EpaperKH_2020-06-25

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Thursday, 25 June, 2020 I 3 Dhū al-Qa‘dah, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol X No 356 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition

Pilots ‘overconfidence’, ‘lack of focus’ caused karachi Plane crash g

AvIATION MINISTER TELLS NA ThERE WAS NO TEChNICAL FAULT IN AIRCRAFT, hOLDS PILOTS AND ATC RESPONSIBLE

ISLAMABAD staff report

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hILE presenting the initial investigation report on the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) plane crash before the National Assembly on Wednesday, the government held the pilot and the air-traffic controller (ATC) responsible for not following the “standard protocol” which resulted in the killing of 97 of 99 passengers on board.

The karachi-bound flight Pk-8303 crashed on May 23 in karachi’s Model Colony neighbourhood, close to the Jinnah International Airport, killing all but two of the 99 aboard. The Airbus A-320 from Lahore came down about a kilometre short of the runway on its second attempt to land.

Shortly after the crash, the government had formed a committee headed by Air Commodore Usman Ghani, who is president of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB), to determine the causes of the crash and issue a report in one month’s time. The manufacturer, Airbus,

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

191,022

NEW CASES:

105

3,946

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

77,754 3,808 SINDH:

74,070

PUNJAB:

69,536

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

23,887

SAYS AT LEAST 40PC OF 860 ACTIvE PILOTS IN PAkISTAN POSSESS FAkE LICENSES, hAvE NO FLYING ExPERIENCE

also offered technical assistance to the government team.

Minister for Aviation Division Ghulam Sarwar khan, who presented the report in the Lower house, said there was no technical fault in the aircraft and both the pilots were medically fit to fly.

“According to the report, the plane was 100 per cent fit for flying. It had no technical fault. Flights were suspended due to coronavirus, the plane took its first flight on May 7 and the crash happened on May 22. In between, it completed six flights successfully; five to and from karachi and one to Sharjah,” he said.

“The pilot on the final approach did not identify any technical fault [as well]. At a distance of 10 miles from the runway, the plane should have been at an altitude of 10,200 feet but it was around 7,000 feet. This was the first irregularity,” the minister added. khan said that the ATC told the pilot thrice that the plane was too low to land but he “refused to listen”. Another important factor, he added, was that the pilot closed the landing gear at a distance of

coronavirus in

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

g

9,817

892/1,337 11,483

five nautical miles from the runway even though they were open before.

According to the report, the plane was on auto-landing but the pilot brought it back to the manual landing before the crash. It should have come in at 40 degrees but it dived at 60 degrees, he added.

The minister also blamed the pilots’ “overconfidence and lack of focus” for the crash. “The pilots were discussing coronavirus throughout the flight. They were not focused. They talked about corona […] their families were affected.

When the control tower asked him to increase the plane’s height, the pilot said ‘I’ll manage’. There was [the level of their] overconfidence.”

According to khan, data from the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit voice Recorder (CvR) was decoded in the presence of foreign experts.

The minister, however, added that the control tower was at fault too for not pointing out the damage to the plane after a failed attempt at landing. “[Air-traffic controller] should have informed when he saw the engines on fire.

The control tower did not inform the pilot [so it] was at fault too. When the plane took off again, both engines were damaged. “he was an extremely experienced pilot. What is sad is that because of the overconfidence and lack of focus of pilot and co-pilot, such a big incident happened. The interim report says cabin crew and control tower were also at fault,” he said, adding that the full report would be released before the end of the year.

REPORT ON AIR CRASHES BETWEEN 2010 AND 2020: khan also spoke about past accidents, the Air Blue crash in 2010, the Bhoja Airlines crash in 2012, plane crash in Chitral in 2016 and the crash landing of a plane in Gilgit in 2019.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Covid-19: IMF revises down Pakistan’s FY21 growth forecast to 1pc ISLAMABAD ghulam abbas

keeping in view the estimated impact of Covid-19, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday lowered Pakistan growth forecast for FY21 by half, at 1pc.

The IMF had earlier estimated Pakistan’s GDP at 1.5pc for the ongoing fiscal year (FY20) and 2pc for FY21.

On Wednesday, the fund revised its forecast for the current fiscal to -0.4pc.

As per the IMF, global growth was now projected at –4.9pc in 2020, 1.9 percentage points below its April 2020 World Economic Outlook forecast. Consumption growth, in particular, has been downgraded for most economies, reflecting the larger-than-anticipated disruption to domestic activity.

The projections of weaker private consumption reflect a combination of a large adverse aggregate demand shock from social distancing and lockdowns, as well as a rise in precautionary savings. Moreover, investment was expected to be subdued as firms defer capital expenditures amid high uncertainty.

In the baseline, global activity is expected to trough in the second quarter of 2020, recovering thereafter. In 2021, growth is projected to strengthen to 5.4pc, 0.4 percent-

Gold price rises Rs2,000 per tola in Pakistan g

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more inside

GOLD IS NOW PRICED AT RS105,100 PER TOLA, WhEREAS PRICE OF 10 GRAMMES OF GOLD REAChES RS90,106 KARACHI agencies

Gold rates shot up Rs2,000 per tola, the All Sindh Sarafa and Jewellers Association (ASSJA) said Wednesday, with prices around the world surging to their highest in nearly eight years as signs of an acceleration in the coronavirus cases kept investors on edge.

With the increase of Rs2,000, gold is now priced at Rs105,100 per tola, whereas the price of 10 grammes of gold bumped up Rs1,715 to Rs90,106.

On the other hand, the international gold prices have gone up $20 an ounce to a little over $1,777. Data showing several US states seeing record infections and the death toll in Latin America passing 100,000, according to a Reuters tally, fueled concerns about the prospects for an economic recovery.

GOLD SHINES, INVESTORS UNNERVED: The New York Times reported the European Union was prepared to bar US travelers because of the surge of cases, putting it in the same category as Brazil and Russia.

age point lower than the April forecast. Consumption is projected to strengthen gradually next year, and investment is also expected to firm up, but to remain subdued.

The IMF said there was still pervasive uncertainty around this forecast that depends on the depth of the contraction in the second quarter of 2020 (for which complete data are not yet available) as well as the magnitude and persistence of the adverse shock.

For economies struggling to control infection rates, a lengthier lockdown will inflict an additional toll on activity. Moreover, the forecast assumes that financial conditions— which have eased following the release of the April 2020 WEO—will remain broadly at current levels. Alternative outcomes to those in the baseline are clearly possible, and not just because of how the pandemic is evolving.

Data releases since April suggest even deeper downturns than previously projected for several economies. The pandemic has worsened in many countries and leveled off in others. It said the pandemic rapidly intensified in a number of emerging markets and developing economies, necessitating stringent lockdowns and resulting in even larger disruptions to activity than forecast.

Senate recommends 40 amendments in Finance Bill 2020 STORY ON BACK PAGE

Punjab to seal 33 more localities as Covid-19 cases soar STORY ON PAGE 03

Adding to the gloom, European Central Bank chief economist Philip Lane warned that the euro zone economy would need a long time to recover from the pandemic-induced crisis and a string of solid data in recent days was not necessarily a good guide to recovery.

And the US is considering tariffs on $3.1 billion of exports from Britain, France, Spain, and Germany, Bloomberg News reported, citing a notice published by the office of the US Trade Representative.

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All that and a recent softness in the dollar, along with endless cheap liquidity from central banks, helped spot gold gain 0.6% to $1,777.53 per ounce, having earlier hit its highest since October 2012 at $1,779.06.

Global stocks were 0.4% lower and have been moving sideways in recent weeks after rising more than 40% from March lows on hopes the worst of the pandemic was over. The sell-off in European shares also deepened.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Shahzain Bugti, Bhutani give PTI week's time to fulfill promises STORY ON PAGE 03

US blocks Pakistan, China bid to designate Indian suspect as terrorist at UNSC STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Saturday, 25 June, 2020

NEWS

DeveLoPMeNt of KP’s MerGeD DIstrIcts Govt’s toP PrIorIty: PM IMRAN APPROVES LAUNCH OF TIGER FORCE MOBILE APP ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

RIME Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that uninterrupted provision of development funds to merged districts of erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) is being ensured by the federal government, adding development of merged districts is his top priority.

The prime minister said this while talking to a group of members of National Assembly (NA) hailing from merged districts, who led by Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri called on him.

He said that ensuring completion of development projects in the stipulated time is first and foremost priority of the government.

The meeting discussed public welfare and development issues, measures taken to control the

spread of coronavirus pandemic and progress on roadmap regarding socio-economic development.

The delegation thanked the premier on his personal interest and efforts for the development of merged districts.

Separately, PM Imran approved the launch of Corona Relief Tiger Force mobile application.

The prime minister approved it while talking to Special Assistant on Youth Affairs Usman Dar who called on him on Wednesday.

The premier, while expressing satisfaction over the effective use of Tigers Force through digital technology said that youth are an asset of the country and their passion for serving the nation is praiseworthy.

Dar briefed PM Imran on how digital technology could contribute to the effective functioning of the Tiger Force.

The Tiger Force application, which will contain the feature for geo-tagging, will help in the smooth running of the team.

Cabinet body mulls ways to reform bad-performing SOEs ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

NAB summons PML-N leader Khawaja Asif on June 26 LAHORE INP

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned former foreign minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif in a case pertaining to alleged corruption in a housing scheme. The anti-graft watchdog has asked the PML-N stalwart to appear before the NAB office on June 26 along with the relevant record. The NAB, in its summoning notice, has asked Asif to tell the anti-corruption watchdog from where he got an investment for the Cantt View Housing Society. It is worth mentioning here that NAB had already inquired Asif in April last year. He was summoned by the anti-graft watchdog body for quizzing with regard to his off-shore assets.

Any misadventure will be reciprocated in kind, Qureshi warns India ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday warned India to refrain from launching any attack on Pakistan, saying Islamabad would respond with full force if New Delhi embarks on any “misadventure”.

Qureshi, in his comments aired by a private media house, said that India was plotting an attack on Pakistan to divert attention from a recent deadly clash between India and China in a disputed area of the Himalayas that killed at least 20 Indian soldiers. Chinese and Indian military commanders agreed on Monday to disengage their forces in the disputed area.

Qureshi said that India, after being beaten and “embarrassed” by China in the Himalayan incident, was trying to “find excuses for a false flag operation” against Pakistan. “There is no doubt about what India is trying to do,” the foreign minister said. “Whatever India does, it will receive a response in kind.” A day earlier, in a sign of escalating tensions between Pakistan and India, Delhi asked Islamabad to cut the size of its diplomatic staff in India by half within seven days after accusing its High Commission (HC) staff of engaging in espionage. India said it too would halve its diplomatic presence in Islamabad, in view of the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic ties. “If 50 percent of our embassy staff comes back, then the Indian Embassy staff will also go back,” Qureshi had said, adding that the move was a “violation” of the Vienna Convention.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it will do the same in Islamabad after two Indian High Commission employees were arrested in Pakistan.

The Cabinet Committee on the Stateowned Enterprises (CCoSOEs) met on Wednesday to chalk out ways to bring reforms in state-owned enterprises and to discuss the reconstitution of the Sarmaya-i-Pakistan Limited Board of Directors.

The meeting, which was chaired by Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, decided to set up a sub-committee, headed by Industries and Production Minister Muhammad Hammad Azhar, to study the status and implementation of the recommendations of Task Force on Austerity and Government Restructuring Report on restructuring and reorganisation of the federal government.

Earlier, the CCoSOEs was informed by the Ministry of Finance that around 85

commercial SOEs were working under the administrative control of 19 federal ministries/divisions but the overall performance of the SOEs had remained unsatisfactory despite considerable financial support provided by the federal government from time to time.

The meeting was further informed that during FY18, an amount of Rs143 billion was provided to various SOEs as subsidies, Rs204 billion as cash development loan, Rs27 billion as equity injection and GoP guarantees amounting to Rs318 billion were issued. Despite such a large support, the SOEs sector as a whole registered net losses of Rs 265 billion.

The finance ministry attributed the poor performance of the SOEs to various factors, particularly redundancies and duplications, a completely decentralised governance framework with lack of interagency coordination, excessive interference and over-regulation by multiple

Pakistan condemns Houthi militia’s missile, drone attacks on Saudi Arabia ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Foreign Office (FO) on Wednesday condemned the missile and drone attacks towards Riyadh and other cities of Saudi Arabia carried out by the Houthi militia.

“Pakistan strongly condemns multiple missile and drone attacks towards Riyadh, Najran and Jazan by the Houthi militia,” the FO said in a statement. Islamabad called for “immediate cessation of these attacks” and reiterated its support and solidar-

ity with Saudi Arabia in the face of “any threats to its security and territorial integrity”. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement fired missiles that reached the Saudi capital on Tuesday, the first such attack since a ceasefire put in place during the coronavirus epidemic expired last month.

Two large explosions could be heard in Riyadh near dawn and smoke billowed into the sky. The Houthis said they had hit the Saudi defence ministry and a military base, while a Saudi-led military coalition said it had shot a missile down, mak-

government agencies and lack of technical expertises and specialised skills in the line ministries for the management of commercial COEs. It also briefed the CCoSOEs on various steps taken for reforms and improvement in the SOEs governance framework, including Sarmaya-i-Pakistan and structural benchmarks agreed with the international financial institutions. It further updated the members of the committee of legal framework being developed for the liquidation, privatisation and retention under the government ownership on the basis of economic rationale and financial performance of SOEs. Advisor to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain briefed the meeting on the gist of proposals of the Task Force on Austerity and Government Restructuring Report on restructuring and reorganisation of the federal government.

ing no reference to targets.

There was no sign of damage to the side of the defence ministry building that is visible from the main road or to any surrounding buildings. The area was quiet on Tuesday evening, with normal traffic flows and no additional security measures.

Earlier, on June 22, Yemen’s Saudi-backed government and the southern separatist forces had agreed on a ceasefire and were to begin talks in Saudi Arabia on implementing a peace deal, the Saudi-led coalition said. The government, based in the southern port of Aden, and the separatists are nominal allies in the Saudiled coalition, which has been at war against the Iran-aligned Houthis that have controlled the capital since 2014.

He opined that the task force’s proposals which had already been approved by the federal cabinet and were being implemented at different levels by the federal government could be a starting point for the CCoSOEs to see and decide which SOEs were to be privatised, which to be liquidated, wound up or closed down and which were to be reorganised and retained by the government or merged with other entities.

PROGRESS ON PRIVATISATION REVIEWED: Meanwhile, a separate meeting was held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister and Privatization Commission Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro to discuss the privatization status of entities included in the government’s active list. The members particularly discussed matters pertaining to two power plants of National Power Parks Management Company Ltd (NPPMCL). The minister was informed that the project document of the said transaction was in its final stages and likely to be completed soon.

The minister stated that all legal and administrative issues related to the privatization of the said power plants should be completed without any further delay, adding that the subject transaction should be executed following the lifting of the travel ban by the travel advisory in August.

Govt decides to convert locust swarms into fertilisers ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday decided to convert locust swarms into fertilisers in order to tackle the pest invasion in Pakistan, which according to some reports poses a bigger threat to the country’s economy than the coronavirus pandemic. According to an official statement, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) has proposed that the locust collection will be incentivised through community mobilisation to control locust at the grass-root level. The ministry will be the pioneer in converting the locust crisis into an opportunity by developing its biocompost through community mobilisation. INP

Pakistan's first Sheedi lawmaker targets 'scourge of racism' KARACHI AGENCIES

Pakistan’s first lawmaker from the Sheedi minority is on a mission to fight centuries-old discrimination against her community of African descent, saying it has been held back by entrenched racism.

“Being penalised for something that is beyond our control – our black skin – is a reality all Black people face every day in big and small measures in every country,” said Tanzeela Ume Habiba Qambrani, a member of the Sindh provincial legislature.

