EpaperKHI_21-10-27

Wednesday, 27 October, 2021 I 20 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 118 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition

PM aPProves aPPointMent of Lt Gen nadeeM anjuM as dG isi

ISLAMABAD staff report

t

HREE weeks after his nomination as the new boss of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency following a consensus between the army chief and Imran Khan, the prime minister’s office notified the appointment of Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum as the new spy chief.

Anjum will assume charge on November 20, however, the notification announced. Until then, the incumbent spymaster Lt Gen Faiz Hameed “shall continue to hold charge”.

“The prime minister has seen and approved the appointment of … Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum … as director general Inter-Services Intelligence, with

effect from November 20, 2021, from the panel of officers,” a notification issued by the PMO dated October 26 said.

“After this detailed consultative process, name of Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum was approved as new DG ISI. The designate DG ISI shall assume charge on November 20, 2021,” the statement added.

The confirmation brought an end to weeks of speculation suggesting a rift between the civilian and military leadership that began October 7, day after a press statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced the reshuffle in the top military brass, posting out Hameed as the commander of Peshawar-based XI Corps and bringing in Anjum, a seasoned soldier who has battled hardened militants in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Coronavirus in

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,269,806

LAST UPDATED AT 7:08 AM ON OCTOBER 26, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

6

572

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

1,217,218 28,392 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

468,164

439,307

KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

177,553 AJK/GB:

33,204 ISLAMABAD:

34,443/10,386

106,749

The PMO confirmed that a meeting held earlier between the prime minister and the army chief had discussed “the timing of change of command in ISI and selection of the new DG ISI.” “During this process a list of officers was received from Ministr y of Defence. Prime Minister interviewed all the nominees. A final round of consultation was held between the Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff today,” added the PMO. “After this detailed consultative process, name of Lt.Gen. Nadeem Anjum was approved as new DG ISI,” tweeted the PMO. “The meeting was part of the ongoing consultation process between the Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff about the timing of change of command in ISI and selection of the new DG ISI,” the statement added.

It merits mention that Lt Gen Anjum was a commander in Operation Zarb-eAzb, and was posted inspector-general of the Frontier Corps Balochistan during Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad. He has also commandeered the V Corps Sindh.

Lt Gen Anjum is a graduate of the National Defense University, Islamabad and holds a master’s degree from King’s College London, the ISPR had earlier said.

Last week, Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum called on the prime minister, sources familiar with the development had informed Geo News.

No government official had spoken about the prime minister’s meeting with Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum.

It is pertinent to note that the appointment has been announced after three weeks’ alleged deadlock betwee the military and the government over the appointment of DG ISI. Earlier on October 6, the ISPR had stated that Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum has been appointed as the new DG ISI and Lt Gen Faiz Hameed as the new Corps Commander Peshawar, but no official statement by the PMO has been made in this regard.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

T2O WORLD CUP

Pakistan defeat New Zealand by 5 wickets This is the second time that Pakistan have won back-to-back T20 World Cup matches. With the stadium in Sharjah erupting into celebration by Pakistani fans, Pakistan defeated New Zealand by five wickets in a nail- biting thriller clash. The credit goes to Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali who won it for Pakistan with a superb sixthwicket partnership.

Earlier, Pakistan had produced another disciplined bowling display to limit New Zealand to 134-8.

Boosted after their brilliant performance in the 10-wicket win over archrivals India on Sunday, Pakistan were this time led by fast bowler Haris Rauf who finished with 4-22.

Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell were joint top-scorers with 27 each while skipper Kane Williamson made a laborious 26-ball 25.

Pakistan applied the pressure right from the start as left-arm paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi, whose three wickets against India earned him player of the match, bowled a maiden first over.

New Zealand reached 36 without loss when Rauf bowled Martin Guptill

All TLP’s demands, except closure of French embassy, accepted: Rasheed Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad on Tuesday said the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) leadership would call off its protest as the government has accepted their major demands.

Addressing a presser, he said that the report on the dialogue with the TLP leadership has been submitted to Prime Minister Imran Khan and it has also been discussed in a meeting held in the presence of civil and military leadership, and provincial chief secretaries and senior police officials.

The meeting has shown willingness to accept all the demands of TLP, he said, adding that, “they have promised to open all roads today [Tuesday] so now we are waiting for this as we have no reservations on any of their demand except which is related with the French embassy.”

He said it is their commitment to open roads by Tuesday midnight. “I will make contact with them once again today and tomorrow also. I want a permanent solution to this issue and I want to wind up this matter rather to further linger on.”

off his pads for 17. He also accounted for Conway and Glenn Phillips (13) in one over as New Zealand failed to lift the tempo at any stage.

Rauf also dismissed Mitchell Santner (six) with the last ball of the final over.

Shaheen finished with 1-21 while spinners Mohammad Hafeez and Imad Wasim also took a wicket each.

Babar, while speaking during the post-match presentation, said every victory boosts the team’s momentum, and Pakistan would take this confidence forward.

“This was a team effort — the way the bowlers bowled, spinners and Shaheen [bowled well], while Haris was outstanding,” the skipper said.

The skipper especially mentioned the team’s fielding, saying that due to excellent fielding, Pakistan was able to restrict New Zealand to a low total. Babar concluded by lauding Malik and Asif for their last over heroics.

It merits mention that Pakistan kept the same team that won against India. News Desk

more inside

Imran, Xi agree to further cement bilateral ties STORY ON PAGE 02

FM calls for effective measures by international community to ensure peace in Afghanistan STORY ON BACK PAGE

He hoped that the TLP leadership would understand the situation as enemies are hatching conspiracies against Pakistan to impose sanctions while many Pakistanis are working abroad.

He said it is their sixth sit-in as they held their first sit-in on November 8, 2017 and the fifth in April this year.

He made it clear that the government is making sincere efforts to get positive results from these talks. “We want

peace in the country. It is our endeavour to settle all the matters with TLP as early as possible through dialogue.”

He said majority of TLP workers have been released while the government is ready to discuss the issue of the remaining workers who are in jails, besides the matter of the fourth schedule. “We want them to review their only one demand related with the French embassy,” he added. News Desk

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Justic Isa says Islamic inheritance law cannot be overridden by courts, jirgas STORY ON PAGE 03

Asia suffered hottest year on record in 2020: UN STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Wednesday, 27 October, 2021 | KARACHI

NEWS

ImraN, XI agree tO further CemeNt bIlateral tIes BEIJING/RIYADH

C

StAff RepoRt

HINA President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged Islamabad and Beijing to build a closer PakistanChina community with a “shared future in the new era”, Xinhua

reported.

In a phone conversation with Prime Minister Imran Khan, Jinping also called on the two nations to stand together even more firmly and push forward the “all-weather” strategic and cooperative partnership between them under the new circumstances, the Chinese state-owned news agency said.

The prime minister is currently in Saudi Arabia on a three-day trip to attend the Middle East Green Initiative (MEGI) summit to motivate consensus to deliver against shared environmental commitments.

According to his office, the prime minister also appreciated Beijing’s leading role in combating climate change and briefed President Jinping on Pakistan’s wide-ranging measures for climate change mitigation and adaptation, including the ambitious, flagship Billion Tree Tsunami programme.

The two leaders also urged the international community to swiftly send humanitarian and economic aid to Afghanistan, where people are facing food and medicine shortages in the shadow of winter.

They agreed people in the war-ravaged nation needed international help “to alleviate their suffering, prevent instability” and rebuild after the United States withdrew and

NCOC daily update: 572 new cases, 6 deaths from Covid-19

the Taliban seized power in August.

The conversation came a day after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the Taliban representatives in Qatar to

Federal govt announces to agree with BAP’s choice for post of Balochistan CM NEwS DESk

ISLAMABAD StAff RepoRt

Pakistan added 572 new Covid-19 cases over the last 24 hours, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said on Tuesday. The number of overall confirmed cases has risen to 1,269,806, according to the NCOC, the department leading the campaign against the pandemic. Another six people lost their lives to the coronavirus over the last 24 hours in Pakistan, taking the overall death toll to 28,392, according to the NCOC, adding that 1,028 are in critical condition. Over the last 24 hours, 310 patients recovered from Covid-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 1,217,218, said the NCOC. Sindh is the worst-affected province by the pandemic with 468,164 infections, followed by Punjab which has reported 439,307 cases.

discuss a range of issues.

Khan also lauded Chinese investment in special economic zones (SEZs) as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

framework, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

CPEC is a central part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) under which China has pledged over $60 billion for infrastructure projects in Pakistan.

Khan “lauded the successful, timely and high-quality implementation of the CPEC projects, and welcomed Chinese investments in the CPEC Special Economic Zones”.

Jinping and Khan also agreed to work to strengthen bilateral economic and commercial ties, including “full realisation of the potential offered by the Phase-II of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, to overcome the economic headwinds,” the statement said.

Khan also appreciated China’s successful containment of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as relief and assistance measures for the developing countries, including the vaccine cooperation with Pakistan.

During the conversation, he stressed the need to continue with the momentum of high-level exchanges to further diversify the “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership” between the two nations.

The two leaders also felicitated each other on the important milestone of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, reviewing the entire gamut of the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership.

The prime minister renewed his invitation to President Jinping to visit Pakistan “at his early convenience”.

The federal government has decided to agree with any candidate the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) chooses as the new CM of Balochistan.

The chief minister’s seat fell vacant after the former Balochistan CM Jam Kamal submitted his resignation on Sunday.

Soon after the announcement, the BAP disgruntled members alongwith the Opposition celebrated their victory at Balochistan Assembly speaker Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo’s residence. However, later Bizenjo also stepped down from his post.

Earlier today, the Defence minister Pervez Khattak while addressing a presser in Islamabad announced the government’s decision to agree with which ever candidate BAP chooses.

“We will support the decision of the majority within

the BAP,” Khattak said, when asked who the Centre would support as the new Balochistan chief minister.

“We will support the decision made by the parliamentary group of BAP”, he said while responding to a question about whether the federal government will support Bizenjo, who has been nominated by BAP. Later in the day, PTI Balochistan’s parliamentary committee revealed that it has decided to nominate MPA Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind as the candidate for Balochistan CM. As per the details, the decision was made at a meeting presided by Rind which was held in Quetta.

During the meeting, current political situation of the province came under discussion.

The meeting had Balochistan MPAs Mir Naimat Zehri, Umar Khan Jamali, Deputy Speaker of Balochistan Assembly Babar Moosakhail, Mubin Khilji, and Farida Rind in attendance.

It has been mutually decided in the meeting that Rind is to be nominated as the candidate for the chief minister’s post and Sardar Babar Moosakhail as the speaker for Balochistan assembly.

On the contrary, the united Opposition on Monday took a decision to nominate Bizenjo as the new chief minister.

The interim president of BAP Zahoor Ahmed Buledi confirmed the news. It is pertinent to note that soon after the development, Bizenjo resigned from his post. Over the selection of a new leader of the House, Buledi said that he would consult other coalition parties in this regard.

Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran on the other hand stated that all the coalition parties have nominated Bizenjo as the next chief minister.

“We invite everyone to work together for the betterment of Balochistan,” he concluded.

PRL, NRL and BYCO refute allegation of high carbon footprint, rally against proposed shutdown ISLAMABAD AhmAd AhmAdAni

Three local oil refineries – Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL), National Refinery Limited (NRL) and BYCO Petroleum Pakistan Limited – have raised their voices against the allegation of being responsible for producing a high level of carbon emission leveled by a member of the Energy Export Group of the Economic Advisory Council (EAC).

Responding to a letter from the DG Oil Petroleum Division dated October 13, 2021, heads of the refineries have contested against Farooq Rahmatullah’s letter against the three in separate letters of their own.

As per details, the EAC Energy Export Group member, in a letter dated September 15, had said that these refineries are obsolete and have a high level of carbon emission and therefore, should be shutdown.

Dispelling the allegation by Rahmatullah, PRL Managing Director (MD)

and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Zahid Mir, said that none of the refineries in Pakistan are outdated as they have been continuously upgrading by making substantial investment to comply with changes in product specification from time to time.

He said that PRL is fully compliant with the emission standards earlier set by the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) for refineries and there has never been a breach of these standards in the last many years, clearly showing PRL’s commitment towards environment and safe operations.

He further stressed that PRL has made significant investment of more than Rs17 billion over the last twenty years.

Mir opined that the letter by the EAC group’s member is “biased, and based on falsehood and misconceptions which do not serve our national interest, besides being an effort to mislead the government from policy

making and therefore, does not deserve government’s consideration.”

“The letter only amplifies the perspective of oil traders, serving their interest and in no way has the long-term prosperity of the nation in mind as the local refineries are detrimental to their business,” Zahid Mir said.

Furthermore, the PRL head pointed out that it seemed strange that Rahmatullah, who was a director of PRL from 1999 to 2018, as well as chairman PRL board of directors (BoD) from 2005 to 2017, is now categorising PRL as an outdated refinery as it raised the question that why he did not upgrade or advocate shutting down the refinery during this tenure.

Similarly, NRL CEO Jamil Ahmed Khan, in a letter to the DG Oil Petroleum Division, said that NRL had been complying with government’s instructions for improvement in product specifications and also with applicable National Environmental

Quality Standards (NEQS).

“The NRL is the only refinery of the country producing EURO V standard diesel and base oil for manufacturing lube oils; it is the only domestic source of Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) used by the Pakistan Navy and other modern military vehicles. It is the only lube base oil refinery of the country providing base stocks for lubricants/ greases/ waxes for sectors like automobile, textile, IPPs, marine and many other industries,” Jamil mentioned.

He added that all over the world, including ARAMCO and ADNOC, refineries are backed by large crude oil producing corporates or the governments.

“Even in India, refineries underwent an exponential growth only after they were provided tariff protection by the Indian government.”

“We request that suggestions that are biased and based on inadequate knowledge should not be given any importance. Such

Thousands stranded as Chaman border crossing stays closed QUETTA ReuteRS

Hundreds of trucks and other vehicles waited at one of the main crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan late Monday as the border closed again after a brief opening the day before, despite promises that it would reopen, traders said.

The Chaman border crossing, the secondlargest commercial border point between the two countries after Torkham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, links with Spin Boldak in the Afghan province of Kandahar and is regularly used by thousands of labourers and traders

from both countries. The crossing, a vital source of customs revenue for the cashstrapped government in Afghanistan, has been closed for about three weeks, despite repeated protests by truckers and others stuck waiting at the border. “We also have a life. We have children and we need money,” said truck driver Turyalai. As Afghanistan sinks deeper into an economic crisis, neighbouring countries have been increasingly worried about a mass movement of refugees.

But the closure of Chaman and interruptions to traffic at Torkham as well as the suspension of Pakistan International Airlines

efforts only spoil the environment of investment in refining industry, reduce value of invested capital and lead the country towards import reliance,” the NRL CEO said.

In the third letter, Byco Petroleum Pakistan Limited BoD Chairman, Mohammad Wasi Khan, said that the suggestion to close some of the refineries would be truly catastrophic in terms of foreign exchange loss and disruption of supply chain, and will also jeopardise the security of energy supplies to the nation and its defence forces.

