EpaperKH_2020-07-12

CMYK

12 July, 2020 I 20 Dhu-al-Qa’dah, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 14 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition

no unsCheduled Power outages in karaChi from sunday, Centre Promises KARACHI staff report

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he federal government on saturday promised the people of karachi that there would be no unannounced electricity load shedding in the city from sunday after it decided to increase the supply of furnace oil and gas to k-electric. the announcement was made by federal minister for planning, development and special Initiatives asad umar while addressing reporters alongside sindh governor Imran Ismail and k-electric Chief executive officer (Ceo) moonis alvi at a protest gathering by the ptI’s karachi chapter. announcing decisions made during a high-level meeting of government officials and the power utility earlier in the day, umar said: “the petroleum division has increased the supply of furnace oil for ke and it will be increased further. Currently, 190 million cubic feet of gas is being supplied to ke. this has been increased to 290m cubic feet.” umar said initially, a few dual-fire units of the power utility would be run on furnace oil, which would later be extended to all dual-fire units. however, the minister said increasing the supply of oil did not mean the petroleum ministry was at fault. “the national electric power regulatory authority (nepra) is the regulatory authority. It completed a hearing today and will give its verdict later. “our purpose was to determine how to end unscheduled load shedding in karachi. We have decided to increase the supply of gas as well as furnace oil to ke,” he disclosed. “[as a result of these decisions] there will be no unannounced load shedding in karachi from tomorrow.” the minister said it was “unfortunate” that previous governments had signed

‘Imran not one to yield to any political pressure’ ISLAMABAD app

agreements worth billions of dollars to increase power generation in pakistan but did not take decisions as to how karachi could benefit from increased power generation. talking about steps the ptI government has taken in this regard, umar said it had been decided in the past few months that an additional 550 megawatts of energy would be given to karachi before next summer. “then there will be another 800mW increase before the summer of 2022 and another 800mW before the summer of 2023. Collectively, 2,150mW of additional energy will be given to karachi by the summer of 2023,” the minister claimed. “this will be an almost 70 per cent increase in power generation compared to now,” he said. “ke is a private organisation and previous governments have privatised it and the power generation process. But karachi has not been privatised,” he said. umar added that he and the sindh governor had told the ke chief that the federal government wanted to fully help

Coronavirus in

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

248,145

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

65

2,751

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

153,134 5,170 SINDH:

103,820

PUNJAB:

85,991

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

30,078

11,157

1,532/1,630 13,927

the power utility to solve problems of the people in karachi.

“But if you cannot solve them despite help, then we will not look the other way and will use the entire power of law to ensure that people of karachi are not deprived,” he warned. the minister said that nepra would release a report within three or four days and place responsibility on who was behind load shedding in the city. responding to a question about compensation for those who died due to electrocution during last year’s monsoon rains, he said nepra would take a decision on that. “the Centre is fully ready to help [the authority] implement its decision if needed.” governor Ismail assured the people that the federal government was taking the electricity problem “very seriously”. “the meeting was very high level and included four federal ministers and md ke among others,” he said. he requested the protesters to end their protest while assuring them that there would be no unannounced load shedding from monday.

federal minister for Information shibli faraz on saturday said that prime minister Imran khan is not one to yield to any sort of pressure from his political opponents. he was addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside Chairman prime minister’s Inspection Commission (pmIC) ahmad yar hiraj. his remarks follow a multi-conference organised by Jamiat ulema-eIslam-fazl (JuI-f) chief maulana fazlur rehman and a meeting a day earlier between him and the top pakistan people’s party (ppp) leadership.

Both sides, in the meeting, agreed to work together “for the sake of national integrity and the country’s survival”. they also agreed to adopt a tough stance on the national finance Commission (nfC) award and the 18th amendment to the Constitution, with pakistan people’s party (ppp) Chairman Bilawal BhuttoZardari saying “pakistan and Imran khan cannot go hand in hand”. the nfC award announced this year has seen cuts in the share awarded to sindh, whereas the 18th amendment is being eyed for a review by the ptI. the amendment grants provinces greater administrative and fiscal authority and was forged through a consensus during

Erdogan rebuffs criticism over Hagia Sophia conversion to mosque g

World CounCIl of ChurChes says It has Conveyed Its ‘grIef and dIsmay’ to turkIsh presIdent ANKARA agencies

president recep tayyip erdogan on saturday rejected worldwide condemnation over turkey’s decision to convert the Byzantineera monument hagia sophia back into a mosque, saying it represented his country’s will to use its “sovereign rights”. erdogan, who critics say is chipping away at the muslimmajority country’s secular pillars, announced friday that muslim prayers would begin on July 24 at the unesCo World heritage site.

In the past, he has repeatedly called for the stunning building to be renamed as a mosque and in 2018, he recited a verse from the koran at hagia sophia. “those who do not take a step against Islamophobia in their own countries … attack turkey’s will to use its sovereign rights,” erdogan said during a ceremony he attended via video-conference. a magnet for tourists worldwide, the hagia sophia was first constructed as a cathedral in the Christian Byzantine empire

the ppp era. faraz, in his briefing to the media today, said that there is “no chance” the opposition parties will come back to power. “the opposition has become so notorious that there really isn’t any chance of them ever coming back.” “the tehreek-i-Insaf government will not let them off the hook,” he said, adding that the opposition is “only afraid that if the government succeeds, they will all end up in jail”.

‘INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS’: the information minister said that the government has prioritised institutional reforms in line with ptI’s manifesto. “unfortunately, the [state] institutions were deliberately paralysed,” he remarked. he said that in past government tenures, an item costing rs100 otherwise was purchased at rs150 and payment to vendors and suppliers was delayed.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 02

Imran stresses ‘out-of-the-box solutions’ for postvirus economic recovery STORY ON BACK PAGE

more inside

Govt waives Rs600m penal surcharges against importers STORY ON PAGE 02

pakistan reiterates commitment to early completion of fatf action plan STORY ON PAGE 09

but was converted into a mosque after the ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. erdogan’s announcement came after a top court cancelled a 1934 cabinet decision under modern turkey’s secularising founder mustafa kemal ataturk to preserve the churchturned-mosque as a museum. the court ruled that “there are no provisions whatsoever in the convention (concerning the protection of the World Cultural and natural heritage) that prevents … the usage of the hagia

sophia in accordance with domestic law.” erdogan then signed a presidential decree handing the control of the “hagia sophia mosque” to turkey’s religious affairs directorate, diyanet.

“We made this decision not looking at what others say but looking what our right is and what our nation wants, just like what we have done in syria, in libya and elsewhere,” the turkish leader said saturday.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Trade bodies join hands against govt’s economic policies STORY ON BACK PAGE

$11tr response to Covid-19 pushes global public debt to new heights: Imf STORY ON BACK PAGE

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Sunday, 12 July, 2020

NEWS

Govt waives Rs600m penal suRchaRGes aGainst impoRteRs iSLamaBad AHMAD AHMADANI

In a bid to provide relief to importers, the federal government has granted a waiver of penal surcharge worth approximately over Rs600 million on overstayed consignments in warehouses.

According to sources, the finance ministry has already obtained the cabinet's approval in this regard.

They said that a penal surcharge worth over Rs630 million was imposed on overstayed consignments of the importers, adding that currently, around Rs6.82 billion worth goods of various importers were

placed in warehouses, which were subject to heavy taxes and duties.

Sources said due to the fluctuation in the exchange rate, coupled with other negative economic factors, the importers seemed indecisive to clear the bonded goods within the statutory time limit, adding that the delay in the clearance of overstayed bonded goods by the importers was also due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic and its resulting lockdown.

"The government has now granted this waiver to ensure that importers clear their overstayed goods from warehouses till 31st July 2020," an insider said.

According to documents, the Federa-

tion of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) had requested the Federal Board of Revenue to consider grant of a waiver of penal surcharge on overstayed consignments in order to alleviate the problems of the importers due to fluctuation of the exchange rate and other restrictions on a range of business and economic activities triggered by Covid-19 pandemic. Similarly, Pakistan Coating Association and other individual importers such as Web Converters (Pvt) Ltd, Z&J Hygienic Products (Pvt) Ltd and Grandeur Metals (Pvt) Ltd had also placed requests regarding waiver of penal surcharge on overstayed goods.

PaKiStan, China aPPrOvE PlanS fOr 130 jOint rESEarCh PrOjECtS BEIJING: The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) have approved preliminary plans for 130 joint research projects in the context of climate change under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). According to the official list released by NSFC, 149 proposals were submitted to the two foundations this year in four categories; fossil energy conversion and materials, utilisation of renewable energy and resources, scientific ground of new energy utilisation and technologies, and safety evaluation and adaptive mechanism research on water-energy-food nexus, China Economic Net reported.

After a review by the concerned authorities, 130 joint research projects were given approval for the next phase.

NSFC and PSF signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 30, 1992, for joint research between academic institutions in both countries. The MoU was re-activated in 2015. APP

court dismisses plea against trump, who

The FPCCI, in its letters dated 14 April and 4 May had informed that economic activities were severely disrupted by the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.

"The economic impact has been extremely adverse as the government has closed down the whole business and commercial sectors to control the spread of Covid-19, putting a massive crimp on all commercial, economic and trading activities for months to come.

"In the prevailing circumstance, importers are also unable to ex-bond their consignments within the time period stipulated in section 98 of the Customs Act, 1969," the FPCCI stated.

ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad has dismissed a petition seeking Rs90.8 million in coronavirus damages from US President Donald Trump, World Health Organisation and the government of Pakistan, declaring it inadmissible. Additional Sessions Judge Syed Haider Shah issued a written order on the petition filed by citizens Noor Akbar and Shahsawar. The order stated that Rs90.8 million in damages has been claimed against the American president, government of Pakistan, National Disaster Management Authority and WHO. But the petitioners’ counsel has remained unsuccessful in satisfying the court during the proceedings. No documents have been submitted which can prove the case, the order stated, adding that the case could not be proved because the petitioners failed to provide proof along with the claim. This is the reason the court cannot proceed with the claim, it stated. STAFF REPORT

K-Electric says committed to serving Karachi, seeks govt’s support BuSineSS deSK K-Electric has expressed gratitude to Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shahzad Qasim for their time and support in addressing the load management issues in Karachi.

The K-Electric delegation on Saturday met the government officials on the direction of the prime minister.

The K-Electric delegation, led by CEO Moonis Abdullah Alvi, apprised the government representatives about the power-related challenges that the company had been facing on account of erratic fuel supplies to KE and associated IPPs as well as inconsistent power supplies from KANNUP and the wind corridor.

It further highlighted that keeping in view the demand and supply situation, the power utility had planned ambitious investments which would see $2.0 billion spent

on Karachi’s power value chain, aimed to eliminate the power deficit in Karachi. Asad Umar on the occasion assured that the government is committed to resolving all these issues on priority. He stressed the importance of resolving Karachi’s power supply issues on a fasttracked basis, saying that the federal government would diligently support the people of Karachi through the prioritised supply of local furnace oil and gas at sufficient pressure which would allow KE to operate its plants at full capacity.

"This would be reinforced by expedited imports of furnace oil, which are already underway after the due approvals from the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCOE)."

The minister also directed the National Transmission and Distribution Company (NTDC) to make necessary upgrades to its interconnections which would allow approximately 300MW or more additional power supply from the national grid

as early as next year.

The government assured KE of their all-out support regarding approvals required to build interconnections to take additional power supply from the NTDC, for which NEPRA approval and contractual modalities were still pending. At the same time, the minister stressed that KE needed to reach out to its consumers and make sure that their complaints/grievances are resolved on priority.

The K-Electric management shared the company’s investment roadmap in two phases, one of which would come online before summer 2021. Moonis Alvi also presented options available for an increase in power supply to bridge the demand and supply gap next year.He said based on the CCOE's approval to supply 1,400MW additional electricity through the national grid last month, KE has already initiated work on building the required interconnections with a view to fast-tracking power evacuation as early as 2023.

Pakistan’s religious education board begins examinations under virus SOPs LaHore STAFF REPORT

Wafaqul Madaris Al Arabia Pakistan started its examinations from Saturday, saying it has adopted strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for coronavirus prevention throughout. The examinations administered by the association will continue until July 16.

Keeping in view the pandemic, the number of staff and examination centres have been expanded. Around 2,166 examination centres have been utilised, in which more than

1,400 staff members will provide invigilation and related services.

More than 300,000 students are sitting the examinations. From middle school to Masters level, all exams will be held during the same timeframe. Wafaqul Madaris Al Arabia Pakistan’s Dr Maulana Abdul Razzaq and General Secretary Maulana Mohammad Hanif Jalandhari were of the opinion that the madrassa association is unique as even during the pandemic, it is continuing to hold the exams on time.

They also lauded the staff involved in holding the examinations

during these challenging times.

Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood said earlier this week that all education institutions, including universities, may reopen on September 15 if the coronavirus situation in the country improves.

The minister said that the government will review its decision in an inter-provincial meeting in the last week of August. Mahmood said that it had been decided to allow schools to call administration staff to duty before September 15 and announced that trainings will be conducted to ensure that SOPs are implemented.

‘Imran not one to yield to any political pressure’ Continued from page 01 Faraz said that government purchases are looked after by the office of the AGPR (Accountant General Pakistan Revenues). “Over Rs4 trillion in excess has been paid in the past 10 years for government procurement,” he said.He said that the past governments “were themselves engaged in corruption” so never did anything to root it out. Faraz said that no government can bring about reforms in 20 months of governance but that transparency and stability of institutions remains the PTI government’s top priority.

CORRUPT PRACTICES IN AGPR: Hiraj agreed that there is vast room for improvement within state institutions. Speaking of AGPR in particular, he said that corruption within the institution had leaked over into other departments. He said major flaws exist within the government payments system. The chief of the premier’s inspection team said that on the prime minister’s orders, the payments system was reviewed and recommendations regarding reforms in AGPR were sent to the prime minister.

He said that his commission has recommended SOPs which matched the premier’s vision of a digital Pakistan. The inspection chief said that a system update has been proposed so that the amounts of the cheques

CMYK

to be issued to various institutions should directly go to the accounts, like salaries of employees, so there are no chances of corruption. Moreover, the AGPR should issue the list containing details of the requirements for clearance of bills on its website, so that no objection should be raised to delay the payments.

He said in AGPR postings of Grade 21 and 22 officers were being done without approval of the prime minister, which was also against the rules and would be stopped forthwith.