“The majority brown skin community considers itself the white community of America and superior to us,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from the southern Badin district,

where many Sheedis live.

Many of Pakistan’s Sheedi people – whose numbers are unclear due to widely differing estimates – are descendants of East Africans who were brought to South Asia as slaves or soldiers by Arab traders.

Qambrani, 41, who traces her own roots back to Tanzania, lodged a protest resolution in the provincial assembly against a “wave of racism,” condemning last month’s killing of Black American George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. “This house strives to nip the scourge of racism in the bud through this resolution and aims at seeing our society free of such inhuman tendencies,” her letter read. Persistent negative stereotypes about the Sheedis in Pakistan limit the community’s educational and employment prospects, keeping many in

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poverty, Qambrani said.

“We are considered ‘jahil’ (ignorant) and ‘jungli’ (wild) and assumed to be involved in criminal activity. This stereotype has kept our community from progressing,” she said, and called for educational funds to be allocated for young Sheedis. “Education is our way out of poverty,” she said, noting the prejudice that many young Sheedis face at school.

“Most young people from our community are bullied and ridiculed in school, not just by their peers, but teachers as well, who tell them they are good for nothing,” said Qambrani, daughter of a lawyer and a headteacher.

The mother-of-three said Sheedi women often face a double discrimination due to South Asian beauty ideals that make it harder for them to find a spouse.

“The (Sheedi) men want to marry outside to dilute the skin tone of their offspring, leaving Sheedi women with no option as the wider Pakistani community is also looking for fairer skins for their spouses,” she said.

Qambrani’s appointment to the Sindh parliament in 2018, by Bilawal Bhutto, the leader of the Pakistan People’s Party and son of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, was hailed as a huge victory by Pakistan’s marginalised communities.

Now a well-known voice for her community, Qambrani said for many years her comfortable middle-class upbringing had shielded her from deepseated prejudice against Sheedi people.

“I lived in a bubble and never realised what all my community suffered,” she said.

Thursday, 25 June, 2020

PunJab to seal 33 more localItIes as covId-19 cases soar NEARLY 1.7M PEOPLE WOULD BE PLACED UNDER SMART LOCKDOWN IN LAHORE ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

HE Punjab government has decided to seal 33 more localities across the province and impose smart lockdown in eight more areas of Lahore to halt the rapid rise in coronavirus cases as 3,892 new coronavirus cases surfaced in the country within 24 hours, taking the total tally to 188,926.

According to National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), there are 69,536 coronavirus cases in Punjab, 72,656 in Sindh, 23,388 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 9,634 in Balochis-

FEDERAL GOVT CONSIDERING REOPENING UNIVERSITIES FROM JULY 15 ISLAMABAD tan, 1,1483 in Islamabad, 1,337 in GilgitBaltistan (GB) and 892 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The death toll from the virus stands at 3,755 with 60 deaths reported over the last 24 hours. 23,380 Covid-19 tests were carried out during this period. 77,754 patients have so far recovered from the disease.

Chief Secretary Punjab Jawad Rafique Malik has approved the strict implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the province to

curb coronavirus spread and said that action will be taken against those who violate SOPs. In view of the slide in the number of Covid-19 cases and death rate, the selected lockdown has been extended to 33 more areas of the province.

According to reports, 96,229 houses and 1.69 million people will be put under lockdown in all blocks of Gulberg (1, 2, 3), Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Faisal Town, Garden Town and the Walled City of Lahore.

NEWS Section 144 has also been imposed in the areas to force the people to follow the rules to control and restrict the coronavirus spread. The government of Punjab also considering to keep the cattle markets in the outskirts of the cities.

Moreover, Islamabad’s four more sectors have been locked down, while smart lockdown has been in force in 25 localities of Faisalabad. A smart lockdown has also been in force in 41 areas of Karachi, 14 areas of Peshawar. Separately, it emerged on Wednesday that the federal government is considering to reopen universities across the country from July 15.

According to details, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has been formally informed in this regard while suggestions have also been sought from universities administrations.

In March 2020, the government had closed all the schools, colleges and universities due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC), presided by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood said on Twitter.

All hard work undone by 'a quixotic person', Rafique says in NA ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique on Wednesday lashed out at Prime Minister Imran Khan during the National Assembly’s session, saying all the hard work of previous years has been undone by “this quixotic” person.

“There is no precedent in the history [of Pakistan] of any government disrespecting the Parliament the way Imran Khan did,” Rafique said while addressing the Lower House. “The truth is that there is no democracy in Pakistan anymore! Some have accepted it now and some will admit it after some time,” he added.

The PML-N stalwart said he did not wish to go to and speak in the House earlier in the day, noting that he heard a minister speaking on a personal matter for more than 20 minutes. “We do not come with a mandate to tear each other apart,” he said. That time is not far away when no one would be willing to become the prime minister over the fear of humiliation, Rafique noted. He added that years of “hard work had

been completed and this quixotic — ‘a Sheikh Chilli’ — came and ruined everything”.

The former railways minister said that even General Ziaul Haq’s martial law could not put an end to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and that to this day, no political party can be brought down.

“We will not bring a no-confidence motion against you,” he said, saying it was okay to “make us your target” of

US lauds Pakistan for opening Ghulam Khan border with Afghanistan NEWS DESK The United States on Wednesday welcomed Pakistan’s move to open its third border crossing with Afghanistan to facilitate trade between the two countries.

“Encouraged that Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to open a third border crossing at Ghulam Khan to facilitate trade between the two countries and help businesses/exporters get back on their feet,” the US State Department said in a tweet. It added that the increased, uninterrupted Pak-Afghan trade and connectivity will bring benefits to both economies.

On Monday, Pakistan announced it was opening the third border crossing with Afghanistan for 24/7 trade. The Torkham, Chaman and Ghulam Khan borders have been opened to increase the volume of trade and to promote business activities between the two countries. A notification issued by the Ministry of Interior said the three border terminals would remain open for imports and exports from and to Afghanistan, with an unlimited number of trucks to be allowed per day for both Afghan transit and bilateral trade. The Foreign Office in a press

release said the government decided to open the third border terminal at Ghulam Khan for bilateral trade and also to allow transit trade and imports from Afghanistan through the already opened Torkham and Chaman border points for six days.

“This arrangement on trade will be in operation for six days a week. Saturday will be reserved for pedestrian movement on these border crossing terminals. These steps are being taken after implementing all the necessary protocols related to COVID-19 pandemic,” the foreign office had said.

The decision was made keeping in view of both countries’ desire to further increase mutual trade, strong fraternal ties and upon the renewed Afghan Government’s request, it added. “The opening of Ghulam Khan border crossing terminal and allowing imports from Afghanistan reflects Pakistan’s resolve to help Afghanistan and facilitate its trade.

The opening of Gwadar Port for Afghanistan’s export and import has further strengthened trade linkages between the two countries,” the Foreign Office added.

criticism only if something for the betterment of Pakistan was being done in exchange.

“You have a few good people but they are not put to use,” the PML-N leader said. “You may get rid of your security blanket but it won’t part ways with you [that easily].

“Admit that Kashmir has fallen,” he chided further.

Rafique then spoke about the alleged

singling out of opposition leaders at the hands of the incumbent government, commenting on how a senior politician such as Khursheed Shah was jailed, PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif’s son, Hamza Shehbaz, arrested, and a notice sent to the former foreign minister, Khawaja Asif. “You’re passing on the animosity from generation to generation,” he warned.

“You’re in no position to speak to the opposition on national issues. “You have an 11-vote government and that, too, is not your own. What happened to the one with a two-thirds majority is also a part of the history,” he added.

The PML-N government had offered dengue tests for Rs90 each, he said, asking if it was not possible to have the coronavirus tests priced at Rs2,000.

“I heard one of their federal ministers saying there were no options,” the former minister mentioned. “Do away with this misconception because there are always options! “The problem is that neither we nor the PPP are available at the moment,” he said, adding that the current government created problems but the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) fixed them.

03

Wife says Justice Isa has received death threat ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s wife Sarina Isa on Wednesday informed police that her husband has received a death threat via a video. In an application seeking the registration of a first information report (FIR) in Islamabad’s Secretariat Police Station, Sarina said that the person threatening Justice Isa said that whoever is caught in embezzlement, whether it be Faez Isa or anyone else, should be executed through a firing squad. Only those who indulge in such activities must be hanged and the entire city should be invited to watch it, the person in the video said, according to Justice Isa’s wife. Sarina said that many powerful people were not happy with her husband and she suspected the death threat was in continuation of what they have been facing. She said that a complaint against her husband was sumitted by a person named Abdul Waheed Dogar. “My asked who Abdul Waheed Dogar is but no one in government disclosed that for whom Abdul Waheed Dogar worked,” she said, claiming that Special Assistant to the PM on Accountability Shahzad Akbar has met Dogar, urging the police officials to investigate the whereabouts of Dogar, who, according to her, was being used by “some very powerful people.” “I suspect that whoever ordered the journalist Mr Ahmed Noorani to be beaten up is the real mastermind and the person who wants to eliminate my husband,” she alleged. She urged the police officials to arrest those “powerful people” who wanted to get rid of Justice Isa, calling it the “worst kind of terrorism”. On Friday, the top court had quashed the presidential reference filed against Justice Isa as well as the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) proceedings that were started on the basis of the reference. A 10-judge full court had issued the verdict after hearing for over six months multiple petitions filed against the reference that claimed that Justice Isa had committed misconduct by not disclosing his family members properties in the United Kingdom in his wealth statement. “Reference No 1 of 2019 is declared to be of no legal effect whatsoever and stands quashed, and in consequence, thereof the proceedings pending in the SJC against the petitioner [Justice Isa] including the show-cause notice dated 17.07.2019 issued to him stand abated,” said a short order. In the split verdict, announced by the presiding judge Umar Ata Bandial, seven out of the 10 judges referred the matter to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for initiating tax proceedings against Justice Isa’s spouse and children for not disclosing their UK properties to the tax authorities while filing their returns.

Shahzain Bugti, Bhutani give PTI week's time to fulfill promises NEWS DESK Jamhoori Wattan Party (JWP) leader Shahzain Bugti and Member of National Assembly (MNA) Aslam Bhutani on Wednesday warned the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI)-led government they would quit the coalition if the promises made to them aren’t fulfilled within a week.

“If the government is serious about the problems in Balochistan, then the prime minister should pass executive orders, issue a notification and make an announcement on national television,” Shahzain Bugti told a private news channel.

“The problem with the incumbent government is that they only believe in taking U-turns,” Bugti remarked.

Meanwhile, Bhutani said there was a dearth of “treating MNAs with respect”. “We only say respect should be accorded.

Ten things may be done while 10 may not come to fruition. We are allies and are independent. For

us, all roads are open. If one path does not lead to success, we will choose another. But they must at least accord respect to their own party members,” he said, referring to revelations made by PTI members.

Referring to the government’s stance of “reviewing” the 18 Amendment, Bugti said he does not agree with it at all. “The 18th Amendment was done after arriving at a consensus with all political parties. The prime minister only has his own PTI views.

He cannot develop a consensus

for the whole of Pakistan.”

Meanwhile, Bhutani was of the view that whether anyone from the PPP likes the 18th Amendment and National Finance Commission award or not, and whether they oppose certain aspects, it is a commendable accomplishment on their part.

“The grant for Balochistan in the seventh NFC award was never before witnessed and will probably never again be seen so we will protect it,” he said.

Last week, the federal government was dealt a blow after

Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) leader Akhtar Mengal announced that his party was breaking its alliance with the ruling coalition.

However, the lawmaker had clarified that his party will continue to be part of the National Assembly and keep talking about Balochistan’s issues.

Mengal had reminded the House that his party had two agreements with the ruling party, adding that it was the Imran Khan-led party which had come to him for an alliance, not the BNP-M which went to Bani Gala — the personal residence of PM Imran Khan.

“The first agreement was done on August 8, 2018 and signed by Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Jahangir Tareen and Yar Muhammad Rind,” recalled Mengal. He had added that his party had demanded that the missing persons issue be resolved and the National Action Plan be implemented in letter and spirit in the agreement.

Thursday, 25 June, 2020

04 NEWS

BuzDAr orDerS crAcKDowN oN IllegAl SAle of covID-19 DrugS LAHORE

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UNJAB Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has directed to initiate the province-wise crackdown against those involved in the sale of coronavirus related medicines at exorbitant rates, saying strict action be initiated against hoarders of said medicines.

The administration should initiate action and submit a report to the CM Office and there should be no short-

Prof Dr Mugheess-ud-Din Sheikh passes away LAHORE: Renowned educationist and former professor at the Department of Communication in Punjab University Dr Mughees-ud-Din Sheikh died of coronavirus in Lahore on Wednesday. The deceased was in poor health condition for several days and was under treatment in hospital.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of professor Dr. Mughees-ud-Din Sheikh. He said on Wednesday we have lost a great teacher of journalism field. He prayed for the departed soul and commiserated with the bereaved family. INP

President emphasises transformation of Katchi Abadis into developed areas ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi on Wednesday emphasised the need for transformation of Katchi Abadis (slums) into developed areas with health, education and road infrastructure facilities. He was chairing a meeting on Katchi Abadis here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. The meeting was attended by Naya Pakistan Housing Authority Chairman Lt Gen (r) Anwar Hyder and Deputy Chairman Major General Amir Aslam Khan, and Secretary Housing & Works Dr Imran Zeb Khan. Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Member of Sindh Assembly Firdous Shamim Naqvi and Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Limited Chairman Samar Ali Khan attended the meeting through video-link from Karachi. The meeting discussed various options with regard to the development of Jamshed Quarters, Pakistan Quarters and Railways Katchi Abadis in Karachi, and the provision of alternative arrangements for their occupants. The president asked the Ministry of Housing and Works and other relevant organizations to devise a strategy by involving the community and private sector to develop the areas as well as suggest a way out for resolving the residential issues of their occupants. APP

Punjab governor bars universities from expelling students on non-payment of fee LAHORE: Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar Wednesday barred public and private sector universities from expelling students on non-payment of fee owing to financial challenges during the lockdown in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. In a letter to the vicechancellors, rectors of public and private sector universities across the province, he also directed to facilitate students in depositing their semester and other fee in installments and stopped from any adverse action which may affect their future. The letter further read: ‘Covid-19 pandemic has severely affected social and economic life of all segments of society wherein the middle and poor classes are bearing the brunt of financial crisis. In such testing times, they might be facing difficulty in payment of academic fee of their children’. Earlier on June 22, the university students had given a call to protest outside Governor’s House to press for relief in fee payment and other matters. The Governor, in his capacity as Chancellor of private and public sector universities, held a meeting with the protesting students from ‘Universities Student Action Committee’ and asked them to call off their strike on the promise of looking into their demands compassionately. The students committee had called off the strike on assurance by the Governor Punjab/Chancellor. APP

age of such medicines in an emergency situation, said the chief minister in a statement on Wednesday.

The line departments should also ensure availability of necessary medicines at fixed rates and their shortage will not be tolerated at any cost, the CM added.

The CM said that most affected areas have been sealed to control the spread of coronavirus. He said that MPAs should monitor implementation of governmental instructions in their areas because public support is essential to overcome the spread of coronavirus.

He expressed the satisfaction that recent restrictions

have produced encouraging results. People should make a habit to observe precautionary measures, the CM maintained and warned that markets and bazaars, failing to observe SOPs, will be closed down. He asserted that restrictions about wearing face masks are being implemented strictly at public places and government offices and citizens should fulfil their social responsibility by observing the precautionary measures.

Meanwhile, MPAs from different districts called on Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar at his office and congratulated him for presenting a relief- oriented

budget for 2020-21. They also apprised the CM about the problems of their areas and the chief minister assured that development work will be done on a priority basis and no one will be allowed to create hurdles in the solution of genuine issues.