“We not only reject the ideas circulated

by Farooq Rahamatullah but in fact, request your office to provide maximum support to the refineries of Pakistan while presenting their case in front of the relevant forums, enabling all locally established refineries to successfully achieve upgradation targets and provide valuable contribution towards the betterment of the country,” Wasi Khan stressed.

(PIA) flights from Kabul have left Afghanistan largely cut off. Originally closed by Pakistan due to security threats, disputes over issues ranging from Covid-19 to the validity of Afghan travel documents have prevented the re-opening of the Chaman crossing, despite severe hardship to truckers and local farmers. The border was briefly opened on Sunday to let people with urgent medical needs into Pakistan, which has a much more developed health system than Afghanistan. But it was quickly closed again, leaving many stranded.

“Many people, some of them sick, were left here,” said Mohammad Younus, from the southern Afghan province of Helmand, who was trying to return home from Quetta when the border was sealed.

Wednesday, 27 October, 2021 | KARACHI

JUstiC isA sAys isLAmiC inhEritAnCE LAW CAnnot bE ovErriddEn by CoUrts, JirgAs

t

NewS DeSk

HE Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday pronounced that no judiciary or jirgas can alter the Islamic Law of Inheritance regarding the distribution of property as the matter has been decided about 1,400 years ago, and there is no room for further alterations.

The statement surfaced during a hearing of a plea filed against a decision of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) regarding the distribution of the property among the heirs of the deceased named Habibullah.

As per the details, the heirs of the deceased, belonging to Swat had called for equal distribution of their property after a jirga allowed them to distribute property among the heirs.

Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Yahya Afridi heard the case over a

property dispute in Swat.

On the matter, Justice Isa stated that the law given by Islam for inheritance is final and no one, including courts, could

alter that. He said the decision of jirga can not be “greater than the divine religion”.

Justice Isa went on to say that “A

seven-year-old child cannot be hanged in a murder case,” while adding that such documents made a mockery of the law. On the contrary, the petitioner requested the court to consider the “ground realities” on regional basis.

Justice Isa stated such “ground realities” have been used to impose martial laws in Pakistan, and for coercing judges into signing documents.

“But, still we are asked to consider ‘ground realities’.”

The SC judge went on to reveal that in Saudi Arabian courts, cases pertaining to property are settled with in one month, whereas in Pakistan, such cases take decades. “Islam has decided the inheritance laws 1,450 years ago,” he added.

As for the verdict, the court has directed to distribute the property of late Habibulla in accordance with the shariah law.

PM Imran Khan meets COAS, DG ISI NewS DeSk As per the sources, PM Imran Khan met Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday.

The sources further revealed that initially, the meeting was a one-on-one session between the two.

However, Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Faiz Hameed joined in later.

As per the details, the meeting centered on the country’s internal law and order situation.

Earlier, in September, PM Imran Khan and the COAS held a meeting at the Inter Services Intelligence Secretariat in which the PM was briefed about the national security and regional dynamics, while holding a discussion over the ongoing situation in Afghanistan.

The meeting had in attendance other key federal ministers and chief ministers of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well.

neWs

03

PCAA orders compliance with latest UAE Covid-19 regulations ISLAMABAD StAff RePoRt

The aviation regulator has directed airlines operating in Pakistan to comply with adequate safety rules on all flights to and from airports in the United Arab Emirates, warning a failure to do so will lead to suspension of permission to operate flights on the route, among other penalties. Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), in a notification issued over the weekend, noted the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the sheikhdom had shared two safety assessments of foreign aircraft (SAFA) reports containing violations of the Safety Decision 2020-20 committed by airline operators.

“The conditions of operation to UAE airports are very clearly enunciated for the operators, but despite that clarity […] non-compliance by the operators with regards to only one row of seats in the cabin for isolating infected passenger(s) with insufficient distance of one metre and not using full PPE (personal protective equipment) by cabin crew [has been pointed out],” the notification read. “Such violations are ignominious not only for the operator but also for the state and the regulator.” The PCAA warned if airline operators failed to comply with the GCAA regulations, it would take sterner action which would include, but not limited to, the withdrawal of permission to operate flights to and from UAE airports. According to the so-called Safety Decision, an isolation area — three rows in the back at least — should be assigned at the back of the aircraft for suspected Covid-19 cases. Cabin crews are mandated to wear face shields or goggles, masks, gloves during service and disposable gowns as minimum requirements, the guidelines said.

Woman attempts to commit suicide at Lahore court NewS DeSk

Govt plans 6.9m tonnes coal production in FY22 ISLAMABAD APP

The government has set a target to produce around 6,900,000 tonnes of coal during the current fiscal year (FY22) to meet national energy needs as elevated coal prices in the international market, which have been hovering around $230 per metric tonne.

A senior official privy to the petroleum sector developments told APP that after achieving the target of producing 3,800,000 tonnes of coal last fiscal year successfully, the government set the ambitious target for the current fiscal year.

He said that the local and imported coal collectively has around 19.2 per cent share in the energy mix requirements of the country.

Commenting on a newly-discovered coal deposits in Badin and adjoining areas of Southern Sindh, the official said geological experts are in the process of compiling a technical report based on the initial analysis of samples collected from the field. “The chemical analysis shows the quality of coal is lignite,

comparable with the Thar coal quality,” he said, adding that the project is prepared and being executed to discover the coal resources under alluvium cover in Badin and surrounding areas through drilling activities.

The thickness of coal seams ranging from 2.30 metres as thickest to 0.17 metres as the thinnest coal seam, adding a total of 78 coal seams had been encountered with a cumulative thickness of 52.01 metres. “One sample from each seam has been taken for chemical analysis. Proximate chemical analysis of 78 collected coal samples have been completed through Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) chemical laboratory, Karachi office.”

Generally, he said, coal is encountered beyond 270 metres depth in the Bara Formation of the Paleocene age. “Report appraisal documents for the compilation of technical report writing based on [the] work done to-date are in progress.” Through drilling activities, around 2,500 square kilometres of unexplored area had been thoroughly examined and the presence of coal in Badin and adjoining areas was confirmed.

The official said the explored block had been

assessed containing 33.893 million tonnes proved, 305.082 million tonnes indicated and 4,219.498 million tonnes inferred coal reserves. Experts believe the project would enhance the national coal resources and have an appreciable share in the much-needed energy mix of the country. Coal is primarily classified into four major categories or ranks such as lignite, subbituminous, bituminous and anthracite. One of the most valuable contents of coal was the carbon, which supplied most of its heating value.

The official said that efforts are being made for the exploration of tertiary coal in the Central Salt Range, Punjab, aimed at meeting the growing domestic energy demand. According to a report, geological investigations have shown that 186 billion tonnes of coal reserves exist in different parts of the country, which could be used as a primary and inexpensive source for power generation.

“More than 184 billion tonnes of deposits are located in Sindh, with the Thar coalfield being the largest, followed

by Thatta-Sonda, Lakhra and Jhimpir. The coal is lignite to lignite-A to sub-bituminous B and C in character with an average heating value of 6,000 BTU/lb.

Top virologist urges nation to keep environment clean to fight dengue ISLAMABAD APP

A health expert urged the public to cooperate with surveillance teams and appealed media to encourage the public to keep their surroundings clean as the dengue virus could only be controlled with joint efforts of all stakeholders.

National Skills University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Mukhtar while speaking to PTV News asked the nation to prevent mosquito breeding in the vicinity of their residences due to the alarming rise of dengue cases in Islamabad.

He said there was neither an effective vaccine nor any cure for dengue since dengue spread through mosquitoes and, therefore, the prevention of mosquito breeding was the only effective measure for its control.

He explained dengue was a mosquito-borne infection, which in recent years has become a major

health concern, adding it is a severe, flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults mostly.

He encouraged people to stay vigilant and advised them to change the water in their coolers, pots, etc. He also recalled that more than 200 dengue cases were

only reported in the capital city in the last few weeks.

Fever, abdominal pain, severe headache, aching body, including pain in joints, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and skin rashes were among dengue fever symptoms, he said.

Mukhtar said used-tyre shops, flower pots, water containers and toilet bowls were the major breeding sites for dengue mosquitoes.

He urged people especially youth to actively participate in anti-dengue campaigns and play their role in eradicating the virus through creating awareness among the people on social media platforms.

The expert also stressed upon the government authorities to further enhance capabilities to cope with the looming threat of dengue.

All necessary precautionary measures should be adopted in addition to the adoption of precautionary measures against coronavirus pandemic, he stressed.

He also asked teachers to enhance the understanding of school-going children about mosquito-borne diseases.

A woman attempted to commit suicide at a district court in Lahore earlier today, as according to her, she was in a vulnerable condition and couldn’t afford to fight a legal battle against her husband, who had been allegedly raping their daughter for a long time. As per the details, Nadeem Shah, the accused had allegedly been raping his own daughter for a long time. After the separation took place between the couple, the girl was living with the father, in the absence of her mother Kaneez Bibi. It has been further revealed that three children were living with their mother, while two including the daughter were living with their father. The matter came to the mother’s knowledge when a female neighbor had informed her that her daughter was being sexually abused by the father, regularly. Upon asking from the girl, the girl revealed that her father had been raping her for a long time now, and had threatened her to face worse consequences, if she ever told anyone about the matter.

Wednesday, 27 October, 2021 | KARACHI

04 NEWS VRG’s Asaan Mobile Account hits one million mark prior to commercial launch TAIMoor HASSAn Virtual Remittance Gateway (VRG), the fintech company undertaking the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Asaan Mobile Account (AMA) scheme, Tuesday announced that AMA had achieved 1 million accounts prior to the commercial launch of the interoperable platform, which is subject to a decision pending in the court.

VRG says that the 1 million connections processed 11 million transactions worth over Rs6.2 billion turnover.

The fintech company further says that reaching 1 million AMAs had been achieved without any marketing; and just via word of mouth, which shows the acceptability and ease of use. The company says the account holders include FC soldiers posted on Western borders, receiving their salaries, and then using this channel to send money to their families back home, village-residing parents sending money to their sons studying in cities, city workers, maids, drivers and labourers, which is the demographic AMA is designed to serve. Speaking at VRG’s Karachi-based headquarter, COO Salman Ali said, “Reaching this milestone is offering financial services to masses and facilitating the poor by bringing digital payments into their lives.” “With this milestone and focusing on enhancing financial inclusion and working closely with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and telecom operators, VRG being a PSO/PSP jointly licensed company of Pakistan has cemented its position of providing manyto-many financial services platform,” a statement from the company read. The company further expects that by the end of the year, the AMA accounts will hit the 5 million mark and will add 10 million more accounts by March next year, and aims to enable 65 million new AMA accounts to be facilitated by USSD channel by 2023 under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS), which is part of the 2030 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Initially concepted in 2012, the Asaan Mobile Account scheme was started under the thirdparty service provider (TPSP) regulations introduced in 2017 by the SBP. Under the AMA scheme, a USSD code enables banks and telcos to open bank accounts on an SMS-based service on cell phones without any requirement of connecting to the internet. In July last year, VRG became the first company to receive a formal goahead from the State Bank of Pakistan and the PTA for the commercial launch of a USSD-enabled interoperable platform under TPSP regulations, after completing its pilot in March 2020. VRG claims to be revolutionising the destinies of tens of millions of Pakistanis, which is almost 80 per cent of the adult population without bank accounts, through the AMA, creating a vast change in their lives by allowing low-cost banking, eventually consolidating the fragmented payments ecosystem of Pakistan and enhancing financial inclusion. A user can simply dial *2262# on a smartphone or a non-smartphone, and sign up with any of the partner banks using just a CNIC. Once activated, the Asaan Mobile Account allows users banking transactions like balance enquiry, mini-statements, fund transfers, mobile top-ups, utility bill payment, pin changes, and account closure through an SMS-based service, and, therefore, has the potential to penetrate deep into the low-income demographics and give them low-cost banking. Following the approval for commercial launch, VRG went through intense due diligence by the PTA, SBP and law enforcement agencies, and obtained the commencement certificate from PTA in April 2021, and the final authorisation letter from SBP in May 2021. But soon after, a stay order was obtained against PTA and VRG to prevent it from undertaking a commercial activity under AMA, which VRG says is aimed at serving the people of Pakistan. “The court decision usually takes 90 days, whereas over 250 days have already passed, since the judgment reserved which one understands is due to a huge backlog of cases,” VRG said in a statement. “The expectation is that in the greater public interest affecting the lives of tens of millions of poor people, the honourable court will give a decision soon,” it added.

NEPRA APPRoVEs 69 PAisA PER uNit hikE iN PowER PRicE foR k-ElEctRic coNsuMERs ISLAMABAD

t

StAff RePoRt

hE National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Tuesday notified an increase of 69 paisa per unit in the power tariff for consumers of K-Electric on account of fuel charges adjustment for July.

As per details, NEPRA had held a hearing on September 2, to take a decision in this regard.

According to the notification, a raise in the tariff by 0.6890/kWh will be charged from consumers in monthly electricity bills of November. however, this hike will not be applicable on lifeline category of the consumers.

The impact of this hike is estimated to put an additional burden of Rs1,355 million on K-Electric consumers.

Pharmaceutical goods’ export increases 7pc in Q1FY22 ISLAMABAD APP

The export of pharmaceutical goods from the country has witnessed an increase of 7.36 per cent up to $73.428 million during the first quarter of the current financial year (Q1FY22) as compared to the export of $68.393 million in the corresponding period of

last year.

In term of quantity, pharmaceutical goods’ export also rose by 63.46pc from 4,477 metric tonnes to 7,318 metric tonnes during July-September FY22, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

Meanwhile, on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, the pharmaceutical goods export, however, witnessed a decrease of 3.21oc during the month September 2021

Pakistani traders attend textile merchandising conference in China BEIJInG APP

Pakistani textile traders on Tuesday participated in the 2021 World Textile Merchandising Conference opened

in Keqiao district, Shaoxing, East China’s Zhejiang province.

This year’s textile merchandising conference to be continued till October 29 is based on the theme of digital technology and green development.

Pakistan boasts of ‘tech talent’ at Istanbul summit ISTAnBUL AgencieS

Rising investments in Pakistan’s technology sector shows that the country has skilled entrepreneurs, a top official has said.

“Pakistani start-ups raised around $300 million, so far, this year,” said Science and Technology Minister Shibli Faraz, addressing via video link the Pakistan Tech Summit held on Monday in Istanbul.

Over 200 entrepreneurs, technology experts and sector leaders are participating in the two-day event at the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University in the Turkish metropolis.

Faraz said the government is working to provide an environment for “start-ups to grow and compete.”

“Start-ups do not exist in a vacuum and our efforts need to cover all the aspects if we want to realise our development journey,” he said.

Underlining the “immense opportunity” that Pakistan presents for growth in the technology sector, he said the country has worked to make doing business easier in

as compared to the same month of last year.

Exports in September were recorded at $26.488 million against the export of $27.366 million in September 2020, the data revealed.

On month-on-month (MoM) basis, exports of pharmaceutical goods increased by 17.09pc in September 2021 as compared the $22.621 million in August 2021.

a bid to “invite investments in the sector.” he also noted that the way to growth for the sector would be to “forge collaborations,” with summit to “showcase Pakistani talent and to nurture the tech ecosystem.”

Collaborations ‘a must’ for Pakistan and turkey: Also speaking at the event, the senior provincial science official from the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said: “Technology is the present … maybe we are lagging behind. It is not the future.”

On his fifth trip to Turkey in five years, Atif Khan told participants that the two countries needed to focus on the technology sector.

“Tech gives you the opportunity to get out of geographical boundaries and limitations,” he said. “It allows you to become a global citizen and compete in the international scenarios,” he said, underlining the need for “proper training.”

Pakistani exports in the information technology sector rose by 47% last year, noted Khan, while adding that with 60% of the country’s population under 29 years old,

CMYK

the country must properly channel and utilise the skills of its people. he invited Turkish investments in the IT sector and said: “Pakistan and Turkey have to collaborate. It is not an option for us … we have to collaborate.”

Mehmet Fatih Kacir, Turkey’s deputy minister of information and technology, said such collaboration between the two countries was “a must for us to create a better world which is a mission for us.”

Shedding light on Turkey’s information technology and start-up sectors, as well as its National Technology Initiative, he said In his presentation that the country aims to reach $1 billion worth in start-ups by 2023. need for ‘good eduCation, values laCed with modern teCh’: Mehmet Bulut, the rector of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, said the university is set to open its on-campus techno park next month.

Bulut said that the technology sector was a big advantage for the two countries’ younger generation and large populations.

“If we can prepare them (young people) with good

Abdullah Afridi, a well known garment and textile exporter based in Keqiao, who participated in the conference along with a fellow businessman, Mahmood Khan, told APP that the conference would act as a bridge for international cooperation and bring new opportunities to the textile industry.

Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturer and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) Chief Coordinator Shaikh Shafiq Jhokwala also participated in the conference from Karachi via video message. he said that Chinese textile traders could benefit from the Pakistani market and import garments owing to its good quality and reasonable price.

Keqiao, a district with the most complete textile industry chain, has the strongest textile production capacity in the neighboring country and houses the China Textile City, the world’s largest textile distribution center.

Founded in the 1980s, China Textile City is a market with an area of 3.9 million square meters, with more than 28,000 business rooms, 40,000 kinds of products, 30,000 registered operators, and more than 6,000 foreign purchasers.

Over 60 textile brands from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan and South Korea are also taking part both online and offline in the conference.

education, good values, and with modern technologies, the future belongs to our geographies,” he told participants.

Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi, Pakistan’s ambassador to Turkey, said the event was to help “build synergies” between the Pakistani and Turkish technology sectors, academia, and businesses.

Representing the Islamabad-based tech firm SevenSol, Numan Ali Shah told Anadolu Agency that Pakistan and Turkey needed to develop a “proper tech community.”

“It will help us in exchange of resources and expertise, which is a must,” he said.

Shah said the government in Pakistan needed to intervene and push forward the information technology sector. “We have to meet the demands of the people,” he said, calling authorities to provide “critical support” for the entrepreneurship.

Zain-ul-Abideen, from Karachi, said he was attending the summit to meet “passionate people” from the information technolgy field.

“I’m here to meet passionate people from the (IT) field who have already done something big and such events motivate us,” said Zain-ul-Abideen, who represents the Geeks of Kolachi, a Pakistani mobile and web application developer.

Wednesday, 27 October, 2021 | KARACHI

PM APPROvES APPOIntMEnt OF Lt GEn nADEEM AnjuM AS DG ISI continued from page 01

O

n October 12, Minister for Information & Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa enjoy ideal relationship and the matter of appointment of Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (DG-ISI) would be resolved amicably.

Addressing a press conference following the federal cabinet meeting, the minister said the authority to

appoint the DG of the ISI ‘lies with the prime minister’, and that the set procedure would be followed for the purpose.

‘The legal procedure will be followed in the appointment of the new DG-ISI, for which both [Gen Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran] are in agreement,” media outlets quoted the minister as saying.

Fawad Chaudhry said that Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa have ideal civil-military relations and they both never take any steps that could disre-

spect each other.

He said both (PM Imran and Gen Bajwa) are in agreement over this and the prime minister has the authority over it. Chaudhry also appreciated the media for not “sensationalising” the matter of the DG ISI’s appointment.

Later on October 14, PM Imran Khan assured that the technical issues in the appointment of the DirectorGeneral of the Inter-Services Intelligence (DG-ISI) would soon be resolved.

During the meeting, the PM said

“no one has a better relationship with the military than him”, adding that there was no misunderstanding between the government and the military leadership.

Meanwhile, Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed has said that everything has been mutually decided and finalised and that the government and the military have a very good understanding.

As per the sources, a notification for the appointment of the DG ISI was to be made on Friday, before the PM’s departure to Saudi Arabia.

All TLP’s demands, except closure of French embassy, accepted: Rasheed continued from page 01 He said despite the martyrdom of two policemen, the government still wants to resolve this issue with mutual understanding and cooperation. Replying to a question, he said the cabinet has no issue with any of their demand except which is related to the French embassy keeping in view the international scenario. He said the present government is working on several options to control inflation on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan. He said the prime minister is seriously considering this issue as he wants to address this issue as early as possible in a bid to give a sigh of relief to the people. He said the inflation is linked with the increased oil prices in the international markets, adding that several countries of the world are facing the same issue. He said the military leadership and elected political leadership are on the same page as after today’s notification [regarding the appointment of ISI DG], there is no further room for any speculation.

IESCO announces power suspension schedule ISLaMaBaD: According to Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO)’s spokesman, System Maintenance/Development Work is in process.

Therefore power supply of below mentioned feeders/areas will be temporary suspended as per given schedule: On 26th October from 09:00 AM to 02:00 PM, Temar, Khanna East, ADBP, G-6, Mahfooz Shaheed, Punjab House, Suhdran, Madina Market, G-10/1, AIOU, Old United, G-13/ 1, NPF, T&T, Company Bagh, Barin, Upper Topa, Bari Imam, Commercial Center, Shamsabad, Khurram Colony, Al Noor Colony, Muslim Town, Zafarul Haq, Dhok Khabba, Gulshan Abad, Jamia Masjid, Mohammadi Chowk, Abu Bakar, People's Colony , Askari XI, Radio Pakistan, Badhana, I-14/3, Mohanpura, Kashmir Road, Jahangir Road, Jail Park, PED-1, FECHS, Morgah, Humayun, 502 Workshop, Mort, Qureshiabad, Ara Bazar, New Rawat, Kahuta City-1, Klar City, Fazal Ahmed Shaheed, New Chuah, Mandira, Jatha Hathial, Bengali, Nishan Haider, Gagan, Bohi Ghar, Salar Gah, Kashif Gul, Model Town, Kohistan Enclave, Mix Industrial, Hassan Abdal, Islampura. Brahma, Sarai Kharboza, Shahullah Dutta, Darya Sharif, Qaziabad, Miskinabad, Shamsabad, Ishtiaq Shaheed, Mari, Malhwali, Chhaji Mar, Sajjad Shaheed, Fateh Jang City, Bhandar, Galyal, Kamrial, Fateh Jang, Sarai Alamigar, Puran, F-13 Garmala, Langarpur, Pakhwal, M. Riaz Shaheed, Bhagwal, Col. Muhammad Akram, Captain Nisar Shaheed, Ward No. 8, Kot Dhamik, Baba Shaheed, Thakra, Kangrathati, Kariala, Klar Kahar, Millat Chowk, Islamia Chowk. , Dhadial City , Sehigalabad, Adi, Bhikri, KS Maniz, Daryala Jalib, Sagharpur, Basharat, Ahmedabad, Blixar, Pipli, Lawa, Dharabi, Para Fatyal, Thawa Muharram Khan, Jatla, Patwali, Gulzar Shaheed, Bagh Sardaran, Industrial, Carriage Factory, Hameed, Gondal. Pr

Rs47 billion released for projects in Punjab Lahore: The Finance Department, Government of the Punjab, has released PKR 47 billion which were earmarked for 3605 development projects under District Development Program across the province for the financial year 2021-2022. This release is part of the historic District Development Package of Rs. 360 billion announced earlier this year by the Chief Minister Punjab, Sardar Usman Buzdar, as part of a balanced district development strategy to redress the grievances of all districts on equitable grounds. Commenting on equitable distribution of funds, Hashim Jawan Bakht, Minister for Finance, said, “The provincial government is pursuing a development agenda based on equitable growth for all districts throughout the province. The District Development Program is at the core of addressing inequality of opportunities for less developed districts not only in terms of social inclusion, but also at bringing them at par with the rest of the province. Urban centers are also not discriminated against and Lahore gets 234 projects under this programme." It is pertinent to mention here that out of the top ten districts with the highest uplift projects seven are from South Punjab, where the indicators for poverty, health, education and infant mortality have been dismal. Moreover, the District Development Package dispenses off the widely held perception that large budgetary allocations of development funds are concentrated in specific areas only. Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, Secretary Finance, informed that all projects were identified after a very comprehensive and inclusive process. ‘’Recommendations from wide range of stakeholders at the district level were taken into account, setting out a more inclusive and evidence-based approach towards allocating funds for these projects at the grass root level,’’ he added. The Finance Department, Government of the Punjab Government, is providing requisite funds for implementation of public needs projects under the District Development Program on priority. Pr

cmYK

NEWS

05

corporate corner CDA uses technology to improve water supply system

ISLaMaBaD: In order to make water supply system in the city more efficient, the Capital Development Authority has started shifting Tube wells and other water supply installations to automated system. In this regard, Chairman CDA Amir Ali Ahmed inaugurated tube wells automation system at Poona Faqiran treatment plant in Islamabad. The Poona Faqiran water treatment plant has been shifted to automation on an experimental basis. The modern system installed at Faqiran Water Treatment Plant will control 25 tube wells through an automated system. Automation of Poona Faqiran Treatment Plant will also ensure uninterrupted supply of water in Sector I-9 and I-10.In addition to improving water supply automated system will help save Rs 30 million annually. All water supply facilities including tube wells are being shifted to modern automation system.

This automated system can also be monitored through a mobile application. Chairman CDA directed that the system installed at Poona Faqiran Water Treatment Plant should be solarized which would also ensure energy savinge. Pr

FFC supports breast cancer patients

Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC) lives up to the precedence of supporting good health and wellbeing aligned with Sustainable Development Goals SDG # 3. One of the foremost corporates committed on the call of first lady to endorse the breast cancer awareness month, October. The ice on the tabooed subject has melted yet the statistics are as alarming as three years ago. Together, both public and private sector have a long way ahead in bringing change towards the cancer diagnosed every 13 minutes, 1 out of every 8 women are declared a patient, and 40,000 women die in Pakistan. FFC shows its solidarity with women across Pakistan and believes in awareness on the subject highlighting importance of self-examination for early detection / diagnosis. Every year, FFC sponsors the treatment of patients at Shaukat Khannum Memorial Hospital, Lahore along with illuminating the Sona Tower, Head Office building. Informative pink tea sessions are held in FFC offices across the country focusing on self-examination as a first step towards being aware. We believe that “Women health ensures future development of Pakistan”. Pr

Clarification: It is clarified that a picture carried on the contents page of Profit magazine issue 164, of former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood hayat with Ceo of Nutshell Conferences Muhammad azfar ahsan was an old picture from 2018, and had nothing to do with the article in question.

Placement of this particular picture was inadvertent and any wrong impression that it might have given to the readers is regretted.

06-07 Comments - 27th October 2021_Layout 1 10/26/2021 11:07 PM Page 1

Wednesday, 27 October, 2021

06 COMMENT

Democracy Distorted

A lesson from Alyani’s fall and TLP’s protests Put an end to political engineering

t

He house of cards built in Balochistan has collapsed. Despite attempts by several federal emissaries and others, the Chief Minister has fallen without completing his tenure. Jam kamal alyani of the Balochistan awami Party (BaP) resigned from the office of CM in the wake of a no-confidence motion tabled against him by some disgruntled members of his own party last week. Overconfident of the political backing of his powerful supporters, Mr alyani initially boasted that he enjoyed the majority’s support. the formation of the BaP was the thin end of the wedge, an act of political engineering aimed at overthrowing the PML(n) government in the province and weakening it at the centre. the way a number of PML(n) and PML(Q) lawmakers in Balochistan were made to change loyalties is a sad commentary on the country’s political culture. it is ironic that those who brought Mr alyani to power failed to keep him in office. tehrik-e-Labbaik Pakistan (tLP) was originally used to hit the PML(n) where it hurt the most, by questioning the religious credentials of the party. the tLP was allowed to put the capital under siege and hold hostage the residents of the twin cities by its Faizabad dharna.

While the clerics blasted the civil and military leadership with their highly inflammable harangues, inciting their supporters to violence, there was no sign of the government moving against them. after the fall of the PML(n), the tLP was mainstreamed. it won three seats in the sindh assembly which boosted its morale. it rejected the supreme Court ruling in aasia Bibi’s case and demanded that she may not be sent abroad. When the demand was rejected by the Pti government, the party initiated violent protests destroying public and private property. the latest protest started when the government did not expel the French ambassador. those who used the tLP to further their agenda despite knowing what harm the extremist thinking could inflict on Pakistani society and Pakistan’s relations with other countries did disservice to the country. the sooner political engineering is brought to an end, the better for Pakistan.

Washington Watch Dr James J. Zogby

I

’M not going to contest the oft-repeated notion that democracy is the best form of government, but i am going to observe that the way democracy is being practiced in the Usa and israel is testing its wisdom. in both societies, democracy has been perverted and now amounts to doing whatever it takes to stay in office or whatever is required to keep someone out of office. Lost in all of this are principles and sound policy that serve people’s needs, justice, and security.

Let me begin with a story about Us politics that i love to tell: Forty years ago, i was speaking to a member of Congress, who was a good friend, about how disturbed i was by the way his colleagues were voting to give israel blank-check support to pursue policies that defied not only international law and human rights law, but stated Us policy as well. i was acquainted with a number of these members and knew from conversations with them how deeply troubled they were by israeli practices. Many of them would say to me “i’m really with you, but you know how it is. i’m running for reelection and can’t risk taking a stand on this issue right now.” (i had heard this same thing enough times that i would joke that there should be an “‘i’m Really With You But...’ Congressional Caucus.”)

Bothered by this behaviour, i asked my friend,

Ties with Bangladesh Time to dump the baggage

P

akistan in the past has not enjoyed good bilateral relations with Bangladesh owing to a history marked by war that both countries share. in 2013, during the PML(n)’s rule, the conviction and execution of imprisoned political and religious leader abdul Quader Molla of Jamaat-e-islami in Bangladesh under the 1971 war crimes trials sparked a war of words between the two countries. in 2016, senior Bangladeshi diplomat Moushumi Rahman, who was posted at the Bangladesh High Commission in islamabad, left the country after being declared persona non grata by the Pakistani government. it was only when the Pti government came to power in 2018 that efforts were made to mend diplomatic ties, which so far has been an effective and worthwhile effort. Bangladesh is after all an economic power player in the region and one of the faster growing economies in the world that has propelled its economy to new heights, with a GDP per capita that is now close that to india and far exceeds that of Pakistan, and for the past decade has been growing at an average of 6 percent annually. this meteoric rise is largely attributable to its textile industry and with a turnover close to $38.7 billion it is the second largest garment exporter in the world. it therefore makes perfect sense for Pakistan to position itself as a key ally to enjoy the trading opportunities that Bangladesh has to offer, and the recent meeting between Pakistan’s high commissioner to the country and Prime Minister sheikh Hasina, the second such meeting in 11 months no less, where the latter stressed building stronger trade ties and increased economic collaboration, is a step in the right direction. these meetings carry a lot of significance as it builds up to a planned visit by PM Hasina to Pakistan that will likely be reciprocated by her Pakistani counterpart, imran khan, at a later stage.

Better relations are also important in the geo-political context as well. the Rss-fueled hatred and violence being inflicted by the Modi government against Muslims in india has influenced violence in Bangladesh with Hindu temples being attacked there, adding to the damage done to relations between the two countries that began with the abrogating of india’s article 370 and its passage of the Citizenship (amendment) act. Pakistan’s stance on the matter naturally brings it closer to Bangladesh, further solidifying ties.

Apart from access to Central Assia, CPEC can build trilateral ties Pathik hasan

P

akistan, Bangladesh and sri Lanka are both south asian countries. as an island county in south east asia, sri Lanka has been utilizing some facilities in the sector of international maritime trade. sri Lanka is known as a maritime hub in south asia. its Colombo port is very famous in the world map.

On the other hand, Bangladesh has some geostrategic significance that’s why China is interested in investing in Bangladesh. now Western powers want to see Bangladesh as a strategic partner in the indo-Pacific region. But Bangladesh joined China’s BRi in 2017. its location across the Bay of Bengal gives a strategic position in south east and south asia. Bangladesh can utilize this properly.

However, Pakistan is the only south asian country showing its full-scale strategic significance to the world leaders at this moment. its foreign policy has shifted towards geoeconomy from geostrategy. CPeC and Gwadar port have added extra value in this regard. China runs Gwadar port and CPeC has increased more confidence between China and Pakistan to prove that they are really “all weather allies”. sri Lanka has some advantageous position in south asia in terms of maritime connectivity. it is also known as a maritime hub in south asia. sri Lankan Hambantota port is a hot cake in international politics. sri Lanka has leased it to China for 99 years. there is some debate regarding this. But that is another issue. However, China is more interested to connect sri Lanka with its connectivity project “Belt and Road initiative.” sri Lanka and Pakistan are both active members of ‘BRi’. sri Lankan Hambantota and Colombo ports are considered as epicentres and hubs of China’s BRi project in south asia. sri Lankan ports can be used as a regional maritime hub between south asia, south east asia, Central asia and the Middle east. sri Lanka and Pakistan can work together in the sector of bilateral trade, investment, science and technology, and culture through enhancing connectivity. sri Lanka is one of the top business partners of Pakistan in south asia.

Pakistani PM imran khan visited sri Lanka on

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami M. A. Niazi

Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

The writer is President of the Arab American Institute

Sri Lanka including Bangladesh can benefit from CPEC

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

“Where are their principles and their concern for the national interest?

He replied, “Zogby, what you don’t understand is that from the day they are elected, my colleagues’ primary concern and their definition of the national interest become synonymous with their re-election.”

While i might have been naïve back then, as the situation has only worsened, i’ve wisened up. Let me be clear about the fact that there are principled members of Congress who will take risks to do what is right for the country. that, however, is not the case for the overwhelming majority. the combination of hyper-partisanship, the massive amounts of money being raised to run for Congress, and the role of “dark money” groups have so polluted the waters that our politics have become a grossly distorted caricature of democracy.

Hyper-partisanship has resulted in a paralyzed Congress that can’t pass legislation to save lives from disease or guns, protect the environment, or even ensure the right to vote. instead of acting to defend the interests of the american public, too many members of Congress decide their votes based on what will harm their opponents, help them raise money, and appease lobbyists who can make massive expenditures either for or against their re-election efforts. all this has been compounded by the continued appeal of former President Donald trump. trump’s insistence that he won the 2020 election, but had it fraudulently stolen by Democrats is still believed by two-thirds of Republican voters. this has impacted our democracy in three ways. too many Republicans are running for office with campaigns designed to win the support of the former president and his “base” by mimicking his effort to discredit any election that he or they don’t win. Republicans are passing laws in states where they control the legislatures and executive branch that will establish partisan control over elections and voting. and Congress has been unable to pass laws to ensure an expansion and protection of voter rights. in short, american democracy is at risk. israel, which likes to call itself the “only democracy in the Middle east” is faring no better. Leave aside, for this discussion, the reality that israel is an apartheid state in the way it maintains a harsh occupation over five million Palestinians and treats its two million Palestinian citizens as second-class and unwelcome. its functioning makes a mockery of its claim to be democratic state.

the coalition government that ousted Benjamin netanyahu from office has been celebrated by some as a demonstration of democracy that has unified israel’s right, centre, and left, and has brought together under one roof ardent Jewish nationalists and an arab islamic party. But it appears that the only unifying principle for this coalition is the desire to keep netanyahu from returning to office.

Because this government is in office with the slimmest of margins, its arab and “left” members have regularly been embarrassed by votes they have been “forced” to take in order to protect “their coalition.” For example, they were required to oppose legislation cynically proposed by netanyahu’s allies that would make arabic language study mandatory in elementary schools. they were also required to support a bill offered by one of their right-wing coalition partners to extend israel’s discriminatory “Citizenship Law.” and they voted against bills put forward by their non-coalition rivals in the arab sector that would have investigated the failure of the police to combat organized arab crime. also making a mockery of this exercise in democratic coalition-building is the way that the arab and “left” members of the government are forced to keep silent as the government continues to aggressively pursue its expansion of israeli settlements in Palestinian lands, the erosion of Muslim rights at the Haram al sharif, and its failure to act decisively to stop settler violence in the West Bank. it appears that when the only goal is to keep the coalition together to keep netanyahu from returning, principles and good governance are cast aside. instead of being members of a democratic governing coalition its arab and “left” members act more like captives of their own self-interests and the overarching goal of “anyone but netanyahu.” it appears that the Usa has bought into this same logic in the way it has bent over backwards to accommodate netanyahu’s successor, Prime Minister naftali Bennett. in order to avoid embarrassing him, the Biden administration has refrained from publicly criticizing israeli government plans to build settlements that will dangerously further cut off Palestinian access to Jerusalem. and they have deferred delivery on a campaign promise to open the Us Consulate in Jerusalem for the same reason. and so i end where i began, with the observation that when democracy becomes doing whatever it takes to stay in office or whatever is required to keep someone out of office, what’s lost are principles and sound policy that serve people’s needs, justice, and security.

I

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

I

February 23-24. During his visit to sri Lanka, he focused on Pakistan’s connectivity with sri Lanka. sri Lanka has a historical connection with Pakistan. sri Lankan Colombo port’s connection with Pakistan’s karachi port is well known.

Pakistan is the part of the Chinese President’s BRi through its flagship China Pakistan economic Corridor (CPeC) project, sri Lanka could benefit from it through enhanced connectivity up to the Central asian states. Bilateral connectivity would increase the bilateral trade between the two states. Basically, sri Lanka and Pakistan would benefit mutually. sri Lanka can ensure its maximum interest from the use of Gwadar Port for warehousing to facilitate trade with afghanistan, Pakistan, Western and Central China, the Central asian Republics and the Middle east. Gwadar is connected with CPeC. Ultimately, sri Lanka can easily export to and import from the markets of the above-mentioned states. sri Lankan can use Gwadar Port’s gateway for export to afghanistan and then Uzbekistan and from there to the entire Central asia.

During the visit to sri Lanka, imran commented that Pakistan was allocating land to Uzbekistan for warehousing and export, and the same facility can also be provided to sri Lanka.

On the other hands, according to a leading Bangladesh daily (Daily Observer), Bangladesh can benefit from using Pakistan’s Gwadar port. The Daily Observer published an article titled “Bangladesh can benefit from Gwadar port’ on 30 september 2021. this newspaper has also published an article titled ‘Why Bangladesh should use Pakistan’s Gwadar port?” on september 26. it is pertinent to mention that sri Lanka’s online portal Lanka Web and india’s “Maritime Gateway’ republished the article on september 26 amd 27 respectively with referencing.

My point here is that the main theme of the article is connectivity amongst sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. the author of the article shows that if Bangladesh’s Chittagong, Payra, Mangla ports can be connected with Pakistan’s ports including karachi port, Port Qasim and keti bandar along with Gawadar via sri Lankan Colombo and Hambantota ports, Bangladesh, sri Lanka, Pakistan would benefit trilaterally. Regional connectivity would ensure their own maximum business interest. the millions of people in the region could benefit.

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

I

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

I

sri Lanka’s tea, apparel, and machinery and Bangladesh’s apparel, mangoes, medicines and potatoes can be easily exported to the above-mentioned markets. On the other hand, Bangladesh and sri Lanka both import goods such as cotton from Pakistan, the Central asian states, Western and Central China, and even Russia. But a holistic trilateral effort is much needed in this regard. if sri Lanka and Bangladesh use CPeC, they can take part in the development process in afghanistan with Pakistan, China, Russia, iran. saaRC may be revived through these activities. Revival of saaRC is a must in the present context or scenario of south asia.

Pakistan’s Gwadar port could benefit sri Lanka in this regard. if sri Lanka starts to use Gwadar port, its exports to Central asian states, Central and Western China and Pakistan would increase. sri Lanka’s connection with Pakistan’s CPeC project would accelerate regional connectivity further. the bilateral connection between two states would boost up. sri Lanka and Pakistan can increase their joint bilateral efforts to counter terrorism, tackle covid-19 etc. terrorism has been harming the economic interests of both states. sri Lanka saw the easter Church attack in 2019. Pakistan has been facing the challenging ttP threat. if Pakistan and sri Lanka increase the connectivity through utilizing these connectivity projects, bilateral efforts of tackling and countering terrorism would ensure automatically. tourism is another sector. Pakistan has many historical Buddhist sites such as ancient civilizations of Gandhara, takhsila. sri Lankans can easily visit these historical holy sites if connectivity between two states builds. On the other hand, sri Lanka has historical places for Muslims like adam peak. More Pakistani Muslims will be able to visit the holy site. But bilateral connection is a must for ensuring that. CPeC is a regional connectivity project. as regional states, sri Lanka and Bangladesh each can and should join the project to enjoy the benefits. this trilateral connection would boost up the business connection, people-to-people connection.

Public diplomacy, economic diplomacy, cricket diplomacy would be strengthened more.

The writer can be pathikhasan1141@gmail.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

reached

at

06-07 Comments - 27th October 2021_Layout 1 10/26/2021 11:07 PM Page 2

Wednesday, 27 October, 2021

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

The plight of violence against women in Pakistan

Quad 2.0: Showing a Cold War mentality?

How will it be affected by AUKUS?

muhammaD asif baloch

T

He revival of the Quadrilateral security Dialogue (Quad) and the formation of aUkUs as a new pact, entails a rapid geostrategic shift in the contemporary geopolitical structure. the Usa’s strategic repositioning from the war on terrorism and counter-insurgency campaigns in the Middle east and afghanistan to a deeper strategic engagement in the indo-Pacific region make a good strategic sense to deal with rising China. in recent years, the Usa along with its Quad partners has become closer and has emerged as the weightiest democratic bulwark against China’s growing power. the purpose and nature of Quad as a democratic partnership is still evolving. it was initially formulated by the Us, australia, Japan, and india as an informal relief group to cope with natural calamities and humanitarian assistance in the indo-Pacific region. But in the last decade, it has been strengthening as a countermeasure to emerging threats taking place in the Pacific and the indian Ocean. among these common challenges, the rise of China is at the forefront of their strategic partnership. the Quad strategic partnership has had peaks and valleys in history owing to the dynamic nature of global politics and the varying interests of the member states. the group emerged in 2004, lost its momentum since 2007, and then revitalized in 2017. in 2004, it appeared for the first time as an informal consultative group after the asian earthquake and tsunami which hit the indo-Pacific region.

Consequently, india, Japan, australia with the supervision of the Usa formed the ‘tsunami Core Group’ for post-disaster humanitarian assistance and developmental aid. this version till 2008 was an ad hoc consultative platform. shinzo abe, the Prime Minister of Japan, played a leading role. in august 2007, abe delivered a speech ‘confluence of the two seas’ at the indian Parliament, connecting the indian and Pacific Oceans into a single strategic system because of the growing economic and strategic connectivity of the region.the Quad formally gets its name in the first exploratory meeting on May 2007 during a high-level meeting of the asean held in Manila. Furthermore, the strate-

gic relations among the Quad members strengthened in september 2007, when they started a series of naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal, known as the ‘Malabar exercise’. then, the Quad security dialogue faltered because of two major events. First, shinzo abe was replaced by Yasuo Fukuda as the newly elected PM of Japan, who initiated a period of good relations with China. secondly, australia under new PM kevin Rudd indicated that the group would no longer serve its national interest. as a result, the Quad became suspended.

Finally, after a long time of its delay, the group revived in 2017. the revised version of the group is named ‘Quad 2.0’ and holds a broad vision for a ‘free, open, inclusive, multilateral, resilient and rules-based indo-Pacific region.’

However, the resurgence of Quad after an unproductive start since 2007, has been motivated by the strategic threats coming from the rise of Chinese economic and military power across the region. as of 2021, all Quad leaders are becoming more aligned in their common interests and shared concerns arising from the indoPacific region, especially from China. in March 2021, the Us President organized a virtual meeting of Quad, attended by the leaders from india, australia, and Japan. the joint statement of the summit, “spirit of the Quad”, held a broader vision of an inclusive indo-Pacific and documented that “the four countries “bring diverse perspectives and are united in a shared vision for the free and open indo-Pacific.” Furthermore, the statement also proclaimed the formation of three groups, within the framework of the Quad, which comprise the Vaccine expert Group, the Critical and emerging technology Working Group, and the Climate Working Group. there are numerous shared strategic concerns of the member states leading towards the rejuvenation of the Quad. the core areas of convergence in the indo-Pacific region consist of: freedom of navigation and security of sea lines of communications, a rules-based international order based on liberal values and inclusivity, joint initiatives dealing with maritime security and development of like-minded nations, cooperation to identify common challenges like cyber threats, climate change, and natural calamities. But what really unites the Quad members is the spectre of China’s expanding economic, military, and strategic ambitions throughout the region.

On the contrary, China has quite opposed the revitalization of the Quad. she interprets the Quad through the strategic lens of ‘Wei Qi’, which means encirclement strategy, and called the initiative a ‘cold war mentality’. immediately after of the Quad’s March summit, the Chinese Foreign Ministry asserted,“ it is hundred percent outdated and we hope relevant countries will refrain from forming closed and exclusive

cliques.” For China’s government officials and analysts, the Quad security dialogue solely deals with the security dimension and the economic spectrum is missing that will lead the partnership into decline soon. However, the failure or success of this security dialogue depends upon China’s convincing power on how Beijing will unite and integrate the regional countries under the umbrella of its mega initiative.

