EpaperKHI_21-12-30

Thursday, 30 December, 2021 I 25 Jamadi-al-Awwal, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 182 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition

RumouRs of Nawaz shaRif’s RetuRN ‘useless chatteR’: Rasheed ISLAMABAD

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hile the rumours of self-exiled deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s possible return to Pakistan has stirred the political environment, Minister for interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed Wednesday dismissed the reports as “useless chatter”.

After spending a year in prison, Sharif, 72, secured a conditional one-month bail in November 2019 to travel to london on the pretext of medical treatment but has since refused to return. his party insists that despite being sum-

moned by the courts, which declared him a proclaimed offender in separate corruption trials, the former premier will only return after the completion of his medical treatment.

Ahmed — who over the weekend offered to pay for Sharif’s ticket and issue him a visa if he was willing to return — today asserted it would “make no difference” to Pakistan Tehreek-i-insaf (PTi) government whether or not the Pakistan Muslim league-Nawaz (PMl-N) supreme leader returns. interestingly, the comment came a day after Minister for information Fawad Chaudhry said the government would bring back Sharif to the country as he would never return himself.

Chaudhry, who was addressing a press

conference, said the government has finalised matters with the United Kingdom regarding Sharif’s return. “Nawaz Sharif will never return home voluntarily,” he insisted.

Rumours of Sharif’s return has stoked a heated debate with the next general elections hardly one and a half years away. however, PMl-N President Shahbaz Sharif categorically denied that Sharif would be returning to Pakistan until he completely recovers. in a statement on Saturday, the former Punjab chief minister said his elder brother might stay in london legally until the immigration tribunal rules on his appeal against the home Office’s rejection for extending his visa.

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Thursday, 30 December, 2021 | KARACHI

NEWS

ServiceMen taking over civilian PoStS injuStice with youth: Senator ISLAMABAD

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HE recruitment of retired and serving military officials on civilian positions in the National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) was an injustice with the youth, Jamaati-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said.

In the past two years, several military officials have grabbed important government positions, which have traditionally been under the civilian domain. Just in February, Bilal Saeedullah Khan, a retired brigadier, was appointed director general of Nadra, forcing the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to serve notices on the Ministry of Interior and top Nadra management.

Some diplomatic positions, which have largely been held by civilians since independence, have been taken over by the servicemen as well. In January, the government appointed retired Gen Bilal Akbar to the post of Saudi Arabia ambassador.

The Senate Wednesday witnessed a heated debate over the recruitment of members of the armed forces in Nadra, with members from the opposition benches calling for specific details.

“I had questioned how many people are on deputation in Nadra and how many retired armed forces personnel are working

in the agency,” said Ahmed.

The senator lamented that the answer he had been provided was unsatisfactory. He then explained he was asking about the exact number of former military men that were reemployed by the agency which comes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior.

“According to my perception and information, a great number of retired servicemen have again been rehired in the agency despite rising unemployment trends nationwide.

I think giving such jobs with great privileges and perks again to those who have reached retirement age is an injustice with the youth,” Ahmed said.

Responding to the JI senator, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said six people were employed on deputation in Nadra and they were not retired military men.

PML-N Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar then further shaped the question and asked for precise details of the number of retired army officers employed, their date of appointment, their responsibilities and whether they had additional qualifications meriting their employment.

Khan — who termed Tarar’s question a “very good question” — said it would be answered in detail.

12 RePoRts of stanDinG boDies PResenteD: Meanwhile, 12 reports of

Soomro dares cjP, Sindh cM to implement mosque demolition orders NewS DeSk Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Sindh Secretary General Rashid Mahmood Soomro on Wednesday challenged the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to dare implement the Supreme Court’s order to demolish illegally constructed mosques and shrines in Karachi. It is pertinent to note that on Tuesday, the SC gave directive to raze illegally constructed structures including a mosque, shrine and cemetery built on amenity parks’ land near Tariq Road. “Mr chief justice the mosques are not orphans… Mr chief minister the mosques are not orphans… if you have the courage then show it and try bulldozing the mosque,” Soomro said in a video that went viral on social media. He went on to say that till the day he was alive, he will never let “even a single brick of any mosque in Karachi be demolished”. “We will stop you on the way [to the mosque]… if the mosques are demolished, your offices will also be demolished,” JUI-F leader warned.

islamabad lg ordinance 2021 challenged in ihc NewS DeSk Islamabad LG ordinance 2021 has been challenged by the local body representatives in IHC on Wednesday. President Dr Arif Alvi, home secretary, secretary of law and the attorney general of Pakistan have been issued notices in this regard. It is pertinent to note that the IHC has summoned them on January 11. Petitioner’s counsel Qazi Adil argued that the council of unelected persons to run a local government was also against the law. Petitioner Sardar Mehtab said that the direct election of the mayor and removal of the post of deputy mayor was against the law. Earlier, it was reported that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) workers, traders and different unions held a protest rally against the Islamabad Local Government Ordinance 2021. The speakers said that CDA employees have built a beautiful city like Islamabad but the present government has passed a presidential ordinance in presence of the parliament, which was not acceptable to the stakeholders. It is to note that the protest rally was organised by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) trade union Yasin Group at the Aabpara Chowk. The demonstration was attended by thousands of CDA workers, traders and trade unionists. The speakers revealed that they will not allow the division of national institutions like the CDA and its employees, the speakers maintained.

They further urged the PM not to divide the CDA and protect the rights of 15,000 workers.

several standing committees including Delegated Legislation, Interior, Human Rights, Narcotic Control and Communication were presented in the House.

The reports were presented by Tarar, Mohsin Aziz, Seemee Ezdi, Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhary and Kamil Ali Agha, respectively.

Tarar on behalf of Committee on Delegated Legislation Chairman Farooq H. Naek presented the report on about existing criteria, conditions and procedures of postings of chief secretaries and the appointment of Pakistan Administrative Officers (PAS) officers on the positions in the four provinces, and in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) and Gilgit-Baltistan administrative units.

Standing Committee on Interior Chairman Aziz presented reports on the bill further to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2021) (Amendment of Section 510); the bill to amend the Islamabad Capital Territory Trust Act, 2020 (The Islamabad Capital Territory Trust (Amendment) Bill, 2020); and allotment of khokhas in Islamabad.

Similarly, Ezdi on behalf of Standing Committee on Human Rights Chairman Walid Iqbal presented reports on the bill to amend the Juvenile Justice System Act, 2018

(The Juvenile Justice System (Amendment) Bill, 2021); the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the National Commission on the Rights of Child (Amendment) Bill, 2021; and the Protection against Harassment of women at the Workplace (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

It is pertinent to note that the Senate session was also marred by sloganeering and protests by the opposition benches over the National Security Policy (NSP) not being brought to parliament.

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said matters of “life and death” were related to national security. While commending the policy’s focus on economic security, she criticised the manner in which it was unveiled.

Rehman said it was expected that the policy would be brought to the Senate since it was the upper house of parliament which was the “biggest forum for legislation and policymaking”. She said the draft policy was presented in the National Security Committee meeting on December 6 which the opposition had boycotted and explained the reasons for doing so.

Rehman said that while the opposition leaders had been called to the meeting, the prime minister did not want to appear in that meeting and unless he took input and critique, then any such meeting would be “meaningless”.

She said input should have been taken from parliament, civil society, think tanks and other stakeholders. Rehman criticised the discrepancy between the economic focus of the NSP and what she said were “ground realities” — pointing to the government’s action such as introducing a mini-budget or taking loans.

“What NSP is this which didn’t come in front of parliament and wasn’t debated on and which parliament has no role in,” she thundered while PTI Senator Mohsin Aziz interrupted her speech.

“You want to resurrect those groups who are announcing jihad against Pakistan and the state and mainstream them and accept them? What NSP is this which is economically centred that IMF (International Monetary Fund) will run?” The session then saw a heated exchange between, Rehman and Aziz with the former calling on the Senate chairman to control the house.

“Black laws are being brought in their tenure and they’re being given the cover of National Security Policy. This is a disgusting joke with Pakistan and the parliament,” Rehman hit out before calling on the opposition benches to stage a walkout.

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani repeatedly called on the treasury and opposition benches to return to their seats, ultimately succeeding in convincing the lawmakers to do so after some time.

KP governor serves notice to PTI’s Arbab Ali in Peshawar mayor ticket case NewS DeSk PTI leader Arbab Mohammad Ali has been issued a legal notice by Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman, on Wednesday, for blaming him to be involved in selling the Peshawar ticket.

The spokesperson of the Governor House confirmed the development today.

Arbab who is the nephew of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Establishment Arbab Shehzad, and the brother of PTI National Assembly member Arbab Sher Ali, claimed that Farman had sold the Peshawar mayor’s ticket for Rs70 million.

A day earlier, KP Higher Education Minister Kamran Bangash had also handed Arbab a notice seeking Rs500

million for accusing Bangash of selling a ticket for Peshawar city mayor to a wealthy businessman and receiving Rs20 million in return.

It is pertinent to note that Arbab had applied for the PTI ticket for the Peshawar city mayor slot, but despite being an influential figure and the former nazim of Town-III Peshawar, he wasn’t considered by the party and the ticket was given to an Abu Dhabi-based businessman Rizwan Bangash — who lost to the joint candidate of JUI, PMLN, and QWP. As per the details, Arbab Ali had been reportedly enraged by the refusal of the party ticket, and circulated a video in which he had made some allegations against some senior PTI leaders,

including Governor Shah Farman and Bangash, accusing them of selling the party ticket to Rizwan Bangash for Rs70

Nasla Tower: Police form investigation team, conduct raids at suspects’ houses NewS DeSk A five-member committee to hold a transparent probe to determine who was responsible for issuing the construction permits for the illegally built Nasla Tower has been formed by DIG East Muqaddas Haider on Wednesday.

As per the notification, the inquiry team will be investigating the case lodged at the Ferozabad police station.

It is pertinent to note that the FIR lodged has nominated officials from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and other agencies.

After registering cases against those responsible for Nasla Tower’s construction, police have launched a series of raids on the houses of the SBCA officials involved in the case. However, no arrests have been made so far.

According to police officials, the SBCA has provided a list of 30 people responsible for Nasla Tower’s construction. Deputy

Director SBCA Safdar Magsi’s name tops the list. Police could not locate Safdar Magsi during a raid at his house. Former DG SBCA Manzoor Qadir alias Kaka had appointed Safdar Magsi to the Grade 21 position.

The names of Assistant Director SBCA Majid Magsi and the then SBCA deputy director Sarfraz Hussain and others have been included in the probe.

Officials of the Sindhi Muslim Society have not provided names of those involved in the case yet. However, the probe committee is waiting for the society to provide them the list of names soon.

The police team will work under SP East Investigation Altaf Hussain, per the notification. Members of the probe team include SP Jamshed Division Farooq Bijarani, DSP Investigation East Zone Yousuf Jamal, SHO Ferozabad Inspector Khushnood and SIO Ferozabad Inspector Nisar Ahmed.

million. As per the preliminary investigations by top PTI leadership, it has been found that they lost the city mayor elections due to the alleged negative role of Arbab Shehzad’s family.

Some unknown people started an organised campaign on social media a few days ago, saying the prime minister has decided to appoint Arbab Shehzad as KP governor to replace Shah Farman, an old friend of the PTI chief. Though it was not clear who was behind this media campaign, obviously it was not favourable to Arbab Shehzad.

Sources further claimed that PM Imran Khan was well aware of these developments and he was planning to soon relieve Arbab Shehzad of the responsibility.

PM summons cabinet meeting to discuss mini-budget ISLAMABAD Shahzad Paracha

The Prime Minister has summoned a special meeting of the Federal Cabinet on Thursday to discuss the Finance Supplementary Bill 2021.

According to sources, Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin will brief the cabinet members during the meeting regarding the imposition of sales tax amounting to 17 per cent on a number of items. Moreover, proposals from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will also be discussed during the meeting. The FBR has proposed to streamline zero-rating and withdrawal of sales tax on certain entries under the fifth schedule. Similarly, it has also proposed to curtail exemptions including exemptions given to the pharmaceutical sector under the sixth schedule, stressing that such exemptions should be restricted to import and local supply of essential commodities only. Meanwhile, FBR has also proposed that reduced rates of sales tax under the eighth schedule on certain items should be streamlined in order to achieve equity in the tax system. Likewise, rationalisation of sales tax on import of high-end mobile phones in Completely Built Up (CBU) condition under the ninth schedule has also been proposed in addition to rationalising the scope of Tier-1 retailers.

Reconstitution of cabinet committees: According to documents available with Pakistan Today, the prime minister has given approval to reconstitute the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (ECC), Cabinet Committee on State owned Enterprises and Cabinet Committee on Privatization (CCoP). After the reconstitution, the ECC will be chaired by the minister for finance and revenue while the ministers for communication, economic affairs, energy, industries and production, interior, law and justice, maritime affairs, national food security and research, planning, development and special initiatives, privatization, railway, water resources would be the members of the said committee. Similarly, the minister for finance and revenue will now chair the Cabinet Committee on State owned Enterprises while minister for energy, industries and production and privatization would be its members. Moreover, the PM has also reconstituted the cabinet committee on Privatization (CCoP).

Thursday, 30 December, 2021 | KARACHI

cold wave coMPelS ecP to Put off Second PhaSe of kP electionS ISLAMABAD

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HE Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday decided to postpone until March the second phase of local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to the ongoing wave of biting cold.

The ECP made this decision in view of harsh weather conditions in most of the 18 districts where the polls are scheduled to be held. Reports had earlier said the second phase will start from January 16 and the departments concerned were issued directives to make arrangements in this regard.

The first phase was held on December 19. The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) suffered a setback as its arch-rival far-

right JUI-F managed to grab the highest number of seats.

The party’s Zubair Ali also won the hotly-

contested poll for the top slot of Peshawar mayor. He bagged 62,388 votes followed by Rizwan Bangash of PTI with 50,659 votes.

Islamabad reports three new cases of Omicron NewS DeSk Three fresh COVID-19 cases of the Omicron variant were reported from Islamabad on Wednesday, sources in the health ministry revealed.

With the recently surfaced cases, the total number of Omicron infections in the federal capital rose to 20.

As per the details, people who live with the new Omicron patients and those who came in contact with them are being traced.

It is pertinent to note that the first case of Omicron variant in Islamabad was reported on December 25.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, so far 75 cases of the Omicron variant were confirmed in Pakistan, including 33 in Karachi where the first case was reported on December 13, 2021 while Lahore reported 13 cases.

Apart from the new cases, 17 cases of the Omicron variant have so far been reported from Islamabad.

