions in pursuance of directives issued by the home department of the Sindh government. On the directives of the provincial govern-

ment, the PSX has taken precautionary measures for the prevention of coronavirus (Covid-19) spread considering the drastic rise in cases.

“In order to ensure safety of all occupants at the PSX premises, work from home should be ensured for at least 50 percent staff and physical presence should be limited to a maximum of six people per room (including visitors).”

The PSX instructed the occupants to provide details of their staff/visitors to the PSX administration department by

the end of July 30, 2021 so that the safety measures can be smoothly implemented from Monday August 02, 2021.

Furthermore, the stock exchange instructed that the staff should keep their CNIC with them and wear their company issued identity cards while they are in PSX premises.

The PSX said that it has already ensured necessary infrastructure in place for all TRE certificate holders to connect to the trading system from any remote location in a seamless manner. Further, PSX

has requested the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) for relaxation of clause 8.3.2 of PSX Rule Book.

“In view of thereof, taking into account the exceptional circumstances and to ensure smooth operations, SECP, in exercise of the powers conferred under clause 1.4 of PSX Rule Book has relaxed the requirement whereby TRE Certificate Holders may be allowed activate and operate their DR terminals for trading purposes during normal operations of PSX up to September 30, 2021.

Google commits $1.5m for Covid relief efforts in Pakistan Google has announced a $1.5 million grant for UNICEF to help alleviate the current pandemic crisis in Pakistan.

Announcing the commitment, Google Pakistan Country Director Farhan Qureshi said, “The current surge in COVID-19 cases is causing immense pressure on our health care system, and this Google.org grant to UNICEF aims to deepen our support for Pakistan at this critical time.”

He said UNICEF will continue to focus on ensuring timely access to information, as well as tools for all Pakistanis to stay informed, connected and safe during this crisis.

“We are grateful for Google.org’s contribution to UNICEF as we continue to respond tirelessly to the

global pandemic by providing fair access to Covid-19 vaccines and services to target populations with a focus on the most vulnerable,” said UNICEF, Regional Director, East Asia and the Pacific Karin Hulshof.

“Only a truly global response can protect and secure the future of every child and the communities in which they live, and we will continue working with our partners and lean on them for their expertise, innovative solutions and flexible funding to help minimise the impact in the region and beyond.” she added.

Since the start of the pandemic, Google.org has also funded vaccine distributions in Asia and across the world through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Google has also focused its ef-

forts in ensuring that information serves everyone in Pakistan through its tools and products.

Google previously gave ad grants to help the government of Pakistan provide critical information on how to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and other measures to help local communities. Google has also surfaced the latest updates and health advice from Pakistani health authorities across Search, Maps and YouTube in Urdu and English. During Ramazan in 2020 and 2021, the company supported a PTV live stream broadcast of Tarawih prayers on YouTube, facilitating observance of an important religious event with enhanced public health and safety measures. News Desk

Drive to plant 100,000 saplings begins in Sughar Range.

FBR sets up office to identify black money in jewellery, real estate businesses ISLAMABAD TLTP

Industrialists express confidence in govt’s business policies, EODB All major chambers of commerce and industry in Pakistan have expressed full confidence in the government's business-friendly policies and measures taken for ease of doing business (EODB) and agreed to the consultative process for the formulation of a strategy to increase tax revenue.

Presidents of the country's major chambers of commerce met Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad, said a press statement issued on Friday. The meeting was part of a series initiated by the Ministry of Commerce to exchange ideas and raise awareness on the government’s policies between government and business community.

The meeting was attended by the President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry as well as presidents and vice presidents of chambers of commerce of Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujarat, Multan, Sargodha, Gwadar, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Federal ministers Hamad Azhar and Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Advisor on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razzaq Dawood, Special Assistant Dr Shahbaz Gill, Governor State Bank of Pakistan Dr Raza Baqir and concerned officials also attended the meeting. Finance Minister Shaukat Fayyaz Tareen participated via video link.

The participants praised prime minister and his eco-

nomic team for the successful economic policies in the country, despite the Covid-19 outbreak, which has led to a GDP growth of about 4%, a 15% increase in large scale manufacturing, commended SBP for providing facilities to the export industry, incentives for medium and small-scale industries (including machinery loans) and for taking along to Uzbekistan business community to benefit from Uzbekistan's trade potential. They also congratulated the prime minister on the increase in tax revenue, exports and remittances.

In addition, the participants appreciated the initiative of the incumbent government to listen to the suggestions of the business community, directly, for the first time in the history to solve their problems. Moreover, the gap between government and the business community, as there has been no such initiative in the past, was also mentioned, which created obstacles in the way of business in the country.

Further, the participants in the meeting also expressed that the business community is ready to pay taxes and will collaborate with the government to reform the tax system.

Stressing on the importance of industrial development to strengthen the country's economy, Prime Minister Khan said that the government is facilitating industries to increase exports, which would not only reduce the trade deficit, but also increase foreign exchange reserves in the country and generate employment opportunities. News Desk

Sahibzada Jahangir receives Lord Mayor of Rochdale the Award of Excellence Spokesperson of Pakistan Prime Minister on Trade & Investment in UK & Europe Sahibzada Jahangir has received the Lord Mayor of Rochdale the Award of Excellence. In a statement, Jahangir said, “Last night at Rochdale Cricket Club dinner I was privileged and honoured to receive from the Lord Mayor of Rochdale the Award of Excellence Shield for ‘Sahibzada Jahangir outstanding services for the community in North West of England’.” He added that the award was given to him in the presence of Pakistan High Commissioner Moazzam khan, Aneel Mussarat, founder of MCR Property Group, Lord Bennett, Lord Wajid & Afzal khan, MP, shadow home secretary. News Desk

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has set up a dedicated office for the monitoring of undocumented transactions of real estate agents and jewellers under the conditions imposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). According to sources, the FBR has taken initiatives to identify the use of black money in businesses of jewellery and real estate under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010. In this regard, the FBR, through a notification issued on July 28, 2021, established a Directorate General of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs). Under the AntiMoney Laundering Act, the revenue board is responsible for ensuring that the Directorate General of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions, including real estate agents, dealers in precious metals and stones, and the FBR-supervised accountants comply with the anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism obligations.

The sources said the federal government had legislated to monitor DNFBPs in December 2020 to address the risk of proliferation financing and to comply with the requirements of the UNSCR and FATF’s recommendations. The FBR has issued the guidelines for real estate agents and jewellers for reporting suspicious transactions, while dealing with their customers. Further, to identify a suspicion that could be indicative of the money laundering or terrorism financing, FMU has prepared the red flags indicators that are specially intended as an aid for the real estate sector. These red flags may appear suspicious on their own; however, it may be considered that a single red flag would not be a clear indicator of the potential ML/TF activity. However, a combination of these red flags, in addition to the analysis of overall financial activity and client profile may indicate a potential ML/TF activity.

Pakistan bought priciest LNG shipments to avoid blackouts: Bloomberg Cash-strapped Pakistan’s bet that liquefied natural gas prices would go down has failed, forcing the South Asian nation to pay more than ever for the power plant fuel or risk blackouts.

Pakistan LNG this week bought four cargoes for September delivery at around $15 per million British thermal units, the highest since the nation began imports in 2015, according

to people with knowledge of the matter.

The importer scrapped a tender for September cargoes that closed earlier this month in a gamble that prices would fall, Bloomberg reported.

The power generators will be the main consumers of the latest cargoes, without which there was a risk that the nation wouldn’t have enough electricity, according to the

people, who requested anonymity to discuss private details. The high costs are also a strain on the budget, with surging energy and commodity prices pushing import costs to a record high in June.

The price hikes have come amid a global supply crunch of natural gas that has sent rates from the US to Europe surging as importers compete for a finite amount of read-

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ily available fuel. Dutch gas, the benchmark for Europe, is trading at a record high as nations in the region struggle to refill rock-bottom inventories.

The high prices are a blow for Pakistan, which along with other developing nations built LNG import strategies on the premise that the fuel would be abundant and cheap for the foreseeable future, as it has for the

past several years. That changed this year, and the current spot price for Asian LNG is trading roughly 67% above the 10-year average, according to Bloomberg calculations.

While domestic consumers are currently protected from the turbulent imported gas prices, the government in Islamabad is considering changing some of those regulations to pass on some of the added cost. News Desk

Saturday, 31 July, 2021

06 COMMENT

India-Russia relations: More balancing than tilting

In pursuit of diplomatic settlement in Afghanistan Troika Plus meeting

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iTh the US mission in Afghanistan ending on August 31 and no respite in sight to the Afghan Taliban’s military advance, Russia has announced a meeting of the Troika Plus in Doha in the second week of August. earlier this month a joint declaration issued after intra-Afghan talks in Doha said the Afghan government and the Taliban affirmed the goal of a negotiated and inclusive settlement and vowed to protect the civilian infrastructure, prevent civilian casualties and cooperate on humanitarian assistance. Doubts remain, however, if, left to themselves, the two sides would stick to the agreement.

On Thursday Russian envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov outlined his government’s position on the primary goals of the Afghan settlement. These include achievement of a ceasefire, resumption of inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue, formation of an interim coalition government with tasks to carry out constitutional reform and preparation for a general election in a short period. While President Ghani has resisted the proposal of an interim coalition government, saying elections must take place before he will step aside, the Taliban have rejected a ceasefire and said they would not directly join an interim government.

Both sides need to realize their limitations. The pro-US elements in the Afghan government have to understand that the USA has completed its mission with President Joe Biden vowing not to send another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan. As far as preservation of human rights and democracy are concerned, the USA has often sacrificed principles in fulfilment of its strategic interests.

The Taliban have to realize that they can get legitimacy and international support only through a negotiated settlement that leads to the formation of an inclusive government, rather than control over Kabul through military means. As long as the Afghan troops maintain their morale with military and financial support from outside, a window of opportunity will remain open for a negotiated settlement.

The Troika Plus meeting can play a crucial role in bringing peace to Afghanistan and in addressing the apprehensions of the countries in the region. The joint pressure by the US, Russia, China with full support from Pakistan would be a formidable force. Much would depend on whether the Troika Plus can speak with one voice till the Afghan government and the Taliban agree to sign on the dotted line.

Dr rajkumar Singh

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he decades-tested and trusted relationship between india and Russia is viewed today as shaking due to the changing geopolitical environment at regional level and beyond between Kremlin and Washington on the one hand and the USA and China on the other. it’s a big brain game among super and big powers of the world for which countries like india, Pakistan, Japan, Australia, Afghanistan, and others of south Asia and Southeast Asia are working as fillers or balancers. While these countries are conscious enough of their security and development needs, at the same time they are equally conscious of the need for peace in the region.

Presently, the nations of South Asia and others are worried about the total withdrawal of American and NATO forces from Afghanistan and after the power vacuum that it will create. in this context, there are so many powers, big and small, active to play their role but only two major groups are involved in the task. One is led by the USA which wants to keep india, Japan, and Australia along with other like-minded countries on its side, and it is supportive of the existing power set to take charge of the country. The leader of the second group is China which desires to continue the peace talks with the help of Pakistan and Russia, and the main purpose of this camp is to not involve New Delhi anywhere in the whole process. it is supportive of the Taliban who

Coronavirus situation grows worse

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hile Pakistan is menaced by a fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, caused by the delta variant of the virus, the federal and Sindh governments seemed headed towards another confrontation like the one which marked the beginning of the pandemic.

While the federal government, through NCOC head Federal Minister Asad Umar, has huffily rejected placing the country under a lockdown, the Sindh government has said that it was contemplating just such a measure as deaths rise and positivity rates continue to stay at unbelievable levels.

This is happening even as new vaccine-related restrictions come into place. There will be no ban on air travel, but from Sunday, no one will be allowed to travel unless vaccinated.

Teachers (as well as all government servants) have until August 31 to get vaccinated.

