EpaperKHI_2020-10-5

Monday, 5 October, 2020 I 16 Safar, 1442 I Rs 25.00 I Vol XI No 96 I 52 Pages I Karachi Edition

PM IMran tells PeoPle to PrePare for second wave of covId-19 Faraz accuses Nawaz of blackmailing state institutions ISLAMABAD staff report

ISLAMABAD staff report

a

MID concerns of onset of winter resulting in a second wave, Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the nation to wear face masks in public to avoid a spike in Covid-19 cases.

“Compared to some other states, Allah has been kind to us in Pakistan and spared us worst effects of Covid-19,” he tweeted on Sunday. “All offices and educational institutions must ensure masks are worn.”

Across Pakistan, educational institutions had opened in phases in September as the daily nationwide Covid-19 tally dropped below 1,000 cases.

The idea of the virus spreading more in winter is speculative, but it is based on the general behaviour of other viruses.

“It may be seasonal, based on other

viruses that do tend to peak in winter,” Dr Rachel Lowe, from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told the BBC. The report noted that all viruses survive outside the body better when it is cold and says, “The UK’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies says a temperature of 4C is a particular sweet spot for coronavirus.

There is also less UV light, which inactivates the virus, from the sun in winter too.”

According to Micaela Martinez, an infectious disease ecologist at Columbia University in New York City, there is not enough data yet to know if environmental conditions tied to the changing seasons have any influence on the transmissibility of Covid-19.

“We have yet to experience a whole cycle and one full year of transmission in any location, so we’re unable to actually measure what the relationship is between

coronavIrus In

PakIstan

CONFIRMED CASES:

314,616

LAST UPDATED AT 7:54 AM ON OCTOBER 4, 2020

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

6

RECOVERED:

NEW CASES:

632

DEATHS:

298,968 6,513 SINDH:

138,050

PUNJAB:

99,812

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

37,973

15,371

2,816/3,828 16,766

transmission and things like temperature and humidity,” she told NBC News.

While health bodies in both the United States and the United Kingdom have called for a widespread flu vaccination, this vaccine would only protect against influenza and it would not decrease the chances of getting the coronavirus, according to The Associated Press. Vaccines against Covid-19 still are experimental and several candidates are entering final testing to see if they really work. This is why health experts continue to stress vigilance about wearing masks, maintaining social distance and washing your hands.

“Once one stops those mitigation steps, it only takes a couple of weeks for these viral pathogens to get back on the path that they were on,” said Dr Robert Redfield, director of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz on Sunday accused former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif of “blackmailing Pakistan and its institutions” in an attempt to obtain an NRO-like agreement.

“You [Nawaz] were elected by this country thrice and now you are going against it just because you want relief from your cases? You are blinded, you want to take revenge from the masses. You want to blackmail Pakistan and its institutions. This will not happen,” Faraz said to media persons on Sunday.

The information minister called out Nawaz for being a “product” of the very establishments he now accuses. “You want judges like Justice Qayum. You have never gotten along with any army chief, from [retired Gen] Janjua to now. This is what you do: you destabilise democracy.

You are responsible,” he said.

The minister also blamed Nawaz’s for Pakistan’s currency devaluation and stated that if it had

PML-N leaders, including Capt Safdar, charged with sedition LAHORE staff report

Captain (r) Safdar and other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders are to be arrested by a newly-formed team of the Punjab police after the party leaders were charged in a sedition case and accused of inciting the public against state and administrative institutions.

Shortly after PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz announced a party rally in Gujranwala, which was scheduled for 16 October, the aforementioned case was registered in the Satellite Town Police Station against Safdar and other PML-N leaders on Sunday.

Last month, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested PML-N President and National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif from the Lahore High Court (LHC) after his petition seeking extension in the pre-arrest bail in the money laundering case was rejected.

During the proceeding, defence legal counsel, Azam Nazir Tarar, contended that Shehbaz’s arrest at this stage of the case could not be justified.

Furthermore, an accountability court on Tuesday issued

not been for the actions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the country would have ended up in the same situation like Venezuela “where people take carts full of money to buy toothpaste”.

Furthermore, Faraz said that Nawaz had never “gotten along” with any of these supposedly ‘corrupt’ institutions. Shibli also said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government got along with the army as it was “full of honest people”.

Nawaz was criticising the chairperson of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), who was appointed

by Nawaz himself, he added.

“Now you have become a revolutionary, [acting] like you are statesman. You are accused of theft! You were not sent to jail because of any political dispute, [it was because] of the crimes you committed,” the minister said.

The information minister also cast doubt on the unity of the 11 opposition parties that have joined the newly formed anti-government alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), whose goal is to oust the incumbent government.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

more inside

AJK to impose lockdown after spike in Covid-19 cases STORY ON PAGE 03

Armenia reports heavy losses as conflict with Azerbaijan intensifies, says it faces 'historic threat' STORY ON BACK PAGE

non-bailable arrest warrants for Nusrat Shehbaz and Rabia Imran, wife and daughter of Shehbaz Sharif, respectively, in the same case.

There has been rising tensions between the incumbent government and the opposition parties ever since the AllParties Conference (APC) and the formation of an 11-party Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), which aims to oust the government.

Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana FazlurRehman stated earlier during a press conference that the opposition was demanding the

“immediate resignation of selected Prime Minister Imran Ahmed Niazi”.

The PDM will hold its first public gathering in Quetta on October 11. The handout issued by the APC announced country-wide protests with its first phase beginning in October and November with mass protests in major cities of the country.

“In the first phase, beginning October, rallies will be held in Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab,” Fazl had said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Saudi Arabia calls upon citizens to 'boycott everything Turkish' following Erdogan's controversial statement STORY ON BACK PAGE in today’s issue

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

02

Monday, 5 October, 2020

NEWS

Fazl’s appointment reFlects that major opposition parties ‘lack street muscle’ ISLAMABAD

t

MIAN ABRAR

HE appointment of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of Jamiat Ulemae-Islam (JUI-F), as the head of the multi-party anti-government alliance with a new name of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), has raised serious questions among politicians and observers.

The appointment of Maulana Fazl has triggered a debate arguing why the religious party leader was given a lead role by two major parties. Moreover, the way the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government spokesmen have come to the fore with all guns blazing has sent a message to the public that the PTI government is also not happy with Fazl in the leadership role.

While the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) are the two biggest parties in both houses of the parliament, the JUI-F has been given lead role in the anti-government drive despite the fact that is the smallest party in the parliament among the opposition alliance.

Political observers stand divided over the wisdom behind the move while sources in both the PML-N and PPP say that the leadership of both the major parties feel that they lack public support and street to launch a drive against the PTI. Raja Zafarul Haq, the chairman of the

POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY JUI-F GIVEN PDM’S LEAD ROLE FOR MOUNTING PRESSURE FOR ANOTHER DEAL RAJA ZAFARUL HAQ SAYS TIME OVER FOR MAKING DEALS NOW largest opposition party in the parliament, the PML-N, told Pakistan Today that the earlier decision was made that the PDM would be headed by Ahsan Iqbal and he has been taking decisions.

“But now after agreement on Fazl, Ahsan Iqbal would be heading the decisionmaking team of the PDM,” he said. Raja Zafarul Haq, the senior-most politician, agreed that Fazl may have been given lead role as he could muster street muscle by amassing religious seminary students to street.

“When Imran Khan’s jalsas [rallies] were declining during sit-in of 2014, he went to London and lured in Tahirul Qadri so Fazl too could send in his seminary students as reinforcement. Similarly, when General (r) Pervez Musharraf came to power, he gave representation to Maulana Fazl’s party, MMA, due to their street power,” he added.

Asked why he was removed as PML-N chairman, Raja Zafarul Haq said that he was still the chairman of the party and he had chaired the recent sessions of the party.

Asked whether or not the PML-N lead-

Govt to fulfil promises made to people of south punjab: cm Buzdar LAHORE INP

ership wanted to use seminary students of the JUI-F to build pressure to cut another deal with the establishment, Raja Zafarul Haq did not agree.

“I think that the matter has gone beyond a deal now,” he asserted.

Imtiaz Gul, a political commentator, told Pakistan Today that the leadership of PMLN and PPP know well that the Fazl himself is out of the assembly and the JUI-F chief wants that all parties should resign from the assemblies. “I do not see any utility of this alliance as it is a league of contradictions. is out of the system and he wanted to torpedo the system through mass resignations. Now the opposition has given him a pie to remain in the saddle,” he added.

Imtiaz said that the opposition have given the Fazl a leadership role so that he could have stakes in the system too.

“I do not think the utility and effectiveness of the alliance. I also do not think that JUI-F is a radical force anymore and rather it has been a part of democratic process.

They have captive audience and they can

Abdullah Abdullah sees promise for good relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan ISLAMABAD APP

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said on Sunday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government will fulfill every promise made to the people of south Punjab. CM Buzdar made the statement while meeting PTI lawmakers in Punjab, Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development Sardar Hasnain Bahadur Dreshak and a Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Sardar Ali Raza Dreshak, who called on him. The chief minister said that designs of the civil secretariat for Bahawalpur and Multan were approved and every promise made with the south Punjab citizens will be fulfilled. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the journey of development begins in South Punjab, he added. He said that the past governments had shown favouritism while spending funds in south Punjab districts, whereas, the incumbent government is providing rights to the citizens and its development programmes will be separately dealt. He added that secretaries in South Punjab Secretariat were given full authorities to serve masses and resolve issues locally.

president to depart for kuwait today to offer condolences ISLAMABAD TLTP

President Arif Alvi will visit Kuwait on Monday to offer condolences over the sad demise of the late emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

The Foreign Office (FO), in a statement said, that the president will meet with the new emir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, and convey the profound sympathies and condolences of the leadership, government and people of Pakistan. It is pertinent to mention here that emir of Kuwait Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah died last week after a long illness at the age of 91. He had ruled the country for nearly 15 years. Pakistan and Kuwait are bound by a close fraternal relationship. Under the leadership of the late emir, bilateral cooperation acquired a new level.

amass seminary students,” he added.

Asked how potent the threat was to the system from the PDM, Imtiaz said that Pakistan Army and government are on the same page and they both know the opposition alliance cannot topple the government.

“Both the PPP and PML-N want to use Fazl. The PPP cannot badmouth with the Centre as the NFC [National Finance Commission] share of Sindh can be hurt if things go worse between Centre and Sindh. So, the PPP does not want to take leadership role and rather it wants someone else to challenge the government,” he added. Murtaza Solangi told this scribe that the appointment of Fazl does not reflect anything.

“All the parties in past public mobilization campaigns had the leadership role on rotations. So is the case with PDM as it would have leaders on monthly-basis. Next month may be Bilawal Bhutto Zardari heading the PDM. In 1980s and in early 1990s, same thing happened,” he said.

Asked whether the opposition parties wanted another deal by launching a drive against the government, Solangi said that Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were released under a deal.

“But the talks were derailed on August 11 when properties of Maryam Nawaz surfaced. Nawaz Sharif and Maryam were silent before under the deal. But then talks were derailed and the PPP leaders were also arrested. This pushed the opposition to forge

an alliance,” he said.

Solangi though agreed that there is no revolution in the offing but asserted that the economic issues have not been resolved yet which was a threat to the government.

“Things are not improving and prices are on the hike. Medicines are vegetables prices are rising. The government needs to deliver, failing which a change is likely,” he added.

Senior PPP leader Taj Haider told Pakistan Today that unity among the opposition parties is natural at the moment and there is a collective leadership concept among 11 political parties of the opposition.

Asked whether he thought the rise of religious party could endanger democratic process, Taj Haider said that religious extremism has been always against progressive parties.

“PPP has always had a conflict with religious parties. In 1970s, Shaikh Mujeeb was heading a Nationalist Party which was a hurdle to progressive as it believed in narrow nationalism. Religious parties were also against progressive agenda of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as they carried imperialistic agenda,” he added.

He said that since religious parties could not come to power through election in Pakistan, they joined hands with the army to scuttle the progressive agenda of Bhutto.

“Whenever a big alliance comes together, it denies the possibility of cutting a deal. NRO was not only for Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif was also its beneficiary.

Resignations from assemblies are one of the options on the table,” he added.

He further said the biggest challenge for Pakistan is to revive its sick economy.

“I am one of the team working on the revival plan. Under public-private model, public sector has to play a dominant role in revival of economy after the fall of the PTI government departs,” he concluded.

Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah on Saturday said that he saw promise for good relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, saying that although small steps had been made, they would have a "big impact".

Abdullah's comments came during an interview to a private news channel, in response to what opportunities he sees for strategic cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"Things start from small steps. Complaints exist on both sides but there has been progress in the interactions and status of relations between both countries and even those small steps will have a big impact," he said.

Highlighting Pakistan's role in the intra-Afghan dialogue he said, "We are appreciative of Pakistan's role in the Doha agreement and later on in the negotiations."

"I was also appreciative of Prime Minister Imran Khan's message that called for a reduction in the violence leading to a ceasefire, which is very important," he said, adding that he expressed his gratitude to the Pakistani leadership during his three-day official

visit.

The Afghan official said that he was leaving Pakistan with a positive image of the country and that he had no doubt that peace in Afghanistan wouuld lead to peace in Pakistan, and ultimately the region.

"As neighbours we have no other choice but to work together," he added.

The Afghan leader said that the more both sides "address each other's legitimate concerns and work on the basis of common interest, mutual interest the better it will be".

He appreciated the recently approved visa policy for Afghanistan which which he termed a good development on that front.

"This will be helpful in people to people relations," Abdullah said.

Speaking on his role as the head of the body tasked with building consensus in Afghanistan, he said that he was even willing to speak with the Taliban himself in the interest of consensus building and for a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan.

To a question, he said, "The issue is that I am leading the whole efforts towards reconciliation and peace. Within Afghanistan, we need consensus-building which is important among those who are under the banner of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. They need to be unified. At the same time, we need con-

sensus-building in the region which fortunately we now have a broad understanding in support of peace. If the time comes, if it is needed that I negotiate with the Taliban leaders and they agree, I will do that."

The Afghan leader said that he was in constant contact with the negotiations team.

On the deal struck between him and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, he said that despite there being no foreign guarantor, the agreement would not fall apart.

Talking about the peace deal that is facing several hurdles, he said that both parties; the Afghan government and Taliban decided to initiate talks after "nearly three decades of fighting".

"Through war, there are no winners and through inclusive peace, there are no losers," he said, adding: "Personally, I would have preferred it to move in a more speedy manner."

The Afghan official said that the people were looking forward to results — a decrease in violence and reaching an agreement of ceasefire.

When asked to comment on how several regional powers were not a part of the peace talks, he said, "As a whole, all the countries are supporting a peaceful settlement."

Responding to whether he perceives a threat to the peace process if after the

US presidential elections Joe Biden comes into power, he said that despite different approaches, both leaders (US President Donald Trump and Biden) are "supportive of a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan".

"Going back to the old days of tens of thousands of troops would not be possible," he added.

He said that the issue bears greater urgency for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the entire region, "because we would be the ones most impacted if peaceful settlement is not secured".

Speaking about Mohammad Sadiq's appointment as the special envoy for Pakistan, he said that he already knew him when he was an ambassador to Pakistan and when he served Pakistan's Cabinet Committee on National Security and that he considered him to have "good knowledge of the situation in Afghanistan".

"He has boosted efforts already underway in support of bilateral cooperation," Abdullah said.

Responding to a question about whether Afghanistan will like to be part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said, "The Belt and Road Initiative is important. We will judge it when we see the benefits for ourselves.

But anything that benefits trade, transit and changes, we welcome it."

PM summons session of national nutrition council ISLAMABAD INP

Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned the session of Pakistan National Nutrition Coordination Council (PNNCC) on Monday, a local news outlet reported on Sunday.

The second session of Pakistan National Nutrition

Coordination Council (PNNCC) has been summoned by PM Imran on Monday which was earlier scheduled on October 2. However, it was postponed by the federal government on substantive grounds.

Reportedly, UN Regional Coordinator Jolene Frederick and the head of UNICEF Pakistan will participate in the upcoming session of PNNCC which would deliberate upon government steps in accordance with the

challenges of the nutrition situation in the country.

Dr Sania Nishtar and Dr Baseer Achakzai will brief the participants of the meeting, whereas, the representatives of international institutions will brief details of ongoing projects in Pakistan, sources added.

The national council will envisage a comprehensive strategy for overcoming the challenges regarding malnutrition in the country.

Monday, 5 October, 2020

AJK TO IMPOSe lOCKDOwN AFTeR SPIKe IN COVID-19 CASeS MUZAFFARABAD

T

CORONAVIRUS KILLS SIX, INFECTS 632 MORE; ACTIVE CASES IN BALOCHISTAN DROP WHILE ISLAMABAD REPORTS 53 MORE INFECTIONS

STAFF REPORT

HE Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has in principle decided to impose lockdown in the region again after a spike in novel coronavirus cases in the region.