He said it was noticed by PMIC that government purchases were costing more than the similar procurements done by the private sector. He said that this was called speed money or corruption as no bill was cleared from AGPR easily as objections were raised to get a gratification amount.

As the vendors had to bribe the AGPR staff, they showed an increase in prices of purchased items to adjust the amount, which proved an additional burden on the national exchequer.

He said FIA has also been directed to take action against the employees of AGPR who were involved in malpractices after evaluating the details of their assets.

He said that when he took charge, he realised that performance of almost all institutions was marred by malpractices.

Sunday, 12 July, 2020

NEWS

CAA SeekS NADRA’S AID foR PIloT exAMS ISLAMABAD

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STaFF RePoRT

HE Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Saturday informed the Supreme Court that it had sought the assistance of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for the biometric verification of pilots appearing for its exams so that cheating could be prevented.

In its report submitted to the court, the aviation regulator also stated that it would install CCTV cameras and other technology to upgrade its examination process. On June 25, Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed had taken notice of the government’s revelation that 262 pilots in the country with dubious credentials were being grounded and sought a report

from the CAA, which issues licences to pilots. The authority told the court that the licences of 54 pilots, who were issued show-cause notices for their dubious credentials after an inquiry, were being reverified. The CAA further informed the court that it had issued 1,934 licences to pilots working in different airlines, including 450 in the PIA. The board of inquiry has identified the 262 pilots with suspicious credentials including 141 of the PIA, 10 of Serene Air and nine of Air Blue and they have been grounded.

A summary for revoking the licences of 28 pilots has been sent to the federal government. Suspension orders have been issued for 34 of the 208 pilots with suspicious licences.

The authority also told the court that

28% reduction in Covid-19 patients on ventilators: Asad Umar ISLAMABAD STaFF RePoRT

Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar, heading the country's response to the Covid-19 pandemic from the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), said on Saturday that there has been a 28 per cent decrease in coronavirus patients who are on ventilators. “On June 20, there were 2,969 coronavirus patients on oxygen and 546 on ventilators,” Minister Umar said in a tweet.

“There are now 1,762 patients on oxygen and 394 on ventilators which means there is 28 per cent reduction. Effect of smart lockdown, administrative actions to implement SOPs and most importantly better public cooperation is significantly visible.” He added that the people are collectively empowered to stop this pandemic from further spreading. If precautionary measures are followed then the people and their employment would be protected.

“Otherwise, what is happening in countries like USA, Brazil and India may happen here as well,” Umar warned. Earlier in the day, the federal minister chaired NCOC meeting during which he reviewed Eidul Azha cattle market management, epidemic curve chart and the availability of Covid-19 medicines. The NCOC was informed that guidelines have been prepared and shared with all provinces for Eid. “An effective mechanism must be introduced to monitor social distancing and the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs),” Umar said.

eight of 16 pilots with fake educational credentials had also been suspended.

Six of them were working with PIA and two with Shaheen Air. The CAA maintained that these pilots had submitted fake FA and O level certificates to the authority.

Earlier this week, the federal cabinet had approved the dismissal of 28 commercial pilots whose licences were found to be dubious. Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar had said last month that nine of the 54 pilots being investigated for suspicious licences had “confessed” and they would be sacked after approval from the federal cabinet. He also announced that 262 pilots would be barred from flying because their credentials were “dubious”. Separately, the Aviation Division has cleared 95% licences of

Pakistani pilots working with different airlines in seven countries. The process of verification of the remaining ones will be completed next week. The aviation minister’s revelation has created problems for Pakistani pilots working in other parts of the world. On June 29, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) also ordered grounding all Pakistani pilots working with local airlines.

“The suspension will be in effect until further notice from CAAV,” it said, adding that the authority was coordinating with Pakistani authorities to review the pilots’ profiles.

The European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA) has suspended PIA’s authorisation to operate in EU member states for six months expressing concerns over the minister’s statement.

PPP gave Uzair Baloch Rs50m after Lyari operation, says former aide neWS DeSK A video shared by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi has renewed speculation over the connection between notorious Lyari gangster Uzair Baloch and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), with some fresh claims regarding the alleged nexus between the two coming to light. Zaidi a day earlier had tweeted that he would soon release an “explosive video” which would “expose former president Asif Ali Zardari and his gang.” “Crime and politics have gone hand in hand. Mafia Don Asif Zardari and his henchman Qadir Patel exposed yet again by Habib Jan

who was once in the middle of it all,” Zaidi tweeted in a video showing Jan talking about Baloch and Zardari. In the video, Jan claims that soon after the 2012 Lyari operation, the PPP had re-established contact with Baloch and given him Rs50 million in cash. Baloch had allegedly rejoined the party soon after.

“Then you saw Qaim Ali Shah also went there [to Lyari], so did Sharmila Farooqi, so did Faryal [Talpur] sahiba. My office was also attacked and my brother was killed.

According to Chaudhry Aslam, [former PPP interior minister] Rehman Malik was at the helm of the opera-

tion,” he said. Jan also alleged that the PPP would transfer police officials on the whims of Baloch. “This is true. IG Sindh’s transfer was also done and the interior ministry used to stand at their [the gangsters’] door in the form of Rehman Malik,” Jan alleged. He also claimed that Baloch personally met with Zardari.

“Zardari met Baloch and it was an important meeting. Baloch called me and said Zardari called him and wanted to meet him and he has to go [to the meeting] with Qadir Patel.

Zardari wanted his so-called ‘brother’ [Baloch] to contest elections from Lyari,” Jan said. “The fight started when Muzaffar Tappi came in the picture. One day Tappi came to Lyari with Faisal Raza Abdi and Chaudhry Aslam accompanied by 50 cars.

Erdogan rebuffs criticism over Hagia Sophia conversion to mosque ContInueD froM pAge 01 ‘A BLOW TO GLOBAL CHRISTIANITY’: Erdogan went ahead with the plan despite appeals from NATO ally the United States and from Russia, with which Ankara has forged close relations in recent years.

Greece swiftly condemned the move as a provocation, France deplored it while the United States also expressed disappointment.

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Saturday Moscow regretted the decision.

“The cathedral is on Turkey’s territory, but it is without question everybody’s heritage,” he told the Interfax news agency.

The influential bishop Hilarion, who heads the Russian Orthodox Church’s department for external church relations,

also expressed his sorrow.

“It is a blow to global Christianity … For us (Hagia Sophia) remains a cathedral dedicated to the Saviour,” he told state TV Rossiya24 late Friday.

And the World Council of Churches, which represents 350 Christian churches, said it had written to Turkey’s president expressing their “grief and dismay”.

But Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, Ankara director of the German Marshall Fund, told AFP the move would win hearts and minds at home as most Turks “would favour such a decision for religious or nationalist sentiments.

“This is a debate president Erdogan cannot lose and the opposition cannot win. As a matter of fact, this issue also has the potential to disunite the opposition parties.”

Erdogan’s nationalist

ally Devlet Bahceli welcomed the decision, saying that reopening Hagia Sophia to Muslim worship “has long been our desire.”

‘IT IS CLOSED’: After Friday’s decision, hundreds gathered outside the iconic building and performed evening prayers.

On Saturday, police had put up barriers around the Hagia Sophia. “We wanted to come and visit Istanbul and the Hagia Sophia museum but unfortunately we realised that from today it is closed,” said Renato Daleo, tourist from Italy.

Ksennia Bessonova, a Russian living in Istanbul flanked by her 16-monthold daughter and her husband, said they had also wanted to visit. “It was our little dream because since our daughter was born we were not able to come and here we go,” she said.

She hoped the authori-

MD Careem Pay quits less than a month after company announces expansion plans ISLAMABAD: Careem Pay Managing Director Junaid Iqbal has decided to part ways with Careem. According sources at Careem, the former MD had some differences with Careem CEO Mudassir Sheikha. However, according to their Pakistan chapter, the move has come simply as a way for Junaid Iqbal “to move on” to his next chapter and “there have been no differences between the management as such”. Careem is yet to officially respond to Profit’s request to comment. Junaid Iqbal has been the managing director focused on Careem Pay – the financial wing of Careem since August 2019, prior to which he has served as the managing director for Careem as well. His decision to leave the company comes less than a month after Careem has announced its Super App as well as future plans on expanding Careem Pay to evolve from a closed loop wallet into a potentially proper online store. Syeda MaSooMa

ties would not change anything inside.

“From what our friends and family were telling us it was something special and we wanted to feel the same. At the moment I am not sure what to expect but I feel sad in a way.”

03

NAB opens inquiry against PTI’s Haleem Adil Sheikh KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Saturday said it had initiated a probe against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Haleem Adil Sheikh for illegally selling government land. The bureau, in its letter to the deputy commissioner Malir, has requested for all records pertaining to the selling of 253 acres of government land illegally along with details of his farmhouse and other documents. “In connection with a complaint being processed in this Bureau, it is revealed that 253 acres of government land situation in District Malir Karachi has been illegally occupied/sold by Haleem Adil Sheikh and others in connivance with the officers/ officials of Board of Revenue District Malir Karachi,” the letter said, adding that ACE East Zone Karachi also conducted an inquiry into the matter. The documents requested by NAB include ownership title/documents of Country Chalet Farm Houses Project, Deh Kharkaro, ownership title/documents of Palm Village Resorts Project and any other information relevant to the subject matter. The letter further said an anti-corruption unit has already completed an inquiry against the PTI leader which NAB has also requested. DC Malir has been directed to submit the records by July 27. Moreover, NAB sources said Sheikh had used the government land for commercial purposes. Earlier, reports of Sheikh being involved in a land scam had emerged. The PTI leader was said to have illegally allotted 207 acres of state land, worth Rs410 million. The report by local media had also cited that the lawmaker involved in the illegal allotment of land through fraud as well. STaFF RePoRT

NAB expands probe into Hajj advertising campaign RAWALPINDI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has expanded a probe against Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri and decided to inquire into alleged irregularities in Hajj advertising campaign. The NAB will collect complete record of the advertising campaign for Hajj during the past two years, according to NAB sources. The accountability bureau will also collect the record from the advertising agencies and the Press Information Department (PID), sources said. The NAB has decided to scrutinize the Hajj advertising campaign after allegations of irregularities, sources said. It is to be mentioned here that NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal had earlier authorized conducting verification of a complaint regarding power abuse, against the minister over his alleged involvement in renting out a government building to his business partner. According to sources, the complaint cell of NAB will collect complete information of the assets of the Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri. After verification of complaints an inquiry could be launched against the minister. TLTP

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Sunday, 12 July, 2020

NEWS

PTI govt plans ‘most modern city’ worth Rs5tr near Lahore LAHORE: The Punjab government is planning to develop a “most modern city” over an area of more than one 100,000 acres near Lahore. According to a statement, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has given the green signal to establish “River Ravi Front Authority” for developing a “most modern city” in the north of Lahore. The provincial government will promulgate an ordinance for the establishment of this authority with the chief minister as its chairman, read the statement. The authority would work to develop the new city over an area of more than one 100,000 acres. It is expected that Rs5 trillion would be invested by the private sector to develop the city. The new city will help to overcome the problems of congested traffic, water and environment in Lahore city.

A large lake and free barrages will also be built in the new city. STAFF REPORT

Punjab’s death toll reaches 1,985 while 730 new cases pop up on Saturday LAHORE: The coronavirus took away 13 more lives in the province as the number of cases in the province reached 85,991 after the emergence of 730 new cases on Saturday. According to the spokesperson of the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, the total number of deaths has reached 1,985 in the province. The Punjab Health Department confirmed that 275 new cases of Covid19 were reported in Lahore, three in Nankana Sahib, seven in Kasur, 17 in Sheikhupura, 84 in Rawalpindi, seven in Jehlum, 13 in Attock, 17 in Chakwal, nine in Gujranwala, nine in Sialkot, 46 in Gujrat, 15 in Mandi Bahauddin, 17 in Multan, 22 in Vehari, 31 in Faisalabad, two in Chiniot, 12 in Toba Tek Singh, 2 in Jhang, 19 in Rahimyar Khan, 14 in Sargodha, 12 in Mianwali, one in Khoshab, five in Bhakkar, four in Bahawalnagar, 18 in Bahawalpur, four in Lodharan, 16 in Dera Ghazi Khan, five in Muzaffargarh, one in Rajanpur, one in Layyah, 14 in Sahiwal and 17 in Okara and 11 new cases in Pakpattan district during the last 24 hours till the filing of this report. The health department has conducted 581,231 tests for Covid-19 so far while 53,863 confirmed cases have been recovered all together in the province. It has also appealed the masses to opt SOPs for their protection and cover their faces with masks. APP

PReSIdenT advISeS cLeRIcS, medIa To PLay RoLe In PRomoTIng bReaSTfeedIng To conTRoL PoPuLaTIon ISLAMABAD APP

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RESIDENT Dr Arif Alvi on Saturday advised the country’s religious scholars and media to play their role for promoting breastfeeding as the most natural practice to prevent unwanted pregnancies and thus protecting mothers from malnutrition and the country from economic stress.

“Rampant increase in population will always stress the growth of our economy and available resources. This mismatch will keep our nation fighting poverty, poor maternal health, malnutrition and

stunting, in a vicious never ending cycle,” the president said in his message to the nation on World Population Day annually observed on July 11.

Marked first in 1990 by a UN resolution, the day seeks to focus attention on creating awareness and highlight the urgency and importance of population issues and their relations to the environment and development.

According to the UN, it took hundreds of thousands of years for the world population to grow to 1 billion – then in just another 200 years or so, it grew sevenfold.

In 2011, the global population reached the 7 billion mark, and today, it

stands at about 7.7 billion, and it's expected to grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 10.9 billion in 2100.

While highlighting what-to-do measures, the president called for promoting breastfeeding as the most natural practice for 24-36 months as per the Quran.

“This prevents pregnancy during this period, allowing the mother to avoid malnutrition, and prevents stunting in her child. Ulema have a significant role to play,” said the president, who also chairs the Population Task Force.

He said in Pakistan, there were four million unwanted pregnancies because of the lack of contraceptive availability.

“Our outreach is dismal. Population Task Force chaired by President considers this as the low-hanging fruit that can provide quick results. We are encouraging manufacture in Pakistan,” he remarked.

The president also called for media’s significant role just like it did an outstanding job in promoting standard operating procedures (SOPs) in Covid-19.

He said a comprehensive campaign was also being panned just like the one carried out in all Islamic countries.

“It is a national emergency,” the president said quoting Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan when he had asked him to chair the population task force.