There is another complication which neither seems to have considered. The matriculation and intermediate examinations have been announced, and education Minister Shafqat Mehmood has been blunt in the refusal to postpone them. The federal government’s desire to avoid a lockdown is understandable. The plea is that the economic damage would be immense. The federal government’s fear is probably that that damage would cost it electorally. The Sindh government may feel that its better handling will stand the PPP in good stead in other provinces. however, what should be paramount is the lives that must be saved.

The PTi must remember that it will not be judged by its cleverness, but by its willingness to save lives. The extent of destruction seen in india, where bodies were being piled on pavements and cremation grounds and cemeteries were turning away bodies, has not happened in Pakistan, but looms.

The only way out is for the government to be ready to do what it takes. The federal government must also be careful that it does not get involved in the kind of unedifying conflict with the Sindh government that bede billed the national response to the covid-19 pandemic.

Unfortunately the fourth wave will not remain restricted to Karachi. it will inevitably move upwards, to Punjab and Sindh, which have PTi governments. The NCOC must be ready to take the steps needed, including complete lockdowns.

Dr umair aShraf

A

few days back, i was at dinner with a friend currently posted as in-charge of a police station in lahore. This police station covers a huge and important area of lahore and its outskirts and includes one of the most important entry-exit points of the city, the Babu Sabu interchange. Thousands of people enter and leave the city through this checkpoint daily as it has the biggest bus terminal in lahore.

As the discussion ensued about policing in the vicinity, i was told by my friend the intricate details of how urban security and policing work. And how the abovementioned area shows a dilemma of urban dwelling. he continued, “if you happen to go there, you will see the infrastructure and transportation have become a plight. Buildings have been constructed without regularization. There are overwhelming numbers of illegal encroachments. The transporters have been capitalizing on illegal and disallowed businesses.

There are criminal gangs fully functional.

The illegal drugs distribution network has grown and you would see dozens of drug abusers lying in poignant condition here and there. The congestion of inhabitants is inordinate and there are many unwarranted people living without any identification documents and data. The crime level is alarmingly high and many young people are involved in illicit activities.

The unchecked and illicit development of the outskirts of lahore beyond the interchange and even the River Ravi are adding to the problems” And then he continued, as how the policing had come up against many impediments while facing all these problems.

The sight he showed me through his discussion was despairing but equally perilous. Though a small area of the Metropolitan Corporation has been mentioned. the beautiful ancient city of lahore has grown into a gloomy quagmire of urban settlement as a whole. The population of lahore has increased by 200 percent in the last two decades. its current population stands at almost 15 million people. its annual population growth rate stands at almost four percent and it is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The demographics of the city show a picture of unprecedented growth in the last two decades.

Being the capital of Punjab and the centre of iyd

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

The writer is head of the political science department and dean of the Social Sciences faculty of the B.N.Mandal University, Madhepura, Bihar, India.

He can be reached at rajkumarsinghpg@gmail.com

The insurgency of unchecked urban development may cause a catastrophe bigger than can be expected

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

M. A. Niazi

the USSR supported india and also supplied required materials to defend india against US and Chinese help to Pakistan. The strong spirit and good understanding remained intact under the Janata Party’s rule in india followed by the return of Mrs. Gandhi and thereafter.

After the disintegration of the he USSR, relations remained intimate as earlier, and they signed a series of agreements and treaties to strengthen relations in each field, although initially for years Russia looked to the West for help and assistance they promised earlier and india too became busy in accommodating its economic policies as required by globalization, but despite heavy engagements at national level they both were trying to adjust in the new world order dominated by the supremacy of the USA. in the changed global atmosphere, they both signed a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in 1993 and extended people-to-people in successive years.

Their relations found a new height with the 2000 visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin. There were some signs of the fading of the old trusted and smooth relationship due to bilateral, regional and global factors.

With the passing of time, india’s understanding with the USA, emerging differences between the USA and China, and Beijing’s growing intimacy with the Russian Federation against the USA have, to a large extent, affected india- Russia relations in the last two decades, but more especially in the recent past few years. it is a new challenge for policymakers of New Delhi and the Kremlin to keep a balance and maintain at least working relations in this hour of crisis. Although neither Russia nor india is willing to let their relations down in any sphere, they are bound to keep the old tempo and fairness/ intimacy in behaviour in abeyance. The growing understandings with the USA in the last two decades have also reached a point of no return and this has made relations uneasy with both Russia and China as well. in the present situation both india and Russia are trying their level best to keep the earlier relations intact in the changed regional and global scenarios.

Inhabiting the uninhabitable

Heading for confrontation

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

have been fighting for decades against the forces of the USA and the Afghanistan government. however, any effort for peace in Afghanistan must satisfy the core players: the USA, which has to withdraw, the Afghan government and the Taliban who are responsible for implementing the terms of the agreement signed for establishing peace and making power arrangements in the post-withdrawal phase and thereafter. Thus, despite some understandings with China to control the USA, the Russian Federation does not like to overlook its traditional and time-tested friendship with New Delhi, also to check Beijing in the long run, as if the time of multi-polar world has arrived, or is in the pipeline. india and Russia have a seven-decade history of tested faithful relations in all spheres, that has now transformed into a strategic partnership in last two decades or especially with the rise of Russia as a potential power in post-Cold War era, however, it faces today some strains due to divergence of goals on account of geopolitical and geo-economic shifts at the regional and global levels, fueled by bilateral and international factors. The least negative effects of these events are expected, however, keeping in view the track records of their past sound relations based on mutual trust and understandings on issues of national interest, security and all-round development.

As the period from the mid-1940s and thereafter was famous for rivalry between the two superpowers of the time, and when india refused to join the US camp, the latter made Pakistan its ally in Asia and began to extend all kinds of help to islamabad and Pakistan became a member of SeATO and CeNTO. in response, the Kremlin began supporting Third World countries and the Non-aligned Movement of which india was leader. in that context, the two countries made a high-level exchange when india’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited Moscow in June 1955 and a return visit was paid by CPSA First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev the same year. While in india he supported indian sovereignty and on Kashmir, although india’s growing relations with it had cast a negative effect. Kremlin remained neutral in the border dispute as well as during the india-China war of 1962. in a critical situation during the indo-Pak war of 1965 and at the height of Bangladesh crisis india faced,

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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politics, lahore has been subjected to highly reckless urban development by governments and administrations since 2001. Since the city gets the highest developmental budget and provides most of the facilities for health, education and employment as compared to the rest of the province and the country, it has seen prodigious migration of people in recent years. To absorb the growing number of inhabitants, lahore has expanded through its existing boundaries virtually in all directions in a rampant manner. it reminds me of the words of Patras Bukhari that there is a lahore outside lahore.

Today if you travel on the GT road in the northern side of the city and on the Ferozepur Road in the southeast, you will witness the extent of the growth of lahore. it has engulfed all the towns in its outskirts and is rampaging to engulf even the cities of Kasur, Sheikhupura and Kamoke in the nearby future.

This rampant spread of lahore and unchecked population growth has brought massive problems. They include the congestion of residential and commercial areas, failing infrastructure, pressure on the existing facilities and resources, increased criminality levels, deforestation, highly alarming pollution levels, fractured and overburdened health and educational facilities, fragile public transport, massive illegal encroachments, swelling public health issues, underground water scarcity, drug abuse, illegal construction, and clogging of Traffic, apart from others.

The factor which contributed to this whole dilemma of getting the beautiful city of lahore to its current state of a vandalized metropolitan area, are both administrative and political. lahore has always

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

been devoid of a properly researched and sought development plan. The lahore Development Authority (lDA)’s incompetence and highly corrupt policies under the political umbrella should be blamed for it. lahore has grown horizontally instead of vertically due to a massive number of residential real estate projects. Most of these housing societies were constructed illegally. if we travel on lahore Ring Road today, we won’t be able to see a single area on both sides that is free of commercial and residential real estate projects. The congestion of housing societies has become a swamp. The public transport system failed owing to political reasons as the previous government only developed two public transport routes to win electoral support. The sheer lack of planning has seen that these routes only cover 25 percent of the population and the rest of the city remains at the mercy of rotten transport.

The private vehicles thus result in clogging of traffic.

Since the rest of the province remained underdeveloped it has contributed to the migration of overwhelming numbers. The unchecked and unlawful constructions and encroachments saw devastating deforestation. Thus, lahore today stands as one of the most polluted cities in the world, choked by smog and ever increasing pollution contributing to various lung diseases. The growing construction also contributed to falling Water Table and the city may see a drought very early in the future. The resources are showing a famine already.

Thus, the whole predicament of urban settlement has become a nightmare and it raises a question, “Are we inhabiting the uninhabitable?”

Since the rest of the province remained underdeveloped it has contributed to the migration of overwhelming numbers. The unchecked and unlawful constructions and encroachments saw devastating deforestation.

Thus, Lahore today stands as one of the most polluted cities in the world, choked by smog and ever increasing pollution contributing to various lung diseases

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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The writer is doctor living in Lahore

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Saturday, 31 July, 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

America and Taliban controversy

Modi’s Machiavellian Diplomacy India keeps on denying the Kashmiri people the right to self-determination

SajjaD Shaukat

I

N his book, The Prince, Machiavelli advises the rulers to have a lion-like image outwardly, and act upon the example of a goat inwardly. he also suggests to them the use of terror to obtain their goals and foreign adventures to divert the attention of the public from internal crises. in his sense, a good ruler should be a good opportunist and hypocrite.

Since Narendra Modi, the leader of the fanatic ruling party BJP, became indian prime minister, he has been following the discarded tactics of Machiavelli in the modern era of renunciation of war and peaceful settlement of disputes.

Under the Modi-led regime, the persecution of religious minorities, especially Muslims, has been intensified in accordance with the ideology of hindutva ((hindu Nationalism). The indian Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 and the National Register of Citizens clearly exposed the Modi-led government’s discriminatory policies against Muslims. indian brutal actions against the Muslim Kashmiris reached a climax on 5 August 2019 when the indian extremist government revoked articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution, which gave a special status to the disputed territory of indian Occupied Kashmir. The indian government bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories— Jammu and Kashmir, and ladakh—to be ruled by the federal government.

Besides Pakistan, China also rejected the indian malicious acts as “unlawful and void”, saying that india’s decision to “include” some of China’s territory into its administrative jurisdiction “challenged” Beijing’s sovereignty. however, indian rulers have also issued over 1.8 million domicile certificates to non-Kashmiris to change the ethno-demographic structure of the indian Occupied Kashmir. in February 2019, New Delhi had escalated tensions with islamabad especially in the aftermath of the false flag terror attack at Pulwama in indian Occupied Kashmir. in response to the indian so-called pre-emptive air strike in the town of Balakot, close to the border with Pakistan’s sector of Kashmir, Pakistan Air Force shot down two indian Air Force fighter jets and launched aerial strikes at six targets in indian

Occupied Kashmir. in the recent past, the Director Generals of Military Operations of Pakistan and india had agreed to strictly observe the 2003 ceasefire agreement across the line of Control. But, unless resolved, Kashmir will remain a nuclear flashpoint.

Meanwhile, indian media reported two low intensity explosions at Jammu Air Force Station.

The police director-general of that region, Dilbagh Singh, said that “drones with payload were used in [two] blasts.” he called the attack an act of “terrorism”, and also stated that “another major strike was averted when a terrorist, believed to be working for the Pakistan-based outfit lashker-e-Taiba, was arrested with an improvised explosive Device which was to be used for a strike in a crowded place.”

The indian external affairs ministry meanwhile said that a suspicious drone was seen over the indian high Commission complex in islamabad.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid hafeez Chaudhri rejected india’s claims alleging a drone flying over indian high Commission in islamabad, stating that no proof has been shared with Pakistan. earlier, islamabad categorically rejected a misleading statement by indian Minister of State for home Affairs G Kishan Reddy regarding an alleged drone attack in indian Occupied Kashmir.

Nevertheless, by following Machiavellian diplomacy, New Delhi has, itself arranged drone attacks to shift the blame game towards Pakistan. Besides no debris of the drones incident was found, which also verified indian sinister designs.