A meeting chaired by Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider expressed concern over the soaring number of Covid-19 infections in the region.

The ratio of coronavirus cases has reached to 8.3 per cent, prime minister AJK said. “The government has in principle decided to impose lockdown in the region,” the prime minister said.

“We have to take strict measures before the situation goes out of the control,” AJK PM said.

The meeting also decided strict enforcement of the condition of wearing masks outside homes and in offices. The session also decided to impose fine on those who will violate the condition of wearing masks.

The prime minister directed the officials to decide details of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) about markets, offices and educational institu-

tions.

Coronavirus claimed six more lives during the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll from the deadly disease to 6,513, said the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Sunday.

As many as 33,725 samples were tested during the aforementioned period, out of which 632 turned out to be positive, according to the NCOC. The number of Covid-19 cases across the country has reached 314,616 with the addition of the new cases. There are 9,135 active Covid-19 cases as 298,968 patients have recovered from the infection. A total of 753 patients are under treatment at various hospitals across the country.

More than 3.6 million tests have been conducted in the country.

So far, Sindh has reported 138,050 cases of the coronavirus, Punjab 99,812, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) 37,973, Balochistan 15,371, Islamabad 16,766,

Conspiracies against country, institutions to be foiled: Ijaz NANKAKA SAHIB: Federal Minister for Interior Brig (r) Ijaz Ahmed Shah has said that conspiracies against the country and the national institutions would be foiled. Addressing an award distribution ceremony to mark the silver jubilee of Khawaja Awais Welfare Foundation on Sunday, the interior minister said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had ruined all national institutions except army during their regimes. He said that conspiracies have been hatched against the country since its creation which are still going on. The interior minister said that Nawaz fled the country on the pretext of illness and medical treatment in London. Earlier, Brig (r) Shah visited Maryam Trust Hospital, being run under the auspices of Khawaja Awais Welfare Foundation. He took a round of various departments of the hospital. TLTP

No difference between Kulbhsuhan Jadhav, Nawaz Sharif, says Faisal Vawda ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda on Sunday said that there is no difference between Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Taking to the micro-blogging website, Twitter, Faisal Vawda said that Kulbhushan was doing terrorism on directions of RAW and Nawaz Sharif is projecting the Indian narrative. The federal minister further said that he can talk to Prime Minister Imran Khan to hand over Nawaz to India like Abhinandan if he [Nawaz] loves India that much. Earlier, Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan had demanded to trial the former prime minister under treason charges over revealing national secrets. “Elder Sharif revealed national secrets by openly talking on the cruise missiles issue,” Chohan had said in a statement. INP

First PDM rally in Quetta delayed to Oct 18 The first rally of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was to take place on October 11, but has now been delayed and will take place on October 18. The new date was announced by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Abdul Ghafoor Haideri. He added that a separate rally by the JUI-F that was to take place in Quetta on October 25 has also been postponed. No alternate date was provided. The first head of the alliance itself is JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. The decision for his appointment was taken during the alliance’s steering committee virtual meeting, that had been held on Saturday. The current convener of the committee is Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal. The committee leaders are appointed for a currently indeterminate amount of time, but the position will change on a rotational basis. NEWS DESK

Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) 3,828, and AJK has reported 2,816 cases of Covid-19.

Meanwhile, the ratio of active Covid-19 cases in Balochistan has dropped to five per cent of total cases, the provincial health department said in a statement on Sunday. The province has overall 15,371 confirmed novel coronavirus infections, while 14,402 patients have recovered.

In the last 24 hours, 169 more patients of novel coronavirus recovered in Balochistan, the health department said.

Overall, 146 patients have died of Covid19 in the province till now, according to the health department.

Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus cases in Punjab has reached 99,959 with addition of 147 new infections in the last 24 hours and about to hit a grim landmark of 100,000 cases.

According to the spokesperson of the Primary and Secondary Healthcare De-

partment, 147 more coronavirus cases were reported in the province in the last 24 hours. The health department also reported two deaths by Covid-19 in Punjab during the period, increasing the death toll to 2,240.

Meanwhile, the federal capital city reported another 53 cases of Covid-19 on Sunday as a spike in cases of disease is being witnessed. As many as 4,746 samples were tested during the last 24 hours, out of which 53 turned out to be positive, the federal health authorities said.

So far, Islamabad has reported 16,766 cases of the coronavirus, however, the tally of active cases in the city have dropped to 549. Overall, 183 patients have died of Covid-19 in the capital city. In the past 24 hours 51 patients in the city recovered.

Meanwhile, as many as 3,409 police officials and personnel have contracted coronavirus in the Sindh province while performing their duties, according to the Sindh police.

The spokesman said that 19 personnel embraced martyrdom while discharging their duties due to coronavirus.

Currently, 24 cops are undergoing treatment while 3,366 of the infected personnel have recovered from the infection.

Nawaz’s narrative abandoned by 70pc party members: Fawad KARACHI TLTP

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry claimed on Sunday that 70 per cent of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members are not supporting their party’s supreme leader Nawaz Sharif’s narrative.

“70 per cent of PML-N members are not standing by Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz’s narrative of targeting state institutions,” Fawad said while addressing a press conference in Karachi.

Chaudhry said that Nawaz is criticising state institutions just to protect his looted money. He said that the former prime minister has been visiting restaurants regularly in London and he should return back to Pakistan morally.

“The government is trying to bring back

Nawaz Sharif,” he said and added that it would be easier for the incumbent government to bring Nawaz back to Pakistan as he is a culprit. He urged the PML-N leadership to refrain from targeting state institutions, saying that it is against the national interest.

Commenting over PML-N disgruntled MPAs, Fawad claimed, “More disgruntled PML-N MPAs are in contact with PTI leadership and they will reject the narrative of Nawaz and join PTI soon.”

Commenting on the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the federal minister said the movement’s only objective is to spread chaos in the country. The PTI minister advised opposition parties to hold their rallies in marriage halls as they have failed totally in gathering public.

NEWS

03

Hopes of NRO from assemblies sink after passage of FATF bills: Asad ISLAMABAD APP

Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Sunday said that the opposition was trying to seek NRO on roads after failure to get it from the parliament. “After passage of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) related bills from the parliament, they (opposition parties) got disappointed as their hopes of getting NRO from the assemblies have died,” he said in his tweet. The minister said that it seemed some new elections were held in last one month as all of a sudden, the opposition decided to get on roads against the alleged rigging in elections. He said that in fact the opposition was trying to pressurise the government to get some relief. “Now they (opposition) have come to the conclusion that there is no chance of NRO in assemblies, therefor they are now trying to search it on roads,” he remarked.

Government’s only priority is to arrest opposition leaders: Marriyum ISLAMABAD INP

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Sunday that the only priority of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government is to put opposition leaders behind bars as the “NAB-Niazi nexus” has been exposed now. Addressing a press conference, Marriyum said, "A new narrative of treason has come into open after not even a single penny of corruption was proved against Nawaz Sharif.” She said that PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif has only one narrative ‘vote ko izzat do’ (give respect to vote). The PMLN spokesperson said that people are bearing the cost of government’s incompetence. Every morning new narratives started coming out and then PML-N had to respond to it, she added. She also shared a monthly review of price indices which compared prices of pulses, milk, sugar, flour and other essential commodities in comparison to the PML-N era. Marriyum said that Nawaz had promoted democracy after the 2013 elections and statement of treason means to take the country back to the politics of 1985. “Those who do not represent the people and do not come with the mandate of the people are giving certificates of treason and patriotism,” she added.

She said that the narrative of declaring political opponents traitors has always failed. “PML-N's organisational structure has been completed and the remaining party posts at the district level in some cities will be completed soon,” she added. “The PML-N will play an active role in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM),” she further said. The PML-N spokesperson said that the government's priority is not the people of Pakistan but is to silence the dissenting voices. She alleged thieves are being sent out from the country on chartered planes. “The Health Secretary in Geneva is sent back due to lack of transparency,” she claimed.

Unilever demands consistent transparency across all media LAHORE BABAR Advertisers, publishers, and industry trade bodies on Sunday called for the creation of a task force that will collectively create an ecosystem with consistent transparency across all media channels.

The development came during a conversation part of the Advertising Week 2020, during the “Programmatic Supply Chain Transparency Study by ISBA / AOP / PwC: What happens next?” panel, featuring representatives from Unilever, the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA), The Guardian, PwC, and the Association for Online Publishing (AOP).

The central theme of the panel centred around discussing the advertiser-funded Programmatic Supply Chain Transparency Study which was a joint effort between the AOP, ISBA, and PwC. The study, which raised awareness concerning the murky programmatic advertising supply chains, had a substantial ripple effect in May 2020 when it was published.

ISBA Director General Phil Smith said that members of the trade body told him that while programmatic is effective, it could possibly work better and thus the study was commissioned. The study was executed by PwC, covering 15 major advertisers and 12 premium publishers including Unilever and the Guardian respectively.

“We gathered three months’ worth of impressions from January to March [2020],” said Sam Tomlinson, a partner in

UNILEVER HAS DEMANDED THAT PROGRAMMATIC BE JUDGED BY THE SAME STANDARDS AS OTHER MEDIA PwC’s media assurance practice. “That was a total of 267 million impressions served from our study advertisers through the study tech vendors to the study publishers. Our job was to match each of those impressions right the way along the supply chain and we were able to match 12 per cent [or 31 impressions].”

Tomlinson said that the study identified a number of challenges faced by advertisers and publishers, such as restrictions or limitations in data access – including how to access and share data from the tech vendors such as the demandside platforms (DSPs) and supply-side platforms (SSPs).

Another challenge identified by the study was the varying definitions by data vendors on data quality, the lack of uniformity of which worsens the supply chain transparency problem, creating room for manufactured fraud. The most widely reported finding from the study was the removal of 15pc of digital media spending from the supply chain, the source of which could not be accounted for.

While both advertiser and publisher participants acknowledged that programmatic allows businesses to automate the buying and selling of digital inventory at scale, both stakeholder groups acknowl-

edged that the overwhelming presence of DSPs, SSPs, and data management platforms (DMPs) have needlessly complicated programmatic and ushered in instances of fraud.

“Some of the measurement frameworks that the [programmatic] industry has been set up on often obscure some of the bad practices that exist today,” head of digital optimisation at The Guardian, Frances Hudson said. “I think that leads to some areas where there might be bad behaviour and it means that the media industry doesn’t always value quality media.”

She said that with all of the changes in privacy, the ISBA study has created a desire to consider all of the partners that are in the supply chain, whether its partners that are passing money or data partners.

“Unilever signed up several years ago to [pursue a] responsible framework in the digital ecosystem,” said Richard Brooke, the global media operations director at Unilever. “[This] was centred around responsible platforms – so we wouldn’t invest in platforms or environments that [exploit] children, [foster hatred] in society, promote anger & hate, etc. We also talk about responsible content which is all around committing to tackle things like gender stereotypes. And the third commit-

ment that we’ve made is about the responsible infrastructure.”

Brooke insisted that Unilever only partners with organisations that are committed to building a better digital infrastructure adding that advertisers need to do more in their own ecosystem and industry relationships to make sure that business controls their own destiny. He said that willingness to bring about programmatic advertising supply chain transparency needs to come from all stakeholders.

“We have a history of investigating the [programmatic advertising] supply chain,” Hudson said. “We’ve come out with a set of practices that we encourage other publishers to take on. First, review your partners – basically if you are not checking discrepancies between your ad server reports and your SSP reports – you may find that there are big differences, and the ability to interrogate why is a great thing. It also means that you can have the conversation to put the onus back on [your partners], to sort out some of those discrepancies.”

She further said that publishers need to look at supply chain mappings, which looks at all the paths by which DSPs and other aspects coupled under an advertiser reach the publisher inventory.

“Review your contracts. We make sure that we have the right to audit all of our contracts now and it means that we can keep regular checks on our partners. Using and getting local level data on your partners is really important,” she concluded.

Monday, 5 October, 2020

04 NEWS

Is the transport system dyIng In punjab?

PUNJAB PUNCH SHAHAB OMER

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N big cities like Lahore and Faisalabad, if there is no effective and organised system of urban transport, then only those who go to schools, colleges, offices and factories every day know what happens with them.

Our rulers have no idea how much students, workers, government employees and small shopkeepers suffer every day as the majority of our policy makers and the ruling class have hardly traveled on public transport in Lahore. Our public transport decisions are made by those who never travel in them, and as a result, public transport policies change after every month.

Lahore used to have a state-owned urban transport company that operated Volvo and Hino buses. The state-owned company was then shut down and Lahore’s public transport was handed over to the private sector. Many private sector companies came forward and started running buses on different routes, but as soon as the subsidy from the Punjab government stopped, these buses also disappeared.

After this failed experiment, a government body called Lahore Transport Company (LTC) came into existence and with the help of the private sector, began to organise public transport in Lahore. These buses have been running for many years, but over the past few months, the company has gradually closed more than 70 per cent of its routes.

LTC was established in 2009 with the aim of planning and facilitating a high quality, safe, efficient, environment-friendly and

affordable urban transport in the provincial capital. During 2017, the number of buses decreased and then gradually the buses disappeared during 2019 and finally, the service closed entirely.

Buses used to offer a transport option to people at subsidised rates and due to the closure of the service, those who used to travel using these buses frequently are suffering and many people have lost their jobs.

The service was being provided on almost 19 urban routes, however, due to the negligence of officials, the company failed to renew the agreements with service operators and blamed international investors for withdrawing their investment and causing the company to stop its operations.

A senior official of LTC said that initially they had procured 300 buses and a total of 262 buses were inducted in the provincial capital. “We gave a proposal to the government back in 2014 in which we proposed almost 300 urban routes along with our demands. Back then, a number of local and foreign investors were interested in our work as we received more than 800 proposals of interests from different investors,” he said.

He also said that they had been demanding buses for three years because they were providing subsidy-based service. “We provide the subsidised service on our routes from morning to evening and even if the flow of passengers remains low, we do not stop the service,” he added.

“Every year we send our demand for buses to the government but it depends on the government to allocate the funds in given resources. We can only give the subsidy on the basis of government grants. If the government approves the proposal then we will be able to get new buses,” he maintained.

He also said that they matured the contract again with investors in November 2019 and they also proposed different models to the government like green fuel buses, CNG and electric buses.

According to the official, the present government is also taking interest in restoring the service. “Our proposal is now with Adviser to Chief Minister on Economic Affairs and Planning Dr Salman Shah and we are on approval stage because the government is also interested in continuing this service,” he said.

“We have demanded 350 buses in Lahore on an urgent basis otherwise, our demand is of 1,500 buses which can meet the needs of the city,” he added.

He also said that they had the agreements (which have since expired) with the local and foreign transporter companies and service providers. The local companies were First Bus and Awais Travels and some of the foreign Turkish companies were also providing the service With the closure of service, thousands of people from Johar Town and Wapda town coming to the Civil Secretariat or the other points of the city are suffering mental anguish. Not only has the burden on their pockets increased, but so has their travel time.

Traveling has become a painful problem for the elderly, women and students, but the LTC, the Punjab Transport Department and the district administration have not yet taken

steps to alleviate the suffering of the people.

There are currently more than 35,000 Qingqi rickshaws operating in Lahore and there are even more auto rickshaws that carry a lot of transport load. Significant increases in fares have made rickshaw rides out of the reach of the lower middle class, while Qingqi rickshaw rides are neither comfortable nor safe, which has led to an increase in air pollution. This has not only increased the noise but also the smoke. Our policymakers blocked the entry of these rickshaws on the roads of the posh areas of the city to save the environment of these areas while the rest of the city and its poor and lower middle-class people were handed over to this torment.

For example, the entrance of this rickshaw is banned on Mall Road and Jail Road as it increases noise and smoke but in most areas of Lahore it is available as the only public transport.

In all the modern and developed cities of the world, the latest system of public transport is available in the form of underground trains. Even in all major cities of India, the metro train system has been established. The world entered the 21st century with state-ofthe-art transportation systems while we entered the 21st century with Qingqi rickshaws. We got rid of the tangas, but what we got as an alternative is cheaper than the tangas and the horses.

An effective, integrated and organised system of public transport has never been taken seriously by our bureaucracy and rulers. That is why the problem of transport has become more serious. Without a modern and efficient system of public transport, modern urban life is unthinkable. Increasing the number of private cars is not the solution to this matter.

Pakistan to support global action to Islamabad Police fails to stem biodiversity loss: Amin Aslam curb robberies in capital ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD INP

BILAL SABRI

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said that for action to stem biodiversity loss as part of “meaningful action” to halt the destruction of nature on earth, Pakistan would support the global leaders’ pledge at the UN’s maiden Summit for Biodiversity 2020.

According to a press release, to restore the balance with nature, governments and the European Union have rolled out a 10point pledge at the major UN biodiversity summit, which opened virtually from New York on Sunday to counteract the damage to ecosystems systems that underpin human health and wellbeing.