EOBI pensioners to get increased pension before Eidul Azha ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The federal government on Saturday announced to release pension of Employees’ of Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) pensioners before Eid-ul-Adha.

According to the details, each retired employee registered with the EOBI will get an increased pension of Rs8,500 coupled with arrears of six months.

The federal cabinet had increased the pension from

Rs6,500 to 8,500 earlier this year.

In addition, cardholders of EOBI will get basic commodities on discounted rates from the state-owned utility stores under an agreement signed yesterday.

An agreement had been signed between Utility Stores Corporation (USC) and EOBI for providing basic commodities on discounted rates to the registered people. On the occasion, Zulqarnain Khan said that the chain of utility stores will provide the facility to EOBI cardholders across the country after issuing a Sahulat

Card to them.

He added that the cardholders will get discounts on different commodities in the stores. “Sahulat Cards will be distributed among the deserving people after verification from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA),” he said.

The latest agreement was signed after the approval of the federal cabinet members during the last session where PM Imran Khan greenlighted an increase in EOBI pensions.

2,096 Karachi policemen infected by novel coronavirus KARACHI STAFF REPORT

As many as 2,096 members of the police force have been infected by the novel coronavirus in Karachi, a spokesperson of Sindh Police said on Saturday.

“In last two days, 171 policemen have been infected by coronavirus,” the police department said in a statement.

Since the emergence of the pandemic, 16 policemen, including officers, have been martyred while performing their duty. “Fourteen policemen have succumbed to the disease in Karachi and two in Hyderabad Police Range,” according to the spokesman. Presently, 1,584 policemen are under treatment.

Since the emergence of the first case of Covid-19 in Karachi in February, the pandemic has ravaged all parts of Pakistan. Earlier, the Sukkur SSP had released a bimonthly report on coronavirus cases in the police department which confirmed 159 positive cases of the virus in

Two killed, four hurt as roof of house caved in MULTAN APP

At least two females, including a girl, were killed while four others sustained injuries as the roof of an under construction house caved in at Shah Town near Peeran Ghaib Road here on Saturday. According to Rescue 1122 officials, they received a call about the collapsed roof and rushed to the spot to start the rescue operation.

The teams rescued four injured people, including two labourers and two girls who were stranded under the debris and shifted them to Nishtar hospital. The injured were identified as two brothers which were working in the house 26 years old Shahbaz, 23 years old Sajjad, 12 years old Bisma d/o Muhammad Imran and 13 years old Alishah d/o Altaf.

Rescue 1122 also recovered two dead bodies of females who buried under the debris including a 30-yearold woman namely Hassan Bano w/o Raheel Akhtar and 12 years old girl Mehak d/o Ashraf.

officers and other personnel in the region during two months.

“The infected officers and department staff were posted at 22 police stations of Sukkur district,” the report said. The infected department staff also included personnel in traffic police who were infected while performing their duty, according to the report.

“Among the total infected policemen, 36 have defeated the coronavirus,” the report said. Over 146 inmates and jail staffers had tested positive for coronavirus in Sukkur Central Jail in the end days of June.

According to Sukkur Central Jail authorities, a total of 1,600 tests were conducted, of which 146 tested positive for Covid-19.

The authorities said that 93 people, out of 146 positive case, were recovered from the disease including 85 prisoners and eight jail staffers.

In May, over 200 inmates and nine warders had tested positive for coronavirus in Karachi Central Jail.

Lahore woman arrested for torturing four-yearold niece with hot knife LAHORE: A woman was responsible for torturing her four-year-old niece in Lahore, it came to light on Saturday. As per the details, the incident occurred in Lahore’s Nishtar Colony, where an aunt subjected her niece to brutal torture with a hot knife. According to police, the parents of the girl left their child at her aunt’s house after a fight over a domestic matter, while further investigation into the matter was underway. The police have arrested the woman after registering a case against her.

Last month, an eight-year-old housemaid succumbed to injuries after being brutally tortured by enraged house owners as she had mistakenly released two parrots from a cage. The incident took place in Rawalpindi city where 8-year-old Zohra was reportedly tortured to death by her employers Hassaan Siddiqui and his wife. STAFF REPORT

CMYK

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Sunday, 12 - 18 July, 2020 I Issue 179 I Pages 04 I Sections 06 I Rs 30

PIA revamp underway as Air Marshal Arshad Malik replaced by Air Marshal (retd) Arshad Malik ISLAMABAD

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THE DEPENDENT

he much awaited revamp of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was formally initiated this week after the federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the removal from service of Chief executive officer Air Marshal Arshad Malik.

The reforms, which are well and truly underway, were further reaffirmed by the sacked Air Marshal Arshad Malik being replaced by a much more competent,

qualified, and aviation equipped Air Marshal (retd) Arshad Malik.

The cabinet approved the appointment of Air Marshal (retd) Arshad Malik as the PIA Ceo for a period of three years on a deputation basis. Air Marshal Arshad Malik had completed two years of his service as head of the national flag carrier.

Unlike his predecessor Air Marshal Arshad Malik, Air Marshal (retd) Arshad Malik will serve as the PIA head on a contractual basis.

When contacted by The dependent, a

cabinet member confirmed that Air Marshal (retd) Malik would serve as PIA’s chief executive, similar to the man he is replacing.

“Air Marshal Arshad Malik was serving on deputation. [Meanwhile] Air Marshal (retd) Arshad Malik’s service will be on secondment basis,” the cabinet member added.

Political experts have lauded the move, saying that this shows the government’s intent in overhauling the PIA. “This also shows that only retired officers can save civilian institutions,” says economo-

SAtIre

political analyst and true-democracy activist Lt Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib.g

‘Modi ke yaar’ appeasing India, says man who hosted Modi at family wedding

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Govt, Opp united over constitutional right to deliver heartwarming assembly speeches for minoritie

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he government and opposition parties displayed a heartwarming, and uncharacteristic, unity over ensuring the constitutional rights of religious minorities in Pakistan.

Taking to the floor of the National Assembly, both federal ministers and opposition leaders vowed to safeguard the basic constitutional right of minorities.

“It is the constitutional right of religious minorities to listen to heartwarming assembly speeches,” vowed leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Khawaja Asif in his speech.

“We follow Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision. And let’s not forget that he too delivered a heartwarming speech for the minorities to the [Constituent] Assembly on August 11, 1947,” Asif added.

The PML-N leader also vowed to

take action against the PML-N for petitioning against the construction of the Shiv Krishna temple in Islamabad.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for human Rights Shireen Mazari also said that just like it is the minorities rights to listen to such progressive speeches, it is the speakers’ constitutional right to deliver them.

“I spend so much time and energy on the rights of Muslims around the world. But it is about time I speak for the rights of nonMuslims in Pakistan. And their unquestionable right is to listen to this wonderful speech that I’m giving right now,” Mazari said.

Both government and opposition have confirmed that they support the right to deliver speeches on the construction of a hindu temple.

“Now let’s see what those actually making the decisions, and deciding the visions, say,” Mazari maintained. g

odI ke yaar (friends of Modi) are to blame for the continued appeasement of India, which is increasing its brutalities in Kashmir, while Islamabad watches New delhi become a member of the United Nations Security Council.

These words were expressed by the man who hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a family wedding during an official visit in december 2015.

Psycholinguists interpret the choice of word yaar or friend in this case as a subconscious allusion towards semiotics,

whether the word yaar more than its written or oral meaning, is a case of interpreting it as a sign.

“With Facebook and all, does one really know who one’s friends are?” said semiotics expert Marcel denesi, the author of The Puzzle Instinct: The Meaning of Puzzles in human Life, while talking to The dependent.

“But if you thoroughly dissect the cognitive correlation of the usage of the word in this particular case, one can tell that it’s a case of, what we call a

variation of language reduplication: jo kehta hai wohi hota hai”.

Analysts in Pakistan agree that the jo kehta hai wohi hota hai theory completely implies in this case, given the accusations on the accuser. others have interpreted the allegations as confession on the part of the accuser, with linguists belonging to the ruling party saying that the person is clearly maintaining that he and his family are to blame for the appeasement in question. g

SAtIre

SAtIre

Politically quarantined Imran spending quality time with jinns-in-law

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UST like the rest of us ordinary folks, the covid-19 pandemic has allowed Prime Minister Imran Khan to spend some quality time with his family.

According to sources, the premier, who has been increasingly asked by his employers to stay home and maintain distance from them, is currently spending much of his time bonding with his jinns-in-law.

While he welcomed new supernatural relatives in his life following his

them as much as he wanted to, with the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns – that he has been strongly against – allowing him some time now.

“Coronavirus is a real threat to Pakistan’s public health and economy,” PM Imran Khan was told in a conversation with his jinns-in-law advisors, who are his unofficial advisors these days.

This statement, later echoed by the premier publically, was a volte-face from Imran Khan who had been a denier of coronavirus’ spread and damage in Pakistan since March.

Sources close to Khan, who is renowned for his reversals, attribute his recent Uturns to his jinns-in-law.

Sources confirm that Khan’s change of heart on covid-19 is based on multiple conversations with a jinn-in-law who has recently returned from vacation in Italy. g

SAtIre marriage to Bushra Bibi in 2018, the premier hasn’t been able to engage with

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

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

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

Sunday, 12 July, 2020

06 COMMENT

The politics of APC

Failing to defend government policies PTI tries to create distractions

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No clear direction

he opposition is doing precisely what it always does, that is, exposing and criticizing government policies. There was a unanimity among the PPP and JUI-F leaders who met at Bilwal house Karachi that the PM is incompetent, arrogant and egotistical. In their public statements and speeches delivered inside the National Assembly, opposition leaders from the PMl-N, JI, ANP and other parties have focused on shortages and rising prices of food items and petroleum and the government’s failure to deal with the locust attacks. As the opposition comprises different parties, there are naturally differences of approach in its ranks. Many had expected that the leader of the opposition would hold a meeting of the like-minded parties to hammer out a joint strategy soon after recovering from the coronavirus. As this has not happened, some in the opposition have expressed dismay The ruling party however is not doing what it is supposed to do, which is argue the government’s case and defend its policies that are currently under attack. No PTI leader has explained why prices continue to rise despite the PM’s repeated orders to bring them down. Some in the party in fact agree that their government had failed to implement its important policies and has consequently lost support. A federal minister told VoA the party has suffered from factionalism and the infighting has caused a political vacuum leading to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s core team falling apart. There is a perception that even those who facilitated the PTI’s rise to power are disillusioned with the performance of its leadership.

Apparently convinced that it is not possible to defend the government’s policies that are causing suffering to the people at large, Federal Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi has tried to take away the public attention from the ongoing debate by accusing the PPP leadership of being hand in glove with the criminals in the past. Failing to create any impact, he has now come up with yet another red herring. What bothers the people most at present are power shortages in Karachi and the rising price of bread and sugar in the country, rather than what happened ten years back in lyari.

aRif Nizami

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INAllY, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif has declared himself fully recovered from Covid-19. Since his return from london in March the former Punjab chief minister has been hibernating at this Model Town residence in lahore, initially as a preventive measure and later on the pretext of having been struck by the pandemic.

During this long hiatus, including his four months stay in london, the head of the largest opposition party in the country has virtually remained an absentee politician, restricting himself mostly to issuing statements.

In the meanwhile, performing the role of the opposition in the National Assembly was left to parliamentary party leaders Khawaja Asif, former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal.

While on the other hand Bilawal Bhutto, the chairperson of the PPP (Pakistan People’s Party), has been leading from the front. his hard-hitting narrative in the parliament and his various interactions with the media sharply contrast with the timid politics of Sharif. Most analysts contend that the PMl-N (Pakistan Muslim league Nawaz) president’s reticence is more by design rather than because of dint of circumstances.

Sharif has never hidden his propensity to cohabit with the ubiquitous establishment. In the past he has been openly disagreeing with his elder brother Nawaz Sharif and niece Maryam Nawaz’s hawkish rhetoric.

As a precursor to the 2018 general elections, the younger Sharif missed the bus primarily because he failed to deliver his brother, being unsuccessful in tempering his anti-establishment narrative. Only after the damage was done Sharif has been able to convince ‘bhai jaan’ to keep quiet.

Shahbaz also had a pivotal role in enabling his

Naya construction package Housing will remain unaffordable despite concessions

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large part of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s strategy to tackle the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic was to provide incentives to the construction industry for it to restart, create jobs and generate activity for ancillary businesses to take advantage of as well. The first of these incentives was announced in April with a substantial tax break for property developers. The latest addition to that is a package that includes a Rs30 billion subsidy meaning each of the first 100,000 houses that will be built under the Naya Pakistan housing Project (NPhP), the PTI government’s flagship affordable housing project, Rs0.3 million of the cost will be picked up by the state. The proposed sizes of the houses that will be built under the NPhP are 5 to 10 marla, which according to even the most conservative of estimates would cost anywhere between Rs5 and 6 million. Therefore the proposed concession, at any rate, is still not enough to allow lowincome groups to construct their ‘dream house at an affordable cost’. Commercial banks have been asked to get on-board as well, to provide financing at concessional interest rates to prospective buyers making it easier to raise the required capital, and considering how the SBP has temporarily deferred payments of principal amounts on outstanding loans, it would not be a bad deal. With banks being made to earmark 5 percent of their portfolio for the construction industry (around Rs330 billion), there will be a fair bit of scrutiny by their risk departments of those applying for loans, and of course, those with reasonable assets to pledge as collateral will secure financing more easily than those who do not. even though the banks cannot charge more than the stipulated mark-up, they can choose not to give out too many loans out of fear that they might turn bad.

While the scheme is welcome, its advertised purpose, to provide low-cost housing to the masses, is perhaps a bit misleading. It is aimed at property developers who have the appetite to take a stab at a housing society venture at a government-discounted cost, the idea being that if enough investors bite, it could invigorate the economy. It’s not a terrible plan; it’s just not for the common man as is being portrayed.

Free and open debate Silencing opposing views is wrong, whoever does it

Rabia ahmed

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he way to defeat bad ideas is by exposure, argument and persuasion, not by trying to silence or wish them away.” That letter about Justice and Open Debate, the one that’s due to appear in harper’s magazine’s October issue, has elicited quite a response, and rightly so. It is an important subject, one that we in Pakistan as much as anywhere else need to understand and address.