Pakistan’s civil and military leadership has repeatedly stated that india is also planning a false flag operation, a Pulwama-ii, against Pakistan to divert indians’ attention from internal issues, including the drastic aftermath of the abrogation of the special status of indian Occupied Kashmir. in fact, frustrated in suppressing the Kashmiris’ prolonged war of liberation through cruel tactics, employed by the indian forces, Prime Minister Modi on June 24, this year chaired an all-party meeting with 14 leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, including National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and chief of Peoples Democratic Party Mehbooba Mufti to discuss the future course of action in Kashmir.

Talking to the media, Farooq Abdullah said that he urged the prime minister to work towards building trust in Jammu and Kashmir by ensuring that its statehood is restored.

After the conference, Mehbooba Mufti stated that she had also called for the restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir— and for wider talks which must include Pakistan.

Analysts opine that international pressure,

notably from the administration of US President Joe Biden, appeared to have had some impact on the belligerently oppressive indian government.

Therefore, indian Prime Minister Modi held a surprise meeting with carefully selected Kashmiri leaders. But, the hurriyat Conference leaders were not invited. it is quite clear that the government will not be willing to restore the previous status of Kashmir. The government is also eager to demarcate constituencies once again before any fresh election in the region. it is mentionable that in November, 2020 at a joint press conference and a joint press briefing, DG iSPR Maj Gen Babar iftikhar and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi unveiled a dossier containing “irrefutable evidence” of india’s sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Munir Akram handed over the dossier to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. in its 27th report, dated February 3, 2021 and the 28th report, recently published, the UN Security Council’s monitoring team for tracking terrorist groups confirmed Pakistan’s dossier.

The reports focused on the global threat posed

by Al-Qaeda, Daesh and related groups and drew attention to the increasing cross-border terrorist threat to Pakistan from Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) operating from Afghan soil.

Notably, the country’s security agencies arrested the terrorists involved in a blast which occurred on June 23 near the banned Jamaat-udDawa chief hafiz Saeed’s house in Johar Town, lahore. Addressing a press conference, Punjab inspector General of Police inam Ghani provided details of the blast and proved that the mastermind behind the blast was an indian citizen, having clear links with RAW. The Foreign Minister remarked that if the international community had taken timely notice of islamabad’s concerns over New Delhi’s involvement in terrorist activities across Pakistan, lahore’s Johar Town blast and several terrorist incidents in Balochistan would not have taken place.

Meanwhile, the eU Disinfolab continued unraveling gradually, india’s terror-network and anti-Pakistan propaganda campaign.

Recently, world’s renowned newspapers reported that Prime Minister imran Khan’s number was among those targeted for surveillance by india, using israeli Pegasus software.

Undoubtedly, indian extremist Prime Minister Narendar Modi is pursuing the Machiavellian diplomacy in connection with the Muslims, Kashmir and Pakistan.

Undoubtedly, Indian extremist Prime Minister Narendra Modi is pursuing the Machiavellian diplomacy in connection with the Muslims, Kashmir and Pakistan

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations and can be reached at: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

AFTeR 9/11 the Taliban and America controversy became the most serious issue in the world. When the American army took part in Afghanistan to fight and wanted to end the Taliban’s history. That time 28 centuries took part against the Taliban 19 years ago. American never considered that he has been weaker but in 2008 according to an estimation that America had lost 6 trillion on the wars. Since 2014 till now Afghanistan has 45000 security, 35000 other countries and 300 American soldiers were killed by Taliban. On the other side, 70% areas are covered by the Taliban and 30% areas covered by the force of America. however, in 2020 the American President Dollar Trump decided to end the war.

Where more than 50 countries had participated including Pakistan. in that agreement America decided to take out or withdraw his military from Afghanistan. in 14 months it is going to take out 8600 troops. While America will release up 5000 in exchange for 1,000 afghan security forces and the American army.

The Taliban will continue their own religion and America is not created for foreign policies. The Taliban will make their own government.

America will remove all resistance which was not allowed. he is going to convince UNO to remove the berries from the Security Council. America will not utter political words on Taliban governance. This agreement was done on 29 February 2020 in Qatar by Mulla Ummer. Yet nothing happens but the political war continues.

Mahtab abdul latif turbat

Why only women? iT is a common fact that women are being demotivated and abused by every individual everywhere and especially in Pakistan. Pakistan is such a worst country where women are being abused and killed openly as they are deprived of many rights; they are not allowed to choose their careers and lifestyles according to their wishes. in fact, they are forced to marry in very early ages, they are forced to born babies, they are forced to not read, they are forced to suicide, they are forced to be silent, they are forced to bear all the situations silently and especially they are forced to kill their dreams and wishes. Nevertheless, they are the victims of violence and they are not safe anywhere as nowadays they are also not safe in their houses, work places, educational institutions, etc.

Thus, we women really want justice and need our rights and we want to be treated well by individuals as men as we need your love, respect, support and help to go hide and achieve our goals. rahat Murad turbat

Baldia Town and its problems BAlDiA town has no infrastructure, poor road maintenance. And there's no authorities clinic or another making plans infrastructure in Baldia. Basic facilities isn't always to be had to humans here. home of Baldia are low pay individuals, they're not getting their essential necessities and that they are suffering for an all-encompassing time. The issue of water is terrible individuals do not get water at all and what they get is not spotless for drinking. individuals gets sick because of the inaccessibility of clean water. While, water was seen overflowing out of the haggard lines, shaping water pools to a great extent and causing challenges for people on foot and the traffic. Roads aren't totally developed and their condition is very awful. Mishaps happen each day in light of the fact that the roads and streets are broken. Roads development and fix projects are begun yet never finished.in entire Baldia town not have a solitary public hospital. individuals likewise travel to get a great deal their treatment. individuals here become ill due to trash dumps, residue and heaps of contamination.

SEEMa Ejaz Karachi

Vaccination drive The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) announced on Wednesday that coronavirus vaccines will be mandatory for all public and private sector employees, adding that government employees must be fully vaccinated by June 30. The directives were issued after a meeting of the NCOC, chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special initiatives Asad Umar, which reviewed the ongoing vaccination campaign and implementation of Covid-19 SOPs. The body decided to ease some of the Covid-19 restrictions in view of the declining number of cases in the country. Besides, the meeting also decided the following: introduction of certain incentives for various sectors to encourage vaccinations All vaccination centres to remain open from 8am to 10pm daily from June 11 (except Sundays) From June 11 onwards, citizens above 18 years of age will be able to avail the walk-in facility at vaccination centres. During the meeting, the NCOC also decided to ease some restrictions that were put in place earlier to stem the spread of the virus.

Restriction on closure of two days a week to be relaxed to one day.

Choice of day will be at the discretion of federating units existing 50 per cent work from home policy to be relaxed to 100pc office attendance Selected non-contact sports to be permitted Partial opening of indoor gyms for vaccinated members only Ban on closure of shrines to remain in place Cinemas to remain shut Pakistan’s coronavirus positivity rate has been recorded at 2.54 per cent in the past 24 hours — the second day in a row that the positivity rate remained below 3pc.

According to the health ministry, 43,900 tests were conducted during the last 24 hours, of which 1,118 people tested positive. Besides, 335,790 people were administered Covid-19 vaccines on Tuesday, according to the NCOC. “The more [people] we vaccinate, the better we will be protected [against Covid-19],” said Umar, appealing to people to partake in the vaccination campaign. Pakistan also held a ceremony today to mark the deliverance of the 10 millionth vaccine dose. On the occasion, Umar said that the government aimed to inoculate 70 million people by the end of the year.

Sohail Khan lahorE

Saturday, 31 July, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

Russia, China and afghanistan afteR the withdRawal

ruSSia MaTTerS

t

Jeffrey mankoff

HE ongoing withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan aims to put an end to what has been the United States’ longest war. The departure is accelerating the long-running effort on the part of Afghanistan’s neighbors, including Russia, China and other regional stakeholders, to shape Afghanistan’s future and secure their own interests in the wider region. Their ability to do so will depend on multiple factors, not least the extent to which the U.S.backed Afghan government led by President Ashraf Ghani can maintain control in the face of escalating Taliban attacks and the questionable willingness and capacity of the security forces to fight back.

For Russia and China, the U.S. departure will be a moment of truth. Both argue that the U.S. is leaving behind a failed state, risking not only renewed civil war in Afghanistan but also wider regional destabilization. At the same time, Beijing and Moscow have long been skeptical of the U.S. ability to solve the Afghan problem, and worry that the conflict was providing Washington an excuse to maintain a military presence in Eurasia that could be used to check their own ambitions.

Now that U.S. forces are finally leaving, Russia and China could find themselves faced with a quandary: whether to wade deeper into a conflict that could—as Moscow learned to its chagrin in the 1980s—readily turn into a quagmire. Should the security environment in Afghanistan continue to deteriorate, Beijing and Moscow might feel compelled to take on a greater share of the burden for conflict management and regional security, tasks for which their capabilities remain uncertain.

BACK TO THE FUTURE? Avoiding a return to the sort of anarchy that plagued Afghanistan following the withdrawal of Soviet forces in 1988-99 remains a fundamental objective for both Beijing and Moscow—one that aligns at the broadest level with the United States’ own ambition to leave behind a “secure, stable, unified, democratic and self-reliant Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbors.”

At the same time, Russia and China also perceive Afghanistan through the prism of their respective schemes for projecting power and influence in Eurasia,

DO THEY HAVE SUFFICIENT INFLUENCE TO OVERSEE A MANAGED TRANSITION, CONTAIN ANY SPILLOVER OF VIOLENCE, AND PROVIDE REASSURANCE TO ANXIOUS AFGHANISTAN NEIGHBOURS? THE WHOLE REGION IS ABOUT TO FIND OUT which entail assuming greater responsibility for regional security and development while limiting the presence of outside actors like the United States.

Russian rhetoric has long been plagued by this tension between the objectives of imploring Washington to fix Afghanistan and guarding against a permanent U.S. presence.

From 2009-15, Moscow allowed the U.S. to transit supplies across its territory and those of its Central Asian partners as part of the Northern Distribution Network.

Withdrawing that permission in the wake of Washington’s decision to impose sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine, Putin noted that ten years of U.S.-led operations “has not brought any qualitative improvement of the situation [and] raises serious concern.”

As the U.S. actually began making plans to leave, though, Russia’s tone changed. In October 2020, conversely, Putin claimed that the U.S. presence in Afghanistan contributes “to stability in that country,” denying that Russia had paid bounties to the Taliban to target U.S. troops. During his July 16 summit with U.S. President Joe Biden, moreover, Putin encouraged greater U.S.-Russian coordination on Afghanistan, reportedly even offering Washington access to Russian bases in Central Asia.

With U.S. withdrawal looking increasingly likely over the past several years, Beijing and Moscow have taken steps to manage the consequences. Like the U.S., both Russia and China support negotiations between the central government in Kabul led by President Ashraf Ghani and its opponents (including the Taliban) leading to a compromise peace deal. Both, however, are also hedging against the possibility that negotiations fail, seeking to leverage their ties to local actors (including the Taliban) to prevent violence and instability from spreading beyond Afghanistan.

Like the U.S., Russia and China have come to draw a distinction between the Taliban, whose aspirations are largely confined to Afghanistan, and jihadist groups with transnational objectives such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State’s Afghan wing (Islamic State-Khorasan, IS-K), which has maintained toeholds across the country despite pressure from the U.S., Afghan security forces, and the Taliban. While Beijing and Moscow opposed the Tal-

Raids on media houses

IN THE GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES? Meanwhile, China and Russia are mulling increased security operations in and around Afghanistan in the event the security environment continues to deteriorate. Should the Taliban’s rapid advance not translate into either a political settlement or the fall of the Ghani government, Afghanistan could face a period of protracted civil war.

At worst, a return to the anarchy of the early 1990s could touch off much larger refugee flows and strengthen transnational extremist groups like IS-K or al-Qaeda.