It is pertinent to note that Pakistan may experience the fifth wave of Covid-19 in the mid of February 2022 with daily detection of around 3,000-4,000 cases per day as community transmission of Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 or Coronavirus has begun

in the major cities of Pakistan, especially in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad where so far 75 people were found infected with the Variant of Concern (VoC), officials warned on Tuesday. “Transmission of Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 has started in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and we fear a rise in COVID-19 cases all over the country in the coming two weeks.

Pakistan may experience the fifth wave of COVID-19 in the middle of February 2022 with the number of daily cases rising to 3,000 to 4,000,” an official of the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHS,R&C) revealed.

NEPRA reserves judgment on power tariff hike of Rs4.33 per unit ISLAMABAD Staff rePort

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Wednesday reserved its judgment on Rs4.33 per unit power tariff hike on account of monthly fuel price adjustment for the month of November 2021.

According to details, NEPRA’s hearing on a tariff petition of the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) was held on Wednesday.

NEPRA has reserved its judgment which will be issued after detailed scrutiny of the documents.

An estimated Rs40 billion will be levied from consumers of all power distribution companies (DISCOs) except K-Electric, who consume 50 units during the month if the Rs4.33 per unit increase is approved. The CPPA, in its application, requested NEPRA to increase the per-unit cost of electricity generated by Rs4.33/unit on account of monthly fuel price adjustment for the month of November 2021. The CPPA also said that 8.24 billion units of electricity were generated in November while the production cost of electricity was Rs66.52 billion.

The CPPA application underlined that 33.21 per cent of the total

electricity generation was hydro-based and 16.26 per cent was generated from coal last month. Electricity generated from furnace oil was 1.71 per cent, 12.89 per cent was generated using domestic gas, 14.25 per cent of electricity was generated with imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), and 17.51 was generated with nuclear fuel.

During the course of the hearing, CPPA said that an additional 14 per cent of electricity was generated in November compared to the same month last year. They said that the rise in fuel prices in the international market had put an additional burden of Rs26 billion, which was being translated into Rs4.33 per unit cost increase.

The shortage of RLNG had caused an additional burden of Rs55.7 million besides Rs60.23 million incurred due to violation of merit order. During the meeting, NEPRA chairman also asked to share a schedule regarding the closure of all power plants. The chairman said he was shocked to see his electricity bill of November 2021 which was less electricity cost and more fuel cost adjustment.

“The CPPA did not bother whether the electricity being produced is expensive or not,” he said. He ordered the authorities concerned to ensure a three-year performance audit of each plant, its efficiency and merit order number.

Ashrafi questions global silence over persecution of minorities in India ISLAMABAD Staff rePort

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony and the Middle East Tahir Ashrafi on Wednesday questioned the global cold silence over the unprecedented persecution of the minorities in India where Muslims and Christians were being killed and their places of worship were being destroyed with impunity.

Addressing a student convention held at Marhaba Masjid in Rawalpindi, Ashrafi said Muslims, Christians and other minorities in India were being subjected to atrocities.

If there was an incident of rights violation elsewhere, the international community would scream, but it was completely silent on statesanctioned abuses in India, he lamented.

“Today, Kashmir, Palestine, Afghanistan and Burma are not visible to the world.”

Ashrafi said: “Low-caste Hindus are not allowed to drink from the wells reserved for the upper-caste counterparts, attend the same temples, wear shoes in the presence of an upper-caste Hindu or drink from the same cups in tea stalls.”

He said Pakistan had always raised its voice for oppressed segments all over the world facing tyranny and state-sponsored

violence. He said that minorities living in Pakistan should not have any fear, adding: “Islam is a religion of peace, moderation and compassion.” He reiterated that minorities were enjoying equal rights in Pakistan without any discrimination. “The Constitution of Pakistan is the protector of the rights of Muslims and non-Muslims living in Pakistan,” the adviser added.

He, however, denounced the killing of Sri Lankan factory manager Priyantha Kumar in Sialkot. Terming it a barbaric act, he said there was no room for extremism in Islam.

“The Quran states that whosoever kills one man without any reason, it is as if he has murdered entire mankind”, he added.

He said the life of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was a beacon of light for the entire humanity.

He said following the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH), the nation would have to change its thoughts and attitude keeping in view the national, religious and collective interests.

In these times, there was a need that Muslims should prove their love for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to the world through character, speech and practice.

Ashrafi said the young generation must come to the forefront to play their role in eradicating extremism, terrorism, dowry rituals and spreading the moderate message of Islam.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan was fully committed and sincere to transforming the country into a truly Islamic welfare state on the pattern of the State of Medina.

He appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to hold a speedy trial of the Sialkot incident and punish the accused.

“Even if someone commits blasphemy, the people should not take law into their own hands. It is the responsibility of the state to punish violators of the shameful act,” he said.

NEWS 03 Vaccination, booster dose only weapon to fight Omicron: official ISLAMABAD Staff rePort

Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Dr Nausheen Hamid Wednesday urged the public to get vaccinated, receive a booster shot and follow health guidelines as cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus were observing a rise across the country. “Vaccination and booster jabs are our only weapons to fight the latest variant,” she stressed while talking to a news programme.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the nationwide tally of the Omicron infections reached 75 as of Wednesday morning, she recalled, adding that Karachi reported 33 cases, 17 were reported in Islamabad, 13 in Lahore and 12 cases were detected in people returning from abroad. She said health authorities were conducting contact tracing to arrest the further spread of the Omicron variant. In big cities, the test facility of Omicron was available, she said. Hamid said the variant spread at a faster rate than its predecessors, and may be infectious to unvaccinated people. Vaccinated people who have received a booster shot are less likely to be affected as compared to unvaccinated people.

She said the government had been speeding up its vaccination drive and is expanding the criteria for booster shots. Booster jabs were currently administered to healthcare workers or people who are over the age of 50, she added. “We have to wear masks, wash hands frequently, and avoid functions as well as crowded markets. The only way to counter Omicron is to boost your immunity strong and take precautions,” said Hamid. Awareness, vaccination and precautionary measures have to be the strength of the nation in the fight against the Omicron variant, she added.

Thursday, 30 December, 2021 | KARACHI

04

NEWS CPEC’S 2ND PHASE

ChIna tO hElp pakIStan ExCEl In It, aRtIfICIal IntEllIGEnCE Islamabad Mian abRaR

M Gold price dips to Rs102,900 per 10gm Islamabad TLTP

The gold price shed 0.80 percent on Wednesday after jumping to its highest level in five weeks a day earlier. Gold came under renewed bearish pressure amid stronger US Treasury bond yield, which ultimately strengthened the dollar. Gold in the international market was available at $1,791.90 per ounce, shedding $14.30 as of 1335 hours GMT. The price of 10 grams of yellow metal in Pakistan, meanwhile, went down to Rs102,900 after shedding of Rs1,400. Gold in the local market was available at Rs104,300 on Tuesday last. A relatively higher decrease in price of the yellow metal in the local market was due to an overnight decrease in its price when the local market was closed. The US Treasury yields edged higher on Wednesday as investors continued to monitor developments on the Omicron Covid-19 variant. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note ticked up 1.5 basis points to 1.496 percent, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond fell 1.7 basis points to 1.919 percent. Yields move inversely to prices and 1 basis point is equal to 0.01%.

The US Dollar Index is clinging to modest daily gains at 96.35 as investors remain cautious in the face of the surging number of Omicron cases. Gold closed in the negative territory after jumping to its highest level in more than a month at $1,820 on Tuesday and seems to be having a hard time shaking off the bearish pressure mid-week. The renewed dollar strength is weighing on gold. From a technical perspective, the Relative Strength Index dropped below 50, confirming the view that the bearish pressure is gathering strength.

On the downside, the 100-period SMA is forming the first near-term technical support at $1,790 ahead of $1,785 (static level). On the flip side, $1,800 (psychological level) aligns as first resistance before $1,805 (200-period SMA). In case gold closes above the second resistance, buyers could see it as an opportunity to reclaim the control of gold price action.

IESCO chief executive to hold online kutchery Implementation of customer friendly policies is the top priority of any public utility institution which leads towards quality services and timely redressal of valuable customer complaints. By following same Chief Executive IESCO Dr. Muhammad Amjad Khan will hold online kutchery on Thursday dated 30.12.2021 From 09:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Valuable IESCO customers related to all Operation Circles i.e.

Islamabad, Rawalpindi City, Rawalpindi Cantt, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal and surroundings are requested to participate in said kutchery by calling on telephone number 051-9253105 for immediate redressal of their electricity related issues or for their valuable suggestion according to given schedule. PR

INISTER for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar Wednesday said that China would help Pakistan initiate projects in the field of Information Technology especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the second phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“Pakistan and China signed to work in domain of information technology in the 10th JCC meeting. China has made tremendous progress in information technology domain and Pakistan is now starting to see significant progress in this area such as during the last year the export of Pakistan’s information technology services outside of Pakistan is grew by 47% and this year, hoping 38 percent.

Therefore, there are tremendous opportunities for Pakistani and Chinese companies in information technology,” said Asad Umar while addressing the Award Ceremony of the 27 outstanding Pakistani staff of the CPEC Projects here at the Chinese Embassy.

He said Pakistan has simplified the process of investment in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs), not only for the Chinese companies but also for other international investors.

He further said that two days ago the PM has approved the simplified approval process for industries and companies which are willing to invest and operate in SEZs. In addition to this, both federal and provincial government have developed a mechanism to facilitate the companies which are interested to invest in SEZs, he added.

Asad Umar said that despite Covid-19 pandemic, the year of 2021 has seen remarkable progress in the CPEC. “We have seen the completion of projects and most importantly broadening of the CPEC that is through the industrial cooperation framework work and now its showing results such as construction work at AIlama Iqbal, Rashakai SEZs as well as expansion of Special Economic Zone in Gwadar”.

He said that the north zone which the prime minister inaugurated few months back is 35 times larger than the south zone and that shows the confidence of Pakistan’s commitment towards progress and future of CPEC. He said in the second phase of CPEC both countries are focusing on agriculture and science and technology sector.

The minister said that CPEC is broadening in all fields and many projects started in first phase has been completed or about to complete. This is testimony of not just the quality of relationship between Pakistan and China but evidence of our strong bond and commitment for completion of CPEC projects, he added.

He said that the BRI is truly historic as it was conceived for the development and propensity for all the humanity.

The minister further said that President XI Jinping’s vision to enhance prosperity through connectedness among the countries and shared prosperity is a remarkable model for the worldAsad Umar also appreciated China for supporting Pakistan during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Answering to a question, he said that the opponents of CPEC are not only opposing CPEC through words but also sponsoring terrorism. However, Pakistan is taking effective security measures and no CPEC project has been spoiled by the terrorist activities. Moreover, the Prime Minister is personally reviewing security of Chinese projects and workers.

The minister also congratulated the Pakistani staff working for CPEC projects and said that Chinese companies would have seen the quality of the Pakistani professionals is as good as the world because they are hardworking and willing to learn.

CPEC continues to be a flagship of the overall development strategy of Pakistan as well as a cornerstone of economic relationship between China and Pakistan, he added.

Ying Xiong, Director General, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China said that all-weather strategic cooperative partners, China

and Pakistan has continuously strengthened strategic communication and safeguarded common interests.

“China’s development and growth is in the interest of Pakistan, and it is also China’s sincere hope that Pakistan can enjoy stable development for its prosperity,” he added.

Addressing the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong said that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The CPEC project despite the challenge of pandemic, has made great achievement.

“During this year, CPEC has always been the focus of our two countries. President Xi Jinping called Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke on phone on October 26 and expressed their will to jointly build the CPEC to promote cooperation in agriculture, digital economy and people’s livelihood, and bring more benefits to the local people,” he said.

He said both the leaders reiterated their resolve to comprehensively build the health, industrial, trade, digital, and green corridors, so as to build the CPEC into a demonstration project for high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

He said that the 10th JCC meeting was successfully held, setting the path for the future cooperation, and added one more Joint Working Group on Information Technology Industry, opening up new areas of great potential for cooperation.

The Ambassador said that the Prime Minister Imran Khan attaches great importance to the CPEC.bThe Pakistan government established the China-Pakistan Relations Steering Committee to coordinate and resolve CPEC issues, he added.

He said with joint efforts of both countries, the Matiari-Lahore HVDC Transmission Line has brought Pakistan into a new era of AC-DC power grid, the Karot Hydro power Project started water storage and the Gwadar Technical and Vocational Institute was completed.

Speaking on the occasion, Khalid Mansoor, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on CPEC Affairs, said this year was 70th years of vibrant growing diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan.

Previously it was limited to bilateral relationship but now it is long-term economic partnership through shared future through the CPEC. He said despite disruption of normal life all over the world because of the pandemic, the CPEC projects have not faced any constraint due to firm mutual commitment of both countries.

Sania, GB lawmakers discuss plan for expansion of Ehsaas initiatives Islamabad PR

Senator Dr. Sania Nishtar, SAPM on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation keynoted a high-level consultative workshop on “Youth Employability and Poverty Alleviation” for the members of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Assembly. The twoday workshop was held by Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP).

Dr. Sania appreciated the proactive approach of the government of GB towards Ehsaas. “In addition to monthly stipends of Rs. 2,000 a month, families eligible in Ehsaas Kafaalat are also benefitting from Ehsaas School Stipends across all Tehsils of GB. The program gives stipends from primary to the higher secondary levels. Girls get a higher stipend across all age groups. Ehsaas Nashonuma, Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship and Ehsaas Interest Free Loan programmes are also running in GB”, said Dr. Sania.

A strategic plan was also discussed with members of GB Assembly to open Ehsaas Nashonuma and Ehsaas One Win-

dow Centers in all Tehsils of GB. Dr. Sania also encouraged members of GB Assembly to create awareness among the people of GB on a multitude of Ehsaas programmes particularly, the ongoing Ehsaas Rashan registration drive with Kiryana retailers and families.

The inaugural session was graced by the Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan, Khalid Khurshid Khan. In the workshop, an array of expert shared their insights about the emerging issues related to youth employment and shed light on con-

textual strategies for poverty alleviation in Gilgit-Baltistan. Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid said that in Gilgit-Baltistan there is a strong tradition of making decisions locally. His government intends to incorporate this local tradition in the local government model to pave the way for the representation of grassroot level communities in governance structure.

The speakers in the workshop emphasized on contextualizing the development plans so that they are more in sync with the issues of Gilgit-Baltistan. They

lauded the local communities of GilgitBaltistan for introducing a successful model of community participation for other regions of Pakistan.

Malik Amin Aslam, Federal Minister for Climate Change/SAPM, shared government initiatives in tackling climate change. He laid great emphasis on living in harmony with nature instead of fighting with nature. Amin Aslam said that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan know better how to life amicably with nature. He said that since Gilgit-Baltistan is bearing the brunt of climate change, it is imperative to intervene at multiple fronts. Speaking about future of work, the speakers emphasized on digitization of economy and promoting entrepreneurship in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The themes covered in the workshop ranged from community participation, poverty alleviation and prosperity, safety nets, climate change, digitalization, promoting entrepreneurship and responsible tourism to renewable energy. The speakers and participants agreed to gear insights of the workshop into their policies and planning for the development of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Pact inked for universal health coverage in Punjab, Islamabad Islamabad TLTP

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) among the federal government, government of Punjab and State Life Insurance for implementation of Universal Health Coverage of Sehat Sahulat Programme

in Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory.

The signing ceremony was also attended

by Special Assistant on Health Dr Faisal Sultan, Minister for Health Punjab Dr Yasmin Rashid and other senior officials.

The MoU was signed by Secretary National Health Services Regulations and Coordination Aamir Ashraf Khwaja, CEO Punjab Health Initiatives Management Com-

pany Ali Razaq and Chairman State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan Shoaib Javed Hussain.

The prime minister had announced the Sehat Sahulat Programme for all residents of Punjab in Lahore on December 13. Through this social health protection initiative, the poor families will be provided with free of cost health insurance to secure indoor health

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care services worth one million rupees per family per year from empanelled hospitals across Pakistan.

Separately, while addressing a ceremony at the under-construction Mother and Child Hospital in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said that the health insurance card covering the entire population of the

country will be launched next month.

He said the hospital will provide a state of the art neonatal intensive care unit, MRI and other diagnostic facilities to people under one roof. The special assistant said the health card project will help people bear the burden of medical expenditures. He said it is a reflection of service delivery on part of the government for the people.

Thursday, 30 December, 2021 | KARACHI

RumOuRS Of NAwAz SHARif’S RetuRN ‘uSeLeSS cHAtteR’: RASHeeD cOntInuED fROM PAgE 01

A

HMED lamented “unnecessary hype” was being created around Sharif’s return, and added it was unfortunate for Pakistan that people “who spent most of their life here eventually leave the country, instead of loving it [sic]”.

The minister said his offer of a one-

way ticket to Pakistan for Sharif was “still valid”.

The minister further said he wanted the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to move back their protest in Islamabad scheduled for March 23 to March 30 due to the latter being Pakistan Day. “By just being adamant, you will hurt yourself and also force me to en-

HBL to deploy POS terminals at NADRA centres

force the law,” the minister warned.

“But I assure you no one will resort to any measure if you do not take the law into your hands.”

Ahmed further said the 400-bed Mother and Child Hospital in Rawalpindi will finally be inaugurated on February 28, Radio Pakistan reported.

The project worth Rs2.5 billion was launched in 2005 in the tenure of then-

president Pervez Musharraf. The thenprime minister Shaukat Aziz laid the foundation on April 8. The project was the brainchild of Ahmed who was Minister for Railways at the time.

Ahmed said the Leh Nullah project has been okayed by the executive committee of the National Economic Council (NEC), expressing hope it’d, too, be completed soon.

Peshawar business community protests against suspension of gas to industries PESHAWAR

ISLAMABAD

AZIZ BuNERI

PRESS RElEASE

National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has awarded the mandate for the deployment of Point-of-Sales (POS) terminals to HBL for the acceptance of credit and debit cards at NADRA Centers across the country.

These POS terminals are being deployed at all NADRA Centers on the directives and recommendation of Government of Pakistan (GoP) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

An agreement in this regard was signed between NADRA Chairman Tariq Malik and HBL President and CEO Muhammad Aurangzeb. Senior officials from both the organizations were also present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion NADRA chairman said that installing POS terminals would allow payment through debit and credit cards.

NADRA Centers across the country have a massive public footfall every day and digitalizing payment systems would allow the citizens to have multiple payment options, offering them an easy and secure mode of payment while pivoting towards a Digital Pakistan, he said.

He also stated that adoption of POS Terminals offers accounting efficiency and accuracy. He said that the Nadra Centers will now be accepting more currencies as the applicants are often overseas Pakistanis with foreign bank accounts and payment cards. Through this partnership, HBL will be deploying its POS terminals at all NADRA Centers nationwide. This initiative is pivotal towards improving Pakistan’s digital infrastructure, enabling HBL to play its part in supporting NADRA to digitalize its identification systems at large. It will allow applicants at NADRA to have multiple payment options by offering them ease and convenience of service.

Commenting on the occasion, HBL president and CEO said, “We are delighted to be awarded this mandate. HBL and NADRA have a longstanding relationship, spanning over many years. HBL as the Government of Pakistan’s primary bank, has implemented many strategic programs in partnership with NADRA to bring convenience and ease for the public. This partnership furthers HBL’s strategic priority of promoting digitalization across the country.” NADRA remains a key stakeholder for HBL, as it provides both Verisys and biometric verification systems, allowing banks and other financial institutions to verify the credentials of their clients at the time of account opening and conducting transactions. HBL continues to be the main account/collection bank for NADRA Registration Centers including more than 600 operational accounts opened across various branches of the bank.

Peshawar business community has reacted strongly to the government’s decision of suspending supply of gas to all non-zero rated industries calling it unconstitutional, and demanded that the order in this regard be withdrawn.

In a meeting of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) chaired by President Hasnain Khurshid Ahmad on Wednesday, businessmen said that the suspension will be detrimental to industrial growth especially since industries were still reeling from the effects of Covid-19 pandemic.

SCCI Senior Vice President Imran Khan Mohmand, Vice President Javed Akhtar, Industrialists Association Peshawar (IAP) President Malik Imran Ishaq, former presidents, executive members, and prominent industrialists were present during the meeting.

The meeting discussed the notification from the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) which ordered suspension of gas

supply to all the non-zero rated general industries of Peshawar region from Sunday 0800 hours till Monday 0800 hours each week till improvement of the situation. Hasnain Khurshid said that the SNGPL had ordered the suspension in name of load management for one day per week, which was highly condemnable and unacceptable. The chamber meeting demanded to immediately withdraw the order in the best interest of industries and the economy of the country.

Khalid viewed industries as a crucial sector of the economy which had been adversely affected by restrictions during the pandemic.

He maintained that the industries had yet not fully revived post Covid19 and the government had started implementing an anti-industries policy by suspending gas supply. He added that the move wouldn’t be fruitful for exports and the economy of the country, which will effectively put industries at stake.

On the occasion, the SCCI chief underlined that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was self-sufficient and pro-

duced surplus natural gas. The Article 158-A of the Constitution guaranteed KP the rights to fully utilise its natural resources, he said.

Therefore, the move to suspend gas to industries was an unconstitutional move, he said. The president of the chamber reiterated his resolve to raise the issue at every forum and strongly resist it. He made it clear that if the decision wasn’t withdrawn immediately, they would have no other option but to launch a protest.

“Natural gas and electricity are being used as a lifeline and raw material for industries,” the SCCI chief said. “Industrial growth and production will become stagnant in absence of an uninterrupted supply to industries which would also create unemployment,” he added.

Khurshid asked the government to avoid taking steps detrimental to industries and fulfil its promise of promoting industrialization in the province. He requested the government to ensure uninterrupted gas and electricity supply to industries across the province to keep industries from collapsing completely.

Govt mulls over granting citizenship to foreign investors ISLAMABAD GHulAM ABBAS

The Government of Pakistan (GoP) is considering granting residency/citizenship to those foreigners who bring investment in the country.

According to reliable sources, the idea of granting residency/citizenship to foreign investors was shared in a recent meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, with special focus on Afghan nationals living in Pakistan.

During the meeting, the Board of Investment (BoI) pitched the idea of granting citizenship to Afghani investors in order to attract investment from Afghanistan.

After deliberation the board was asked to consult with relevant stakeholders.

However, a BoI official claimed that the idea was not specific to Afghanistan and encompassed other countries as well adding that the proposal is still at a very early stage and requires deliberation from concerned stakeholders.

The BoI official further added that the Taliban led Afghan government may also prove to be an impediment in the implementation of the proposal since the Afghan government is still to gain international legitimacy.

According to sources, during the meeting chaired by

the prime minister, the BoI was directed to propose a proper mechanism for the practical implementation of this proposal.

“We are working on attracting foreign investors through drafting a long term residency policy. However it is not restricted to Afghan investors and is open for all countries on Business Visa List (BVL) of Pakistan,” said an official spokesperson of BoI while responding to a query.

BoI’s proposal of granting residency to foreign investors is in line with similar actions taken by a number of other countries who offer citizenship/residency to those individuals who make investment above a certain threshold.

Countries like Austria, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Jordan, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and Turkey offer citizenship programs that provide a direct route to citizenship based on investment.

Pakistan hosts over 1.4 million Afghan refugees registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), but many others are not registered.

It is estimated that some 2 million Afghans have been living in Pakistan.

NEWS

05

corporate corner meeting to discuss PSm, Hec matters held

ISLAMABAD: A meeting was held under the joint chairmanship of Federal Minister for Privatisation Mohammedmian Soomro and Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar to discuss matters related to the transaction of PSM and HEC. In the meeting, Federal Secretaries of Privatisation, Power Division, Petroleum Division, Industries and the representatives of the Ministry of Industries & Production, Finance, SSGCL, HEC and Financial Advisors were present. It was briefed that the transaction of Pakistan Steel Mills is at advanced stage along with the status of corporate actions to be completed prior to the revival of PSMC. The major focus was on the availability of utility connections to the newly formed subsidiary of PSMC, its liabilities towards Sui Southern Company and issuance of NOC from Sui Southern Gas Company Limited, which is mandatory for seeking approval for scheme of arrangement (SOA) from SECP. Sui Southern was asked to take up the matter in its Board meeting and issue the requisite NOC so that the process of privatisation/revival of PSM could be completed without hindrance in stipulated time. The matter regarding the extension of the validity of type testing licence for HEC by Power Division was also discussed. The Federal Minister Mohammedmian Soomro said that this extension would incentivize the potential buyer(s) of HEC and also would provide them a ground to start manufacturing the transformers without any break. It was proposed that the subject matter would be taken up with National Transmission & Dispatch Company Limited (NTDC) and after exhausting this option it would be taken to CCoP for clear directions, before the bidding date of HEC. Later on, Federal Minister for Privatisation also chaired a meeting to review the progress in various ongoing transactions. PR

Punjab govt approves cost of rehabilitation and improvement of Saggian road project LAHORE SHAHAB OMER

The Punjab government has approved an increase in the cost of the ‘Rehabilitation and Improvement of Saggian Road’ project, pushing the total cost of the project to Rs340.865 million. According to details, the Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department (HUD&PHED) issued a notification for the increase on December 28, 2021.

The notice stated, “The governor of Punjab is pleased to accord Amended Administrative Approval of the scheme titled ‘Rehabilitation and Improvement of Saggian Road’ at a cost of Rs340.865 million due to the application of first bi-annual MRS Rates, 2022.”

“However, the directions/conditions of original administrative approval of the scheme shall remain the same,” the notice read. “Gestation period of the project is 15 months,” it added. However, according to the officials in Lahore Development Authority (LDA), the authority had sought permission to impose new rates on the construction material of the project and had sent the PC-1 to the Punjab Finance Department for review.

Hotel One to open in Sialkot ISLAMABAD PR

The purpose built 58-room hotel will be strategically placed in the business hub of the city, to help strengthen and further develop the economy of Sialkot.

To redefine the modern travel experience by opening a brand-new Hotel One on Paris Road, Sialkot, Hashoo Group has joined hands with Nizam Sons (Pvt) Ltd and Leather Field (Pvt) Ltd. Hashoo Group is the leading and largest chain of hotels in Pakistan, whereas Nizam Sons (Pvt) Ltd and Leather Field (Pvt) Ltd, are two of the most trusted names in export business. Nizam Sons (Pvt) Ltd and Leather Field (Pvt) Ltd have joined forces to develop Union Tower, as the landmark and icon building for Sialkot, where Hotel One will be launched.

For this, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Hotel One

and Union Tower, on 28th December 2021.

The MoU was signed by Mr. Haseeb Gardezi, Chief Executive Officer, Hotel One

as well as the Chief Operating Officer of Hashoo Group, Hospitality and Education Division, and Mr. Ameen Ahsan, partner

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Union Tower.

At the MoU signing ceremony, Mr. Haseeb A. Gardezi said, “Hotel One is the fastest growing chain of select-service hotels in Pakistan which is contributing to the economy by providing jobs. Along with this, it is also strengthening the tourism infrastructure by providing affordable accommodation. We are pleased to work together with Union Tower, Sialkot, for the opening of the upcoming Hotel One located on Paris Road.

The hotel is sure to offer a comfortable travel experience, a convenient location for domestic and international travellers along with a wide range of facilities.”

He further said, “Our investors have full confidence in Hotel One’s management model and we are also very focused on delivering maximum returns to them which is why in the near future you will Insha Allah find Hotel One in every city of Pakistan.”

Mr. Ameen Ahsan said, “This hotel will be strategically located in the city centre.

Due to its prime location, it will provide easy access as an economic and transit hub of the city. Union Tower will be a 6-storey building with two basements dedicated for parking, three floors will be given to the corporate offices and remaining three floors will be for Hotel One” Mr. Ameen Ahsan also thanked Hashoo Group for the collaboration between the two organisations and mentioned that the hotel will be ready by March 2024.

The upcoming Hotel One will attract both domestic and international guests, offering quality accommodation and services, housing a dining outlet, seating 100 people, and a smart gym. The hotel is designed to help guests feel energised, productive, and at home.

Catering to the business travellers and the community, the hotel will offer meeting space and board rooms, seating 40-90 people, equipped with the latest technology, business services and a dedicated team to deliver seamless experiences.

06-07 Comments - 30th December 2021_Layout 1 12/29/2021 9:47 PM Page 1

Thursday, 30 December, 2021

06 COMMENT

The missing human fibre

PTI loses public support if minibudget passed PM needs confidence vote if it is not

Only education can provide it

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M Imran Khan’s otherwise docile cabinet deferred the approval of Rs360 billion mini-budget for the second time in a week. With the IMF taking up review of the $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Pakistan on January 12, the govt has a short time to put its act together.

The assurance that the mini budget won’t burden the people with new taxes is belied by the fact that it is estimated to slap 17% sales tax on about 140 essential consumable and industrial goods. Prices of milk, cereals, bakery items, meat, chicken, bicycles, cars and mobile phone calls will rise, unleashing another wave of inflation in the country. The inflation Tsunami will go against the PTI in LG elections in Punjab.

After the KP Local Government polls, PTI legislators are scared of rising inflation. Some have criticized their own government for failure to bring down prices. The spiraling cost of living amid stagnating wages and growing unemployment have already eroded much of the political capital of the party and its Prime Minister. PTI’s cabinet ministers cannot ignore public sentiment. The PTI leadership is worried that some of its MnAs might cast vote against the mini budget or abstain during the voting. The government is not confident if all of its allies would support the budget. The PMLQ has already called a special meeting of party legislators to discuss the issue as they too have to face the public in forthcoming LG elections in Punjab Legislation through Ordinance has been the PTI’s favourite practice whenever it wanted to get an unpopular bill passed. It would even get several Ordinances passed in one go whenever it found the opposition napping. Unsure of who would win the general elections in 2023, the IMF wants the Parliament to pass the mini-budget binding whosoever is in power to enforce the budgetary provisions.

In case the government fails to get the mini budget passed, Imran Khan might be required to seek a vote of confidence. If the bill is passed his support base would be further eroded. As the rejection of the bill would affect powerful circles also it might finally be passed while PTI would be held responsible for its devastating economic effects.

Dr FariD a Malik

T

ODAY, the land of the pure is seriously deficient in human fibre. The All-India Muslim League, the founding party of Pakistan, was launched in 1906 at Decca which later moved its headquarters to Lucknow. The Aligarh Muslim University provided the required human resource that remained at the forefront of the movement and then provided the talent to run the state once it came into being. Unfortunately, the decade of the 1980s experienced a massive leap backwards. The bureaucracy experienced a major decline after the retirement of the founding generation. In order to neutralize the political gains of the 1970s, the partyless elections in 1985 proved to be deadly.

Ideology was knocked out of the political arena to be replaced with vested personal interests which resulted in massive corruption.

It is the human fibre that makes the real difference. Historically speaking, it was Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib who guided Sir Syed Ahmed Khan to focus on modern education. There was a brief period of overlap after the War of Independence in 1857 between the two great men of the Indian Subcontinent.

Sir Syed, after retiring from the East India Company at the age of 55, wrote a book to raise the morale of his community about the Muslim Heritage of Delhi with focus on the Historical Buildings built by them.

When Mirza Sahib was requested to write the foreword, he responded with a forewarning. Ghalib’s advice was, “Educate them, build schools and colleges to bring them into the mainstream. “

Omicron invasion Just enough time to prepare

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HE confirmation by the national Institute of Health that more than 70 cases of the Omicron variant of the covid-19 have been confirmed should end that sense of security, which in turn gave rise to the false sense of safety, which has afflicted our policymakers in the face of the covid-19 pandemic. The proliferation of cases should make it clear that the new variant has not only arrived, but is poised to spread. It has been said that the wave will hit in late January. That does not leave room for complacency.

However, it does mean that there is some time now, inadequate though it may be, to ramp up preparedness to combat the expected fourth wave. Instead of selfcongratulatory victory laps, it is time to speed up the training to members of the medical community, and to other healthcare professionals, about how to handle the disease in all its aspects. Apart from a general preparation of special health facilities, including plans to convert large closed spaces, such as exhibition centres, into isolation wards, there must be a special effort to procure required quantities of oxygen. The country was spared some of the worst aspects of the delta variant, which ran amok all over the world, but especially in our Eastern neighbour. That does not mean that the omicron variant will not do its worst. There is as yet no certainty about how bad it is going to be, but the safest solution is to assume that it will be a kind of souped-up delta variant.

It is good to see there has been no let-up in the vaccination programme, for while it seems the omicron variant is not invulnerable to the vaccine, it does afford a degree of protection, though a booster shot has been recommended. While Pakistan has taken a number of measures, such as banning travel from the set of countries where it originated, its rapid spread in Europe and to the Americas means that to think it could be avoided means to live a fool’s paradise. The fifth wave of the covid-19 pandemic will be soon upon us, and there should be no mistake about dealing with it adequately, mini missing both spread and deaths.

The situation can get really bad kHaDiJa Bilal

I

n October when the world was distressed about the next wave of coronavirus and were highly concerned about the intensity of the next wave, South African laboratory technicians all of a sudden came across a coronavirus sample that was “seemingly unusual”, which led to the discovery of a new Corona variant, which South African scientists had named “Omicron”. More than 50 mutations were found in the Omicron sample, a few of which resembles the previously discovered coronavirus variants. The discovery of this newly found variant led to a gradual increase in the cases of covid19 in South Africa, and it is said that such rapid increase in Omicron cases might be due to its high mutation sequence which now has raised major concerns about this never-ending pandemic.

It wasn’t long before new Omicron cases began to be reported all across the globe, with most of these infections said to be transmitted via travelling. 90 percent of the confirmed Omicron cases in Europe are said to have been transmitted through travelling from South Africa. Though many reported Omicron cases raised suspicions on the exact origin of Omicron, as many reported Omicron cases around the globe didn’t really travel through or from South Africa, while a few of those reported cases lack any travel history.

With the gradual increase in Omicron cases the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently warned about the rapid spreading of “Omicron” the new coronavirus variant and had claimed it was spreading four times faster than the delta variant.

Omicron is expected to last longer and hence be more transmissible than the delta variant.

According to a new study, Omicron is a crucial threat to vaccinated persons and recovered ovid-19 patients. Omicron, just like the coronavirus, evades the immune defence mechanism. Through the administration of vaccines, the coronavirus was prevented from weakening the immune system, but recently the researchers have found out that Omicron “changes the shape of its surface proteins” and ends up entering the immunised cell rather easily, which in this condition somehow makes it unique and widespread. Still

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

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san Shah was not shortlisted to head the Government College University where he had taught Physics. He filed a writ petition which was not decided during the term of the selected VC. He applied afresh when the post was re-advertiised, but this time he was selected and headed the institution for a single term before returning back to teaching.

After about a decade, finally a member with a doctoral degree was inducted into the committee. The quality of research has declined over a period of time with lack of academia-industry linkages. Finally the Higher Education Commission (HEC) launched a programme called ORIC (Organization for Research Innovation and Commercialization), but with limited success. Dr Tariq Banuri, Chairman HEC, decided to review the research output of the heavily funded programmes. His term was shortened and he was removed from the position. He has challenged his illegal removal in the Sindh High Court where decision has been reserved.

Merit is an essential ingredient for human fibre strengthening. Its absence promotes mediocrity. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan can only march forward with able ‘Change Managers’ who understand the technological challenges of the 21st century. It was Ghalib, Sir Syed, Iqbal and the Quaid-e-Azam who delivered a homeland for the Muslims of the Indian Subcontinent. now we need a roadmap for the future which has been missing for the last several decades.

Education is a basic building block. The crusade was launched through a single university in Aligarh, now we have hundreds of them spread all over the republic, but unfortunately the combined output does not meet the challenges faced by the nation. A serious review of, and reflection on, the dire situation is called for.

Education is a basic building block. The crusade was launched through a single university in Aligarh, now we have hundreds of them spread all over the republic, but unfortunately the combined output does not meet the challenges faced by the nation. A serious review of, and reflection on, the dire situation is called for.

Omicron: a new global threat

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Syed Sahib responded by opening the MAO (Mohammadian Anglo Oriental ) School followed by College and then the Aligarh Muslim University which prepared the generation that not only won freedom but also consolidated it by building vital institutions. The Pundits had given six months to the new country before its fall and return into the Indian Union. Lord Mountbatten wanted to be the Governor-General of both the new states which Jinnah declined, deciding to pursue an independent course. Human Development remained high on the agenda till the first Martial Law in October 1958 when it was replaced with ‘ Empire Building ‘.

At the time of Partition, the new nation started from scratch. The north Western part of the massive Indian Railway network was handed over to Pakistan. A handful of officers were tasked to run the operation.

Tariff calculations were done mostly by the Hindu officers who kept the calculations secret. A clandestine operation was launched through the night watchmen, who were mostly Pathan Muslims, to get the required information.

Then there were very few engine drivers and technicians to keep the trains rolling. It was through the dedication and hard work of the founders that Pakistan Railways (PR) provided inexpensive transportation to the people. PR remained profitable till the decade of the 1970s when it was decided to hand over the freight business to the newly formed entity, the national Logistics Cell (nLC).

Since then, PR has been in the red.

Sir Syed brought spirit to education which has now faded into very lucrative business. Higher seats of learning are in total disarray. A few years back I wanted to apply for the post of Vice Chancellor of Punjab University, my Alma Mater. Before formally applying, I checked on the credentials of the Search Committee. Though the minimum requirement for the post of VC is PhD, yet there was not single person in the selection team with this qualification. Despite protests the same people selected the VCs and Principals of all public sector institutions. Professor Has-

many countries have begun booster campaigns to increase the effectiveness against Omicron and to prevent severe conditions developing.

Omicron can clearly be seen as a new challenge for the world as its severity and treatment is still unknown. In such a short time more than 80 countries are now reported infected with Omicron. While Europe is reporting its daily increasing cases of omicron, the same situation the world has dealt with before.

Due to this rapid spread of Omicron and its sudden outbreak around the globe thousands of flights have been cancelled, many sports events have been cancelled, limitations on the number of people in private parties are imposed, many new Year and Christmas celebrations are also cancelled, and many countries are now enforcing the taking of booster doses of vaccine plus with other two complete doses of coronavirus vaccine, and lockdowns have been implemented again. Many people are protesting against these restrictions in their respective states, refusing to follow any of these rules but respective governments haven’t stepped back from their initiatives either.

Pakistan hasn’t been left far behind in Omicron discovery as Pakistan has also confirmed its first omicron case in Karachi whereas there were six more suspected omicron cases. Pakistan’s officials claimed that the first omicron case reported was an unvaccinated woman who had recently travelled from England, and hence requested the public to get vaccinated as soon as possible but here rise several questions, firstly that no official at the British and Pakistan airport checked her vaccination certificate neither she had a corona test at the respective airports, secondly whether the “vaccinated persons” are really at risk as British researchers told us before or Omicron would affect those persons rather mildly than did the original Coronavirus? The answers to these questions are completely unknown.

Pakistani officials are saying that there’s no need to panic at the very “Omicron situation” as 35 percent of population has already been vaccinated, moreover

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The writer is ex-Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation. He can be contacted at: fmaliks@hotmail.com.

Pakistan has not only begun the booster doses campaign for the people above the age of 30 and has made vaccines mandatory for the public, but has also banned travelling from six African countries including South Africa, Ireland, Slovenia, netherlands, Zimbabwe, Croatia, Hungary and Poland.

Doubtlessly a large proportion of the world’s population is now vulnerable to this newly found coronavirus variant and luckily Pakistan still hasn’t faced the dire consequences of this situation or the government is trying to hide the exact ratio of the omicron cases in Pakistan so the public may not “panic”. Let’s not forget when the government announced the outbreak of coronavirus in Pakistan, the government really suffered from convincing the public to actually make them follow SOPs. The majority of the population called this virus a “government’s strategy” while a few of them called it a “fake propaganda”. People only realized it was an “authentic situation” only when they themselves faced that dire truth.

What role the public would play when the Pakistani government would announce the “actual” number of omicron cases in our country? As the public have totally forgotten the SOPS and are utterly convinced that the coronavirus pandemic has been ended completely, maybe the public is still unaware of the beginning of a “new era of pandemic” or the severity of Omicron. As the reported cases around Europe have even crossed the thousand count and are constantly increasing on a daily basis whereas India has reported above 500 cases of Omicron. Why is Pakistan still safe from this variant? Are we really lucky enough or are we masters at hiding the exact figure?

We still are entirely unaware of what Omicron would do to us in the next few months. W5ill it be the same as it was at the time when this pandemic began or will it be not infectious as coronavirus and its variants. Even if Omicron proves to be slightly less infectious than the delta variant, the situation would be just similar to what it was before. Hospitals will be filled again and lockdowns will be enforced again.

Whatever the situation may be, the government and public should be prepared for the worst.

We still are entirely unaware of what Omicron would do to us in the next few months.

W5ill it be the same as it was at the time when this pandemic began or will it be not infectious as coronavirus and its variants.

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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The writer is a freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

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Thursday, 30 December, 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

Rivers from India

Reviving SAARC as a regional platform SAARC has drifted away from its true purpose PatHik Hasan

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AARC Secretary-general Esala Ruwan Weerakoon paid a visit to Pakistan recently, and met Prime Minister Imran Khan in his office on December 24. Mr Khan expressed hope of hosting the SAARC Summit in Pakistan when the artificial obstacle created in its way would be removed, during the meeting with the secretary-general.

It is pertinent to mention that SAARC is inactive due to the Indo-Pak dispute now. Pakistan. But this time, all regional stakeholders including Pakistan and India should work together to revive SAARC for the maximization of regional interests. India should understand the current regional issues and think pragmatically regarding the revival of SAARC. Pakistan has to engage itself more with others diplomatically.

The official journey of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) started in 1985 when seven states, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, formed this regional platform. Later in 2007, Afghanistan joined SAARC. Sri Lanka and the Maldives are island states. On the other hand, nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan are landlocked countries. .Only India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have both extensive land borders as well as coastlines.

Realising the progress other regions have made by increasing regional communication and cooperation, the same development of this region is possible if the communication and cooperation between the states in this region can be increased to the desired level.

The EU, ASEAn, GCC and other regional blocs have achieved prosperity by forming regional alliances. Citizens of these regional alliances, excluding some member states, are not required to obtain visas if they wish to travel from one allied country to another. Citizens of these regions can travel from one country to another by road, rail, sea or air without any hindrance in their respective territories. Even citizens of these regions can travel from one country to another in private cars. These regional alliances give more importance to regional trade in the development of their respective regions.

This accelerated the development of these regions to increase regional trade.

After the establishment of SAARC, it was hoped that citizens of one country would be able to travel to another without a visa. One country would provide transit facilities to another country as required, including moving from one country to another by private car. But that goal has not yet been achieved. And, the prospect of achieving that in the near future is not very bright.

The main objective of establishing SAARC was to make the region one of the most prosperous in the world by enhancing regional connectivity and cooperation. But, almost 30 years after the establishment, it is clear that there is still a long way to go to achieve that goal.

India is the largest of the SAARC countries in terms of size and population. The second place belongs to Pakistan. Before the establishment of SAARC, India and Pakistan were engaged in three all-out wars. The state of

Bangladesh was born in 1971 in Pakistan through a hardcore struggle. Perhaps, this background has also blocked the region from moving ahead as much as other blocs.

The SAARC region is home to more than a quarter of the world’s population. This region is the most populous region in the world. In recent times, the countries of the region have made great strides in agriculture. While the industrial development of the region is promising, there is a need to harness the potential for further development along the way. The scope of regional trade between SAARC countries is still limited.

If this scope is expanded, the SAARC member states will be able to achieve unprecedented development within their own borders.

Among the SAARC countries, nepal and Bhutan are bounded on the east, west and south

by India. Although the two states are bordered

by China on the north side, their entire border is rugged. So, communication in that direction is very impenetrable. nepal and Bhutan are completely dependent on India for foreign trade. Although these two countries have long demanded transit facilities from the regional structure of SAARC through the two seaports of Chittagong and Mongla in Bangladesh, the slow pace of implementation has tarnished the spirit of SAARC. The seven states of eastern India are called the Seven Sisters. As these seven states are surrounded by other states, these states maintain communication with the mainland of India through a narrow route called the Chicken neck Corridor. Communication through this route is time-consuming and expensive. India is interested in establishing transit by road, rail and waterways with these seven states through Bangladesh. Although the transit is open by water, it is not fruitful throughout the year due to the low navigability of the rivers in different places.

On the other hand, Bangladesh is on the way to develop the infrastructure required for transit by road and rail for the usage of transit.

Bangladesh would like to be a transit hub between South Asia and South-East Asia.

Bangladesh is focusing on regional connectivity more. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is liberal in this regard. She always urges regional countries to be connected. She wants to make way for nepal and Bhutan to use Bangladeshi seaports, such as Chattogram, Mangla, and Payra ports, and Saidpur airport in nilphamari.

There is the Afghan crisis. A platform of regional countries like SAARC is needed to address such problems. We saw the recent ‘OIC Moot’ in Islamabad hosted by Pakistan. All participants agreed to work together to avert the looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

OIC as a platform of Muslim countries is successful in this regard. now, regional countries in the South Asian region should understand that Afghanistan is also a regional country. It is the responsibility of all South Asian countries to address the common regional problem such as the Afghan humanitarian catastrophe or the Rohingya refugee crisis. Obviously, SAARC can be an effective tool and platform for ensuring that. So, it’s time to revive the dormant SAARC for ensuring the common regional problem is tackled.

Meanwhile, 54 common rivers flowing

through India fall into the Bay of Bengal through Bangladesh. By unilaterally withdrawing water from most of these rivers upstream, India is using it to maintain the navigability of inland rivers, including hydropower generation and irrigation in agriculture. Bangladesh has faced an unfavourable situation due to the unilateral withdrawal of water by India and the consciousness of SAARC never allows one neighbouring state to create an unfavourable environment for another neighbour. India should work together with Bangladesh in regard to better regional benefits.

India should complete a fair Teesta agreement with Bangladesh soon to maximise the mutual benefit. As a big fish in this region, it has some accountability towards others.

Disregarding and ignoring the spirit of SAARC as other SAARC member states are smaller than it, India has always shown a great vicious attitude towards other SAARC member states. Due to this behaviour of India, SAARC is failing to reach its goal on the one hand and the political stability of other SAARC member states is also being endangered on the other hand.

Although India has road and rail links with Bangladesh and Pakistan, trade is being conducted through transhipment due to the lack of transit facilities. Communication is not very easy as the citizens of these three countries also need a visa to communicate. It is as easy as possible for an Indian citizen to travel to these two countries by obtaining a visa from Bangladesh and Pakistan; it is not easy for the citizens of these two countries to travel to that country by getting an Indian visa.

At present, the trade between nepal and Bhutan with Bangladesh is being handled through transhipment in the absence of transit.

As a result, the import and export expenditure of both the states are increased.

India’s economy is growing rapidly.

Bangladesh’s economy is also booming day by day. Besides, the economies of all other countries in South Asia are also developing. SAARC can play its role in creating economic opportunities in member countries. Under the scope of regional cooperation, the following provisions should be introduced to reap benefits from this platform: n Transit facilities between SAARC countries are opened n The visa system is abolished n The currency of one country is easily exchanged in another country or common currency is introduced n Travel facility from one country to another in a private car is introduced n The flow of electricity, gas, oil and water from one country to another is made easily available n The same SIM card can be used to talk from one country to another easily and cheaply n The scope of trade is maximized n The priority should be the welfare of the people of the region, economic integration and regional prosperity.

This requires the SAARC countries to show the highest level of friendship and harmony towards each other and to make the best use of opportunities and cooperation. All member states should revive the SAARC as a regional platform.

The writer can be pathikhasan1141@gmail.com

reached

at

THE PM was given a briefing a few days ago about the water level in rivers and was told that India is building dams to divert the water flow, while Pakistan has failed to do so and will suffer from water shortages.

But strangely they forgot to also inform the PM that to be able to counter India’s scheme of diverting water, Pakistan does not need dams, instead, Pakistan needs proof of water diversion. This proof can only come from Telemetry systems to measure water flow in rivers coming from India. They also conveniently forgot to mention that the telemetry systems were decided to be installed on these rivers in 2007, but due to unknown or fake reasons the project was delayed.

During this time telemetry systems on mountain rivers in KP and other River canals of KP have been installed and are operational.

Telemetry systems on Punjab and Sindh canals have also been installed and operational.

Even after PM has ordered the installation of telemetry measuring systems on rivers coming from India on priority, the project is still in the planning stages and WAPDA claims that the project will take 30 months to complete. Such a long time will give enough time to India to do their damage.

I, therefore, request the PM to take over this project himself and ensure that telemetry systems are installed within the year. He can directly request help from Japanese or EU companies. The PM should also question those who have been delaying this most important project.

Once the telemetry river monitoring systems are installed then water flow from India should be monitored and any shortfalls should be contested legally. Similarly, help from other nations and organisations can be taken to increase pressure on India to stop stealing our water and even to sue India for ecological and environmental damage caused by artificial water shortages. Water shortage can be the reason for the next war between our two nuclear nations.

SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER P ENGR PESHAwAR

Voltaire’s enlightenment THERE have been a lot of philosophers in the history of western philosophy who became the epitome of intelligence and whose words flowed like a river of jewels. nonetheless, no one reached the calibre of Voltaire. He was born in France and his philosophical thoughts paved the way for the great French revolution in 1789 which, nevertheless, laid the foundation of modern fundamental rights of man. His personality was an amalgamation of sophistication and extravagance.

Once, he said for his contemporary philosopher Rousseau, “I disagree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say till my death.” His statement speaks volumes of his advocacy for liberalism in religion and politics.

He separated church from state and unintentionally gave birth to western secularism which resultantly created a spark of conflict between him and the religious authorities of that time. This pragmatic philosopher doubted the existence of God on one hand and necessitated it for social harmony on the other hand. He writes in his “Dialogue on Metaphysics” that there are many difficulties in accepting that God is present but this rejection can shackle the roots of society. He also writes in a letter to his friend Friedrich.

“The concept of God should be retained; human society needs it. If God isn’t there, it needs to be created.” His intelligence can be gauged from the words of Rousseau, “If it comes to the capabilities of Voltaire, a whole life can be spent in his feet.” His sharpness earned him the luxuries of life and the supporters for whom he once said, “May God defend me from my friends. I can defend myself from my enemies.”

When he became old and returned to his homeland after the exile, a young boy came to kiss his forehead to which he replied, “Life seems to be kissing the face of death.

On his burial, the people were shouting, “Voltaire showed us a way to freedom.” His enlightened thoughts urged the people to stand up for their rights and fight against injustice. His stand on liberty and civil rights altered the socio-politico-cultural conditions of that time irreversibly. At the time of the French Revolution, Louis XVI said, “Voltaire and Rousseau destroyed France.”

AwAIS AHMED LAHoRE

Driving license test THERE are three driving license branches operating in metropolis and online pre-appointment services are offered for getting driving license.

After getting online appointment a person has to visit his selected branch with original CnIC. If a person is already holding leaner driving license, he is supposed to be issued permanent driving license after going through MCQs online test which is consisted of 25 questions out of which 18 answers must have to be correct to proceed further i.e. physical driving test.

There is no chance of tampering this online MCQs test as applicant tick the correct answer by himself in 20 minutes time and submit the same as he completes the test. Result is shown as the submission is made. This test is about meaning of different traffic signs.

The ultimate test is the physical driving test. A person is asked to park his vehicle in a square open from one side only, by reversing the vehicle without touching the obstacles in 10 minutes time approximately.

This test is hardly passed by anyone as the size of the square is quite narrow according to the vehicle. If anyone somehow succeeds to park the vehicle successfully, different objections are raised by traffic police personnel present there to witness the test such as the vehicle is not parked straight in direction or not at the distance of one kilometre away from the left side obstacles.

Traffic police personnel should show the applicant how the vehicle can be parked in such a narrow square before asking the applicant to do the same. There would be hardly anyone who gets the license on merit while those who greases the palm get the license without asking to give any test.

FAISAL ANSAR KARAcHI

08 WORLD VIEW 30th December 21_Layout 1 12/29/2021 10:17 PM Page 1

Thursday, 30 December, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

iran wanTs a susTainaBle nuclear deal THANKS TO TRUMP’S ILL-ADVISED MAXIMUM-PRESSURE STRATEGY, IRAN IS CLOSE TO BEING A NUCLEAR-WEAPON THRESHOLD STATE. THIS IS EASILY REVERSED - BUT ONLY IF IRAN FEELS IT CAN TRUST THE WEST Middle easT eye Seyed HoSSein MouSavian

T

HE eighth round of negotiations between Iran and the five world powers that are trying to revive the tattered 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), resumed on Monday.

At the end of the previous round of talks, Iran’s chief negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, said that “good progress” had been made.

“Initially, the European participants [France, Germany and the United Kingdom] rejected Iran’s proposals, but they finally agreed to continue the talks based on the Iranian draft,” he stated.

For their part, European negotiators stated that there had been some technical progress on the last day of negotiations, but that this only took them nearer to where the talks stood in June.

“It’s not going well in the sense that we do not yet have a pathway back into the JCPOA. What is going well is unity with our European partners, greater alignment with China and Russia,” said US National Secu-

rity Adviser Jake Sullivan.

The reality is that the actions of the Donald Trump administration in 2018 - in leaving the JCPOA and making rejoining politically difficult for the US - are the major source of the complications in the current efforts to revive the JCPOA. Moreover, the circumstances have changed significantly compared with 2015, when negotiations on the JCPOA concluded.

FEROCIOUS ECONOMIC SANCTIONS: In 2015, the world powers achieved the most comprehensive nuclear non-proliferation agreement ever reached with Iran.

When Trump withdrew while Iran was in full compliance with the deal, he also imposed on Iran the most ferocious economic sanctions.

Because these included secondary sanctions on any company doing business with Iran, the other parties to the agreement were also largely prevented from living up to their commitments under UN Security Council resolution 2231 to honour normal trade relations with Iran. Under the JCPOA, the EU and the US were obliged to refrain from any policy specifically intended to directly and adversely affect the normalisation of trade and economic relations with Iran.

The main lesson that the Iranian people and their rulers have drawn from their JCPOA experience is that Iran can never trust the US. Even if the US signs an inter-

national accord reinforced by the UN Security Council, there is no guarantee that the US would abide by its side of the bargain.

Seen from this perspective, and given the enormous losses to Iran’s economy inflicted by US secondary sanctions - estimated at $1tn - it is understandable that Iran is asking for assurances from the western parties to the JCPOA that the Trump sanctions will be scrapped permanently, in return for Iran returning to compliance with the deal.

Despite Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA in May 2018, Iran fully implemented its commitments under the deal until May 2019, hoping that the EU, Russia and China would create a mechanism to bypass the continuing US secondary sanctions so that Iran would receive the economic benefits of the agreement.

When that didn’t happen, Iran too began to break its JCPOA commitments by deploying advanced centrifuges and increasing, in steps, the enrichment level of its uranium from the JCPOA limit of 3.67 percent U-235 to 60 percent, which is weapons-usable if not weapons-grade.

Behrouz Kamalvandi, of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), stated: “We have more than 210kgs of uranium enriched to 20 percent, and we’ve produced 25kgs at 60 percent, a level that no country apart from those with nuclear arms are able to produce.”

THREE SCENARIOS: Thanks to Trump’s ill-advised maximum-pressure strategy, Iran is now close to being a nuclear-weapon threshold state with enough highly enriched uranium to make at least one nuclear warhead. If the JCPOA can be revived, this situation could be quickly reversed - perhaps within a month or two.

Blending down or exporting the 60 percent and 20 percent enriched uranium stockpiles and uninstalling the advanced centrifuges could be done quickly.

Iran is reluctant to take these actions, however, fearing that the US could impose the same sanctions again under the umbrella of terrorism, human rights, missiles or regional issues. If sanctions related to these issues were imposed, they could kill all the economic opportunities the JCPOA creates for Iran. That’s why Iran wants a sustainable JCPOA. Three scenarios can be envisioned going forward.

The first is what many Israeli officials are advocating: a US military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities in case of a failure to restore the JCPOA. I believe that this is a bluff to put more pressure on Iran. The US is in no mood to launch a new war in the Middle East.

The second scenario, if the effort to restore the JCPOA fails, is a continuation of Trump’s failed strategy of maximum pressure: namely, full-blown economic, political and cyber wars, with sabotage including continuing Israeli covert attacks on Iran’s

nuclear facilities and assassinations of its nuclear scientists. In this scenario, the US and Europe would likely push for an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors’ resolution against Iran.

Iran would likely respond by withdrawing from the JCPOA. If the US and Europe then referred Iran’s case to the UN Security Council to revive the six resolutions imposed on Iran during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s presidency, Iran would likely join North Korea in withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The third scenario, and the most rational, would be to revive the JCPOA through diplomacy. Here, an interesting distinction must be made. While the Trump administration tore down the JCPOA as Barack Obama’s legacy, Iran’s new president, Ebrahim Raisi - although an opponent of former President Hassan Rouhani, who presided over the negotiation of the deal - is seeking to revive it.

In summary, the only way out of this crisis is for the US to lift the economic sanctions with which it has been strangling Iran and ensure sustainability of the deal. If it does, Iran, for its part will fully implement its commitments under the JCPOA permanently.

Seyed Hossein Mousavian is Middle East Security and Nuclear Policy Specialist at Princeton University, and a former Chief of Iran’s National Security Foreign Relations Committee.

is there really no alternative to BJp & Modi?

The haTe propagandisTs

“THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE” IS JUST A EUPHEMISM, A DIFFERENT WAY OF SAYING “WE ARE JUST FINE WITH COMMUNAL POISON AND AUTHORITARIAN REPRESSION.” IF YOU SAY “THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE” WHEN THE CURRENT COURSE IS HEADING TOWARDS DISASTER, YOU ARE NOT DESCRIBING A REALITY

ACT STRICTLY AGAINST RELIGIOUS CONCLAVE SPEAKERS

indian express PrataP BHanu MeHta

e

vEN as the wheels are coming off the Republic of India, conversations in polite and not-sopolite circles now have a refrain that is the surest sign of an impoverished democracy. Whenever the topic of the BJP and Narendra Modi’s future comes up, the refrain is: “There is no alternative.” Some might concede to a few chinks in his armour, and are willing to acknowledge that the BJP might struggle in some state-level elections.

But this is quickly followed up with the chorus, “But at the national level there is no alternative.” It is almost as if the conversation is like a bad nursery rhyme that goes something like this: The prime minister is sowing the seeds of division, protecting poisonous speech, the coarsening of civil society and unleashing the furies of hate. This alone would disqualify him. But the refrain goes, “There is no alternative”.

There was a prime minister who kissed the floor of Parliament. It turned out to be the kiss of death for parliamentary democracy. But the refrain goes,

“There is no alternative.”

There was a prime minister who promised strong national security. But the result was the loss of territorial access, being tied down on the land border and the prospect of a two-front war. So confident is the nation that even a parliamentary question on China was disallowed. Yet the refrain goes, “There is no alternative.”

There was a prime minister who promised strong internal security. Indeed this goal was achieved. Now that the Missionaries of Charity, human rights activists, environmental advocates, assorted journalists and writers can be hounded, we know the nation is safe. Did we not tell you, “There is no alternative”?

There was a prime minister who promised to secure our border states. Yet for the first time in more than a decade, by the government’s own admission, the bogey of violence in Punjab has reared its head, the gains of peace are being rolled back in Northeast, and the deepening alienation and repression in Indian Occupied Kashmir continues. But the chorus rises, “We have no alternative.”

There was a prime minister who made the stock markets rise. Like every government in the last 20 years, his government has also done a couple of schemes well. Perhaps the top 10 per cent of the population really flourished. But we are still not at a trend growth rate of eight per cent of the 2003-2009 period, youth unemployment is rising, the fall in poverty levels is arrested, inequality and deprivation are rising, exports are performing modestly, and wholesale inflation spiked to 14.3 per cent in November, the highest since 1991. But even after seven years, this must be the fault of the previous government, or the US Fed. You see, “There is really no alternative.”

There was a prime minister who promised you will see less corruption.

Even as capital concentration rises, norms governing electoral finance regress, the machinery of the state is used to send a signal that some capital is more equal than others, so long as they bow their head to the right ideology. Perhaps, you indeed see less corruption. The state is so efficient that it will not let you see it or even talk about it. That is why the refrain goes, “There is no alternative”.

And on it goes. Every single institution has been decimated. But you see, “There is no alternative.” Instead of the moral and spiritual regeneration of Hinduism, you are getting the venting of its dark and crass communal impulses. But still, “There is no alternative.” Forget official circles. The broader prestige of India’s democracy, its culture and hopes for its future are at their lowest ebb in the last two decades. But the Ribbentrops of the establishment can convince the world otherwise. Perhaps they have even convinced our own leader that the more you beat up on your own people, the more your global stock will rise. Truly, “There is no alternative.” The state makes everyone feel so secure: It can snoop on everyone, threaten anyone, and control the information order. “But But But”, the chorus still rings out, “There is no alternative.”

Like all refrains, this “There is no alternative” needs to be decoded. It can be readily admitted that some citizens may have received benefits or been beneficiaries of schemes. But the attribution of performance to this government far exceeds its actual achievement. Even if we concede success in some areas, that success pales in front of the litany of foundational crises facing the republic.

The “There is no alternative” chorus is helped by the conduct of the Opposition. The Congress is unable to shed the baggage of its past mistakes. Many Opposition state governments are not ex-

actly models of institutional probity or principled defenders of liberal and democratic values. But what hurts the Opposition most is this duality. On the one hand, it wants to say that the Republic of India is facing an existential crisis. On the other hand, it is not acting as if there is an existential crisis for the republic. It is not uniting around the agenda of saving the republic. Its passions are spent on the scraps of internal infighting. The old guard is not letting new faces emerge. But even if we concede all this, the idea that there is no alternative is preposterous.

This idea is premised on an immense amnesia about recent history: The workability of coalition politics, the complexities of reform, and the delicate capillaries that hold this country together.

If nothing else, in a democracy facing both deep communalism and repression, political competition and a little fragmentation of power is by itself the alternative.

Not each constituent of the Opposition needs to be fully virtuous for less concentration of power and more competition to make democracy secure.

So one has to wonder what lies behind this pervasive refrain. “There is no alternative.” It is likely that this refrain is a symptom of three things: An aestheticisation of politics that is trapping India’s elites in a land of unreality, refusing to acknowledge dangers in plain sight.

There is perhaps a will to simplification, a suspension of thought, in the face of hero worship. Or perhaps, “There is no alternative” is just a euphemism, a different way of saying “We are just fine with communal poison and authoritarian repression.” If you say “There is no alternative” when the current course is heading towards disaster, you are not describing a reality. You are saying you hate democracy, for a democracy in which “There is no alternative” is already dead.

Tribune, india Shameful is too mild a word for the call for genocide and the outrageous, incendiary hate speeches delivered at a conclave of Hindu religious leaders in Haridwar. A line has been crossed, and nothing short of employing the full force of the law of the land would suffice to uphold the Constitution, and all that the nation stands for. Where exemplary action was required, the reluctance shown by the Uttarakhand police is no less disturbing than the offensive and inflammatory themes that marked the proceedings of the gathering. Where outright condemnation was required from the highest levels of leadership, the silence sends out a message that doesn’t inspire confidence.

Every government of the day is cognisant of the capacity of the fringe to manufacture extreme viewpoints, but what any public display or extrapolation of such a rabid thought process would result in is made known to it in no uncertain terms too. For the past several years, however, the patronage to the communal rabblerousers has not been hidden. A hate propaganda that feeds on imaginary fears has been encouraged to flourish, right under the nose of the law and order machinery. The outcome is the audacious and shocking videos from the controversial event, where the speakers advocated a call to arms against the minorities and outdid each other in spewing venom.

Allowing these offenders, with a track record of provocative speeches, to get away with open incitement to violence and hatred would amount to a tacit approval, and only embolden the likes of them.

Nothing could be more despicable.

Strictest action against those who incite violence is what the law calls for, and what is expected. Hate and sectarian tendencies cannot be allowed to win. For the police, showing more resolve should be a matter of priority, especially when they do not think twice before invoking serious charges against a comedian or a satirist.

Thursday, 30 December, 2021 | KARACHI

NEWS

corporate corner TCL holds briefing session “A Corporate Briefing Session by Treet Corporation Limited (TCL) took place on 21st December 2021 via online meeting where company representative apprised notable financial analysts and investors about TCL’s financial performance in the year ended 2021 and the future outlook of the company. Mr. Syed Sheharyar Ali – Group CSO & Executive Director of Treet Group attended the corporate briefing session and Mr. Mohtashim Aftab CFO Treet Group briefed the attendees about the company’s financial performance. The key take-outs of the session are as follows. In FY21, TCL posted consolidated Net Sales of PKR 14.2bn (FY 2020 Rs. 11.11bn) and a PAT of PKR 547.88mn (FY 2020 Rs. 2.65bn loss after-tax). In terms of its divisions, the highest contribution of 53% to the net sales was the Blades segment which posted PKR 7.6bn net sales with an increase of 25.4% YoY. Battery division was the second biggest contributor with net sales of PKR 3.6bn up by 62.90% YoY followed by corrugation division which brought net sales of 1.74bn up by 16.93% YoY. Moving forward, management stated deleveraging Treet Group is currently the main aim in an environment of increasing interest rates. Regarding this, the company CFO said it is in process of reprofiling short-term debt (Partially) into long-term debts to deal with the issue. The company is resuming the construction of the new facility of Renacon Pharma at FIEDMC and aims to spin off the battery segment from Modaraba into a separate company.” P r

EFU Life’s web series Humrahi publishes in ‘Essentials of Modern Marketing’

EFU Life Assurance Limited, the leading private life insurance provider in the country, proudly announces the publication of Humrahi Digital web-series in ‘Essentials of Modern Marketing’ by Kotler Impact Inc. (Founded by Prof. Philip Kotler). EFU Life is the only Insurance Company to have achieved this recognition. Essentials of Modern Marketing (EOMM) is authored by the world’s leading marketing gurus, including the father of modern marketing, Prof. Philip Kotler and incorporates 16 case studies of leading local companies and brands in its inaugural edition. EFU Life launched ‘Humrahi’ on Digital, with a targeted approach to reach its audience to change the perception of life insurance amongst the millennials through an unconventional message of life planning, and with the key objective of positioning it as a smart choice for savings and future planning. This is the 6th recognition for ‘Humrahi’ after winning the Gold and Silver Effie for Season 1 & 2 and international wins at Dragons of Asia for ‘Best Campaign in the Country’ and ‘Best Use of Media across all countries’ along with MAA Globes 2019 win for ‘Best Use of Media category’.The launch ceremony of the Pakistan Edition of the book "Essentials of Modern Marketing (EOMM)" took place at Government College University, Lahore, and was attended by the top leaders from academia and the industry. Pr

Roche Pakistan introduces device for INR monitoring Karachi: Roche Diagnostics Pakistan has introduced an innovative product CoaguChek INRange for the patients on warfarin therapy, enabling them to frequently check their International normalized ratio (INR) values conveniently and easily share the results with their consultant via their phone or any other computing device for quick and efficient therapy management. CoaguChek INRange in partnership with Dawaai.pk will enable users to easily get their result in just one minute by a single drop of blood.

This solution will save patients, especially the bed ridden and elderly ones from the hassle of going to the laboratory for testing over and over again followed by visits to their consultants. According to a research conducted by Australian Point of Care Practitioners and Integrated Cardiovascular Clinical Network, Country Health South Australia, published in US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes Health USA, regular monitoring of the anticoagulant effect is required and evidence suggests that patients who self-monitor using point-of-care testing have better outcomes than other patients. With this solution, patients can easily perform the test at their convenience anywhere. This solution is available nationwide at dawaai.pk where professional pharmacists and consultants are available to guide and educate the patients. Dr. Rubina, aged around 60, a patient herself on warfarin therapy has been using the basic version of the Roche’s product CoaguChek XS for more than 10 years and has been managing her INR effectively with the solution and also recommends that INR monitoring at home gives her peace of mind, saves her from the hassle of visits to the labs & difficulty of drawing blood along with reducing subsequent follow ups with her consultant. P r

09

THE RIsE aNd FaLL oF PakIsTaN’s FoUNdINg PaRTy KARACHI

P

AnAdolu Agency

akistan’s founding party, the all india Muslim League, now Pakistan Muslim League (PML), stands as the nation’s largest, yet most divided political entity. On its 115th anniversary, it has multiple factions, each flexing its political muscle. the Muslim League was founded on December 30, 1906, in Dhaka, now the capital of Bangladesh, in British-ruled india and led the movement for an independent Muslim-majority nation culminating in the creation of Pakistan. it rose out of a literary movement from the aligarh Muslim University in present-day india. in its heyday, it remained an elitist group, despite the presence of towering political figures like sir agha khan, nawab Waqar ul-Mulk, nawab Mohsin ul-Mulk, Maulana Mohammad ali Johar, and poet Mohammad iqbal. it was the founding father Muhammad ali Jinnah, also known as Quaid-i-azam or the Greatest Leader, who converted the party into a popular movement after he took the reins in 1934 amid growing Muslim nationalism in the region.

On March 23, 1940, the famous Lahore Resolution — also known as the Pakistan Resolution — was adopted at a massive gathering at the then Minto Park in Lahore under Jinnah’s leadership, demanding a separate Muslim state comprising five Muslim majority provinces.

Finally, on June 3, 1947, Lord Mountbatten, the last British viceroy of india, announced the partition of the country. On augustt 14, Pakistan became an independent state.

Fall oF party begins: Jinnah was elected the first governor-general of Pakistan, but he died a year after independence.

His death also coincided with the intervention of the military and civil bureaucracy and the fall of the country’s founding party altogether. “the achievement of an ideal is always considered a success, but it simultaneously creates new challenges. the same happened with this party. all of a sudden, it became the Pakistan Muslim League from the all india Muslim League, having no challenge like the all india Congress,” said akhtar sandhu, a Lahore-based analyst who writes about politics and history.

Enumerating the events and reasons that preceded the party’s fall, sandhu said the PML was unable to deal with the challenges in the newfound country. “there was no leader with the calibre like that of Jinnah. those (from other political parties) who joined the Muslim League in the late 1940s and later established their influence over it did not have the required commitment and dedication with the party,” he said. sandhu dubbed the “inner weaknesses” and “lack of democracy” within the party as other key reasons behind its gradual fall.

Muhammad Reza kazimi, a karachi-based historian, termed the assassination of first prime minister Liaqat ali khan — and a trusted lieutenant of Jinnah — in 1951, as the beginning of the party’s downfall. speaking to anadolu agency, kazimi contended that khan’s assassination was aimed at bringing the pro-feudal parties like the Unionist Party founded in 1923 back to power under a new umbrella. “also, the establishment had to create the Republican Party for its aims,“ said kazimi, referring to a party formed in October 1955 by a splinter faction of the PML and other politicians for the creation of the province of West Pakistan to compete politically with then East Pakistan.

Endorsing kazimi’s views, Mushahid Hussain sayed, Pakistan’s former information minister, said that after the deaths of the two popular leaders Jinnah and khan, the Muslim League became faction-ridden and lost its popular roots.

Concurrently, a bureaucratic “gang of four” comprising former Governor General Ghulam Muhammed, then army chief Gen ayub khan, former

president iskander Mirza and former prime minister Chaudhry Mohammed ali effectively took charge, he added. back into the Fray: Like the indian Congress, the Muslim League stands divided into several groups. However, the PML-n led by deposed prime minister nawaz sharif is considered the key faction of the party.

With its power base in northeastern Punjab, the PML-n is currently the largest opposition party with over 100 seats in the national assembly, the highest after the Pakistan tehreek-i-insaf (Pti).

Political analysts give credit to sharif for the rejuvenation of the party, which otherwise had been considered an establishment’s protege. “the ouster of sharif from power in 1992 (by then President Ghulam ishaq khan) was the turning point not only in the political journey of sharif but for the party as well,” said abdul khalique ali, a karachi-based political analyst.

Once considered a “blue-eyed boy” of the establishment, he contended, sharif gradually started taking an independent view in terms of politics and international affairs after 1992. according to ali, sharif’s repeated attempts to assert his powers as the chief executive together with his independent political views and infrastructure developments made him and his party popular among the people over the previous three decades. syed, who is also a senior PML-n leader, said in 1993, the party was revived due to sharif’s performance as premier in terms of “development initiatives, law, and order, economic liberalization, etcetera.” secondly, he observed, it was also because of sharif’s anti-establishment stance, which incidentally was on “my advice.” “i told him ‘you’ve lost the game of palace politics and intrigues, your only chance is take on the establishment head-on and take your case to the people of Pakistan’ which he duly did through his famous speech of april 17, 1993,” syed contended, while speaking to anadolu agency. in his 29-minute speech, sharif defied the establishment declaring “i will not take dictation,” and it is thought this act of defiance resulted in the end of his rule under pressure from the military. in July 2017, sharif was disqualified by the supreme Court over the Panama Papers scandal, which also led to the filing of the three corruption

cases. not long after, the top court also barred him from holding the leadership of his party. sharif served as the premier from 1990-1992, 1997-1999, and 2013-2017, unable to complete even a single five-year term. His two previous governments were dismissed over corruption charges and through a military coup in 1992 and 1999. in april 2000, he was given a life sentence by an anti-terrorism court in karachi on the charge of hijacking a plane in which the then-military chief Gen Pervez Musharraf was travelling.

However, he went into exile in 2001 following a deal brokered by then saudi king abdullah bin abdelaziz. other Factions: apart from PML-n, the PML-Q (Quaid-i-azam), and PML-F (Functional) are other factions, which embody a sizable vote in the pockets of Punjab and sindh provinces respectively.

Founded in 2000 by some disgruntled PML-n leaders, following the ouster of sharif in a bloodless military coup in October 1999 by Gen Musharraf, the party ruled the country from 2002 to 2008.

Led by Chaudhry shujaat Hussain, a veteran politician and head of the Chauhdry dynasty of Gujrat district, the PML-Q is also an ally of khan’s government with five seats in the 342-member national assembly, and 13 seats in the Punjab assembly, representing the largest province. the incumbent Punjab assembly speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi also belongs to the PML-Q. the faction is known for its close ties with the country’s military establishment. the PML-F, which enjoys a sizable vote bank in several districts of sindh, is more like a spiritual cult — called the Hurs — a volunteer force that took part in the 1965 and 1971 wars against india.

Famous for having close ties with the army, the faction — an ally of the current government — is led

by Pir sahib Pagara, a title for the spiritual leader of the Hurs. the faction currently has no representation in the national assembly but has seven seats in the 167-member sindh assembly. interior Minister sheikh Rasheed ahmed runs his own group — awami Muslim League — and often wins his constituency in Rawalpindi, which also houses the army’s headquarters. another small faction PML-Z (Zia) is led by a former federal minister, ijaz ul-Haq, son of former military ruler Gen Zia-ul-Haq.

MoCC partners with Reckitt Pakistan Karachi: Dettol Pakistan’s initiative ‘Hoga Saaf Pakistan’ has actively been working with the Ministry of Climate Change, and once again has joined forces itself with the Government of Pakistan and the Prime Minister’s initiative, ‘Clean Green Pakistan’ to achieve their targets primarily under three pillars; personal hygiene, sanitation, and solid waste management. According to the latest stats, 53,000 Pakistani children under five lose their lives annually from diarrhea due to poor water and sanitation. The effects of climate change and rapid urbanization also contribute to challenges of improving access to safe water and sanitation. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated that washing hands with soap and water could reduce diarrheal disease-associated deaths by up to 50%. A large percentage of foodborne disease outbreaks are spread by contaminated hands. Appropriate hand washing practices can reduce the risk of foodborne illness and other infections Mr. Kashan Hasan, CEO of Reckitt Pakistan stated “Every day, Reckitt’s brands are supporting people to lead cleaner, healthier lives through better health, hygiene, and nutrition. We put ‘purpose’ at the heart of the company and our brands. “Hoga Saaf Pakistan” is not just a movement but is our commitment to Pakistan through which we want to educate and instill responsibility amongst all Pakistanis to work towards a cleaner and healthier Pakistan. We believe access to the highest quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment is a right for people across the nation.” Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Malik Amin Aslam. During his stint as Special Assistant, Mr. Malik Amin has installed as many as 45 water filtration plants in different areas at the cost of more than Rs. 60 million.

“An estimated 70 percent of households still drink bacterially contaminated water. Due to this, people in the area have been suffering from different water-borne diseases including Hepatitis and Diarrhea. These filtration plants will help control the spread of such deadly diseases by ensuring the provision of clean water for the people to control water-borne diseases,” stated Malik Amin Aslam while explaining the importance of the installation. P r

Thursday, 30 December, 2021 | KARACHI

10 FOREIGN NEWS

ASiA keepS OmicrOn At bAy, bUt A SUrge mAy be inevitAble THE ASSOcIATEd PrESS

m

UCH of Asia has largely managed to keep Omicron at bay even as the variant rages in other parts of the world, but the region that is home to most of the globe’s population is bracing for what may be an inevitable surge.

Strict quarantine rules for arrivals and widespread mask-wearing have helped slow the spread of the highly contagious variant in Asia. Countries such as Japan, South Korea and Thailand quickly reinstated entry and quarantine restrictions in recent weeks after relaxing them in the fall.

But cases are mounting, and experts say the next few months will be critical. Those fears have been amplified by doubts about the effectiveness of the Chinese-made vaccines used in China and much of the developing world. “Once the pace picks up, its upsurge would be extremely fast,” said Dr Shigeru Omi, a top medical adviser to Japan’s government.

In India, which has been getting back to normal after a devastating Covid-19 outbreak earlier this year, Omicron is once again raising fears, with more than 700 cases

reported in the country of nearly 1.4 billion people.

The capital, New Delhi, banned large gatherings for Christmas and New Year’s, and many other states have announced new restrictions, including curfews and vaccination requirements at stores and restaurants.

At the crowded Chandni Chowk market in New Delhi, many people were shopping without masks this week. Cycle rickshaw driver Mahesh Kumar said he is afraid of passengers who don’t wear masks.

“There are many people who don’t believe in this disease. They think it doesn’t exist. But I am very scared. I have children and a family,” he said. “If something happens to me, who will take care of them?”

Australia is already dealing with multiple Covid-19 surges, with a state leader saying on Wednesday that “Omicron is moving too quickly.” Elsewhere, Thailand has topped 700 cases, South Korea has more than 500 and Japan, over 300. China, which has some of the strictest virus controls in the world, has reported at least eight.

Only four cases have been reported in the Philippines, where people flocked to shopping malls ahead of Christmas and to Mass in the biggest Roman Catholic nation

in Asia. Some hospitals have even begun dismantling Covid-19 wards in a move experts say could prove to be premature.

Japan managed to delay the spread of the new variant for about a month largely thanks to its reimposition of entry restrictions, mandatory Covid-19 tests for all arrivals and the isolation of all passengers on a flight if anyone tested positive for Omicron.

But the barrier was broken last week when the first locally transmitted cases were confirmed in the neighbouring cities of Osaka and Kyoto. Experts are urging the government to prepare for an imminent wave of infections by increasing testing, speeding up booster shots and preparing more beds at hospitals. “We want to believe that Omicron cases could be mild, but its fast-paced infections could quickly multiply the number of patients and could still overwhelm hospitals,” Omi said.

Taiwan, where wearing a face mask is near universal in major cities, has started to offer booster shots of the Moderna vaccine and is urging people get a third shot before an expected influx of people returning home for Lunar New Year at the end of January.

Preliminary research has shown that booster shots of the Pfizer, AstraZeneca and

Moderna vaccines offer continued, though diminished, protection against Omicron.

However, a Hong Kong University study that has yet to be published found that China’s widely used Sinovac vaccine does not generate enough antibodies to protect against Omicron, even with a booster shot, according to a university news release.

Hong Kong offers both the Sinovac and Pfizer vaccines. Sinovac did not respond to a request for comment. Chinese officials have said their vaccines are still effective.

“Our inactivated vaccines are still rather reliable and cover a range of antigens. Therefore, they won’t be completely ineffective against Omicron,” Zhong Nanshan, a top government doctor, said at a public forum.

Some countries that relied on the Chinese vaccines are turning to others for boosters. Thailand, which largely used Sinovac and Sinopharm, another Chinese vaccine, is offering booster shots of AstraZeneca or Pfizer. Indonesia, where Sinovac has been the mainstay of a campaign to vaccinate its 270 million residents, is offering a Moderna booster for health care workers. The government is also planning boosters for the general population in January, though it hasn’t said which vaccine.

Palestinian leader Abbas visits Israel’s Gantz in rare trip WEST BANK AFP

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas visited Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz on Tuesday during a rare trip to Israel for what Gantz’s department said were talks on security and civil matters.

Gantz told Abbas that he intended to “continue to promote actions to strengthen confidence in the economic and civilian fields, as agreed during their last meeting,” an Israeli Defence Ministry statement said. “The two men discussed security and civil matters,” it added of the meeting, which Israeli media reported took place at Gantz’s home in Rosh HaAyin, central Israel.

In late August, Gantz visited the Palestinian Authority’s headquarters for talks with Abbas, the first official meeting at such a level in several years.

But after those talks, Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that there was no peace process ongoing with the Palestinians, “and there won’t be one”.

Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh tweeted on Wednesday that “Abbas met with Benny Gantz, where the meeting dealt with the importance of creating a political horizon that leads to a political solution in accordance with international

resolutions”.

The pair also discussed “the tense conditions on the ground due to the practices of settlers, and the meeting dealt with many security, economic and humanitarian issues”.

Opposition party Likud condemned the latest meeting, saying that “concessions dangerous for Israel’s security were only a matter of time”.

“The Israeli-Palestinian government has put the Palestinians and Abbas back on the agenda […] it is dangerous for Israel,” the party added in a statement.

Relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which is based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, have deteriorated substantially in recent years.

Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu sidelined the issue during his 2009 to 2021 tenure as prime minister with peace talks suspended in 2014 while Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank expanded. Right-winger Bennett, the former head of a settler lobbying council who opposes Palestinian statehood, leads a coalition that took over in June.

China’s attitude toward the virus, Omicron or not, is to stop transmission in its tracks, and the country appears to be getting even tougher with the approach of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February. Officials locked down the city of Xi’an, a city and administrative area of 13m people last week, amid a Delta outbreak that has infected hundreds of people. On Monday, they ordered everyone to stay at home until another citywide round of testing was completed.

Residents complained on social media about the sudden ban. Many were relying on instant noodles and other packaged food.

Some worried how they would get enough food in the coming days, especially fresh vegetables. China quarantines those arriving from abroad for weeks, depending on the province, with three weeks being the most common.

How China’s zero-Covid-19 policy will play out at the Olympics is a major question.

Athletes and visitors will not be allowed to leave the Olympic zones, and those attending such as officials, journalists and venue staff will be tested every day.

To contain a deadly Delta-driven surge in South Korea, the government this month restored its toughest distancing rules with a four-person limit on private gatherings and a 9pm curfew on restaurants.

Health experts predict it’s only a matter of time before Omicron comes.

“Omicron has such a high transmission rate that it’s too obvious that it’ll become the dominant variant in South Korea at some point,” said Jaehun Jung, a professor at Gachon University College of Medicine in South Korea.

Five dead, two wounded in shooting spree in US: police WASHINGTON AFP

The death toll from a shooting spree across multiple locations in the US state of Colorado, which ended when the gunman was himself shot dead, has risen to five, police said on Tuesday. The trail of shooting began around 5:00pm on Monday and unfolded across at least four different locations in the cities of Denver and Lakewood, said police, who had initially put the death toll at four.Two women were killed and a man was wounded in the first location in Denver, police said, with another man shot dead outside his residence. The gunman then travelled to neighbouring Lakewood, where he fatally shot another man in the Lucky 13 tattoo parlour and wounded another individual. Working off information gathered from the previous assaults, Lakewood officers were able to identify the shooter as he moved locations. The shooter entered a shopping centre where he fatally shot a female employee, police said. He then encountered a police officer in the shopping centre who ordered him to drop his weapon. In the subsequent exchange of fire, the officer was wounded but shot dead the suspect. The gunman was “pronounced dead on the scene” said Lakewood police spokesman John Romero.

PID (I) 4377/21

Thursday, 30 December, 2021 | KARACHI

Gritty South AFricA StAy iN the FiGht verSuS iNdiA PRETORIA

S

ReuteRs

OuTH Africa captain Dean Elgar scored an unbeaten 52 against India as the hosts showed a dogged determination to stay in the fight on a spicy wicket and closed the fourth day on 94 for four in the first Test at Centurion Park on Wednesday.

South Africa are still 211 runs off their record victory target at the venue of 305 on a wicket that is treacherous for the batsmen with sideways movement, but also variable bounce.

Some deliveries are staying low and others spitting off the surface with exaggerated bounce.

They will need to negotiate the skilful India attack on the final day as the tourists attempt to secure a victory on the way to a hoped for first ever series win in South Africa with Tests in Johannesburg and Cape Town to follow.

South Africa lost Aiden Markram (one), Keegan Petersen (17), nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj (eight) and Rassie van der Dussen, who showed great patience for his 11 from 65 balls before he was bowled by

NFL great John Madden dies at 85 LOS ANGELES AFP

NFL coaching great John Madden, whose influence extended through a long broadcasting career and into the age of video games, died on Tuesday at 85, the league said. Madden was a Hall of Fame coach at the Oakland Raiders, joining the club as an assistant coach in 1967 and taking over the head coaching job two seasons later.

At 32 he was one of the youngest coaches in league history, but he led the Raiders to a 12-1-1 season in his first year to launch what would be a historic tenure with the club. His 1976 Raiders were 13-1 in the regular season and beat the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC title game before going on to win the Super Bowl with a 32-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. "On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Virginia, Mike, Joe and their families," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. The cause of Madden's death was not given. "We all know him as the Hall of Fame coach of the Oakland Raiders and broadcaster who worked for every major network, but more than anything, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather," Goodell added. "Nobody loved football more than Coach... There will never be another John Madden, and we will forever be indebted to him for all he did to make football and the NFL what it is today." Madden retired in 1978 after a decade at the helm of the Raiders, during which he amassed a record of 103-32-7.Madden had played college football but saw his hopes of a pro career dashed by a knee injury. He went on to star in the broadcast booth, where his enthusiasm and deep knowledge of the game made him a fan favorite and a staple in telecasts of many of the league's biggest games. When he retired in 2009, he had garnered 16 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Sports Analyst/Personality -- his popularity also making him a perfect pitchman for an array of products. Madden was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2006. Younger fans know him as the man who gave his name to EA Sports' "Madden NFL," first released in 1988 and now so popular that NFL players themselves track their ratings in the video game.

SPORTS 11

Jasprit Bumrah (2-22) with a superb in-swinger while not offering a shot.

The highest fourth innings score to win at Centurion Park is 251 for eight by England in 2000, an infamous Test where both teams agreed to forfeit an innings after rain to force a result.

The next best successful chase is 226 for four by South Africa against Pakistan in 1998.

India were earlier bowled out for 174 in their second innings, the South African seamers expertly using the conditions with Kagiso Rabada (4-42) and 21-year-old leftarm debutant Marco Jansen (4-55) the chief wicket takers.

None of the tourists’ batsmen were able to get settled at the crease with Rishabh Pant (34) the top scorer as he tried to take the attack to the bowlers.

There was more disappointment for India captain Virat Kohli (18) as he chased a wide delivery for the second time in the Test and was caught by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock off the bowling of Jansen.

In 14 Tests since the start of 2020, Kohli has scored 652 runs at an average of 26.08, almost half his career average before this Test of 50.65.