The matter under discussion is– to quote the letter– that “wider calls for greater equality and inclusion” across society have “intensified a new set of moral attitudes”, ones that instead of leading to more debate and greater tolerance are tending to weaken them. This letter, signed by many academics and intellectuals including Noam Chomsky and Stephen Pinker, and authors including Margaret Atwood and J.K. Rowling speaks out against censoriousness, intolerance, “a vogue for public shaming and ostracism” and a tendency towards a “blinding moral certainty” amongst liberals. It speaks of clamping

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brother to travel to london on the pretext of receiving more the stink. Similar rhetoric is expressed by other opposition leaders. urgent medical treatment.

But on the other hand, most of them, including AbAnd he is not returning any time soon unless basi, also contend that the government should not be something gives in, like a regime change.

In the meanwhile, Sharif is waiting in the wings ousted through extra constitutional means because if instead of taking the bull by the horns. But waiting that happens, the opposition will not be a beneficiary.

While some argue that fresh elections should for what?

If the PMl-N president thinks that he will get any be held as Khan a ‘selected’ prime minister has brownie points for being a ‘acha bacha’ (well be- failed to deliver. But why would he call general haved boy), he knows something that the rest of us elections knowing very well that despite tall claims don’t. There is no gain without pain. If he reckons to the contrary the PTI coalition has so far perthat he will be crowned one day sitting at home, he is formed miserably?

There is a forlorn hope expressed in some opposadly mistaken.

Khan, despite his almost daily gaffes is firmly en- sition circles that the coalition is imploding from trenched. his mentors have never had it so good within. Truly, BNP-M (Balochistan National Party – under a civilian dispensation. Why would they upset Mengal) has already left the ruling alliance with its four members in the National Assembly and one senthe apple cart?

In the meanwhile, the opposition (sans PMl-N) ator. In terms of majorities at the centre and in Punjab are very enthusiastic about holding an APC (All Par- the PTI government is treading on thin ice The PMl-Q (Pakistan Muslim league Quaid) ties Conference). Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Bidoes not seem too happy with its alliance with the PTI lawal are its main proponents.

The Maulana held an APC of his own in Karachi either. The Chaudhry brothers do not mince their last Thursday. Second tier leaders of different politi- words while criticising their senior collation partner on various issues cal parties- with exception of however, the Chaudhrys, the PTI of course- made a despite flirting with their token presence. erstwhile mother party the Bilawal, who recently PMl-N, are unlikely to quit came to lahore to confer But since then, enthusiasm the coalition. Same is the with Sharif to finalize APC for this kind of dispensation case with the so-called dissiarrangements (its date and dents within the PTI. As long agenda etc.) could not meet has waned. There is a as the PTI has the support of him as he was still quaranbelated realisation that it is powers that be, the coalition tined. later the two leaders will remain intact. The gel spoke on telephone. simply impractical and that binds them together is Despite the urgency shown by the PPP chairperhence a non-starter. If Khan the twin instincts of self-interest and survival. son, the PMl-N leadership, goes the PTI government will In this context, Khan will apart from paying lip service, continue his undeclared poldoes not seem to be too enthugo with him as well. icy of painting the opposition siastic about the idea. Most of in a corner with a helping them talk in vague terms hand from NAB and other coabout holding of the APC. ercive arms of the state. The On various talk shows PMl-N leaders claim that an APC will be held recent spat about leaking of the JIT (joint investigation soon. They are neither clear about its agenda, team) reports is also a drama created to discredit the PPP leadership in Sindh. venue or timing.

There has been talk about the so-called ‘minus The maulana’s previous attempt to unite the opposition under one banner for a sit-in (dharna) in Is- one formula’. The first time I heard it was from lamabad last November miserably failed. None of the Shahbaz Sharif himself before he left for london. even foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi mainstream opposition leaders attended it.

The JUI-F’s (Jmiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl group) so was named as an acceptable face for a consensual called plans A and B proved to be a damp squib. Fail- prime minister.

But since then, enthusiasm for this kind of dispening to gain any traction, Maulana Fazl ur Rehman’s sation has waned. There is a belated realisation that it largely solo show withered on the vine.

This time round, things are slightly different. Bi- is simply impractical and hence a non-starter. If Khan lawal seems to be more enthusiastic about it and goes the PTI government will go with him as well.

Fresh elections could be a solution. But the counSharif has not rejected it out of hand. Nevertheless, the opposition has yet to spell out its objectives for try, infested with the Covid-19 scourge, it is impraclaunching a putsch against a government that has tical to hold them in the near future. hardly completed two years of its five-year term.

Arif Nizami is Editor, Pakistan Today. He can be Shahid Khaqan Abbasi the other day claimed that the PTI government is like a ‘mayat’ (dead body) contacted at arifn51@hotmail.com. http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk waiting to be buried. The longer it remains unburied,

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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down against free speech and free journalism, of books being banned and professors being dismissed.

In other words, it is a familiar scenario.

The letter says that injustice and discrimination in society has led to protest– which is good, but– the signatories point out, this protest has intensified into a different kind of injustice when some of those with views opposing injustice and discrimination have become equally intolerant and censorious in a way that makes them unjust themselves.

A simple illustration would be of a society in which women are forced to cover themselves and wear burkas. This society includes a set of persons who disagree with the burka and of women being forced to dress a certain way. They feel that women should be allowed to choose and not be forced to do something, which is right enough. But if these people refuse to allow the subject to come under discussion, if they force people who support the burka to recant, and try to force women to remove burkas, that is just as wrong.

That is the sort of situation the letter refers to.

Turns out that example isn’t imaginary after all.

It has happened in Turkey. And in other ways, centering on different issues, it is happening around the world. We have seen and are seeing right here the suppression of debate and free speech and of people being forced out of academic institutions. even though in this case and in many others it is the right wing or the ‘me-wing’ that censors, the result is the same, the suppression of debate which results in a suppression of individual freedom and rights. That is the natural progression of things: when debate is suppressed the result if always a ‘steady narrowing of the boundaries of what can be said without threat of reprisal.’

Debate is at the crux of freedom. Today, when about 60 percent of the world’s population is online, social media provides an unprecedented platform to

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any person who is able to express himself or herself.

On the other hand it has produced a ‘cancel culture’ which allows people to band together and hold people accountable for their actions or opinions. Usually the person held accountable in this way is someone well known, who people will listen to, someone whose views have an impact.

The case of one of the signatories of that letter, J.K. Rowling, comes particularly to mind here. Rowling who recently wrote something in which she seemed to define only natal women as ‘people who menstruate,’ was subjected to a hail of abuse as a result, with some people responding that ‘transgender men experience menstruation, and transgender women don’t.’

Rowling refuted the criticism leveled against her, saying she felt solidarity with all women, trans and natal. She explained her reasons for trying to define the difference which were the Scottish government’s decision to go ahead with its gender recognition plan which says that all a man needs to be recognized as a woman is to say he is one. Rowling said she wanted all women, trans as well as natal women, to be safe, but this cannot happen if you throw the doors to bathrooms and changing rooms open to any man who says he is a woman.

Does this sound wrong?

The open platform provided by social media is not easy for all to accept. While most of us put up with the different views on social media, it is the first target for those whose power depends on being able to dictate to the public, because not everyone has the patience to persuade, to talk, to listen. Not everyone realises the importance of all sides of the argument being available for scrutiny, with the freedom and security of proponents of all sides ensured.

The reaction to what Rowling wrote seems to prove this point.

You are free to disagree, and to resist. “But resistance must not be allowed to harden into its own brand of dogma or coercion.”

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

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Sunday, 12 July, 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

Hagia Sophia The Turkish museum has finally been converted in a mosque again. It was built in 537 by emperor Justinian I as a church. It was converted to a mosque by Sultan Mohammad 2 in 1453. Then the first president of Turkey, Mustafa Kamal declared it as a museum. Finally, the current president of Turkey, Tayib erdogen has converted back into a mosque despite the threats of US and Greek. Consequently, Turkey is more worried about her sovereignty than pleasing a country like USA that changes its allies like seasons. Pakistan can learn a lesson from this act that we must build our own status and follow our motto of “Faith” than trying to inspire or listen to others to make them happy.

Afroz MJ TurbAT

Yemen’s plight

The case of two JIT reports Just a can of worms, or an opportunity to cleanse the stables?

Candid Corner Raoof hasaN “Whoever commits a fraud is guilty not only of the particular injury to him who he deceives, but of the diminution of that confidence which constitutes not only the ease, but the existence of society.” —Samuel Johnson

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heRe is one Uzair Baloch JIT report released by the government of Sindh.

There is also this other JIT report which federal Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi claims has not been released because it would have destroyed the fortunes of some stalwarts of the People’s Party.

The two parts may actually be part of the same report as indicated on the first page of the version shown by Ali Zaidi. It states that “the JIT report comprises two parts. First part (duly signed by the chairman and all members of the JIT and submitted to the Home Department as per procedure in vogue) primarily deals with hard core criminal activities carried out by the accused involving political figures. Though these two parts and their activities are intermingled and overlapping, however, due to obvious implications and need to be further probed, part II is being kept confidential and not released/published as such in this report. Confidential part of the report will be produced as and when required/asked by the competent authority”.

Understandably, Ali is not willing to relent in the face of PPP leaders’ onslaught repudiating his claims. he has asked the Chief Justice to take suo motu notice of the case. Otherwise, he has vowed to file a petition before the apex court.

At best, the matter pertains to tampering with an official document to save the PPP leaders from severe embarrassment and possible punitive proceedings and, at worst, it encompasses fraud, forgery and an attempt to hide the facts from public, or presenting them in a manner that does not serve the cause of truth and justice. This may entail initiation of criminal cases against those held responsible.

Now that we don’t have the services of one Sherlock holmes, the most appropriate forum to untangle the mystery is the apex court. In the process, the institution will have yet another opportunity to redeem itself and help people cultivate some faith in the justice system that is practised in the country. If a suo motu is not taken, it would prove yet again that the judges are not interested in changing the growing neg-

ative perception about their work and intent. By There is speculation regarding who is responsiextension, it’ll also prove that they are not both- ble for handing it over to him. The PPP stalwarts ered about how individuals placed in positions and their supporters in the media are insinuating of power conduct themselves in matters of law that the intelligence agencies may be involved which do not fall within their private purview, in order to increase pressure on the party. This thus proving that the judiciary may actually have is a conscious effort which is quite in keeping with the traditional narrative that they would like nothing to do with providing justice. let’s also understand that the JIT report was to build– to skilfully play the innocents who are not released voluntarily by the government of being assaulted by the establishment in collusion Sindh. In the wake of the initiation of contempt with PTI. The reason that Ali Zaidi gave regardproceedings in the Sindh high Court, it had vir- ing how he got hold of the report may strengthen tually run out of all possible options. This was the perception further. At some point in time, further necessitated when Ali Zaidi waved a this may need to be clarified.

Now that the Sindh government version of copy of his version of the report in the National Assembly and read from it certain parts which the JIT report has been rendered doubtful, it is implicated the PPP leaders in the Karachi crime absolutely imperative that the case may be tried spree. So the report may also have been released at some forum to skin the genuine from the fabricated and false. It is to control the damage necessary for a number which had thus been inof reasons, the paraflicted on the PPP and mount one being that, its leadership. for much too long now, This argument By opening this can of facts have been hidden makes more sense if one worms, Ali Zaidi has done a from the people of Pakviews it in the context of istan, under one pretext difference/s between the great service to the state.

It or the other. In the presreports released by the ent instance, it appears Sindh government and has been a convenient to be part of the strataAli Zaidi respectively. tradition that all such vile gem of a political party The main difference to save the much-touted pertains to the people on acts are pushed under the repute and honour of its whose orders Uzair rug as part of clandestine leaders. The contents of Baloch committed murAli Zaidi’s version of ders and indulged in deal-making to save the the report establish that other monstrous acts. these leaders were inAfter naming Faryal perpetrators. Here is an volved in perpetrating Talpur, Qadir Patel, Zulopportunity for the judiciary some of the most defiqar Mirza, Nisar testable crimes in league Morai, Yousaf Baloch, to erase some ugly scars with the likes of Uzair Sharjeel Memon among from its face and establish Baloch. If formally achis friends, the report claimed as a legitimate goes on to give a the writ of the state by part of the full report, it graphic description of would not only diminish how he committed innupunishing the guilty without their political stature immerable heinous crimes exception, as also their mensely, but would deon the instructions of these leaders. partners, aiders and abettors grade them to the level of ruthless murderers, Interestingly, these extortionists and land details are also congrabbers. That would be tained in the confesan immeasurable fall for sional statement of Uzair Baloch recorded under Section 164 of the Code these people whose involvement in multifaceted of Criminal Procedure. The statement encapsu- crime has not really been a secret.

By opening this can of worms, Ali Zaidi has lates in detail his interactions with senior PPP leaders, and how he committed abominable done a great service to the state. It has been a crimes on their behest. he goes on to record that convenient tradition that all such vile acts are he even left the country on the instructions of pushed under the rug as part of clandestine dealmaking to save the perpetrators. here is an opFaryal Talpur.

Now that, instead of one, we have landed up portunity for the judiciary to erase some ugly with two JIT reports, the challenge is to sort out scars from its face and establish the writ of the which is genuine, or whether both are, except state by punishing the guilty without exception, that one part was formally released by the gov- as also their partners, aiders and abettors.

They must all be brought to justice. This report ernment of Sindh and the other withheld to save the political careers of some of their party lead- provides an occasion to establish the primacy of ers. It can be said with a fair bit of certainty that right over wrong, justice over injustice, accountathe PPP would not do much further under the bility over lack of it and truth over falsehood.

Above all else, people must know the real circumstances except reiterating that their version is the genuine one. But, this cannot be said faces of the leaders they vote for. about Ali Zaidi who would like to establish that Raoof Hasan is a political and security his version is a bona fide part of a larger report which was not released by the Sindh govern- strategist, and heads the Regional Peace Institute – an Islamabad-based think tank. Email: ment for fear of incurring political damage.

Quite obviously, the report made public by raoofhasan@hotmail.com.

Twitter: Ali Zaidi cannot be construed as irrelevant. @RaoofHasan

“WHEN the entire World is braving COVID-19 they are braving hunger.”

The United Nations report about Yemen is scary; it has warned that Yemen is on the verge of yet another Famine. Yemen that had a magnificent Past was yanked into drought- like situation after the agony-spattered civil war that instigated in 2016.

According to UN, s Food and agriculture organization (FAO) the bursting plague-COVID19 and insufficient remittance from gulf countries have further aggravated the circumstances in the country, the Saudi- Iran clash is also a chief cause of humanitarian crisis in the region.