Beijing and Moscow, no less than Washington, would then be faced with a set of difficult choices. Russia—which remains scarred by memories of the 197988 Soviet occupation—is not eager to take on responsibility for security inside Afghanistan. For now, Moscow is working with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to secure their respective borders with Afghanistan, seeking to insulate itself from the spread of instability to the south. Chinese officials have discussed the possibility of sending peacekeepers following the U.S. withdrawal, but have little desire to intervene in an active conflict either.

Of course, a wider conflict could leave Russia and China aligned with the United States in seeking to prevent Afghanistan’s problems from spreading outward. Since the death of Osama bin Laden, though, the U.S. has become steadily less invested in Afghanistan. In a modest policy-reversal, Washington announced in late July that it will continue to provide short-term air support for the Afghan military facing aggressive Taliban advances in summer 2021. It also is seeking partnerships with neighboring states to facilitate intelligence collection and, perhaps, targeting. But Washington is unlikely to want to wade back into the Afghan morass either—until or unless the country spawns another 9/11-style attack.

In that sense, the U.S withdrawal raises the stakes for both Beijing and Moscow. China and Russia have long maintained a dualistic approach to the U.S. presence: calling on Washington to leave while chiding it for failing to stabilize Afghanistan first. In recent years, the calls for Washington to depart have only gotten louder. Once the U.S. is out for good, Beijing and Moscow will face a real test.

Do they have sufficient influence to oversee a managed transition, contain any spillover of violence, and provide reassurance to anxious Afghanistan neighbors?

The whole region is about to find out.

Jeffrey Mankoff is a distinguished research dellow at the U.S. National Defense University’s Institute for National Strategic Studies.

A coup in Tunisia?

GOVT OUGHT TO LEASH AGENCIES, REASSURE JOURNALIST FRATERNITY Tribune, india Every action has a message, particularly when the actor is the Government of India. About 100 sleuths from the Income Tax Department swooped on the offices of India’s biggest Hindi newspaper, Dainik Bhaskar, in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh in a series of searches starting at 4 am on Thursday. The residence of Bhaskar’s promoter Sudhir Agarwal, too, was raided. Similarly, IT officials landed up at the offices and residences of Bharat Samachar TV channel’s owner-editor and UP state head in Lucknow the same day. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the ‘agencies were doing their own work and there is no interference’.

However, Dainik Bhaskar and Bharat Samachar believe that this is no routine IT investigation. They strongly contend that this has to do with their coverage of UP’s Covid second surge. Bhaskar had run a number of stories on the floating corpses on the Ganga and the makeshift graves on its banks, exposing the UP government’s gross ineptitude and under-reporting of deaths. Its Editor also wrote an opinion piece in New York Times, titled ‘The Ganges is returning the dead, it does not lie’. Bharat Samachar insists that the TV channel is being punished for its coverage of bodies on the Ganga, the oxygen crisis and the Hathras rape.

This was one controversy the government could have done without while it was battling accusations of phone tapping in the Pegasus expose. The timing of these IT searches across the country has led the Opposition to claim that the government is intimidating the media. Synchronised raids at two media houses that have been critical of the government would obviously only lead to such conclusions, particularly in an atmosphere of distrust created by the expose of snooping on the country’s Opposition leaders, activists and media professionals.

Mainstream Indian media has always exercised its freedom with utmost responsibility to the extent of being termed tame by the Opposition. If it is still being targeted, if the claims of victimisation are true, the government ought to leash its agencies immediately and reassure the media fraternity.

iban’s 1996 takeover, their attitudes toward the group have evolved over time (even as the Taliban itself has taken steps to emphasize that its ambitions remain confined to Afghanistan). That evolution has even though the Taliban remains on the list of organizations banned in Russia and Kremlin officials insist there are no immediate plans to take it off that list.

Both China and Russia have maintained diplomatic contacts with the Taliban for several years. Moscow sought to leverage its ties to the group to organize a parallel peace process that would sideline the U.S., and more recently sided with the Taliban in disputes over power-sharing talks with Kabul. It even portrays recent expansion of Taliban control into northern Afghanistan as generally positive, insofar as it narrows the scope of operations for the so-called Islamic State (IS) and similar transnational groups.

Beijing, meanwhile, has pressed the Taliban to deny sanctuary to Uyghur separatist groups, while seeking to ensure the movement would not complicate its planned investments under the Belt and Road Initiative. On July 28, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with a high level Taliban delegation in Tianjin, securing a public commitment from the group not to allow Afghan territory to be used for attacks on Chinese interests. China’s state-run press used the visit to emphasize that the twodecade U.S.-led operation in Afghanistan had been a failure, and that the departure of NATO forces provided “an opportunity for the Afghan people to stabilize and develop their country” with Chinese assistance.

At a time of escalating great power competition, China and Russia also appreciate the Taliban’s opposition to outside influence, calculating that for the nearterm, enhanced Taliban influence will remain a bulwark against the re-insertion of U.S. or allied power.

CenTre for STraTegiC and inTernaTional STudieS

o

Will Todman

N Sunday July 25, Tunisian president Kais Saied invoked emergency powers, fired the prime minister, and suspended parliament for 30 days. Saied declared that he would govern alongside a new prime minister. In a televised address, he said the measures would remain in place “until social peace returns to Tunisia and until we save the state.” Tunisia, long hailed as the only success story of the Arab Spring uprisings, now faces its most dangerous political crisis since the revolution a decade ago.

Q1: Was this a coup?

A1: It is too early to say. Saied says that he acted in accordance with Article 80 of the constitution, which grants the president the authority to take “any measures necessitated by the exceptional circumstances” if the country is in a “state of imminent danger.” He argues that he acted to remove an ineffectual government that had lost popular support amid escalating crises. Polls show that Saied is the most popular politician in Tunisia, and many Tunisians took to the streets to celebrate his actions.

The speaker of parliament and head of the Islamist Ennahda party, Rached Ghannouchi, accused Saied of launching a coup. Ghannouchi stressed that, according to constitution, the president must consult with the head of the government and the speaker of parliament before initiating the emergency measures. Ghannouchi began a sit-in outside parliament with other members of parliament when the army blocked them from entering, and he called on his supporters to “protect the revolution and the will of the people” by taking to the streets.

The constitutional legitimacy of President Saied’s moves is likely to remain unclear. Tunisia has not yet established a constitutional court to adjudicate such issues, because political parties stalled in proposing candidates and then Saied refused to ratify a bill that parliament passed to establish the court. If President Saied is able to appoint a prime minister soon who is seen as independent, legitimate, and popular, accusa-

tions of a coup may dissipate.

U.S. law bars foreign assistance to any country “whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree.” For that reason, the U.S. government is unlikely to characterize this as a coup in the coming weeks.

Q2: Why did this happen now?

A2: A decade after its revolution, Tunisia has not yet cemented its transition to democracy. The economy was struggling before the Covid-19 pandemic, and perceptions of government incompetence have grown in the last year. The economic and health crises have motivated large protests in recent weeks, leading to violent clashes between demonstrators and the police. Popular discontent about the government’s failure to deal with the economic and health crises, improve standards of living, and combat endemic corruption have led to dwindling levels of public trust in the government and state institutions.

Tunisia has the highest per capita death rate from Covid-19 in Africa and one of the worst in the world.

Vaccine hesitancy is high, and there have been repeated challenges to the stringent lockdown measures the government attempted to impose. The pandemic also decimated Tunisia’s tourism industry, exacerbating its deep economic crisis. Already high levels of unemployment have surged in the last year, particularly among youths.

Against the background of these crises, tensions between President Saied and Prime Minister Mechichi have steadily escalated in recent months. Ever since Mechichi fired several ministers who were close to Saied in a cabinet reshuffle in January 2021, Saied has refused to swear in their replacements. In April, Ennahda accused Saied of “authoritarian tendencies.” Last week, Saied ordered the army to assume responsibility for the Covid-19 response, after Mechichi sacked the health minister who was close to Saied. On Sunday, protestors called for the dissolution of parliament and Saied seized his opportunity.

Q3: Is this a repeat of Egypt?

A3: President Saied’s moves have drawn comparisons with the coup launched by General Abdel Fatah el-Sisi in Egypt to overthrow the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013. Both leaders seized on popular discontent with Islamist parties’ record of governance and depicted themselves as secular alternatives. In doing so, both appealed to citizens who were dissatisfied with the results of their revolutions and sought a strongman savior.

Saied and Sisi also enjoy military support and regional support, especially in Arab Gulf countries, which favor new, more secular governments.

But there are key differences between Tunisia and

Egypt. Kais Saied was elected president in a landslide election in 2019, while Sisi was the appointed defense minister in Egypt when he seized power. Sisi was a general in the Egyptian army and enjoyed the strong support of the armed forces, but Saied is a civilian and lacks similar levels of support from the military. Tunisia also has powerful unions (especially the Tunisian General Labor Union or UGTT) and a much more developed civil society than Egypt had when Sisi seized power. Tunisian nongovernmental actors are likely to play an important mediating role and can shape Tunisia’s trajectory.

Q4: How are international actors likely to react?

A4: Most international actors have called for calm and urged political leaders to respect the constitution.

But they have different interests at stake and would like to see Tunisia take different paths moving forward.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt are strong supporters of President Saied. They privately welcome moves to limit the influence of Islamists in Tunisia, including the Ennahda-led coalition. They likely favor the emergence of a strong, secular government in Tunisia, and none favor freewheeling politics in Tunisia where Islamist politicians play an active role.

Turkey and Qatar have expressed concern about Saied’s move to suspend parliament. Both have supported Islamist parties since the Arab Spring uprisings and have an interest in ensuring that Ennahda is not swept aside by Saied’s actions. However, both Qatar and Turkey are currently working to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia, which may encourage them to limit their interventions in Tunisia to avoid creating new regional tensions that derail that process.

Western states have urged adherence to the Tunisian constitution and said they are closely monitoring developments. They have a keen interest in ensuring that post-revolutionary Tunisia is “a success,” economically and politically. The crises of the past year have undermined their faith in Mechichi’s government, and they want to see Tunisia take a more positive path. The European Union is keen to avoid a crisis that would lead to a major new wave of migration to its southern shores.

These factors may explain why the Biden administration merely expressed “concern” about the weekend’s events, hoping that Saied can install a more effective government to address Tunisia’s many crises.

Will Todman is a fellow with the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Saturday, 31 July, 2021

BUSINESS 09

ISLAMABAD corporate corner Sngpl’s shareholders approve 40% cash dividend for fy 2019-20

EUro zonE growTh rEBoUnDS, InflATIon ToPS ECB TArgE BrUSSeLS

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The 56th Annual General Meeting of shareholders of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) was held on Thursday, July 29 2021 at Pearl Continental Hotel, Lahore. The shareholders of the Company Approved the Annual Accounts for the FY 2019-20 with profit after tax of Rs. 5,998 million translating into EPS of Rs 9.46. The shareholders also approved Cash Dividend of 40% i.e.