The speaking slots at this week’s summit are oversubscribed, with more than 116 heads of states and governments seeking to address the unprecedented global event.

The summit on Biodiversity 2020 has been convened by the president of the General Assembly, at the level of heads of state and government under the theme of “Urgent action on biodiversity for sustainable development”.

Prime Minister Imran Khan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will co-chair ‘TODAY LATE NIGHT’ a high-level joint session ‘Leaders’ Dialogue’ through a video-link at the Summit and call for a heightened global action to halt biodiversity loss for the sustainability of the planet earth and its inhabitants.

Described as a “turning point” by which future generations will judge their willingness to act on environmental destruction, the pledge includes a renewed effort to reduce deforestation, halt unsustainable fishing practices, eliminate environmentally harmful subsidies and begin the transition to sustainable food production systems and a circular economy over the next decade.

Amin said, “The PM will also highlight that the world must act unitedly right now.

We have no chance to dither and delay, for biodiversity loss is happening today and it is happening at a much faster pace or face the catastrophic consequences for us all.”

The prime minister’s special assistant Malik Amin Aslam said that while the United Nations first ever summit for biodiversity has begun in New York, PM Imran, Angela Merkel, Justin Trudeau, Jacinda Ardern and Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron are among 64 leaders from five continents, would warn during their keynote

Failing to protect the capital from criminals, the Islamabad Police is busy in making claims that the city is safer than most of the capitals of developed countries in the world, when the citizens of Islamabad are being robbed in broad daylight.

Two recent robberies in a month, and that too in only one sector, I-8, deprived two citizens of 2.3 million rupees and the police is yet to find a clue to start investigation. The safe city project has not helped in tracing down the criminals either because the cameras at most busy places are either dysfunctional or have a bad view and image quality.

Ishtiaq Ahmed and Athar Ejaz are two citizens who got robbed in the last two weeks of September. Ishtiaq was robbed at gunpoint in sector I-8/1 on September 23 and was deprived of Rs800,000 and Athar was robbed on gunpoint too and

speeches that humanity is in a state of planetary emergency due to the climate crisis and the rampant destruction of life-sustaining ecosystems.

He said that the Summit, in fact, aims to highlight the crisis facing humanity from the paced degradation of biodiversity and the urgent need to accelerate action on biodiversity loss for overall sustainable development.

It also is geared towards providing an opportunity for heads of state and government from all five continents and other leaders to raise ambition for the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be adopted at the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2021.

This framework, and its effective implementation, must put nature on a path to recovery by 2030 to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and realise the vision of “Living in harmony with nature”, Amin added.

The PM’s aide highlighted, “Our societies are closely linked with and reliant on biodiversity, which is essential for people, including through its provision of nutritious food, clean water, medicines, and protection from extreme events.”

However, biodiversity loss and the degradation of its contributions over the last several years to people are now posing risk to the global efforts aimed at tackling climate change risks and achieving the UN’s SDGs and overall human wellbeing, he re-

marked. Amin pointed out that for instance, the Covid-19 pandemic has further underlined the unprecedented importance of the relationship between people and nature.

“We are reminded with emergence of such pandemic that when we degrade biodiversity, we only undermine the web of life and exacerbate the risk of breakout of diseases with more frequency and intensity from wildlife to humans,” he maintained.

“Yet, responses to the pandemic provide a unique opportunity for transformative change as a global community. An investment in the health of our planet and conservation as well as preservation of biodiversity is in fact an investment in our own future,” the PM’s aide remarked.

Quoting from a recent assessment by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), he said that species extinction rates were tens to hundreds of times higher now than historical averages. This acceleration is causing irreversible harm to our life support systems and aggravating poverty and inequalities as well as hunger and malnutrition, he added.

“However, the Summit for Biodiversity has come as a unique opportunity for the global leaders to demonstrate leadership and commitment to improve the human’s relationship with nature, addressing the causes of change and ensuring that biodiversity and the contributions it provides to all people are at the heart of sustainable development and the global climate action,” Amin said.

was deprived of Rs1.5 million on September 30. After the robbery, criminals who came on a bike, reportedly escaped the place without having any encounter with the police.

The victims claimed that they called 15 and local police instantly after the robbery but no action was taken on a war-foot basis to trace the criminals.

A police investigator, requesting anonymity, revealed that the complaints were lodged in both cases, and the inspection of the crime-scene was done. “We are struggling to find the robbers but they usually use fake number plates on their bikes and cover their faces with the mask and wear a helmet which makes a hurdle in recognising them both through witnesses (if any), victims and safe city cameras,” he claimed. Islamabad Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Waqar Uddin was contacted for the comment but he did not respond till the time of filing of this report.

Khalid Maqbool invites ex-MQM-P members to rejoin party HYDERABAD INP

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Sunday asked former MQM-P members to rejoin the party.

“Whoever has left MQM-P should return as we are ready to accept you again with our hearts and minds,” he said while addressing a public gathering of the party in Hyderabad.

“Return to MQM-P ranks before the time when becoming Haq Parast would be mandatory for getting the rights,” he said, adding that only those alongside the MQM-P would be able to achieve the destiny, dreamed by the Urdu speaking community in the urban centres.

The party’s convener said that they

would go to their last extent for the rights of the urban centres of the province. “It is the current leadership that saved the party from division,” he said while announcing to crush any dreams of Sindhudesh and restoring the struggle for which the country got independence.

He also said that their forefathers are among those who struggled for the establishment of the country and they could never think of committing treason with the country. “We have shown an unpredictable loyalty towards the country as a party after shunning our leader for the cause,” he added.

Siddiqui said that they had now come out on roads for their rights and now no one could suppress the voice of the urban centres. “We will not allow the feudal lords to rule over us,” he said.

Monday, 5 October, 2020

SBP ReSPoNdS to oBjeCtIoNS RaISed By PRoFIt to Naya PakIStaN CeRtIFICateS

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BuSineSS deSK

N response to a questionnaire sent

by Profit magazine for its cover story: Naya Pakistan Certificates are ridiculously attractive for investors. But here is why that is bad for Pakistan (published today), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) chief spokesperson issued a statement on Sunday. In the interest of fair journalism, it is being reproduced here: Why are we targeting non-residents Pakistanis?

First of all, we would encourage your readers to visit the SBP website dedicated to Roshan Digital Accounts (https://www.sbp.org.pk/RDA/index.ht ml) to learn about all the features of these accounts.

Non-resident Pakistanis have been contributing extensively in the growth and development of the country, including by sending over USD23 billion remittances each year. The recently launched Roshan Digital Accounts (RDAs) and Naya Pakistan Certificates (NPCs) are part of government efforts to appreciate and recognise their huge contribution of overseas Pakistanis in the country’s economy.

Specifically, RDAs provide a full spectrum of banking and investment opportunities to the overseas Pakistanis.

NPCs are being offered within a wider strategic objective of integrating overseas Pakistanis with the Pakistani banking and payment system and enabling them to invest in Pakistan. This strengthening of the bond with overseas Pakistanis is likely to bring huge dividends both for the country as well as overseas Pakistanis in the medium to long term. In particular, by establishing digital banking channels and strengthening the ties with overseas Pakistanis, we will have sustained access to an additional source of foreign exchange, which so far has remained untapped.

There are several examples around

the world where the sovereign has issued bonds / certificates exclusively for nonresidents at attractive pricing in order to augment foreign exchange buffers. This includes for instance Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka.

Why are we not offering Naya Pakistan Certificates to residents?

Kindly note that resident Pakistani with declared assets held abroad are allowed to invest in NPC by bringing the amounts held abroad to Pakistan, as also explicitly noted on the SBP website (https://www.sbp.org.pk/RDA/index.html ). The objective is to incentivise these resident Pakistanis to bring their declared foreign exchange to Pakistan. Resident Pakistanis with foreign exchange assets in Pakistan are not allowed to invest in NPCs as that will result in dollarisation and will put pressure on the exchange rate.

We would also note that resident Pakistanis have multiple investment options ranging from short and long-term placements/deposits with banks at fairly attractive rates, investment in National Savings Schemes, Treasury Bills and Pakistan Investment Bonds, investment in stock market, mutual funds, property market etc. None of this was available to overseas Pakistanis despite their huge contribution in the economy. Pakistanis living abroad are earning in foreign exchange and the objective here is to offer an attractive investment alternative to NRPs so as to attract foreign exchange and build FX buffers. Similarly, the external inflows in RDAs and NPCs would also help to improve Pakistan’s balance of payment position and lessen pressure on the exchange rate. The Roshan Digital Account (RDA) channel has made some of these options available to them. This initiative is strategic in nature aimed at having long term and sustained access to an additional source of capital. The benefits of RDA in terms of improved external position will also be enjoyed by the

Sinking Pakistan Railways seeks government’s help The Pakistan Railways has sought a bailout package from the government to continue operations after suffering major losses in revenue following suspension of operations in the wake of the ongoing pandemic. According to the details, shortfall in revenue in the first two months of the current financial year (FY) has accumulated to the tune of Rs5.860 billion. The Ministry of Railways informed the country’s economic manager that the Pakistan Railways suspended all its passenger train operations with effect from March 24, 2020; however, the train operations were partially restored and 50 out of 142 trains were again put into operation with effect from 21-05-2020 and 01-06-2020. It was decided that the occupancy of passenger trains should not be more than 60pc due to social distancing requirement. It may be mentioned here that the federal government had earlier granted the railways Rs6bn to meet the loss of revenue due to suspension of train operations. Keeping in view the shortage in resources, the Ministry of Railways solicited views of the Finance Division on the summary for the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC). The Finance Division did not support the proposal stating that the Ministry of Railways has already been provided grantin-aid of Rs40 billion for current financial year to meet the loss. The Ministry of Railways has also stated that expenses on account of salary and pensions, constituting 64pc of total expenditure, were inelastic and no reduction was possible. MONITORING REPORT

residents.

How was the rate of return on Naya Pakistan Certificates determined?

Non-resident Pakistanis (NRPs) have access to full range of instruments issued by different sovereign governments. So, the appropriate benchmark to compare pricing is the prevailing secondary market yields on the existing $ bonds issued by Pakistan in international capital markets.

In this context, the five-year remaining Pakistan $ bond maturing on September 2025 is currently trading around 6.6 per cent. The same bond was trading at 8.4 per cent at end November 2018 and 11 per cent at end March 2020. Sovereign yields and credit spreads of emerging market countries can be volatile. Accordingly, the yield of 7 per cent on five-year NPC is both appropriate and also reasonably attractive for NRPs as they choose among several alternatives available to them. If and when the credit spreads of Pakistan change in the international capital markets, the government has the option of reviewing the pricing on NPC. How will the funds raised through Naya Pakistan Certificates be utilized and returns generated?

The funds being mobilized through NPCs will be available to the government for multiple uses, including financing social and infrastructure spending and the budget deficit more generally. The budget includes a significant Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), which not only increases the productive capacity of the economy but also attracts private investment. The development of critically important communications, roads, power generation and transmission infrastructure and investment in human development envisaged in PSDP will boost our economic growth.

Mobilising incremental financing from external sources through NRPs also helps free up domestic resources for do-

mestic private sector to utilize, including for making investment. Specifically, with fresh funds from abroad, government financing needs from domestic resources will come down, enabling banks to extend more credit to private sector and again helping promote economic growth.

We would also note that the profit on NPCs is subject to a withholding tax of 10 per cent.

Other specific clarifications ● Pakistan’s exchange rate regime is not the same as before. Pakistan has moved to a market-based flexible exchange rate regime since May 2019. The exchange rate has already adjusted and is now determined in the market. It has become the first line of defense against external shocks, rather than the country’s foreign exchange reserves. The previous preference for a relatively fixed exchange rate used to result in large current account deficits and a depletion of foreign exchange reserves, necessitating abrupt and large depreciations of PKR. Historical averages of exchange rate depreciation may not necessarily be a good indicator for the future trend in the exchange rate. ● Early encashment does entail costs to the customer. The NPC encashed prematurely will earn the return applicable on nearest shorter completed tenor.

Further, no return is admissible if an NPC is encashed prior to three months, the shortest tenor. For instance, if an NPC of 12 months tenor is encashed after nine months, it will earn the rate applicable on six months NPCs, thus penalty is in built into the pricing structure. ● NPCs are not more liquid than normal bonds. It is incorrect to assume that NPCs are more liquid than normal tradeable bonds, as in the absence of secondary market, the investor has the only choice to return the bond to the issuer. Although SBP has made arrangements to redeem the NPCs within 48 hours, however, it still entails a penal clause.

ECNEC approves Peshawar Northern Bypass, power projects PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Sunday announced that the Executive Committee of the Economic Coordination Council (ECNEC) had given its approval for the construction of Peshawar North Bypass in addition to two power projects. He said that the construction of the bypass will increase traffic flow in Peshawar city. Power projects approved by the committee include the construction of a 157-MV power station in Madyan area of Swat and an 88-MV Gabral powerhouse in Kalam Valley. The chief minister said that the completion of power projects will enable the authorities to provide electricity to industries on discounted rates. “Discounted electric supply to industries will bring an economic revolution in the province besides creating employment for youth,” he stated. INP

NEWS

05

Faraz accuses Nawaz of blackmailing state institutions continued on page 01 “How many parties agree with Nawaz’s point of view?

They are already divided,” Faraz said in the press conference. He insisted that this is another attempt by all the politicians in the opposition to obtain an NRO but PM Imran would never give one. The federal minister said that the PTI had come to power with the promise to establish justice in the country and arrest politicians who were involved in corruption, refuting the statements made by Nawaz during the PDM’s first meeting, wherein the PML-N supremo virtually addressed the members of the alliance and cast doubt on the 2018 elections. The minister also blamed previous governments, particularly that of PML-N, for expensive electricity and ruining the economy. He alleged that the Nawaz government had left the economy and the institutions “hollow”.

PML-N leaders, including Capt Safdar, charged with sedition continued on page 01 “In the second phase, starting December, huge demonstrations will take place country-wide. In the third phase, to begin in January next year, a longmarch will move towards Islamabad,” he had said. “To oust the selected government, the joint opposition will use all tactics, including a vote of no confidence and resignations from the parliament,” he had further said.

'Criticising LNG project tantamount to scaring away investors' iSLaMaBad INP

Former ICCI president Shahid Rasheed Butt has said that criticising LNG project is tantamount to scare away local and foreign investors. In a statement on Sunday, he said that important projects should not be compromised for political gains as the adviser to PM on petroleum and some other officials have taken a lot of pain to use LNG to overcome the gas shortfall. Shahid said that the efforts of the government have attracted a lot of notable local and foreign investors, therefore, this project should be spared for the sake of the country otherwise all the efforts will go down the drain. He said that businessmen are importing substandard wheat and sugar and a lot of stocks have been kept out of the country for the sake of undue profits, therefore, the government should start importing quality wheat and sugar without delay. The business leader said that masses should no more be left on the mercy of wheat, flour and sugar mafia which is out to skin people to earn billions overnight.

Eye checks for Covid CITy NOTEs M A NIAzI

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suppose it was only a matter of time before United States President Donald Trump developed Covid-19. But it seems that this time, the person who brought the infection into the president’s circle has been identified. And there may well have been a super spreader event in the do where the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court was announced. There is a major controversy raging there too, but let us not get into that, except to note that the sitting judges do not get a role.

Perhaps there was an element of shame too, for the illness struck just after Trump was out there, showing his blustery bullying self in the first presidential debate, against Democrat challenger Joe Biden. Biden’s mask during the debate turns out to have been just ordinary caution, not the political statement everyone thought it was. However, it would have helped Biden more if Trump had worn a mask.

Trump is not the first head of state or government to have been infected, with others including Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom and Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil. Only one has actually died of it, except resident Paul Nkurunziza of Burundi. But then, that is a country so poor that it had only one ventilator, and being president helped him get hold of it. Did not help, though. He still died.

CMYK

Presumably Trump will not have that problem. But he is old enough for doctors to be worried. Well, our own prime minister is old enough, even though he depends on the youth vote to achieve office. Another head of government at risk would be Narendra Modi. India has got a lot of cases, a lot of deaths, so it would be something of an anomaly if he escaped. But he is drinking cow urine, which has been recommended as a sovereign remedy for Covid-19, as it has been for every other disease that man is afflicted by. Of course, none of the recommenders has trained as an allopathic doctor.

Speaking of doctors, Afghanistan’s Dr Abdullah Abdullah was in town. He came in his capacity of chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council of National Reconciliation.

He has practiced as an eye specialist in Peshawar in the 1980s, but he did not check any eyes during his visit. I do not know why he did not host an eye camp. And why Imran did not go to the Shifa Eye Hospital, instead of getting an Afghan doctor in. And if he needed a cataract operation done, why he did not do it himself? I mean, look at the masterly way he diagnosed Nawaz Sharif as well, anticipating long in advance the strictures passed on him by the Islamabad High Court, which wants him to surrender before it if he wants it to hear his appeal.