The public health facility of the country with several discrepancies has buckled after the rash of COVID-19 when mortality ratio by reason of food dearth is at its peak. Around 80 percent of the total population is reliant on foreign aid while the rest is waiting for any divine mercy.

As many as 80 thousand children have succumbed to starvation across Yemen within the period of five years while 130 children are dying of it per day. In addition to these facts 5 million children are likely to be affected if the things continue to deteriorate like that. United Nations Organization that is the torch bearer of humanity must not only declare calamity but should also take steps to embark upon those calamities KAMrAn KhAMiSo KhowAJA SuJAwAl

Suicide prevention lIFe is full of different situations and feelings. Nuisance and happiness are part of life. Some people are happy and some people are deplorable and distressed from depression. people commit suicide because of depression, home affairs and many more troubles in their lives. Recently an Indian actor named Sushant Singh Rajpoot committed suicide because of more depression. he was an illustrious Indian actor. he had every thing. he had reputation, he was a wealthy man too instead of that he commited suicide because of depression.

People in the world get pain and conceive about suicide, not even they cogitate about suicide, but they commit suicide. They don’t think that their parents and children will endure a lamentable life because of him.

So I have to tell to all humanity that you shouldn’t think about suicide, think ahead for good things and good deeds and achieve your life’s goals.

ArSAl KAlhoro MiroKhAn

Overpopulation OVeR population is becoming a serious issue in Pakistan, where the population is larger then the country as the population is increasing day by day, the current population of Pakistan is 208.57 million. Over population effects on the economic development in the developing countries like Pakistan, one of the mein reasons of poverty, illiteracy, and low living standards in our country is high rated population growth. Pakistan faces many difficulties because of this overpopulation. Pakistan is 5th highest populated country in the world but it makes up 0.59% of the earth surface.

If we compare Pakistan with other highly populated nations Pakistan has the smallest amount of space, it means Pakistan deals with the more difficulties then other highly populated countries. Our education system also suffers because of this over population, it will effect our agriculture production also because if the population continues to increase, families will resort to using agricultural lands for settlement as the urban areas become more crowded so this will decrease agricultural production there are many more things on which over population effects. Our next generation will face much more hard time then us because if the population continues to grow like this, problem will also increase with it, so the government should take the step to stop population growth rate. urooJ nAdEEM hydErAbAd ciTy

Injustice ON 9th July 2019 over a year ago an anchor person Mureed Abbas was murdered by one of his friend with the help of gun. everything was cleared why was he killed and who killed him but his killer Atif Zaman and his companion Adil Zaman is relieved once again on the bases of 50 thousands rupees of bail, knowing that he was mainly involved in the case and gun was belonging to him. Judiciary completely failed, not only this but he has been chilling in jail, getting hair cuts, playing cricket it doesn’t mean our police is kind but they have been paid or spying him for a long time.

Mureed Abbas was married and had a child, his wife told media Adil’s frauds and fake death of his parents, rolling of money, getting richer in less than a year and completing his dreams with black money. Mureed Abbas was a nice man told by her wife when he disclosed his secrets Adil shot him in chest. his window has tried reach supreme court and sindh government yet there is no clue to justice with window and innocent child. even though the CCTV footages are on record of police in which suspect is holding gun and killed them. Judiciary must take some strict steps and show it real power that how justice can slap right off criminal’s mindset.

SuhAil SAEEd Tunio lArKAnA

Sunday, 12 July, 2020

08 WORLD VIEW

When Will corona-madness end?

ONCE FEAR REACHES A CERTAIN THRESHOLD, NORMALCY, RATIONALITY, MORALITY, AND DECENCY FADE AND ARE REPLACED BY SHOCKING STUPIDITY AND CRUELTY

amErican institutE for Economic rEsEarch

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Jeffrey TuCker

was sitting in the green room in a Manhattan television studio on the day that the storm seemed to hit. It was Thursday, March 12, 2020, and I was waiting anxiously for a TV appearance, hoping that the trains wouldn’t shut down before I could leave the city. The trains never did shut but half of everything else did.

On this day, everyone knew what was coming. There was disease panic in the air, fomented mostly by the media and political figures. A month earlier, the idea of lockdown was unthinkable, but now it seemed like it could happen, at any moment.

A thin, wise-looking bearded man with Freud-style glasses sat down across from me, having just left the studio. He was there to catch his breath following his interview but he looked deeply troubled.

“There is fear in the air,” I said, breaking the silence. “Madness is all around us. The public is adopting a personality disorder I’ve been treating my whole career.” “What is it that you do?” I asked.

“I’m a practicing psychiatrist who spe-

cializes in anxiety disorders, paranoid delusions, and irrational fear. I’ve been treating this in individuals as a specialist. It’s hard enough to contain these problems in normal times. What’s happening now is a spread of this serious medical condition to the whole population. It can happen with anything but here we see a primal fear of disease turning into mass panic. It seems almost deliberate.

It is tragic. Once this starts, it could take years to repair the psychological damage.”

I sat there a bit stunned, partially because speaking in such apocalyptic terms was new in those days, and because of the certitude of his opinion. Underlying his brief comments were a presumption that there was nothing particularly unusual about this virus. We’ve evolved with them, and learned to treat them with calm and professionalism. What distinguished the current moment, he was suggesting, was not the virus but the unleashing of a kind of public madness.

I was an early skeptic of the we-are-allgoing-to-die narrative. But even I was unsure if he was correct that the real problem was not physical but mental. In those days, even I was cautious about shaking hands and carrying around sanitizer. I learned later, of course, that plenty of medical professionals

Stop and search: police people, don’t terrorise them

had been trying to calm people down for weeks, urging the normal functioning of society rather than panic. It took weeks however even for me to realize that he was right: the main threat society faced was a psychological condition. I should have immediately turned to a book that captivated me in high school. It is extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay (1841). I liked reading it because, while it highlighted human folly, it also seemed to indicate that we as a civilization are over that period in history.

It allowed me to laugh at how ridiculous people were in the past, with sudden panics over long hair and beards, jewelry, witches, the devil, prophecies and sorcery, disease and cures, land speculation, tulips, just about anything. In a surprising number of cases he details, disease plays a role, usually as evidence of a malicious force operating in the world. Once fear reaches a certain threshold, normalcy, rationality, morality, and decency fade and are replaced by shocking stupidity and cruelty.

He writes: In reading the history of nations, we find that, like individuals, they have their whims and their peculiarities; their seasons of excitement and recklessness, when they care not what they do. We find

Guardian

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ressida Dick, the commissioner of London’s Metropolitan police, appears to be in denial about the extent of institutional racism in the force she leads. The evidence that some of her officers and policies do discriminate is hiding in plain sight. Black people in the capital are four times more likely to be Tasered than their white peers. During the coronavirus lockdown, her officers were more than twice as likely to issue fines to black people as to white people. Perhaps if her force resembled the city it policed, such disparities would shrink. London cannot wait for this to happen. At the current rate of recruitment, the Met will be disproportionately white for a century.

There is a pressing need for reform.

Ms Dick said last year that the Met had won the war against racism in the ranks.

She has been wilfully blind about the failure of her force to treat black and white people alike. Her apology for the “distress” suffered by two black athletes who were pulled over in their car and handcuffed in a stop and search that turned up nothing but their three-monthold baby in the back seat is no turning point. It was an attempt to deflect mounting criticism for the way stop and search has been applied in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests. During the coronavirus lockdown, when crime rates fell, stop and search continued for the sake of it. In May alone, one in eight young black males in London were stopped and searched.

The Met’s defence is that this group is disproportionately likely to be the perpetrators of violent crime and that the policy is successful in taking dangerous weapons off the streets. Desperation over knife crime in many communities led to more willingness to trust the police. That trust appears not to be repaid. Smartphone footage shows a nurse humiliated; another case revealed a father and son stopped for being black and on a bicycle. Only about a fifth of searches lead to an arrest or sanction.

Most of these are for petty drug offences. Police should be apologising to

the 80% of people they have inconvenienced and routinely handcuffed during stop and search because their suspicions were unfounded.

Ms Dick’s claim that stop and search is an effective tool to fight crime flies in the face of the research.

A landmark 2018 study by University College London found no clear evidence that stop and search had a significant effect on violent crime. The policy had fallen out of favour since its use peaked in 2010.

Theresa May’s stint as home secretary ushered in a revolution in policing.

Mrs May, to her credit, understood the counterproductive nature of the policy and made it more difficult to use. However, a surge in knife crime has seen politicians return to robust policing methods, a theme enthusiastically taken up by the current home secretary, Priti Patel.

There is a place for stop and search, but there must be safeguards applied to this intrusive and coercive policy. Surely knife crime can be driven down without state powers used against swathes of innocent people, disproportionately from the black community with the understandable damage that causes. The section 60 powers, which allow officers to conduct “no-suspicion” stop and searches and have been widened by Mrs Patel, should be repealed.

Ms Dick could do worse than follow the lead of her West Midlands counterpart who apologised last month to the black community for failings in “how we have policed them”. Black people in London are three times more likely to be stopped and searched than in Birmingham. This has little to do with crime. It is more about the culture and tradition of the Met, where the police seem to have a fixed idea who the “criminals” are and see it as their job to control them. London’s police force appears poorly managed, poorly disciplined and insufficiently accountable to the public it serves. Ms Dick needs to get a grip. Her departure right now would be a substitute for real change rather than a catalyst for it. What communities in the UK’s capital need is to be policed without being inflicted with a reign of terror.

Jeffrey A. Tucker is Editorial Director for the American Institute for Economic Research.

Questions on succession in North Korea THE US, CHINA AND SOUTH KOREA SHOULD HOLD TALKS, COORDINATING ON POSSIBLE SUCCESSION PLANS FOR NORTH KOREA

LONDON’S POLICE FORCE APPEARS POORLY MANAGED, POORLY DISCIPLINED AND INSUFFICIENTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC IT SERVES Editorial

that whole communities suddenly fix their minds upon one object, and go mad in its pursuit; that millions of people become simultaneously impressed with one delusion, and run after it, till their attention is caught by some new folly more captivating than the first. We see one nation suddenly seized, from its highest to its lowest members, with a fierce desire of military glory; another as suddenly becoming crazed upon a religious scruple; and neither of them recovering its senses until it has shed rivers of blood and sowed a harvest of groans and tears, to be reaped by its posterity…. Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.

After 2005 when the Internet developed into a serious repository for human knowledge, and it became accessible via smartphones and near-universal access, I too was tempted by the idea that we would enter into a new age of enlightenment in which mass frenzies would be quickly stopped by dawning wisdom.

You can see evidence of my naivete with my April 5, 2020 article: With Knowledge Comes Calm, Rationality, and, Possibly, Openness. My thought then was that the evidence of the extremely discriminatory im-

pact of the virus on plus-70 people with underlying conditions would cause a sudden realization that this virus was behaving like a normal virus. We were not all going to die.

We would use rationality and reopen. I recall writing that with a sense of confidence that the media would report the new study and the panic would end.

I was preposterously wrong, along with my four-month-old feeling that all of this stuff would stop on Monday. The psychiatrist I met in New York was correct: the drug of fear had already invaded the public mind.

Once there, it takes a very long time to recover. This is made far worse by politics, which has only fed the beast of fear. This is the most politicized disease in history, and doing so has done nothing to help manage it and much to make it all vastly worse.

We’ve learned throughout this ordeal that despite our technology, our knowledge, our history of building prosperity and peace, we are no smarter than our ancestors and, by some measures, not as smart as our parents and grandparents. The experience with COVID has caused a mass reversion to the superstitions and panics that sporadically defined the human experience of ages past. eventually, people have and do come to their senses, but it is as Mackay said: people “go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.”

YalEGlobal Mike Chinoy

He reappearance of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a factory opening on May 10 silenced rumors that he had died or was incapacitated. After 21 days out of public view, Kim appeared confident, smiling and smoking as he cut the ribbon accompanied by his sister Kim Yo Jong and other officials.

Analysts and journalists who leapt onto the “Kim is dead” bandwagon were left looking silly. But Kim is obese and a chainsmoker, reportedly a heavy drinker, and appears to walk with a limp. Moreover, since May 10, he has only made a handful of public appearances – far fewer than during the corresponding period last year. Although only 36, he could be a candidate for a health event.

Since he has no obvious heir, this prospect raises a host of questions.

When Kim’s grandfather Kim Il Sung died suddenly in July 1994, at age 82, he had just welcomed former US President Jimmy Carter to Pyongyang and agreed to negotiations with Washington on the North’s nuclear weapons program. His successor Kim Jong Il followed the same path, eventually agreeing to freeze the program in return for American aid and improved diplomatic relations.

Should Kim Jong Un leave the scene, however, the international environment is dramatically more polarized, with rising tensions between the United States and China as well as US allies. Frustrated with his failure to convince Washington and Seoul to ease international sanctions, Kim outlined a major strategic reorientation last December that ruled out dialogue with the United States or South Korea and focused instead on ramping up military power. This hardline approach could lead to tests of medium-range Rodong and short-range Scud missiles, submarinelaunched missiles or other weapons that approach – but do not cross – Washington’s ban on North Korean tests of nuclear devices or intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Pyongyang has refrained from such moves since it began talking with the Trump administration in 2018, while continuing to produce weapons-grade plutonium and uranium and improving its missile technology.

However, with North Korean military prowess growing, and President Donald Trump preoccupied with Covid-19 and a stiff reelection fight, Kim may think there is little the United

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States would or could do to retaliate if he did stage a nuclear or ICBM test. Moreover, if it appears that Joe Biden is indeed likely to defeat Trump, Pyongyang may, as one former US diplomat put it, “want to lay down a marker in advance of the election.” This is the dangerous context in which North Korea’s internal succession and external maneuvering would play out if Kim should die. His country has proved surprisingly resilient, surviving two leadership successions, severe famine and international sanctions.

Only those with a direct blood link to Kim Il Sung are thought to have the legitimacy to lead. Analysts believe Kim Jong Un has three children. All are young, the oldest about 10 years of age. His older brother, Kim Jong Chol, was passed over by Kim Jong Il, apparently for lacking the toughness to rule. There has been much speculation about his sister, widely seen as her brother’s trusted confidante.