Rs. 4.0 per share on the recommendations of the Board of Directors of SNGPL. Moreover, the Shareholders of the Company re- appointed M/s. Yousaf Adil, Chartered Accountant as Auditors for FY 2020-21. The Chairperson, Ms. Roohi Raees Khan informed the shareholders that despite numerous economic, financial challenges, SNGPL remained focused on yielding good results under the wise guidance of the Board of Directors alongwith consistent efforts of the Management and staff. She added that the Company declared the dividend for the third consecutive year. She also briefed the shareholders about the Board of Directors’ first-ever visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and meeting with the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She appreciated the role of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government in supporting the process of laying of Company’s distribution network in the areas of Karak etc., the highest UFG loss areas, which has resulted in significant reduction in UFG losses. She further informed that the Board is also in the process of formulating 5 years strategic business plan under the dynamic leadership of newly appointed Managing Director who would undertake the digitization processes to improve efficiency and transparency. A detailed interactive session was held. A number of suggestions were noted and the shareholders were responded to their satisfaction. Ms. Roohi Raees Khan, Chairperson, Mr. Ali J. Hamdani, Managing Director, Mr. Mohammad Haroon, Mr. Ahmad Aqeel and Dr. Sohail Razi Khan, Directors, Mr. Faisal Iqbal, Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Imtiaz Mehmood, Company Secretary were present in person while Mr. Sualeh Ahmad Faruqui, Mr. Muhammad Haroon ur Rafique, Mr. Afan Aziz and Syed Akhtar Ali, Directors attended the meeting via video link. Senior Management of the Company was also present at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The Chairperson, Board of Directors, acknowledged the commendable efforts made by the Board Members, Management, Staff and especially the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) for their constant support and guidance. PRESS RElEaSE

The Bank of Punjab and McDonald’s Pakistan signs MoU for installation of ATMs at selected McDonald’s outlets

The Bank of Punjab (BOP), one of the leading financial institutions with network of 640 branches and 634 ATMs across Pakistan has signed an MoU with McDonald’s Pakistan for installation of ATMs at key McDonald’s outlets. The MoU was signed by Mr. Zahid Mustafa (Group Chief Consumer & Digital Banking – BOP) and Mr. Umar Toor (National Manager Real Estate Development – McDonald’s). The ceremony was held at McDonald’s, Lahore Polo Club, DHA, Lahore. Addressing the ceremony, Mr. Zahid Mustafa said “Today is a special day for The Bank of Punjab as we have signed an MoU with McDonald’s Pakistan being one of the most popular food chains in Pakistan. The idea is to create convenience for customers visiting McDonald’s Pakistan.

It’s a proud moment for us and I am sure it will provide another reason for our customers to say “I’m Lovin’ it”.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Umar Toor said “This is another milestone towards offering customer convenience. McDonald’s is a customer centric brand and has always worked towards improving customer experience through quality, service and cleanliness.

This is another step in creating convenience for customers of both the brands. We will be partnering with BOP in other ventures of mutual interest in future as well.” PRESS RElEaSE

REUTERS

HE euro zone economy grew faster than expected in the second quarter, pulling out of a pandemic-induced recession, while the easing of coronavirus curbs also helped inflation shoot past the European Central Bank's 2% target in July.

The European Union's statistics office Eurostat said on Friday that its initial estimate showed gross domestic product (GDP) in the 19 countries that use the euro had expanded 2.0% in April-June from the previous quarter.

Compared to the same period a year earlier, when lockdowns to slow the spread of the coronavirus brought economic activity close to a standstill, GDP jumped 13.7%.

But unlike the U.S. and Chinese economies, which have pulled above their pre-pandemic peaks, the euro zone economy remains some 3% smaller than it was at the end of 2019.

Eurostat also said euro zone inflation accelerated to 2.2% in July from 1.9% in June - the highest rate since October 2018 and above the 2.0% mean expectation of economists.

Economic growth also surpassed a Reuters poll forecast of 1.5% for the April-June quarter and a 13.2% annual increase.

Among the outperformers were the euro zone's third and fourth largest economies, Italy and Spain, with quarterly growth respectively of 2.7% and 2.8%.

Portugal's tourism-heavy economy expanded by 4.9%.

Since the start of 2020 the euro zone has twice suffered two consecutive quarters of contraction - defined as a technical recession - with coronavirus curbs hitting most recently in the period spanning the end of 2020 and the start of 2021.

Activity was dragged down in the first three months of this year largely by weakness in Germany, where a lockdown from November had curbed private consumption.

Europe's biggest economy returned to growth in the second quarter, but the expansion of 1.5% compared to Q1 showed a weaker rebound than expected.

The French economy, the euro zone's second largest economy, grew by 0.9%, just ahead of forecasts, with its third lockdown gradually being eased from May. Many euro zone countries are facing new waves of coronavirus infections with the more transmissible Delta variant.

SIMILAR Q3 GROWTH SEEN: Bert Colijn, senior economist at ING, said supply chain problems were likely to have hampered Germany, with its large auto industry, while the likes of Italy and Spain saw impressive growth because they were further behind pre-pandemic levels.

Even with the Delta variant and continued supply chain issues, ING expects growth across the bloc to be 2% again in the third quarter.

"Despite all the greening efforts, the euro zone economy continues to perform like a diesel engine: it takes a while to get going but don't underestimate it once it's picked up steam," Colijn said.

Capital Economics saw third-quarter growth of a little over 2%, which would mean the euro zone economy was still smaller than before the pandemic.

"Germany should reach that (pre-pandemic) benchmark in the second half of the year, but we don't expect the southern economies to do so until well into 2022," its chief Europe economist Andrew Kenningham wrote in a note.

Figures on Thursday showed the U.S. economy grew at a slower than expected 6.5% annualised rate in the second quarter, pulling GDP above its pre-pandemic peak, as massive government aid and vaccinations fuelled spending on goods and services.

US regulator freezes Chinese company IPOs over risk disclosures The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has stopped processing registrations of U.S. initial public offerings (IPOs) and other sales of securities by Chinese companies while it crafts new guidance for disclosing to investors the risk of a new regulatory crackdown

by Beijing, according to people familiar with the matter.

Chinese listings in the United States have reached a record $12.8 billion so far this year, according to Refinitiv data, as companies swooped in to capitalize on the U.S. stock market reaching daily record highs.

Deal flow slowed down substantially this month after Chinese regulators banned ride-sharing giant Didi Global Inc (DIDI.N)

from signing up new users just days after its blockbuster IPO. They followed up with crackdowns on technology and private education companies.

SEC commissioner Allison Lee said on Tuesday that Chinese companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges must disclose to investors the risks of the Chinese government interfering in their businesses as part of their regular reporting obligations. read more The SEC has asked companies not to submit any registrations for the issuance of securities until it gives them specific guidance on how to disclose the risks they face in China, the sources said. It was not immediately clear how long this would take.

A spokesman for the SEC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The SEC's move represents the latest salvo by U.S. regulators against corporate China, which has frustrated Wall Street for years with its reluctance to submit to U.S. auditing standards and improve the governance of companies held closely by founders.

The agency has been under intense pressure from U.S. lawmakers to take a tougher line. A group of senators including Republicans John Kennedy and Bill Hagerty wrote to SEC chair Gary Gensler this week urging "thorough investigations of U.S. listed Chinese companies' concerning lack of transparency." REUTERS

Mastercard submits new audit to India after ban over data handling MUMBAI REUTERS

Mastercard (MA.N) has submitted a new audit report to India's central bank, it told Reuters, as it seeks to overturn a ban on card issuance linked to concerns over the U.S. giant's handling of data processed abroad.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on July 14 sent panic-waves through Indian banking partners by announcing a ban, effective from July 22, to prevent the U.S. giant from issuing new cards. It cited non-compliance with 2018 rules that required it to store payments data only in India. The RBI imposed the ban after deciding a "system audit report" submitted by Mastercard's auditor Deloitte in April was unsatisfactory, three sources familiar with its decisionmaking said, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Honda launches the All-new Honda City, a perfect fusion of style, luxury, comfort, convenience and to top it all performance LAhore PRESS RElEaSE

Honda Atlas Cars Pakistan Limited (HACPL) has launched the All-new Honda City, the most anticipated car of 2021. The All-new Honda City was launched at a spectacular event held at Royal Palm Lahore. The HACPL Management comprising Chairman; Mr. Aamir H. Shirazi, President & CEO; Mr. Hironobu Yoshimura, Director & Senior Advisor; Mr. Saquib H. Shirazi & Senior Management of HACPL along with our Prestigious Media / Dealers & Corporates were a part of the launch event.

The All-new Honda City is perfectly evolved and exhibits a sporty and luxurious design that makes it one of the finest sedan in its class. The All-new City perfectly encapsulates modern aesthetics combined with innovation and advanced features. The All-new Honda City is a statement from the makers to strengthen its position as the leading car manufacturer in the country.

Addressing the guests at the event, Mr. Hironobu Yoshimura, President & CEO Honda Atlas Cars Pakistan introduced the most awaited car of the year while also highlighting Honda’s decades-long legacy of innovation in the automobile industry. He added that the All-new Honda City is the most evolved sedan in its category and perfectly embodies luxury, looks, comfort and safety. The All-new Honda City features cutting-edge technology with performance that signifies innovation

making it a timeless work of art.

“We hope you will enjoy the AllNew Honda City just as much as we enjoyed making it.”

Mr. Amir Nazir, General Manager Sales & Marketing gave an overview of the car and highlighted the features of All-new Honda City. He also emphasized on how the new model outshines its predecessor in terms of design, performance and features.

The All-new Honda City comes in five variants, 1.5L ASPIRE CVT & MT, 1.5L City CVT and 1.2L CVT & MT. All variants carrying exceptional features.

All variants ensure maximum safety & security by features like Driver & Passenger Airbags, ABS + EBD, Impact Mitigating Headrest, ACE Body Structure, Pedestrian Injury Mitigation Technology, ECU Immobilizer and many more. In Exterior, all variants carry Premium Dual-Barrel

Halogen Headlights with Daytime Running light, attractive rear lights with 15’’ tire size & high ground clearance.

Interior color is Ivory, Newly designed meter, Tilt & Telescopic steering with audio switches, Driver seat height adjuster, Dust & pollen air filter, Trunk lid lining & comfortably spacious cabin along with bigger trunk space.

The new Honda City is designed to deliver a comfortable yet luxurious driving experience by incorporating sporty yet comfy seats. Honda City 1.5L Aspire incorporates CVT Transmission and offers advanced features like Smart Entry, Push Start, Cruise Control, Touchscreen 9” Display Audio System with a wireless Phone Connection via Bluetooth, a bigger Infotainment Screen, Auto AC along with rear AC vents.

The All-new Honda City offers a state of maximum comfort and safety

with a gorgeous exterior showcasing an impressive performance on the road. It features Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) incorporating Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology that offers fuel efficiency.

Honda City 1.2L is tailored specially for the Pakistani market. It is an exceptionally fuel-efficient variant and offers an eco-friendly driving experience featuring a spacious cabin along with a bigger car trunk providing greater luggage capacity, infotainment screen as 7” Capacitive Touch Display and Auto Door Lock System offering a comfortable experience throughout your drive.

The All-new Honda City has been reimagined with stellar looks paired with modern features offering a pleasurable driving experience whilst making it one of the best works by Honda in recent times.

It is available in seven colors, which are: Modern Steel Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Teffeta White, Modern Steel Metallic, Carnelian Red and Urban Titanium. The booking of all variants is open at all Honda 3S dealerships at initial booking price of 1 Million (1.2L CVT & MT, 1.5L City) & 1.2 Million (City Aspire 1.5L CVT & MT).

Prices of the cars are as follows; City 1.2L MT  2,599,000/City 1.2L CVT  2,799,000/City 1.5L CVT  2,899,000/City Aspire MT  3,019,000/City Aspire CVT  3,174,000/-

Saturday, 31 July, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

ISLAMABAD

Brazilians unite to protest against vaCCine sCandal, Bolsonaro's Covid-19 response AGENCIES While France saw 161,000 people across the country protest against the government’s vaccination campaign this weekend, Brazil witnessed its fourth weekend of rallies against President Jair Bolsonaro’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis and his anti-vaccine rhetoric.

Tens of thousands came together in cities and towns across Brazil on Saturday, galvanised by the slow vaccine rollout and their president’s spurning of safety measures to curb the virus.

Unlike France, which has the lowest levels of trust in vaccines worldwide, 94 percent of Brazilians recently surveyed by Datafolha support the vaccine and said they are either already vaccinated or intend to be. Only 5 percent of those surveyed said they haven’t been jabbed and don’t plan to be in the future.

Despite having a head of state who has openly mocked Covid-19 as being no more than a “little flu” and attacked the Pfizer vaccine by jokingly suggesting it could turn people into crocodiles, support for vaccines among Brazilians on both sides of the political spectrum is growing.

EVEN ‘BOLSONARISTAS’ WANT VACCINES: “I am here against this government that I consider genocidal,” college professor Adalberto Pessoa Junior told AFP at the protest on Saturday. “[They are] responsible for not purchasing vaccines and many people died [as a result].”