Political appointments hinders performance of NICVD: Haleem Adil

KARACHI INP

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice President and parliamentary party leader in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil has said that the performance of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Health (NICH) Karachi is marred due to massive corruption, mismanagement and nepotism and the main culprit in this regard is the political appointments in this national institution.

Addressing a press conference outside the Sindh Assembly here on Wednesday, he said Bilawal had given a challenge to show one other hospital like the NICVD Karachi in whole country. He said we accept our defeat, give a walkover to Bilawal and declare him as a winner. He said really there is no institution like the NICVD in the whole country, which is getting Rs36 crore annually just for salaries.

The PTI VP said a retired employee was appointed as the executive director of NICVD Karachi for a fat salary of Rs65,00000 per month. This retired employee, Nadeem Qamar, is appointed as the executive director NICVD because he is the real brother of PPP leader Syed Naveed Qamar. He said this man has not visited his hospital for last three months. He said this person was also appointed as the director of SICVD. He said these are purely political appointments, but we accept us as defeated by Bilawal, as no another hospital like the NICVD is really present in whole country.

Haleem Adil said when Lakhs of rupees are wasted only on salaries how it would treat the patients. He said what kind of a soldier is this person who has left his hospital abandoned and not visiting it during the coronavirus situation. He said salaries are going to their bank accounts regularly, but these doctors are not discharging duty and treating patients. He said today the NICVD Karachi has to repay loans of Rs16billion. He said huge amounts are being given to private doctors to perform surgeries in the NICVD on contract basis.

He asked if the NICVD was really founded by the PPP. He said a trust has been formed in the NICVD, while as per law no trust could be made in any government hospital. He said the secretary of the trust has opened the account of this trust in a private bank. He said same political appointees are leading this trust. He said huge corruption is made in the name of this trust, as it is above any accountability and audit. He said Sindh chief minister is the chairman of the board of directors of NICVD. He said there are 10 to 12 members of this trust but only a few persons put their signatures on the minutes of the meeting of this trust.

The PTI VP said this is a grave matter of corruption and misappropriation of funds and a letter has already been written to the executive director of NICDV on May 8, 2020 and details about the hospitals are sought.

He said Bilawal said three hospitals are attacked and Murad says a robbery of Rs239billion is made. He asked if this should be the language of political people.

He reminded that these hospitals are 50 years old and they were established by the federal government.

These hospitals were handed over to Sindh after the 18th amendment. He said the employees of these hospitals went to the courts, and the Sindh High Court and Supreme Court of Pakistan gave verdicts on this matter.

He asked is this also an attack on these hospitals. He said billions of rupees have been gone to the pockets of corruption mafia through the NICVD. Haleem Adil said Shahbaz Gul has visited the hospital and he had not come there on a special tour. He said some ministers said that the hospital was closed. He asked if the hospital is closed why more than 100 doctors are posted in Jacobabad. He said medicines of Rs2 crore are stolen from the government hospital of Larkana.

Notices issued on petition challenging ‘govt’s move to rename BISP’ LAHORE INP

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday issued notices to the federal authorities on a petition by PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira challenging the government’s move to “rename” the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). A bench headed by LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan took up the petition and directed the official respondents, including the federal law secretary, the finance secretary and the BISP secretary and director general to submit their comments on the petition by the next hearing.

The hearing was adjourned until July 22.

The petitioner, who is also the PPP Central Punjab president, stated before the court that the BISP was launched to provide financial assistance and other social protection and safety cover to economically-distressed persons and families.

Qamar Zaman Kaira said currently, the incumbent government is extending financial assistance in the name of ‘Ehsaas Programme’ under BISP Act, 2010. The government illegally, unlawfully, unconstitutionally and with malicious intent renamed the programme without introducing any requisite amendment in the Act, he argued.

“It is a settled principle that no policy/decision could be made against the statute without proper amendment in the relevant statute applicable to the matter in question,” the PPP leader said.

He added the act of the government to rename the BISP as ‘Ehsaas Programme’ is neither permissible nor justified in the absence of any amendment in the Act. He, therefore, pleaded with the high court to declare the government’s move to “rename” the programme without lawful authority and of no legal effect.

‘Resolution of Kashmir, Palestine issues lies in Muslim unity’ SOME VERY VOCAL STATEMENTS HAVE STARTED COMING IN FROM ARAB COUNTRIES REGARDING MISTREATMENT OF MUSLIMS IN INDIA AND KASHMIR, SAYS MAZARI ISLAMABAD INP

Speakers at a webinar called upon the Muslim world to shed its dependence on the West and adopt a united stance on critical issues like Kashmir and Palestine in order to emerge as a respected global force.

The international webinar was organized by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad. IPS Executive President Khalid Rahman chaired the session.

Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari, British House of Lords Member Lord Nazir Ahmed, British Member of Parliament Khalid Mehmood, Member of Turkish Prime Minister’s Advisory Board for Human Rights Dr Hamit Ersoy, Vice President to Egyptian National Constitutional Committee Dr Kamal Helbawi, Professor Dr Halil Tokar from Istanbul University, Turkey, and Professor Dr Farhan Mujahid Chak from Qatar University addressed the webinar.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari said some very vocal statements have started coming in from the Arab countries on social media and other channels regarding the treatment of Muslims in India and the Kashmir issue. She said the Muslim countries should get united for resolution of longstanding disputes.

Lord Nazir Ahmed said India is no longer a secular country whose political system is controlled by Hin-

dutva extremist ideology that does not provide equal opportunities to the minorities. He appreciated Arab countries for beginning to see the true extremist Indian reality, which had been hidden under the façade of secular democracy for a long time. He said India is using RAW to destabilize Pakistan.

Member of British Parliament Khalid Mehmood called upon the Kashmiris to shed their mutual differences and forge unity to put pressure on world powers.

He said the Indian government has been violating the Geneva Convention. He urged Muslim countries to take the issue to International Criminal Court (ICC).

Turkish Professor Dr Hamit Ersoy highlighted the fact that India, US and Israel are jointly working against the Muslim world and deliberately painting Muslim freedom struggles against foreign occupation as terrorism. They are doing this to justify their continued occupation and oppression and to caste Muslims in a negative light as extremists and terrorists, he maintained, adding that BJP’s rise in Indian politics is rooted in its philosophy of hatred, which was evident even in 1992 when the demolition of Babri Mosque brought them to power. He pointed out that 76 per cent of all hate crimes in India are committed against Muslims.

Dr Farhan Mujahid Chak endorsed Dr Ersoy’s argument by urging Muslim scholars to look for indigenous and innovative solutions for resolving

their issues.

Dr Kamal Helbawi stressed peaceful, progressive and moderate spirit of Islam and stated that Muslims are being deliberately painted by India as terrorists in order to hide its atrocities against Muslims and also to justify its aggressive behavior towards neighboring Muslim countries.

Dr Halil Tokar stated that BJP’s ideological core is RSS, which has an extremist philosophy based on hatred towards other religions, identical to the one followed by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. He reminded the international audience that Prime Minister Modi is responsible for the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat in 2002. “The BJP and RSS want to wipe out minorities, including Muslims and Christians, from India by the end of 2021,” he said.

In his concluding remarks, IPS Executive President Khalid Rahman reminded the audience that India did not exist in its current form before 1947 and that 60 percent of its territory consisted of provinces while 40 per cent of princely states that were ruled by the British. He underlined the fact that British introduced the policy of divide and rule in this region, which earlier was a thriving economy, stable polity and a diverse and rich society, under centuries of Muslim rule.

He emphasized that Muslims contributed to the economy, society, culture and architecture in a profound and constructive manner through good governance before the British introduced divide-and-rule policy. He said Muslims must learn from their mistakes and dependence over other powers and raise awareness, improve education, spread information, pursue engagement and active lobbying to influence the world in pursuit of their collective interests.

Thursday, 25 June, 2020

KP health budGet incReased by 43Pc: JhaGRa peSHaWaR

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HYBER Pakhtunkhwa Finance Minister Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra Wednesday said that health budget has been increased by 43 percent on an annual basis, which is unprecedented.

Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra said this while speaking here at the floor of the provincial assembly.

“We have not compromised on our development budget. We have built 15 new hospitals in the last 5 years. Almost 3,500 beds have been added to the existing setups, while the health sector has taken on a new dimension/direction under the MTI Act,” he said.

He said, “2,000 health professionals have been recruited to fight the corona epidemic, while 18,000 health professionals have registered under the Locum scheme.

He said that coronavirus pandemic has caused economic crisis around the world and it was challenging to keep the development budget of 2020-21 the same as the previous year’s budget, but the provincial government did so.

He claimed that the budget of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

SAYS 15 HOSPITALS BUILT, 3,500 BEDS ADDED TO EXISTING SETUPS IN 5 YEARS has been better in all aspects, and it is being praised by all. He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's budget has been on top among rest of the provinces in terms of development budget, per capita development spending, increase in health budget, per capita health spending and reform agenda, as is evident in an independent source’s review report about all provinces’ budget.

Referring to Net Hydel Profit (NHP), he said that the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is actively involved in the matter and is constantly in touch with the Federal government. Prior to the epidemic, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa used to receive Rs3 billion a month from the center in this regard, he said and hoped that the issue will be resolved very soon.

He said that the ban on the supply of wheat and flour to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Punjab has been lifted, and all check posts set up for this purpose, have also been removed.

Responding to a question from an opposition law-

maker, Taimur Jhagra said that more should be spent in education sector on the management and teaching staff, as they are directly related to service delivery and promotion of education. Recruitment is being done on merit through NTS, and there has been no political influence.

“In addition to setting up 500 community schools in the province, we are working with the private sector for improving and strengthening poor performance schools and launching second shift in better performance schools,” he said. Jhagra said that Karak and Kohat are getting gas royalty, and other districts are also being provided full portions of their Annual Development program.

The finance minister informed the members that the provincial government is paying equal attention to the constituencies of the opposition members the same as those of the government members, and every district is getting its share in the ADP. Addressing the assembly session, he said that more development budget had been spent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year as compared to Sindh and Punjab and the funds received from the Federal and the revenue generated by the province had been completely spent.

NEWS

05

Pilots ‘overconfidence’, ‘lack of focus’ caused Karachi plane crash continued on page 01 He said that Air Blu and Bhoja Airlines incidents occurred due to “human error and various breaches of flying discipline”. He added that the technical fault in the Chitral incident was “so complicated” that the plane manufacturer itself has not been able to reach a conclusion yet. The minister, however, promised that its inquiry report would be presented in August of this year.

40PC PILOTS POSSESS FAKE LICENSES: According to the minister, out of 860 active pilots in the country, some 40 percent possessed fake/forged licenses and did not have any flying experience either.

“262 pilots did not even take their exams themselves,” Khan claimed, adding that pilots were not hired on merit and fake degrees and licenses were issued.

Khan added that the government had started to take action against all such pilots. “In the first phase, 54 such pilots were identified. Show cause notices were issued to 24 and nine others confessed that they were unqualified. “I believe this issue should not be politicised. It is a matter of national security. The inquiry has been free, fair and transparent,” he concluded.

Gold price rises Rs2,000 per tola in Pakistan continued on page 01

Bureaucracy controls Imran’s government, says Riaz LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Raja Riaz on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government is controlled by bureaucrats. Speaking to Pakistan Today Editor Arif Nizami on Channel 92’s programme ‘Ho Kya Raha Hai?’, the PTI leader said that the premier believes that all politicians are land grabbers.

He said that the incumbent government had failed to resolve corruption, provide justice and employment to the people and despite its promises, has failed to uphold merit.

He added that previously people used to pay Rs10,000 in bribes, but now Rs30,000 is the minimum sum. Riaz said that back during Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) President Shehbaz Sharif’s tenure as the chief minister of Punjab, people used to respect politicians, however, this is not the case anymore. He further said that he was seriously considering sending in his resignation. Later, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said that Riaz was listening to his conscience. He said that PML-N has nothing to do with his statements. The former provincial law minister also said that Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has validated the rumours of rifts within the PTI. STAFF REPORT

Coronavirus crisis slowing global education rate: UNESCO united nationS APP

The 2020 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) indicates that the coronavirus crisis is adversely impacting the global rate of education, particularly of disadvantaged learners.

According to the report, fewer than 10 percent of countries have laws that ensure full inclusion in education. Besides, 40 percent of the poorest countries did not provide specific support to disadvantaged learners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report, titled “Inclusion and education: All means All”, lists background, identity and ability as some of the broader "key factors" analyzed for this report. It also promotes a set of key recommendations for the next ten years and urges countries to focus on those left behind as schools reopen, in order to foster “more resilient and equal societies.”

Inclusive education should be a “non-negotiable” right for all children, UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said in the foreword of the report. "It has never been more crucial to make education a universal right, and a reality for all”, she said. However, as underlying inequalities exacerbate learners’ needs, well-meaning laws and policies often falter, and educational opportunities continue to be unequally distributed, keeping quality education out of reach for many.

Even before the pandemic, one-in-five children, adolescents and youth were entirely excluded from education. Stigma, stereotypes and discrimination mean millions more are further alienated inside classrooms, with the current crisis further perpetuating different forms of exclusion.

And while the world is “in the throes of the most unprecedented disruption in the history of education”,

Ms. Azoulay stated that social and digital divides “have put the most disadvantaged at risk of learning losses and dropping out”.

“More than ever, we have a collective responsibility to support the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, helping to reduce long-lasting societal breaches that threaten our shared humanity”, she said. The core recommendation of the GEM report is to understand that inclusive education means equal access for all learners, notwithstanding identity, background or ability.

And it identifies different forms of exclusion, how they are caused and what can be done to mitigate them.

Moreover, GEM provides policy recommendations to make learner diversity a strength, to be celebrated as a force for social cohesion.

Ms. Azoulay noted that “the COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed and deepened” inequalities and the “fragility of our societies”.

At the same time, past lessons have shown that health crises can leave many behind, particularly poor girls who may never return to school.

As the world seeks to rebuild inclusive education systems, the report recommends practices on governance, curricula, teacher education, school infrastructure - and relations with students, parents and communities aimed at increasing access to the classroom.

The UNESCO chief called it “a call to action we should heed”, paving the way for more resilient and equal societies in the future. “Only by learning from this report can we understand the path we must take in the future”, she said. And yet, 40 per cent of the poorest countries have not supported at-risk learners during the COVID-19 crisis.

Furthermore, the law in a quarter of the world’s countries, require children with disabilities to be educated in separate settings, while only 10 per cent have laws to ensure full education inclusion.

Covid-19: IMF revises down Pakistan’s FY21 growth forecast to 1pc continued on page 01 In others, recorded infections and mortality have instead been more modest on a per capita basis, although limited testing implies considerable uncertainty about the path of the pandemic.

In many advanced economies, the pace of new infections and hospital intensive care occupancy rates have declined thanks to

weeks of lockdowns and voluntary distancing. It said the deep downturn was synchronized as firstquarter GDP was generally worse than expected – the few exceptions were Chile, China, India, Malaysia, and Thailand, among emerging markets, and Australia, Germany, and Japan, among advanced economies. High-frequency indicators point to a more severe contraction in the second

quarter, except in China, where most of the country had reopened by early April.

The Fund said the strong multilateral cooperation remained essential on multiple fronts. Liquidity assistance was urgently needed for countries confronting health crises and external funding shortfalls, including through debt relief and financing through the global financial safety net.

Positive sentiment was in short supply despite German business morale posting its strongest rise in June since records began. The Ifo institute said Europe’s largest economy should return to growth in the third quarter after the coronavirus pandemic hammered output in the spring. “Global equity market futures are struggling to make gains today, likely for no other reason than with rising daily Covid-19 cases in the US remaining front page news, the headlines are proving to be a weighty burden to bear this morning,” Stephen Innes, the chief global market strategist at AxiCorp, said. “The trough in global growth is indeed behind us, but the recovery trajectory in H2 remains uncertain.”