But perhaps Imran was too busy appointing new Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Amjad Niazi. It is a bit of a turn-up for the books, but though Imran plays down his Niazi roots (which is perhaps why the opposition plays it up), he’s followed his prede-

cessor, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in appointing one of his fellow tribesmen CNS. The outgoing CNS, Admiral Zafar Mehmood Abbasi, is not just a fellow Abbasi, but is also from the same tehsil of Kahuta in Rawalpindi district. On the other hand, Admiral Niazi has no link to Mianwali, selfidentifying as a Sindhi, while his family comes from Hoshiarpur district in East Punjab. Niazis from East Punjab seem to have a thing about the navy, for the CNS from 1979 to 1983 was Admiral K R Niazi, who was also from Hoshiarpur district. It is a bit of a coincidence, but the Sword of Honour as best cadet won by the outgoing CNS was presented to him at the Pakistan Naval Academy by the first Admiral Niazi, who was chief guest at that ceremony.

One hopes it will not become a tradition.

What if there is nobody from the PM’s biradri in future? The CNS preceding Admiral Abbasi was Admiral Zakaullah. He did not use any biradari as a surname, but he was not a Raja. And nor was his predecessor, Admiral Asif Asif Sandila. He was not a Gilani.

While we are engaged in martial task, Imran has said that Nawaz is saying what he is saying because of the Indians. Right. It is evil and unpatriotic to ask Modi to your grand-daughter’s wedding, but you can raise as much money as you want for your cancer hospital by having Indian film stars perform at your fundraisers. Just wait for Indian diplomats to be observed sneaking away from PDM meetings. And of course Nawaz will be seen in London coming out of the house of an Indian diplomat there.

Monday, 5 October, 2020

06 COMMENT

Hoisted on his own Petard

PDM gets a head Preparations pick pace

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HE pakistan Democratic movement (pDm) seems in the process of getting preliminaries out of the way of its first show of strength, scheduled for Quetta for October 11, with the appointment of maulana Fazlur rehman, the eponymous head of the JuI(F) as its first chairman, in the online meeting on Saturday, of the new alliance’s party chiefs. However, the other positions in the pDm, like the vice president and secretary general, will be filled in a further meeting today, though it was agreed that they would go to the pmL(N) and the ppp respectively. The headship is rotational, with a tenure of a maximum of four to six months, and rotating among the three major parties of the 11-party alliance. maulana Fazlur rehman’s selection, on the nomination of pmL(N) chief Shehbaz Sharif and the secondment of ppp chief Bilawal Bhutto, represents a major step for him. It is also an acknowledgement that he has the obedient manpower, in the shape of madressa students at his command. The first rally is off the beaten track for both the major parties, the pmL(N) and the ppp, and the pDm cannot afford a poor show in its very first outing. As the relative strength of the parties will be judged at the rallies by the showing of the party’s flag, the significance increases of the decision to convert pmL(N) and ppp events into pDm events. There has been one rally in Lahore, by the pmL(N) which has been billed as a preparatory event for the Quetta rally. The JuI(F)’s preparation, in the shape of the Azadi march late last year, was mentioned specifically by mian Shehbaz when nominating the maulana.

However, no one, least of all the pDm leaders, expect the government to just roll over and go home. The pTI must hope that it can counter the pDm by using the official machinery, as is being done, against the leaders. It would also hope to keep the man in the street away from the opposition by peddling conspiracy theories, starting with the one where prime minister Imran Khan accused mian Nawaz Sharif of doing India’s bidding when he criticized the establishment. mr Khan’s problem will start if enough people buy mr Sharif’s thesis that the establishment’s installing an incompetent person was the reason for the tanking of the economy.

After all the mockery, Trump catches Covid-19

Humayun GauHar

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rump asked for it. He got it. Not hours earlier, he was mocking Joe Biden for wearing a mask, calling him a ‘sissy,’ forgetting that bullies like him are the real sissies. A few hours later, he was hoist on his own petard and felled by the covid-19 that he was denying. So was his poor wife. The White House, as usual, won’t tell us clearly how bad it is, but from the fact that he was shifted to Walter reed Hospital, one can infer that it is not a slight cold. The man has got everything going against him: he is 74, he is fat and he has pre-existing conditions, which puts him in the high-risk category.

He had been in denial about Covid-19. maybe this will teach him a lesson and he will correct his ways. One can safely infer because of his denial and mocking the SOps, he caused a lot of people to get careless and caused them to die and all because of a fake macho attitude, runaway ego and of course, stupid politics. The desire to win the next election and allow people to die would infer that his behavior can lead to callous criminality. By that measure alone, he does not deserve to win the next election. Now, he will be out of action for at least two weeks, which puts a pause to his electioneering.

Local body polls How something routine is made a problem

Time stands still for a gentle man

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HE Election Commission of pakistan (ECp), through a letter from the Chief Election Commissioner to the prime minister, has been forced to ask for the publication of the final 2017 census, so that it can go about its task of carrying out fresh delimitations, and then holding fresh elections for all the local bodies in the country, all of which have been dissolved after the completion of their tenures. Indeed, the 120-day mandatory period between dissolution and the holding of fresh elections remains only for Sindh as all other provinces have passed that timeframe.

The main reason for the delay has been the mQm’s refusal to accept the results, claiming that the population was undercounted in its strongholds, with the consequent result for Assembly representation and funds distribution, among other things. A constitutional amendment had let the ECp conduct delimitations and hold General Elections on the basis of preliminary results. The mQm only agreed to it on the condition that a forensic audit of 10 percent of census blocks was conducted. As the ECp has pointed out, the amendment only provided a one-time waiver, for the 2018 elections, and did not apply to the local body elections.

The publication of a final result is the responsibility of the government. It has not done so. more significantly, it has neither conducted the forensic audit demanded by the mQm, nor persuaded it to withdraw its objections. The ppp is also objecting to the results. It has not been approached either. This is a little surprising, as the pTI has always championed strong local bodies as the bedrock of democracy.

Another letter from the ECp Secretary to the parliamentary Affairs Secretary shows a way out, but that is rather cumbersome: that a constitutional amendment is passed to waive the condition. Even then, the government would have to win support from the opposition, something it has been loath to do so far, accusing it of being corrupt. If instead of focusing on finding new ways of persecuting the opposition, if it was to concentrate on finding ways of carrying out the routine but essential tasks of government, like publishing the census results, it might find itself rewarded in the long run.

An officer of the old school asses

m.J.aKBar

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HAT options does memory have except to be selective? Too much debris floats on time. Who wastes memory cells on the irrelevant of the transient?

Equally, memory can be magnetic, chiseling the dross out of a cherished experience and etching it on a second layer of consciousness.

The one thing I can recall, without a shade of doubt, about my last conversation with the gentle and sagacious major Jaswant Singh Jasol, coincidentally on the day before he slipped into a coma, was that it was not about politics. It was about books. He seemed to be among books even when he was not in his tomepacked office, for knowledge always hovered in the air, leavened by happy wit and nuanced analysis.

We enjoyed discussing a future book far more than dissecting a past one. Every book one writes waits for years in the mind, the embryo forming and reforming, sometimes still, sometimes kicking.

Conversation was a dais for debate, exploration, a revaluation of horizons. His true pleasures were reading, writing, music and intelligent conversation. Jaswant Singh dressed every difference in that quiet and characteristic smile of his, a signature of an intellectual who might, one a rare occasion be provoked into anger but would never descend into the pitfall of rancour.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Asher John

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

We always knew that this would be an election would not expect anything revolutionary from her, with a difference. One cannot rule out him getting except the fact she is a woman and black. But it may some sympathy votes, but the American people can’t not come to pass, because I’m not sitting at God’s be that stupid. Yet the people have never really mat- right hand to know what He is going to do. Harris tered in uS presidential elections. It is the small Elec- might surprise us all by being a good and sensible toral College that thwarts the will of the majority. The president. But Trump might survive Covid, get whole thing is a sham and needs to be changed fast if elected for the next term and surprise us all. Trump’s supporters will be hoping and praying for this. The America is ever to rise again.

By the way, Trump had taken to perjuring China uSA’s enemies will be wishing for another four years by calling covid-19, “The China Virus” or even “The of Trump because they believe he will destroy the China plague.” If that is true, implying it was created uSA like they can’t. political and diplomatic by the Chinese in a lab and correctness brought out a lot let loose into the world to of hypocrisy in people with destroy its economies, world leaders wishing whether it makes sense or Trump well when we damn not doesn’t bother Trump. if China indeed were well know that they do not.

He just likes to abuse. If that responsible for covid-19, Only China, which had been is so, and there is no proof hugely perjured by Trump, that it is, then China has then it has succeeded who called Covid-19 “The felled the uSA’s leader and China Virus” and “The the so-called leader of the imagination, throwing beyond China plague” and said he so-called ‘Free World.’ No had done it deliberately, one is free of the uSA’s the US presidency and were measured. They did hegemonic overhang─ the economy into a tailspin. Time not gloat, nor say ‘it serves uSA’s economy has gone to him right’. As I said, if hell in a handbasket and is in might tell where the truth lies China indeed were responsia total shambles. And there ble for Covid-19, then it has is more joblessness than ever but it doesn’t necessarily succeeded beyond imaginaand growing. It is not outalways do that tion, throwing the uS presiside the realm of possibility dency and economy into a that the almighty dollar will tailspin. Time might tell be almighty no more and the where the truth lies but it world will start using some doesn’t necessarily always other currency for its reserves and trading. That will put an end to the dollar do that. If Trump is looking for the truth, he should being as “good as gold”. Gold has no doubt risen also look closer to home, particularly at Fort Detrick in maryland where biological weapons testing was hugely during the pandemic.

The only thing that a Biden presidency portends taking place. It is also said that some American solis business as usual. It will put an end to Trump’s un- diers caught it and were shipped off to Wuhan for mitigated stupidity. But don’t expect any miracles or some games. They lingered on and had the freedom any revolutionary way of running government. I sus- of the city, going to markets and restaurants. This is pect it will be humdrum, ho-hum. Given his age, 77, how, they conjecture, Covid spread in Wuhan and it is not outside the realm of possibility that he will from there to the rest of the world. God alone knows hand in his dinner pail and then we will have the part- the truth.

Indian, part-Jamaican and part-American by birth KaHumayun Gauhar is a veteran columnist in mala Harris as the American president. They will finally have got a woman at last, but indirectly. I Pakistan and editor of Blue Chip magazine.

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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He led from the front. There was no other place He only ever got angry for one reason: when he felt honour had been besmirched. His strong sense of for a leader. This was why, as Foreign minister in Atal honour was embedded in the moral and civilizational Behari Vajpayee’s government, he took the extraorphilosophy of India. It was never a borrowed con- dinary decision, on 31 December 1999, to travel to struct. It was an inheritance from family; from the Kandahar with the three terrorists being exchanged for 155 Indian hostages on culture of his beloved land, the hijacked Indian Airlines Jasol, and the dunes of the flight. That decision became rajasthan desert; from the controversial but he never ethos of a proud people; regretted it. His conscience from the blood of ancestors; His most notable passage of would not permit him any from personal convictions diplomatic arms was with other course. He could not that were the gravitational send any other person into centre of his physical and Strobe Talbott, Bill Clinton’s such peril without risking spiritual being. Success or his own life. His manners failure or the long fallow friend and representative in and his style sometimes spaces in between were the the talks with India after Prime struck a slightly discordant shifting sands of life. Honnote in the earthy discord of our was immutable. It beMinister Vajpayee’s democratic politics, but if he longed to the ages. was at ease with his conJaswant Singh’s English courageous decision to science he was at ease with diction, enveloped in the declare India a nuclear power. the world. deep bass of his voice, was His most notable pasborn on the upper pastures of Not only did Jaswant Singh sage of diplomatic arms was princely India; to this he Strobe Talbott, Bill added, in his social mores, persuade the Americans that it with Clinton’s friend and reprethe twinkle of an Army officers’ mess. people often felt, was in their mutual interest to sentative in the talks with India after prime minister though few would actually recognize that India would not Vajpayee’s courageous decitell him, that he was too sion to declare India a nu“British”. Wrong. He was be confined by the clear power. Not only did British Indian Army rather Jaswant Singh persuade the than British. I often felt that shibboleths of previous Americans that it was in the sartorial flaps he sported administrations, but by the their mutual interest to recover both shoulders of his ognize that India would not quasi-military bush-shirts end of it all he and Talbott be confined by the shibbowere symbolic of the epaulettes he would have became very good friends. The leths of previous administrations, but by the end of it all achieved had he stayed on in world changed, and Jaswant he and Talbott became very the Army. good friends. The world He was designed by naSingh was among those who changed, and Jaswant Singh ture to be a General in comwas among those who mand of ideas and strategies brought about the change brought about the change. in a vast theatre of operaThe world has always tions, born or reborn during changed since Adam was any moment of history. I can cast out of paradise. Time imagine him at the drawing board of an evening tent at mahabharata, deep in con- stands still only in paradise. Six years ago, time versation with Lord Krishna; or leading the forces of paused for Jaswant Singh. Now time stands still Emperor Ashoka to Takshila and the Indus; or a for him.

Charles James Napier sending a one-word message Mobashar Jawed Akbar is a leading Indian back to headquarters after the victorious march through the deserts: Peccavi, the Latin for ‘I have journalist and author. He is the Editor-in-Chief of The sinned’, a pun upon ‘I have Sindh’. Such a glorious Sunday Guardian. He has also served as Editorial Director of India Today. He tweets at: @mjakbar. literary jest epitomizes Jaswant Singh.

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Monday, 5 October, 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

Price of SOPs IN today’s world, we are suffering with deadly virus “ covid 19” which is harmful. For the protection of ourselves from it,we should follow SOps so that we should be save from deadly virus such as masks, sanitizer and keep social distancing. Before covid 19 the price of masks and sanitizer were less but when covid 19 came the prices increased. Before covid 19 the price of masks and sanitizer were less but when covid 19 came the prices increased. Before covid 19, the price of masks was 5 rupees and now it is 30 rupees and sanitizer small bottle was just 70 rupees but now 350 rupees. Because of covid 19 the price of masks and sanitizer should be less but here the price increases.Now the question rises how a poor person can afford these? We just think about ourselves not others. It is requested to the government of pakistan to take serious action against the ones who increases the price of masks and sanitizer.