Climate past provides tipping point 'early warning': study PARIS

Pessoa Junior’s claim seems to resonate across political lines. Bolsonaro’s failure to implement a coordinated national response to the pandemic and his general disregard for vaccines has been a unifying factor, galvanising the recent protests.

“The centre-right, the centre and the left can all agree that his performance with Covid has been awful,” says professor of Brazilian Studies at King’s College Anthony Pereira. “They’ll disagree on his handling of the economy or the role of the military within the government, but this they can agree on.”

The president is already under investigation for allegedly turning a blind eye to the misuse of government funds when purchasing vaccines and has seen his popularity ratings drop to 24 percent, the lowest since he took office in 2019.

“Bolsonaro has a knack for creating enemies out of his supporters,” Pereira says. Many Bolsonaro voters who were sympathetic to his discourse on quarantine and lockdowns aren’t necessarily sympathetic to what he says about vaccines, consequently swaying their political opinions, he says.

“If you’re in a favela, you don’t have a signed workers card and you have to sell stuff on the street to make a living and you hear someone say that you should stay home to preserve public health, that person is threatening your livelihood,” Pereira explains, “But vaccines are a way out.”

'VACCINATION IS EMBEDDED IN BRAZILIAN CULTURE': Brazil enjoys a long history of successful inoculation campaigns, another reason why so many are taking to the streets to demand better vaccine management.

In 1973, during Brazil’s military dictatorship, the National Immunisation Program (PNI) was set up after a successful smallpox vaccination campaign completely eradicated the disease from the country.

Then, in 1986, Ze Gotinha or “Droplet Joe” was created. Considered a national treasure, he is a dropletshaped mascot and cartoon character invented to reassure children and parents on the safety of the oral polio vaccination. Six years after his creation, polio was eradicated in Brazil. Since then, the country has managed to eradicate tetanus and measles as well.

“Ze Gotinha was the perfect example of a strategic communication campaign,” says director of King’s Brazil Institute Dr. Vinicius Mariano de Carvalho. “He became the public image for inoculation and got into people’s mentalities to such an extent that the portion of Brazilian society that is anti-vaccine today is very small.”

“He reached everyone, even those who were less educated,” he says, insisting that vaccination has become “embedded in Brazilian culture” since inoculation campaigns began back in the 1960s.

But while generations grew up hearing about how vaccines can save lives, things are different this time

around. Although the country has long been championed for its public health campaigns, the response to the Covid-19 crisis has been “chaotic”.

“There was no proper, national campaign for the vaccination,” Carvalho says. “The lack of leadership from the ministry of health as well as a failure to distribute the vaccine evenly across all social strata in all Brazilian states caused a massive delay in the rollout.”

Brazil has the second-highest death toll worldwide after the US, exceeding half a million victims in the country so far. So it’s no wonder the government’s negligence has largely been spoken about as being “genocidal” by protesters like Pessoa Junior.

“We need to multiply that number by 10 to understand the impact of Covid deaths on the Brazilian population,” Carvalho says. “For all of those who lost their loved ones, it’s a huge impact on the psyche of a society.”

He believes the death toll is a “very important” determinant when questioning the government’s management of the crisis, especially with regards to its prevention.

Only 18 percent of the adult Brazilian population has been fully vaccinated, with about 47 percent having received their first jab. With at least 140 cases of the Delta variant present in the country and some states lacking vaccine doses, the risk of the staggering death toll increasing is inevitable.

True or false: Countering the claims of Covid-19 vaccine sceptics

AFP

AGENCIES

Abrupt disruptions to Earth's climate thousands of years ago that caused extreme sea-level rise and mass ice cap melting can serve as an early warning system for today's planetary tipping points, according to new research. Climate tipping points -- which are irrevocable over centuries or longer -- are thresholds past which large and rapid changes to the natural world may occur. They include looming catastrophes such as the melting of the ice sheets atop Greenland and West Antarctica, which contain enough frozen water to lift oceans more than a dozen metres (40 feet). But they are notoriously hard to anticipate, given the relatively small or incremental changes in variables such as atmospheric carbon concentrations that trigger them. In a review of past climate events published in the journal Nature Geoscience, an international team of scientists examined two major instabilities in the Earth system, caused by changes in ice, oceans, and rainfall patterns. They looked at the conditions that led to the Bolling-Allerod warming event nearly 15,000 years ago, which saw surface air temperatures soar up to 14 degrees Celsius over Greenland. The team also studied the end of the so-called African humid period around 6,000-5,000 years ago, which led to regional changes in ecosystems and pre-historic human societies. They found that various past climate systems, such as ocean dynamics and rainfall patterns, tended to slow as they reached a tipping point, after which they failed to recover from perturbations. "Earth's recent past shows us how abrupt changes in the Earth system triggered cascading impacts on ecosystems and human societies, as they struggled to adapt," said Tim Lenton, review co-author and director of the University of Exeter's Global Systems Institute.

“Vaccinated people die of Covid-19”, “messenger RNA modifies our genetic code”, “you can transmit the virus even if you’re vaccinated” ... Anti-vaxxers’ arguments against the Covid-19 shot keep spreading, while the vaccination pace in France slows down. But do these arguments hold water? FRANCE 24 spoke to Antoine Flahault, an epidemiologist, who countered some of the most common claims.

More than six months after the start of the vaccination campaign in France, Covid-19 vaccines are still causing a stir.

Anti-vaxxers continue to insist that jabs are at best ineffective and at worst, dangerous. With some scientists in France also saying they are anti-vaccine, many French people no longer know which way to turn.

And yet, Health Minister Olivier Véran has warned that with the highly contagious Delta variant spreading fast, a vaccination slowdown threatens to bring about a fourth wave of the coronavirus in France at the end of July. On social media, arguments against the vaccines abound: “They’re ineffective against the Delta variant”, “messenger RNA vaccines cause cancer”, or “the side effects are worse than Covid-19 itself”.

Professor Antoine Flahault, an epidemiologist and director of the Institute for Global Health at the Faculty of Med-

icine of the University of Geneva, said that though ardent vaccine opponents are unlikely to change their minds, many people have real concerns about the vaccines. “Anti-vaxxers represent only a very small proportion of the French population, less than about 3.5 percent,” said Flahault. “Nothing will change these people’s minds. But anti-vaxxers aside, there’s a much larger number of people who ask themselves very legitimate questions, which I will try to answer.” True or false: ‘Covid-19 vaccines were developed too quickly, so can’t be trusted’ Yes, it’s true that they were developed very quickly, and it’s also true that these are new, innovative vaccines, especially the RNA messenger vaccines.

That said, what was compressed to save time were the administrative phases of carrying out clinical trials, not the phases dealing with ethics. The ethics committees were consulted as always and gave their opinions and responses as usual. It was the pandemic that made it possible to accelerate the recruitment of subjects.

A vaccine is currently being developed for the Ebola virus, but there were never many opportunities to recruit patients. To recruit 30,000 people, and to observe a difference between the placebo group and the vaccine group, there needs to be a significant epidemic: If the virus isn’t circulating, or only a little, that becomes very difficult.

I remember conducting a clinical

trial with chloroquine for the chikungunya virus, because it was thought to have an effect, but we had to stop for lack of subjects.

The conditions that contributed to the rapid development of the Covid-19 vaccine are linked to the epidemiology.

True or false: ‘Some vaccinated people also test positive or are hospitalised, which proves that the vaccine is ineffective, especially against the Delta variant’ You just need to look at what’s happening in Israel or the UK, where they are currently experiencing a wave connected to the Delta variant. When we observe the correlation between contamination cases and hospitalisations, intensive care and mortality, there is, in fact, an absence for the moment of mortality associated with the variant. At the same time, in Russia, where much less of the population is vaccinated (around 15 percent have received the first dose, compared to more than 65 percent in the UK), there is a significant wave of mortality, with nearly 800 deaths a day, and also a real wave in South Africa, where we’ve seen an increase in the number of positive cases and deaths.

In Portugal, which is nearer to other European countries in terms of vaccinations (more than 50 percent), there has perhaps been a small increase in hospitalisations, but it seems to be much smaller – in any case not on the same scale as in Russia. So here we have a

practically live demonstration of how the vaccine, above a certain threshold, begins to work. But this does not mean there won’t be any more hospitalisations: In the UK, a fraction of the people are not yet vaccinated, and it is precisely those people who are being hospitalised, not those who are vaccinated.

Either way, of course there can be glitches and a few vaccinated people might still contract the virus. There are even some who might experience serious complications and die. But there is always marginal vaccine ineffectiveness; it’s very low for Covid-19 vaccines, but a vaccine is never 100 percent effective.

Covid-19 vaccines are very close to 100 percent. Apart from very rare cases linked, for example, to immunosenescence, where very old people may lose their immunity to a vaccine, when you are vaccinated, you are no longer at risk of needing hospitalisation. We are really dealing with very effective vaccines.

True or false: ‘You can still transmit the virus even if you are vaccinated’ The vaccine reduces the risk of transmission, probably by 60 to 80 percent. It isn’t 100 percent, but in terms of public health, very substantially reducing the risk of transmission helps reduce the risk of the virus spreading. So the more people are vaccinated, the more we will be able to block this virus, and the more difficult it will be for it to spread through the population.

Beirut's historic Sursock museum still recovering from wounds of the blast AGENCIES On August 4, 2020, the deadly Beirut port explosions devastated the historic Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum and some of its prized artworks. But a year later, one of the city’s most cherished museums is on its way to recovery. For the ornate building that houses the museum, it will be a new phase of a century-old relationship with the Beirut port.

As workers in the corridor manoeuvred construction gear, Zeina Arida opened the doors to the Salon Arabe in Beirut’s Sursock Museum and exhaled slowly, a smile lighting her eyes, as she entered the magnificent wood-panelled room.

Nestled on the museum's first floor, the Salon Arabe is a historic gem designed in the Orientalist diwan style complete with ancient Damascene wood engravings and Ottoman era flourishes.

For Arida, the director of the Sursock Museum, the exquisite room brought renewed

delight. “I haven’t seen this room so clean for so long. I’ve come in here over the past year, but I haven’t seen the Salon Arabe like this.

For those of us responsible for this museum and for its collection, it was very difficult to see this heritage, that belongs to everyone, destroyed and full of dust,” she explained.

Situated barely 800 metres from the port, the museum was heavily damaged that fateful August evening. In a matter of seconds, the roof was destroyed in one of the world's largest non-nuclear explosions. The museum’s famed stained-glass windows shattered and tore through the building like missiles, chipping antique wooden doors and ripping priceless artworks. In a basement gallery, the force of the blast blew a fireproof vault door off its hinges and impaled it on the ceiling, where it still remains, like a paper kite trapped in a tree branch.

INTERTWINED HISTORIES OF A VILLA AND A PORT: Built in 1912, the building was the residence of Nicolas Ibrahim

Sursock, an art collector and member of one of Beirut’s most prominent families. When he died in 1952, Sursock bequeathed his private villa in his will to the city, to be turned into a modern art museum that would be open to the public with no admission fee “eternally and perpetually” so that “my fellow citizens might appreciate art." The histories of the grand Italianate Ottoman-style mansion and the port it has overlooked for over a century are intertwined in a give-and-take that has seen this Mediterranean coastal city through good times and bad.

The port was the gateway through which the Sursocks, an Orthodox Greek family, built their fortune, starting as Ottoman-era tax collectors and graduating to grain merchants during the colonial period. Along the way, the mercantile family rose up the social ranks, marrying European aristocrats and amassing substantial art collections.

Since it opened its doors to the public, the museum has survived wars and inva-

sions, including Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war, when it remained open as the country’s myriad religious groups fought internecine street battles with heavy weapons. Following the end of the war, it withstood a postwar development boom that saw soulless shopping malls built on historic ruins.