Against a backdrop of concerns over a weaker US dollar and that a jump in infections will lead to more stimulus measures, gold should remain on a reasonably constructive path, he said. The euro traded flat at $1.1307, while the dollar regained some ground after two straight days of losses, rising 0.1%. “The dollar and risk sentiment are likely to remain broadly negatively correlated, barring the US displaying clear and enduring leadership in the global economic recovery, something hard to square with the grim US news on Covid,” said Ray Attrill, head of FX strategy at NAB. Euro zone bond yields were broadly steady, with a focus on Austria which launched the sale of a new 100-year bond that will raise €2 billion — one of the longest-dated bond sales since the coronavirus crisis. Germany will also visit the primary market with the first reopening of a 15-year bond, which is expected to raise €2.5 billion.

Oil prices were down as record high inventories and worries about a second wave of the pandemic outweighed support from a gradual reopening of global economies. Brent crude was down 1% at $42.20 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 1.4% to $39.81 a barrel.

KP govt recruits 27 architects across province PESHAWAR: For improvement of visual beauty across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the provincial government has recruited twenty-seven architects including seven women. A notification from the local government department on Wednesday, the first ever appointed experts have been posted in different Tehsil Municipal Administration regions including Peshawar, Nowshera, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu. Meanwhile, Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Local Government, Kamran Bangash, in a tweet, has termed the recruitment a revolutionary step towards improvement of landscapes across rural and urban areas of the province. INP

UNSG urges countries to recognise seafarers as key workers iSLaMaBad APP

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ on Wednesday urged countries to recognize Seafarers as key workers, who helped safely repatriate of hundreds of thousands stranded in sea.

In a message issued here for the International Day of the Seafarer, to be observed on 25 June, “Seafarers are among the world’s unsung heroes”. He said the International Day of the Seafarer is a time to honour the world’s two million seafarers whose dedication and professionalism keep the vast majority of world trade moving safely, delivering vital goods — including food, fuel and medical supplies.

He said that Seafarers have continued to provide this essential service under the unprecedented and difficult conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Even in the best of times, seafarers work for long periods away from home, their contributions largely unheralded. Yet, in recent months, their burdens have grown exponentially with COVID-19-related travel restrictions that have prevented hundreds of thousands of seafarers from leaving ships. Fatigued and weary, their time at sea has been extended months beyond the standards stipulated in international conventions. This is an unsustainable humanitarian crisis”, the UN Secretary General added.

He said this year, more than ever, all countries in the world must honour our seafarers by recogniz-

ing them as key workers and providing necessary travel assistance to ensure safe crew changeovers and repatriations.

United Nations agencies, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) — along with the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Transport Workers Federation — have developed protocols to do just that.

"I renew my call on all Governments to urgently implement these protocols", he said adding, "Without seafarers, the world’s economy could not function. On this Day, let us all salute seafarers everywhere for their work and do everything possible to support them as we navigate the challenges of this pandemic together."

Thursday, 25 June, 2020

06 COMMENT

Misleading and Misdirecting the Nation

PM Modi’s political fantasies

India should be exposed for its misdeeds

Arbitrary maps don’t change ground realities

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OWaRDs the end of last year the Indian government released two maps that showed azad Jammu and Kashmir (aJK) as part of its Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit and Baltistan as part of its Union Territory of Ladakh. Pakistan’s Foreign Office rejected these political maps which were incompatible with ones recognized by the United Nations.

Pakistan maintained that no step by India could change the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir as recognised by the UN. India’s claim on the Chinese territory has led to the recent bloody face-off between the armies of the two countries. Despite being one of the smallest Indian neighbours, Nepal has issued a map showing three disputed areas along the border with India as a part of Nepal’s own territory while rejecting Indian claims.

India initiated a diplomatic row with Pakistan last month by expelling two officials of the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi, accusing them of espionage. The claim was immediately rejected by Pakistan as false and unsubstantiated. Two weeks later Pakistani police briefly detained two employees of the Indian embassy in Islamabad after their car hit and injured a pedestrian.

India has in retaliation announced halving its diplomatic staff in Pakistan, demanding that Pakistan follow suit within a week.

The year 2020 began with provocations from India’s highest civil and military quarters. soon after being appointed chief of the Indian army, Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane announced that he would ‘take action’ to claim azad Kashmir if ordered by Parliament. Days later a jingoistic Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that the Indian armed forces won’t take more than a week-10 days to make Pakistan bite dust. Prime Minister Imran Khan has cautioned the world on a number of occasions recently that India was planning to initiate a false flag operation as an excuse to launch an armed attack on Pakistan.

National interest demands that the PTI government renounce its divisive policies inside the country and take the opposition on board. This will send a message to India that Pakistan is united to face any adventurist act. With the country ruled by a coalition with a slender majority and facing internal bickering, an urgent understanding with the opposition is a must.

Dr FariD a Malik

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N the recent post budget debate Khawaja Muhammad asif, son of Khawaja Muhammad safdar of sialkot, stated that Pakistan had not played its role in blocking the permenant membership of India in the United Nations security Council( UNsC ). It was a misleading statement by the former foreign minister and currently the acting leader of opposition, as the position is temporary for a period of two years. The response of the sitting foreign minister, shah Mahmood Qureshi, was equally absurd as he thought it was not a big deal.

Both need to be reprimanded, Khawaja for misleading the nation and Qureshi for misdirecting it.

The National assembly has become an absurd debating club where people come to hurl abuses and defend the misdeeds of their leaders instead of legislating for the common good of the people. While the former foreign minister should tender an unconditional apology for his misleading statement and be debarred for speaking on the floor for at least one year, the sitting foreign minister should be issued a show cause notice for misdirection and showing calleusness in the performance of his duties.

It is typical of the PML(N) and its media cell to mislead the nation. Instead of coming clean they cause delays in legal proceedings. Rana sanaullah in the narcotics case against him has sought three adjourments. Judge arshad Malik is another misdemenour. The case of corruption against Nawaz sharif was being heard in the court of accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir. His smart lawyers first worked on Judge arshad and then moved an application to get the case transferred to his court. They then tried to blackmail the Judge by highlighting his personal misadventures to get a favourable judgement.

When the Judge did not oblige they went public after him. Bail in common law is the right of the accused, it does not mean vindication. even Zulfiqar ali Bhutto was given bail in the murder case against him, he was then detained under martial law throughout his trial followed by execution. almost the entire

The ordeal continues Is Mir Shakilur Rehman being used as an example?

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He Lahore High Court has postponed to July 7 the hearing of the post-arrest bail petition of Jang Group head Mir shakilur Rehman. The pastern was depressingly familiar in the case of opposition figures: the arrest by NaB and the obtaining of remand supposedly to recover evidence, and the failure on its part to establish even a prima facie case. The result so far has been the same: ultimately courts have granted basil, as the cases could not be established. Like any investigating agency, NaB would expect to lose some cases, but here it seems that it loses all.

In Mir shakil’s case too, it is clear that the problem is not with the case, which is an old one dealing with exemptions, supposed to have been given by Mian Nawaz sharif as Punjab Chief Minister, but with the editorial policies followed by Mir shakil’s Jang Group. In fact, it is not just Mir shakil who is being threatened, but all media owners attempting to follow an independent editorial policy, who are not engaging in the most cloyingly sycophantic coverage, who are being threatened. There are a number of bribes which may be offered to media owners, and while privatization has led to considerable loss of state control (in the shape of advertising), it has not entirely eliminated it. Mir shakil’s case shows how wrathful the state can be and the coercive tools at its disposal. so long as the state does not do what governments in the West do, which is accept criticism, it will continue to have to wild the stick. It needs to realize that media criticism is not just profitable, but is a commercial necessity, because if even one news source reveals something, it will attract the public, which will abandon all other news sources which are attempting to conceal the truth. Mir shakil does not have an objectionable news policy because of some martyr complex, but because he has no commercially viable alternative. There is thus no point in keeping Mir shakil behind bars.

Mr Justice Faez Isa versus the State Making a case stand up in court Shakaib QureShi

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ases of a delicate nature before Pakistan’s apex court can only be written about very carefully. The facts in Mr Justice Faez Isa’s case were simple but needed to be uncovered. The question was whether the evidence, gathered by the assets Recovery Unit, would stand-up in court.

To be fair, in Pakistan, what stands or does not stand in a court has always been difficult to comprehend. However a bit of history may help. The term “stand in a court of law” stems from 13thcentury French impotence laws. at the time, the Catholic Church held the view, that marriage was only undertaken to bear children. Consequently, these laws permitted wives to seek divorce on the grounds of a husband’s impotence. Contesting such a wifely allegation was no mean feat. The husbanmd had to physically demonstrate his masculine prowess in open court to disprove it. From all contemporary accounts, making one’s masculine evidence stand-up before dour judges and taunting crowds took some doing. From these courts came the important legal question that must be asked beforehand: will it stand-up in court?

It was the law minister’s job to ask this question in such a delicate matter. In hindsight his confidence that the evidence would stand in court should have reminded us less of Messrs: sharifuddin Pirzada or a.K.Brohi and more of the Marquis de Langey. Messrs Pirzada and Brohi are geniuses of our legal history.

They actually persuaded supreme Court Judges to rule against themselves by weakening the very constitution that empowered them. Farogh Nasim is no less. Recently, while acting for the state during his first resignation period, he persuaded the Lahore High Court to

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PML(N) leadership is out on bail while the cases rently pushed.

Pakistan should have resisted tooth and nail the against them are being unnecessarily delayed by them. They have not been able to come clean in any membership of India the bully of the region that has border disputes with all of its neighbours that include: of the corruption charges filed against them.

Like the sharifs of Lahore, the Khawajas of Pakistan, China, Nepal, Burma, Bhutan, Bangladesh, sialkot are a product of the establishment. Khawaja sri Lanka, Tibet, Kashmir. It interferes in afghanistan safdar, the father of Khawaja asif, was first elected internal affairs even the Island of Maldives has not Ma in 1962 under ayub Khan’s manipulated system been spared. entering the UNsC, the highest body of called Basic Democracy. When the dictatorial regime the United Nations, is like a bull in the China shop. was packed up in March 1969 Khawaja srs innings a country that does not honour any of its international also came to an end. In the first free and fair elections commitments including UNsC resolutions should not in 1970 he lost to a PPP nominee. It seemed that the be allowed this vantage position even for a day. Kashera of establishment politics had come to an end. But mir continues to bleed with 377777worst human evil dies hard. When Zia, the third usurper, took over rights abuses. Major blame lies with Khawaja asif he formed his nominated Majlis-e-shoora whose himself as the membership process was started during the regime of PMML(N).

Chairmanship was beThe sitting foreign minstowed upon Khawaja ister should have highsafdar. In this capacity he lighted this fact while even officiated as the fighting to block the President sitting in for the While peaceful settlement is the entry of India. the chief villian of democracy and tormentor of the area. destroyer of civilian instiway forward, at times flexing of These so-called electutions. The baton was muscles is also required. We must tables, who dominate all then handed over to poltical parties, have hiKhawaja asif in 1991. side with our Iron Brothers in jacked the entire demoToday he is considered to cratic order. agencies be a stalwart of PML(N) containing the hegemony of the have files on most of and close ally of Nawaz upstart Brahmins who rule over a them. Their misdeeds are sharif. In the 2013 elecall recorded. There are tions his was one of the badly divided nation who have laid only two real political outfour constitutencies opened for scrutiny by illegal and unjustifiable claims over fits in the country, namely PPP and PTI, as they were the election Commission all the surrounding countries. It is conceived by leaders who of Pakistan on the comhad an ideological vision plaint of his opponent. time to cut India to size for lasting together with a solid While the other three record of struggle. Being were unseated he was peace in the region a part of the establishment saved through a technithe role of the bureaucality of non-appearance cracy has been very disby the complainant while mal. While the PM is he was out of the country on a business trip. In 2018 he had a narrow victory fighting on several fronts he has very little support from the administrative machinery as change does not suit over PTI candidate Usman Dar. The sitting foreign minister is no different. Like them. Parliament is the mother of democracy, every the sharifs of Lahore, Khawajas of sialkot, Dastagirs word and move is heard, recorded and counted there. of Gujranwala, the Qureshis of Multan (not to be con- Members who mislead and misdirect must be taken to fused with Nawab sadiq Qureshi of PPP ) are chip of task to make the institution relevant to the masses.

Human Rights Minister shireen Mazari has althe same block. From the PML(N) to the PPP and now the PTI it is a journey of unmatched political am- ready shown her displeasure, the issue should be disbition instead of service to the people. Politics of cussed in the house and those responsible sothern Punjab now dominates the area. There is a reprimanded. It is time to corner, not appease, the tussle for Chief Ministership ( CM ) that is where the bully. While peaceful settlement is the way forward, focus lies for most politicians hailing from the south. at times flexing of muscles is also required. We must The Punjab assembly is the right forum for the divi- side with our Iron Brothers in containing the hegesion of the province into one or more units. The state mony of the upstart Brahmins who rule over a badly of Bahawalpur also seeks restoration. as this will be divided nation who have laid illegal and unjustifiable the first major division of a province in the country it claims over all the surrounding countries. It is time needs an independent full time committee to work out to cut India to size for lasting peace in the region. the details, part timers holding additional responsiDr Farid A Malik is ex-Chairman, Pakistan bilities cannot do justice to this cause. The federal government t has to work through the provincial leg- Science Foundation. He can be contacted at: islature, not the other way around as is being cur- fmaliks@hotmail.com.

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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declare a commission constituted by the supreme the gory details but after a lot of grunting and swearCourt of Pakistan as illegal. But how does the Marquis ing it was clear that the evidence did not stand-up.

Both the Prime Minister and the Law Minister de Langey figure in such august legal company?

In 1653 the Marquis de Langey, a dashing French would do well to note that the Marquis sired seven aristocrat, was married to Mademoiselle Marie de st children later from another marriage but this did little simon de Courtemer. In 1657, after four years of mar- to clear his name. His name remains a byword for ital lif,e she filed an allegation of impotence against flaccidity in history.

CCCCCCCB now does the same to a different the Marquis de Langey. The case was heard in the High Court of Paris. The Marquis de Langey publicly class and the law minister can extend One-Pakistan to the judiciary. challenged his wife’s alCourts have so far sat legations. as a first step back and allowed draconan intimate medical exian laws to trample human amination was conducted The Prime Minister and the Law rights but chickens have a by the court. It conbad habit of coming home cluded that Madam Minister are squarely responsible to roost. Mr Justice Isa Langey was, at least physically, very much a for the half-baked reference which was lucky, this time, he was allowed to disprove a married woman. Madam was no less malicious than Nawaz malicious allegation Langey responded that a few days. Most the condition was not due Sharif’s frontal assault on the same within ordinary Pakistanis are to the Marquis’s mascunot so lucky. sleep easy, line prowess but due to court. The poor Prime Minister Mr Justice Isa, Pakistanis his unnatural and one aswill continue to be hasumes non-procreative obviously cannot hold anyone to rassed and deprived of sexual advances. account for this disaster. He will their liberty in criminal or The Marquis could assets beyond means have at that time closed probably treat it as another step cases. During the course the matter but much, like of trying to disprove alleour law minister he chose towards One-Pakistan gations, most ordinary to challenge instead. Perpeople will spend months haps like the Minister’s or years in prison. Physidesire to please his real client, the Marquis’s malice was so strong and his self- cally and financially broken they might be released after righteousness so intense that he forced a trial in open a self-righteous lecture from a judge. No one will ever court without considering the outcome. The trial took be held accountable for not asking beforehand: will this place and as expected the Marquis was required to stand in a Court of law? make the evidence of his masculinity stand-up pubShakaib Qureshi is a former Caretaker Minister in licly in a court of law. On the fateful day, the Marquis strutted around elegantly dressed. In court itself, a Sindh for Finance, Planning and Development and has room with a bed, partitions and mid-wives was pre- also remained Chairman of the Sindh Revenue Board. pared for the Marquis and Madam Langey. I will spare He can be reached at lawgroup.q3@gmail.com.