Shayzanth jummah turbat

Umrah reopening

Kashmir, Palestine & Islamophobia their trade and economic interests at stake, and palestine dispute pertains to Israel which is illegitimate babe of the united States, which in reby their Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their le- cent months is exerting all pressures on muslim muHammad ZaHid rifat gitimate struggle for securing their fundamental countries to sign agreements of friendship with right of self-determination in accordance with the Zionist state. The resolution in support of the uN Security CounEast Timor was impleINGErING unresolved issues of Kash- cil resolutions. mented within a matter mir and palestine, non-implementation He told the internaof few months as it inand no enforcement of resolutions tional community Pakistani missions in foreign volved a muslim counadopted decades back by the uN Secu- through his virtual adtry, Indonesia. rity Council and the mounting threat to dress that pakistan has countries around the globe As regards growing humanity in general, and particularly to mus- always called for a threat of Islamophopmust pick up the thread lims, in the form of Islamophobia were the main peaceful solution of the bia, pm Imran Khan problems confronting the muslim ummah. lingering unresolved quite rightly , appreciawhere Imran Khan has left These were duly, quite rightly and emphati- Kashmir issue, to this bly and pointedly stated cally highlighted by prime minister Imran Khan end India must rescind that the coronavirus off, and continue pressing while addressing the uN General Assembly ses- the measures it has pandemic was an opupon the international sion for the second time in two years. His taken since 5 August portunity to bring humaiden address last year was delivered in person 2019, end its military manity together, but community through all in New York but the second one a few days back siege and other gross unfortunately instead it was virtual address owing to the coronavirus human rights violations has fanned nationalism, possible means and pandemic. While in New York, the prime min- and agree to resolve the increased global tenresources for solutions of ister besides addressing uN General Assembly Jammu and Kashmir sions and given rise to had availed the opportunity of meeting a number dispute in accordance racial and religious haKashmir and Palestine of world leaders on the sidelines of the united with the relevant uN tred and violence Nations General Assembly, but this time having Security Council resoagainst vulnerable midisputes in accordance with to deliver the address virtually had deprived him lutions and of course norities in several of this opportunity. the wishes of the peothe UN Security Council places, and these trends The international community was told in ple of Kashmir. also accentuated resolutions and the wishes of have very plain words that there will be no durable As regards pales“Islamophobia”, and peace and stability in South Asia until the tine, he said that palesmuslims continue to be the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir dispute is resolved, the tine remains a festering targeted with impunity Security Council was urged to prevent a disas- wound, and a just and in many countries. One Jammu and Kashmir and trous conflict and secure the implementation of lasting settlement is country in the world Palestine, and urging them to today where the state its own resolutions as it had done in the case of indispensable for the East Timor; the Security Council has as a mat- middle East and in fact sponsors Islamophobia take adequate stringent ter of record considered the situation in Jammu also the world at large, is India, the reason beand Kashmir thrice in the past year ( after the while illegal annexameasures to discourage and hind this is that the long lapse of about 55 years), it must take ap- tion of palestinian terrSS ideology unfortucurb the mounting threat of propriate enforcement actions and most impor- ritory, the building of nately rules India today. tantly it must also take adequate positive steps illegal settlements and said this, Islamophobia effectively and the Having to protect the Kashmiris from impending geno- the imposition of inhuprime minister cide by the fascist regime of India. For more man living conditions urged the uN General permanently than 72 years India has illegally occupied on the palestinians, esAssembly to declare an Jammu and Kashmir against the wishes of the pecially in Gaza, can“International Day to Kashmiri people in blatant violation of the uN not bring peace to a Combat Islamophobia” Security Council resolutions. troubled region, and to build a coalition pm Imran Khan, who calls himself as the adding that pakistan continues to support a to fight this scourge that splits humanity rather Ambassador of Kashmiris and has been agitat- two-state solution in line with the uN General than bring it together. ing and raising the Kashmir issue and thr op- Assembly and Security Council resolutions prime minister Imran Khan must be felicipressive and within the internation- tated for highlighting all those issues and consuppressive activities ally agreed parameters, cerns which are source of concerns of problems being meted out to the which were the restora- and worries for the muslims in particular and the Kashmiri people in tion of the pre-1967 international community in general in his adevery form within the These were duly, quite borders, and Al-Quds dress to the uN General Assembly. country and internaSharif as the capital of pakistani missions in foreign countries rightly and emphatically tionally, paying triba united, contiguous around the globe must pick up the thread where utes to the Kashmiris and independent state Imran Khan has left off, and continue pressing highlighted by Prime said in his address that of palestine. upon the international community through all the brave Kashmiri Needless to mention possible means and resources for solutions of Minister Imran Khan while people would never here that the uN Secu- Kashmir and palestine disputes in accordance addressing the UN General submit to Indian occurity Council and the with the uN Security Council resolutions and pation and oppression, General Assembly are the wishes of the people of occupied Jammu and Assembly session for the their struggle is indigeunable to implement Kashmir and palestine, and urging them to take nous, they were fighttheir decades old resolu- adequate stringent measures to discourage and second time in two years. ing for a just cause and tions to resolve the lin- curb the mounting threat of Islamophobia effeclaying down their lives gering and burning tively and permanently. generation after generKashmir and palestine ation for getting rid of dispute because KashMuhammad Zahid Rifat is Lahore-based Indian occupation. mir issue pertains to a big country, India, which Freelance Journalist, Columnist and retired reiterating pakistan’s principled stance, he is flagrantly violating uN Security Council res- Deputy Controller (News) , Radio Pakistan, emphatically said that the government and the olutions also in a big manner for decades to- Islamabad and can be reached at people of pakistan were committed to standing gether, and many countries around the globe have zahidriffat@gmail.com

The PMs speech pointed out the real problems of the world

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SAuDI Arabian citizens and residents living in the kingdom are now allowed to perform the umrah pilgrimage at Islam’s holiest sites, mecca and medina, after a seven-month pause due to coronavirus concerns.

Visitors can enter the mosque to pray or perform umrah, they will have to apply and reserve a specific time and date through an online application that launched on September 27, to avoid crowding and maintain social distancing guidelines. The Grand mosque houses the cube shaped Kaaba that observant muslims pray toward five times a day. muhammad naEEm Karachi

Terrifying circumstances IN pakistan every day car accident, firings, bomb blast, these are too much common in pakistan. recently in Sahiwal 6 members of a family were killed when a heavy tractor trolley hit a car on Kamalia road, chichawantni near river ravi on Tuesday.The car crash, and the tractor has cotton that buried and buried the passengers as well.Those killed were Zeeshan 24 years old, his wife mehreen 22 years old, mother, uncle and many other.Another story about alleged killer three sisters who were killed in their house and brothers were shot in their shop located in the same area, they lost their previous lives without any crime . Everyone is aware about such cases but no any response from government why? All have the same soul then why they are not being treated well ,everyone have to get their rights. The government is requested to take a serious action against such situations. abida diljan turbat

Pakistan’s resources THE world bank has shown that pakistan is improving in the energy sector by approving 450m to support the country. As we know in pakistan ,many resources could be used to benefit her;such as gold,natural gas, desial etc...

The indicative generation capacity expansion plan 2047 which was prepared by NTDC to focus on coal, ignore the power technology and that is set that should improve till 2030. As we know,In pakistan many renewable resources are being used and the most cheapest is solar .If pakistan’s renewable resources can be improved ,then certain employees’ should be there for these works.

Shayzanth jummah turbat

Women’s rights in Pakistan IT is a tremendous fact that women rights are human rights but unfortunately gender inequality underpins many problems which disproportionately affect women and girls such as domestic and sexual violence, lower pay , lack of access to education and inadequate healthcare.

However, we are surviving in such a society where woman are neglected in all essential works. Even a man doesn’t know the originality of a woman’s role in terms of development. much like pakistan the condition is pakistani women were granted the suffrage in 1947, and they were reaffirmed the right to vote in national elections in 1956 under the Interim constitution.

The 1961 muslim family law Ordinance, which regulated marriage, divorce and polygamy continues to have significant legal impact on the women of pakistan. Human rights watch said that in its report released in 2014 that “Violence against women and girls including rape, honor killings, Acid attacks all remain still serious in pakistan history and modern pakistan.

Despite building up country’s economy, the government has not undertaken concrete steps to give women most fundalmantal rights to do . Believe me saying this , if a country remain constant in making of women’s lives in difficulty their country is far from each important events as we can see enormous destruction in our country , be ensure the main motive is the same your sufferings proove . The situation of women is such that which is inexpressible to share about that how much sorrows they felt in their minds . So this is my final appeal to governmental laws that the authorities should work well in order to solve women issues in a common society. barKatullah QuEtta

Struggling private schools THE statement “ stay home, stay safe” is quite easy when your necessities are fulfilled. It is true that the government is helping everyone with funds during this covid-19 era but apart from shops, markets and transportation, schools are also closed. Due to which the private teachers are struggling really hard because neither are they below poverty line to be helped by funds nor are they getting paid due to lockdown. many private teachers are the only bread-winner in their families. Henceforth, the government must provide funds to private schools administrations to help the teachers due to whom there are doctors to help us. afroz mj turbat

Monday, 5 October, 2020

08 WORLD VIEW

Fire DonalD Trump T

natiOn, Usa

HIS is the most important election in our lifetimes—and one of the most consequential in The Nation’s 155-year history. Accepting his party’s nomination in 2016, Donald Trump promised to “lead our country back to safety, prosperity, and peace…to add millions of new jobs and trillions in new wealth.” At his inauguration, he returned to that theme, vowing to rebuild “our country, with American hands and American labor.”

All lies. He also claimed to be worth billions–and to have paid “millions” in taxes.

That turned out to be a lie, too.

Instead of leading us toward prosperity, Trump pushed through a tax bill that gave billions of dollars to his rich supporters (and cabinet members) and cut taxes on corporations by a whopping 40 percent while doling out crumbs to working families. Instead of pursuing peace, Trump scuttled the Iran nuclear deal, reneged on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (negotiated by Ronald Reagan), and is withdrawing the country from the Open Skies agreement. Not to mention his abdication of the Paris climate accord—the pre-

WE HAVE NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT BIDEN, BUT WE NEED HIM TO WIN dictable consequence of an administration with a contempt for science, an aversion to truth, and a blind faith in the infallible wisdom of markets and corporate elites. Fiddling on Twitter while the West Coast burns, Trump has nothing to offer but four more years of incompetence and indifference. The man who pledged to end “American carnage” has instead revealed himself as a cheerleader for white supremacy, religious bigotry, and nationalist hatred.

And this is without even reckoning with the way the coronavirus pitilessly exposed his terrifying inadequacy as a leader, his literally fatal inability to take advice or rise to an occasion. As the pandemic continues to spread, with our country leading the world in death and suffering, Americans should ask ourselves, “Do I feel safer than I did four years ago?”

Voting Trump out of office will not in itself heal the terrible wounds inflicted on our body politic over the past four years. But it

is the absolutely necessary first step. That means voting for Joe Biden—through early voting wherever possible or by absentee or in-person voting when necessary.

We have no illusions about Biden, who—as we reported here last November— removed bankruptcy protections from student loans, helped write the bill that barred states from capping interest rates on interstate banking, and spent a career in the Senate carrying water for Delaware’s credit card industry. The idea that Biden is some kind of sleeper agent for socialism is a cruel joke, as is the claim that he is a closet radical.

The Democratic primaries did include some candidates and ideas that truly are radical. Bernie Sanders—The Nation’s preferred candidate—articulated a vision of Medicare for All and an America where health and education and economic security are human rights. Elizabeth Warren opposed Biden’s favors for the banks and ran on a platform of taking on the monopolist mil-

The rights and wrongs of targeted lockdowns

lionaires and robber baron billionaires who have rigged our economy. Yet both of them are voting for Biden.

So are Angela Davis, Noam Chomsky, and Jesse Jackson, whose pioneering campaign first demonstrated the potential of a presidential run to change the boundaries of the possible. As Davis said, this election is about “choosing a candidate who can be most effectively pressured into allowing more space for the evolving anti-racist movement.” The Nation has always preferred to put our faith in movements rather than saviors. If the current moment allows for hope—and we believe it does—it comes from those movements and from a government willing to listen rather than lash out.

The recent death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg underlines just how much is at stake. “It doesn’t matter whether you like Biden or not,” Chomsky argued. “Another four years of Trump may literally lead us to the stage where the survival of organized human society is deeply imperiled.” Maybe you think that’s fearmongering. Perhaps you live in a safe state. (New Yorkers are fortunate enough to have the option of voting for Biden on the Working Families Party line— a vote against Trump and against the corporate-dominated Democratic Party.) But Trump needs to be repudiated decisively in the popular vote to undercut any appeal to a Supreme Court already tipped in his favor, and for that, every vote will count.

When he first endorsed Biden in April, Sanders complimented him: “You want to

Kissinger evokes respect and vitriol in equal measure

INDIVIDUALS, NOT THE STATE, MUST CHOOSE HOW THEY WANT TO LIVE AND EVEN TO DIE

BLOOMBERG ANDREAS KLUTH

The mayor of Moscow recently ordered all Muscovites older than 65 to stay at home. This idea of restrictions imposed on just one category of citizens — those most at risk of dying from COVID19 — will come up a lot more now that the second wave is here. To put it bluntly: Should we lock down older people, or is that like locking them up, and thus unethical?

This isn’t meant to be a “modest proposal” in the tradition of Swiftian satire. We need to discuss our options, because going back into general lockdowns isn’t one. Renewed shutdowns wouldn’t be accepted by the population. They’d crush our traumatized economies and cause so much second-order suffering that an honest accounting against the relative harm from COVID19 would become elusive.

It makes epidemiological sense, moreover, to distinguish between the young and well and the old and vulnerable. We now know that children and young to middle-aged adults rarely have really bad cases of COVID-19 if they’re otherwise healthy. Hypothetically, if the world’s population were entirely under the age of 60, hospitals in Bergamo, Madrid and New York would never have been overwhelmed this spring. Most countries might never have imposed lockdowns at all.

Instead, they would have followed the nowdiscredited and still ambiguous “Swedish model.”

Sweden never closed schools, restaurants or factories, and didn’t even tell people to stay home. It posited instead that in time enough people would get asymptomatic or mild cases and recover with active antibodies to gradually give the whole population “herd immunity.” This is how most coronaviruses peter out.

The catch is we don’t live in a young-only scenario. In the real world, asymptomatic spreaders also give the virus to the vulnerable and older people. That’s what happened in Sweden, where COVID-19 took a heavy toll on the older population. Something similar is now happening elsewhere. In the U.S., the virus is spreading fastest among young adults, but those outbreaks eventually reach the older population.

So it might make sense to put older people behind the epidemiological equivalent of a firewall. The young outside the wall “live with” the virus and gradually achieve herd immunity.

The older inside the wall are kept relatively safe for the duration of the pandemic, until vac-

cines are available.

Unfortunately, good epidemiology isn’t always good politics, ethics or sociology. A selective lockdown would probably be unconstitutional in many liberal democracies, and for good reason.

Even if well-intentioned, it would set a precedent that is unacceptably dangerous.

A fundamental tenet of classical liberalism, on which most Western democracies are based, is that individuals have priority over groups. You can sanction behaviors — such as boozy parties or mask-less public transit. But once you target groups, you’re one step toward potential tyranny.

It doesn’t take much imagination to picture such a precedent leading to dystopian scenarios.

Another statistical risk group of COVID-19, for example, is Black people. Would anybody seriously propose a lockdown for this group?

And what would autocrats do with the precedent? An outbreak at a refugee camp, for example, might give the likes of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban an excuse to lock down all migrants.

Or ask yourself which groups Germany in the 1930s would have put into lockdown.

Even a policy goal of protecting a certain demographic cohort must never deprive its members, more than others, of their freedom to decide for themselves how much risk they’re willing to bear. Individuals, not the state, must choose how they want to live and even to die. Incidentally, that’s also why more countries should allow “assisted suicide,” the voluntary decision to end life on one’s own terms and with dignity.

The reality at this point in the pandemic, however, is that a great many older people actually want to isolate from potentially contagious youngsters. But for all those who wish to stay independent — that is, to keep out of nursing homes — doing so is often difficult, if not impossible. They must still shop for groceries and run errands, visit their doctors for standard medical care, deal with government bureaucracies and so forth. With each contact, they risk infection.

Good policy can make this easier. Let’s hire and train an “army of angels.” They’d be constantly screened and tested for the virus. And if safe, they’d see to the needs of anybody who voluntarily and temporarily wants to eliminate social contacts for health reasons. The offer would be open to anybody old, sick or otherwise immunocompromised.

Policy makers could thereby turn a negative — a coercive lockdown of one group — into a positive: the voluntary use of a public support service. It would be a demonstration that freedom and solidarity can dovetail. And it might even aid, rather than strain, cohesion among the generations.

Andreas Kluth is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. He was previously editor in chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for the Economist.

bring people in, even people who disagree with you.” Whatever its other merits, Biden’s choice of Kamala Harris as his running mate showed a willingness to reach out to one of his most effective critics. It also indicated due respect for the voters of color— African American women in particular—whose role as the keystone of the Democratic coalition had been taken for granted for far too long.

After winning the nomination, Biden implicitly acknowledged that the times demanded bolder solutions than the restoration he promised during the primaries, convening a unity task force that included not just Sanders but also Congressional Black Caucus chair Karen Bass, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pramila Jayapal, Sunrise Movement cofounder Varshini Prakash, and Association of Flight Attendants president Sara Nelson. The result is arguably the most progressive Democratic platform in decades, though Biden’s stubborn refusal, despite the raging pandemic, to embrace Medicare for All seems politically perverse as well as shortsighted.

Yet as Sanders told the Democratic convention, “If Donald Trump is reelected, all the progress we have made will be in jeopardy.” Because despite Trump’s best efforts, we have made progress—in our attitudes toward climate change, reproductive rights, racial justice, economic inequality, police brutality, immigration reform, and universal health care.

ONE SIDE SAYS HE RICHLY DESERVED HIS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. THE OTHER SIDE SAYS HE SHOULD STAND TRIAL AT THE HAGUE FOR WAR CRIMES

ChRistian sCiEnCE MOnitOR STEvE DoNogHUE

Entire libraries have been written about Henry Kissinger, and even now, decades after he left government, vitriolic disagreements rage about his legacy. Vanderbilt University history professor Thomas A. Schwartz concedes at the outset of his new book, “Henry Kissinger and American Power: A Political Biography” that he's taken on an impossible task: writing an objective biography of the country's 56th secretary of state.

Kissinger’s defenders cite his steady-handed policy with the Soviet Union, his pragmatic deal-making everywhere from Israel to Vietnam, his efforts to establish a working relationship between the U.S. and China. His detractors recall his support for an anti-democratic military coup in Chile, his tacit support for genocide during the Bangladesh War of Independence, and his accommodation of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. One side says he richly deserved his Nobel Peace Prize. The other side says he should stand trial at the Hague for war crimes.

Schwartz is well aware of the strong opinions his subject evokes, and he claims he seeks for a more balanced view. “Most treatments of Henry Kissinger have highlighted his role as a foreign policy intellectual who advocated a policy of realpolitik for the United States, a foreign policy that eschewed moral considerations or democratic ideology and was geared to a ‘cold-blooded’ promotion and protection of America’s security and interests,” he writes. “This is not incorrect, but it is incomplete.”