Besides that, there is a general perception among strategic and security analysts that the Quad will not be productive owing to certain challenges and misunderstandings among member states. First, there is a massive demand for burden-sharing of the Usa from the Quad members. But these countries do not want to succumb to certain bloc politics in which the cost is higher than the benefits. secondly, Quad doesn’t have a clearly defined vision in the region, and still ambiguities exist among member states. thirdly, Japan, australia, and india have their national identities and are seeking to play a more active role as independent regional players. as important stakeholders concerning their economic and military capabilities, they don’t want to be characterized as mere buckcatchers. Finally, the economic factor is missing throughout the scenario. similarly, in the first in-person meeting of Quad on september 2021 held in Washington DC, leaders from the member states collectively agreed upon,“We stand for the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes, democratic values, and territorial integrity of states.”

While China was not mentioned as a direct strategic threat to their interests, but they insisted on a rules-based regional order where China is strengthening its economic and military muscles.

Hence, for Quad to become an active and constructive alliance system, it needs to offer a multidimensional approach towards common challenges in the indo-Pacific region. it is highly required, if Quad is serious about the regional balance of power, that it should propose an alternative to Chinese economic diplomacy. in contemporary world politics, nations are more independent in their policies than during the Cold war. today, economic advantage matters more than the ideological blocs. similarly, aUkUs as a trilateral security pact between the Us, australia, and the Uk created controversies across the indo-Pacific and beyond. this hub-and-spoke alliance system of the Usa will broaden the strategic gap between the Quad partners. as indian Foreign secretary shri Harsh stated, “this trilateral security partnership is neither relevant to the Quad nor will it have any impact on its functioning.”

Hence, for Quad to become an active and constructive alliance system, it needs to offer a multidimensional approach towards common challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

The writer can be contacted Muahammadasif94@gmail.com

at

WOMen and children continue to face harassment and violence in Pakistan, while the Pakistani media has failed to cover these acts of violence. according to a report released by the sustainable social Development Organization (ssDO), 6,754 women were abducted and 1890 raped during the first six months of this year.34 cases of rape were registered in islamabad while 3,721 cases of violence against women and 752 cases of child abuse were registered in Punjab. However, according to the ssDO, only 27 cases were covered in the media. the report also indicated that out of 163 cases about the abduction of women were registered in islamabad, only 26 cases have been reported in the media and, in Punjab, there is a large number of cases of sexual harassment, rape, abduction, child abuse and domestic violence. the last few months have been particularly harrowing for Pakistani women. From the horrific case of 27-year-old noor Muqaddam, who was brutally tortured and beheaded in the nation’s capital on July 21, to that of ayesha ikram, a tiktok creator, who was harassed and groped on the country’s independence Day by more than 400 men on the grounds of one of the country’s major national monuments, the Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore – it feels as if violence against women has reached epidemic proportions. Many are even calling it a “femicide” to draw attention to the scale of the problem and its systemic nature. But gender-based violence in the country is not new. according to the 2017-2018 Pakistan Demographic and Health survey, 28 percent of women aged 15 to 49 had experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. this is a slight decrease from 32 percent of the women reported to have experienced physical violence at the hands of their partners in the 2012-2013 survey. But given that domestic violence is an issue shrouded in secrecy and shame, both sets of figures are likely a gross under-estimation.

One suspects that it feels like there is a surge in violence because cases are getting more attention. Mainstream media is more attuned to the issue, and it is also being highlighted and discussed on social media platforms. these conversations have created heightened awareness among young women in particular, who are becoming increasingly vocal about their rights. the vast majority of these women belong to the educated, urban middle and upper classes. this is just the latest in the long history of the struggle against gender-based violence in Pakistan. in the past, particular cases have drawn national as well international attention, leading to collective action by rights activists. One such case was that of 28-year-old samia sarwar, whose murder was arranged by her family in 1999. she had been seeking a divorce from her violent husband, a decision her family did not support because it would have “dishonoured” the family name. another well-documented case is that of Mukhtaran Mai, who was gang-raped in June 2002 by four men in Meerwala village in southern Punjab’s Muzaffargarh district. Mai was raped on the orders of a village council as “punishment” for her younger brother’s alleged illegitimate relationship with a woman from a rival tribe. earlier in 2016, the murder of 26-year-old Qandeel Baloch by her younger brother for her “intolerable” behaviour, was a turning point for many younger feminists. Baloch was a social media star who was bold and open about her sexuality. Her murder set off a public debate around the question of women’s sexuality and victim-blaming. it is high time that the government must take some preventive measures to counter the brutal injustice being done to women in Pakistan.

Fatima imam Baksh turBat

Violation of teachers’ rights in Pakistan teaCHeRs are the basic elements of a developing city. But it hurts to state that teachers are not getting their rights in our country. On the contrary, teachers are given due respect in western or other countries but it is quite different in Pakistan. teachers in Pakistan are not getting their due rights. Like teachers are tortured, beaten, disrespected, given minimal salary and the list goes on. surely, teachers in most areas of Pakistan are not given the respect that they deserve. they are beaten and tortured by children of well-to-do families.

While teaching is considered a noble profession all over the world, it is sadly one of the least appreciated and lowest paying jobs in Pakistan.

Unfortunately, there are no laws in the country which safeguard the rights of the teachers. Most private schools are in the business of making profits by charging hefty amounts as monthly fees. Others that have popped up across the country charge much lesser fee, but have abysmal standards for hiring teachers. they appoint teachers on the basis of their confidence instead of subject knowledge to avoid paying them well. Hence, a person who has just passed, say, examination for the 10th grade, can easily become a science or english teacher in these schools. the Covid pandemic has affected all professions, and teachers are no exception. Many families, which went through financial crisis during the pandemic, have shifted their children to these low-fee schools, but the school-owners do not pay full salary to their teaching staff. Despite protests, they are not willing to give teachers their due rights. Our private school sector is thriving, and with one time investment on building construction and running costs of staff salaries, is making mammoth profits. Private schools have seen growth in our country like no other business; many chains of schools have emerged with ever increasing number of branches and with ever increasing wealth of the owners of these enterprises. this lucrative business of education has made some people obscenely rich by turning this service of education into a commodity which it is not.

Fees in private schools are being increased at an astronomical scale but teachers serving in these prestigious schools have been reduced to the status of salesmen of some products. this is an open secret in our society that our teachers are exploited by the private sector in the worse possible way. even in the most expensive schools a teacher’s monthly salary is less than the monthly fee paid by a single student. a very high percentage of our private sector teachers are dissatisfied with their working conditions, poor salaries, lack of say in academic matters and autocratic administration. these are the eight things that are the hallmark of our private schools environment that oppress and exploit teachers. i request the government to take action against such school-owners and ensure that all teachers get paid on time. asiF rasheed turBat

08 WORLD VIEW 27th October 21_Layout 1 10/26/2021 10:43 PM Page 1

Wednesday, 27 October, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

Is netflIx kIllIng our sex lIves?

ACCORDING TO AN ITALIAN SEX RESEARCH STUDY, HAVING A TV IN THE BEDROOM KILLS OFF MARITAL SEX BY HALF

JEruSAlEM poSt

g

ShMuLeY BOteaCh

ET this. One of 10 people, according to The Telegraph in the UK, check their phones during sex. On the one hand, that sounds nuts. On the other, is anyone surprised? And that’s just the effects of the small screen on our sex lives. The big screen is far bigger a killer. According to an italian sex research study, having a TV in the bedroom kills off marital sex by half. And this was a study back in 2006, before Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime killed off the other half. And this was a study of italian couples, a nation renowned for its sexual hyperactivity. Just imagine what TV is doing to American married couples. it gets even weirder.

When i visited New Zealand two years ago on a tour for my book lust for love, coauthored with Pamela Anderson, i made the case that TV and Netflix was killing off our sex lives. About a week later a TV critic in Wellington wrote a response. They did not disagree with my premise. The writer acknowledged that even in his marriage, sex was taking second place to binge-watching

Netflix. Rather, amazingly, he took issue with the fact that i said this was a bad thing.

His argument was that Netflix is a lot better than sex, more interesting, more passionate, more engaging. And better for couples!

Watching TV together, he argued, can create greater intimacy than sex. i can imagine that countless people agree.

We had all imagined – hoped? – that the end of the coronavirus would bring a deep desire to end loneliness and isolation and spur people to invest more deeply in their relationships and their marriages. Heck, we hoped to see a spike in sex. As the vaccines spread, media outlets were talking about a “Post-COViD summer of lust.” But by all accounts, it never happened. Even among single people it didn’t happen, let alone married couples who were already struggling with a strong decline in sexual passion caused by the constant consternation over the coronavirus.

What instead happened? Netflix released Squid Games with its violent depiction of people getting their brains blown out in a game to win untold riches and rescue themselves from debt. lust has been replaced by gore. i can’t even count how many horror movies are being released, all at the same time. All over the streaming services, which multiply by the day, people are hacking, butchering and dismembering each other, as Americans watch with uncontrolled addiction.

How did TV in general, and violent TV in particular, replace lovemaking and sex?

How did any of us buy into the fiction that a husband and wife snuggled up together watching a fictionalized Hollywood drama and not uttering a word to each other would somehow make them closer than making love – especially when what they’re watching is some innocent high school kid getting decapitated at prom?

Here is my take. The coronavirus surrounded us with death. Watching the news became impossible. it de-eroticized life to a troubling degree. life became something transitory that could be snuffed out at any time. There was a need, therefore, to scoff at death, to mock it. To watch it in all its bloody gore and not be traumatized by it. in our attempts to conquer our fear over death, we produced an avalanche of satanic TV so we could stare death in the face and prove our dominance over it. We looked the angel of death in the eye and we said, “We’re not afraid of you.” But in so doing, all we proved was that death had won. it was ascendant. Today it dominates even our cultural offerings, our recreation, our time off.

We escape death by turning to death. Then we wonder why our mental health has gone off a cliff.

What we should have done was turn, especially in marriage, to life-affirming lovemaking. in Judaism sex is not procreative but intimate. it sews two strangers together as one indivisible organism, becoming “bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh.” What we needed in response to the

coronavirus was not a dive into death but full immersion in life.

Couples should have rediscovered the tactility, intensity and erotic attachment of sex, making them feel like they are never alone, that death could never conquer them. instead, we witnessed the deaths of our sex lives in marriage, as husbands and wives joined the zombie apocalypse: two passive, wide-eyed strangers sitting in a bed together watching colorful red-adorned assassins, with triangles and squares on their heads, shooting debt-encumbered men in the head and splattering their brains all over our TV screen for failing at Red light, Green light.

The decline of marital sex during the coronavirus has been borne out by many studies. MDlinx.com summed it up. “For about half of American adults, the COViD19 pandemic has changed their sex life – mostly for the worse, according to various reports....“A recent study by researchers at indiana University found that nearly half (49.2%) of a nationally representative sample of 1,010 American adults reported... a decrease in their sexual behavior during the COViD-19 outbreak. An online NBC News poll of more than 11,000 respondents revealed that more than half said coronavirus had negatively impacted their love life. According to an online survey of 1,200 Americans conducted by lovehoney, a site that sells erotic toys and lingerie, only 32% of American couples reported being ‘sexually happy’ during the pandemic. The crisis has

What is the harassment of Aryan Khan really about?

IT’S NOT ABOUT ESTABLISHING THAT EVERYONE IS EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW. THERE ARE LARGER IDEOLOGICAL CONNECTIONS HERE

indiAn ExprESS

t

PrataP Bhanu Mehta

HE NCB charged Aryan with offences under Section 8(c), 20(b), 27, 28, 29 and 35 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The harassment of Aryan Khan/Shah Rukh Khan evokes familiar political emotions of our time — sadness and dread. it is important to see this moment in its specificity. The institutional discussion of cases like this usually begins with the “system”. Many of our laws, like the UAPA and laws governing drug possession, are products of an imagination that has scarce regard for basic liberties and presumptions of being innocent until proven guilty. Our helpless judges are bound by these laws. While celebrities draw attention, let us not forget the thousands of undertrials who languish in indian jails in an interminable wait for bail. Our law enforcement agencies, from CBi to NCB, have never been made properly accountable.

This is how the “system,” works, you see.

There is analytical validity to this analysis. But the strange alchemy of our times is that these truths are not uttered in the service of justice, but to cover up political lies. The moral corruption of authoritarian regimes is that even truth is a form of deflection.

Once something is attributed to the “system” — this anonymous force that mysteriously recreates itself — no one has to be held politically accountable. Second, this truth hides the bigger truth. One of the problems with the so-called “system” was that its seemingly overbearing architecture always had wide room for judgement, discretion and even arbitrariness. The decision to pursue a case, the way in which prosecution presents evidence, who it chooses to target and how, the use of process itself to intimidate, the use of selective leaks by the state to construct a political narrative, the judicial capacity to read down laws, and even the decision to grant bail are all spe-

cific decisions. So hiding behind the system, or the whataboutery that the law was made by the UPA, is simply an evasive cover-up for a political vendetta, the kind where we can appease our conscience by claiming that we stand for principle, without calling out the nonsense perpetrated by specific political or law enforcement actors. it is also a hallmark of authoritarian regimes that cleaning up the system, cleansing it of corruption, is the pretext for authoritarian repression. Even Shah Rukh Khan’s son is not exempt, we intone. it would indeed be a nice world where the privileged and celebrities were treated equally before the law. But let us be clear. There is nothing in the patterns about decisions to prosecute or the judicial practices of granting bail that even remotely suggest that all this is about equality before law. Just think of members of the ruling dispensation, or even celebrities close to it, who might warrant more serious scrutiny if this were the case. Just think of the instances where honourable justices of the Supreme Court in bail cases decide to exercise early morning bombast, and where they remain silent on basic constitutional principles. Occasionally, a judge will do the right thing. Perhaps, Aryan will get bail. But there is no getting away from the fact that this is not the “system” or some “law” that does not allow for the exercise of judgement. it is the decision to target particularly inconvenient individuals.

But talk of the “system” also throws a veil over the larger ideological connections. The first is the expansion of the empire of fear and cruelty. The point is not to say that Aryan Khan is equal before the law; the point is to say, “We can make life miserable even for Aryan Khan”. The jailing of young students in CAA-related cases, the continued detention of many of the Bhima Koregaon accused, the targeting of Bollywood celebrities, or even the intensifying threats of using the Enforcement Directorate are all meant to send a signal, to create a generalised climate of fear, where everyone feels vulnerable. Second, there is an ideological war on a constructed “Muslimness”, which now has an ever-expanding definition. it starts with making Muslim religiosity invisible in public spaces, but is now expanding to curbing cultural articulation, from food to Urdu to Muslim celebrities.

And then the ultimate subliminal fear: How dare indians, especially women, identify with Muslim heroes? it is hard to imagine being a minority and not

being anxious.

The court will decide whether or not Aryan was guilty of consumption. But you have to be obtuse not to see the incredible charge that Aryan is part of some international conspiracy as one that reiterates the worse stereotypes: The insinuation is that deep down Muslim celebrities uniquely have gangster connections. The issue is not whether these moves are being directed centrally or not. There could very well be an element of NCB resentment and extortion in all of this, and we will never know. But all this is being enabled by a cultural common sense that normalises this kind of targeting. Third, there is the ideological war on Bollywood: To move it from a broadly secular and patriotic cultural institution to a communal and jingoistic one. Every star must now be dimmed by an ideological shadow.

But the utter sadness of this moment is that it evokes the pathos of a great ruin. Bollywood can sometimes be an aesthetic abomination, its political economy dodgy, but it was still central to the grammar of emotions. One cannot presume to know what Shah Rukh Khan feels as an individual. But the inescapable structural loneliness is easy to discern.

When does the public move from adulating fans to being led by something like a mob? When do the legions who identified with you become so cowed that they are afraid to call out an injustice or even express solidarity in terms strong enough to stand up to the mob, and predatory state agencies? Admittedly, the accused is Shah Rukh Khan’s son, not the star himself, but, in the whole process, the target could not be clearer.

The point about taming Bollywood is not to show that stars are equal before the law. it is to demonstrate who has real power, and the ability to control the cultural order. The Shiv Sena perfected this playbook. No one expects Bollywood to be political heroes, and the onus is not just on them. There is some wisdom in having some spaces alive where not everything is over-determined by political meaning. But when politics is out to get you, the message you don’t want to send is that stars survive by creeping, that behind the upright stature of the still great Amitabh Bachchan, is the ability to lie prostrate. This is not being above politics; it is conniving in the regime’s desire to instil fear. if the stars are so easily crushed, what about all us ordinary grains of sand under the state’s jackboot?

resulted in intimacy challenges for 63% of couples, and 19% of couples weren’t having any sex at all, the survey found.” is there a solution to how the coronavirus has decreased sex, leaving Netflix to put the final nail in our erotic coffin? is there any way back, after the coronavirus, to choosing our marriages as an escape from death rather than our TVs? The easy answer is to get our TVs out of the bedrooms. But that horse seems far out of the stable.

So here’s an easier solution. Husbands and wives need to agree, just once a week, to ask each other – very honestly! – whether they each feel that their erotic and romantic needs are being met in their marriages. Do we feel touched enough, kissed enough, complimented enough? is the national average of having sex just once a week for five minutes at a time, compared to the three hours of TV per night, satisfying us?

A husband has to garner the courage to ask his wife if she feels her libido is being killed off by neglect. A wife must ask her husband if he feels his lust for her specifically diminishing as they lie next to each other watching Bridgerton.

Yes, the answers we receive may not be pleasant. They may even be downright painful. But i suspect that they will lead couples to turning off the TV earlier each night, or even deciding to skip a night, as they massage each other’s shoulders, sore feet, painful knees, and sow the seeds of desire that will reanimate our marital bedrooms again, making them glow not with the soft green light of Hulu, but the bright passionate light of erotic passion.

The writer is the best-selling author of Kosher Lust, and creator, with his daughter Chana, of the online sex education initiative Kosher.

Iran responds to reports of Israel’s $1.5 bIllIon ‘strIke fund’ News about an Israeli fund designated for attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities has irked Iranian officials Al-Monitor StAff

a

li Shamkhani, secretary of iran’s Supreme National Security Council, responded to reports that israel has proposed $1.5 billion to carry out strikes against iran’s nuclear facilities. in a post on Twitter, Shamkhani wrote, “instead of allocating 1.5 billion dollars budget for atrocities against iran, the Zionist regime should focus on providing tens of thousands of billion dollars to repair the damage that is going to be caused by iran’s shocking response.” He tweeted the same thing in Persian, Arabic and Hebrew.

The tweet is in response to israeli news reports that the proposed fund will be used for various types of aircraft, intelligence gathering drones and specific arms to hit heavily fortified sites in iran. The Natanz fuel enrichment plant in Esfahan, for instance, was built 8 meters underground and protected by 2.5 meters of concrete.

According to hardline Tasnim News Agency, Shamkhani’s tweet was laying out a new strategy. The article said that assassinations of iran’s nuclear scientists and sabotage on nuclear facilities were carried out likely by israel discreetly with no claim of responsibility.

However, this current budget is being set aside for “direct military attacks,” the agency wrote.

The article continued that the US has always used the possibility of a direct israeli military strike as a bargaining chip in their nuclear negotiations with iran. However, Shamkhani’s comments on israel’s proposed military budget “has to be considered as revealing the doctrine of the islamic Republic of iran in response to threats of the Zionist regime,” the article said. According to the doctrine, if israel attacks iran directly, iran would be “heavily and directly” respond. in a letter to the presidency of the UN Security Council, Majid Takht Ravanchy, iran’s representative to the United Nations, warned that israeli threats have increased and intensified in recent months. in other news, iran is still struggling with an increase in coronavirus numbers. According to their latest numbers, 140 have died of COViD-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the official death toll in the country to over 125,000. in the same time period there have been 7,000 new cases and 1,000 hospitalizations. According to an article in Tasnim News Agency, there has been a 30% increase in virus numbers in the country, though they didn’t offer a time period, and they are in the beginning stages of the sixth wave of the virus.

Wednesday, 27 October, 2021 | KARACHI

NEWS

09

PAKistAn’s inflAtion At highest level in 70 yeARs: RePoRt

Rupee downfall continues, reaches 175.27 in inter-bank market The rupee continued to lose ground on Tuesday, shedding another Rs0.84 or 0.48 per cent to touch the newest all-time low of Rs175.27 against the US dollar in the inter-bank market. Earlier on Monday, the local currency had closed on 174.43 in the inter-bank market. According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the local currency had closed at Rs174 to a dollar on Friday. Earlier on Monday, the local currency had closed on 174.43 in the inter-bank market. According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the local currency had closed at Rs174 to a dollar on Friday. news Desk

Alibaba loses $344bn in a year amid China crackdown

i

NFLATION has reached its highest levels in 70 years during the three-year tenure of the PTI government, with food prices doubling, while the prices of ghee, oil, sugar, flour and poultry have reached historic levels, The News reported Tuesday.

According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS), from October 2018 to October 2021, electricity rates increased by 57 per cent from Rs4.06 per unit to at least Rs6.38 per unit.

By the first quarter of October, the price of an 11.67 kg cylinder of LPG had gone up by 51pc from Rs1,536 to Rs2,322. Similarly, the price of petrol had gone up by 49pc in three years from Rs93.80 per litre to Rs138.73 per litre.

The highest increase in prices of food items was seen in the prices of edible ghee and oil. The price of ghee increased by 108pc to Rs356 per kg.

The report added that the price of

Rs243, peanuts by Rs162, lentils by Rs180 per kg and gram pulses by 23pc to Rs145 per kg.

The price of a 20 kg bag of flour has gone up by 52pc to Rs1,196 in

Sindh fertiliser industry opposes Environmental Protection Act ISLAMABAD ghulAM AbbAs

BEIJING: Chinese internet giant Alibaba has lost $344.4 billion in market capitalisation over the past year, amid Beijing’s efforts to rein in the country’s massive tech sector to stop monopolistic practices. The company’s shares collapsed gradually but steadily throughout the year. After reaching an all-time high of $317.14 per share in October 2020, they hit a historic low of $139.63 per share on October 4, 2021. Although they have shown a slight growth in the past week, they are still 44% below their 2020 peak, RT reported. The sharp collapse began last year, when regulators suspended the planned IPO of Alibaba’s technology subsidiary Ant Group, which was set to become the largest in the history of the entire stock market. In addition, an antitrust investigation was launched against the tech giant, as a result of which the company was fined a record $2.8 billion. Beijing then tightened its control over the firm’s activities and demanded it reorganize its fintech business.

Shortly afterwards, the authorities began to tighten their grip on other sectors as well, which led to the fall of many Chinese stocks. For instance, in an effort intended to prevent student burnout, tutoring companies were banned from expanding their operations by attracting private and foreign capital, or launching IPOs. Beijing also issued regulations and investigated firms involved in video gaming; biotech, IT, and the manufacture of semiconductors, electronic cigarettes, alcohol and baby food. In August this year, the Chinese government published a 2021-25 development plan, calling for tighter regulation of vast sectors of the economy. It is planning broad legislative changes in areas such as security, technology, personal data and antitrust regulation. Alibaba’s capitalisation loss sets a record among all companies trading across the world, according to Bloomberg’s calculations. Agencies

sugar has increased by 83pc in three years and the price of sugar sold at Rs54 per kg exceeded Rs100. The prices of pulses, the FBS said, have increased by 60 to 76pc; mash pulse by

three years. The price of flour has gone up by Rs20 per kg.

It further said that the price of chicken remained at Rs252 per kg from October 2018 to October 2021, however, chicken meat is being sold at Rs400 per kg in the markets.

According to official records, the price of beef has gone up by 48pc to Rs560 per kg in three years. However, beef is being sold at Rs650 per kg in the markets. The price of mutton has gone up by 43pc in three years to Rs1,133 per kg.

In these three years, open milk’s price has risen by 32pc to Rs112 per litre, while in Karachi, open milk is being sold at Rs130 per litre.

The price of rice has gone up by an average of 30pc, plain double bread has gone up by 44pc and a 190-gram packet of tea leaves has gone up by 27pc to Rs 248. During this period, the cost of chicken eggs also increased by 47pc to Rs170 per dozen. Monitoring report

The fertiliser industry has opposed the application of the Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014, on warehouses and manufacturing plants, terming it an unnecessary act which would further burden customers as prices increase.

In a recent letter sent to Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah, a copy of which is available with Profit, the Fertiliser Manufacturers of Pakistan Advisory Council (FMPAC) has informed that the new notification of the EPA Act issued on September 3, 2021, would have an adverse impact on the wellbeing of the province’s agriculture sector, especially farmers.

The letter states that the notification has included Fertiliser Warehouses in the list of facilities susceptible to causing environmental hazard in some form or the other, requesting the review of the application of this regulation as it is unwarranted in the interest of farmers of Sindh.

The industry has claimed that fertilisers are non-hazardous substances in composition and safe in handling as a finished product. “The same has also been endorsed by the United Nations Transport Regulations (UNTR) and the European Commission vide its regulation

no. 1272/2008 of the European Parliament for urea and related products,” the letter reads.

According to the industry, there is such no industrial activity at warehouses which may cause spilling of any substance that includes soot, smoke, dust particles, odor, light, electromagnetic, radiation, heat, fumes, combustion exhaust, exhaust gases, noxious gases, hazardous substances and radioactive substances, and could result in polluting air, land or water.

There is not even a remote possibility of any damage to the environment, even if a substance spills out of the package, it is meant for dilution in space.

Hence, including fertiliser warehouses in the Schedule-1 reflects lack of understanding of the product dynamics on the government’s part, the letter states.

Furthermore, it says that in compliance to earlier directives of the government of Sindh, the fertiliser industry is using biodegradable plastic inner linings for packages. Therefore, additional restrictions and oversight are unwarranted in this regard. “Manufacturing plants are maintaining international standards of safety, health and environment with strict scrutiny and controls regarding the environmental impact of operation in line with the Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014.”

Warehousing facilities are

housed in rented buildings in rural areas, which are not designed for storage of any specific products. Unwarranted pressure of the concerned authorities will lead to higher rental demand. Moreover, frequency of change of warehousing facilities and demand for fresh registration adds insult to injury, the letter adds.

The accumulated financial impact of registration of each facility and hiring the services of consultancy firms for such trivial assignments will add up to the cost of handling the products in Sindh.

In the process of unwarranted compliance of the above referred notification, farmers of Sindh will be ultimate sufferers due to higher price of fertilisers in the province, as companies will be forced to pass on the financial impact on this account, it concludes.

As per the letter, the price of urea in Pakistan is around Rs1,768 per bag, while internationally, it is selling at around Rs7,600 per bag; thus, benefiting farmers to the tune of over Rs5,000 per bag. However, recent initiative by EPA may lead to burdening farmers in Sindh.

They are already discriminated against due to non-availability of subsidy on DAP and other fertilisers, and hence would remain under huge financial pressure as compared to the other three provinces.

KP govt approves excise duty on minerals for miners MINERS TO BE GIVEN BASIC FACILITIES, INCLUDING MEDICAL TREATMENT, HEALTH INSURANCE CARDS, FUNDS FOR EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Tuesday gave approval to the imposition of excise duty on minerals for miners with a fine of up to Rs50,000 and a three-month jail term in case of violating the law.

According to a local media channel, the bill introduced by the provincial government states that Rs150 million funds extracted from the annual income from mining will be spent on the welfare of the labourers. Following the approval of the law, miners will be given basic facilities, including medical treatment, health insurance cards, funds for private educational institutions and financial assistance. It further mentioned that a board will be constituted to look after the matters related to the miners. Earlier in January last year, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had decided to issue mining licences in the merged tribal districts. According to the decision taken by the KP government, only the locals can apply online for obtaining the mineral licences under the provincial Mineral Sector Governance Amendment Act 2019. Monitoring report

Bitcoin slips, ether jumps as crypto market tops $2.74tr NEW YORK Agencies

The cryptocurrency market remained on an upward trajectory on Tuesday, with the market capitalisation gaining 0.7 percent to reach $2.74 trillion as of 1240 hours GMT. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, shed 0.90 percent to reach $62,363. With this decrease in price, the market capitalisation of the biggest cryptocurrency has reached 1.174 trillion.

However, ether (ETH) price gained 1.33 percent to reach $4,184. With this increase in price, the market capitalisation of ETH has reached $491 billion.

On the other hand, XRP price gained 1.92 percent to reach $1.11. The market capitalisation of XRP stands at $111 billion after this increase.

Likewise, cardano (ADA) price gained 0.95 percent to reach $2.16. Its market cap-

italisation has reached $69.9 billion with this increase.

Similarly, dogecoin (Doge) price went up by 2.75 percent to reach $0.270. With this increase in price, the market capitalisation of doge has reached $35.5 billion.

Meanwhile, MasterCard has teamed up with FinTech company Bakkt allowing thousands of banks and merchants onto its payments network in the US and offering a broad set of cryptocurrency solutions and services.

Georgia, US-based Bakkt will expand the company’s ecosystem of cryptocurrency partners, enabling crypto-as-a-service that aims to provide customers quick access to digital assets capabilities. In turn, consumers will also be able to spend the cryptocurrency rewards they earn at retailers on MasterCard’s network. They will be able to buy, sell and hold digital assets through custodial wallets powered by Bakkt’s digital asset platform.

Launched in 2018, Bakkt — which spun off from Intercontinental Exchange — is a digital-asset platform that enables consumers to buy, sell, store and spend digital assets.

Users continue to look for new digital assets to use for everyday purchases.