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Thursday, 25 June, 2020

COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

14 points make-way for the 19 points sURPRIsINGLy, it is a pity that even our leaders and ministers do not know about COVID-19 still. Few months ago CM Punjab in press conference asked how corona bites? and yesterday Zartaj Gul a federal minister for climate change said that COVID-19 means it has 19 points and it is a type of flu that can affect the country in one of the 19 ways.

It’s severity depends upon the immunity level of people in the country concerned. For her it’s not the first time that she has given such a native statement on a sensitive issue. In the National assembly session she said that air quality of Islamabad, Karachi Lahore and others cities due to COVID-19.Just days before eid she Confused doctors and shocked the nation by her statement that only those people who were infected with corona virus should wear masks so that others could be saved from them.

What is happening with our minister? Why do they give such irresponsible statements? What they are realizing about us? From this one thing is clear that our ministers are not as eligible as they need to be.

May God bless our nation.

AntHony SAHotRA Larkana

What is the India-China conflict in Ladakh?

Why it matters to Pakistan Wali iMran khalil

T

He India-China conflict over strategic heights in the Galwan Valley of disputed Ladakh, didn’t become an all-out war just because both countries have worked too hard to get where they are. so, what is this fuss about the Daulat Beg Oldi army camp to Karakorum pass road, high up in North West of India, in disputed territory, and the supposed Galwan Valley incursion, by China?

China was repeatedly badgered by Pakistan about Kashmir and by Nepal about Lipulekh pass and India’s hegemonic motives in the North, but China looked the other way. India repeatedly scuffled with Chinese troops over the 3880 Kilometers Line of actual Control, to secure passes and heights, but China let it slide. India landed widebodied aircraft on its Daulat Beg Oldi post near the Karakorum Pass into Pakistani GilgitBaltistan and subsequently to the CPeC road, and China shifted a little. Finally, Mr. Modi’s crazy lieutenant, amit shah, uttering “(Gilgit Baltistan) POK is included when I talk of J&K” after he revoked constitutional protection of Kashmir’s independence, was the last straw.

Chinese troops moved in overnight into a valley and commanding heights that lead to the confluence of shyok and Galwan rivers, from where the new road runs up to the Karakorum Pass. The Indians were so immersed in their selfaggrandizements that they were blindsided by the Chinese manoeuvre. Indian and Chinese generals agreed to deescalate, but then Indian troops moved up another commanding height and were beaten back by Chinese, some falling into the ravine below; 40 Indian soldiers died.

The Chinese had outmanoeuvred the Indians!

Daulat Beg Oldi, an Indian base and runway on occupied land, was stolen from a 16th century nobleman and traveller. This pass overlooks the Tibet-Xinjiang road and is also close to skardu CPeC link. It and can be easily jumped across

by India troops using the recently extended runway and increased troop numbers.

The Ladakh conflict was thus about protecting Chinese investments and their breakout CPeC route to the world.

Now if India sends troops over the Karakorum Pass, using their Daulat Beg Oldi base, which India has threatened to, into skardu to interdict the CPeC route, China will cut off their supply line.

The Chinese Foreign Office also made it clear the entire Galwan Valley is China’s. so they would probably not be moving back.

In the melee, several Indian and supposedly Chines soldiers were killed and Pakistanis are ecstatic that at least some country in the world had the courage to call a jackass a jackass.

India and China have decided to withdraw troops from their aggressive posture around the DBO-Karakorum interdiction point, but I doubt Chinese will come down from the commanding heights.

Mr. Modi has already said Chinese troops never came into Indian territory! Now that’s what real national power is.

China has indicated clearly throughout its party mouthpiece that India’s servile attitude towards the Usa’s initiative to encircle China have led to this mess. India’s recent joining the Quad alliance with australia, and Japan was not viewed well in China. The Usa properly rewarded India by having it elected unopposed a

non-permanent UNsC member of UNsC and pragmatic politicians arrive in India that can balalso to the WHO executive body of World ance Us and Chinese interests.

The BJP will attack Muslims to keep their exHealth Organization. India immediately called for initiation of inquiry into Covid-19s origin in- tremist votebank intact and still curry favour from side China. Modi’s recklessness in the covid19 Western leaders, by imitating western values.

The Us-India nuclear deal has opened up situation and bluster against Pakistani Kashmir, opportunities for India it could never have imagwas too much for Chinese nationalists.

The Usa is cheering on Indian racist BJP ined, and it aims to max out this credit card.

India is feeling the heat from its northern leaders to be tough on China. India has its own axe to grind against Muslim extremism by con- border with countries that were being bullied to ducting extrajudicial killings in Kashmir and in- submission like Nepal, Bangladesh and even Bhutan jumping ship to China’s camp. That says cluding terrorism in the Quad’s agenda.

Indian BJP leaders, being racist themselves, a lot about who the new sheriff in town is.

What China is telling India is that both the cannot break out of the white-man worship syndrome. When the colonial British were egging sheriffs can enjoy the fruits of their status toon Hindu Marhattas against the Nizam of Hy- gether, but India right now is having none of derabad or sending Ranjit singh to fight their that. Mr. Modi wants to be the only sheriff in battles in Pashtun land and Kashmir, the same town with borrowed guns, shoes and bullets and people slavishly obliged. This mindset cannot a tattered gunbelt.

Pakistan’s fear of Indian incursion through understand peaceful coexistence, free from inKarakorum pass and skardu is over for the time justice and interference.

The Usa will sell more arms to India. The being, but the threat to azad Jammu and Kashmir Indian economy of $3 trillion, already tottering especially Muzaffarabad up to Neelum River refrom poor social spending, and heavily depend- mains. Pakistan needs to develop vital interests for China in Indian Ocent on Us largesse cupied Jammu and on imports to westKashmir, for the ern countries and Giant Dragon to even immigration, will Pakistan needs to learn to balance notice the killings slide further in the there. race to the top. world power interests. Jumping Pakistan gets China is already a more time to get its $14 trillion econinto one camp is never a great house in order, omy. strengthen instituIndia needs to idea. 70 years in the USA’s lap tions, especially the forget about interdidn’t get us Kashmir. T could Try economy, and build a dicting CPeC for at working relation with least a decade till it being nonaligned for a change India, till the time is a $10-trillion India inevitably rises economy, but is and focus on national institution like Hanuman again. hamstrung in this and society’ building. Pakistan When that day by cultural stupidity comes, and it eventuin the India elite. needs to learn to balance world ally will, China Common sense says would not be interyou cannot become power interests ested to stop them. the village chief if India still has a you steal land from road safe a secure your estranged to reach siachen neighbor.

India has placed all its eggs in Usa’s basket glacier, so that’s no good for Pakistan.

Pakistan gets nothing tangible from this conthinking the white knight will save them from barbarians. Has Usa ever made Mexico its ally? flict except the satisfaction of India getting a India might still try to create a diversion good whopping. That’s enough for many, but from its ignominious defeat by attacking Pak- nothing tangible.

Pakistan needs to learn from China the imistan, their favorite whipping boy. They might take the vulnerable land till the Neelum valley. mense benefits of being a larger country ecoThat would bring them a step closer to CPeC, nomic and land wise. National power should be the catchword, if this country is to survive the and they could curry Western favor as a result. a receding superpower like the Usa will political storms coming its way coursing an inopen up its war chest to support this prop of dependent path.

Pakistan needs to convince the Usa that their theirs, but unfortunately, Indian reputation in the dogfight with Pakistan and the Ladakh capitula- interests would be better served if Pakistan is tion, has suffered immense damage. as always, made the pivot state instead of India. an increase India has shown itself a beehive of worker bees, land mass, by forming dominions with Kashmir good for amassing honey but not for fighting a and maybe afghanistan would give Usa the influence that they so crave in this part of the world. more powerful bee colony.

Pakistan should learn from China and take What will China do now?

China will try to get back to business as back the heights it lost in 1971, near Turtuk-Thoise usual as early as possible, because it is realistic. close to Galwan valley, that overlook Indian roads China will definitely think twice before voting to siachen Glacier, also illegally occupied by India.

Pakistan needs to learn to balance world against Pakistani militant proxies directed towards India, like Masood azhar. India still funds power interests. Jumping into one camp is never and trains militants in Baluchistan to disrupt a great idea. 70 years in the Usa’s lap didn’t get CPeC projects; so China might ask it to stop. us Kashmir. T could Try being nonaligned for a China will link up Nepal through arunachal change and focus on national institution and soPradesh to CPeC in Pakistan, so that it has al- ciety’ building. ternate source of imports in case India blockades Wali Imran Khalil retired as a wing them like in 2015. China will breathe down India’s neck in siliguri Corridor till the time commander from the PAF

No herd immunity as the virus has affected a lot of people around the globe, there was some relaxation about the some group of ages that were said to be immune from this predator. although all the leading pharmaceuticals and tech companies across the world has come together to generate a vaccine and some of them have claimed a working vaccine too but no remarkable result has been achieved yet. seems like it wasn’t enough, now according to a study conducted by experts, it is said that there is no evidence of herd immunity from the virus. The virus can affect all groups of ages, either it is an 80 years old diabetic patient or a teenager.

“Immunity will not disappear but can fade within the two months time period and virus can affect same person again a year later” said by an american scientist William a. Hastline so the fantasies of herd immunity have got shattered into pieces and this deadly disease can grasp anyone in its claws until a proper vaccine is generated, precautions are the only solution in fighting this pandemic.

MIAn AIzAz AHMED Shadakot

Another brilliant idea aFTeR the entire Zartaj Gul debacle on what COVID-19 means, another member of PTI has said something equally stupid. according to PTI MNa Riaz Fatyana coronavirus can be defeated by eating locusts. While addressing a parliamentary session, he said that “There’s a common notion about the locusts that eating it could provide the best defence against the coronavirus.’ He further went on to say that research should be conducted to prove this.

“If a research is carried out in this regard, and, it is proven that eating locusts creates a strong defence against the virus, then the nation would eliminate the pandemic on its own and the government will not have to make much effort,” he added.

Only a few days ago Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul claimed on a TV show that the COVID-19 refers to the ’19 points’ of the virus. Later, she admitted her mistake in a social media post, saying she was misquoted.

SyED tAHIR RASHDI Shahdapur

Urea prices URea prices would rise Rs 200 per bag if the tariff structure of gas companies was revised upward, warned the fertiliser industry. according to the Company stakeholders,Public gas utilities- sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (sNGPL) ans sui southern Gas Company (ssGC)- have filed petitions with the regulator for determining gas prices for financial year 2020-21. sNGPL has sought a tariff increase of about 100%(Rs622 per units) while ssGC has sought an increase 20% (Rs85 per units) to meet revenue requirements for the upcoming financial year. although the proposal was not implemented by the government at the time, urea price will go up approx Rs 213 per bag if the government went ahead to match the recommended gas price hike, they added.

Furthermore, according to the stakeholders, recent budgetary amendments to tax laws have increased challenges for the fertiliser industry.

SyEDA HIJAB RIzvI Wah

Online services IN the past few years, there has been a new growing trend that people frequently to buy things on the internet. This is present both pros and cos, however, in my opinion, its benefits are much more significant than the drawbacks. On the other hand customers have some disadvantages.

Initially, since they don’t have the opportunity to touch or see the products they want to buy for their use, it is always hard for them to estimate the quality of these products. But many people are now comfortable with the online services as they gave so much convenience to the users. Moreover, online store’s never close as they open 24/7 hours to serve the citizens. since the emergence of the lockdown was imposed due to corona pandemic situation on that situation they actually don’t stop themselves to serve the people as they subtract their working hours but they don’t stop their services and continue to give comfort to the customers. also in this pandemic situation they give the people facilty and make the life easier and healthy. yuSMA tAnvEER Karachi

Thursday, 25 June, 2020

08 WORLD VIEW

IndIa Is payIng The prIce For neglecTIng ITs neIghbours NARENDRA MODI CAME TO POWER PROMISING TO PRIORITIZE RELATIONS WITH COUNTRIES SUCH AS BANGLADESH, NEPAL, AND SRI LANKA. CHINA IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIS FAILURE TO DO SO

Foreign Policy

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SUMIt GaNGULy

S India manages the fallout from its deadly clash with China last week—the first border skirmish in which there were troop fatalities since 1975—it would do well to take a step back and assess its broader regional situation.

And if it does so, New Delhi would realize that its problems are by no means limited to Beijing: India’s relations with each of its neighbors are in shambles.

Things could so easily have been different. In May 2014, shortly after being elected to office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited his counterparts from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—members of the South Asian Association for regional Cooperation (SAArC)—to his inauguration. It was a deft exercise in public diplomacy, as no previous prime minister had made such a grand gesture. It was also in keeping with his Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign manifesto, which had promised to improve ties with India’s neighbors.

Modi used the occasion to announce his “neighborhood first” initiative, a new focus on prioritizing relations with SAArC member states. The project, had it come to fruition, would have given a much-needed boost to regional trade and investments and led the way in addressing geopolitical tensions. It would have also provided a natural—and lasting—bulwark against China’s relentless attempts to expand its footprint across the region, especially with its Belt and road Initiative.

Modi’s initial steps certainly signaled his commitment to this new policy. In June 2014, he picked the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan for his first foreign visit as prime minister. The tour was in part a nod to Bhutan’s

substantial role in helping India end sanctuaries for insurgents in the state of Assam. But despite this very promising start for regional relations, New Delhi went on to somehow worsen relations across the board. Consider the following: India nearly went to war with Pakistan in 2019, and it has had frequent and high-profile border skirmishes that could easily get out of hand; ties with Bangladesh, a country India helped birth into existence, are in the doldrums; Nepal’s parliament has just approved a new map that includes land claimed by India, putting relations at their worst in years; and Sri Lanka and the Maldives, both historically allied with India, are rapidly drifting into China’s orbit of influence. Meanwhile, democracy in Afghanistan has been in crisis, with the Taliban continuing to rise in power and influence— a development that sets back decades of Indian investment and diplomacy. The only country that still has a reasonably cordial relationship with India remains Bhutan, but even this friendliness stems mostly from the tiny Himalayan country’s bid to gain support in its border dispute with China.

The question then is how a policy welcomed by most of India’s neighbors unravelled so completely since 2014. After all, Modi actually devoted—at least at the start of his first term—a considerable amount of time, attention, and energy to regional foreign-policy issues.

He undertook a spate of visits to international capitals and made much of his personal rapport with a variety of national leaders.

With the possible exception of relations with Pakistan, one can trace the collapse of this well-meaning and ambitious policy to several failures on the part of the Modi government. Flawed choices at critical moments eroded regional trust in New Delhi. For example, in the wake of a devastating earthquake in Nepal in April 2015, India acted with considerable speed in sending critical aid—efforts that generated much warmth and goodwill.

Those sentiments, however, would not last long. Later the same year, Nepal was on the verge of adopting a new constitution. Kathmandu faced a degree of domestic opposition, especially from an ethnic group known as Mad-

hesis, who straddle the Nepal-India border. They believed, with some justification, that their interests were not adequately represented in the new constitution. Since some ethnic Madhesis also live in northern India, Modi’s government imposed an informal blockade on landlocked Nepal in an attempt to court their votes. The consequences of the blockade were disastrous for the Nepalese economy: For example, the price of rice doubled, and a cylinder of cooking gas became at least five times as expensive due to a severe drop in supplies. Not surprisingly, the reservoir of goodwill for India that its disaster assistance had generated quickly evaporated.

Meanwhile, China took this golden opportunity to step into the breach, setting the stage for Nepal to reduce its dependency on India in the future.

Modi’s stance toward other small but significant neighbors has also frittered away the early gains from his first term in office. For example, in 2015, New Delhi successfully concluded a land boundary agreement with Bangladesh, ending a contentious issue in bilateral relations that had existed since the creation of East Pakistan—now Bangladesh—in 1947. Yet again, the positive impacts would not last. In 2019, the Modi government set in motion its National register of Citizens, a massive exercise in the northeastern border state of Assam designed to verify the citizenship of its inhabitants. The government was embarking on this project because it had made illegal immigration from Bangladesh a key campaign issue in the 2019 national election. To be sure, the matter of illegal immigration is a legitimate concern for India, but the Modi government used it mostly as a political cudgel to instill fear among India’s Muslim minority and to expel anyone who could not produce the requisite documents.

Bangladesh, which could be forced to accept many deportees, strongly objected to the National register of Citizens. Not surprisingly, relations with India have since become frosty. This amounts to a real missed opportunity given that Bangladesh’s economy was thriving until the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. And once again, in the wake of the ongoing health care cri-

American newspapers: Disruption, decline, …collapse?

US NEWSPAPERS ARE DYING A SLOW, BUT ACCELERATING DEATH. EVEN WARREN BUFFET HAS THROWN IN THE TOWEL

globaliSt

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Barry Wood

or newspapers, the Internet revolution has brought savage disruption from which there has been no recovery for most. US newspapers were cash cows for over 100 years -- with revenues from subscriptions and ads making fortunes for their owners. only the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal are swimming against the tide. All three are again profitable and even expanding.

An estimated 20% of all remaining US newspaper journalists work for entities affiliated with the New York Times, Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal. For newspapers, the Internet revolution brought savage disruption from which — for most — there has been no recovery. The downward trend is especially pronounced in the United States.

As was the case in other countries, the industry initially downplayed the digital challenge.

It now pays the price as only the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal have viable online strategies.

CASH COWS NO MORE: For more than 100 years, U.S. newspapers were cash cows with revenues from classified ads, subscriptions and advertisements making fortunes for their owners. With hindsight, we can see that the industry’s golden age was the 1980s. Two

years into that decade, Gannett CEo Al Neuharth created USA Today, whose blue logo flashed across the sky holding altitude for three decades. USA Today delivered TVstyle news to its readers. Stories were short, punchy and colorful, its vending machines resembled TV sets. It beat the competition on sports and weather.

A PESKY LISTSERV CALLED CRAIG’S LIST: The 1990s Internet challenge arrived innocuously enough, sending up no red flags.

Who was threatened by a pesky listserv called Craig’s List? But for consumers, it was a bargain. They learned that, unlike with newspapers, they didn’t have to pay to post their own classified ads there. They could go to Craigslist.com, buy and sell for free and get an immediacy of response (and a helpful online option to dialogue if need be) which newspapers simply couldn’t provide.

NEXT: THE MARCH OF THE AGGREGATORS: The next onslaught was provided by the news aggregators like Yahoo. They packaged news from everywhere — and gave it away. The newspaper industry’s snail-like response, even profound arrogance, at the time is explained by the continued growth it saw in ad revenues, which didn’t peak until 2005, by which time it was very late. The industry’s time-tested business model was failing.

Print circulation in the United States peaked in 1984 and then fell steadily. With subscriptions declining, ad spending began a slow shift to digital. But arrogance still ran high. The best evidence of that came in 1993 when the New York Times paid $11 billion for the Boston Globe. It was sold 20 years later for $70 million, at a 93% loss. Back in the 1920s, there were 2,500 daily newspapers in the United States. Today, there are 1,250. In the past 15 years, 20% went out of business. Circulation and ad revenues are both down over 55%.

Newsroom employment has shrunk by 50%. Pew research says 27,000 journalism

jobs vanished since 2008. Last year alone, 8,600 journalists lost their jobs. McClatchy, a chain of 29 papers, went into bankruptcy in February of this year.

THE LAST TRUE BELIEVER: Warren Buffett was among the last true believers. His first business was delivering newspapers and he long argued that local news would save metropolitan dailies. In January of this year, he threw in the towel, peddling Berkshire’s stable of 30 papers for $120 million. Newspapers, he conceded, were toast and will disappear.

Gannett and USA Today is another dreary story. Al Neuharth, who also founded the now closed Newseum in Washington, is long gone.

Gannett, still the largest newspaper chain with over 250 publications, is a shadow of its former past. Last year, it was sold to Gatehouse for $1.2 billion. Gatehouse, a small market media group, went bankrupt in 2013, was restructured and is now controlled by investment funds. Gatehouse took the Gannett name and promised to keep its papers alive, but markets are skeptical. Gannett shares trade for about $1.00, down from $25 five years ago.

THE RARE EXCEPTIONS: The New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal are swimming against the tide and winning. All three are again profitable and even expanding. An estimated 20% of all remaining newspaper journalists in the United States work for entities affiliated with those publications.

BAD INVESTMENTS, LIKE NYC CABS: Several Gannett papers, including those in Tampa, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis, no longer print every day. A much thinner USA Today prioritizes its online presence. With the coronavirus reducing ad revenues, some 24,000 Gannett employees are taking pay cuts or unpaid furloughs. of course, newspapers and journalism aren’t alone in being decimated by internetbased disrupters. regrettably, they’re barely alive, like a New York cabbie who paid top dollar for a medallion before Uber and Lyft arrived. Barry D. Wood is a Washington writer and broadcaster. His new book is Exploring New Europe, a Bicycle Journey.

sis, China has stepped in with much-needed medical supplies for Bangladesh. Six years on from Modi’s “neighborhood first” promises, there have been very few real advances.

India has also lost considerable ground in Sri Lanka.

The Modi government wholeheartedly backed the government of Maithripala Sirisena, but with strongman Gotabaya rajapaksa’s electoral victory in November 2019, New Delhi suddenly found itself on the backfoot—the rajapaksa brothers, after all, have long built closer ties to Beijing. once again, India seems to have missed its chance: It could have positioned itself more strongly as an infrastructural investor in the country.

Finally, relations with arch-enemy Pakistan have plummeted dramatically. on this front, in all fairness, the Modi government only shares a degree of blame. Modi’s initial overture to Pakistan in 2014 was met with little reciprocity. on the contrary, at least two major terrorist attacks took place in 2016 and again in 2019. The second, on a paramilitary convoy along the India-Pakistan border, led to a spiral of conflict culminating in India’s first use of airpower across the so-called Line of Control since the 1971 war. But while tensions eventually cooled, New Delhi’s rushed move in August 2019 to revoke the special status of the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir led to a dramatic deterioration in India-Pakistan ties.

Pakistan withdrew its ambassador from New Delhi and expelled his counterpart from Islamabad. Pakistan suspended trade ties with India. And Prime Minister Imran Khan took the opportunity to criticize India on a global stage at the United Nations and in the opinion pages of Western newspapers. While the success of those moves was limited, ties have not recovered since. And once again, China has taken advantage. Beijing has made substantial investments in Pakistan as part of its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, including new roads, power plants, and the deep sea port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea. Six years on from Modi’s “neighborhood first” promises, there have been very few real advances—and relations with most neighbors have worsened. As a result, New Delhi has missed out on several potential gains: Trade and investment could have expanded, and countries could have united around common regional problems such as environmental degradation and food and water security. Each of these developments, in concert, could have also limited China’s long march into the region.

There is little question that Modi’s initial move to try to boost relations with India’s neighbors was both commendable and timely; it represented a clear shift from the failed policies of previous governments. But a failure to follow through with a sustained strategy has left India worse off than before it conceived of a grand, flashy slogan for its neighbors, each of whom seems to now be following what we can now call a China-first policy.

Sumit Ganguly is a distinguished professor of political science and the Rabindranath Tagore chair in Indian cultures and civilizations at Indiana University, Bloomington.

This is the mourning news: ABC's stupid decision to cut its vital organs

T

HE latest round of cuts to ABC staff is a needless disaster, inflicted by a Coalition government seemingly unable to recognise the essential role of our public broadcaster. A huge number of Australians – including Coalition voters – love the ABC and particularly value its role in times of emergency, such as bushfires or pandemics.

Yet since the Coalition was elected on a promise of "no cuts", almost a quarter of its staff have been sacked, the result of an ongoing campaign of cuts and denigration by zealots and vested interests in the commercial media. Now we have the lunatic decision to ditch the 7.45am radio news, a flagship Sydney Morning newS program across the nation.

Matt Peacock It’s a stupid decision, and it should resonate among Australians as an alarm that the ABC is being savaged. Hopefully, in a more enlightened future, some of these services can be restored. Not only is radio news being thinned and bulletins shortened, so too is the original content from popular programs such as Australian Story and Foreign Correspondent being stripped.

ABC SLASHING UP TO 250 JOBS: The ABC will slash up to 250 jobs and axe its flagship 7.45am radio news bulletin in a major shake-up at the national broadcaster.

Local co-productions are also to be cut back, worsening an arts and production sector already hard-hit by coronavirus and government indifference. The cuts must come from somewhere. As the ABC itself has said, there is no fat left. Programs and the content people love are the casualties, as well as the hundreds of committed staff who have brought the country together.

The pivot to digital continues as the media landscape changes. So far, the ABC is managing that transformation – painful and occasionally fraught though it is – far better than the mess the government has made of its national broadband network.

Some in the Coalition are now pretending the government hasn’t cut the budget at all. It’s a big lie. The ABC’s operational budget has declined by more than $1 million every year since the Coalition was elected. All that has increased in that time are the transmission costs paid to Broadcast Australia, which has inflation baked into its contracts. Does the government really suggest the ABC should start closing down AM radio transmissions, or a television channel?

Now, at least, the ABC is asking for some certainty. As requested, it’s provided the government with a five-year plan, along with the suggestion that in future it be funded on a five-yearly basis, not the current triennial arrangement. This, hopefully, would break the nexus between funding and elections, and begin to rebuild a consensus on the need for properly funded, national public media. It’s over to the government? Will it continue to wage war on a loved national institution that is there when you need it, or will it finally heed the views of the vast majority of Australians.

Journalist Matt Peacock is the chair of ABC Alumni and a former staff-elected director on the board of the public broadcaster.

Thursday, 25 June, 2020

business 09

'PetrOl crISIS cauSed By INcreaSed demaNd, reductION IN Smuggled fuel frOm IraN'

CORPORATE CORNER

ISLAMABAD

S

LAHORE: Committed to its mission of providing quality healthcare for the community at large, Getz Pharma has launched a “Care for Heroes” initiative to safeguard the healthcare providers of Pakistan who are working selflessly to combat the pandemic. PRESS RElEASE

AHMAD AHMADANI

PECIAL Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Division Nadeem Babar while briefing the federal cabinet regarding the on-going petrol crisis said that the situation has exacerbated due to an inexplicable surge in demand of petroleum products and a drastic reduction in the supply of smuggled fuel from Iran.

Nadeem Babar also explained to the federal cabinet that the supply had been increased to 849,000 Metric Tonnes (MT) in June 2020, compared to supply of 650,000 MT in June 2019. However, the fuel shortage still persisted since the demand has increased

by a whopping 51 per cent.

According to sources, the cabinet expressed dissatisfaction over Nadeem Babar’s explanation and demanded that those responsible for the fuel shortage should be taken to task.

According to sources, the federal cabinet has sought an explanation from the Petroleum Division regarding why the division has failed to address the shortage of petroleum products in the country despite earlier stating that the matter will be sorted out by June 16.

Sources further revealed that the supply of petroleum products has been normalised in most of the areas except Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) where around 400 unlicensed pumps and a large number

of sub-agencies have been illegally hoarding petroleum products.

Earlier, on March 25, the government had issued instructions to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to curtail imports. However, the instructions were withdrawn on April 24, due to the closure of local refineries.

In order to control the crisis, supply from Pakistan State Oil (PSO) was increased by 78 per cent and the authorities undertook raids on depots and stations of OMCs to catch petroleum product hoarding.

At the start of June 2020, the government announced a reduction of Rs7 in price of petrol, however, due to the unavailability of petroleum products in several locations consumers have been unable to benefit from the reduction at large.

mArkeT DAily

PTA rebuffs media report, terms VPN registration process ‘simple and swift’ BUSINESS DESK

KARACHI: METRO Pakistan, in collaboration with Unilever Pakistan, has distributed meal boxes to the frontline warriors, including doctors, nurses, and other medical support functions at various hospitals, fighting the war against the Covid-19 pandemic. PRESS RElEASE

Refuting a recently published media report titled ‘How PTA’s Corporate VPN ban could cripple small IT businesses and startups’, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has clarified that contrary to the news item, legitimate users can easily register their VPNs, through their service providers, without any charges.

The report published in Profit Magazine of Pakistan Today on

22nd June. “The process is straight forward, simple and swift,” the PTA maintained in a statement issued on Wednesday.

As per the statement, “A public notice informing all users to register their VPNs was advertised in newspapers. The Internet Service Providers (ISPs) were also informed to follow the simple process for registration of VPNs of their clients. For registration, the users have to send a simple filled in form to their service

providers to register their VPNs. However, the procedure is being further streamlined and simplified to facilitate all users.”

It stated that the PTA would not disrupt the services of legitimate users since the only focus is to contain the grey traffic which is affecting legal businesses.

“Further, it is regretted that the newspaper did not contact PTA for its official version, which could have made the news item balanced and accurate.”

PSX appoints Nadir Rahman as chief operating officer KARACHI STAFF REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Special Assitant to PM on Youth Affairs Muhammad Usman Dar called on Planning Minister Asad Umar on Wednesday to discuss Kamyab Jawan Programme. Science & Technology Minister Fawad Chaudry was also present on the occasion. PRESS RElEASE

LAHORE: Transfast, a leading cross-border payments service provider with presence in over 140 countries, has partnered with Habib Bank Limited to facilitate expatriates around the globe send money to Pakistan. PRESS RElEASE

BankIslami Opens New Branch in Balochistan LAHORE: BankIslami has announced the opening of its new branch in Sanjavi, Balochistan. "We're excited to expand our presence in Balochistan and open our branch in Sanjavi where we can help local residents and business owners with their banking needs," said BankIslami (South) General Manager Burhan Hafeez.

"BankIslami is investing in its branch network, and this location features our new modern design that encourages engaging, consultative customer interactions in a comfortable setting." PRESS RElEASE

Nadir Rahman has joined the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) as its Chief Operating Officer (COO), according to a statement issued by the exchange on Wednesday.

As per the statement, Nadir has a 29-year-long hands-on experience of working in both domestic as well as capital markets.

His core areas of expertise include business development, operations, investment management and corporate restructurings. He has advised on numerous capital market transactions, including the largest

delisting in Pakistan's history.

Previously, he was the CEO of BMA Capital Management Ltd for a period of three years. Prior to that, he served as the Group CEO in Mega & Forbes, as Managing Director and CEO at KASB Securities Limited, JS Global Capital Limited and Mashreq Asset Management.

He was also the founding member and the first CEO of Foundation Securities. In addition, he has been associated with Fauji Foundation, Standard Chartered Bank, ABN AMRO, Citibank and Bukhatir Investments Ltd (UAE) in middle and senior management roles.

Rahman holds dual bachelor’s

degrees from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and The College of Arts and Sciences.

“The position of COO at PSX was approved and budgeted by the board but was lying vacant for some time. This was an important role to fill to continue the institutional building at PSX,” said PSX CEO Farrukh Khan. “I am very happy that someone with the experience and caliber of Nadir is joining the senior team at PSX. We have a challenging year ahead, with many positive initiatives underway. Nadir’s experience and knowledge will help execute these in an expeditious manner.”

Progress on Diamer Bhasha Dam reviewed

Emirates suspends passenger services from Pakistan

Water Resources Minister Muhammad Faisal Vawda on Wednesday presided over a meeting at WAPDA Complex to review the implementation plan of strategically important Diamer Basha Dam Project.

Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt Gen (r) Muzammil Hussain and WAPDA Member (Water) and Diamer-Basha Dam Project General Manager Amir Bashir Chaudhry also attended the meeting. Speaking on the occasion, the minister expressed satisfaction over the project's progress despite the fact that Covid-19 pandemic has slowed down routine life the world over. BUSINESS DESK

BUSINESS DESK: Emirates airline has suspended scheduled passenger services from Pakistan after a number of passengers tested positive for Covid-19. A spokesperson for the airline said in a press release on Tuesday night, "We regret to temporarily suspend passenger services from Pakistan, from 24 June 04:00 Pakistan LT, until early next week." According to media reports, 26 passengers tested positive for Covid-19 on an Emirates flight to Hong Kong on June 20, all of whom had travelled from Pakistan and passed through Dubai.

Stocks end flat amid dull, directionless trade KARACHI ARIBA SHAHID

After cumulatively adding around 600 points in the first two days of the week, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) moved within a narrow range on Wednesday, closing the day on a flat note. "Market activity remained dull throughout the session, primarily due to the absence of a strong trigger.

News regarding trade surplus did add a bit of excitement but selling pressure kept the prices in check. International crude oil prices also saw attrition during trading hours, which brought E&P stocks below yesterday's closing prices," said a report issued by Arif Habib Ltd. The benchmark KSE-100 Index remained volatile throughout the day, registering its intraday high at 34,160.87 (+108.26 points) and intraday low at 33,937.63 (114.98 points). It finally closed lower by 17.96 points at 34,034.65. Among other indices, the KMI30 Index gained 60.34 points to close at 54,599.12, whereas the KSE All Share Index lost 10.01 points, settling at 24,391.24. Of the total traded scrips, 101 advanced and 201 declined. The overall market volumes appreciated from 159.95 million shares in the previous session to 195.64 million. Average traded value increased by meagre 1pc, from $33.5 million to $34.6 million. TRG Pakistan Limited (TRG -1.15pc), Unity Foods Limited (UNTIY 1.11pc) and Pakistan Refinery Limited Right shares (PRLR1 -12.28pc) topped the volume chart. The scrips had exchanged 16.40 million, 12.64 million and 11.83 million shares, respectively. Sectors that brought positivity to the index included investment banking (+46.32 points), food and personal care (+26.85 points) and fertilizer (+25.23 points). On the other hand, oil & gas exploration (-36.25 points), banking (-24.45 points) and power generation & distribution (-14.89 points) sectors remained negative contributors. Shedding 1.01pc from its cumulative market capitalization, the automobile assembling sector turned out to be the biggest loser of the day, with Indus Motor Company Limited (INDU -0.80pc), Atlas Honda Limited (ATLH -2.34pc) and Millat Tractors Limited (MTL -1.31pc) closing in the red.

Will foreign inflows bring stability to the rupee?

KARACHI/LAHORE ARIBA SHAHID AND MOHAMMAD FAROOQ

After a week of downward pressure on the currency, the Pakistani rupee appreciated 29 paisas against the United States (US) dollar on Wednesday, closing at Rs167.3631 per USD. Earlier on Wednesday, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), through a tweet informed that it had received $500 million from Asian Development Bank (ADB) and $500 million from the World Bank (WB), following which speculations began in the foreign exchange market regarding the strengthening of the rupee.

On Tuesday, the Pakistani rupee had closed at Rs167.6508 after touching it's alltime low during the day.

The value of the Pakistani rupee has been depreciating against the US dollar since June 15, marking consecutive losses.

“Once we adjust for inflation we estimate that the Pakistani rupee was as weak as Rs179 per US dollar back in 2001, in terms of today's money. So we don't consider Rs168 a record low,” says Renaissance Capital Global Chief Economist Charlie Robertson.

“Today the Pakistani Rupee is only 8 per cent cheap to its long-term average rate on our Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) model.

In comparison, Latin American currencies are around 25 per cent cheap. So the Pakistani rupee looks strong relative to other emerging market currencies,” Robertson adds.

According to Robertson, the key reasons behind the weakness of the rupee are weak textile exports from Pakistan and lower remittances.

AKD Securities Chartered Market Technician Qasim Anwar's technical analysis suggests that the Pakistani rupee is expected to peak around Rs172 to Rs175 per US dol-

lar price zone.

“The Pakistani rupee needs to break below Rs163 per US dollar to reverse the bullish trend,” says Qasim Anwar.

Will foreign inflows strengthen local currency?

Despite Pakistan receiving $1 billion in total from ADB and WB on Wednesday, Axitrader Chief Market Global Strategist Stephen Innes believes that the impact of Covid-19 on the Pakistani rupee cannot be discounted and that such foreign inflows cannot lead to long term stability of the rupee.

“Pakistan is ill-equipped to deal with a huge Covid-19 outbreak from both a healthcare and financial perspective. The government’s coffers are bare and Pakistan’s fragile healthcare system will be put to the test,” he says.

“Although injections from WB and ADB may go some way to pamper over the

cracks, the fissures remain just waiting to erupt,” he adds..

On the other hand, Capital Stake Director Research Maha Jafer Butt feels that some stability in the value of the Pakistani rupee can be expected going forward.

“With Pakistan receiving $1 billion collectively from ADB and WB today and an emerging trend of contraction in the current account deficit, reserves of the country will see an improvement,” she says.

Similarly, Khadim Ali Shah Bukhari Securities Managing Director Arsalan Soomro seems certain that the Pakistani rupee will stabilise.

“The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) money is yet to kick in. This gives confidence to the markets, government and investors despite an overly ambitious tax target which was necessary to pave the way for structural reforms,” he says. Arsalan Soomro

expects the Pakistani currency to remain below Rs170 per US dollar for the next few weeks until oil prices jump.

Pak Kuwait Investment Company Head of Research and Development Sami Tariq feels that the rupee will recover with the inflows. “$500 million is expected to come from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Another commercial loan is also expected from a Chinese bank. Together, this will help finance repayments and shore up reserves” he says.

As for future inflows into the Pakistani bond market, Charlie Robertson believes that the interest rates offered on Pakistani bonds are not high enough to encourage inflows. “Pakistan offers the fourth highest one-year interest rate of 7.4 per cent in emerging markets, but this is not high enough to encourage inflows into Pakistani rupee bonds,” he says.

Thursday, 25 June, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

Trump aides begin discussions on israel's WesT bank annexaTion plan WASHINGTON

s

AGENCIES

ENIOR aides to US President Donald Trump began discussions on Tuesday on whether to give Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a green light for his plan to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to a US official and a person familiar with the deliberations.

With Netanyahu’s July 1 target date approaching, the White House meeting included Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz and the US ambassador to Israel David Friedman, the US official said.

Trump, whose support Netanyahu is counting on for a move that has drawn condemnation from the Palestinians and US Arab allies, did not participate, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

But US sources have said he could join in later as this week’s deliberations continue.

Under Trump’s Middle East peace proposal unveiled in January, it is envisaged that

the United States would recognise the Jewish settlements — built on land the Palestinians seek for a state — as part of Israel.

Trump’s proposal would eventually create a Palestinian state under a broader peace plan but impose strict conditions on it. Palestinian leaders have completely re-

jected the initiative.

Encouraged by Trump’s push, Netanyahu intends to launch his project of extending sovereignty over the settlements and the Jordan Valley, hoping for US approval. Most countries view Israel’s settlements as illegal, and Palestin-

ian leaders have voiced outrage at the prospect of annexation.

Among the main options under US consideration is a step-by-step process in which Israel would initially declare sovereignty over several settlements close to Jerusalem instead of the 30 percent of the West Bank envisaged in Netanyahu’s original plan, according to a person close to the matter.

Trump has not closed the door to a larger annexation, but fears that allowing Israel to move too fast could kill any hopes of drawing the Palestinians into talks on Trump’s plan, the source said.

There are also concerns about opposition from Jordan, one of only two countries that have a peace treaty with Israel, and from Gulf states that have quietly expanded engagement with Israel.

The officials on Tuesday held what one source called “informal internal discussions.” No decisions were reached at the meeting, which Kushner attended before leaving with Trump on a trip to Arizona, the US official said.

Washington has also made clear it wants Israel’s unity government, divided on the issue, to reach a consensus.

Major quake shakes southern Mexico, at least six killed LA CRUCECITA AGENCIES

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck southern Mexico’s Pacific coast on Tuesday, killing at least six people and seriously injuring others in isolated villages, while causing damage to buildings hundreds of miles away in Mexico City.

The fatalities were near the quake’s center in Oaxaca, a mountainous state known for its coffee, mescal and Spanish colonial architecture.

A Reuters witness in the state’s Pacific coast resort town of La Crucecita, which Mexican authorities said was the epicenter of the earthquake, saw anxious residents standing outside their homes hours after the tremor as they feared deadly aftershocks.

Houses were scarred by wide cracks across walls and residents sought to clear debris from the streets. About 200 houses in the area were damaged, including 30 that were badly impacted, a local official said.

“We lost everything in one moment to nature,” said Vicente Romero, an owner of a stationery store whose house suffered structural damage. “This is our life’s work.”

Rockfalls blocked winding mountain roads between the state capital of Oaxaca city and the coast. Rescue workers reported three people seriously injured in the remote hill village of Santa Catarina Xanaguia, one state official said. Rescue workers battled for hours to reach the settlement, near the epicenter, where the quake brought down homes and parts of the mountainside, the official said.

A clinic and old churches near the epicenter were severely damaged, images on social media showed. The dead included a worker from state oil company Pemex in Oaxaca, who fell from a height at the country’s biggest oil refinery. The refinery was briefly closed after a fire.

Miguel Candelaria, 30, was working at his computer in his family home in the Oaxaca town of Juchitan when the ground trembled. He ran outside with relatives, but they stopped in the middle of the street as the pavement

buckled and rocked. “We couldn’t walk […] the street was like chewing gum,” said Candelaria, 30.

Quakes of magnitudes over 7 are major earthquakes capable of widespread, heavy damage.

MEXICO CITY SHAKES: In Mexico City, buildings shook strongly and people ran into the streets when an early warning seismic alarm sounded.

Two people were injured and more than 30 buildings in the capital suffered damage, officials said, including buildings still scarred from a 2017 earthquake that killed 355 people in the capital and the surrounding states.

Water from rooftop pools or tanks cascaded down residential buildings in the city, and construction workers on the 56th story of a new residential tower clung to each other as it swayed, images on social media showed.

The US Geological Survey said the epicenter of Tuesday’s quake was located 69 km (43 miles) northeast of the town of Pochutla. It was very shallow, only 26 km (16 miles) below the earth’s surface, which would have amplified the shaking. Near to the epicenter, Magdalena Castellanos Fermin was in the village of Santiago Astata when the “really intense” quake struck, sending large rocks tumbling down the hillside and alarming residents, she told Reuters by telephone. Eunice Pineda, a 26-yearold teacher in Juchitan, said the quake “was two minutes of torture,” as she feared her house would collapse.

But residents in one of Mexico’s most seismically active regions have learned to “live one day at a time,” Pineda added. “We learn to appreciate, to treasure every moment,” she said.

over 1,000 eu mps demand halT To israeli annexaTion plan in WesT bank BRUSSELS: More than 1,000 European lawmakers from 25 countries urged their leaders on Wednesday to step in and stop Israel’s planned annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank. Israeli I Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to kick-start the process next week, after clinching a coalition deal with his former election rival last month.

In a letter published in newspapers and sent to European foreign ministers, the 1,080 parliamentarians said they were “deeply worried about the precedent this would set for international relations”. “Such a move will be fatal to the prospects of Israeli-Palestinian I peace,” added the letter. “Regrettably, US President [Donald] Trump’s plan departs from internationally agreed parameters and principles.” The letter referred to the US leader three times but made no direct mention of Netanyahu, who must still decide how much territory he intends to annex. “In I appreciation of Europe’s long term commitments to the peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian I conflict, we ask European leaders to act decisively in response to this challenge,” the lawmakers said. “Europe must take the lead in bringing international actors together to prevent annexation.” AGENCIES

Johnson & Johnson Told To pay $2.1bn over cancer-causing Talcum poWder MISSOURI: A United States court has upheld a verdict that talcum powder sold by Johnson & Johnson caused ovarian cancer and ordered the pharmaceutical giant to pay $2.1 billion in damages. The decision by the Missouri Court of Appeals cut by more than half the $4.4bn a jury had awarded 22 people in 2018. The court agreed that some of the plaintiffs should not have been included in the case as they were from outside the state. But the Tuesday decision upheld the awarding of damages for the company “knowingly selling products that contained asbestos to consumers”. “Because defendants are large, multi-billion-dollar corporations, we believe a large amount of punitive damages is necessary to have an effect in this case,” the judgement said. “It is impossible to place monetary value on the physical, mental and emotional anguish plaintiffs suffered because of their injury caused by defendants.” A spokeswoman for J&J said the company would appeal the decision in the Supreme Court of Missouri, according to the Wall Street Journal. J&J has faced thousands of lawsuits across the US alleging it failed to warn consumers of the risk of cancer from asbestos in its talc-based products. In 2019, a California jury became the latest to award millions in damages to a plaintiff who said the company’s baby powder had given her terminal cancer.

Last month, the firm announced it was discontinuing production of its talc-based baby powder in the US and Canada, in part due to the “constant barrage of litigation advertising” over the product. AGENCIES

WTO predicts 18.5pc fall in global trade in 2Q GENEVA AGENCIES

World Trade Organisation (WTO) Tuesday estimated a drop of around 18.5 per cent in global trade on year-on-year basis in the second quarter of this year due to coronavirus and lockdowns.

According to WTO, world trade fell sharply in the first half of the year, as the Covid-19 pandemic upended the global economy; however, WTO economists now believe that while trade volumes will register a steep decline in 2020, they are unlikely to reach the worst-case scenario projected in April.

The volume of merchandise trade shrank by 3 percent year-on-year in the first quarter according to WTO statistics. Initial estimates for the second quarter, when the virus and associated lockdown measures affected a large share of the global population, indicate a yearon-year drop of around 18.5 percent. These declines are historically large, but could have been much worse, said a press statement.

The WTO’s 20 April annual trade forecast, in light of the large degree of uncertainty around the pandemic’s severity and economic impact, set out two plausible

paths: a relatively optimistic scenario in which the volume of world merchandise trade in 2020 would contract by 13 percent, and a pessimistic scenario in which trade would fall by 32 percent. As things currently stand, trade would only need to grow by 2.5 percent per quarter for the remainder of the year to meet the optimistic projection.

However, looking ahead to 2021, adverse developments, including a second wave of Covid‑19 outbreaks, weaker than expected economic growth, or widespread recourse to trade restrictions, could see trade expansion fall short of earlier projections.

“The fall in trade we are now seeing is historically large – in fact, it would be the steepest on record. But there is an important silver lining here: it could have been much worse,” said Director-General Roberto Azevedo. “This is genuinely positive news but we cannot afford to be complacent. Policy decisions have been critical in softening the ongoing blow to output and trade, and they will continue to play an important role in determining the pace of economic recovery. For output and trade to rebound strongly in 2021, fiscal, monetary, and trade policies will all need to keep pulling in the same direction.”

In light of available trade data for the second quarter, the April forecast’s pessimistic scenario, which assumed even greater health and economic costs than what had transpired, appears less likely, since it implied sharper declines in the first and second quarters.

The Covid‑19 pandemic and associated containment efforts intensified in the second half of March. Strict social distancing measures and restrictions on travel and transport were fully in effect in most countries throughout April and May, and are now increasingly being relaxed.

These developments are reflected in a variety of economic indicators which, taken together, suggest trade may have possibly bottomed out in the second quarter of 2020.

Global commercial flights, which carry a substantial amount of international air cargo, were down nearly three quarters (‑74%) between 5 January and 18 April, and have since risen 58% through mid-June (Chart 2).

Container port throughput also appears to have staged a partial recovery in June compared to May (Chart 3). Meanwhile, indices of new export orders from purchasing managers’ indices also started to recover in May after record drops in April (Chart 4). It is useful to

CMYK

keep in mind that these rebounds follow historic or near-historic declines, and will need to be monitored carefully before drawing any definitive conclusions about the recovery.

Looking ahead to next year, a slowerthan-expected pace of economic recovery would weigh on trade growth. This possibility is illustrated by the dotted green line in Chart 1, which would see trade growth for

2021 come in at closer to 5%, which would leave it well below the pre-pandemic trajectory. On the other hand, a quick return to its pre-pandemic trajectory would imply trade growth in 2021 of around 20%, in line with the April forecast’s optimistic scenario.

Monetary, fiscal and trade policy choices will play a significant role in determining the pace of recovery.

Thursday, 25 June, 2020

HAfeez negAteS PCB’S AnnoUnCement of Covid-19 PoSitive reSUlt Lahore

m

Agencies

OHAMMAD Hafeez has tested negative in a private test for Covid-19, a day after a PCB test result showed up as positive. On Tuesday, Hafeez was announced as one of ten Pakistan players in total who tested positive for the virus after testing carried out on the entire 29-man squad due to fly out to England on June 28.

Hafeez, however, conducted a private test at a different lab in Lahore for a "second opinion" for him and his family. That result, he said in a tweet, was negative for him and his family.

Hafeez had his second test done by the Chugtai Laboratory, whereas all the PCB's tests were conducted by Shaukat Khanum Laboratory.

In practice, Hafeez's new result has no

immediate impact on plans for the next few days. All players in the squad are due to undergo a further round of testing: those players whose results were negative in the first round will all undergo second tests in

US women's team denied bid for immediate appeal in equal pay claims

Lahore on June 25 in a bio-secure environment at the hotel they are in.

A PCB statement on Tuesday had said that players who tested positive "will observe self-isolation in their homes and re-

main under strict monitoring of the PCB medical panel. As soon as they will complete their minimum quarantine period, they will undergo further testing and after their two tests are negative, they will be flown to England on a commercial airline."

But there was confusion on Wednesday about when the second round of tests would take place of the players who tested positive. The fact that all players who tested positive have not reported any symptoms has made matters trickier, especially in terms of how long a "minimum quarantine period" should be. There was a suggestion their testing might happen before the team's departure, which would require a player who tested positive to test negative twice before he was cleared to travel.

It is not clear whether Hafeez had informed the board that he was getting himself tested privately, a move which, in effectively breaking ranks, means the matter could become a disciplinary issue.

Kane aims to reach 200 Premier League goals

New York Agencies

The US women’s national soccer team’s bid to immediately appeal the dismissal of their equal pay claims against their national federation was denied on Tuesday. Judge R. Gary Klausner of the United States District Court for the Central District of California said their appeal must wait until after their remaining claims — including unfair medical services, travel and training — proceed to trial, which is set for Sept. 15. Last month, the judge threw out players’ claims that they were under paid in comparison with the men’s national team. The players’ spokeswoman Molly Levinson said the ruling “simply means that an appeal may take longer to file”. “We intend to appeal the Court’s decision which does not account for the central fact in this case that women players have been paid at lesser rates than men who do the same job,” she said. The US Soccer Federation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Arsenal defender signs new one-year contract at club LoNdoN

LoNdoN

Agencies

Agencies

Arsenal defender David Luiz has agreed a new one-year contract with the club. Defenders Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares will also join the Gunners permanently at the end of their loan deals, from Flamengo and Southampton respectively.

Meanwhile, midfielder Dani Ceballos has extended his loan deal from Real Madrid until the end of this season. "I am really happy that we will have these players in our squad for the future," said the Premier League club's technical director Edu. "They have been part of the long-term technical plan [manager] Mikel [Arteta] and I have developed. They bring the right balance to our squad." Brazil centre-back Luiz, 33, joined the club from Chelsea last year but was sent off during Arsenal's return to Premier League action, a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City, last week. "David is a really important player for us. He has played most of our matches this season and has been important for the team," added Edu. "His passing, his communication with the team on and off the pitch - he helps everyone." Spanish centre-back Mari, 26, and Portugal rightback Soares, 28, will complete their moves when the transfer window opens next month.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane is aiming to become only the third player to reach 200 Premier League goals after scoring in Tuesday's 2-0 victory over West Ham. The England captain netted his 137th league goal for Spurs in his 200th appearance for the club.

Only Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney have reached 200 Premier League goals.

"I'm still only 26 so hopefully I can get to that 200 mark sooner rather than later and go from there," said Kane.

"Scoring is the best feeling in the world," he told Sky Sports.

"Two hundred games... it goes so quick. The years fly by and you have to make the most of it."

Kane had last scored in December, before picking up a thigh injury that ruled him out for six months, and he now has 12 goals for the season.

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho added: "I am happy for him [Kane], he worked a lot and now

there will be better headlines and a better feeling for him."

Only Manchester City's Sergio Aguero - and only just, with 138 - scored more goals in his first 200 Premier League appearances for a single club than Kane has done for Tottenham (137).

In fact, Kane has been scoring at a better rate than Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who scored 131 in his first 200 league games for the Gunners.

Kane also became just the 11th outfield player to reach 200 Premier League appearances for Spurs. Five others scored in their milestone match - Sol Campbell, Teddy Sheringham, Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe and Christian Eriksen.

The goal was also Kane's ninth against West Ham, meaning he is the fourth player to score at least 30 Premier League goals in London derbies (Thierry Henry, Teddy Sheringham and Frank Lampard complete the list).

And if Kane does reach 200 goals, he would become just the third player in Premier League history to do so, following in the footsteps of Alan Shearer (260) and Wayne Rooney (208).

SPORTS 11

Andy murray wins Battle of the Brits opener against liam Broady LoNdoN Agencies

Andy Murray began his latest comeback from injury with victory over Liam Broady in the Battle of the Brits exhibition held behind closed doors. Before his first match in seven months, the 33-year-old Briton played down his chances in Roehampton as he continues to recover from a bruised pelvic bone. But the three-time Grand Slam champion was relatively sharp and mobile after such a long absence to win 6-2 6-2. "I moved OK but I find it quite tricky here, the courts are tight," he said. "It was all right for the first match in seven months. I served pretty well, but I didn't hit the ball that well." The former world number one, now ranked 129th, was playing for the first time since winning Great Britain's opening match at the Davis Cup finals in November.

He missed the rest of the tournament with the pelvic injury, which he described in February as "unbelievably complex, challenging and difficult". Murray said these matches at the National Tennis Centre would be where he "found out" where the injury was at and he passed his opening test with a comfortable win over world number 211 Broady. After breaking to love in the first game, Murray was pegged back at 2-2 before reasserting his control in a dominant opening set. Working out his fitness level was Murray's primary concern, although he was not completely happy with his game saying he was not hitting the ball as cleanly as he would like - even when he led by a set and a break. There were glimpses of his best, however, including a sublime flicked backhand from the baseline on his way to finally taking a 5-2 lead in a 13-minute game where he had seven break points.

Murray sealed victory with a hold to love in the next game, finishing with an ace and roaring 'Come on!' as he clenched his fist in celebration. "I thought I served well, I was happy with that. I returned well. I made 100% of my backhand returns and 90% of my forehand returns which is very high," said Murray. "My groundstrokes were not good, my timing was off, my balance a little bit too, but for my first match in that amount of time it was all right, I did the basics well." The six-day charity event, organised by Jamie Murray, is following strict safety measures. As well as no fans, there are no ball kids or line judges in order to minimise numbers on court for social distancing purposes, meaning players had to retrieve their own balls and fetch their own towels. The umpire is assisted by Hawk-Eye cameras instead of line judges, while the players did not change ends.

Ex-Formula 1 driver to stay in induced coma until at least next week PieNza Agencies

Alex Zanardi is to be kept in an induced coma until at least next week after suffering severe head injuries in an accident on his hand cycle.

The 53-year-old, a former Formula 1 driver turned four-time Paralympic gold medallist, collided with a lorry during a race in Pienza, Italy, on Friday.

A statement from the Sienna hospital where the Italian is being treated said he remained in a stable condition.

It said his "neurological condition remains unchanged in its severity".

Zanardi is in intensive care, sedated, intubated and on a ventilator.

The hospital statement said any reductions in his sedation "to assess his neurological condition", will be considered starting next week.

The statement said Zanardi's prognosis was confidential.

Zanardi has become a global sporting icon for the strength of will and determination he has shown in overcoming adversity in his career, after he lost both his legs in an accident while racing in a Champ Car event in Germany in 2001.

Zanardi drove in F1 from 1991-94 and in 1999, for the Jordan, Minardi, Lotus and

Williams teams, scoring a best result of sixth place.

He raced in the US-based Champ Car series from 1996-98, winning the title in 1997 and '98.

He returned to Champ Cars in 2001 but the Lausitzring accident ended his career in single-seaters.

After extensive rehabilitation, he returned to motorsport in 2005, spending four years racing for BMW in the World Touring Car Championship, and winning four races.

He then turned to hand-cycling, in which he has won 12 world championships in addition to his four Paralympic gold medals, as well as the New York City marathon in 2011.

CMYK

Thursday, 25 June, 2020

NEWS

SeNate reCommeNDS 40 ameNDmeNtS IN FINaNCe BIll SENATORS CALL FOR RAISE IN SALARY, PENSIONS, MORE ALLOCATIONS FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION SECTORS REJECT 11PC PROPOSED CUT IN SHARE OF PROVINCES IN NFC AWARD ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

he Upper house of parliament on Wednesday unanimously adopted recommendations of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance Bill 2020, which constituted 40 amendments and 53 general consensus recommendations to the lower house.

The Senate resumed its session on Wednesday with Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani in the chair.

The house unanimously adopted recommendations of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Finance on the Finance Bill 2020, containing the annual budget statement. The motion was moved by Senator Farooq hamid Naek. earlier, the house unanimously passed a resolution demanding the government ensure writing of Khatim-un-Nabbiyeen with the name of holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon him) in the educational syllabus and official documents. The resolution was moved by Senator Muhstaq Ahmed. The house recommended that salaries of government employees be enhanced by at least 10 per cent. The Senate recommended that the federal government should double the budget for education and health sector. It demanded that budget allocation for the Ministry of National health Services must be enhanced to a minimum of 5 per cent.

The Senate recommended granting of tax relief for the manufacturing and supply of Personal Protective equipment (PPe). Budgetary allocations for online education and higher education Commission (heC) were also recommended by the house.

It demanded that an 11 per cent cut proposed on the share of provinces in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award must be revised immediately.

It was also recommended that more funds should be allocated for management of rainwater reservoirs as well as the construction of small dams.

The recommendations say that tobacco must be treated as a crop like wheat, maize, and sugarcane and must be exempted from taxes and duties. however, Federal excise Duty (FeD) on cigarettes should be enhanced as per the World health Organisation’s (WhO) guidelines.

The house recommended that custom duties of raw material, essential finished goods and plant and machinery whose domestic alternative is available in the country should be reduced to zero. Furthermore, Customs duties of these items, having local alternatives, available, must be charged at double of the existing rates. Abolishment of all kinds of withholding tax, chargeable on cash transaction forms banks has also been recommended by the upper house.

The house recommended that the recycling industry functioning at small levels should be exempted from sales tax. It recommended that funds should be allocated for improvement in the aviation sector and to upgrade airports across the country.

The Senate recommended that a realistic tax collection target should be set for the next fiscal year. It recommended raising at least 50 per cent in the Corona Stimulus Package for fertilizer subsidy, loan remission and other relief to the farmers in view of Covid-19 and locust challenges.

The house demanded to restore zero-rated facility

or slash general sales tax from 17 per cent to 4 per cent for the textile export sector.

Minister for Industries and Production hammad Azhar said that the government has tried to minimize the impact of Covid-19 on the economy by pursuing a prudent strategy. Winding up discussion on the Finance Bill, 2020-21 in the Senate, he said that presenting a tax-free budget while enhancing allocations for development, as well as education and health, in the face of coronavirus shows the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The minister said that all the economic indicators were showing positive trends prior to the break out of the pandemic. “We reduced the current account deficit by 73 per cent, trade deficit 31 per cent and fiscal deficit to 3.8 per cent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year,” he said. he said that it is also for the first time that our primary surplus remained positive. During this period, FBR collections were also witnessing 17 per cent growth and non-tax revenue saw an increase of 134 per cent. he said that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) also doubled from $1 billion to $2 billion and refunds of Rs250 billion were also made to the businesses.

Sharing the main points of the next budget, the minister said that no new tax has been imposed rather several taxes have been abolished. he said the custom duties on 1600 tariff lines of different raw materials have been abolished.

Over ten withholding taxes have also been waived off. he said that Rs661 billion have been set aside for the annual Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). he also said that Balochistan has been given the biggest share in the PSDP followed by Sindh. The minister categorically stated that the federal government has not withheld the amounts of the provinces under the NFC. The minister assured that the recommendations of the upper house for the Finance Bill, 2020-21, will be given due consideration. hammad Azhar said Pakistan’s ranking on the ease of doing business improved due to prudent policies of the government. he said that Pakistan complied with the majority of action plans of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). he said that 14 out of 27 points of FATF have so far been met.

The house was later prorogued.

US blocks Pakistan, China bid to designate Indian suspect as terrorist at UNSC NEW YORK: The United States has vetoed a joint move by Pakistan and China to designate an Afghanistan-based Indian national as a global terrorist under the 1267 Sanctions List of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), it emerged on Wednesday. The counter-terrorism committee deals with individuals, groups, undertakings and entities linked with al Qaeda and ISIS. In September last year, Islamabad and Beijing had moved a joint proposal, seeking to declare Venumadhav Dongara, a Kabul-based Indian engineer, as an internationally-wanted terrorist for supplying weapons, ammunition and explosives to a terrorist group which allegedly attacked the Camp Badaber, an airbase of Pakistan Air Force in Peshawar, in 2015. The move was, however, put on technical hold by Washington, citing “lack of evidence”, who, subsequently, vetoed the proposal. Pakistan’s Foreign Office expressed disappointment over the decision. FO Spokesperson Aisha Farooqi, in a statement, said: “We are disappointed that Pakistan’s proposal to designate Venumadhav Dongara as a terrorist has been objected to.”

Pakistan had also proposed the designation of four other Indians under the sanctions list, namely Ajoy Mistry, Gobinda Patnaik, and Angara Appaji. STAFF REPORT

India calls in army to run facilities in Delhi as virus cases surge NEW DELHI: India reported 16,000 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, its highest daily increase since the outbreak began, and the government called in the army to manage new treatment centres with thousands of additional hospital beds in New Delhi. At more than 456,000 confirmed coronavirus cases so far, India is the fourth worsthit country in the world, behind the United States, Brazil and Russia, according to a Reuters tally. Cases are expected to keep rising as state governments ease restrictions in place since lockdown was first imposed in late March. New Delhi, the sprawling capital of more than 20 million people, also recorded its highest single-day increase on Wednesday, with more than 3,900 cases. Local government data showed that of the roughly 13,400 beds allocated to Covid-19 patients in the city, around 6,200 were occupied. The federal home ministry said the city would have around 20,000 additional beds available by next week at temporary facilities run by army doctors and nurses. These include a 10,000-bed facility hosted at a religious centre and railway coaches turned into wards. AGENCIES

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