Drawing on a vast amount of primary sources (including interviews with the man himself), Schwartz carefully charts Kissinger's evolution as one of the 20th century's most controversial statesmen, briefly sketching his subject's earlier stint as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army

and as an academic before concentrating on his years as secretary of state and national security adviser for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. It was during this period that Kissinger conducted his famous “shuttle diplomacy” and developed his particular brand of diplomatic deal-making.

Kissinger called this realpolitik, and he practiced it by sketching out détente with the Soviet Union, opening relations with China, and extricating America from a shooting war in Vietnam, among other things. “This marriage between geopolitical realism and American domestic politics, engineered

by Nixon and Kissinger, was always a tenuous one,” Schwartz writes, “but it served the electoral purposes of Nixon and even won Kissinger a Nobel Peace Prize.”

Throughout all this, Schwartz always remembers to add darkly fascinating personal elements. When writing about the tense negotiations about Vietnam, for instance, readers get a typical exchange that inadvertently underscores Nixon’s plentiful belligerent qualities. “We’re going to bomb those [expletives] all over the place,” Nixon growls at one point.

“The only point I disagree is we can do all of this without killing too many civilians,” Kissinger responds.

“You’re so [expletive] concerned about the civilians,” Nixon accuses, to which Kissinger answers, “I’m concerned about the civilians because I don’t want the world to be mobilized against you as a butcher.”

The obvious problem here is one intrinsic to any attempt at writing a biography of Henry Kissinger. It’s difficult to avoid pointing out that the secretary, who was the willing, eager servant of a president who wanted to “bomb the [expletive]” out of civil-

ians, also shares that president's guilt.

Schwartz steps very carefully around that guilt. To take one example: The White House's 1970 decision to invade and bomb Cambodia, which was heavily criticized by the American public, especially college students, is characterized as something that Nixon mostly decided while Kissinger was out of the room. Likewise, in summarizing the condemnation Kissinger encountered in 1974 when he suborned a dictatorial coup in Cyprus, Schwartz writes, “Kissinger now found himself increasingly challenged by those who sought greater morality and respect for human rights in U.S. foreign policy” – an utterly damning bit of phrasing, but Schwartz clearly isn't intending it as a damnation.

Kissinger has been out of power for over 40 years, but he has raked in millions giving speeches and doing consulting work through his firm, Kissinger Associates. Presidents and presid e n t i a l candidates make a point of being seen conferring with Kissinger, making a pilgrimage to his Park Avenue offices as a gesture of how serious they are about their international policy. The period when, as Schwartz puts it, he was “able to conduct a pragmatic and flexible foreign policy” on Nixon’s behalf was in many ways a turning point, and readers who watched that history as it was unfolding will almost certainly find “Henry Kissinger and American Power” disconcertingly even-handed in assessing how Kissinger acquired the reputation upon which so much political clout rests.

“I am convinced that it is not necessary to render a moral judgment on Henry Kissinger in order to learn from his career,” Schwartz writes, and this is true: it isn’t necessary. But even so, it might still be the right thing to do.

Monday, 5 October, 2020

BUSINESS 09 Centre to ask Sindh govt to remove taxes on import of wheat, sugar

‘US-ChinA trAdE wAr An OPPOrtUnity fOr PAkiStAni bUSinESSES tO tAP ChinESE mArkEt’

ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD

SHAHZAD PARACHA

The federal government has decided to ask the Sindh government to remove taxes on the import of wheat and sugar. According to sources, the decision was made during a meeting regarding issues related to the import of sugar and wheat through Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) held under the chairmanship of federal minister for Industries and Production on September 14. “After detailed deliberations, it was decided that the ministry will again request the government of Sindh to remove taxes on the import of the two products,” they said It may be mentioned here that the Sindh government has imposed a 1.15 per cent cess apart from charging sales tax on wharfage services. In this regard, the Ministry of Science and Technology shall be requested to reduce Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) charges whereas the Ministry of Maritime Affairs shall be requested to reduce port handling charges. Further, both the Punjab Food Department and Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) were asked to finalise a transportation mechanism and sign an agreement as well. It is pertinent to mention here that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in its last meeting approved reducing charges from 2pc to 0.75pc on the import of wheat and sugar. In addition to this, sources said that the meeting also decided that TCP will negotiate a reduction of various service charges associated with import with service providers such as stevedoring @1250 PMT for handling, clearing and other charges. It is pertinent to note here that the federal government is importing wheat to fill the gap of 1.4mmt. The government has allowed private importers and TCP to import wheat while the ECC in the last meeting also gave go head to PASSCO to import 180,000ton wheat from Russia.The prime minister in the last cabinet meeting had also shown annoyance over the delay in the import of wheat.

APP

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EDERATION of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Federal Secretary General Ahmad Jawad on Sunday said that Pakistan should immediately look to explore the massive Chinese market to reduce the prevailing deficit in the Pak-China trade in the wake of the ongoing US-China trade war.

“The Chinese market alone is sufficient to absorb the exports of Pakistan,” he emphasised, adding that the trade war had cut down massive imports of China which the local market could supply for the benefit of both countries. In this regard, the FPCCI official suggested that Pakistan must increase the production of barley for exporting to China as they have a large consumption scale of barley.

“In 2019, barley production for Pakistan was only 63 thousand tonnes. Though production fluctuated substantially in recent years, it tended to decrease through 1970 – 2019, ending at 63 thousand tonnes in 2019.”

Jawad said that recently China had halted its im-

port of barley from Australia’s largest barley exporter in the midst of the US-China trade war, as the latter has shown its inclination towards the US by sending ships to the South China Sea for joint naval exercises with the US and India. The suspension was brought into action on the basis of pest contamination in the imported product.

The tussle had started when China imposed 80 per cent tariffs on Australia’s barley export. Now, the import suspension has not only put the credibility of Australia’s barley exports at risk but also shrunken the graph of barley export as China had been importing barley no lesser than $500 million per annum.

“Pakistan must capitalise from the present situation by increasing barley production for its all-weather friend, China, as it will not only help the country exploit China’s enormous market but also help China in reducing transportation costs spent on cargo ships,” the FPCCI official said.

“To grow more barley does not include any rocket science; Pakistan’s soil is suitable for the production of barley, the only need is to make people realise how much they can gain by growing barley,” he said, adding that it

Pakistan earns $161mn from IT services’ export in July

AGP team formed to conduct forensic audit of loss-making SOEs ISLAMABAD APP

Airbus executive says aviation outlook worse than expected BERLIN: The outlook for the aviation industry has deteriorated again due to rising coronavirus infections and renewed travel restrictions, Airbus chief operating officer Michael Schoellhorn was quoted as saying on Saturday.

With air travel at a fraction of normal levels due to restrictions and travellers’ fears related to the pandemic, airlines have slowed deliveries of new aircraft. Airbus has said it needs to shed 15,000 posts worldwide. In an interview with the Handelsblatt business daily, Schoellhorn said the situation in early autumn was worse than the company had expected in the summer, adding that the planned 15,000 job cuts would be the minimum.

As some Airbus factories were already underutilized before the pandemic, labour unions now fear that the management could decide to shut down entire locations.

At least for Germany, Schoellhorn ruled out such a move.

“In terms of substance, I do not see any German locations at risk at the moment,” he said. Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury said last month the planemaker would do its best to cut costs without resorting to compulsory redundancies, but it could not guarantee they won’t happen. In a letter to staff in September, Faury warned that Airbus may have to carry out compulsory layoffs after air travel failed to recover from the pandemic as quickly as anticipated. AGENCIES

may also assist in doing away with unemployment.

Furthermore, he said that the introduction of technology in the agriculture sector under the agenda list of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) can be manipulated to improve barley production in Pakistan.

According to a report published by Japan, the USChina trade war could lead to countries like Chile, Vietnam, Malaysia, and other countries to fill the vacuum whereas Pakistan may emerge as a major player in this race.

“Undoubtedly, India is a massive market. Had there been no stand-off in Laddakh region, India would have massively capitalised on China’s farewell to Australia’s barley exports. It will be a disgraceful and extreme level of inefficiency if Pakistan still does not learn to exploit the US-China trade war,” Jawad stated.

The FPCCI official said that Pakistan has been hapless in exploiting its own resources owing to a lack of proper technique, as well as of good governance.

He regretted that Himalayan Pink salt, which he said was the country’s national pride, is sold at very cheap rates to countries like India.

ISLAMABAD APP

Pakistan earned $161.980 million by providing different information technology (IT) services in various countries during the first month of the ongoing financial year (FY) 2020-21.

This shows a growth of 40.90 per cent when compared to $114.960 m earned through the provision of services YoY, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Sunday.

During the month under review, computer services grew by 35.11pc, surging from $90.070 m last year to $121.690 million during July 2020.

Among the computer services, the exports of software consultancy services witnessed an increase of 13.48pc, from $34.036 m to $38.623 million while the export of hardware consultancy services however witnessed a decrease of 82.70pc, from $0.237 m to $0.041 m.

The export of repair and maintenance services also declined by 84.19pc from $0.329 million to

$0.052 m whereas the export and imports of computer software services witnessed an increase of 8.80pc, from $30.618 m to $33.311 m.

In addition, exports of other computer services rose by 99.85pc from $24.850 m to $49.663 m.

Meanwhile, the export of information services during the month under review increased by 161.54pc by going up from $0.130 m to $0.340 m.

Among information services, exports of information related services also increased by 194.64pc, from $0.056 m to $0.165 whereas the exports of other information services also rose by 136.49pc, from $0.074 m to $0.175 m. The export of telecommunication services increased by 61.35pc as these went up from $24.760 m to $30.950 m, data revealed.

Among the telecommunication services, the export of call centres services increased by 25.80pc during the month as its exports increased from $8.499 million to $10.692 m whereas the export of other telecommunication services also increased by 79.93pc, from $16.261 m to $29.258 m YoY, the PBS data revealed.

The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) on Sunday constituted a four-member team to conduct a forensic audit of major loss-making State-Owned Entities (SOEs) under orders issued by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan. Responding to a letter issued by the Ministry of Finance asking whether the AGP had sufficient expertise to carry out a forensic audit of the entities, the AGP’s office affirmed that it had the required experience and expertise of forensic auditing and for this purpose, a team had also been formed, an official of AGP office told APP. The forensic audit team would be led by a BS-19 officer, Karachi DG Audit Saqib Bashir, with members including Deputy Director Attique Ur Rahman, Audit Officer Nadeem Masood, and Assistant Audit Officer Saqib Hussain. It may be mentioned here that the premier, in a recent cabinet meeting, had instructed the concerned authorities to make arrangements for conducting a forensic audit of SOEs which had undergone an audit out for more than four years. Under the premier’s instructions, the Cabinet Committee on State Owned Enterprises (CCoSOEs) had asked the authorities to submit details on availability of sufficient forensic audit expertise in the AGP, estimated cost in case of outsourcing, time duration and proposed list of lossmaking entities for a forensic audit. However, the committee presided over by Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, suggested that the AGP needed to declare whether had forensic audit expertise or required outsourcing before initiating the forensic audit. The committee had also advised that line ministries and divisions be consulted for the selection of companies.

Trump’s diagnosis fuels uncertainty for skittish US stock market WASHINGTON AGENCIES

Investors are gauging how a potential deterioration in President Donald Trump’s health could impact asset prices in coming weeks, as the US leader remains hospitalized after being diagnosed with Covid-19.

So far, markets have been comparatively sanguine: hopes of a breakthrough in talks among US lawmakers on another stimulus package took the edge off a stock market selloff on Friday, with the S&P 500 losing less than 1pc and so-called safe-haven assets seeing limited demand. News of Trump’s hospitalization at a military medical center outside Washington, where he remained on Saturday, came after trading ended on Friday.

Many investors are concerned, however, that a serious decline in Trump’s health less than a month before Americans go to the polls on Nov. 3 could roil a U.S. stock market that recently notched its worst monthly performance since its selloff in March while causing turbulence in other assets.

If the president’s health is in jeopardy, there’s “too much uncertainty in the situation for the markets just to shrug it off,” said Willie Delwiche, investment strategist at Baird.

The various outcomes investors currently envision run the gamut from a quick recovery that bolsters Trump’s image as a

fighter to a drawn-out illness or death stoking uncertainty and drying up risk appetite across markets.

Should uncertainty persist, technology and momentum stocks that have led this year’s rally may be particularly vulnerable to a selloff, some investors said. The techheavy Nasdaq fell more than 2pc on Friday, double the S&P 500’s decline.

“If people … get nervous right now, probably it manifests itself in crowded trades like tech and mega-cap being unwound a

bit,” Delwiche said A record 80% of fund managers surveyed last month by BofA Global Research said that buying technology stocks was the market’s “most crowded” trade.

The concentration of investors in big tech stocks has also raised concerns over their outsized sway on moves in the broader market.

The largest five U.S. companies – Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft – now account for almost 25% of the S&P 500’s market capitalization, ac-

CMYK

cording to research firm Oxford Economics.

FISCAL STIMULUS TALKS: Trump’s diagnosis has intensified the spotlight on the fiscal stimulus talks in Washington, with investors saying agreement on another aid package could act as a stabilizing force on markets in the face of election-related uncertainty.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, said on Friday that negotiations were continuing, but she is waiting for a response from the White House on key areas.

Fresh stimulus could speed economic healing from the impact of the pandemic, which has put millions of Americans out of work, and benefit economically-sensitive companies whose stock performance has lagged this year, investors said.

For those who are underweight stocks, “we would be using this volatility as an opportunity to increase equities because we think we’re in an early-stage economic recovery,” said Keith Lerner, chief market strategist at Truist/SunTrust Advisory.

Market action on Friday suggested some investors may have been positioning for a stimulus announcement in the midst of the selloff.

The S&P 500 sectors representing industrials and financials, two groups that are more sensitive to a broad economic recovery, rallied 1.1% and 0.7%, respectively,

while the broader index declined.

Even with worries over Trump’s condition, “the fiscal program has been the loudest noise in the market,” said Arnim Holzer, macro and correlation defense strategist at EAB Investment Group.

Investor hedges against election-related market swings put in place over the last few months may have softened Friday’s decline and could, to a degree, mitigate future volatility, said Christopher Stanton of hedge fund Sunrise Capital Partners LLC. Despite Trump’s illness, futures on the Cboe Volatility Index continued to show expectations of elevated volatility after the Nov. 3 vote, a pattern consistent with concerns of a contested election.

Nagging doubts over whether the Republican president would agree to hand over the keys to the White House if he loses have grown in recent weeks. During his first debate with Democratic challenger Joe Biden on Tuesday, Trump declined to commit to accepting the results, repeating his unfounded complaint that mail-in ballots would lead to election fraud.

“If Trump’s health does not recover … then he might give up on contesting the election,” said Michael Purves, chief executive of Tallbacken Capital Advisors. But “markets are not shifting off the contested election thing right now.”

Monday, 5 October, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS establishment parties sweep Kyrgyzstan's election BISHKEK: Two establishment parties looked set to dominate Kyrgyzstan’s parliament after Sunday’s election, but it remained unclear if they could form a grand coalition after a series of internal rifts plagued the previous ruling alliance. The Birimdik (Unity) party of President Sooronbai Jeenbekov’s closest supporters led the count with 24.45% of the vote, according to preliminary data published by the Central Asian country’s election authority. Just behind it with 23.95% was Mekenim Kyrgyzstan (My Motherland Kyrgyzstan), whose ticket includes former coalition members and ex-opposition MPs, and which has avoided positioning itself as either allied with or opposed to the president.

Just four parties out of 16 contesting 120 seats in the single-chamber parliament appeared to have crossed the 7% barrier for election, the two others being Kyrgyzstan and Butun Kyrgyzstan. While Birimdik’s ticket includes Jeenbekov’s brother Asylbek, Mekenim Kyrgyzstan has drawn attention by including on its list Iskender Matraimov, who, according to observers, represents another powerful local clan. AGENCIES

Italian government set to impose new curbs to tackle covid-19 resurgence ROME: The Italian government will likely impose new restrictions on the country in the coming week to try to beat back rising numbers of coronavirus cases, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Sunday. The cabinet is due to meet on Tuesday to decide how to respond to an increase in infections, with southern Italian regions for the first time looking vulnerable to the disease. “The battle isn’t over. We don’t have the numbers seen in other European countries ... but we are in a phase of significant growth and I hope the country finds a spirit of unity,” Speranza told state broadcaster RAI. The measures under review include making the wearing of masks obligatory outdoors across the whole country and re-introducing curbs on social gatherings. “Masks are fundamental. The more we can get them used by Italians the better it will be,” said Speranza. Mask-wearing is currently compulsory in just five of Italy’s 20 regions, mainly in the south.