US Donald Trump confronts low approval ratings, eroding ties with allies and tough reelection in Nov; S Korea Moon Jae-in serves a single five-year term; his party swept April parliamentary elections, emphasizes rapprochement with N Korea; Japan Shinzo Abe’s popularity is in decline amid corruption scandals, and he faces election by Oct 2021; Russia Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings have dipped; he sought laws that reject term limits and could keep him in power through 2036; China Xi Jinping has solid lock on power with no term limits; the North’s largest trade partner is intent on keeping the nation in its orbit While previously behaving more like a valet than a potential successor, in recent weeks, she has taken on an increasingly public role. In June, she issued a series of denunciations and threats targeting South Korea, with her statements featured prominently in North Korea’s official media. Although it is hard to imagine a young woman acquiring the authority and legitimacy to rule in North Korea’s conservative, male-dominated society, even with her bloodline, her growing influence fuels speculation she is being groomed to succeed her brother.

If Kim Jong Un were to die sooner rather than later, North Korea – and its nuclear weapons, missiles and 1.2 million-strong army – would enter uncharted waters. even a relatively orderly succession would likely see a significant increase in the role of the stridently anti-American armed forces. A struggle for power could conceivably lead to civil unrest, an outflow of refugees into China and South Korea, and in the worst case, armed clashes among competing factions and loose nuclear weapons.

In this kind of situation, the priorities of Washington, Beijing and Seoul would diverge – the United States seeking to secure the North’s nuclear arsenal; China to maintain the North as a pliant buffer state; and South Korea, committed to engagement and hoping for reunification, eager for stabilization. Yet

officials in the three capitals are not having the critical conversations required to ensure that a bad situation would not become even worse.

The United States and South Korea have long had contingency plans for a crisis, addressing everything from defending the border to seizing Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal. But the US-South Korea alliance is crumbling, with Washington and Seoul at loggerheads over how much Seoul should pay for hosting US forces. Trump’s threats to scale down the US military presence have made coordinating a response to disruptions in North Korea more problematic.

Beijing, which probably knows more about the North’s internal dynamics than Washington or Seoul, is widely believed to have plans to deploy military forces to ensure North Korea’s survival as a viable buffer state.

China has long resisted US requests to discuss contingency planning – even while facing the likelihood of US or South Korean military intervention to seize the North’s nuclear weapons – in part to avoid revealing its hand and in part to avoid upsetting Pyongyang. With Sino-American relations in a downward spiral, Beijing has even less incentive to cooperate.

In 1950, the prospect of American and South Korean troops operating along its border with the North led China to enter the Korean War. Despite the world’s preoccupation with COVID-19, the key parties need to start talking as North Korea faces an uncertain and dangerous future.

One way to do this might be to hold a series of so-called Track 1.5 or Track 2 diplomacy – unofficial interactions between government officials, often facilitated by a third party like a think tank, or informal conversations among former senior officials, experts and scholars. Such gatherings could include the United States, China, South Korea and possibly Japan.

This approach has been tried over the years in relation to North Korea, and, as former State Department Korea expert evans Revere, who participated in such gatherings, has noted, “it might help open some doors.”

But in the current poisonous climate, even attempting to arrange such meetings could be problematic. The absence of adequate coordination or discussion of contingency plans between Washington, Beijing and Seoul, however, leaves the world ill equipped to handle what could be an extraordinarily dangerous crisis.

Mike Chinoy is a non-resident senior fellow at the University of Southern California’s US-China Institute. He has visited North Korea 17 times and is the author of two books about the country: Meltdown: The Inside Story of the North Korean Nuclear Crisis and The Last POW. His latest book is Are You With Me? Kevin Boyle and the Rise of the Human Rights Movement.

Sunday, 12 July, 2020

BUSINESS 09

Govt lambasted over closure of CNG stations ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) has criticised the government's move to shut down all CNG stations in Sindh and Punjab, saying that the decision has rendered thousands of workers jobless. "The action was taken to favour the power sector, which is known for malpractices, mismanagement and incompetence," said APCNGA Chairman Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha in a statement issued on Saturday. "The government continues to ignore reforms in the inefficient power sector and keeps rewarding it through different controversial moves, but the circular debt has not reduced one bit." Paracha said that CNG had not experienced such kind of maltreatment in the last 20 years. "Earlier, the sector used to experience brief closures in winters, but now the same practice has started in the summers as well." He maintained that CNG was not only keeping the environment clean and ensuring economical transport to the poor masses, but was also paying the highest amount of taxes. "Despite being the only sector that runs without a government subsidy, CNG stations continue to face the wrath of the policymakers which is beyond comprehension," he lamented. "The government should first put its house in order before helping the private power companies like K-Electric at the cost of other sectors." The government should also take note of the step-motherly attitude towards the CNG sector and take action against those who were conspiring against it, he demanded.

Horticulture exporters oppose shifting of FPCCI headquarters to Islamabad ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters, Importers & Merchants Association (PFVA) has strongly denounced the proposal to shift the head office of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) from Karachi to Islamabad, terming it a "deep conspiracy" against the business community of the port city. In a statement issued on Saturday, PFVA Patron-in-Chief Waheed Ahmed maintained that the group currently running the FPCCI affairs has failed to provide any sort of financial relief to the city's business community during the coronavirus pandemic, particularly SMEs and small traders.

"Despite tall claims by the FPCCI leadership, the issues of the business community of Karachi remained unresolved," he stated. Giving examples, he said, nothing had been done to reduce demurrage and penalties imposed by shipping companies during the pandemic. Similarly, many proposals submitted by the FPCCI for the federal budget were discarded by the government. He alleged that the FPCCI leadership was suffering from internal tussles, adding that "unelected representatives" have "virtually highjacked" the head office of the FPCCI. The incumbent leadership is mulling to shift the head office to Islamabad only to "hide" their internal differences and incompetence, he added.

"Karachi is the economic hub of the country, generating 70pc revenue for the federal government. The seaport of this city plays a vital role in the export and import of various commodities and hence most of the problems faced by the businessmen are related to the federal departments located in the city," the PFVA chairman said. If the FPCCI leadership cannot resolve issues of the businessmen community, it should at least not weaken the important business platform by shifting its head office from Karachi, he concluded.

PakIstaN reIterates CommItmeNt to early ComPletIoN oF FatF aCtIoN PlaN HAFEEZ SHAIKH URGES UN PANEL TO OBSERVE HOW MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES ARE MANOEUVRING THEIR WAYS THROUGH TAX SYSTEMS AND SHIFTING THEIR PROFITS TO LOW TAX JURISDICTIONS ISLAMABAD

a

STAFF REPORT

DVISER to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has said that Pakistan, as a responsible member of the international community, has increased the effectiveness of its anti-money laundering regime so as to fulfil its commitments for early completion of the FATF Action Plan.

"Of the 27 agenda items under the Financial Action Task Force, Pakistan had already addressed 14 items while substantial progress has been made in addressing the remaining 13," the PM’s aide said in his keynote statement to the UN's 'High-Level Panel on International Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity for Achieving the 2030 Agenda'.

The UN panel discussed the overall efforts undertaken by member states for the implementation of comprehensive international frameworks related to financial accountability, transparency and integrity critical to financing the sustainable development goals.

United Nation's General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande and Economic and Social Council President Mona Juul were also part of the panel discussion.

In his address, the PM's adviser informed the panel that Pakistan had made considerable progress in addressing the recommended actions of Mutual Evaluation Report, which included 15 legal amendments to meet technical compliance, updation of National Risk Assessment on ML/CT, implementation of AML/CFT measures on Designated Non-Financial Business and Professions, Central Directorate of National Savings and Pakistan Post, broadening the sanction regime etc.

Similarly, he said, the government had taken various measures in recent years to contain illicit financial flows through the strengthening of the AML/CFT reg-

ulations on Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and Know Your Customer (KYC), while other AML/CFT instructions to financial institutions were also brought in line with FATF standards.

"To further align with the international standards, the AML Act had been amended to include tax offences as predicate offences. A range of predicate offences have been added to the schedule of AML Act to include serious offences including corruption, narcotics, terrorism and human trafficking," he added.

Shaikh further informed the panel that violations of Section 4(1) (un-authorized FX business) and Section 5 (Illegal transfers) of Foreign Exchange Regulation Act ( FERA), 1947, had been incorporated into the schedule of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Act 2010, wherein those offences might also be punishable under AML Act 2010. He said amendments to Protection of Economic Reforms Act (PERA) 1992, had been incorporated to restrict the feeding of foreign currency accounts by non-tax filers.

The adviser said that Pakistan had launched the Pakistan Remittances Initiative (PRI) to facilitate the inflow of home remittance into Pakistan through formal channels. Resultantly, Pakistan had registered growth in remittances during the last decade, rising from $6.4 billion in FY08 to $23 billion in FY20.

"Automation of Electronic Import Form (EIF) and Electronic Export Form (EEF) by banks through Pakistan Customs’ software - Web Based One Customs (WeBOC) to synchronize import and export of goods and payments by banks were also some of the steps taken by the government to further streamline

the processes," he added.

He said the State Bank of Pakistan and Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan was continuing to identify illegal MVTS (hawala/ hundi operators) and take measures including closure, investigation and prosecution these operators.

Shaikh also called upon the panel to look into how multinational corporations minimize their tax liabilities to revenue authorities in their country of operations. He observed that MNCs had devised sophisticated financial and operational models enabling them to manoeuvre their way through tax systems and shift their profits to low tax jurisdictions and, in many instances, tax havens that are highly opaque in nature.

He said the Panama Papers highlighted the myriad ways in which the rich could exploit secretive offshore tax regimes – and widen the gulf between rich and poor. Abuse of anonymous shell companies is among the reasons why many countries are facing greater challenges today in the face of the COVID19 pandemic. For years, they have enabled corruption, fraud and tax evasion, he added.

The adviser also drew the attention of the panel to a research paper by the Transparency International, showing that the overall level of compliance on the part of countries with beneficial ownership transparency standards was low, as many countries had failed to take adequate measures such as the establishment of registers. Asset recovery by developing countries has been slow and legal framework remains cumbersome, he noted.

KPITB launches 'Women Empowerment through Digital Skills' programme PESHAWAR AZIZ BUNERI

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB), with financial and technical support from the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) and the World Bank, has launched 'Women Empowerment through Digital Skills' programme.

"The digital skills programme is part of the government's plan to create more digital jobs in the province," said Rukhsana Nader, President of KP Women's Chamber of Commerce, while talking to Profit. "The pro-

gramme will facilitate 3,000 women in the province in the field of information technology and will also provide them with employment opportunities."

According to Science and IT Adviser Ziaullah Bangash, the KP government has empowered women across the province by providing them with proper training in modern technology. "There are many opportunities for women in the IT sector in KP, as the international organizations have made huge investments in this sector," he said.

Bangash said that KP has taken the initiative to fulfil PM Imran Khan's vision of a Digital Pakistan. KP

has once again surpassed other provinces by training and outsourcing women in the field, he maintained.

Talking to this scribe, KPITB Managing Director Dr Shahbaz said that the first phase of the programme would provide online training to 500 women. Keeping in view the outbreak of coronavirus, this training programme would be conducted online, with the candidates participating from home, he added.

Shahbaz said that women from all districts of the province who are aged between 18 and 30 could apply for the programme by registering at the official website of KPITB.

The law of unintended consequences: when GDPR increased Google’s market concentration BABAR KHAN JAVED While the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the core of the EU digital privacy legislation, afforded protections for users of digital, internet, and online services - including the rights to data subjects - a new paper from Geradin Partners suggests that the wellintended regulation while delivering "positive outcomes by enhancing the protection" has additionally borne "adverse effects on [the] competition by strengthening the position of Google and other large online platforms".

Given the enormous amount of data it collects and processes, GDPR may have initially been thought to negatively impact Google's ability to deliver advertising and technology services. However, the paper argues that compared to Google, smaller rivals were less capable of absorbing the implementation costs of the GDPR and coping with the restrictions on the collection and processing of data.

The Irish Data Protection Authority, for instance, has yet to challenge questionable data-related practices at Google, while the Data Protection Authorities (DPA) have subjected smaller actors to harsh intervention,

the paper's authors suggest.

They believe that Google weaponized GDPR and the concern for privacy in general in order to strengthen its control on the ad tech ecosystem to the detriment of advertisers, publishers, and smaller rivals. One actual example of this was the announcement from Google to phase out third-party cookies on Chrome, the browser it owns.

In a joint statement shared with Marketing Dive, Dan Jaffe and Dick O'Brien, both serving as EVP of government relations at the ANA and 4A’s respectively, said that Google's decision to block thirdparty cookies in Chrome would threaten to substantially disrupt much of the infrastructure of today's internet without providing any viable alternative, adding that it may choke off the economic oxygen from advertising that startups and emerging companies need to survive. Indeed, the announcement itself was followed by shares of ad-tech companies such as Criteo falling to a record low.

A year after the GDPR went into effect, the Center for Data Innovation published a report on the ten unintended consequences of GDPR such as the cancellation of mergers

& acquisitions, time-wasting tools that overload businesses with GDPR-authorized data requests, reduced venture funding received

by EU technology startups, and the reduction of competition from digital advertising companies. A report from CNN found that complying with the new regulations resulted in the world's biggest companies spending tens of millions of dollars to prepare. Smaller companies that do not have the same resources are struggling.

Michal Gal, a law professor at the University of Haifa and Oshrit Aviv, Founder of Entero.io, echoed the sentiment in a paper titled The Competitive Effects of the GDPR, stating that the GDPR limits competition in data markets, creating more concentrated market structures and entrenching the market power of those who are already strong. The authors added that the GDPR limits data sharing between different data collectors, thereby preventing the realization of some data synergies which may lead to better databased knowledge.

THE CONTRARIAN: "I would rather have 'one neck to choke', as the saying goes, rather than hundreds of shadowy ad tech companies collecting, buying, and selling

my data, and me having no recourse because I don't even know who they are," said Dr Augustine Fou, a cybersecurity and anti-advertising fraud consultant, in a statement to Branding In Asia. Fou said that, in terms of privacy, Google has so much public pressure to make changes for the better that they have the most to lose.

Across all its products, users of Google products are logged in all the time, counting as first-party cookies, and Fou believes that advertising technology companies that buy & sell consumer data will complain that Google is weaponizing the GDPR to consolidate power to themselves.

"Doing away with 3rd party cookies means third parties cannot track and target users as easily anymore and for Google, they have logged in users all the time anyway," said Fou. SUGGESTED CORRECTIONS: The paper from Geradin Partner concludes with four suggestions for DPAs identify and remedy the shortcomings of the GDPR: a differentiated approach on the baseline obligations expected from small and mediumsized businesses that fall under the scrutiny of the Magna Carta of data protection, uni-

form enforcement of the regulation without divergent interpretations, examine any justification based on data protection legislation and keep a watchful eye on Google’s decision to phase out third-party cookies on Chrome and the evolution of the Privacy Sandbox.