Rival payments company Visa said more than $1 billion was spent by users on products and services through cryptocurrencylinked cards globally in the first six months of the year. FinTech company PayPal is offering its customers the option to use digital currencies to pay for purchases through online merchants. It also created a dedicated business unit to focus on blockchain and crypto. US-based food and beverage company Pepsi is also discussing options to buy Bitcoin.

Ride-hailing company Uber has said the company will accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a form of payment if it benefits the business.

Wednesday, 27 October, 2021 | KARACHI

10 FOREIGN NEWS

TurKey and WesT Climb doWn from brinK of biggesT diplomaTiC Crisis ANKARA

T

ReuteRs

URKEY and its Western allies climbed down from a full-blown diplomatic crisis after foreign embassies said they abide by diplomatic conventions on non-interference, averting a threatened expulsion of 10 ambassadors.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said at the weekend he had ordered the envoys to be declared “persona non grata” for seeking the release of a jailed philanthropist, told a news conference they had stepped back and would be more careful.

“Our goal is never to create crises, it is to protect the rights, laws, honour and sovereignty of our country,” Erdogan said in a televised address after chairing a Cabinet meeting.

“With a new statement made by the same embassies today, a step back was taken from this slander against our country and our nation. I believe these ambassadors […] will be more careful in their statements regarding Turkey’s sovereign rights.”

Despite his defiant tone, Erdogan’s comments late Monday were a marked change to cool tensions after threats he made at the weekend.

The ambassadors, including the US envoy, had called on authorities last week to

free Osman Kavala, a philanthropist detained for four years on charges of financing protests and involvement in an attempted coup. He denies the charges.

The public call infuriated Ankara, which said the diplomats — also from Germany, France, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland — were interfering in Turkey’s internal affairs.

As Erdogan convened his ministers on Monday afternoon for a session that could have confirmed the expulsions and triggered the deepest rift with the West in his 19 years in power, several embassies put out a brief statement.

“The United States notes that it maintains compliance with Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” the US Embassy said on Twitter. The other embassies published similar messages or retweeted the US message.

A Turkish version of the US statement said the embassy “confirms” compliance with the convention, which some observers said could be read to suggest that the embassies were pledging future compliance.

“Strategic ambiguity at work […] allows Erdogan’s spin doctors to claim that the West has surrendered, while the English version gives the impression back home that the West has stood its ground,” said former opposition parliamentarian Aykan Erdemir on Twitter.

Hong Kong to further tighten Covid travel restrictions BEIJING AFP

The announcement came despite concerns from the international hub’s business community that the city remains indefinitely cut off from the rest of the world, with one of the strictest mandatory quarantine regimes of any jurisdiction. Most arrivals have to undergo 14 to 21 days of hotel quarantine. Chief Executive Carrie Lam said Hong Kong will now go even further as she tries to persuade China’s leaders to restore travel with the mainland. “Soon we will […] announce that most of the quarantine exemptions granted to specific groups of visitors coming from overseas and mainland will be cancelled,” Lam said, adding only essential workers such as cross-border truck drivers would be allowed to make quarantine-free trips. At present, Hong Kong allows certain groups of people to skip quarantine or isolate at home. They include diplomats and business leaders as well as some mainlanders with Hong Kong resident cards. Lam did not detail which categories would now be denied exemptions. Last month, Hollywood star Nicole Kidman was allowed to skip quarantine to shoot a television show, a decision that sparked much public anger.

Industry warnIng: Lam has previously described reopening to the mainland as “more important” than restoring Hong Kong’s international travel links. On Tuesday, she made clear Beijing expects the city to mimic its own strict restrictions. “We are caught in a sort of dilemma because in order to resume some quarantine free travel with the mainland we have to ensure our anti-Covid 19 practices are more in line with the mainland practices,” she told reporters. “So if Hong Kong were to loosen border controls for people arriving from overseas or adopt with what other countries have done — so-called to live with Covid-19 virus — then the chances to travel with the mainland will be reduced.” Hong Kong’s business community has looked on with growing exasperation as rival finance hubs such as Singapore, Tokyo, London and New York reopen. On Monday, the top lobby group for financial firms warned that Lam’s decision to pursue a zeroCovid strategy and keep the city cut off was hammering its long-term prospects as a business hub.

But there is little sign of change on the horizon.

China maintains strict curbs on overseas arrivals and has given no timetable for opening its borders. Over the weekend, the Financial Times, citing a Chinese government source, said Beijing planned to keep its borders largely closed until after a major Communist Party gathering in November 2022.

The US State Department later said Monday’s statement on Twitter meant “to underscore the statement that we put out on October 18 was consistent with Article 41”, adding it would pursue dialogue with Turkey.

“We are steadfast in our commitment to promoting the rule of law, to promoting respect for human rights globally,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price.

“The Biden administration seeks cooperation with Turkey on common priorities,

and as with any NATO ally, we will continue to engage in dialogue to address any disagreements.”

A diplomatic source said talks on a plan to reduce tensions were led by the US mission and Turkish officials, including presidential adviser and spokesman Ibrahim Kalin and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

The envoys aimed to highlight Vienna Convention principles while seeking guidance from Turkish officials on what move

might be “palatable” for Erdogan, the source said, adding they were cautiously hopeful that the Twitter statements would help ease tensions even if the Turkish government gave no assurances. concerned Investors: In response to Monday’s developments, the Turkish lira rallied earlier hitting an alltime low of 9.85 to the US dollar, and was at 9.5930. It has lost almost a quarter of its value this year.

Kavala, a businessman and contributor to civil society groups, is charged with financing nationwide protests in 2013 and involvement in a failed coup in 2016. He has been held in detention while his trial continues.

Rights groups say his case is emblematic of a crackdown on dissent under Erdogan.

Kavala said on Friday he would no longer attend his trial, as a fair hearing was impossible after recent comments by the president.

The diplomatic tension has added to investor concerns about Turkey’s economy after the central bank, under pressure from Erdogan to support growth, unexpectedly slashed interest rates by 200 points last week despite inflation rising to nearly 20 percent.

The 10 envoys were summoned by the foreign ministry last week after calling for a just and speedy resolution to Kavala’s case, and for his “urgent release”.

Parliament speaker Mustafa Sentop said earlier on Monday that Turkey’s constitution banned discussion of active court cases, including by Turkish politicians in parliament, and that the envoys’ statement marked a “clear and disrespectful” interference.

The European Court of Human Rights called for Kavala’s release two years ago, saying there was no reasonable suspicion he had committed an offence and finding his detention had been intended to silence him.

Women protest the world’s ‘silence’ over crisis in Afghanistan KABUL AFP

Women activists in Kabul held up signs that read “why is the world watching us die in silence?” on Tuesday, protesting the international community’s inaction on the crisis in Afghanistan.

Around a dozen women risked the wrath of the Taliban, who have banned demonstrations and shut them down using violence since taking power in August, holding banners affirming their “right to education” and “right to work”, before the Islamists stopped the press from approaching the march.

“We are asking the UN secretarygeneral to support our rights, to education, to work. We are deprived of everything today,” Wahida Amiri, one of the organisers for the Spontaneous Movement of Women Activists in Afghanistan, told AFP. Their demonstration, addressing the

“political, social and economic situation” in Afghanistan was initially planned to take place near the UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

But it was moved at the last minute to the entrance of the former “Green Zone”, where the buildings of several Western embassies are located, although most of their missions left the country as the Taliban took control.

Taliban gunmen at the entrance to the ultra-secure area initially asked the demonstrators and the press to move away.

An AFP reporter then saw a reinforcement of a dozen Taliban guards — most of them armed — push back journalists and confiscate the mobile phone of one local reporter who was filming the protest.

“We have nothing against the Taliban, we just want to demonstrate peacefully,” Amiri said.

Symbolic demonstrations by

women have become a regular occurrence in Kabul in recent weeks as the Taliban have still not allowed them to return to work or permitted most girls to go to school.

Last Thursday about 20 women were allowed to march for more than 90 minutes, but several foreign and local journalists covering the rally were beaten by Taliban fighters.

Myths, marriages and Mako: Japan’s imperial family TOKYO AFP

Japan’s Princess Mako married her sweetheart Kei Komuro on Tuesday forgoing traditional rites following years of controversy. Here are some things to know about what is considered the world’s oldest monarchy: who are Japan’s royals?

Mako is the niece of Emperor Naruhito, who came to the throne in 2019 after his father abdicated, beginning a new imperial era named “Reiwa”.

The family has a myth-filled history dating back more than 2,600 years and is said to be descended from the legendary sun goddess Amaterasu.

While 61-year-old Naruhito holds no political power under Japan’s post-war constitution, he is an important symbolic figurehead.

The emperor and empress host state visits and ritual ceremonies at the Imperial Palace, their main residence within vast grounds in the heart of Tokyo.

But their status can be a sensitive topic in Japan, given its 20th-century history of war waged in the name of Mako’s great-grandfather Hirohito.

why Is Mako leavIng? The Imperial Household Law, in place since 1947, only allows male family members to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne, while women lose their title if they wed a commoner.

This means Mako, 30, has left the royal family after marrying law graduate Komuro, four years after they first announced their engagement.

Mako’s 15-year-old brother Hisahito is currently the only male heir to the throne other than their father, Crown Prince Akishino.

If Hisahito does not have a male child, the line of succession will be broken — prompting some debate about changing the rules, with polls showing the Japanese public broadly support women being allowed to rule.

Although traditionalists are vehemently against the idea, Japan has had as many as eight empresses in the past. The last one, Gosakuramachi, was on the throne about 250 years ago. why such a scandal?

The Japanese royal family faces

huge pressure to conform to tradition and meet exacting standards of behaviour, with each move intensely scrutinised.

A furore erupted after tabloid reports alleged Komuro’s mother had failed to repay a four-million-yen ($35,000) loan from a former fiance.

When the couple’s union was finally announced earlier this month, the Imperial Household Agency said Mako was suffering complex PTSD because of the media coverage.

Mako and Komuro did not conduct traditional wedding rites and gave up the lump-sum payment usually made to women marrying out of the royal family, reportedly worth up to 153 million yen. has thIs happened before?

It is the first time in Japan’s post-war history that a royal wedding took place with no elaborate rituals.

Other female royals have suffered from stress-related illnesses, especially after joining the family through marriage.

Mako’s aunt Empress Masako, a former high-flying diplomat, has struggled for years, with some observers blaming the pressure of producing a male heir. The imperial couple have one daughter, Aiko, who is 19 years old.

And Michiko, wife to Naruhito’s father Akihito and the first commoner to marry into the family, also faced criticism from hardliners and tabloid gossip, especially in the early years of their marriage.

She once lost her voice for months and has also suffered stomach problems linked to stress.

Wednesday, 27 October, 2021 | KARACHI

SPORTS 11

T20 WoRLd Cup: SouTh AfRiCA ThRASh WeST indieS by 8 WiCkeTS DUBAI

TODAY'S MATCHES

AFP

S

OUTH Africa hammered holders West Indies by eight wickets in a game overshadowed by Proteas star Quinton de Kock’s refusal to take the knee prior to the Twenty20 World Cup clash on Tuesday.

Aiden Markram smashed 51 to lead South Africa’s chase of 144 in an unbeaten 83-run third-wicket stand with Rassie van der Dussen (43) to achieve their target with 10 balls to spare in the Super 12 contest.

South Africa bounced back from their opening loss to Australia, while two-time champions West Indies have lost both their matches.

Cricket South Africa ordered its players to kneel in Dubai and lend their support to the anti-racism movement but De Kock pulled out of the game due to “personal reasons”.

Temba Bavuma’s team took the knee after their decision to field first.

Opener Evin Lewis hit 56 in West Indies’ 143-8 as they suffered another heavy loss, having made just 55 in a crushing defeat by England three days ago.

Fast bowler Dwaine Pretorius took three wickets as West Indies again failed to fire after a painstaking 16 off 35 balls from Lendl Simmons at the top of the order.

Skipper Kieron Pollard hit a useful 20-ball 26 before falling to Pretorius, who was on a hat-trick only for Dwayne Bravo to hit a boundary.

After a sedate start, Lewis took the attack to South Africa by smashing boundaries off pace bowler Kagiso

ENGLAND VS BANGLADESH AT 3:00 PM (PST) SCOTLAND VS NAMIBIA AT 7:00 PM (PST) Rabada and spinner Markram, who opened the bowling.

The left-handed Lewis reached his 10th T20 fifty with a six before getting out to Keshav Maharaj.

Maharaj struck again with his left-arm spin to send back Nicholas Pooran for 12 and Rabada ended Simmons’ struggle the following over.

West Indies dropped Chris Gayle from three to four in the batting order but the change in position barely helped as the big-hitter fell for 12.

Anrich Nortje bowled the powerful Andre Russell for five and returned economical figures of 1-14 from his four overs of pace.

In reply, South Africa lost Bavuma, run out for two, but Reeza Hendricks and Van der Dussen put the chase back on track with their partnership of 57.

Hendricks fell to Akeal Hosein for 39.

Van der Dussen was joined by Markram and the two helped South Africa cruise across the line in a game that began with the shocking news of De Kock’s pull out.

The South African board later said they “await a further report from team management before deciding on the next steps.”

Markram raised his fifty in 25 balls with a six off Russell and then hit the winning runs.

TEAMS: West Indies: Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard

(captain), Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Akeal Hosein, Hayden Walsh, Ravi Rampaul.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Reeza Hen-

dricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Pakistan-India ‘sporting brotherhood’ impresses coach Hayden ISLAMABAD The AssociATed Press

Legendary former Rangers manager Walter Smith dies LONDON AFP

Former Scotland and Rangers manager Walter Smith has died at the age of 73, the Glasgow giants confirmed on Tuesday. “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our former manager, chairman and club legend, Walter Smith,” Rangers said in a statement. Smith is Rangers second-most successful ever manager, winning 21 trophies across two spells in charge. Already at the club as assistant to Graeme Souness, Smith was appointed full-time manager at Ibrox in 1991 and won seven league titles in eight years to lead the club to a recordequalling nine consecutive Scottish league titles. After a four-year stint at Everton and a brief spell as Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United, he was appointed manager of Scotland in 2004. In 2007, he returned to Ibrox, winning three more league titles and guiding Rangers to the UEFA Cup final in 2008 before retiring in 2011. “It is almost impossible to encapsulate what Walter meant to every one of us at Rangers,” said Rangers chairman Douglas Park. “He embodied everything that a Ranger should be. His character and leadership was second to none, and will live long in the memory of everyone he worked with during his two terms as first-team manager. “Winning 10 top-flight titles as manager, five Scottish Cups and six League Cups, as well as leading his club to the UEFA Cup Final in 2008, he will be remembered by the football community across the world. “His spells as Scotland manager as well as managing in the English Premier League underlined his credentials as one of the great modern-day football managers. “However, for Rangers supporters, he was much more than just a football manager. Walter was a friend to many, a leader, an ambassador and most of all — a legend.”

Matthew Hayden has been impressed by the “sporting brotherhood” on display after Pakistan beat India to break its run of 12 losses in World Cup contests between the archrivals.

India captain Virat Kohli embraced Mohammad Rizwan soon after Pakistan romped to a 10-wicket win in the T20 World Cup game on Sunday to start its Super 12 campaign.

Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, now a mentor with the team, smiled as he spoke with Pakistan players including captain Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik and fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani soon after the game ended.

“The thing that inspired me the most out of the performance was the fantastic sporting brotherhood,” Hayden, an intensely competitive former Australia opening batsman now working with Pakistan, said in a video message from Dubai. The political tension between the subcontinental neighbours has resulted in the countries avoiding bilateral cricket series since Pakistan visited India in 2012-13 and played a short limited-overs series.

However, they compete against each other regularly in the ICC tournaments. Hayden said the way the Pakistan and Indian players came together was a good example “of how we should treat each other as people.”

“That’s the role of sport, so it’s beautiful to see those moments where MS Dhoni is holding court with a few of the (Pakistan) players and Virat Kohli and (Rizwan), you know, in brotherhood, joining hands after there was heated battles in the middle.” The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed Hayden as a batting consultant and South African Vernon Philander as a bowling consultant for the T20 World Cup after head coach Misbah ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis stepped down. Hayden joined the squad in the United Arab Emirates, following his stint as a commentator in the Indian Premier League

(IPL) which ended two days before the World Cup began on October 17. Following Pakistan’s record-breaking win, Babar reminded his teammates to stay focused on winning the World Cup instead of getting carried away with the win over India. “Great humility from our perspective inside the change rooms, not getting carried away too much with the celebrations, but just this great humility, this great sense of spirit and great sense of purpose moving into the next game against New Zealand,” he said.

Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi’s burst in his opening

two overs provided Pakistan with the key wickets of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul and helped restrict India to 151-7. Afridi also went on to take the wicket of topscorer Kohli in his return spell. For Hayden, it was a prime example of what Pakistan’s pacemen are capable of producing. “Pakistan has velocity in abundance, not just here but also back home that aren’t celebrating in this World Cup,” he said. “Shaheen really is that one leader within the bowling group […] nothing beats velocity, mixed up with some skill.”

Four biggest wins at the T20 World Cup

DUBAI AFP

AFP Sport takes a look at the four biggest

wins — by runs — in the tournament since the first edition in 2007.

172, Sri Lanka v Kenya, 2007 Sanath Jayasuriya smashed 88 off 44

balls as Sri Lanka posted a mammoth 260 for six after being invited to bat first in Johannesburg.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardene also contributed with a 27-ball 65.

Kenya were never in the chase as they crawled to 88 for nine in 19.3 overs with Thomas Odoyo absent hurt.

Pace bowlers Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga and off-spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan took two wickets each.

130, South Africa v Scotland, 2009 An unbeaten 79 by batting superstar AB de Villiers steered South Africa to 211 for five in a group encounter at the Oval.

Skipper Graeme Smith (38) and Jacques Kallis (48) laid a solid foundation with their opening stand of 87.

Bowlers led by speedster Dale Steyn then combined to roll Scotland over for 81

in 15.4 overs.

130, Afghanistan v Scotland, 2021 Hazratullah Zazai (44) and Najibullah Zadran (59) smashed six sixes between them to pummel the Scotland attack and guide the team to 190 for four in 20 overs.

Spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman (5-20) and Rashid Khan (4-9) shared nine wickets between them to bowl the Scots out for 60 in 10.2 overs to hand a bruising introduction to the minnows in the Super 12 stage.

116, England v Afghanistan, 2012 Luke Wright’s unbeaten 99 fired England to 196 for five as they took apart the Afghan bowlers.

Izatullah Dawlatzai took two wickets but went for 56 runs in his three overs.

Pace bowler Stuart Broad returned figures of 2-10 as England skittled out Afghanistan for 80 in 17.2 overs.

wednesday, 27 October, 2021

prayer Timings

News

FM callS For eFFective MeaSUreS by international coMMUnity to enSUre Peace in aFghaniStan

F

OREIGN Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has stressed over the significance of employing measures by the international community to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan.

While meeting the Saudi Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh, both the leaders discussed regional and international issues. The leaders ensured to bring about betterment pertaining to the bilateral ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia at the United Nations and Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The FM stated that “The Middle East Green Initiative Summit will help build a regional narrative to tackle the implications of climate change” It has been reported earlier that FM Qureshi has reached Tehran to attend a ministerial meeting of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries scheduled on October 27.

A delegation is accompanying FM Qureshi during the two-day official visit to Iran. The FM upon reaching Tehran was received by Pakistani envoy in Iran, Rahim Hayat Qureshi, alongwith senior officials of the foreign ministry at Imam Khomeini International Airport.

Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday urged the international community to provide financial assistance to Afghanistan to avert any humanitarian crisis.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Iranian counterpart Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in a joint press conference emphasized the need for an active response from the world on the situation in Afghanistan following the exit of foreign troops.

The two foreign ministers expressed unanimity of views on extending humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Qureshi urged upon the United Nations, the European Union

and aid agencies to pace up their humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan.

He said the people of Afghanistan deserved peace as they suffered conflict for four decades. “We as a neighbour would continue to stand by Afghanistan in difficult times,” he said.

On his meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, he said the discussions focused on bilateral relations and regional matters.

He said both sides expressed satisfaction over the recent collaboration in trade and defence.

“Pakistan will keep moving ahead because we understand the importance of our relationship [with Iran],” he said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Iran would continue its contacts with all parties in Afghanistan, adding that Iran’s security consultations with the Afghan interim government were underway.

“We are closely monitoring the developments in Afghanistan and believe that formation of an inclusive government

with the participation of all the ethnicities in Afghanistan is the most significant political solution before us,” Amirabdollahian said, as quoted by IRNA. He also noted that Iran would make use of the capacity of all its border crossings with Afghanistan to send and facilitate humanitarian supplies into the country.

Amirabdollahian said accelerating the dispatch of humanitarian aids from other countries into Afghanistan during the cold snap would lower the peak of refugees flowing to neighbouring countries.

Earlier, the two foreign ministers over a working luncheon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran held extensive discussions on matters of mutual interest, the Foreign Office said.

Recalling Pakistan’s initiative to evolve the regional approach to Afghanistan, the FM Qureshi said his visits to Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Iran led to the first meeting of the Neighbouring countries of Afghanistan, which was held virtually on September 8, 2021.

Foreign Minister Qureshi highlighted the importance of close coordination between the two countries, adding that joint efforts would achieve the shared objective of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

Sharing his perspective on Afghanistan following his visit to Kabul on 21 October 2021, the Foreign Minister highlighted the urgent need to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan to stabilise the economic situation.

He reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue to extend support to Afghan brethren by facilitating trade and movement across borders.

In the bilateral context, the Foreign Minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to enhance bilateral relations in all areas, adding that Pakistan considered Iran a close neighbour and important country.

Foreign Minister Qureshi appreciated Iran’s steadfast support on the Kashmir issue, especially at the highest level.

Dr. Amir Abdullahian expressed hope for the success of joint efforts to help Afghanistan on its path to peace and prosperity. He reiterated Iran’s full commitment to strengthening bilateral relations in all fields.

Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, Ambassador of Pakistan to Iran, Rahim Hayat Qureshi and other senior officials accompanied the Foreign Minister.

It is pertinent to note that on October 5, FM Qureshi pushed for the international community to take steps for providing the Afghan with humanitarian and economic assistance.

The FM in a telephonic exchange with the Kenyan counterpart Raychelle Omamo said that if the situation in Afghanistan worsens further, it would lead to a big number of Afghan refugees outflowing the country.

Pakistan to observe ‘Black Day’ against Indian brutalities in IOK Pakistan will mark October 27 as the ‘Black Day’ to express solidarity with the oppressed people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and highlight their decades-long miseries at the hands of the Indian security forces.

A number of activities including rallies and different events have been planned for the day to shake the conscience of the international community, especially the United Nations urging it to play its due role in providing Kashmiris their legitimate right to self-determination.

Banners, inscribed with the Black Day messages and pictures of prominent Kashmiri leaders, have been placed on key junctions and roads of Islamabad to exhibit unity with the people of Kashmir.

Pakistanis and Kashmiris, living in any part of the world, would observe the day in a befitting manner, reminding the UN resolutions passed by its Security Council in favour of the right to self-determination of the people of IIOJK. The Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and GilgitBaltistan has chalked out a comprehensive programme for observing the day with a renewed spirit, while the provincial governments have also planned various ac-

tivities to mark the day.

On the occasion, the print and electronic media would publish articles and air special programmes to highlight plight of Kashmiris.

Public gatherings, rallies, walks and protest demonstrations would be arranged at the district and tehsil levels across the country including (AJK) and GB, while following the Covid-19 SOPs. A photo exhibition will also be arranged in the cities to highlight rights abuses, extra-judicial killings, and disabilities of Kashmiris through pellet guns at the hands of Indian security forces.

In the federal and provincial capitals, documentaries would be played on large screens installed at key places in which Indian atrocities and the human tragedy unfolding in the territory will be depicted.

Pakistani missions abroad would also organise events and engage with the diaspora, local parliamentarians, think-tanks and other relevant people to highlight significance of the day and remind the international community of its obligation to use its influence over India to resolve the decades’ old issue. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its missions abroad, will also

publish editorials and opinion pieces in foreign press to highlight the situation in IIOJ&K. In AJK, rallies, demonstrations and protest gatherings will be organised in all small and large cities of the state under the auspices of Kashmir Liberation Cell, Hurriyat and religious organisations.

The unending agonies of people of Kashmir started on October 27, 1947, when New Delhi invaded and forcibly held most parts of the state having 87 per cent Muslim population. It was the sheer violation of the Independence Act and Partition Plan of the sub-continent by India that sowed a seed of dispute for the coming generations.

Since the invasion, the people of occupied Kashmir have not taken a sigh of relief as atrocities by the occupation forces kept increasing with each passing day to silence the voices of freedom.

After going through the 74-year physical and mental agony, now, the Kashmiris are facing the worst type of repression at the hands of the Modi-led fascist government.

The regime stripped the held territory of its special status, on August 5, 2019, by revoking Articles 370 and 35-A of Indian constitution to change its demographic apartheid. app

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

5:16

12:17

3:35

6:31

6:02

7:18

US lauds Pakistan for assisting evacuation flights WASHINGTON: The State Department of the United States appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in accommodating the evacuation of American people from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in August. The State Department praised Islamabad’s assistance in providing safe passage from Afghanistan for US nationals, lawful permanent residents (LPRs) and Afghans to whom it said Washington has a special commitment. In a tweet, the State Department said Washington will continue to engage with Pakistan to assist the people of Afghanistan and aid regional stability. inp

US senator urges for biden-imran communication to ‘rebuild’ ties WASHINGTON app

Senator Bob Menendez said he has asked US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to urge President Joe Biden to hold a conversation with Prime Minister Imran Khan in an effort to “rebuild” the long fraught relationship with Pakistan. Menendez, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, underscored the need for such conversations while speaking at a fundraising event hosted at the residence of a board member of the American-Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC). “I think it would serve us well to have such a conversation and, you know, when we have these conversations, they are honest, and that means they are also transparent,” the senator said late Sunday, referring to the request he had made to Blinken. Such a course, he said, means “where there is an agreement, we build upon it and where there is disagreement we talk about how do we get through that disagreement.” “I think there is an extraordinary moment in which this is a relationship that can be rebuilt to what it once was,” Menendez said. “And if we can rebuild on it we, I hope, we can expand on it — not just about Pakistan in the context of a military or security dimension, but much greater — talking about an incredibly large population that is very young; there is tremendous opportunity to build upon the economic dynamism that we create,” he said.

“And that’s what I look forward to be able to continue to promote as your US senator,” Menendez told the APPAC members. dIPlOmATIc AffrONT: Biden’s apparent avoidance to engage with Prime Minister Khan since the former assumed office has been viewed as a diplomatic affront and seemingly become a point of contention between the two governments with US lawmakers criticising the reluctance as well. In an interview with the Financial Times in August, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf had made clear that Pakistan had other options if Biden continued to ignore the nation’s leadership. “The president of the United States hasn’t spoken to the prime minister of such an important country who the US itself says is make-or-break in some cases, in some ways, in Afghanistan — we struggle to understand the signal, right?” Yusuf told The publication. “We’ve been told every time that […] [the phone call] will happen, it’s technical reasons or whatever. But frankly, people don’t believe it,” he had said. “If a phone call is a concession, if a security relationship is a concession, Pakistan has options,” he added, without elaborating further. At the time, a Biden administration official said there were “still a number of world leaders President Biden has not been able to speak with personally yet. He looks forward to speaking with Prime Minister Khan when the time is right”.

Asia suffered hottest year on record in 2020: UN GENEVA afp

Asia suffered its hottest year on record in 2020, the United Nations said Tuesday ahead of the COP26 summit, with extreme weather taking a heavy toll on the continent’s development.

In its annual “State of the Climate in Asia” report, the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said every part of the region had been affected.

“Extreme weather and climate change impacts across Asia in 2020 caused the loss of life of thousands of people, displaced millions of others and cost hundreds of billions of dollars, while wreaking a heavy toll on infrastructure and ecosystems,” the WMO said.

“Sustainable development is threatened, with food and water insecurity, health risks and environmental degradation on the rise.”

The report comes days before COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference being held in Glasgow from Sunday to November 12.

The report also laid bare the total annual

average losses due to climate-related hazards.

China suffered an estimated $238 billion, followed by India at $87 billion, Japan with $83 billion and South Korea on $24 billion.

But when the size of the economy is considered, the average annual losses are expected to be as high as 7.9 percent of gross domestic product for Tajikistan, 5.9 percent for Cambodia and 5.8 percent for Laos.

PrOlONGed dISPlAcemeNT: Increased heat and humidity are forecast to lead to an effective loss of outdoor working hours across the continent, with a potential cost of many billions of dollars.

“Weather and climate hazards, especially floods, storms, and droughts, had significant impacts in many countries of the region,” said WMO chief Petteri Taalas. “Combined, these impacts take a significant toll on longterm sustainable development.”

Many weather and climate-related displacements in Asia are prolonged, with people unable to return home or integrate locally, the report said.

In 2020 floods and storms affected approximately 50 million people in Asia, resulting in more than 5,000 fatalities.

This is below the annual average of the last two decades (158 million people affected and about 15,500 fatalities) “and is testimony to the success of early warning systems in many countries in Asia”, with around seven in 10 people covered.

Asia’s warmest year on record saw the mean temperature 1.39 degrees Celsius above the 1981–2010 average.

The 38.0 C registered at Verkhoyansk in Russia is provisionally the highest known temperature anywhere north of the Arctic Circle.

GlAcIerS SHrINkING: In 2020, average sea surface temperatures reached record high values in the Indian, Pacific and Arctic Oceans. Sea surface temperatures and ocean warming in and around Asia are increasing more than the global average.

They have been warming at more than triple the average in the Arabian sea, and parts of the Arctic Ocean.

Arctic sea ice minimum extent (after the summer melt) in 2020 was the second-lowest on the satellite record since 1979.

There are approximately 100,000 square

kilometres of glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau and in the Himalayas — the largest volumes of ice outside the polar regions and the source of 10 major Asian rivers.

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