Italy registered 2,844 new cases on Saturday, the highest number since the end of April, when the country was under a nationwide lockdown. AGENCIES

TenS of ThoUSandS rally In MInSK, polIce USe waTer cannon MOSCOW

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AGENCIES

ENS of thousands of people marched through the centre of the Belarusian capital Minsk on Sunday to demand that authorities free political prisoners, prompting police to turn water cannon on them.

The march is the latest in a series of rallies in Belarus since an Aug. 9 election in which President Alexander Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory. His opponents say it was rigged to hand him a sixth term in power.

More than 100,000 people rallied in Minsk, the opposition news channel Nexta said on the messaging app Telegram. Official estimates are usually lower.

The crowd, waving white flags with a red stripe, which have become the symbol of the Belarusian opposition, marched to the beat of drums towards detention centres, pictures and

videos posted on social media showed.

“Let them out,” the crowd chanted by the walls of Okrestina detention centre, where some protesters and Lukashenko’s opponents are believed to be held.

Lukashenko is struggling to contain nearly two months of street protests that pose the biggest challenge to his 26-year rule. More than 13,000 people have been arrested and some later freed, while major opposition figures have been jailed or exiled.

Belarusian police on Sunday used water cannon mounted on armoured police vehicles to disperse protesters and detained scores of protesters, Interfax news agency reported and videos on social media showed.

Armed policemen in black helmets holding batons cordoned off streets in central Minsk, while some metro stations temporarily closed their doors for commuters.

The authorities temporarily ordered slower internet speed, which was restored late

Kuwait's new emir meets senior US and Iranian officials

Trump's condition improving, received steroid in Covid-19 treatment, doctors say WASHINGTON

KUWAIT

AGENCIES

AGENCIES

President Donald Trump’s condition is improving as he is being treated for COVID-19 at a military hospital, his medical team said on Sunday, as they provided more details of the toll the lung illness has taken on him.

Trump, 74, who was flown to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday, could return as early as Monday to the White House, where doctors would continue his five-day course of the intravenous antiviral drug Remdesivir.

Dr. Sean P. Conley told reporters Trump had received supplemental oxygen on Thursday and Friday and is also being given the steroid dexamethasone. The briefing came the day after contradictory messages from the White House caused widespread confusion about the president’s condition.

Trump spent much of

Kuwait’s new Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Sunday met senior U.S., Iranian and Gulf officials who separately paid their respects over the death of the Gulf Arab state’s former ruler. Sheikh Nawaf assumed power after the death last Tuesday of his brother, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad. The late emir balanced ties between larger neighbours Saudi Arabia and Iran and kept a strong relationship with the United States, which led a coalition that ended Iraq’s 1990-91 occupation of Kuwait. “He will be remembered as a great man and a special friend to the United States,” U.S. Defence Secretary Mark Esper said in comments tweeted by the U.S. Embassy during his visit. Sheikh Nawaf also received Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Iranian state media later carried a message by President Hassan Rouhani to the new emir: “I am confident that, as in the past, we will see a growing expansion of friendly and fraternal ties between the two countries.” Sheikh Nawaf, 83, is expected to uphold the OPEC member state’s oil and foreign policy, which promoted regional detente. He has yet to name a crown prince to help to guide state affairs at a time when low oil prices and Covid-19 have hit state finances against the backdrop of continued tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The emir has up to a year to name an heir, but analysts expect a decision in the coming weeks as senior alSabah dynasty members jostle for position. Parliament must approve the choice. “An appointment would end this competition and send a signal of stability,” Dr. Mohamed Alfili, a professor of constitutional law at Kuwait University, told Reuters. Among mooted candidates are Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad, a former defence minister; Sheikh Nasser alMohammad, a former premier; and Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber, deputy chief of the National Guard. Another potential contender is Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem, a former foreign minister and the only candidate under discussion from the less powerful al-Salem family branch. Kuwaiti sources say Meshal, the eldest among them, appears most likely to be named crown prince. Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Sheikh Meshal on Saturday to offer his condolences, state media reported. Kuwait has its closest but most complex relationship with Saudi Arabia, which on Thursday sent an adviser to King Salman, who had surgery in July, to offer condolences. Several Saudi regional governors travelled on Sunday to do the same.

on Sunday. Telegram channels, the main means of communication and distribution of photos and videos from the protests, asked residents of Minsk to unlock their Wifi networks if protesters march nearby.

Other cities in Belarus also saw rallies against Lukashenko on Sunday.

The political crisis in Belarus has caused broad repercussions for Minsk and its ally Moscow. The European Union and the United States has imposed sanctions on senior Belarusian officials, but spared Lukashenko.

The crisis has also raised the possibility of more sanctions against Moscow if it helps Lukashenko. The rouble has already dropped steeply at the prospect.

Lukashenko denies electoral fraud and was inaugurated in late September in a ceremony held without any prior announcement, bringing more protests and condemnation from the European Union, the United States and Britain.

the year downplaying the risks of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has infected 7.4 million Americans, killed more than 209,000, and caused an economic downturn that has thrown millions out of work.

His illness has upended his re-election campaign as it seeks to fend off Democratic challenger Joe Biden in the final month of the race, and rattled financial markets. Several members of his inner circle have also tested positive for the disease, including three Republican members of the U.S. Senate.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Sunday found Biden had opened a 10 point lead over Trump nationally, slightly wider than it has been for the past two months. Some 65% of Americans said Trump likely would not have been infected had he taken the virus more seriously -- a view that half of registered Republicans polled supported. Some 55% said they did not believe Trump

had been telling the truth about the virus.

DEXAMETHASONE STEROID TREATMENT: Doctors said the president has not run a fever since Friday, though he had a high fever on Friday morning, and that his liver and kidney function remained normal after the second dose of Remdesivir.

Dr. Brian Garibaldi said Trump was given the steroid dexamethasone in response to “transient low oxygen levels.”

“He received his first dose of that yesterday and our plan is to continue that for the time being,” Garibaldi said.

Dexamethasone is shown in studies to improve survival for patients hospitalized with critical Covid-19 who need extra oxygen. But it should not be given in mild cases since it can limit the body’s own ability to combat the virus, according to guidelines from the Infectious Disease Society of America.

Monday, 5 October, 2020

SPORTS 11

NAdAL CruSHeS quALIFIer KordA To reACH LAST eIGHT PARIS

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AGENCIES

AFA Nadal blew away American qualifier Sebastian Korda 61 6-1 6-2 to romp into the French Open quarter-finals on Sunday and close in on a recordextending 13th title at Roland Garros.

With the sun out and the wind up on Court Philippe Chatrier it always looked like mission impossible for the 213thranked Korda, and so it proved in a onesided fourth round match.

Nadal has lost no sets and only 23

games in reaching his 42nd Grand Slam quarter-final and is yet to face a seed.

Rising Italian Jannick Sinner, the first player since Nadal in 2005 to reach the quarter-finals on his debut, is next.

“I’m in the quarter-finals without losing a set and having very positive scores. So I can’t complain at all,” the 34-year-old, who needs one more Grand Slam title to equal Roger Federer’s 20, told reporters. “Today the conditions out there were so difficult to play a fantastic match, the wind was very high. But in general terms I am very happy.”

The 20-year-old Korda, son of 1992 runner-up Petr, had enjoyed a dream run in

National T20 Cup: Imam-ul-Haq’s near-century heaps more misery on Southern Punjab AGENCIES In a National T20 Cup match dominated by lefty batsmen, Imam-ul-Haq’s Balochistan came out on top as they defeated Southern Punjab by 16 runs at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Batting first, Balochistan did not get a good start as not only they were lethargic initially, but they also lost their first wicket in the fourth over. Bismillah Khan joined Imam-ul-Haq and that’s when Balochistan hit the fourth gear. The pair put on 80 runs for the second wicket, and after Bismillah (39) left, captain Haris Sohail (53 off 27) also kept the scoring rate high. The real start, however, was Imam-ul-Haq, whose bid for a century ended in the final over of the innings when he was run out just six shy off the milestone.

His 54-ball innings was laced with 10 fours and 4 sixes.

Ammad Butt's boundary-laden cameo of seven-ball 22 had also helped Balochistan post 230-4. In reply, Southern Punjab’s innings was dealt a blow in the opening over when Zeeshan Ashraf was dismissed. The in-form Sohaib Maqsood did not click today, contributing a slow 15-ball 20 that did no favours to the run chase. Captain Shan Masood (42-ball 27) and Khushdil Shah did strike a 103-run partnership but by the time the former departed on the first ball of the 15th over, the equation read: 81 needed off 35 balls. The sky-high run-rate meant the chase was never truly on even if Khushdil’s blitzkrieg (72 off 34) did get them close. Imam-ul-Haq was named the player of the match, altough Akif Javed (35-3) also made a case, as Balochistan moved to second on the points table. Southern Punjab, on the other hand, have now lost all of their opening four matches and sit dead last.

National T20 Cup: Junaid Khan details intense competition for places in camp KP AGENCIES Khyber Pakhtunkhwa easily have the most stacked pace unit in the entire National T20 Cup, with names such as Shaheen Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Usman Shinwari and Junaid Khan all available at captain Mohammad Rizwan’s disposal. Junaid, one of the four-headed all-southpaw pace monster, has admitted that the internal competition for places is soaring and the only way to hold on to your place in the side is by performing in each and every game. “It’s always a good feeling to perform well for the team. I know that competition has increased and you will be picked only if you perform so there’s a pressure of doing well for the team,” he said in a video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board after guiding his side to a sixwicket win over Southern Punjab on Saturday. Junaid, 29, also detailed his experience of playing competitive cricket after the months-long pandemic-induced break.

F1 and MotoGP "not going anywhere" warns Australian GP boss

his first Tour-level event on clay and was up against his idol -- the man he named his cat after. If he was to stand any chance of making it at all competitive he needed a good start, and he will rue the fact that he lost the first two games despite having game points. Nadal, who needed nine minutes to hold serve in the first game, admitted that had been a crucial factor in ensuring this was a Sunday stroll.

“Of course it was tough for him because after he played I think two very good games, he was 2-0 down in the score,” Nadal, who has won 97 of 99 matches at the French Open, said.

“It was important at the beginning because when you play a player with big talent, young players, when they start well and they are in front, you encourage them.

“I fought for those couple of games.”

After that sticky start Nadal bounded into a 5-0 lead and his tall opponent, bidding to become the first American man to reach the last eight here since Andre Agassi in 2003, began to lose heart as the wind gusted and Nadal put the hammer down. The first two sets went by in little more than an hour but even Nadal can lose focus occasionally and he dropped serve at the start of the third set to trail 2-0. Normal service was soon restored though as Nadal rattled off the next six games.

“Qualifying for my first Grand Slam, winning my first tour-level match, and then playing Rafa on Chatrier in the fourth round of a Grand Slam, it’s a big blessing,” Korda said. “I learned a lot. The score wasn’t the closest, but I mean every game was pretty close.”

Rossi has spoken to Yamaha about VR46 MotoGP team AGENCIES Valentino Rossi has had talks with Yamaha about his VR46 team entering MotoGP, although he is unsure if it is the right move for the squad.

Rossi will leave Yamaha’s factory team at season’s end but will remain a factory-contracted rider when he continues his career for at least one year more, at the Sepang Racing Team (SRT).

Team VR46 competes in the junior classes and its Moto2 riders are currently vying for the title, with Luca Marini first in the championship and Marco Bezzecchi third.

It has previously been given an open invitation by Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta to join the premier class and Herve Poncharal, Team Principal of thenYamaha satellite outfit Tech3, claimed that the Japanese marque would pick VR46 over his own team if such an offer was taken up.

A logical time to enter would be 2022, when the next team participation cycle begins, although Rossi is hesitant. “It’s a bit early… but at the end of 2021, MotoGP changes for 2022 and maybe we can have an oc-

casion to make a VR46 team in MotoGP but it’s really early,” said the seven-time premier class champion.

“It is not easy because the organisation, the size is good for Moto3 and Moto2 but for MotoGP it is a big step. Sincerely I don’t know…

“As for the bikes though, Yamaha, why not? We have already spoken to Lin (Jarvis, Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director), but before we have to decide whether we do the team or whether we continue in Moto3 and Moto2.”

The wider VR46 Academy can now count itself as having produced a MotoGP race winner after Franco Morbidelli won the San Marino Grand Prix last month with SRT. Furthermore, the runner-up that day, Pramac Racing’s Francesco Bagnaia, is a championship winner with Team VR46 having collected the Moto2 title in 2018. Rossi and Morbidelli will be teammates next year given the latter has signed on for two more years with the satellite Yamaha team, while Fabio Quartararo joins incumbent Maverick Viñales at the works squad. The current season resumes next weekend at Le Mans.

Liverpool see bid for centre-back rejected AGENCIES

Liverpool are enjoying a fine start to their Premier League title defence. Jurgen Klopp’s men cruised to the Premier League title, taking 99 points from 38 games, losing just three games. At the start of the campaign, they have endured a genuinely difficult fixture list, playing Leeds United, Chelsea, and Arsenal. They beat Marcelo Bielsa’s side 4-3, before dispatching Chelsea 2-0 and downing Arsenal 3-1. Those results have come amid a summer of recruitment that has seen the Reds strengthen their squad significantly.

The signing of Thiago has, naturally attracted the majority of headlines; he is a genuinely world-class midfielder and solves a creativity issue that the Liverpool midfield has had for some time. Diogo Jota also brings top-quality back-up to Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino, while Konstantinos Tsimikas allows for rotation at left-back. Still, the Reds haven’t had it all their own way and a new report claims that they have seen a bid rejected for a centre-back. Nicolo Schira, a transfer market expert, reports that Liverpool made an “important” bid for Schalke defender Ozan Kabak. The Bundesliga club rejected the offer, though, which was worth €24m (£21.7m), and AC Milan are now attempting to sign the defender. Kabak only moved to Schalke last summer and has made 30 appearances for the club, surprisingly scoring three goals.

GIVEMESPORT’S HARRY SHERLOCK SAYS…This has been a recurring theme for Liverpool. They do clearly need some quality back-up at centre-back but one has to think that is what it will be: Back-up. They have perhaps the best defender in world football in Virgil van Dijk and he is essentially immovable when fit. It leaves just one slot for the likes of Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and any new signing to fight for. It means Liverpool are unlikely to truly splash the cash on the position, but bringing in a toptier defender would help complete Klopp’s squad.

Kabak, though, does not seem to be the man, with Schalke driving a hard bargain, and him only a year into the contract he signed last summer. They will surely keep tabs on him throughout the campaign but one imagines they will end the summer window without a new centre-back arriving at Anfield.

Man Utd vs Tottenham: Harry Maguire suffers defensive gaffe for Tanguy Ndombele goal AGNECIES Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur didn't take long to produce drama.

In truth, anticipation for the game has been building up over the last few weeks with Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer exchanging barbs about United's penalty record in the press.

It couldn't have been more fitting then that the game opened with a - you guessed it - spot kick for United within the first 30 seconds, which was won by Anthony Martial from a clumsy tackle.

CHAOTIC START AT OLD TRAFFORD: It will come as no surprise that Bruno Fernandes held his nerve to score from 12 yards, remarkably elevating his penalty tally to 10 conversions in just 26 appearances in the famous red jersey.

But sadly for the home side, they weren't in the lead for long and a rare goal from Tanguy Ndombele ensured the chaotic start to the game continued.

On paper it was a pretty simple, close-range finish from a midfielder who has hitherto struggled in the Premier League, but we wouldn't be here if the

home side didn't give him a massive leg-up.

POOR DEFENDING FROM MAGUIRE: Besides, it came in embarrassing circumstances for United with some particularly poor heading from Harry Maguire compounding a defensive disasterclass that led to the scrappy equaliser.

Maguire failed with two attempts to head the ball clear, the first of which flying immediately towards Eric Bailly and the second causing panic in the box by essentially playing Tottenham in on goal.

You can check out the disastrous defending and subsequent goal down below: SON FIRES TOTTENHAM INTO THE LEAD: You'd think that United would at least regroup after such a catastrophic moment, but this is the Premier League we're talking about and Spurs actually fired themselves into the lead.

Son Heung-min, who was surprisingly subbed at half-time against Newcastle United, provided the finishing touch with a fine one-on-one strike after bearing down on David de Gea. This certainly isn't the first time this season that United have dug their own grave in the defensive de-

partment and it's exactly why many fans have been demanding a new centre-back this summer.

Victor Lindelof was the man at fault during the opening weekend defeat to Crystal Palace and now the spotlight has returned to Maguire, which proves an all-too familiar feeling against Tottenham.

Sky Sports pundit and United legend Roy Keane went viral at the back end of last season for his explosive reaction to mistakes from Maguire and De Gea during the 1-1 Spurs draw.

DEFENSIVE WOES: “I am staggered at Maguire, staggered that an international player can just get done by this," the Irishman memorably ranted. “Maguire and De Gea – I wouldn’t even let them on the bus after the match.

"Get a taxi back to Manchester. Shocking!

Maguire, I am disgusted with him and De Gea. You should hang your heads in shame.”