"Though formally an open-source project, we are sceptical as to which extent third parties will have any meaningful say in the process, and past experience from the Android Open Source Project shows how Google may end up running initiatives which are nominally open-source," said the authors from Geradin Partners. "There is a real risk that Chrome’s policy change will further strengthen walled gardens to the detriment of the open web (and the ad tech ecosystem)."

The added that the Privacy Sandbox risks making the Chrome browser the “gatekeeper” of data, on which third parties (be it publishers, advertisers, or ad tech vendors) will be dependent. With more advertising expenditure concentrated in the Google walled garden, the Privacy Sandbox, the authors ponder, may impoverish the open web - with all the societal implications this entails.

Sunday, 12 July, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

Saudi prince prime SuSpect in KhaShoggi murder caSe: un official GENEVA

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AGENCIES

UN official has said that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was a prime suspect in the case of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in 2018. In an interview with Anadolu Agency, the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Execution Agnes Callamard said even though she does not have evidence against the Mohammed bin Salman, but in terms of ordering and inciting the killing, he is a prime suspect.

“Look, I think he is a prime suspect in terms of determining who ordered or who incited the killing. He is in the picture. Personally, I do not have the evidence pointing to him as having ordered the crime,” said Callamard, who is also a noted human rights lawyer.

She said that circumstantial evidence suggests that a crime of that nature could not have taken place without the contribution of MBS. “I believe that according to the information that was provided more than a year ago, the CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] may have this information,“she said.

She noted that Turkey’s trial is being held “in absentia” because everyone knew that Saudi Arabia will not allow the defendants to face trial in Turkey.

“Nevertheless, I think it is important. I want to note that the defendants are represented, that they have been assigned state-assigned lawyers,” she said.

Callamard described the trial in Turkey fairer than the one conducted in Saudi Arabia.

A Turkish court on July 3 began the trial of the case, listing the 20 Saudi nationals as accused in the 2018 killing of Khashoggi.

‘PARODY OF JUSTICE’: Istanbul’s Heavy Penal Court No. 11 heard arguments from Khashoggi’s fiancée

iran will develop oil industry despite uS sanctions: minister TEHRAN AGENCIES

and some witnesses.

Hatice Cengiz, his fiancée, said the Washington Post columnist was deceived into entering the consulate.

“I think it’s important because we cannot be held hostage by the Saudi [judicial] process, which presented more than just a few mutations but was in my view, a parody of justice,” Callamard told journalists at the UN office in Geneva on Thursday.

She said unlike in Saudi Arabia, trial in Turkey was in public and, the media has access to it.

“People like me can observe it and international NGOs are observing it. The trial at the indictment has

been made public. So, let us give it a chance. And let us see what we can learn from the process,” she said.

Callamard said that in a report she presented to the UN Human Rights Council, she has noted that Turkey has investigated the killing of Jamal Khashoggi seriously.

“I welcome the fact that they are now moving into a trial because it means that the international community will be able to assess the work that they have done. I think it is very important for the credibility and the legitimacy of their process, “the UN official said.

She believes it will be naive to think that MBS can be facing judges tomorrow.

Iran is determined to develop its oil industry in spite of sanctions imposed by the United States on the country, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said in a televised speech on Saturday. “We will not surrender under any circumstances […] We have to increase our capacity so that when necessary with full strength we can enter the market and revive our market share,” said Zanganeh. The minister was speaking before the signing of a $294-million contract between the National Iranian Oil Company and Persia Oil & Gas, an Iranian firm, to develop the Yaran oilfield that is shared with neighbouring Iraq’s Majnoon field. The agreement aims to produce 39.5 million barrels of oil from the Yaran oilfield in Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran, the Iranian Oil Ministry’s news agency SHANA said. Hit by reimposed US sanctions since Washington exited Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, Iran’s oil exports are estimated at 100,000 to 200,000 barrels per day, down from more than 2.5m bpd that Iran shipped in April 2018. The Islamic Republic’s crude production has halved to around 2m bpd.

US sets single-day record with 69,000 new coronavirus cases WASHINGTON AGENCIES

The United States recorded more than 69,000 infections on Friday setting another record for the number of coronavirus cases in the country.

A total of eight US states — Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Ohio, Utah and Wisconsin — also reached records for single-day infections.

In Texas, another hot zone, Governor Greg Abbott warned on Friday he may have to impose new clampdowns if the state cannot stem its record-setting caseloads and hospitalizations through masks and social distancing.

“If we don’t adopt this best practice it could lead to a shutdown of business,” the Republican governor told local KLBKTV in Lubbock, adding it was the last thing he wanted.

California announced on Friday the state will release up to 8,000 inmates early from prisons to slow the spread of COVID-19 inside the facilities. At San Quentin State Prison, outside San Francisco, half of the facility’s roughly 3,300 prisoners have tested positive for the virus.

The Walt Disney said the theme parks in Orlando would open on Saturday to a limited

number of guests who along with employees would be required to wear masks and undergo temperature checks. The park also cancelled parades, firework displays and events that typically draw crowds.

Disney’s chief medical officer said earlier this week she believed the rules would allow guests to visit the park safely.

Roughly 19,000 people, including some

theme park workers, have signed a petition asking Disney to delay the reopening. The union representing 750 Walt Disney World performers has filed a grievance against the company, claiming retaliation against members over a union demand that they be tested for COVID-19.

Other theme parks opened in Orlando in June, including Comcast Corp’s Universal

Studios Orlando and SeaWorld Entertainment Inc’s SeaWorld.

Florida remains one of the worst hotspots for the virus in the nation and is among a handful of states where deaths are rising, based on a Reuters analysis of fatalities in the last two weeks, compared with the prior two weeks.

On Thursday, the state reported a record 120 deaths and added another 92 on Friday.

It recorded 11,433 new coronavirus cases on Friday, just short of the state’s record, and nearly 7,000 hospitalizations.

ANTIVIRAL DRUG TO FLORIDA: More than four dozen hospitals in Florida have reported their intensive care units were full.

This month, Florida has repeatedly reported more new daily coronavirus cases than any European country had at the height of their outbreaks. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, angered some residents and medical experts by calling the spike a “blip.”

On Friday, DeSantis said that the state would receive more than 17,000 vials of the antiviral drug remdesivir from the US government, adding: “That’ll be something that will hopefully help to improve patient outcomes.”

Scott Burkee, a 43-year-old former Disney employee from Davenport, Florida,

said DeSantis “has shown zero effort to control the spread, he only becomes concerned when Trump does. The virus is clearly out of control.”

Trump, a Republican, traveled to Florida on Friday for an event at the US military’s Southern Command and a campaign fundraiser.

The president has sparred with state and local officials and teachers unions over the reopening of schools and said on Friday the Treasury Department would re-examine the tax-exempt status and funding of those that remain closed.

Trump previously vowed to cut federal funding to the schools and eject foreign students attending universities in the United States unless their schools offer in-person classes. Most education funds come from state and local coffers. The number of confirmed US infections is over 3 million, according to a Reuterstally, stoking fears that hospitals will be overwhelmed.

More than 133,000 Americans have died, a toll that experts warn will likely surge along with the rise in cases.

Overall, coronavirus cases are rising in 44 American states, based on a Reuters analysis of cases for the past two weeks compared with the prior two weeks.

US-India relationship will be one of the main beneficiaries of India-China crisis WASHINGTON AGENCIES

A border clash has plunged ties between India and China to their lowest point in decades.

But one beneficiary looks clear — the relationship between United States and India.

Experts say India could finally end equivocation about openly aligning itself with the long-eager US, although there will still be disagreements which, paradoxically, are now mostly due to Washington.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters that China “took incredibly aggressive action” in a hand-to-hand battle in the remote Himalayas on June 15 that killed 20 Indian soldiers.

The hawkish Pompeo characterised the violence as part of a broader strategy by Beijing to challenge all of its neighbours.

Jeff M. Smith, a research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation who has written a book on the India-China rivalry, said the US is known to offer border intelligence to India, which is now likely to pick up the pace on defence acquisitions.

But Smith said that India has asked the

US to be publicly circumspect — in part to show the domestic audience that New Delhi does not need help.

India also does not want “to feed Chinese propaganda narratives that this is all a component of the China-US rivalry and that India is working at America’s behest,” Smith said.

Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, cautioned that neither India nor China wanted a complete rupture and said that both still saw some common interests, especially in international organisations.

“But make no mistake: This current India-China crisis is a watershed for the geopolitics of Asia, and the US-India relationship will be one of the main beneficiaries,” he said.

“Previous Indian concern about antagonising China if it moves closer to the US is starting to melt away.”

US has been seeking warmer ties since the 1990s with India, which insisted during the Cold War on being “non-aligned” on the global stage.

US President Donald Trump has appeared to form a bond with Indian Prime

Minister Narendra Modi, a fellow nationalist who warns of the threat of radical Islam, and the pair have held two joint mega-rallies.

But Trump, his eyes at home ahead of elections, has also taken action detrimental to India, including last year kicking it out of a preferential trade status under which it had exported billions of dollars in goods.

Trump, citing the coronavirus pandemic, more recently has suspended high-tech visas and threatened to expel international students, moves with significant impacts on Indians.

India is happy to see Trump’s tougher stances on China as well as historic adversary Pakistan but also feels demands, especially on trade, said Aparna Pande, director of the Hudson Institute’s Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia.

“It is a semi-transactional relationship. It is not a strategic relationship, as it was in earlier years,” she said.

Trump, who has frequently sparred with Western allies, may not even want a more committed relationship with India, she said.

“I wouldn’t say there is as much reluctance on the Indian side. That has calmed

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down,” Pande said. “The two are closer than they have ever been. But are the two ready to take that extra step?”

In another recent shift, US lawmakers, mostly Democrats, have openly criticised India on human rights, including Modi’s revocation of autonomy and controls on the in-

ternet in occupied Kashmir.

Anthony Blinken, a close aide to presidential candidate Joe Biden, said that the Democrat, if he defeats Trump, would seek to “strengthen and deepen” the relationship with India. But Blinken shared concerns on freedoms.

Sunday, 12 July, 2020

POA President CAlls fOr resumPtiOn Of COuntryWide sPOrts ACtivities LAHORE APP

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AKISTAN Olympic Association (POA) President Lt Gen (r) Arif Hasan has said that there is dire need to resume sports activities in the country. While talking to the journalists during a video conference, he said, “The government should allow opening of certain facilities subject to certain conditions in which social distancing would be mandatory”.

Sports like golf, tennis singles, table tennis singles, archery, and other non-contact sports can easily be played. The online competitions, however, will continue. We also appreciate the efforts of the national federations, which held online activities to engage their athletes and officials.”

About Covid-19 impact, the POA chief said: “Its impact on us is no different. However, our appreciation to the federations, which took advantage of the available technology and kept on organising online activities.

Taekwondo, karate, boxing, volleyball, wushu, baseball

and handball devised online competitions and fitness programmes for their athletes, and they also deserve due appreciation in this regard. Hopefully, they will continue such activities to keep the athletes busy and active.”

Gen Arif said that the POA celebrated the ‘Olympic Day’ by taking part in the IOC-endorsed online fitness programme. “It must be mentioned here that Pakistan had the unique honour of being one of the 23 countries (out of the 202 members) selected to participate. We were represented by Aisam-ul-Haq, who gave a fantastic job in front of a world audience.”

The POA president also addressed certain observations, which were raised recently. “The points raised by certain quarters were erroneous. It was stated that the POA doesn’t select the teams. These are and can only be selected by the federations and no one else. It is also wrong to say that the PSB has no role to play and that the POA does not coordinate. The procedure was explained by giving the example of South Asian Games (SAG).

“The POA held its first in-house preliminary meeting on Oct 11, 2018. The recommended list disciplines

to be participated in along with numbers were sent to the PSB for their consideration. The second meeting of all stakeholders was held on Nov 8, 2018 at the PSB presided by the PSB DG. The third meeting was held on Oct 9, 2019 at the POA Office in Lahore. PSB DG Arif Ibrahim and PSB Director Training Raja Zulfiqar Akhtar attended the meeting. The contingent, after presentation by the concerned federations, was finalised after mutual consultation.

“The list was finalised after sending to the PSB. The numbers were reduced again. However, no camps were organised by the PSB as is usually done before any major International Games. However, the dates of the National Games proved to be a blessing.

It was evident during the 33rd National Games, 2019 that mutual efforts of KP Government, KPOA, POA, Army, Wapda, and all the federations helped to stage not only one of the best National Games in the history of Pakistan but their preparations for the Games helped in an enhanced performance at SAG. Therefore to say that the PSB has no role to play and that the POA does not cooperate or consult is factually incorrect.”

SPORTS 11 The POA president highlighted an anomaly wherein it is being said that due to devolution, the federal government has no role to play. This, he said, is not correct as the elite training and development will always remain with the federal government in the present scenario.

We must understand elite sports development and what all it entails. This entail a host of measures for the elite like high quality coaches, medical sciences and support to the athlete (Physio, nutritionist, sports injuries specialists) etc, participation in International competition etc, and this too all year round. To expect the Federations to do all this in the Rs. 1.5 million (average) is fallacy.

The POA, in its limited capacity, has been providing support from the IOC. Shooting is one such example, where POA got three years scholarship from the IOC and their shooters as a result qualified.

“It is important to study what other countries are doing for sports development. India reportedly allocated 17,000 million towards sports development – all funded by the government. The POA, in its humble capacity, can provide whatever help is required.”

About 14th South Asian Games to be held in Pakistan next year, Gen Arif said: “The next chapter of the Asian Games has been allocated to Pakistan. The government of Pakistan has, in principle, agreed to organize the Games.

We are expecting to hold meetings with various quarters including South Asian Countries soon after the situation, due to COVID – 19, normalizes. “The 34th National Games have been allocated to Quetta and the POA shall hold meetings with the Balochistan Government as soon as the situation normalises.”

Wimbledon to disburse prize money in lieu of cancelled Championships

PSL 2020 ticket refund to start July 13: PCB SpORtS dESk The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will begin refunding tickets of those matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 that were either not played or played without fans behind closed doors.

The PCB issued details of the twotiered refund process on Saturday, saying that the first phase will begin from July 13. The cricket board said the refunds will be given for 10 matches, of which half were played without the fans due to rain and as many due to Covid-19.

In the first phase, the refunds will be made for qualifier, eliminator and final matches.

The first phase will run until August 5, while the second one will begin from August 6 until August 29.

PSL Project Executive Shoaib

Naveed said that the refunds took a while to take place as the board was ascertaining the situation arising out of the virus pandemic.

Naveed urged consumers to follow SOPs while visiting the courier company's designated branches to get their refunds.

The official expressed hope that the remaining matches of the franchise will be rescheduled in the second half of the 2020.

On March 17, the PCB had announced it is postponing the remaining matches of the PSL. The knockout matches and final of PSL were scheduled to be played in Lahore before they were called off.

The PCB plans to stage the remainder of the tournament later this year, ideally in the October-November window and especially if the T20 World Cup gets scrapped.

LOndOn Agencies

Azhar Ali and Sarfaraz Ahmed to captain in two-day practice match LAHORE APP

The Pakistan squad currently based in Worcester, England will take part in a twoday practice match at the New Road Ground from today, Saturday.

The match will provide further match

practice to the squad following the first intra-squad practice match held last week, said the information made available to APP here by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Azhar Ali will lead the Green team while Sarfaraz Ahmed will captain White team. A total of 90 overs will be bowled on

each of the two days.

Green Team: Azhar Ali (c), Babar Azam, Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Musa Khan and Usman Shinwari.

White Team: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar

Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Rohail Nazir. The rest of the players will continue their training and practice; they will be involved in the match if needed.

The prize money set aside for the Wimbledon Championships will be distributed to 620 players who were set to take part at this year’s cancelled tournament, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) said on Friday. Wimbledon, which was initially scheduled for June 29-July 12, was cancelled for the first time since World War Two due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has killed more than 44,000 people in the United Kingdom. "We are now in a position to allocate prize money to the 620 players whose world ranking would have enabled them to gain entry into The Championships 2020 by direct acceptance into the main draw or qualifying event," AELTC said in a statement. “From an agreed total of 10 million pounds ($12.60 million), the AELTC will distribute prize money in lieu of The Championships 2020 with regard for the circumstances of this year and in the spirit of the AELTC’s prize money distribution in recent years.” AELTC said 224 singles players will receive 12,500 pounds each as they were set to compete in the qualifying rounds while the 256 players in the main draw will receive 25,000 pounds each. Doubles players will receive 6,250 pounds each while wheelchair and quad wheelchair players are set to get 6,000 and 5,000 pounds each respectively.

Football great Jack Charlton dies aged 85 LOndOn Agencies

Jack Charlton, a World Cup winner with England and former Republic of Ireland boss, has died aged 85.

The former Leeds defender had been diagnosed with lymphoma in the last year and also had dementia.

One of English football's most popular characters, he was in the team that won the World Cup at Wembley in 1966, alongside his brother Bobby.

He made a record number of appearances for Leeds and achieved unprecedented success with the Republic of Ireland. A family statement read: "Jack died peacefully on Friday, July 10 at the age of 85. He was at home in Northumberland, with his family by his side.

"As well as a friend to many, he was a much-adored husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

"We cannot express how proud we are of the extraordinary life he led and the pleasure he brought to so many people in different countries and from all walks of life.

"He was a thoroughly honest, kind, funny and genuine man who always had time for people.

"His loss will leave a huge hole in all our lives but we are thankful for a lifetime of happy memories."

Archive: Jack Charlton explains his football philosophy while Republic of Ireland boss The England football team tweeted to say they were "devastated" by the news, while he was hailed as a man who "changed Irish football forever" by the Football Association of Ireland.

"He was a great and lovable character and he will be greatly missed. The world of football and the world beyond football has lost one of the greats. RIP old friend," said England's 1966 World Cup final hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst.

Charlton had spells in charge of Sheffield Wednesday, Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

He led the Republic of Ireland to their first major finals at Euro 88 and the World Cup quarter-finals at Italia 90. Leeds United, where he spent his entire 21-year playing career and made a joint club record 773 appearances before retiring as a player in 1973, said they were "deeply saddened".

Charlton, part of the Leeds side that won the 1969 League title and the 1972 FA Cup, is the third club legend and former England international to die this year after Norman Hunter and Trevor Cherry.

Despite not being called into the England team until days before his 30th birthday, Charlton won 35 caps and, playing alongside younger brother Bobby, lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy at Wembley in 1966.

He also helped England finish third at the 1968 European Championship, and was voted the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year in 1967.

"Saddened to hear that Jack Charlton has passed away," wrote former England striker Gary Lineker on Twitter. "World Cup winner with England, manager of probably the best ever Ireland side and a wonderfully infectious personality to boot. RIP Jack."

Former Republic of Ireland forward John Aldridge said: "Absolutely gutted that big Jack has passed away.

"What a football man, loved and adored, especially in Ireland. The best manager I was lucky to play for.

"The times we had on and off the pitch were priceless. My thoughts are with Pat and the family. RIP my good friend. Never forgotten."

Mark Lawrenson reflects on his time with former manager Jack Charlton with Republic of Ireland He is survived by wife Pat, whom he married in 1958, and their three children, John, Deborah and Peter.

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Charlton's granddaughter, journalist Emma Wilkinson, tweeted: "Beyond sad to have to say goodbye to my beloved Grandad, Jack Charlton.

"He enriched so many lives through football, friendship and family. He was a kind, funny and thoroughly

genuine man and our family will miss him enormously."

Irish president Michael D Higgins said: "He leaves a legacy of outstanding leadership of a group of players of many diverse talents, which he moulded into the successful team that captured the imagination of the nation."

Sunday, 12 July, 2020

NEWS

pm stresses ‘out-of-the-Box solutions’ for post-virus economic recovery ISLAMABAD

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APP

RIME Minister Imran Khan on Saturday emphasised that outof-the-box solutions were required for economic growth in these crucial times as the Covid-19 outbreak had adversely impacted the entire world’s economy, including that of Pakistan.

Chairing a meeting of the Finance and Economy think-tank, Imran said that from day one, the government adopted a strategy to maintain a balance between sustaining economic activity and protecting the masses from the infectious disease.

Adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Adviser on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Reza Baqir, and former

finance secretary Dr Waqar Masood Khan were present, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a press release.

Meanwhile, Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razaq Dawood, Shaukat Tareen, Sultan Alana, Dr Ijaz Nabi, and Arif Habib participated via video-link.

WB likely to approve $200m assistance to combat locust

Sheikh briefed the session about the objectives and focus areas of the think tank. The prime minister directed that regular feedback from the think tank be provided to him on various ongoing initiatives, policies, and programmes of the government.

PM Imran emphasised that their prime focus was on providing relief to the poor segments of society through targeted subsidies. He said the Ehsaas programme was a flagship programme of the government to alleviate poverty and required expansion along with a strategy to reach the most needy people.

The prime minister highlighted that a substantive package had been announced for the construction and housing sector that aimed at increasing much-needed employment opportunities and economic stimulus as well as adding to the inventory of affordable housing for the poor.

The premier highly appreciated the proposals presented by the think tank regarding banking and finance, further improving the Ehsaas programme and facilitating small and medium enterprises.

Trade bodies join hands against govt’s economic policies

imran urges world to help prevent srebrenica-like massacre in ioK NEWS DESK Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said he feared a massacre similar to the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica could happen in Indian occupied Kashmir and urged the international community to take notice and prevent it from happening. Speaking on the 25th anniversary of the massacre, the premier said he still remembered when the genocide had taken place. “We were shocked and appalled how this massacre was allowed to happen in a United Nations safe haven. I still feel shock [over] how such a thing could have been allowed by the world community.” In 1995, at least 8,000 mostly Muslim men and boys were chased through woods in and around Srebrenica by Serb troops in what is considered the worst carnage of civilians in Europe since World War II. The slaughter has been confirmed as an act of genocide. Khan said it was important to learn lessons from the massacre and talked about apprehensions regarding occupied Kashmir. “We see problems for the people of Kashmir. 800,000 troops have besieged eight million people of Kashmir. We are afraid that such a thing might happen there as well.”

Ban by eAsA, countries could cost piA rs33bn

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The World Bank is likely to approve $200 million for Pakistan to combat desert locust this month. According to officials at the Food Ministry, the WB Executive Board will approve the assistance to help Pakistan control the locust outbreak, restore livelihoods in the affected areas, and strengthen the country’s national food security monitoring and management system. The officials confirmed that the ministry had earlier approached WB for a programme against locust swarm infestation in the country. According to them, out of the total project cost of $200 million, $125 million will be financed from the regional International Development Association (IDA). The project is selected for emergency response financing because Pakistan’s food security and sustainability of the agriculture sector is in jeopardy. Desert locust breeding and hatching are progressing at an alarming rate in Pakistan, which carries important regional implications. According to FAO, Pakistan is an important front-line country for desert locust control given its two breeding seasons.

Successfully controlling the locust outbreak in Pakistan will bring significant public goods to the South Asia region, which provides strong justification for mobilizing regional IDA funding. Given the locust spread across South Asia, the Horn of Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan is an indispensable part of the global effort to combat the existing locust crisis. Locust spread is reaching an alarming level in Pakistan and the crisis is compounded by the Covid19 pandemic.

QAUMI TAJIR ITTEHAD BECOMES PART OF ANJUMAN-E-TAJRAN'S ‘HORN BAJAO, HUKMARAN JAGAO’ MOVEMENT LAHORE SHAHAB OMER

Pakistan's major trade organizations have joined hands against the governments' economic policies, with the Qaumi Tajir Ittehad (QTI) announcing its full support and participation in the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran's protest.

APAT had recently announced its protest movement (Horn Bajao, Hukmaran Jagao) against the government, following which another group of APAT had declared its support in favour of the protest.

On Saturday, the QTI also announced its participation in the APAT protest movement. The announcement was made during a joint press conference organised by the APAT and QTI at the Lahore Press Club.

Addressing the conference, QTI Chairman Sheikh Omar Hayat and President Malik Khalid maintained that the government had failed to provide facilities to traders amid Covid-19.

"Our primary goal is to solve the problems of traders. The right direction must be set for the betterment of the economy. Employment opportunities will be available only if all business activities are restored," Hayat stated.

Speaking on the occasion, APAT General Secretary Naeem Mir said that traders and business organizations were increasingly becoming part of the APAT move-

ment. "Our demands are purely related to trade and economy, and instead of accusing us of being political, the government should accept our demands."

He said the business community's negotiations with the incumbent government have never been successful and that they always resulted in wastage of time. "Our taxes can be spent on building temples and gurudwaras, but not on us, he deplored.

On July 18, he said, horns would be blown across the country in protest to the government’s policies, adding that APAT's protest would be civilized, peaceful and in accordance with the corona SOPs. Mir demanded that all businesses including restaurants, hotels, wedding halls, schools should be opened with SOPs. In addition, prices of petroleum products should be reduced.

"Under the pretext of smuggling, actions by the customs' authorities should be stopped, while the government should also set up an independent authority to set prices."

He maintained that the government has failed miserably in running the country, businesses and economy.

"We are ruled by useless rulers who do not understand the basic problems. Commodity price lists are bogus and fraudulent. The situation is that the markets are deserted and inflation is skyrocketing.”

Mir urged the opposition parties to also come out against the failed policies of the government.

ISLAMABAD TLTP

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) could suffer a loss of Rs33 billion as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and some countries have suspended the PIA flights for six months. The PIA has already suffered losses of billions of rupees due to suspension of its flight operations to Europe, United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US) over pilots’ scandal. The decision to suspend flight operations of the national flag carrier by the United States, the UK and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) came after it emerged that over 200 pilots in the country possess dubious licenses. PIA operated 23 flights to the UK in a week before the ban which included 10 flights to London, nine to Manchester and four to Birmingham. The national flag carrier operated six flights to Paris, Milan, Barcelona and Copan Hagen in Europe. The national flag carrier would also suffer losses of up to Rs12 billion in terms of Hajj operations this year after the Saudi authorities decided to hold the annual pilgrimage on a limited scale. It is pertinent to mention here that that on July 10, PIA CEO Arshad Malik apprised Prime Minister regarding the status of ongoing dialogues with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the resumption of flight operation. He also gave a briefing to PM Imran Khan regarding the restructuring process of the national carrier. Malik also presented a comprehensive plan to Imran Khan for turning PIA into a profitable national entity. PM Khan directed Malik to expedite the reform process of PIA and summoned the framework for reform agenda within seven days.

$11tr response to Covid-19 pushes global public debt to new heights: IMF NEW YORK TLTP

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has already prompted an “unprecedented” fiscal policy response of close to $11 trillion worldwide, pushing global public debt to reach record high level, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Friday.

“In the face of a sharp decline in global output, a massive fiscal response has been necessary to increase health capacity, replace lost household income and prevent large-scale bankruptcies,” Vitor Gaspar, director of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, and Gita Gopinath, IMF chief economist, wrote in a blog.

“But the policy response has also contributed to global public debt reaching its highest level in recorded history, at over 100 percent of global GDP (Gross domestic product), in excess of post-World War II peaks,” they noted.

Gaspar and Gopinath said the need for continued fiscal support is “clear” as countries gradually reopen from the lockdown, “but this begs the question of how countries can finance it without debt becoming unsustainable.”

In 2020, relative to the IMF’s January World Economic Outlook, fiscal deficits are expected to be more than five times higher in advanced economies and to more than double in emerging market economies, leading to an unprecedented jump in public debt of respectively 26 and 7 percentage points of GDP. Overall, public debt is expected to “stabilize” in 2021, spurred by low interest rates and a projected strong rebound in economic activity in the baseline, the authors said, though “caution is advised.”

“There is a great diversity in debt levels and financing abilities across countries and high uncertainty surrounding the forecasts,” they said. “Borrowing costs can increase rapidly, particularly for emerging economies and frontier markets, as was the case in March.”

They noted that “ensuring a path back to sustainable fiscal balances” will also be key in countries that entered this crisis with already elevated debt and low growth.

“Governments will need to pursue a credible medium-term fiscal plan that relies on improving revenue mobilization — including through minimizing tax avoidance, greater tax progressivity in some cases, carbon pricing and higher efficiency in spending,” they argued.

They also stressed that “transparent communication” of any plan will help contain potential volatility in sovereign debt markets in the transition. Moreover, international institutions must ensure that access to international liquidity is not disrupted by self-fulfilling market panics, they said, noting that the international community must also ensure that vulnerable low-income developing countries lacking the resources to support healthcare systems and sustain lifelines have access to concessional financing and, in some cases, grants.

Some 72 countries have already received IMF emergency assistance, “but far more bilateral and multilateral support will be needed,” they added.

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