The August 4 blast, though, was different. The fact that 2,750 tons of hazardous chemicals could be overlooked and improperly stored in the Beirut port has infuriated a population sick of being celebrated for their resilience while the government fails to pro-

vide basic services. In the absence of government help, the Sursock Museum staff are rushing ahead with a restoration estimated at $3 million by raising funds themselves, in yet another example of Lebanon’s triumph of private initiative while the state continues to fail its citizens.

Lebanon’s current economic crisis – the world’s worst in 150 years, according to the World Bank – has made an already difficult task almost Herculean. The historic giveand-take has been skewered and the museum’s restoration staff is mad as hell.

Saturday, 31 July, 2021

SPORTS 11

ISLAMABAD

'I'd do It agaIN': HaMIltoN defIaNt over verstaPPeN sIlverstoNe crasH MERCEDES, RED BULL DRIVER COLLIDED WITH EACH OTHER DURING THE BRITISH GP THAT CAUSED THEIR RIVALRY TO CREATE MORE HEAT BUDAPEST

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EWis Hamilton said on Thursday he would be ready to repeat his controversial pass on Max Verstappen which caused the championship leader to crash out of the British Grand Prix earlier this month.

Dutchman Verstappen was taken to hospital as seven-time champion Hamilton closed the gap to eight points in the standings before this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

"In terms of the move, I'd do it again exactly as I've done it in the past," said Hamilton who can claim his 100th career win on Sunday.

"I think, growing up, wheel-to-wheel racing was always the best, from karting.

The most exciting part of motor sport is

when you see close racing.

"We're now seeing two teams incredibly close on performance. And if there's more people watching then that tells you all you need to know," he added.

Earlier, 23-year-old Verstappen said he remained unhappy with Hamilton despite clearing the air with the Briton during a phone call following their spectacular crash.

The Red Bull driver declined to go into any detail, adding instead he was more upset by the defending champion's post-race celebrations. "One guy is in hospital, the other guy is waving the flag around like nothing has happened while you pushed the guy into the wall with 51Gs," he said. "And not only that, just the whole reaction of the team.

That's not how you celebrate a win. Especially a win -- how they got it.

"That's what I found really disrespectful.

In a way, it shows how they really are. It

comes out after a pressure situation. I wouldn't want to be seen like that."

Mercedes' Hamilton defended his reaction after the win while Red Bull's mood was not improved late Thursday when their bid to have a review of Hamilton's 10-second penalty imposed for the crash was thrown out by race stewards.

"I don't believe our behaviour was disrespectful. It's one thing knowing and then celebrating what happened and there's one thing not knowing and celebrating. Obviously I wasn't aware," Hamilton said.

"It was my home Grand Prix and we worked incredibly hard for who knows how long to get a result like that.

"Emotions were running high. It wasn't an intentional celebration it was just the joy of seeing so many people and so many people celebrating, being together and that's the natural emotion. I'm not going to hide my

emotions. It was an amazing feeling," he added.

Verstappen distanced himself from claims made by his team boss Christian Horner who accused seven-time champion Hamilton of "dirty driving".

"That's the first time I heard it like that.

No, I think he just misjudged the moment in that corner."

Hamilton, 36, received a 10-second penalty for his role in the collision and Verstappen said it was too lenient.

"I don't think the penalty was correct because basically you take out your main rival and, especially with the speed we have in our cars, we are miles ahead of, let's say, the third-best team.

"We are easily 40, 50 seconds ahead in normal conditions. So, a 10 second penalty doesn't do anything so definitely that penalty should have been more severe."

Mercedes accuse Red Bull of attempt to 'tarnish good name, integrity of Hamilton'

Manchester United call off Preston friendly over coronavirus fears LONDON AFP

ACCUSATION CAME AFTER VERSTAPPEN'S TEAM FAILED TO WIN A REVIEW INTO THE 10SECOND PENALTY HANDED TO THE BRIT'S CRASH BUDAPEST AFP

Mercedes ramped up the war of words with Formula One rivals Red Bull on Thursday by accusing them of attempting to "tarnish the good name and sporting integrity of Lewis Hamilton".

The accusation came after Red Bull failed to win a review into the 10-second penalty handed to Hamilton for the world champion's controversial collision with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen at the recent British Grand Prix.

"In addition to bringing this incident to a close we hope this decision will mark the end of a concerted attempt by the senior management of Red Bull Racing to tarnish the good name and sporting integrity of Lewis Hamilton," said a Mercedes statement.

Red Bull had claimed that the penalty was "insufficient" and sought a review of

the decision.

The first lap crash at Silverstone ended Verstappen's race and left the Dutchman in hospital.

Hamilton went on to win and slash Verstappen's championship lead to just eight points ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

While Hamilton celebrated in front of 140,000 fans at Silverstone, Verstappen ended up in hospital.

Verstappen blasted the seven-times world champion for being "disrespectful and unsportsmanlike" for celebrating while he required medical treatment.

Red Bull team chief Christian Horner said it was a "hollow victory" for Hamilton, claiming the manoeuvre was "dangerous and desperate".

On Thursday, however, governing body the FIA said that Red Bull had not provided any "new, significant and relevant elements" likely to justify a review

'We've turned a corner' says embattled Inter Miami coach Neville MIAMI REUTERS

Inter Miami coach Phil Neville said his team are poised to turn their season around after they battled Philadelphia Union to a 1-1 draw on Sunday to break a six game losing streak. Neville, who replaced Diego Alonso in the close season, is a friend of Miami co-owner David Beckham and has been feeling the heat due to the club's dismal record of two wins, three draws and eight losses having made the MLS playoffs in its inaugural season last year. "It feels as if we've turned a corner," Neville told reporters on Thursday. "I think there was a vacuum of negativity and bad results. I do feel as if the whole club has turned a corner in terms of thinking better, acting better, and realizing we've got a big, big road ahead.

"And realizing that life doesn't always deliver you success - we need to really work hard, fight and come together. The last month has taught everybody in the club that." The road ahead for the Eastern Conference's last placed team begins on Saturday when Miami face Montreal, who defeated Miami in the club's two previous meetings this season. Miami has 21 regular season games remaining. "We're under no illusions - Montreal in the two previous games we've played against them have deservedly come out winners," he said. Miami got a boost earlier on Thursday when they announced the signing of centre back Ventura Alvarado. The 28-year-old former U.S. national team defender arrives after a decade in Liga MX and will look to shore up defence that has conceded 23 goals in 13 matches, according to MLS.

of the decision taken during the race.

Earlier Thursday, Hamilton told a news conference ahead of Sunday's race in Hungary he would have no hesitation in repeating the move on Verstappen.

"In terms of the move, I'd do it again exactly as I've done it in the past," said Hamilton who can claim his 100th career win at the Hungaroring.

"I think, growing up, wheel-to-wheel racing was always the best, from karting.

The most exciting part of motor sport is when you see close racing," he added.

Verstappen remained unhappy with Hamilton despite clearing the air with the Briton during a phone call following their spectacular crash.

The Red Bull driver declined to go into any details, adding instead he was more upset by the defending champion's post-race celebrations.

"One guy is in hospital, the other guy is waving the flag around like nothing has

happened while you pushed the guy into the wall with 51Gs," he said.

"And not only that, just the whole reaction of the team. That's not how you celebrate a win. Especially a win -- how they got it.

"That's what I found really disrespectful. In a way, it shows how they really are.

It comes out after a pressure situation. I wouldn't want to be seen like that."

But Hamilton hit back at the same news conference.

"I don't believe our behaviour was disrespectful," he said.

"It's one thing knowing and then celebrating what happened and there's one thing not knowing and celebrating. Obviously I wasn't aware," Hamilton, 36, said.

"It was my home Grand Prix and we worked incredibly hard for who knows how long to get a result like that.

"Emotions were running high. It wasn't an intentional celebration it was just the joy of seeing so many people and so many people celebrating, being together and that's the natural emotion. I'm not going to hide my emotions. It was an amazing feeling," he added.

Manchester United have cancelled their pre-season friendly at Preston on Saturday after a number of suspected Covid-19 cases within the camp of the English football giants. United were due to make the short trip to Deepdale, fellow northwest club Preston's home ground, at the weekend as part of their build-up to the new Premier League season.

But routine lateral flow testing on Thursday saw some possible positive cases returned. Those concerned are now isolating, pending further PCR tests. In a statement, United said: "Maintaining Covid security is a priority for us. Following routine testing of the first-team training group today, we have identified a small number of suspected positive cases. This has led to those people isolating, pending further tests. "As a precautionary measure based on Covid protocols, we have taken the difficult decision that we will not now be able to play the friendly match against Preston North End this Saturday." The statement added: "We regret the disruption to Preston and disappointment caused to fans. Any Manchester United fans who have purchased tickets for the game will be automatically refunded. "At this stage, we do not expect further disruption around our forthcoming matches, but we will continue to follow Premier League protocols in this regard."

England expects but Shevchenko's Ukraine believe MANCHESTER REUTERS

This time England expects.

Whereas Gareth Southgate's team went into their last-16 tie with Germany amid relentless reminders of historic failures against their old rivals and the fear of yet another, they are simply expected to beat Ukraine in Rome on Saturday.

It is not only the media and fans in England, buoyed by Tuesday's victory at Wembley, that makes the Three Lions clear favourites -- any objective analysis

of the two teams would reach the same conclusion.

England are ranked third in the world while Ukraine are 24th.

The average player value of the England team is 57.8 million euros -- while Ukraine's is 6.6 million euros. England's captain Harry Kane is valued at over 100 million euros and Ukraine's top player Oleksandr Zinchenko is worth less than a quarter of that amount.

In the group stage of the tournament, England were unbeaten and finished top of their group while Ukraine lost twice and finished third, the only

team with three points to make it to the knockout stage. This is their first Euro quarter-final match while it will be England's sixth.

Ukraine have conceded six goals in their four matches while England have let in none and in seven meetings between the two nations, England have won four times and Ukraine just once.

"It's pretty clear [that England are favourites] – you've seen them, the players they have, and the level they play at," said Ukraine defender Mykola Matviyenko.

"So, yes, it will be difficult but I'll

say it again: anything is possible at this stage, and we believe," he added.

While Southgate's men go into this game still buzzing from the electric atmosphere at Wembley, Ukraine are also on a high after Artem Dovbyk's header at the end of extra-time gave them a 2-1 win over Sweden.

The pressure is all on England for whom defeat would mean the tournament is viewed as a failure and they will leave their home turf for the Stadio Olimpico where the crowd will be smaller but probably backing their underdog opponents.

A Tale of Two Cities: In the 'bubble' and the Tokyo outside TOKYO REUTERS

The Tokyo Olympics is running a village for athletes and coaches where more than 80% are vaccinated against the coronavirus, testing is compulsory and movement is stringently curtailed.

None of that is true for the giant Japanese capital that surrounds the Olympic "bubble".

The athletes’ village and Olympic press centre represent a huge, strict Covid-19 control zone for the more than

50,000 competitors, coaches, staff and journalists. Meanwhile, outside the fence, host city Tokyo - despite labouring through its fourth coronavirus lockdown as infections spike to record highs - is leading something like life as pandemic-normal.

Participants travelling to the Olympics are tested for the coronavirus before boarding their flights, upon arrival and regularly after that. Organisers have administered nearly 275,000 tests, with athletes screened daily and journalists tested before events and every four days

in the press centre. The positivity rate in Games-related tests is just 0.02%, said International Olympic Committee spokesperson Mark Adams. "This is the most tested community almost certainly anywhere in the world." Athletes confirmed positive are quarantined, barring some from competition. American double world champion pole vaulter Sam Kendricks and rival German Chiaraviglio of Argentina were ruled out on Thursday after testing positive for Covid-19.

Two people attending the Games have been hospitalised for Covid-19, a

Tokyo 2020 spokesperson said on Thursday, although neither case was serious.

Twenty-four new Games-related infections were reported, including three athletes, bringing the total this month to 193. Quarantined Dutch athletes have found it "very distressing" to be confined to a "very small" area, not allowed to get fresh air, the team's technical director, Maurits Hendriks, said.

Journalists, during their two-week quarantine, must report their temperature and condition daily and download a contact-tracing app.

Saturday, 31 July, 2021

PRAyeR tImINgs

NEWS

PM’S AIdE dr IShrAT hUSSAIn cAllS IT A dAy ISLAMABAD

A

shAhzAD PARAchA

DVISER to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain has requested Prime Minister Imran khan to relieve him from official responsibilities with effect from September 1, 2021.

While replying to the media’ queries regarding his resignation, Dr Ishrat said that he has submitted his resignation as adviser to the prime minister and requested him to relieve me of my responsibilities with effect from September 1, 2021.

“I had joined the government with the understanding that I would serve for three years and would seek retirement once I attain the age of 80,” he said.

“Having reached that age and completed three years, I have requested the PM to relieve me of my official responsibilities with effect from September 1, 2021,” he added.

“You must realize that I have rendered 57 years of continuous public service including 15 in Civil Service, 21 in the World Bank, 6 in the State Bank, 2 as Chairman, NCGR, 8 in the IBA and 3 in the present government,” he further said.

Dr Ishrat stated that the “PM has been extremely kind to me, has reposed

his trust and shown respect in his dealings with me”. “I took up this assignment because I believe in his mission and vision i.e improving the governance structure of this country with the aim of bringing about an efficient and equitable economy free from the clutches of elite capture and helping the poor get out of poverty trap,” he said.

“During the last three years, I was able to design and obtain the approval of the Cabinet on the following set of reforms such as Reorganize the Federal Government and ease the burden on the

Five Belgian climbers undertaking mountaineering expedition in Pakistan

exchequer by reducing the number of organizational entities from 441 to 307, Restructure and Reform top 10 loss-making State-Owned Enterprises such as PIA, Railways, Pakistan Steel Mills and key Institutions of governance such as FBR, Auditor General, SECP, Public Finance Management Law under which the powers of the Ministry of finance have been delegated to the line ministries and introduction of E-Office suite in the Federal Ministries to improve efficiency and transparency and Civil Service Reforms such as Performance Agreements be-

tween the Prime Minister and the Ministers and a new Performance Management System,” he added.

“The others included Systematic Training of Ex-Cadre Officers, Induction of Technical Expertise in the Federal Ministries, Specialized Streams within the Secretariat, reducing the hierarchical tiers, new promotion policy, Directory Retirement Rules, An open transparent selection process for appointment of CEOs/MDs of Public Sector Organizations based purely on merit and 62 such appointments have been made under this process and several Overseas Pakistanis have been selected,” he further said.

Moreover, Dr Ishrat said that a Cabinet Committee on Institutional Reforms (CCIR) has been established to review and monitor the implementation of these reforms “It is time for me to call it a day and to lead a less stressful life, and spend more time with my grandchildren and pursue my other interests. However, I am available in my non-official capacity to be of assistance in economic, Social, Cultural, Social Welfare Activities in the Public-Private Academia/Research and philanthropic sectors,” he said.

“I am writing this note to avoid any speculation or misinformation in this matter,” he concluded.

Ambassador of Pakistan to the European Union, Belgium, and Luxembourg, Zaheer A. Janjua on Thursday said that a group of 5 Belgian climbers was undertaking a mountaineering expedition in Pakistan, with the facilitation of the Embassy. Speaking at the 7th monthly Khuli Katchery held in virtual format with Pakistani Diaspora in Belgium and Luxembourg, he conveyed his felicitation to the Belgian climbers on successful ascent of K2 and Broad Peak, the world’s 2nd and 12th highest peaks, respectively. The Ambassador announced that due to relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions by the local authorities, the Independence Day ceremony on 14th August will be held physically at the Chancery. He said that the ceremony can be attended by all Pakistanis living in Belgium and Luxembourg by registration. Referring to the recent devastating floods in Belgium and Luxembourg which caused severe damage to the lives and livelihoods of the people, Ambassador Janjua offered his condolences to the victims. He encouraged the Pakistani community members to assist the flood-affected people in their time of hardship.

Ambassador Janjua also briefed the Diaspora about the facilities being provided by Government of Pakistan for overseas Pakistanis including Vehicle Gift Scheme. He invited qualified overseas Pakistanis to apply for various high-level professional vacancies that are available in various institutions of the country. The Khuli Katchery was organized in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, to maintain close engagement with the Pakistani Diaspora and to extend seamless service delivery. The virtual interaction was attended by a large number of Diaspora members from different walks of life, including students, business, social services, and media. The community members appreciated the Embassy’s outreach efforts and provision of efficient consular services. APP

tunity to decide their own future.

The lawmakers called on von der Leyen and Borrell to carry out a list of actions on the EU’s behalf, including conveying the “grave concern” over the violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in IoK to the Indian government; taking urgent action to address the “alarming” human rights situation in the region; contributing to peace and stability in the region by enhancing dialogue between India, Pakistan and Kashmiri representatives through making use of “our special relationships with both India and Pakistan”.

“We hope in your strong support for this cause,” the letter read.

It pointed out that the “miseries of the people of Jammu and Kashmir” had been amply documented in the International Human Rights Watch World Report 2021 and reports by the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2018 and 2019.

The lawmakers noted that the region was already under a lockdown since India revoked its special status on August 5, 2019, and there were restrictions on the rights to movement, information, healthcare, education and free speech.

“Journalists and human rights defenders have been increasingly targeted for raising their voice in

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Govt announces new prices of petroleum products for fortnight

EU parliamentarians urge European Commission president to raise voice on Kashmir issue Sixteen European parliamentarians on Friday wrote a letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Vice President Josep Borrell to urge the European Commission to take action regarding the “humanitarian situation” in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

The letter read: “As a champion of universal human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rulebased international order, the EU must raise its voice against the violations of human rights affecting the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“We believe that the EU should use all its leverage and tools to cooperate with our Indian and Pakistani partners to honour the pledge made to the Kashmiris by the international community and create an environment conducive to the implementation of the United Nations resolutions.”

According to a report by Dawn, the lawmakers expressed the resolve to continue their engagements with Pakistani and Indian lawmakers as well as Kashmiri leaders “to impress upon them the urgent need to foster a climate of peace and dialogue in the region”.

The letter noted that it was “extremely important” for Kashmiris to be heard and granted the oppor-

FAJR SUNRISE 3:42

support of the Kashmiri people and [denouncing] their situation.

Arbitrary detentions continue, public assembly is still prohibited […] and hundreds, including minors and several elected legislators of Jammu and Kashmir, remain under preventive detention,” the letter underlined.

It added that a number of laws introduced by the Indian government over the years to prevent terrorism and separatism had instead often been misused against Kashmiris.

The letter emphasised that apart from being a humanitarian crisis, the Kashmir dispute also posed a “major threat to peace, stability, and security in the region, being a flashpoint between two nuclear-armed countries and we are worried that any miscalculation can lead to unwarranted consequences”.

The parliamentarians noted that the region’s security situation was “delicate” and deteriorating due to the continuous Kashmiri protests against the revocation of IoK’s special autonomy and the Indian Citizenship Amendment Bill.

They said the frequency of the protests was creating unrest and strife in the valley which in turn were adding to “volatility and tension” between the Pakistani and Indian militaries. News Desk

ISLAMABAD: The federal government announced on Friday new prices of petroleum products for a fortnight, which will be effective from August 1.

Taking to Twitter, Dr Shahbaz Gill, the special assistant to the PM on political affairs, said the government is going to jack up the price of petrol by Rs1.71 per litre. The rate of diesel was not being hiked because any increase in diesel price takes toll on the common man and farmers, due to which a proposal for the increase was rejected. INP

Saudi Envoy calls on PM, extends invitation for Middle East Green Initiative summit Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy called on Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Friday. The Saudi Ambassador presented a formal invitation to the Prime Minister, extended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for participation in a Summit focusing on the “Middle East Green Initiative” to be hosted by the Kingdom in October 2021. The Prime Minister graciously accepted the invitation. It may be recalled that the initiatives of the Saudi Crown Prince, announced earlier this year, align closely with the Prime Minister’s climate change initiatives – “Clean and Green Pakistan” and “10 Billion Tree Tsunami”. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are also collaborating closely to develop synergies in their climate-change related strategies. The invitation extended to the Prime Minister is an acknowledgement of Pakistan’s leading role in combating climate change. News Desk

Pakistan rejects Indian MEA’s comments on recently held AJK elections: FO Pakistan has categorically rejected the false, untenable and self-serving comments made by the Spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on the recently concluded elections in the Azad State of Jammu and Kashmir. In a statement issued on Friday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said the Indian Charge d’Affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey Pakistan’s complete rejection of India’s sham protest and to reiterate Pakistan’s clear and consistent position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The Spokesperson said India cannot hide the fact that it is in illegal occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir. To perpetuate its occupation of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir, India has committed horrendous human rights violations against innocent Kashmiris over the past seven decades, and particularly since 5 August 2019. News Desk

First flight of Afghan interpreters fleeing Taliban arrives in US WASHINTON: The first flight carrying Afghans who worked as interpreters for American troops and diplomats has arrived in the United States, President Joe Biden said Friday, the start of an operation to evacuate thousands from possible Taliban retaliation. Around 20,000 Afghans worked for the United States following the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and have applied for evacuation under the State Department’s Special Immigrant Visas program. AFP

Asian nations impose stricter Covid-19 restrictions due to Delta outbreaks Asian countries from Australia to Japan and the Philippines announced tighter Covid-19 restrictions on Friday, as they battle worsening coronavirus outbreaks, driven by the more contagious Delta variant.

Detected in some 96 countries, the Delta variant, first identified in India, has become a concern globally, prompting even countries with advanced vaccination programmes such as the United States, Israel and Singapore to re-impose some restrictions.

But it is having a bigger impact on Asia where many countries are battling record cases now, as the region’s low vaccination rates have left hundreds of millions of people exposed to the highly transmissible variant.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has described Delta

to be as contagious as chickenpox and could cause severe illness, the New York Times reported, citing an internal CDC document.

The variant was also more likely to break through protections afforded by the vaccines, the report said, adding that the agency’s reversal on guidelines for whether fully vaccinated Americans should wear masks was based on this document.

“We know from the research that it (Delta) has a viral load 1,000 times higher than previous variants, that’s why we see more cases because it transmits more easily and faster,” Dicky Budiman, an epidemiologist from Griffith University in Queensland, told Reuters.

He said Delta appears to cause more severe symptoms, especially regarding breath-

ing difficulties.

Already under a lockdown, Sydney is now facing its toughest measures yet, including mandatory testing in the worst affected suburbs, as the infection numbers held persistently high five weeks since restrictions began. From Monday, army personnel will help police in Australia’s biggest city check that people who have tested positive for the virus are isolating.

The Philippines announced a plan on Friday to put the Manila capital region, a sprawl of 16 cities and home to more than 13 million people, in lockdown for two weeks to contain the spread of Delta and to shield the country’s medical system.

India reported on Friday its highest number of daily cases in three weeks, the latest

evidence of a worrying trend of rising cases that has forced one state to lock down amid fears of another wave of infections.

In Japan, the government on Friday proposed states of emergency through the end of August in three prefectures near Olympic host Tokyo and the western prefecture of Osaka, as Covid-19 cases spike to records, overshadowing the Summer Games.

“Infections are broadening. The situation is extremely severe,” Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said, warning infections have not yet reached a peak, judging by the increased movement of people and high number of Delta cases among those testing positive for the virus.

Vietnam, which has fully vaccinated less than 1% of its 96 million people, is mobilis-

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ing private hospitals to take Covid-19 patients to contain a worsening outbreak driven by the Delta.

After successfully containing the virus for much of the pandemic, Vietnam has been facing record daily increases in infections since late April.

“The Covid-19 pandemic is evolving in a very complicated manner and is on the worsening trend in many cities and provinces,” The Ministry of Health said in a statement.

New studies show that fully vaccinated people who become infected carry as much virus as unvaccinated people do, suggesting they may be able to transmit the infection to others, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said earlier this week. ReuteRs