Djokovic withdraws from ATP Cup in Sydney: organisers SYDNEY AFP

Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the ATP Cup in Sydney, organisers said on Wednesday, heightening doubts about his vaccination status and whether he will defend his Australian Open title.

“World No.1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the 2022 ATP Cup. Team Serbia will now be led by world No.33 Dusan Lajovic,” organisers said in a statement ahead of Saturday’s start to the tournament.

There has been intense speculation as to whether 34-year-old Djokovic will travel to Australia, having refused to confirm if he has been inoculated against the coronavirus. The nine-time Australian Open champion could win a record 21st Grand Slam title if

he plays at Melbourne Park next month, but to enter Australia he and members of his entourage have to be vaccinated.

He has previously expressed his opposition to the vaccine and his father Srdjan said in late November that Djokovic would probably not play the first Grand Slam of the year, accusing the organisers of “blackmail”.

Tennis Australia has organised charter flights to bring international stars into Melbourne and Sydney for warm-up tournaments.

Defending women’s Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka was among those to touch down on Tuesday, but Djokovic was not on board. Players can also opt to fly commercial.

The Australian Open is due to start on January 17.

Australia's Warner eyes one more crack at England in 2023 SYDNEY AFP

David Warner has hinted he is keen for one last Ashes tour in 2023 to make amends for his failed campaign in England two years ago, drawing inspiration from veteran seamer Jimmy Anderson.

The explosive Australian opener would be approaching 37 should he retain his place that long and in all likelihood would have joined the 100-Test club.

He currently has 89 caps.

Winning in India is also on his bucket list before pulling up stumps on a Test career that has so far yielded 7,551 runs at 48.40.

“Winning the Ashes here was obviously a big one,” Warner said after Australia crushed England in the third Test in Melbourne to retain the Ashes.

“We still haven't beaten India in India, that would be nice to do.

“And England away — we had a drawn series (in 2019) but hopefully if I manage to get that opportunity, I might think about going back.” England hasn't been a happy hunting ground for Warner, who had a horror tour in 2019 when he managed just 95 runs at 9.50 from five Tests with Stuart Broad dismissing him seven times.

“In terms of 2019 it was obviously in England

so he (Broad) was able to get the ball to come back into us and away from us,” said Warner, who has been a mainstay at the top of the Australian order for a decade.

“For me, it was one of those tours where I didn't back my game plan and I went too defensive and I didn't attack. That was my fault, and he bowled really well.”

Whether Warner can still be competitive into 2023 remains to be seen, although he has been written off previously and come roaring back, most recently at the Twenty20 World Cup. He was dropped by his Indian Premier League team Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the World Cup, leading some pundits to suggest his best days were over.

But Warner responded in the only way he knows, by scoring runs, and was named player of the tournament as Australia lifted the trophy.

He pointed to England's Anderson, still going strong at 39, as an example of cricketers performing at their peak well into the twilight of their careers.

“James Anderson sets the benchmark for older guys these days, we look up to him getting on in our days,” Warner said after Anderson bowled beautifully in the Melbourne Test.

“For me it's just about performing to the best of my ability and putting runs on the board. “

Boland fighting for Australia Test future despite dream debut MELBOURNE AFP

Scott Boland wrote his name into Australian Ashes folklore with his magical 6-7 against England in Melbourne, but his fairytale debut could incredibly be his last Test. The 32-year-old was called up for his expertise on his home Melbourne Cricket Ground as cover with Jhye Richardson, Michael Neser and Josh Hazlewood either rested or not fit for the third Test. And he grabbed the opportunity with both hands, helping inspire Australia to victory by an innings and 14 runs to retain the Ashes urn in style. Not only did Boland become just the second Indigenous man — after Jason Gillespie — to play Test cricket for Australia, he also won the Johnny Mullagh medal as man-of-the-match for decimating the tourists in a four-over second-innings blitz. It was fitting — Mullagh was also an Indigenous cricketer, who led an all-Aboriginal team to Britain in 1868. Yet despite equalling the record for the fastest five-wicket haul in Test history, Boland could well be overlooked for the fourth Test in Sydney starting on January 5. “That could conceivably be the last Test that he plays,” former skipper Ricky Ponting told cricket.com.au. “It’s staggering to think. He’s almost 33, he’s just taken six for seven. Hoff (Hazlewood) has got to come back, Jhye’s probably ahead of him in the pecking order as well. “If there’s any worry at all with (Hazlewood) -– which one do they pick out of Richardson and Boland? That’s going to be the big selection point I think.” Australian captain Pat Cummins also flagged the possibility of leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson making his debut at the Sydney Cricket Ground, traditionally the most spin-friendly of the Australian Test venues, another factor working against Boland. “I thought it was a really brave call by the selectors to bring in Scotty for this game. Full credit. They’ve made the right call,” said Cummins. “Good luck for Sydney. “Jhye will hopefully be available, Joshy will hopefully be available and we’ve still got Michael Neser here in the squad. “No idea (who will get the nod) — it might be a spinning track and you’ve got Mitchell Swepson bowling beautifully. It’s a luxury.”

Boland, who hails from the Gulidjan tribe in western Victoria state, knows he may have played his one and only Test. “It’s probably wait and see,” he said. “But firstly we’ll enjoy winning the Ashes.”

Thursday, 30 December, 2021

prayer TimiNgs

NEWS

OppOsitiOn criticises gOvt’s plan tO table mini-budget in na

t

he opposition on Wednesday lambasted government for planning to table the supplementary finance bill [mini-budget] in the National Assembly.

The federal cabinet had earlier opposed the approval of the supplementary finance bill which was scheduled to be tabled in today’s session.

PML-N’s Khawaja Asif said that the country saw a “territorial surrender” on Dec 16, 1971 which it eventually recovered from.

“The country has come out of that disaster. [But] now we are going to surrender our economic sovereignty through the finance bill and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Amendment Bill 2021 which is much worse than what happened in 1971.”

In this regard, the PML-N leader claimed that the state bank had become a “local branch” of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). he said that the SBP governor was disguised as a “viceroy”, adding that Pakistan had become a “financial colony” of international institutions. he vowed to oppose the SBP bill and the mini-budget, adding that there was a need to create a national consensus on both the issues. “Create national consensus on how we can get out of these issues. Things can’t go on like this.” he said that today was the fourth day

that the government was unable to complete quorum and claimed that it would again obtain votes through facilitators. he called on lawmakers to not surrender the country’s economic sovereignty.

Concluding his speech, Asif said that the country’s nuclear assets would be the next target. “After this, we will be stripped of our nuclear capabilities.”

PPP MNA Raja Pervez Ashraf, in this regard stated that “inflation, unemployment and the shortage of gas and other commodities have already wreaked havoc on the people of the country. Now,

if a mini-budget or money bill is in the offing, which would increase their difficulties, then everyone sitting in the house should resist the move,” he said.

As a response, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri, who chaired today’s session, told the lawmakers that so far, no such bill had been presented in the house.

“You can debate on the bill when it is presented,” he said.

It is pertinent to note that when the floor was given to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the opposition mem-

bers staged a walkout, while pointing out the quorum.

After a few opposition members walked out, Suri ordered a head count and declared that the quorum was complete, hence the floor can be given tot he foreign minister for a second time.

The members of the opposition, who walked out earlier, returned to the house to participate in the proceedings.

During his speech, Qureshi assured the lawmakers that the government would protect the country’s economic sovereignty. he said that protecting the country’s economic independence was the joint responsibility of the government and the parliament. however, the country’s macro-economic indicators did not become alarming during the last three years, he said.

Commenting on the point raised by Asif about the country’s nuclear assets, Qureshi said: “I want to say this on the floor of the house that there is, was and will remain a national consensus on credible minimum deterrence.”

Talking about quorum, he accepted that it was the government’s responsibility to fulfil it. he also urged the opposition to ensure the smooth functioning of the National Assembly, stating that pointing out quorum again and again was not in their benefit. News Desk

PM directs to fast-track licence issuance for domestic gas exploration

Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the authorities concerned to fast-track the issuance of licences for domestic oil and gas exploration, terming it the cheapest source of natural gas.

The prime minister said this while chairing a highlevel meeting on Wednesday to review the gas situation in the country.

The prime minister also directed the concerned de-

partments to remove hurdles in the process of installation of new LNG terminals and virtual pipeline projects by investors. In this regard, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Petroleum and OGRA were directed to coordinate and also take all other stakeholders on board, including the investors.

The prime minister while emphasising the importance of North-South Gas Pipeline, directed to ensure its execution without further delay in the agreed timelines.

The meeting was briefed about the demand and supply situation from the domestic reserves, shortfall and import of LNG. It was informed that the current constrained demand of gas in the country is 4,700 MMCFD which increases to 6,000-6,500 MMCFD during the winter season. The current domestic supply amounts to 3300 MMCFD, which is decreasing every year.

The meeting was told that the resulting shortfall has to be managed by importing LNG. With the current infrastructure, a shortfall of nearly 1000 MMCFD in winters arises for which multiple options are being adopted.

The meeting was briefed that for a short term, the existing capacity of domestic terminals is being optimised and the process of issuance of virtual pipeline licences is expedited. In addition, the installation of two new LNG terminals is underway with all bottlenecks being removed on priority basis.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, energy Minister hammad Azhar, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali haider Zaidi, SAPM Mahmood Maulvi and officials of the concerned departments.

Separately, Prime Minister Khan directed SAPM on e-Commerce Senator Aon Abbas Buppi to formulate a “robust policy” to govern the industry and create new jobs and ease of doing business for young people.

During the meeting, they discussed the establishment of an e-commerce university as well as matters related to e-commerce. Moreover, they also deliberated over the holding of a freelancers’ conference.

Buppi told the prime minister about the first e-commerce university being established in Pakistan.

The local e-commerce industry is just picking up with online retail accounting for about 2 percent of gross domestic product. Pakistan has seen more money flow into its nascent technology sector during 2021 than in the previous six years combined. Many global venture capital firms have invested in Pakistan for the first time in the current wave, including Kleiner Perkins, an early investor in Google and Amazon.com Inc. Investments recently crossed $300 million after two e-commerce companies raised fresh funds.

Imran for celebratIng dIamond jubIlee In befIttIng manner: Separately, Imran Khan called for holding Pakistan’s diamond jubilee celebrations – due next year – in a befitting manner to highlight the country’s distinctive identity, culture and unique location.

“On the occasion of country’s 75th independence anniversary, there is a need to tell youth about the aim of Pakistan’s creation and the true message of Allama Iqbal,” Imran said while presiding over a meeting held in Islamabad to review the preparations.

Ministers Chaudhry Fawad hussain and Shaukat Tarin, Special Assistant to PM Dr Shehbaz Gill, and other senior officials attended the meeting.

The prime minister said that Pakistan has been bestowed by Almighty Allah with all kinds of blessings, which required to be highlighted. Fawad briefed the premier in detail about the preparations for the country’s diamond jubilee celebrations. News Desk

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pakistan’s foreign policy must respond to changing trends: Qureshi ISLAMABAD app

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Wednesday said Pakistan’s foreign policy must respond adequately to the shifting trends in international politics and navigate through the external environment to ensure the security of its sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, and advancement of development agenda.

The foreign minister, addressing the passing out ceremony of probationary officers from the Foreign Service of Pakistan (FSP) cadre, said that for the first time, Islamabad reoriented the thrust of its diplomatic efforts towards economic benefit and prosperity of the people. “economic diplomacy is not just a buzzword, but a blueprint to leverage our diplomatic assets in the service of our development agenda. We have put in place a strategic engagement plan with the european Union and the Strategic economic Framework with Turkey,” he said. he said in order to explore untapped markets and opportunities, the government had launched the engage Africa initiative.

Going forward, our pivot towards economic diplomacy will gather further momentum as new avenues are opened, and existing ones gain greater traction, he added.

Congratulating the probationers passing out of the 41st Specialised Diplomatic Course, the foreign minister observed the officers experienced the diplomatic work during the recent Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Islamabad and “did an admirable job”.

Qureshi advised the probationers to strive to serve Pakistan and its people to the best of their ability as their primary focus throughout their careers.

Qureshi said the consular services being provided by the Foreign Office at home and abroad through its missions were a critical function. The government is committed to giving due esteem to Pakistan nationals living abroad and serving them wholeheartedly, he added.

Qureshi also urged them to work hard and be eager to learn, and not restrict themselves to the files on their desk rather keep themselves updated even if they were assigned a non-political desk.

“Always keep your chin up and do not lose motivation. Be innovative and think outside the box amidst resource constraints. Be mindful of the opportunities and challenges presented by the digital age. Being tech-savvy is no longer optimal,” he said.

The foreign minister asked the participants to be conscious of the importance of their work and responsibilities. “You will be part of the first line of Pakistan’s defence. You will have to match wits with better-resourced adversaries. You must rise to the challenge,” he remarked.

“A new world is upon us, through which we have to navigate with caution and foresight with multiple centres of power and constant realignment, diplomatic work has multiplied and become more difficult. The unipolar world has now become a rear-view vista.

Multilateral mechanisms that were set up for mediation and conflict resolution are losing their efficacy,” he said.

The foreign minister said the Covid-19 pandemic has laid bare the shortcomings of the public health regimes. It has upended the global economic systems and has also served as a catalyst for long-term geopolitical shifts. he said the traditional means of conducting international relations and foreign policy had been overtaken by the fast-paced global perception industry and soft power replaced conventional warfare.

“The world has entered into the era of battles of narratives and information/disinformation warfare. We see a huge shift in the role of media, its impact on all spheres of life and modern technology is being used to influence opinions and push agendas,” he told the participants.

US appoints envoy to defend Afghan women’s rights The US on Wednesday appointed an envoy to defend the rights of Afghan women, signalling a key priority as the Taliban ratchet up restrictions.

Rina Amiri, an Afghan-born US scholar and mediation expert who served at the State Department under former president Barack Obama, will take the role of special envoy for Afghan women, girls and human rights, State Secretary Antony Blinken announced.

Months after the US ended its 20-year war in Afghanistan, Blinken said that Amiri

will address issues of “critical importance to me” and the rest of US President Joe Biden’s administration.

“We desire a peaceful, stable and secure Afghanistan, where all Afghans can live and thrive in political, economic and social inclusivity,” Blinken said in a statement.

In a tweet, he added that Amiri brings “over two decades of expertise and specialised knowledge that will advance our vital work toward a more peaceful, stable, and secure Afghanistan for all”.

The Taliban imposed strict Sharia law

during their 1996-2001 regime, including banning women from working and girls from education.

Despite Taliban pledges to act differently after their August takeover, many women remain barred from returning to work and girls are largely cut off from secondary schooling.

On Sunday, the Taliban said that women would not be allowed to travel long distances without a male escort and that vehicle owners should not give rides to women unless they wear headscarves. aFp

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