Keane, no doubt, will be absolutely furious with what he's seen from the world's most expensive defender once again and it could result in pure humiliation for United against their former coach.

Espargaro ‘convinced’ he can replicate KTM MotoGP success at Honda

AGENCIES

AGENCIES

Australian Grand Prix CEO Andrew Westacott has warned The Bend off making an approach to host either Formula 1 or MotoGP in 2021. South Australian circuit The Bend emerged as a candidate to host both F1 and MotoGP in 2021 should Melbourne and Phillip Island be unable to fulfill their contractual obligations due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The comments from The Bend co-owner Sam Shahin, offering the venue as an alternative, were made when the crisis was at its peak in the state of Victoria, but, at the time of writing, the state has seen just 12 new cases in the past 24 hours. Speaking to Speedcafe.com, Westacott responded: “There was a famous line in The Castle that says, ‘Tell him he’s dreaming’. “The strength of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation’s relationship with Dorna [MotoGP] and Formula 1 has never been stronger. “We’ve got a MotoGP contract at Philip Island, down until 2026.

Pol Espargaro says he is "really convinced" he can replicate his KTM podium success on the Honda in 2021 amid questions asking if he is regretting his next MotoGP move.

As first revealed by Autosport earlier this year, Espargaro will join Marc Marquez at the factory Honda squad next season, with Alex Marquez being moved to LCR on a two-year deal with HRC. Though Honda has won six of the last seven riders' titles with Marc Marquez, it has endured a miserable 2020 campaign which is yet to yield a podium result - with the best-placed Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami on the year-old RC213V in seventh in the champi-

onship.

The absence of Marquez through an arm injury since the Spanish Grand Prix has called into question Honda's current bike philosophy, though both HRC team boss Alberto Puig and LCR's Cal Crutchlow insist a rethink is not needed.

Meanwhile, KTM has won twice in 2020, while Espargaro has scored two podiums - the most recent of which coming at the Emilia Romagna GP. He has repeatedly been asked if he is now regretting his decision to join Honda in 2021, but is "convinced" he can do what he had done on the KTM on the RC213V. "When you take a decision normally you take the decision for better, and normally when you make a decision

CMYK

you make it knowing all the facts," Espargaro said.

"So, you put the facts on the table at the moment you need to make the decision, and then you choose the best decision "So now I think that I can be faster with a Honda, but in the case I would not think that, I would say that when you make a decision you never make a decision to go worse.

"In the moment you take the decision, you have all the things on the table and you choose what you think is better.

"So, now to go backwards to the time I made the decision and say 'oh, now I should do that' or 'now I think it's a bad decision', this is just losing time because every time you make a decision you make it for the better.

"If you make a decision to be bad, to go in a worse situation and you know you're going to be in a worse situation, or to take a lot of money, you are stupid.

"So, at the moment I'm really convinced I can do the same results with the Honda [that I'm doing with KTM].

"If not, I will take my time, but I will fight for it like I have been doing with KTM for the last four years.

"I started last in Qatar four years ago, and now we are on the podium.

"So, if I can make it, I will do it with the Honda fighting again."

Espargaro currently sits 12th in the standings after crashing from the Catalan GP on 57 points, 30 clear of the highest-placed 2020 Honda of Alex Marquez in 16th.

Monday, 5 October, 2020

PrAyer Timings

NEWS

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AGENCIES

ILGRIMS arrived into Makkah after Saudi Arabian authorities on Sunday partially lifted a coronavirus ban on performing Umrah after a sevenmonth curb.

Saudi Arabia, which held a scaled back Hajj earlier this year limited to domestic worshippers, has allowed citizens and residents to start performing Umrah

as of Sunday at 30 per cent capacity, or 6,000 pilgrims a day. It will open for Muslims from abroad starting November 1. Last year, the Gulf state drew 19 million Umrah visitors.

“All of Makkah is happy today, it’s like the end of a jail term. We have missed the spiritual feeling of pilgrims roaming the city,” said Yasser al-Zahrani, who became a full-time Uber driver after losing his construction job during a threemonth national lockdown imposed in

Japan opens marketplace for Pakistani youth Japan looking to import skilled labour to work in 14 sectors, including nursing, agriculture, fisheries, hotel management, aviation, mechanics, electronics, etc.

ISLAMABAD APP

The government of Japan has offered Pakistani youth to make use of their skills to benefit from the employment opportunities offered by different sectors of the Japanese economy. “Japan wants to give chance to the talented youth of Pakistan to get themselves connected with the modern and innovating Japanese industrial sector for enhancing their skills to promote the concept of shared development and prosperity,” Japanese Embassy Charge d’ Affairs Yusuke Shindo told APP here on Sunday. He said that Pakistan was a country with a mostly young population which could connect with the global value chain for achieving the economic and trade competitiveness of the international market by exploiting work opportunities in Japan. He said that Pakistan could get a huge share in the Japanese market as the East Asian country intends to import 3,45,000 skilled manpower from 10 countries of the world. In this regard, a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) already signed between both sides would open new avenues for Pakistanis to work in 14 Japanese sectors, including nursing, building clinic, agriculture, fisheries, hotel management, food and beverages, aircraft maintenance and airports ground handling staff, shipbuilding, material processing, industrial machinery, constructions, car mechanics, electronics and electronic machinery. The senior diplomat said that there was no particular quota for any of these 10 countries around the world and hoped that Pakistani would get maximum benefits from this opportunity to crack into the Japanese market. Replying to a question on cooperation and facilities given by manpower importing countries to Japan, he said the government of Pakistan had nominated only two recruitment organisations including the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and National University of Technology (NUTEC) for carrying out necessary service, including the recruitment of candidates in collaboration with Japanese counterparts. It is pertinent to mention here that competitors countries such as Vietnam, Philippines and Myanmar have nominated 392, 274, 248 organisations respectively for the rapid recruitment process while some countries have already exported their manpower to Japan.

March.

“I pray we never go through the past few months again, it was a nightmare [… ] there was barely any work to cover my bills,” he told Reuters.

Before the pandemic, more than 1,300 hotels and hundreds of stores buzzed around the clock to cater to pilgrims visiting the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Now many are closed, the windows of some gathering dust.

At midnight, tens of registered pil-

grims wearing face masks prepared to enter the Grand Mosque in small groups.

As they circled the Kaaba, officials made sure they kept a safe distance apart.

Worshippers are no longer allowed to touch the Kaaba.

According to Arab News, air-conditioning systems have also been equipped with ultraviolet sanitising technology, while crews will maintain an air filter cleaning schedule nine times a day in three different stages.

Armenia reports heavy losses as conflict with Azerbaijan intensifies, says it faces 'historic threat' AZERBAIJAN Agencies

Amid fierce clashes, Armenia leaders said it was facing a ‘historic threat’ as the country reported heavy losses during the long-sought dispute at NagornoKarabakh region.

Yerevan’s defence ministry said separatist forces in Karabakh had repelled a massive attack by Azerbaijan, seven days after fighting erupted again in the decades-old dispute over the ethnic-Armenian breakaway province. Armenia also announced the deaths of 51 more separatist fighters, taking the number of fatalities on both sides above 240.

Azerbaijan’s defence ministry meanwhile said its forces had “captured new footholds” and President Ilham Aliyev claimed that his forces took the village of Madagiz, a strategic hamlet within firing range of an important northern road.

In an address to the nation on Saturday, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called on Armenians to unite.

“We are facing possibly the most decisive moment in our millennia-old history,” Pashinyan said.

“We all must dedicate ourselves to a singular goal: victory.” The clashes took place after the regional capital Stepanakert came under artillery and rocket fire Saturday, with local defence officials reporting further explosions later in the day.

The fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh has threatened to draw in powerful players like Russia and Turkey. Armenia is in a military alliance of former Soviet countries led by Moscow, which maintains a military base there, while NATO member Turkey has signalled its full support for Azerbaijan’s military operations.

FINAL BATTLE: Both sides have been accused of hitting civilian areas, and Azerbaijan said Saturday that Armenian artillery had shelled 19 of its settlements overnight.

On Saturday in Stepanakert, residents cleared wreckage and swept up glass from the shattered windows of their homes and shops.

“This is a great sorrow for our community, for our people,” Nelson Adamyan, a 65-year-old electrician, told AFP outside his damaged residential building.

“But we will stand for our freedom, we will always be free.” Others, however, decided to flee.

AFP journalists saw families gathering in the border town of Goris as a first step to reaching Yerevan,

350 kilometres (220 miles) to the northwest.

Dropped off in front of a grey Soviet-style hotel, they waited for the public buses authorities are sending or hoped for lifts from volunteers providing a taxi service. “We must come to their aid,” said Ani, who had driven from Yerevan to help families leave.

“We help our country as we can.”

The new fighting erupted on September 27 and international calls for a halt to hostilities have gone unanswered. The leader of Karabakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, said he was going to join “intensive fighting” on the frontline.

Armenia has reported 209 military deaths and 14 civilian fatalities. Azerbaijan has reported 19 civilian deaths but has not confirmed any fatalities among its troops.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights registered the deaths of least, 36 militants, from Syria fighting alongside Azerbaijan´s forces in over the last 48 hours, bringing their reported deaths to 64. The war monitor said 1,200 combatants from pro-Ankara Syrian factions had been dispatched to the conflict.

CALLS FOR RECOGNITION: Russia, the United States and France – whose leaders co-chair a mediation group that has failed to bring about a political resolution to the conflict – this week called for an immediate ceasefire.

Armenia said Friday it was “ready to engage” with mediators but Azerbaijan – which considers Karabakh under Armenian occupation – has said Armenian forces must fully withdraw before a ceasefire can be brokered. Karabakh’s declaration of independence from Azerbaijan during the collapse of the Soviet Union sparked a war in the early 1990s that claimed 30,000 lives.

Talks to resolve the conflict have made little progress since a 1994 ceasefire agreement.

The breakaway province is not acknowledged as independent by any country – including Armenia – and Karabakh´s foreign ministry said Saturday that international recognition was “the only way towards peace and security in the region”.

Yerevan has accused Turkey of dispatching mercenaries from Syria and Libya to the fighting – an allegation confirmed and denounced by Russia and France. Aliyev on Saturday informed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of civilian casualties and thanked Turkey for its support.

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Pilgrims flood Iraq’s Karbala for Arbaeen despite coronavirus fears KARBALA: Tens of thousands of worshippers have been flooding into Iraq’s holy city of Karbala despite the Covid-19 pandemic for the pilgrimage of Arbaeen, one of the world’s biggest religious gatherings. Arbaeen marks the end of the 40-day mourning period for the seventh century martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS), the grandson of Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), falls on Thursday. His martyrdom, an important moment in Islam, was mourned this year at the end of August during Ashura ceremonies in Iraq and other countries.

But unlike previous years, Iraq had closed its borders to non-residents, allowing only residents to take part in Ashura. Iraq’s borders opened for Arbaeen but with restrictions on Arbaeen arrivals, in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus. The virus has hit Iraq hard, with more than 375,000 people infected and almost 9,500 deaths. In 2019, an estimated 14 million pilgrims flooded Iraq to attend Arbaeen, including about two million from neighbouring Iran. This year, however, only 1,500 pilgrims per country are being allowed to fly into Iraq, while Iran has been authorised to send an additional 2,500 overland. “Every day, between six and 10 planes land and more are coming in the days ahead,” said Issa al-Shemmari, airport director in Najaf, another holy city south of Karbala. In keeping with tradition, Iraqis have been walking to Karbala for Arbaeen from all over the country. On roads to the city, “mawakib” tents have been erected to provide pilgrims with free food, drink and accommodation. “We ate along the way and were able to disinfect ourselves,” pilgrim Ali Hadi told AFP, on arrival in Karbala from the southern city of Basra. Only few of the pilgrims around him wore mouth and nose coverings despite constant appeals from authorities and social distancing was being widely ignored. In neighbouring Saudi Arabia on Sunday, mask-clad Muslims circled Islam’s holiest site in Makkah along socially distanced paths, as authorities partially resumed the year-round Umrah pilgrimage with extensive health precautions. Agencies

Saudi Arabia calls upon citizens to 'boycott everything Turkish' following Erdogan's controversial statement Saudi authorities called upon citizens to “boycott everything Turkish” following a statement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan where he accused some Gulf countries of pursuing policies that were destabilising the region, Gulf News reported on Saturday. “The boycott of everything Turkish, whether on the level of import, investment or tourism, is the responsibility of every Saudi — trader and consumer — in response to the continued hostility of the Turkish government against our leadership, our country and our citizens,” Saudi Arabia’s Chamber of Commerce head Ajlan Al Ajlan said in a tweet. In addition to accusing some Gulf countries of targeting Turkey and following policies that led to instability, the Turkish president had, during an address to the country’s General Assembly, also said: “It should not be forgotten that the countries in question did not exist yesterday, and probably will not exist tomorrow; however, we will continue to keep our flag flying in this region forever, with the permission of Allah.”

Relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey have been thorny especially since the brutal murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi that took place in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

Erdogan has said the order to murder Khashoggi came from “the highest levels” of the Saudi government but has never directly blamed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is widely believed to be behind the gruesome murder. Agencies

Activists criticise US for ignoring Indian human rights abuses NEW YORK APP

Human rights advocates are criticizing the United States for ignoring India’s rights abuses against Muslims and in occupied Kashmir as Washington and New Delhi forge stronger diplomatic and military ties aimed at neutralising China’s growing influence in the region, according to a media report.

Citing officials, The New York Times said in a dispatch that as Washington and Delhi were strengthening ties, India’s recent border dispute with China has “accelerated relations between the countries”.

“Both the U.S. and India have recognized the importance of the other,” Nisha Biswal, a former American US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, was quoted as saying. Biswal, who is of Indian origin, said that New Delhi was “looking for like-minded strategic and security partners”, especially in the wake of the

India-China conflict in June.

“But”, the Times said, “social justice advocates worry that the Trump administration is turning a blind eye to India’s rights abuses against Muslims under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, prioritizing military and geopolitical alliances over all else.”

“They are warming relations under the same banner,” Wasim Dar, who campaigns for rights of Kashmiri people, told the New York Times. “They’re prioritizing military, or hegemony, over any kind of human rights or political freedom,” he added.

Noting that the United States and India have increasingly soured on China in recent years, the newspaper said, “A looming presidential election in the United States — and President [Donald] Trump’s eagerness to paint China as a rival — has caused Washington to sharply shift its policies toward Beijing.”

In this context, it said, the Trump administration has taken a series of economic, political and diplomatic actions against China.

In June, Indian and Chinese troops clashed along their disputed border in Ladakh, killing 20 Indian soldiers.

The United States and India have not yet signed a formal alliance, but the Times said that the recent Sino-Indian conflict was helping change that.

Of most interest, according to experts cited by the Times, is whether the border dispute will move India closer into a regional partnership with the United States, Japan and Australia — known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or “Quad.”

In the past, the Times said, India was hesitant to fully engage in the partnership, but now it is more willing to participate in a coalition that is seen by most as anti-China.

Modi signaled in his call with Japan’s new prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, that the two countries must work together for a “free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region,” echoing language used by the Quad and United States.

India’s Minister of External Affairs, Sub-

rahmanyam Jaishankar, has also become increasingly vocal about the partnership, experts say, and will meet in Tokyo on Tuesday with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the foreign ministers of Japan and Australia for the Quad’s second official meeting.

India and the United States are also looking to increase military cooperation, the Times said. Over the years, India has accelerated its weapons purchases from the United States, and is cleared to buy upward of $20 billion in American arms by the end of 2020, a sharp increase from nearly zero in 2008, according to the State Department.

More recently, India has sought to fasttrack a purchase 30 MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones from General Atomics, in a deal that is likely to exceed $3 billion, according to industry officials.

The drones could be deployed to India’s disputed border region with China and significantly expand its surveillance over the area, it said. Diplomats are watching to see if India invites Australia, which has left the

alliance but has now returned, to participate in a naval exercise it holds with Japan and the United States, the Times said, adding, “It would be another sign that India is taking the concept of the Quad seriously.”

“But despite the warming ties,” the report said, “Trump and Modi, both conservatives, have not addressed human rights concerns.” The Times said, “Mr. Modi, a Hindu nationalist, has been criticized heavily for actions that have disenfranchised Muslims in India. Last August, Modi revoked a special status for Kashmir that had granted it greater autonomy than other Indian states.

After protests erupted over the measure, he clamped down with lockdowns and a suspension of phone and internet services.”

“Late last year, Modi also introduced a law that laid out a path to citizenship for people from six religious minorities who arrived to India before 2015. Muslims were excluded. The action prompted mass protests across India and resulted in a brutal police crackdown,” it added.

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot No 66-C, 1st Floor, 21st Commercial Street, Phase-II (Extension), DHA Karachi and printed at Ibn-e-Hassan Printing Press, Hockey Stadium, Karachi, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 021-35381208-9. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk