EpaperLHR_2020-05-13

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Wednesday, 13 May, 2020 I 19 Ramzan-ul-Mubarak, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol X No 315 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

10TH NFC AWARD

Centre to Charge ProvinCes for defenCe, disaster management

PPP blasts govt for ‘confused’ policy on Covid-19 crisis g

PPP’s sherry rehman take Govt to task over ‘amBiGuous’ Coronavirus PoliCy, Pm’s non-serious attitude ISLAMABAD staff report

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desPite oBjeCtions from ProvinCes in Past, tors for 10th nfC award inClude additional share for federal Govt ISLAMABAD

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GHULaM aBBas

he government has finally notified the constitution of the 10th national finance Commission (nfC) as the five-year period of the previous nfC ended in april and the ones before that remained inconclusive for differences between the Centre and the provinces. while the 8th and 9th nfC remained inconclusive, the revenue distribution mechanism set under the 7th nfC award given by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in 2010 would be extended to the new nfC. surprisingly, in the terms of reference (tors) of the new nfC, there were additions of a few terms which, according to insiders, were not part of the previous commissions.

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assessment of total PuBliC deBt and alloCation of resourCes for its rePayment likely to faCe resistanCe from federatinG units

they included assessment and allocation of resources to meet expenditures made on security and natural disasters and calamities. as the provinces objected to additional share for the heads of security and national disaster institutions in the past, it is likely that they will object to this as well. another addition was assessment of total public debt and allocation of resources for its repayment and may also invite objection from provinces. as per the insiders, the rest of the tors were almost the same as those of previous commissions. the tors of 10th nfC included distribution between the federation and the provinces of the net proceeds of the taxes, including taxes on income, corporation tax, taxes on the sales and purchase of goods imported, exported, produced, manufactured or

Coronavirus in

Pakistan

consumed, but not taxes on income consisting of remuneration paid out of the federal Consolidated fund. as per the tors, the new nfC would also assess export duties on cotton, and such other export duties, duties of excise and other taxes as may be specified by the president. Grants-in-aid will be made by the federal government to the provincial governments. other tors included exercise of powers by the federal and the provincial governments pertaining to borrowing, assessing and allocating resources to meet expenditures related to governments of azad jammu and kashmir (ajk), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and newly-merged districts of khyber Pakhtunkhwa (erstwhile fata).

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

a day after the national assembly witnessed a heated debate between the Centre and the sindh government on the Covid-19 situation in the country, the opposition parties in the senate on tuesday urged the federal government to come up with a “unified policy” to fight the pandemic as the number of affectees in the country surged past 32,000. of the total cases, sindh and Punjab have the highest number of infections, reporting 12,610 and 11,869 cases, respectively.

Balochistan and khyber Pakhtunkhwa (kP) have reported 2,158 and 5,021 cases each. in islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), the cases swelled to 716 and 457, respectively. however, azad kashmir has the lowest number of cases, with 86 infections so far. addressing the house, which met after a gap of almost two months, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senator sherry rehman lashed out at the federal government for its handling

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Suspension of domestic flights extended till 29th ISLAMABAD staff report

the federal government on tuesday decided to continue its suspension of domestic flights in wake of the coronavirus pandemic. the Civil aviation authority (Caa) extended its

Pakistan, Iran agree to enhance border security g

of the epidemic, saying that Prime minister imran khan has been giving out “confusing messages”. the prime minister, who did not attend the national assembly session either, skipped the senate session as well. noting this, sherry said: “the missing person is the prime minister. he is missing, his policy is missing, his words of unity are missing.” to which, foreign minister shah mehmood Qureshi responded by saying that the premier was “in islamabad” and “working day and night to eliminate the coronavirus threat”. without mincing any words, the senator called out the federal government for “creating distractions” and said that while the 18th amendment had given provinces autonomy, it does not mean they are on their own.

“Provinces are not on their own. the provinces are self-sufficient but they are not the state,” she said, noticing that there was a feeling of abandonment in provinces as all governments were adopting separate strategies.

Bajwa thanks Chinese envoy for mediCal assistanCe

suspension on domestic flights for the next 16 days. a notice to airmen (notam) in this regard stated that domestic flights will be banned till may 29, 11:59 pm. special flights and chartered air trips will have immunity from the flight suspension.

fiqah-e-hanfia lahore sehr: 3:35 aM iftar: 6:51 PM

karachi sehr: 4:24 aM iftar: 7:08 PM

islaMabad sehr: 3:33 aM iftar: 7:01 PM fiqah-e-jafaria

lahore sehr: 3:25 aM iftar: 7:01 PM

islaMabad sehr: 3:23 aM iftar: 7:11 PM

karachi sehr: 4:14 aM iftar: 7:18 PM

more inside

Govt to launch ‘We Care’ drive for protection of healthcare workers

CONFIRMED CASES:

32,916

RECOVERED:

8,555 SINDH:

12,610

DEATHS:

733

PUNJAB:

11,868

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

5,021 86/457

2,158 716

RAWALPINDI staff report

Chief of army staff (Coas) General Qamar javed Bajwa on tuesday took up the issue of recent terrorist attack on Pakistan’s security personnel near Pakistaniran border with iranian Chief of the armed forces major General Bagheri, said inter-services Public relations (isPr). the military’s media wing said that during a telephonic conversation with major General Bagheri, General Bajwa expressed concerns on recent terrorist attack on Pakistan’s security forces resulting in martyrdom of six security personnel near Pak-

istan-iran border.

Both commanders resolved to enhance security measures on either side of the border. the Coas said that Pakistan has started fencing the border but it would require mutual bilateral cooperation to ensure border security and stem smuggling activity, which is also used by terrorists and narcotics traffickers for covering their movement.

Both commanders also discussed Covid-19 and the need to improve border terminals to address such issues.

General Bajwa reiterated Pakistan’s desire for regional peace and stability on basis of mutual respect, non-interfer-

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ence and equality.

CHINESE AMBASSADOR CALLS ON COAS: separately, Chinese ambassador yao jing called on Coas Bajwa on tuesday. during the meeting matters of mutual interest including regional security issues and Covid-19 were discussed. the army chief expressed gratitude for China’s support related to immediate medical supplies and all other assistance including visit of Chinese medical experts to help Pakistan fight the pandemic. the visiting dignitary also reassured the Coas about China’s continued support for Pakistan at all forums.

STORY ON PAGE 03

37 killed in two afghanistan blasts STORY ON BACK PAGE

Bilawal says Qureshi’s statement about PPP fanning provincialism ‘unacceptable’ STORY ON PAGE 03

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Wednesday, 13 May, 2020

NEWS

Govt to aMend laws for aPPointinG heads of Public sector institutions IsLAMABAD

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FARAZ SAYS GOVT CONCERNED ABOUT VIOLATION OF SOPS, URGES PEOPLE TO ADOPT PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO COUNTER CORONAVIRUS

Staff RepoRt

HE federal cabinet on Tuesday decided to amend relevant laws for appointments in various government departments, especially their heads, to induct best human resource in the public sector organisations.

Briefing the media about the decisions taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz said that the PM had constituted a committee headed by Adviser on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain, which would present its recommendations in that regard within one week. The PM directed Minister of Law and Justice Farogh Naseem to prepare draft amendments in the relevant laws like ESTA Code, Companies Act and Corporate Governance Rules, he added.

Faraz said that the cabinet was briefed on the progress made in the electoral reforms process. Briefing about the salient features of the proposed reforms, Minister for Narcotics Control Azam Swati, formerly Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said that the recommendations made by the electoral reforms committee included timely delivery and announcement of election results, finalisation of the action plan by political parties four months before the election, time for delimitation of constituencies and permission to a candidate to appoint five agents.

“The presence of nominated representa-

tives of respective candidates during vote counting, reforms regarding women quota, election expenses, basis of delimitation and steps to address the lacunas in the process, right of vote for expatriate Pakistanis and biometric voting were also part of the proposals,” he added.

Faraz said that the PM, while appreciating the proposals, said all the lacunas in the election laws would be addressed so that the people’s trust in the election process was restored and nobody could raise a finger on the transparency of election. “A transparent and credible electoral process was the foundation of democracy and the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) was the only party which had taken serious efforts and practical steps for electoral reforms,” he added.

Expressing the government’s commitment, the minister said that the premier directed intensifying efforts so that electoral reforms process should be completed as soon as possible.

He said that the cabinet discussed the issue of unlawful appointments made in various ministries during the previous governments and it transpired that appointments without any cabinet approval were made in 12 ministries. “Expressing his serious concern, the prime minister directed all the ministries to share details in next cabinet

PM directs making tiger force fully functional across Pakistan IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting regarding functioning of the Tiger Force and gave certain guidelines to the chief ministers and chief secretaries in this regard. The prime minister also directed for making the force fully functional all over the country. The meeting was attended

by Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, chief secretaries and commissioners through video-link, PM office media wing in a press release said. During the meeting, a weekly report about the force at the provincial level was submitted. The prime minister directed for making the force functional at district, tehsil and union council levels stressed upon ensuring better coordination at the administrative level. He also directed for utilising the force for the registration of Ehsaas Labour Registration Programme. The prime minister further observed that the volunteers were the heroes of the nation as they had devoted their time for steering the nation out of the difficult times. The brave members of the force were the country’s assets, he added.

court extends Geo chief remand till June 1 LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Tuesday issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on a bail petition filed by Jang/Geo Group chief Mir Shakilur Rahman in illegal plot allotment case, while an accountability court extended MSR’s judicial remand till June 1.

The bench comprising Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem and Justice Farooq Haider heard the post-arrest bail petition filed by Mir Shakil.

Advocate Amjad Pervaiz, on behalf of the petitioner, argued before the court that present bail petition had been filed on fresh grounds. He stated that Mir Shakil had been sent to jail on judicial remand and he was no longer required for investigations. He pleaded with the court to grant the benefit of bail to his client as he was no longer required for investigations. Subsequently, the bench issued notices to NAB for May 28 and sought reply to the petition. At this stage, Amjad Pervaiz told the bench that the bureau had also summoned then chief minister Nawaz Sharif in connection with case but he had not joined investigations yet. app

PM to attend ParliaMentary session, says info Minister News Desk Information Minister Shibli Faraz said that Prime Minister Imran Khan will attend the parliamentary session which he was not able to attend due to other pressing matters at hand.In a press conference, he said: “PM Imran will appear in the Assembly session; he didn’t earlier as he was busy with other matters at hand. Meanwhile, those who pressed for summoning the session and claim to be champions of democracy did not show up, [to you I say] this is a hypocritical [behaviour].”“If we talk about any other amendment in the Constitution, there isn’t much hue and cry over it as the [opposition] does over the 18th Amendment. PML-N’s Abdul Qayyum has also filed a bill regarding amendments in the Election Commission of Pakistan. Why did he do that, then? It was also a part of the 18th Amendment,” pointed out Faraz.“There shouldn’t be much hue and cry over it as a party that has enough numbers can make a constitutional amendment, but I believe that a debate should take place on this matter,” he said. meeting so that action could be taken on the issue,” he said.

The minister said that during the discussion on cotton crop, the prime minister directed that its support price should be fixed after thorough consultations with all the stakeholders in order to encourage the farmers to sow more cotton as its ratio had dropped during the past two decades.

The PM was in favour of giving subsi-

dies on cotton seed and fertiliser, so that poor growers could benefit, he added.

Faraz said that the cabinet also approved the names of the members of National Commission on the Status of Women, including Shaista Bukhari from Punjab, Habiba Hassan from Sindh, Rubina Naz Advocate from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Fatima Iqbal from Balochistan, Madhiha Sultana from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Sosan

PM lauds EU for extension in GSP-Plus status ‘GOVT WILL KEEP ON TAKING MEASURES TO UPLIFT MARGINALISED SECTOR ‘ IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday appreciated the European Union’s decision for continuation of GSP+ status to Pakistan which contributed towards the enhancement of the country’s exports and further strengthening of its ties with the member countries.

The prime minister expressed these views during a briefing to review progress on the implementation status of GSP Plus related conventions.

The prime minister observed that the 27 UN conventions associated with

the status were fully in consonance with their constitutional obligations; therefore, the government would continue to implement these conventions and enhance its engagement with the EU partners to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people of Pakistan. In a press release issued by the PM Office, Imran claimed that the present government was following zero-tolerance policy towards child abuse and child labour.

Secretary Treaty Implementation Cell Javed Akber Bhatti briefed the meeting about the existing trade engagement between Pakistan and EU

and the impact of GSP Plus status to promote shared objective of sustainable socio-economic development and good governance. The meeting expressed satisfaction on EU’s acknowledgment of some of the flagship initiatives of the present government, including the Billion Tree Tsunami project, Ehsaas Programme, Kartarpur Corridor, practical steps towards socio-economic development of erstwhile FATA. The prime minister was also briefed about the preparation for the next biennial review of GSP Plus. The prime minister, during the meeting, also directed adviser for climate change to expedite the formulation of national policy related to waste management in consultation with provincial governments.

Asad Umar records statement in sugar scam probe IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar on Tuesday recorded his statement before the sugar inquiry commission, investigating the hike in the prices of the commodity.

The federal minister arrived at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) headquarters on Tuesday to appear before the commission, headed by FIA Director General Wajid Zia. Talking to media on the occasion, Asad Umar said that soon it would be revealed as to how Prime Minister Imran Khan was different from other political leaders. “The sugar commis-

sion report will reveal if the commodity was smuggled from the country or not,” he said.

According to the latest updates, the sugar inquiry commission made progress in the probe into alleged misappropriation by completing interviews of the chief executive officers (CEOs) of different sugar mills on Sunday. The executives’ interviews have been conducted by the inquiry commission at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) headquarters. The reports said that CEOs have not appeared before the commission, however, directors of the sugar mill owners gave the interviews to the investigators.

It emerged that the sugar inquiry

commission had summoned eight groups for the interviews from the sugar mills including Alliance Group, Hunza Group, Hamza Group. It is pertinent to mention here that the federal cabinet on April 28 gave three weeks more time to Sugar Forensic Commission (SFC) to compile its detailed forensic report on the sugar and wheat scandal.

The approval was given in a federal cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, here in Islamabad.

The commission tasked with the forensic examination of the wheat, sugar inquiry report had sought three weeks’ time for submission of the thorough report.

LHC bench hearing Chaudhrys' plea against NAB dissolved LAHORe Staff RepoRt

A Lahore High Court (LHC) bench, which was formed a day earlier to hear petitions filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi against the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), on Tuesday refused to proceed with applications.

The two-member bench, comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Asjad Javaid Ghural, instead referred the matter to the LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan for fixing it before an-

other bench.

The bench was formed after the defense objected to the original bench which featured Justice Farooq Haider, observing that the judge had represented the Chaudhrys in a number of cases before his elevation. The Chauhdrys of Gujrat had moved the LHC last week challenging the opening of three 20year-old inquiries against them by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

“In 2000, then chairman of the respondent bureau proceeded to authorise investigation against the petitioners on the allegations of misuse of authority, assets beyond means and wilful default

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under National Accountability Ordinance 1999,” the PML-Q leaders, who are also cousins, said in their three identical petitions filed through their lawyer Amjad Pervez.

The petitioners said that the three investigations were recommended for closure by the investigating officers and the regional board of NAB in 2017 and 2018 when their arch-rivals, the PML-N, were in power. However, they said, the NAB chairman approved in 2019 bifurcation of the investigations against them about allegations of assets beyond means 19 years after the investigations were authorised [in 2000].

Aziz from Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Asia Azeem from the federal capital.

The cabinet also approved the decisions taken by the Cabinet’s Committee on Energy and Economic Coordination Committee.

The minister said that the PM directed steps for provision of energy to the consumers at affordable rates and reduction of the circular debt. He said that the premier also directed the minister for energy to complete the process of reformation in various departments of the ministry with a time line.

Faraz said that the cabinet reviewed the matters pertaining to the audit survey regarding embezzlement at the Karachi Port Trust.

He said that Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar gave a briefing on the steps being taken to control the coronavirus in the country and presented the report on the situation after relaxation in the lockdown.

“Addressing the cabinet meeting, the prime minister said lockdown was a temporary process which could limit the spread of the virus to some extent but it was necessary to take precautionary measures as much as possible to avoid the pandemic. He told the meeting that the decision to ease the lockdown was taken keeping in view the economic situation and the plight of the common man, especially the daily wagers,” he said. Faraz said that PM Imran remarked that activities in the construction and other sectors had even been allowed by the developed countries keeping in view the ground realities as keeping the economy afloat and balancing security measures was imperative.

army men inducted in PM’s naya Pakistan housing scheme team NEWS DESK: Prime Minister Imran Khan has appointed Major General Amer Aslam Khan as the deputy chairman of the Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority (NAPHDA).

Moreover, Brigadier Manzur Malik has been appointed as the executive director admin of NAPHDA. According to a notification issued by the Establishment Division in this regard, both officials have been appointed on secondment basis, on standard terms and conditions, under Section 12 of NAPHDA Act, 2020, with immediate effect. Last year, the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) government launched its Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme for the provision of affordable housing facilities to poor citizens.

Months later, the NAPDHA was formed.

Pia flight to bring back Pakistanis from us on 17th ISLAMABAD: A special Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) charter flight carrying stranded Pakistanis will depart from Newark, New Jersey for Lahore on May 17 to bring back Pakistanis stranded in the United States. According to a statement issued by the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, the government has also advised PIA to plan and operate more flights from the US for the repatriation of Pakistani citizens.

Dates, cities of origin and destinations in Pakistan will be announced in due course of time, it added. “All Pakistani citizens who wish to take these flights and have not yet registered with Pakistan Embassy Washington or its four consulates in the US are requested to immediately contact nearest Pakistani consulate on hotlines which are already provided. Schedule related details can also be obtained from PIA through its website (www.piac.aero) and call centre +92 21 111 786 786 or on www.covid.gov.pk,” the statement concluded. Staff RepoRt

Govt to introduce legislation for nursing sector: dr Mirza ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza on Tuesday confirmed plans to introduce new legislation for nursing sector to improve professional standards and address workforce shortage in the country. In a media briefing, Dr Mirza said that the government has decided to start nurses’ development programme to address the issues of shortage of nursing staff in hospitals and improving the quality of education and training at their institutions. app

Wednesday, 13 May, 2020

NEWS

bilawal says Qureshi’s stateMent about PPP fanninG ProvincialisM ‘unaccePtable’

P

News Desk

AKISTAN People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday said that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s statement about his party fanning provincialism was “unacceptable” as they do not accuse him of playing the “provincial card” when he speaks about Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and GilgitBaltistan (GB).

Bilawal said this in response to Qureshi’s statements during a special Senate session to debate the government’s policy on the coronavirus outbreak.

Responding to PPP Senator Sherry Rehman’s criticism in the House, Qureshi had said that a party which once “stood for the federation now reeks of provincialism” and rejected claims that the Centre had left Sindh on its own amidst the pandemic.

“This is not the PPP of the past, which was a symbol of the federation. Today, I sense the roots of provincialism in the party,” the foreign minister said.

“Karachi is as much ours as it is yours.

Sindh is ours. Sindh’s capital is ours; even now the people of Karachi support Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and our allied party Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P),” he said, and told PPP senators in the legislature to “get ready” as the PTI would also make inroads in Sindh, “just like we did in Punjab and KP”.

Addressing a press conference hours after the Senate session ended, the PPP chief said that he wants Qureshi to take

back his statement and if he cannot do so, then he wants him to resign.

Bilawal called the foreign minister’s comments a “slap on the face”.

“We want to save our country and this man is talking about proving political mettle in Sindh? Not everything is about politics. We should avoid playing up these debates during a global health crisis. My efforts are in front of the people. When I got the chance yesterday [during the National Assembly session], I put forward my view in front of the people, and look at how we were abused in return. It is sad,” he said.

Criticise Prime Minister Imran Khan for his absence in yesterday’s NA session, he said, “PM Imran should have attended and explained his point of view because he is the leader of the govern-

ment […] he want workers, labourers to go to work but will not step outside to fulfil his basic duty.”

Earlier in the day, Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab had also responded to Qureshi’s comment, saying it was actually the federal government that “reeks of prejudice”.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Wahab said that the PTI-led federal government always talked “negatively”.

“I want to give a reply to the champions who talk negatively about the 18th Amendment. When National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) was devolved to the Sindh government in 2011, it was only on Rafeequi Shaheed Road and its budget was Rs700 million. The Sindh

government established satellite centres of the institute in several cities and its budget after the 18th Amendment is Rs11 billion.

People from all over Pakistan come to get treated there,” he said.

He questioned whether the PTI — which has been in power in KP for the last seven years — could boast of even one such hospital where people of Sindh could go and receive quality treatment for free.

Wahab claimed that the federal government had put on a “lens of prejudice and was unwilling to take it off”.

“Take the example of Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT).

8,500 people benefited from treatment at the hospital in the last year. These people were from all over Pakistan and even Pakistanis living abroad who came here to get treatment. We gave land for the Indus Hospital where thousands of people are treated for free,” he said, listing the provincial government’s achievements.

“The Centre does not give even a rupee for any of these health institutes. People from all over Pakistan and even those living abroad are treated here which proves we do not believe in provincialism. Our vision is to serve,” Wahab added.

He questioned why Prime Minister Imran did not visit Sindh since the pandemic began. “He goes to all the provinces but he does not come here. Tell us, then who is biased?” Wahab asked.

“We have offered them again and again to work together. Just because you have conflicts with [Sindh government] doesn’t mean you can undermine all [our] good work.”

Govt to launch ‘We Care’ drive for protection of healthcare workers ASAD UMAR SAYS RELAXATIONS IN LOCKDOWN WILL OVERBURDEN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR IN JUNE AND JULY IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Tuesday sought a roadmap to deal with the potential worsening of the coronavirus pandemic, as the government announced to launch ‘We Care’ campaign to protect the healthcare workers fighting coronavirus.

During the NCOC meeting, Planning Minister Asad Umar directed all the ministers and quarters concerned to come up with draft plans aimed to deal with the future scenarios as ease in the lockdown is likely to increase pressure on the healthcare system and administration because it is likely to persist till June and July.

The NCOC directed officials concerned to ensure the implementation of health standard operating procedures (SOPs) and proper training of doctors and paramedics fighting on the frontline against the pandemic.

He was apprised that the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination was going to launch the campaign ‘We Care ’ for the protection of the healthcare workers and had prepared the draft of guidelines which would be shared with the provincial health ministers for further implementation.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said that the system aimed at bringing all medical workforce on the same page for using personal protective equipment (PPEs), link PPE

utilisation with supply, and bridge gaps between hospital administrations and the government.

Minister for Interior Brigadier (r) Ijaz Shah, Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar, Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Com-

merce Textile and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood, Prime Minister’s focal person on Covid-19 and others also attended the meeting.

Umar said that there was a need to devise a new strategy and planning to prepare for the new situation post May 9 easing of restrictions.

Centre to charge provinces for defence, disaster management CONtINueD FOMe PAge 01 Rationalisation of subsidies given by the federal and provincial governments in their budgets and agreeing on a mechanism to finance them; and exploring ways to reduce losses of state-owned enterprises and agreeing on mechanism for sharing these losses between the federal and the provincial governments COMPOSITION OF 10TH NFC: As there was a constitutional issue in presiding over the NFC meeting by adviser on finance in the absence of a federal finance minister, the president, through the notification, allowed Adviser to the PM on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh to preside over the commission’s

functions in the absence of the minister.

Facilitating him to chair the meeting, the adviser was made a member of the NFC. However, officials claim, the final signature on any decision of the NFC meeting would be made by the prime minister as minister in charge.

According to the notification, Federal Finance Secretary Naveed Kamran Baloch will serve as an expert for the commission.

As per the composition of the NFC, finance minister would be the chairman, while finance ministers of four provinces will be members of the commission. Other members (experts) include PM’s finance adviser, Tariq Bajwa from Punjab government, Dr Asad Sayeed from Sindh government, Musharraf Rasool Cyan from KP

government and Javed Jabbar from Balochistan government.

Under the existing NFC arrangements, the Federal Divisible Pool (FDP) is distributed under the ratio of 57.5 per cent to 42.5 per cent among the provinces and the federal government, respectively.

Currently, the issue of the NFC award and the 18th Amendment have become a point of conflict between the government and the opposition parties.

The NFC Award is a constitutional obligation, which is clearly mentioned in the Article 160 of the 1973 Constitution. The constitution has made it mandatory for the government to compose the NFC Award at an interval extending not more than five years for the distribution of finances be-

tween the Centre and the provinces.

According to Article 160 of the Constitution, after every five years the president will constitute the NFC for a period of five years.

It is worth mentioning here that soon after becoming the finance minister, Asad Umar had directed the finance secretary to initiate the new NFC Award. Later, President Dr Arif Alvi had reconstituted the 9th NFC in January 2019, and the then-finance minister Umar had started negotiations with the provinces. However, after his resignation as the finance minister, the process of the consultation had come to a halt as the newly-appointed adviser on finance could not chair the NFC meetings due to legal reasons.

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PPP blasts govt for ‘confused’ policy on covid-19 crisis CONtINueD FOMe PAge 01 The senator observed that the crisis as a “situation worse than war”, saying the government is not ready to sit [with the opposition] and come up with a [unified] policy to deal with the disease. Speaking before the House, the foreign minister negated Senator Sherry’s claims that the government did not have a unified policy. He recalled that the prime minister held meetings with provincial chief executives every day and heard everyone.

“There is no confusion, the policy is clear,” he said, adding: “A national strategy has been created and they (opposition) have a hand in formulating it, we value their input.”

Responding to the criticism pertaining to proposed changes in the 18th Amendment, Qureshi said that the government did not aim to “bury the amendment”. “We say that the weak points [of the amendment] should be checked and addressed. We don’t have a two-thirds majority to bring any change, why are you afraid,” he questioned. Qureshi also responded to the criticism the government earned over a statement by the premier that decision to impose lockdown was “taken by the country’s elite without thinking of the poor”. He insisted that the prime minister was quoted “out of context”. “What happens in politics sometimes is that you are quoted out of context,” he said. “PM did not say elites enforced lockdown, I shall clarify.” He noticed while the upper class can afford to stay in a lockdown, lower-income people cannot. The foreign minister seconded the prime minister on the assertion that lockdown was a temporary solution to the epidemic. “The real solution is a vaccine but that will take time,” he said, adding: “Until the real solution comes, we have to see how we can control the spread of the virus.” He also warned that a recession will follow the health crisis. “The world is saying this. The global economy is going to contract by 3 per cent. It amounts to trillions of dollars and it will have a huge impact on Pakistan,” he told the Senate. “Our exports have decreased by 40 per cent. There is a danger of layoffs [of Pakistani labourers] in Gulf states, remittances might go down by 20 per cent to 23 per cent.” The foreign minister clarified that the government merely expanded the scope of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) by introducing the Ehsaas programme. He criticised the PPP for implying that the government had replaced BISP with its flagship social welfare programme. “BISP covered 4 million people while Ehsaas covers 12 million. Please do not try to fool people,” he said. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senators lamented the decision to ease the lockdown. Commenting on the development, Senator Musadiq Malik declared that by taking such a step, the government was moving towards “herd immunity”. Senator Javed Abbasi of the PML-N observed that the restrictions were lifted at a time when the virus was spreading at a faster rate. He expressed concern that the country’s healthcare system would not be able to cope with an increasing number of cases. Abbasi lamented that the government started holding meetings when it was “already too late”. He regretted the “government did not take parliament in confidence”. The party also condemned the US statement blaming the Covid-19 outbreak on China and thanked Beijing for its assistance to Pakistan at this time. Speaking on the occasion, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan came down hard on Centre for its dealing with the epidemic, saying that no country in the world has shown such “nonseriousness” as Pakistan. Khan declared that the quarantine centre in Taftan was not a camp but a “barn”. Commenting on the Ehsaas cash incentive for the poor, he said that Rs3,000 are not enough for a family to buy basic supplies that would last a month.

Khan also suggested that the government does away with interest rate so that people would borrow loans from banks.

04 LAHORE

Wednesday, 13 May, 2020

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CM inaugurates municipal services improvement programme LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar on Tuesday inaugurated the cities cleanliness and municipal services improvement programme of the Local Government department, here.

A ceremony was held at Race Course Park in which 24 mini tippers were handed over to deputy commissioner Sialkot while 12 mini tippers to DC Sahiwal.

He also inspected modern sewerage safety van and announced to provide funds for giving these vans to every city to protect the lives of the sewermen.

He said that cities cleanliness operation would be improved under Punjab Intermediate Cities Improve-

ment Investment Programme.

“Steps had been taken to develop the standard of municipal services and provision of latest machinery had been started to improve the waste management system in Sahiwal and Sialkot,” he added.

He said that 1,088 vehicles and other required equipment would be provided to Sialkot with an amount of Rs592 million. Similarly, 942 vehicles and other machinery would be provided to Sahiwal with a sum of Rs293 million, he added. He maintained that cities were facing problems in providing basic facilities due to population boom and varied industrial activities. App

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Sarwar accuSeS bureaucratS of obStructing aab-e-Pak authority Project LAHORE

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UnjAB Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar on Wednesday reprimanded bureaucrats for putting roadblocks in the way of Aab-e-Pak Authority that was created to provide safe drinking water to people at their doorsteps.

The Punjab governor was talking to media persons after inaugurating filtration plant installed by the Sarwar Foundation at Deputy Commissioner (DC) Office, Lahore, on Tuesday. Sarwar Foundation Vice-Chairperson Begum Perveen Sarwar and District Administration Officials were also present on the occasion.

“Bureaucrats should mend their ways or I would be compelled to expose them in front of their nation,” he warned. He regretted that some bureaucrats had become so senseless that they had no remorse even if children of a lesser God would die while drinking unsafe water. He said that he could no more make lame excuses for delay in providing safe drinking water to people and

ramzan Sugar Mills case adjourned till june 5 LAHORE: An accountability court on Tuesday adjourned hearing of the Ramzan Sugar Mills case against Hamza Shehbaz and his father Shehbaz Sharif till june 5. Accountability Court judge Amjad nazir Chaudhry conducted the proceedings of the case. Hamza Shehbaz could not be indicted again in the case as the jail authorities did not produce him due to COVID-19 protocol. The court had directed jail authorities to produce Hamza on May 12 for indictment on last hearing. Hamza and his father former Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif were accused in the case. As per the reference, nAB has accused Shehbaz Sharif of misuse of authority in Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

Shehbaz Sharif, allegedly approved an amount of Rs210 million for the construction of the drain to benefit the mills. Hamza has been charged in the case for being the chief executive of the Ramzan Sugar Mills. App

Shaukat Khanum lauds nursing staff for role in cancer care

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LAHORE: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centres (SKMCH&RC) located at Lahore and Peshawar on Tuesday paid tribute to the nures working with at the hospitals.

SKMCH&RC CEO Dr Muhammed Aasim Yusuf sharing his message on the occasion said, “We are proud of our nursing staff and recognise their critical role in cancer care. Today, nurses and doctors are fighting together on the frontlines against COVID-19. I hope that the young generation in our country will step forward and join the nursing profession”.

Rehana Elahi, Director for nursing at SKMCH&RC recognised the special role that nurses play in Pakistan saying, “nurses are serving the humanity. They are providing critical and compassionate quality care to patients every day. Over the past weeks and months, our nurses are fighting to combat the challenge of coronavirus, day in and day out. We must celebrate and honour these extraordinary men and women who have been providing support to the patients fighting coronavirus and cancer, with devotion, commitment and tirelessness. press reLeAse

warned that “enough is enough”.

He said it was his life-long dream and objective to provide clean and safe drinking water to people in Punjab as well as in other provinces. He said that he was working on the Aab-e-Pak project for the past one-anda-half-year since Prime Minister Imran Khan directed him to lead the project and ensure the provision of safe drinking water to people across Punjab.

Sarwar said that he was committed to providing the basic human necessity to all people in the province but some black sheep in the bureaucracy were trying to create hurdles in providing clean drinking water to people.

“Some bureaucrats think that they will not let the project operate even if poor people continue dying for want of safe drinking water,” he observed.

He regretted that the procedural snags had almost wasted two long years to keep the authority limping otherwise some 20 million people would now be able to switch to save and clean drinking water.

“I will hold a meeting with the bureaucrats concerned in a few days to come and if their stubbornness continued, expose them in a press conference next

Wednesday, 13 May, 2020

NEWS

ISGS Board accepts MD Mobin Saulat’s resignation

LOCUSTS

UN BoDy to Seek aDDItIoNal reSoUrceS for PakIStaN FAO SAYS MORE PEOPLE ARE AT RISK OF LOSING LIVELIHOODS AND WORSENING FOOD SECURITY ISLAMABAD

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HE UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will likely make a request for additional resources for Pakistan and Iran in the wake of locust infestation, as it called for sustained efforts to avert a food security crisis.

The appeal will request additional resources for Iran and Pakistan, which are also facing locust infestations, and for scaling up efforts in the Sahel region, which risks being affected.

FAO chief Qu Dongyu stressed that more action is still needed to avert a food security crisis as the ongoing rainy season, which benefits farmers and pastoralists, also provides favourable conditions for locusts to breed. “Our gains have been significant, but the battle is long and is not yet over”, he said. “More people are at risk of losing their livelihoods and worsening food security in the coming months.”

The FAO has released its first progress report on the locust control campaign which began in January and now covers 10 countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan,

Bilawal says victims of May 12 carnage still await justice ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday expressed dismay that the judiciary has not provided justice to the martyrs of May 12 carnage even after the passage of 13 years.

“Dozens of political workers and lawyers were mowed down in Karachi streets in daylight by the terrorist stooges of the dictator for their struggle for the free and independent judiciary and supremacy of the constitution and law,” the PPP chairman said in a statement issued on the 13th anniversary of May 12 carnage. Bilawal said that dictator Musharraf resorted to brutal attacks against the political workers and lawyers for demanding free judiciary and the majority of those gunned down belonged to the PPP, he added. Paying tributes and salutes to the May 12 carnage martyrs, the PPP chief said democratic parties and the people of Pakistan are dismayed that the martyrs and their families have not been provided justice though they laid down their lives for restoration of the independent judiciary. “How many more decades will be required for justice to them as the case appears to be running on snail’s pace. Delaying justice is tantamount the to denial of justice,” he added.

Bilawal pledged that PPP stands by the bereaved families of the martyrs and assured that their sacrifices won’t go in vain and one day their dream of independent judiciary and justice without any discrimination will come true. Staff RepoRt

Uganda, Tanzania and Yemen.

It was launched to protect crops and livelihoods from what are considered the most destructive migratory pests in the world. A single desert locust swarm, which can contain up to 150 million insects per square kilometre, is capable of eating as much food in a day, as 35,000 people.

Through FAO’s support, more than 365,000 hectares have been controlled, and an additional 350,000 pastoral households have been spared from distress.

While swathes of treated land are now relatively locust-free, the agency warned that a second wave of locusts will transition to the young adult phase in June, at a critical time when many farmers prepare to harvest their crops.

Forecasts made prior to the COVID-19 crisis indicate that more than 25 million

ISLAMABAD app

The closure of the public and private universities in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic may extend beyond July 15, according to the minutes of a meeting of the varsities heads that was chaired by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri.

“The future scenario is uncertain and the closure of universities till July 15, 2020, could be extended. “This has necessitated decisions and steps on part of both HEC and universities with regard to online teaching, examinations, and admissions,” it was said during the meeting. Moreover, the heads of universities decided that all higher educational institutes will announce their policies on examinations and admissions within one week.

ISLAMABAD aHMaD aHMaDaNI

people in the East Africa region will face acute food insecurity in the latter half of the year. An additional 17 million people in Yemen are already affected.

“We can and must protect vulnerable people from the impact of multiple crises: conflicts, climate extremes, desert locusts and COVID-19, which threaten to cause a further dramatic deterioration in their food security,” said Qu, the FAO Director General. “To do this, we need to intensify our efforts further and focus not just on controls but on supporting the livelihoods of farmers and pastoralists so they can get through this.”

An FAO appeal launched in January has netted $130 million. While funding has been largely concentrated on locust control activities, more support for livelihoods is needed.

Closure of universities likely to be extended: HEC The meeting held at the HEC decided that the “special problems faced by the graduating students will be addressed” as well. The HEC will set up an appellate system to follow up on student complaints, it added.

HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri said the purpose of examinations is to reward students for actions that would make them successful in their future lives. Responding to a question promotion of students without exams, he said, “Examinations and assessments are an integral part of the teaching process. Attempts to eliminate exams will have severe

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repercussions for educational quality and student achievement.”, “Only fake degree mills issue degrees and certificates without verification,” he added.

Sharing their views on the occasion, the Vice-Chancellors appreciated HEC for its proactive approach towards the impending academic hardships in the wake of lockdown and closure of universities. They agreed to come up with their examination policies, based on natures of examinations, aligned with their respective feasibility scenarios and needs of students.

The Board of Directors of the Inter State Gas System (ISGS) on Tuesday discussed and accepted the resignation of managing director Mobin Saulat. However, he is still entitled to two months’ salary, which would be paid to him as per ISGS Executive Staff Service Rules. Meanwhile, the board made Petroleum Division Joint Secretary Saira Najeeb Ahmed as the acting MD of ISGS till the time any appropriate nomination is received from Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division). The board also decided to initiate the recruitment of new CEO/MD of the company (ISGS), asking its human resource committee to lead the recruitment process. “In view of the above, the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) is requested to take further necessary action and nominate a person as Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of the company till the appointment regular incumbent,” said a letter written to Petroleum Secretary Mian Asad Hayaud Din by ISGS Board Chairman Dr Ibne Hassan on Tuesday. According to sources, the IGSG Board was not comfortable with the outgoing managing director which led to the latter’s resignation. They said that Mobin Saulat had allegedly inducted nontechnical manpower, violating rules and regulation. He was also accused of offering lucrative offers to petroleum ministry officials, convincing them to be part of his corruption, beides misusing ISGS funds on foreign tours.

Mobin Saulat’s name was earlier included in no-fly list (Exit Control List) owing to allegations of corruption, said sources.

Reportedly, Mobin Saulat became an approver in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigation against former prime minister Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal scandal.

In his four-page statement submitted with NAB, Saulat, who had played an important role in the construction of LNG terminal and LNG purchase from Qatar, had blamed former PM Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi, former finance minister Miftah Ismail, and former Government Holding Private Limited (GHPL) MD Shahid Islam for all “wrongdoings”.

Qadeer to appear before Supreme Court bench today ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has allowed nuclear physicist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan to appear before its bench on Wednesday to hear his petition seeking enforcement of fundamental rights, including the right to free movement across the country.

The two-judge bench of the apex court presided over by Justice Mushir Alam took up a petition filed by Dr Khan through his counsel.

Dr Khan had filed an appeal in the top court against the LHC judgement last year which had rejected a similar plea of his on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction in

Govt agencies urged to end all agreements with tobacco companies ISLAMABAD: The Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index (GTIII) has called for banning all tobacco-related corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in Pakistan, saying the government agencies must end all agreements and memorandum of agreements with tobacco companies. According to the index, “Conflict of interest of senior retired government officials who joined tobacco companies has been a problem in Pakistan along with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.” Pakistan’s score on the index is 66 among 33 countries with heavy interference in tobacco industry. The report termed tobacco-related CSR activities a “problem” in Pakistan. Although the report noted that PTC was able to sign a MoU with a few government agencies for joint CSR activities, it bemoaned the fact that there is no public access to information about meetings between government officials and the tobacco industry. It also said that the government should require the tobacco industry to submit information on tobacco production, manufacturing, market share, marketing expenditures, revenues and lobbying activities. The index also wants a code of conduct for all civil servants on their interaction with the industry. “Pakistan does not prohibit contributions from the tobacco industry or any entity working to further its interests in political parties, candidates or campaigns,” said Faraz Ahmed, Associate Coordinator, Coalition for Tobacco Control Pakistan, while sharing the findings of the report. The index report said that progress has been made achieved in applying larger pictorial warnings on cigarette packs, but noted “the tobacco industry interfered to reduce the size of the warning by lobbying non-health departments.” Staff RepoRt

view of special security measures taken by the state for his protection. The top court had also rejected the plea of the defence ministry’s counsel to hear the case in camera.

During today’s hearing, the bench wondered as to how the petitioner first approached the IHC, and later went to the LHC on the same subjct. Justice Yahya Afridi asked the petitioner’s counsel that it could have been better to approach the IHC again.

The defense prayed upon the judge that the petitioner is a national hero, as it is a matter of human rights, the apex court can thereafter exercise its power under

Article 189 of the constitution. “The petitioner himself wanted to appear before the court,” the counsel said.

Upon this argument, the court allowed Dr Khan and adjourned the hearing until tomorrow.

THE CASE: The top scientist had stated in his petition that he was the pioneer of Pakistan’s nuclear programme and it was owing to the untiring efforts of the people at the helm of the affairs that he had succeeded in making the country a nuclear power. The petitioner said that he felt proud of having done his bit to secure Pakistan from the “evil eyes of [its] neighbors and other adversaries”. Staff RepoRt

Wednesday, 13 May, 2020

06 COMMENT

The elusive virus

Business as usual Parliamentary session achieved nothing

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special session of the National assembly to exclusively discuss the Covid-19 situation was held on Monday after weeks of debate over how to go about it in the safest way possible. What transpired was far from an ideal outcome, with the opposition and treasury hurling verbal attacks at each other from the word ‘go’. this was to be expected; the Federal government had made it a point over the past two months to go after anyone criticizing the center’s mishandling of the Coronavirus through press conferences, television talk shows and tweets. Finally face to face, sparks flew. attendance was disappointing as well. although 140 MNas attended, leader of the opposition shehbaz sharif, whose own party, the PML-N, wanted the Corona-Na session and had rejected the idea of a virtual session, was conveniently absent. a doctor’s note- the sort schoolchildren give their teachers when their homework is incomplete or missing- was furnished, to excuse him.

With the possibility of contracting a lethal virus and having to listen to snarky comments from across the aisle, Prime Minister imran Khan chose not to attend as well, which was not a surprise considering how he does not show up even in normal circumstances unless it’s a matter of voting on a bill that ‘must be passed’. there was also excessive censorship of speeches made by PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto, PML-N leader Khawaja asif and other members of the opposition by state television. Despite the attempted gag, a general feeling of discontentment with regards to the Pti’s inability to formulate a national strategy and helping out other provinces was put across quite clearly. across the aisle however, in the midst of a rising death toll and number of confirmed cases courtesy an objectively incompetent effort to contain the spread, government MNas could not help but pat themselves on the back, with one minister going as far as saying New York Governor andrew Cuomo, who has perhaps so far done the best job in combating the virus, is planning to adopt Pakistan’s ‘smart lockdown’ approach. rather than availing a good opportunity to deliberate on a future course of action and hold a serious dialogue in a cordial manner to arrive at some semblance of consensus over a national strategy to combat the pandemic, it was simply business as usual.

Will smoking help? Or astrology? amjed jaaved

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OviD-19 is an elusive virus. the common symptoms of covid-19 are dry cough, fever, sore throat, tiredness and respiratory difficulties. However, there is no consistency in the virus’ behavior. Unlike covid19’s cousins sars and Mers, covid-19 patients may be symptom-free, spreading the virus around. to identify asymptomatic patients, doctors notice a pink eye, sudden loss of smell or taste, and now covid toes.

Dermatologists in italy found a sudden surge in inflammation in toes in March. Dermatologists in europe and america are discussing a new potential symptom to identify a covid-19 patient, particularly if the novel coronavirus has infected kids and young adults. in March, some dermatologists in italy found an inflammation of toes and feet, and discolouration of the organ of those suffering from covid-19. this condition is akin to frostbite or pernio, a condition found among people living in harsh winters in polar and sub-polar regions. there, blood vessels in the toes get aggravated inflammation and toes tend to have serious spasm. the condition was nicknamed ‘ Covid toes’ because dermatologists found it to be most prevalent in areas with a high concentration of covid-19 patients in italy. ‘Covid toes’ have surfaced in the Usa, as in Boston. the american academy of Dermatology recommended coronavirus tests for kids visiting them with ‘Covid toes’. there is no conclusive evidence about the origin of the deadly virus. speculation that it was a biological weapon is uncorroborated. a recent erroneous online message circulating around the world and purporting to be a UNiCeF communication advised that avoiding ice-cream and other cold foods could help prevent the onset of the disease. Donald trump threatened india with retaliation if it did not export the requisite quantity of hydroxychloroquine to the Usa. india had put the drug on its licensed list. the Usa’s Food and Drug authority however warned against side-effects of unsupervised use of the medicine. it increases the heartbeat.

Nevertheless, hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are FDa-approved to treat or prevent malaria, treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Indian medicines Importing raw material critical in the fight against covid-19

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He Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers association has warned that any ban on import of raw material from india at this point would not only cripple the industry and reduce Pakistani pharmaceutical exports, but could also harm Pakistan’s fight against the covid-19 outbreak. at a press conference on Monday, PPMa representatives warned that stopping raw material imports was not a good decision, and the Cabinet should not let itself be misled into making it. it was pointed out that such items as folic acid and vitamin B1 were actually essential in pregnancy and to prevent beriberi, and to claim that pharmaceutical manufacturers were importing non-essential items from india was misleading. the only finished drugs being imported are some vaccines and some snakebite antidotes, so any ban on indian pharmaceuticals would not just cause a shortage of lifesaving drugs in Pakistan, but also Pakistani drugs exports would be adversely impacted. the former would be disastrous at any time, but the latter would be particularly painful at the present juncture. there was an attempt by the industry to switch from india at the time that the war scare last year endangered the supply chain, to China, but not only did Chinese pharmaceutical raw material makers ask for exorbitant prices, but the country went under lockdown, being the first country to be struck by the coronavirus pandemic. that should not stop the government from enforcing the law, but there is something inherently unstable in a situation where a country’s most hostile neighbor has such a stranglehold over such a vital commodity as its medicines.

However, until the industry is duly brought up to the level where it is self-reliant, something which cannot be expected to happen overnight, or until China stabilizes to the point where it can supply pharmaceuticals at reasonable prices, there is no need to engage in tubthumping decisions based on alarmist and incomplete information. it should not be forgotten that even the Usa had to import hydroxychloroquine from india when it was thought to be a coronavirus cure. any cure for the coronavirus will probably come from either an existing medicine. is it to be denied to people just because its raw material came from india?

Our COVID-19 Narratives Are Counterproductive Some of the slogans surrounding covid-19 are not realistic Umar Sheraz

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arratives have the persuasive power to strongly influence how people and nations think and act. Narratives embed within themselves particular power relationships and seduce nations and individuals into thinking, creating value and justifying a particular course of action. there are two damning narratives which are essentially framing the global discourse and power relationships in regards to the covid-19 pandemic. the first critical narrative is the ‘war against covid-19’. We have become accustomed to politicians blaring endlessly about the long war against corona or the media headlines about “doctors battling at the frontline”. in a recent interview for the Journal of Futures Studies, Dr Peter Black, one of the top epidemiologists in the world, discussed how the use of the war metaphor discounts or limits the number of options which become available to address the challenge. Who are we at war against? the current chain of events is a co-evolutionary process in terms of the human population and a virus. Our much-trumpeted foe, the novel Coronavirus does not strategize to beat the human race, nor hold everyday briefings with its generals to wreak havoc on humanity. in retrospect, it is ignorance, arrogance and human activity that is solely the cause of the situation that we are struggling against. Given this war has been waged against an unprecedented foe, it is no wonder that global leadership has usually been either non-existent, confused, or sometimes even harmful for not taking necessary action at the right time and sadly the biggest casualty of war is the human capital which becomes the fuel of the war engines. so the struggle we are engaged in, should be against the demons of our own greed, avarice and indifference towards the earth’s ecosystem and habi-

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Asher John

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as yet, there is no proven retroviral drug. Ger- darkness of night on a country with seven hills many and the Usa have tested some vaccines. a (italy) and will transform the twilight of men into drug tamiflu, effective against respiratory syn- dust (death), to destroy and ruin the world. it will drome and Middle east respiratory syndrome, and be the end of the world economy as you know it.” astrologer acharya vinod Kumar in an instaremdesivir (Gilead sciences inc.), originally tested on ebola, are being experimented on COviD19, be- gram post has predicted that the coronavirus will end sides Hiv medicine Kaletra/aluvia (lopinavir)/ri- in india between september and November. For tonavir (abbvie). india has progressed into an many the current position of the celestial objects is indigenous synthesis of multiple promising anti- the reason for the global pandemic.

Like india, Pakistan’s tv channels, also, proviral molecules such as Umifenovir, Favipiravir. phytopharmaceuticals, and leads from traditional mote pseudo-scientific Zodiac predictions. Newspamedical systems are also being explored in parallel. pers publish daily horoscopes, instead of scientific quizzes to arouse sciena covid-19 patient retific curiosity and ingecovered from convalesnuity of the mind. in cent plasma therapy. egypt, aristotle found a But, results elsewhere plate with the zodiac are not similar. Use of Like India, Pakistan’s TV channels, carved in gold. He could herbal medicines like not make head or tail of kalonji (black seeds, also, promote pseudo-scientific it, and sent it to alexankadha, and their ilk has Zodiac predictions. Newspapers der far afield. He too was doubtful efficacy. skeptical. alexander Nicotine could propublish daily horoscopes, instead however continued to tect people from conroam naked around tracting the coronavirus, of scientific quizzes to arouse Ulysses to attract good according to new rescientific curiosity and fortune in his battles. He search in France. Findalso drew solace from ings come after ingenuity of the mind the aristotle-annotated researchers at a top iliad hidden in his pillow.

Paris hospital examined spartacus believed in or343 coronavirus paacles. But, he too took tients along with 139 people infected with the illness, but with milder the Oracle of Delphi with a pinch of salt.

Fourier proved that Zodiac and other psychic symptoms they found that a low number of them smoked, interpretations are vague. Better read edward de compared to smoking rates of around 35 percent in Bono, psychologists Barry Beyerstein, Dickson and Kelly, Myers-Briggs (their indicator) to avoid France’s general population.

Nicotine could protect people “among these pa- being deceived by fraudsters on streets and chantients, only five percent were smokers,” said Zahir nels. Mathematician Leibnitz deciphered I Ching amoura, the study’s co-author and a professor of in- (book of changes) into 64 predictions. Psychologist ternal medicine. the theory is that nicotine could Jung believed in it. Countless people, including adhere to cell receptors, therefore blocking the virus psychologists, lawyers, and writers (Jude Devreux) from entering cells and spreading in the body, ac- fell a prey to fortunetellers and psychics (The Psycording to renowned neurobiologist Jean-Pierre chic’s $17 million Scam, reader’s Digest, May Changeux from France’s Pasteur institut, who also 2014). in Usa, a psychic was sentenced to 10 co-authored the study. smoking kills 75,000 smok- years and one month (though prosecution sought 27 years sentence). ers every year. the pseudo-`professsors’ and believers claim Amjed Jaaved is a freelance journalist, has that the French apothecary, astrologer and seer Michel de Nostradamus wrote in the year 1551: served in the Pakistan government for 39 years and “there will be a twin year (2020) from which will holds degrees in economics, business administration, law.

He can be reached at arise a queen (Corona) who will come from the east and (China) and who will spread a plague (virus) in the amjedjaaved@gmail.com.

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tats. How we exorcise these demons will essentially are firmly entrenched in the minds of those attemptdecide how this pandemic pans out and the sort of ing to push their agendas, and do not have anything to do with the new post-pandemic reality. it is unforworld that emerges from it. this narrative has special meaning for Pakistan, tunate that a once-in-a-generation chance of a global because as a nation, war has been a popular yet over- reset button; our narratives are becoming the biggest used slogan and rallying point over the past 4 hurdle in a unified tackling of this global pandemic. decades. so for the past 40 years, we have been wag- and in the creation of a post-pandemic reality better ing Jihad, war against terrorism, war against inflation, than the one we have. the plausible future also seems to be driven by war against corruption (ehtesaab) and war for change (tabdeeli). Our leaders need to realize that the current these two narratives, as once a narrative has taken lax attitude of our general public is a function of this hold it can be very difficult to shake off. that is at least until an even more war-weariness and a compelling ‘counter-narchange in narratives is rative’ is introduced, to the need of the day. reframe the issue. instead the second narrative It is going to be a long and weary of the war metaphor, is the term “opportunity” are other narratives and the world finds itself global struggle ahead. Softening up there which are much more being bombarded by suguseful for us to think gestions of there being an our narratives could make a postabout our preferred fuopportunity from every ture, which is very differsegment of society. this corona world more humanitarian, ent from anything to do in itself is problematic as rather than a victim of opportunistic with war. We could talk the people who see opabout the “Coronavirus portunity, eventually bebucket lists and war chants movement”, similar to come “opportunistic”. freedom movements Once the opportunity which united all and mindset gets etched into sundry towards a comthe national and public psyches, there is scant regard to the alternative ways mon goal and cause. the other change in narrative of thinking on the other side of the horizon and they could be replacing “opportunity” with “possibility”. eventually become the monster that they set out to this helps to accommodate other world views, experfight. so we find that a once-in-a-generation chance imentation and backup plans in case of failure. anyto have a unified vision of a preferred global future how, a pandemic should not e an opportunity, not one is being hampered by opportunists bent on taking ad- which has been bought with so many lives (287,000 vantage of the situation, settling old scores and taking worldwide by tuesday evening). it is going to be a long and weary global struggle cheap shots at other worldviews. so Donald trump’s tantrums against China and doctors, the Corona Jihad ahead. softening up our narratives could make a postmovement against Muslims in india, the divergence corona world more humanitarian, rather than a victim due to nationalism in the european Union, the defi- of opportunistic bucket lists and war chants. ance of the clergy in Pakistan, to name a few, smack Umar Sheraz is a freelance columnist of unsound thought-processes and opportunism. they

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Wednesday, 13 May, 2020

COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: letters to editor, Pakistan today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, lahore, Pakistan.

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

Existential economic threats

Global disunity against the coronavirus

malik mUhammad aShraf

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OtWitHstaNDiNG the fact that the coronavirus has affected almost the entire global community, and that it has humanitarian, social, political and economic implications of unknown proportions requiring a united global approach against the contagion, the world has failed to forge a united front against it. the unfortunate reality is that the big powers which could have provided a global leadership in the fight against this unprecedented challenge of the century are locked in a blame-game about the spread of the virus, placing their political interests above the common humanitarian cause.

UN secretary General antonio Guterres was right on the money when, in an interview with reuters recently, he lamented the lack of leadership by world powers and a divided international community in the fight against the coronavirus, particularly in regards to support for the poor countries. He said, “i am particularly worried about insufficient help from the international community for developing countries both in responding to the pandemic and addressing the economic and social impacts. the contribution of China and the United states both to fight covid-19 and to all other aspects in the development of international relations is, in my opinion, absolutely essential”. the remarks of the secretary General have come in the backdrop of Us President Donald trump re-igniting his war of words with China regarding the origin and handling of the virus as well as his assertion that China would do everything to make him lose his election bid in November; his allegations against the World Health Organization of a China-centric approach and suspension of Us funding for the agency. it is pertinent to mention that the WHO had earlier contradicted the claim of the Us President about the virus having originated in a lab in China. WHO spokesperson Fadela Chaib said at a news briefing in Geneva that all available evidence suggested that the virus had an animal origin and was not manipulated or constructed in a lab or somewhere else. Perhaps it is because of the Usa falling out with the WHO that the UNsC has spent more than a month trying to negotiate a resolution that would emphasize the urgent need for enhanced cooperation among all countries in the

fight against the coronavirus and would call for a reprieve on the payment of loans is a welcome humanitarian truce in conflicts around the world. move as it would provide some fiscal space to reportedly the key sticking point is how the res- them in the short run, to expand their health sysolution should reference the WHO in it. the Us tems and lessen economic impact of the virus, also stayed out of the WHO initiative where but considering the enormity of the challenge world leaders pledged to accelerate work on tests, and the uncertainty regarding how long the pandemic was going to persist, the effort was not drugs and vaccines against covid-19. it is interesting to note that a predominant going to achieve the desired results. economists and experts believe that it would view in the Usa over trump’s blame-game against China and the cutting of funds to WHO further increase the debt burden of the developafter accusing it of adopting a pro-China stance, ing nations. the deferred debt payments will have to be made by is that he was desthese countries after perately trying to the expiry of the find scapegoats for moratorium period; his own ineptitude It is incumbent upon the world and in view of the and handling of the growth prochallenge. it is furcommunity, particularly the affluent dismal jections made by the ther believed that World Bank, these had he spent more nations who are spending trillions countries may not be time in listening to the WHO instead of of dollars in their own countries on able to even do that, what to speak of intrying to hit it, thoustimulus and relief packages, to creasing expenditure sands of american on measures to prelives could have write off the loans due from the vent the spread of been saved. virus and raising adthe reality is developing countries instead of equate health facilithat the WHO gave only giving a one-year reprieve on ties to treat the the first warning affected by about coronavirus debt payments. They should realize people the virus. on January 14 and as appealed by then rang the alarms that until and unless the developing Prime Minister bell at the end of the and poor nations are not helped imran Khan, the month by declaring approach it a public health adequately to deal with the brewing right would have been emergency of interoff the loans national concern. it crisis coinciding with the efforts in writing of the developing also developed an effective diagnostic their own countries to grapple with and poor countries altogether. He has test which is used in the invisible enemy, the pandemic rightly launched a dozens of countries, diplomatic effort to while the Usa still cannot be tackled effectively and muster support of cannot manage adequate testing. in the cycle of sufferings will continue. other nations for lobbying the affluFebruary also WHO By helping the developing and poor ent nations in this issued urgent warnregard. One hopes ings about the countries they will in fact be that the developed spread of the virus. countries would retrump ignored securing the future of the entire spond positively to them, instead insisthumanity including their own the initiative. ing that it was “toFighting the tally under control” coronavirus panand predicting that demic has humanithe number of infections would drop. By downplaying the threat and tarian as well as economic dimensions. therefore adopting a passive approach in spite of the warn- it is incumbent upon the world community, paring about the risks by World Health Organiza- ticularly the affluent nations who are spending tion, President trump and his own advisors trillions of dollars in their own countries on stimsquandered the chance to acquire more personal ulus and relief packages, to write off the loans protective equipment for doctors and nurses. His due from the developing countries instead of likening of covid-19 to the flu led people to join only giving a one-year reprieve on debt paypublic gatherings like Mardi Gras and Florida ments. they should realize that until and unless spring break, and that is one reason the Usa has the developing and poor nations are not helped had 80 deaths per million inhabitants from adequately to deal with the brewing crisis coincovid-19, compared with four per million in ciding with the efforts in their own countries to south Korea and fewer than one per million in grapple with the invisible enemy, the pandemic cannot be tackled effectively and the cycle of suftaiwan. another worrying factor in regards to fight ferings will continue. By helping the developing against the contagion is that the financial support and poor countries they will in fact be securing announced by the G-20, the iMF, the World the future of the entire humanity including their Bank and the aDB for the poor and developing own. the sooner it is done the better. countries in the shape of a one-year moratorium Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic. on payment of their loans is not a commensurate response to the challenge. although a one-year He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail.com.

PaKistaN tODaY faces horrendous economic crisis, where state is forced to seek foreign and domestic debts, not for investment in socioeconomic development projects, but paying fabulous salaries, pension and perks to its paid employees, both civil and uniformed. We need to revisit burden of salary allocation, instead of salary raise, and learn to live within our means. it is the economy which sustains national security and sovereignty and not vice versa.

We have witnessed collapse of soviet Union, which militarily matched in terms of ammunition and nuclear capability, combined strength of Us and NatO, but failed to achieve pace of economic progress vital to cater for welfare and aspirations of masses. For sake of posterity and protecting lives and honor of citizens of Pakistan, from known threats and nefarious designs of our arch enemy india, which has never accepted our existence, Pakistan and its stake holders, must rise up to need of hour. it is an established fact that impact of salaries, expenses and extravagance incurred by Government of Pakistan and various state organs far exceed our total revenues, driving this country towards technical insolvency. salaries and perks initiated by Musharraf and his PM shaukat aziz and others, who have been at helm thereafter, have become a burden on this nation. there is no rationale in wide gap in pay structure and remuneration of our highly qualified professionals and specialists in science, health, technology, education, economics etc. and paid civil and uniformed employees, which hastens brain drain. For a country like Pakistan foreign loans should only be procured for investment in vital infrastructure such as dams, health, education and research with absolutely not even a penny for salary raise. sanity must prevail before it is too late and we become so bankrupt that our vital nuclear deterrence may be compromised.

MAlIk TArIq AlI lahore

Upsurge of COVID-19 tHe quick spreading COviD-19 has ended the monetary movement and batted the securities exchange, yet the costs of basic products in the fates showcase are on the ascent. industry eyewitnesses state the bull run in ware trades, running, on a slim volume with barely any basic physical exchange in candies, is driven by examiners hoping to make speedy bucks. information at the costs of basic products for the last 10-15 days shows a rising pattern, soybean seed costs expanded rs 5,700/Mt, Chana costs by rs 3.650/Mt, and refined soy oil costs rose by rs 13,520/Mt during the said period. “theorists are exploring the circumstance in fates advertise by expanding the costs of different basic items like oilseeds and hear beats.” an industry master said. By chance, the past FMC(Forward Market Commission) had expressed that the productive working of the item prospects advertises warrants’ dynamic support of physical market partners. it was normal that the prospects market will ‘ fill in as an important and viable stage for value revelation and value hazard the board and tie huge monetary contributions to the physical market player, particularly ranchers, to help their creativity and showcasing related dynamic procedure’.value inclines in fundamental wares in fates advertise during last 10-15 days time span: sincerely TAHIr AyAz Islamabad

Reopening school as the rise of global pandemic and increasing number of cases every day in Pakistan. the government has taken a decision to postponed the school opening till mid-July. it is not confirmed that there will be no prevalence of COviD-19 soon, it may be here to stay for a while, which means the schools must prepare to operate in times of COviD-19. this calls in for actions to be taken by the various educational authorities to launch relevant programs that focus on the professional development of the key educational leaders pertinent to COviD and school reopening management. schools have an organic culture of peer interactions, infrastructure that supports group and cluster learning, children and teachers interacting for formal and informal learning and many stakeholders under one roof making learning happening. this means high volume of social interactions and potential human transmission of the virus. On the other hand, it is utmost essential to also continue the learning in a structured manner so that students’ academic development is optimally benefited. this makes it fundamental for the school owners and administrators to plan and mitigate strategies for school reopening and COviD management. this can be done by planning and streamlining standard operating procedures to practice physical distancing, disinfecting the school premises and the classrooms, training of teachers and parent communities for preventive health care and mitigating for risk expected to emerge on the school reopening. all of us will have to play our role to make learning safe for our future generations and strive for their better future.

Dr SHeIlA BHAMMAnI karachi

Covid inflation tHe quick spreading COviD-19 has ended the monetary movement and batted the securities exchange, yet the costs of basic products in the fates showcase are on the ascent. industry eyewitnesses state the bull run in ware trades, running, on a slim volume with barely any basic physical exchange in candies, is driven by examiners hoping to make speedy bucks. information at the costs of basic products for the last 10-15 days shows a rising pattern, soybean seed costs expanded rs 5,700/Mt, Chana costs by rs 3.650/Mt, and refined soy oil costs rose by rs 13,520/Mt during the said period. “theorists are exploring the circumstance in fates advertise by expanding the costs of different basic items like oilseeds and hear beats.” an industry master said. By chance, the pst FMC(Forward Market Commission) had expressed that the productive working of the item prospects advertises warrants’ dynamic support of physical market partners. it was normal that the prospects market will ‘ fill in as an important and viable stage for value revelation and value hazard the board and tie huge monetary contributions to the physical market player, particularly ranchers, to help their creativity and showcasing related dynamic procedure’.value inclines in fundamental wares in fates advertise during last 10-15 days time span T AIzAz lahore

Wednesday, 13 May, 2020

08 WORLD VIEW

The world afTer CoVId-19—(ParT I) CHINA’S BEST BET FOR EMERGING STRONGER IN THE POST-COVID WORLD IS FOR DONALD TRUMP TO BE RE-ELECTED 3 Quarks Daily Ali MinAi

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ike most people who have time to think in these stressful days, i have been thinking about life after the COViD-19 pandemic has passed – mostly at a personal level, but also a little about the world at large. This essay is an attempt to put some of these thoughts down as a time-capsule of how things appear from this perch in May of 2020, the first year of the New Plague.

The most important lesson that the current calamity should teach every one of us is humility, though it will surely fail to do so until it is too late.

The armchair thinker, however, has the luxury of indulging in the vanity of speculation without risking anything more than a proverbial dish of crow – delivered, one hopes, untouched by human hands and at a safe distance.

But the time for that will come later, in a different world with different delicacies and intimacies. This is a message from the “here and now.”

So what will the world come to?

The biggest – and totally unknown – factor that will influence the answer to this question is the future course of the pandemic. Broadly there are four possibilities: n An effective vaccine or prophylactic is found by late 2020 and is deployed worldwide by next spring, resulting in virtual eradication of the SARS Cov-2 virus sometime in 2021. n No vaccine or prophylactic is found soon, but a post-infection treatment is developed by early 2021 so that COViD19 becomes a treatable disease – possibly at significant expense and/or inconvenience. n Finding a preventive or treatment takes much longer than a year, resulting in a second, third, and more waves of infections before something usable is found or herd immunity develops everywhere. n No preventive or treatment is found, and herd immunity fails to develop for some reason.

Possibility 4 is the stuff of apocalypse, so let us assume that it is extremely unlikely.

Possibility 1 is conceivable given the scientific firepower being directed at the problem, but seems rather optimistic. if it does come to pass, most things will probably go back to the way they were in November 2019, leaving behind a detritus to bankrupt businesses, lost jobs, disrupted lives, and a deep economic recession. Possibility 2 has similar prospects, but would lead to more significant changes in areas such as work patterns, wearing of masks, large gatherings, etc. The more realistic possibility is number 3, which will have a profound effect on humanity. Going through such an extended trauma will alter life in ways that defy imagination. While humanity waits on science, uncertainty will grip the world. everything – social interaction, work, education, healthcare, entertainment, sports, travel, politics, business, the media – will change so much during this time that it will be impossible to return to earlier ways.

But the changes will not be the same everywhere because the conditions and cultures vary so much across the world. it is impossible – even for a relatively ignorant armchair thinker with no skin in the game – to look at all the possibilities, so i will confine my wild speculations to geopolitics with a brief nod to cultural and social norms. Of course, if some sort of economic ventilator can be found to keep the world economy breathing until a solution emerges, things may go very differently, but that is the dull stuff of management and policy. This piece should be read as an exercise in imagination

– a synopsis for a semi-dystopian novel that will never be written.

DAWNING REALIZATIONS: To my mind, there are a few clarifying realizations that will be most salient in shaping post-pandemic geopolitics: n The realization by advanced and relatively advanced countries that radically globalized supply chains – often rooted in China – represent an existential risk to their own economies and societies. n The realization by poorer developing countries that they live in a world even more dangerous than they thought before the pandemic – a world where they face complete destruction unless they can rely on a savior. n The realization by policy-makers everywhere that many of the institutional structures and norms they rely on were developed for an earlier world, and are dismally unsuited to the new reality. n The realization by strategic thinkers that problems in the new world will require globally-coordinated decisionmaking on an unprecedented scale, but such cooperation is nearly impossible within the current international framework. n The realization that the inequalities already apparent in the economy of December 2019 are rapidly going to become more extreme and more disruptive because of the variable ability of individuals and governments to address a catastrophic crisis. n The realization by enterprising people everywhere – especially younger ones – that many old solutions to human problems have suddenly become obsolete, and what looked impossible yesterday may need to become inevitable tomorrow. n The realization by ordinary people everywhere, but especially in poorer countries, that their governments cannot really protect them from the existential hazards they face in the new reality. n each of these will, in itself, lead to great changes, and their interactions will lead to even greater ones, some of which are discussed below.

Two other (related) things are worth noting in this regard. First, the hazard unmasked by the pandemic has been building up in the world for decades or more, creating an ever more critical system where existential catastrophes were becoming increasingly probable, and required only a trigger to ignite one.

How such risks build up and why they do not become apparent until it is too late is a profound issue having to do with the nature of complex systems and their evolution to a critical state. i will say more on that elsewhere.

Second, the realization of the general fragility of human society was going to occur in any case due to climate change; the pandemic is just precipitating it. indeed, in retrospect, the pandemic may come to be seen as an early, indirect effect of the same practices that are causing climate change – notably, habitat destruction and rampant industrialization leading to a hyper-connected world. it is impossible to work through all the ramifications of the realizations listed above, but a few speculative possibilities are interesting to consider.

GLOBAL REALIGNMENT AND A NEW COLD WAR: Probably the biggest casualty of the pandemic will be the unbounded globalization of the last 30 years.

As developed countries in North America, europe, and elsewhere realize that depending on supply chains and factories in Asia makes their own economies vulnerable to existential dangers, they will inevitably pull a lot of activities – especially manufacturing – back into their own territories. in the worst case, this could result in near-total isolation of economies, but that is unlikely. it is far likelier that economic alliances among likeminded developed countries and a few threshold ones such as Brazil or Mexico will

IF UNEMPLOYMENT REACHES 30% OR HIGHER IN SOME COUNTRIES AND AMONG SOME GROUPS, MASS UPRISINGS, RIOTS, AND GENERAL MAYHEM ARE QUITE LIKELY TO OCCUR, PROVIDING EXACTLY THE PRETEXT THAT WOULDBE DICTATORS NEED TO PUSH ASIDE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

result in a more sustainable interdependency footprint than the current one. At the same time, the already growing trade tensions between Western countries and China will be exacerbated by the feeling that China’s secretive negligence was ultimately responsible for unleashing the pandemic on the world. But as the developed countries pull away from China, the collapse facing poorest countries will force them to seek a powerful patron who can help revive their economies, build needed infrastructure, provide technocratic expertise, and have their back in conflicts. The choice, inevitably, will be the US or China. Thus, a situation that was developing slowly towards a global rivalry between the US and China could escalate rapidly into a new cold war, with countries all over the world tying their fortunes to one of the two powers. Given China’s recent success in establishing deep economic relationships across the developing world, it is quite possible that, ten years from now, the world will be divided into a tight, rich, self-sufficient Western bloc and a world of poorer countries on three continents that are utterly dependent on China. There will surely be a few notable exceptions such as Russia and Japan, and the countries of Southeast Asia may form their own bloc bridging the two main ones.

The burgeoning cold war split could be exacerbated further because richer countries will raise ever higher barriers to both legal and illegal immigration. This will put intolerable pressure on the societies that migrants have been fleeing in search of better lives. in a few places, this may lead to changes that make the situation somewhat better, but in most, it will lead to a breakdown of all civil order, creating large lawless regions of extreme socioeconomic instability – probably controlled by a patchwork of warlords, mafias, and gangs, much as is the case today in parts of Central America. The urgent need to avoid this will further push governments around the developing world into the arms of a global patron such as China or the United States. if the US still has its current isolationist posture, i.e., if Donald Trump is still President, China could end up with decisive hegemony over large parts of Asia, Africa and even Latin America (though any adherence to the Monroe Doctrine should preclude that in principle.)

However, there is a paradox in this scenario. if the West does indeed withdraw from China, the process will exact an economic cost on both sides, but the cost for China will be far greater. The so-called Chinese Miracle is built on the back of cheap manufacturing for a global market. When supply chains uproot from China and that manufacturing bonanza shrinks, so will China’s revenues – and, as a result, its ability to project power and influence. Things will be complicated further by the fact that China holds a large percentage of U.S. debt (well over 5% of all debt and above 25% of all foreign debt), which spells peril for both sides. The U.S. government – and many other governments – are already embarking on a systematic effort to blame China for the COViD-19 debacle and turn it into an international pariah. And China has already been dumping U.S. treasuries since mid-2018 in the face of Trump’s trade war. Things can easily get uglier, and, rather than getting a cold war-style balance, the entire Chinese program could come crashing down. All sides will get hurt in that, but China could suffer catastrophically.

So which will it be? A new cold war or a reassertion of American hegemony at the expense of China? Or some third, messier possibility? Paradoxically, China’s best bet for emerging stronger in the post-COViD world is for Donald Trump to be re-elected. The next few years are likely to be a time of great danger and opportunity for China. A strategically capable administration in Washington could well take advantage of this and set China’s ambitions back decisively. But the oafishly inept Trump coterie is incapable of such strategic maneuvering, which, among other things, will require strengthening a lot of international relationships that Trump has destroyed willfully. A Biden administration may or may not do any better, but at least its actions will be dictated by some strategic calculus. This is one reason among many why the 2020 presidential election has exceptional significance for the world at large.

A NEW MONETARY STRUCTURE: The first response by the United States and europe to the pandemic was to provide virtually unlimited loan guarantees and liquidity to companies, banks, and markets through their central banks. But most countries don’t have that option. The vast majority of countries have limited assets, and any injection of liquidity will lead to massive inflation. Much of the world could end up looking like Zimbabwe in 2008. The easing of loan repayments and aid from the iMF and World Bank can help, but not nearly enough. At the same time, countries such as the US and China can potentially sustain much more printing of money because: a) They have immense underlying assets and resources; b) They have much more control over their own economic fate; c) They have greater military power and economic influence; and d) There aren’t too many options to find a relatively safe harbor in a world where all currencies are fiat currencies (no, Bitcoin is not the solution). For the US, there is the added benefit that the dollar is still the world’s primary reserve currency. However, advanced economies – especially the US and China – may have to contend with each other viciously, which will put immense pressure on the world economy and could escalate to mutually assured destruction. if that happens, it will be the beginning of a new historical age. But a more likely scenario is that some sort of Cold War-style détente – economic rather than military – will be worked out by the economic hegemons, reinforcing the political cold war scenario laid out above, and with the Yuan emerging as a co-equal world reserve currency rather than a relatively minor one as it is today (less than 2% of world reserves are in the RMB). if this situation comes to pass, several countries such as Russia, india, Brazil, Turkey, Malaysia, etc., will have interesting choices to make in terms of which bloc they go with. Perhaps we will see the emergence of an economic “non-aligned movement”, but the threat of surprise global catastrophes may force even proudly self-assured countries to rethink their approach and go with one side or the other.

A NEW CAPITALISM: After the keynesian interlude of the mid-20tyh century, the move in the United States and the Uk has been towards more laissez-faire. The Reagan-Thatcher era clearly established a conceptually antagonistic relationship between business and government, even if in practice, big business has never removed its greedy maw from the trough of public largesse. This hostile relationship was already shaken by the Great Recession of 2008, but the coronavirus pandemic has truly decimated it. every business from Boeing to the local barber is at the mercy of the government. Both Congress and the Federal Reserve in the United States (and the corresponding institutions in europe) have been handing out money like candy. We are currently still in an emergency situation and it will take time to sink in, but eventually both business and government will realize that they need a new long-term relationship – one where government mitigates the hazards of global calamities efficiently and, if possible, preemptively.

This is unlikely to happen in any systematic way as long as Donald Trump is president simply because an administration of such towering incompetence cannot put together any credible institutional framework. But if – as seems possible – a new, more rational administration takes power in Washington in January 2021, we are likely to see that new framework. in particular, businesses of all sizes must face the fact that risks are much larger than thought in today’s hyper-connected, complex world. insurance and backstopping against these calamitous risks can only be done by governments, and is much better done in a planned, organized way than haphazardly after a calamity has hit (as we see now, and saw in 2008.) Developed economies with sane leadership will be able to create the institutions necessary for this, but poorer countries – already dependent on international aid – will not, and are likely to become even more tightly controlled by their donors. This will create a large number of extremely precarious economies and greatly exacerbate the already yawning divide between the haves and the have-nots in the world, providing easy pickings for all sides in geopolitical power politics.

A SURVEILLANCE-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX: An important undercurrent in the nascent public-private partnership will be the rise of a new surveillance-industrial complex. One thing that experience with COViD19 will establish is the need for all sorts of real-time data from individuals, including the ability to trace movements, identify contacts, monitor vital signs, etc. Unlike the “privacy, my foot!” approach taken in authoritarian states, the development and deployment of such a surveillance system in democracies will require a very sophisticated information infrastructure that can accomplish its goals without allowing too much government intrusion into private lives. Apple and Google, among others, are already developing plans for this. Once these technologies are developed and achieve a high level of trust, they will expand rapidly into other areas such as marketing, sports, entertainment, etc., making this a major boom area for entrepreneurship – of course, always with the government lurking in the background. in any case, the old definitions of privacy have been eroding rapidly in the face of social media and generational change. The post-pandemic world will see an acceleration of this trend – at least in developed societies. What will happen in more conservative societies will be as interesting to observe as it is hard to predict.

THE RISE OF AUTHORITARIAN STATES: The pandemic crisis is exposing the true character of governments everywhere, brutally separating the competent from the incompetent, the caring from the heartless, the rational from the irrational. Repression, censorship, propaganda, and political posturing can hide this from the people for some time and in some places, but dams will eventually start breaking. What will the resulting crises bring? Better governments, or authoritarianism with even more repression?

The enormous economic crisis created by the pandemic has already begun to destabilize some governments. even in the United States, right-wing groups are beginning to hold protest marches against lockdowns. That discontent will soon spread – faster in poorer countries than in the rich. And though it may draw people from all sides of the political spectrum, it will empower politicians only on one side: The Right. The fundamental aim of the liberal democratic project has been to wean societies away from emotional, instinctive behaviors towards policies grounded in reason, science, and the public good. But history has shown repeatedly that stressed societies revert quickly to tribalism and seek decisive strongmen who can provide a semblance of order – often at horrendous cost.

The current crisis is likely to be no different. if unemployment reaches 30% or higher in some countries and among some groups, mass uprisings, riots, and general mayhem are quite likely to occur, providing exactly the pretext that would-be dictators need to push aside representative government and set up repressive regimes.

The move away from democratic norms will be helped immensely by the obvious need for surveillance and tracking of individuals in order to contain the pandemic. in this instance, therefore, the recommendations of science and reason will align nicely with the desires of demagogues, who will be quick to scale back civil and political rights in the name of security. After all, this is a war, and who has time for rights in a war? Viktor Orban’s declaration of a virtual dictatorship in Hungary is just the first domino in this process. Donald Trump and his minions in the right-wing media have already begun to hint at similar possibilities in the United States. in some places, the transition to autocracy will go smoothly – especially in countries where democracy has only recently begun to take hold. in others, though, the power grab by dictators and warlords may well elicit a strong reaction from the civil society which will inevitably play to the advantage of the authoritarian side. Ultimately, in all but the most developed countries, democracy may end up alongside millions of individuals as a victim of the coronavirus infection. And, as with the virus’ human victims, if it survives, it will be left weakened and afflicted with unexpected morbidities.

THE OLD DEFINITIONS OF PRIVACY HAVE BEEN ERODING RAPIDLY IN THE FACE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND GENERATIONAL CHANGE. THE POST-PANDEMIC WORLD WILL SEE AN ACCELERATION OF THIS TREND

Ali Minai is Professor of Electrical Engineering & Computing Systems and a member of the Neuroscience Graduate Faculty at the University of Cincinnati.

(To be continued)

Wednesday, 13 May, 2020

BUSINESS 09

Poultry inDustry Asks govt to Allow free MArket Price MechAnisM

CORPORATE CORNER KARACHI: Telenor Microfinance Bank’s mobile banking platform, Easypaisa, has been awarded by Global Finance Magazine as ‘The Innovators 2020’ in the field of Payments.

PRESS RELEASE

LAHORE HASSAN NAQVI

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LAHORE: Playing its role in supporting the nation in times of crisis, FINCA Microfinance Bank Pakistan and its employees donated Rs2 million to the Prime Minister’s COVID 19 Relief Fund. FINCA Microfinance Bank CEO SH Kazi presented the donation to Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi. PRESS RELEASE

LAHORE: Striving to build awareness on the importance of wearing masks, JS Bank along with its implementing partner, the Mahvash and Jahangir Siddiqui Foundation, has launched an innovative #MakeaMask Campaign to encourage people to make their own masks and receive free health insurance. PRESS RELEASE

ADB lauded for aiding Pakistan in fight against coronavirus ISLAMABAD PPI

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for Pakistan Mrs Xiaohong Yang called on Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar on Tuesday. The minister thanked and appreciated the support being provided by ADB in the efforts of the government of Pakistan to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. He also expressed hope that economic and financial relations between ADB and Pakistan would cultivate benefits in the future. Both sides underscored the need for enhanced cooperation in the areas of financial aid and development projects in Pakistan in wake of COVID-19.

HE Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) on Tuesday urged the government to allow a free market mechanism to function and regulate demand, supply and price of chicken. It further asked the government not to intervene in the market price mechanism as in the long run it would go against the government’s intention to supply edible products at reasonable prices.

PPA Vice Chairman (North region) Chaudhry Muhammad Fargham said the association is extremely hurt and depressed by the action being taken by the Punjab government to control the prices of live chicken and meat.

He questioned where the provincial and federal governments were when during the last six months the farmers were selling day-old chicks and broilers at an average price of Rs20.8 and Rs129.9 respectively.

During these months the day old chicks and broilers were sold as low as Rs4 per chick and Rs89 respectively against the cost of production of Rs45 and Rs160 respectively and that millions of chicks and

embryos were destroyed, Fargham lamented.

He further asked where the government was when breeder farmers had no cash flows to feed the breeders and had to sell young breeders.

The Commissioner Animal Husbandry in the Ministry of National Food and Security had submitted cost of production to the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court back on March 2012 at Rs31.27 for day old chicks and Rs132 per kg for broilers, but the current costs are around Rs45 for day old chicks and Rs160 for broilers.

PPA Secretary (North region) Syed Javed Hussain Bukhari said the association time and again had abreast of the government that the situation would lead to acute shortage of poultry products as the losses would result in reduction of production and prices would shoot up.

“We had advised the government that subject to an increase in price, supply would partially but gradually increase to some extent,” the PPA secretary said.

Bukhari maintained that PPA had strongly advised the government to not intervene in the free market mechanism, but the government paid no heed.

“Now when the market is allowing surviving

NBP's income jumps 11.5pc to Rs108bn, AGM told ISLAMABAD TLTP

The 71st annual general meeting of the National Bank of Pakistan was informed on Tuesday that total income of NBP closed at Rs108.1 billion, as against Rs96.9 billion in 2018, showing a yearly increase of 11.5pc.

According to a press statement, the meeting was initially scheduled to be held on April 24, 2020, but was suspended till Tuesday due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The meeting was attended by all the members of the NBP Board as well as its senior management and a large number of shareholders.

The shareholders were informed that in the year 2019, the bank recorded a solid growth in terms of both balance sheet size and income. Despite a generally difficult year for the economy, the bank’s net markup/interest income closed 18.5pc higher YoY at Rs71.9 billion (2018: Rs60.7 billion). The bank also earned

non-markup/interest earning of Rs36.2 billion. Accordingly, total income of the Bank closed at Rs108.1 billion i.e. 11.5pc higher than Rs96.9 billion of 2018. In 2019, total expenses for the year amounted to Rs65.7 billion against Rs55.7 billion for the year 2018. This amount however included a total of Rs7.3 billion of provision related to extraordinary HR related costs.

Reflecting the general trend of deterioration in asset quality observed across the industry in 2019, NBP also experienced an 11.5pc increase in non-performing loans.

While provision charge amounted to Rs14.3 billion, profit before tax closed at Rs28.0 billion, being 5.7pc lower YoY. The bank has consequently focused on strengthening its balance sheet through this provisioning and through building contingency buffers for a total of Rs21.6 billion.

Due to retrospective applicability of supertax in 2019, the bank’s tax burden amounted to Rs12.2 billion, resulting in PAT of

Rs15.8 billion.

During 2019, total assets of the bank increased by 11.6pc to Rs3,124.4 billion, from Rs2,798.6 billion a year before. Gross advances increased by 8.7pc to Rs1,151.3 billion, investment (at cost) closed 12.1pc up at Rs1,417.6 billion, and deposits grew by 9.3pc to Rs2,198.0 billion.

The bank is facing contingencies related to pension benefits of its retired employees, and has filed a review petition where a final decision is still awaited. The financial impact of the subject case has not been included in the instant financial statements as the Bank looks forward to a favourable outcome of the case.

The CEO apprised the shareholders that the bank is constantly monitoring the situation regarding the swift spread of the COVID19. Amid the pandemic, the bank is taking all necessary steps to ensure the well-being of its employees and customers and at the same time prevent any potential business impact to the economy.

FBR urged to abolish 3pc further tax on sales to unregistered persons ISLAMABAD SHAHZAD PARACHA

The Federal of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), in its budgetary proposals for the next fiscal year (FY21), has requested the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to abolish further tax on sales to unregistered persons. "Vide Finance Act 2017; further tax was imposed on supply of goods to unregistered persons at the rate 1pc, which has now been increased to 3pc. It is proposed that the said tax be abolished as it is the mother of fake and flying invoices," the FPCCI stated.

The federation also requested the government to re-

store a reduced rate of sales tax for five export sectors, which were earlier zero-rated.

An FPCCI official told this scribe that a high level business delegation would soon meet Adviser to PM on Finance and Revenue Dr Hafeez Shaikh so that the said proposals could be discussed in detail with the economic team.

It is pertinent to mention that the FBR had recently informed the Standing Committee on Finance that the tax department was ready to reduce or abolish 3pc further sales tax on supplies made to unregistered persons given that the businessmen were willing to get themselves registered with the sales tax department.

The tax authorities had informed that the 3pc further

sales tax was imposed to encourage new registrations and voluntary compliance, adding that the FBR received Rs40 billion on account of 'further sales tax' deposited by the unregistered persons. It was informed that unregistered persons were paying additional 3pc further sales tax along with the 17pc standard sales tax.

If people were ready to get them registered, the government could reduce or abolish the further sales tax, the officials had maintained.

Responding to this, the representatives of the business and trade had contested that the FBR, by imposing 3pc further sales tax on unregistered persons, has in fact discouraged tax registration and economic documentation.

MARKET DAILY

Bourse turns bullish over improved investor sentiment KARACHI STAFF REPORT

After two lacklustre sessions, bullish sentiment prevailed at the Pakistan Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index managing to sustain gains and closing in the green.

Foreign investors offloaded equities worth Rs1.88 million in the previous session (Monday).

According to analysts, the index remained in the positive territory due to the expectation of a further rate cut in the monetary policy, to be announced by the State Bank of Pakistan later this week.

Besides, they said, the government’s an-

farmers to recover their losses, the administration is arresting the sellers of chicken meat and forcing them to sell meat at Rs260 per kg.”

Bukhari opined that such actions would lead to long term closure of poultry farms, which would not only lead to a tremendous increase in chicken meat prices but also mutton, beef and pulses.

Ghulam Rasool, a chicken meat seller, from Gujranwala, says that they are selling chicken during the month of Ramadan as the lockdown is eased to win the bread for their families and make ends meet, but the local administration is detaining our colleagues while claiming that they are selling chicken at high prices.

“This is absolutely wrong as it depends upon demand and supply of the product, which decides the price.”

A government official, seeking anonymity, told this scribe that the poultry industry is in shambles as they have suffered heavy losses due to closure of marriage halls and restaurants for months following Covid-19 outbreak.

However, another government official was of the opinion that the poultry association is making hue and cry to earn a stimulus package from the government just like other sectors.

nouncement that all preparation work for Diamer-Bhasha Dam has been completed and the project was ready for construction also attracted investors to the bourse.

“Cement and steel sectors ruled the index today, mostly trading near upper circuits and generating higher trading volumes on expectation that the government’s decision would generate demand for cement/steel in the country,” said an analyst at Arif Habib Ltd. “Banking and oil & gas sector stocks, on the other hand, couldn’t generate much interest among investors.”

The KSE-100 Index accumulated gains throughout the day, registering its intraday high at 33,628.37 (+344.58). It

closed higher by 319.23 points at 33,603.02.

Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index amassed 621.73 points to settle at 54,660.28, while the KSE All Share Index added 165.35 points to end at 23,831.96.

Of the total traded shares, 181 advanced while 111 remained unchanged.

The overall market volumes appreciated from 198.24 million in the last session to 224.53 million. Average traded value also increased by 68pc to 45.9 million, as against $27.4 million in the previous session. Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCF +6.74pc), Unity Foods Limited (UNITY -2.28pc) and Fauji Cement Company Limited (FCCL

+6.61pc) topped the volume chart, exchanging 28.74 million, 23.14 million and 19.07 million shares, respectively.

Sectors that brought positivity to the KSE-100 Index included cement (+150.05 points), banking (+67.40 points) and fertilizer (+61.83 points). Among the companies, Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK +49.56 points), Engro Corporation Limited (ENGRO +31.32 points), and Habib Bank Limited (HBL +28.86 points) remained the top contributors.

Cement sector ended as the top gainer of the day, accumulating 5.53pc in its total market capitalization. Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK +4.00pc), DG Khan Cement Company Limited (DGKC +6.91pc), Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCF +6.74pc), Pioneer Cement Limited (PIOC +7.32pc) recorded decent gains.

Minister stresses completion of priority transactions under privatisation programme ISLAMABAD APP

Privatisation Minister Mohammedmian Soomro was apprised on Tuesday that substantial progress had been made to conclude the transactions of National Power Parks Management Company Limited (NPPMCL), the SME Bank, the Jinnah Convention Centre, the Services Int’l Hotel (SIH) and sale of 28 properties within the current fiscal year. He was further informed that due to the spread of COVID-19, the timelines had to be rescheduled.

The briefing was given in a meeting chaired by the minister and attended by the Secretary Privatisation Commission and other concerned officers to review progress on privatisation programme with special focus on some of the priority transactions, said a news release. Targets were also set for the FY21 during the meeting. Soomro was apprised that despite lockdown situation, transactional activities continued through technological means and prequalified bidders for NPPMCL remained engaged and they were provided necessary information and assistance in completion of buyer side due diligence. However, it was noticed that pandemic situation has changed the overall macroeconomic outlook of the global economies where Pakistan is not an exception and this has affected overall privatisation programme. It is worth mentioning that the transaction structure of the Pakistan Steel Mills is under consideration in PC and would be discussed in the meeting of the Transaction Committee on May 14. The minister reiterated that revival of PSM is also one of the priorities of the govt to minimise losses being borne out of public exchequer. The minister was further informed that the financial adviser hired for the purpose has completed due diligence of the entity and reports received in this regard are under review by concerned stakeholders. Based on due diligence, the adviser has formulated a draft transaction structure for inviting EOI from the potential investors. The draft transaction structure is to be discussed during meeting of the transaction committee in this week. TC structure will be placed with the PC’s board and CCOP for approval.

Soomro asked the concerned to expedite the process for early conclusion of the revival plan of PSM. Moreover, the auction of 28 properties owned or controlled by the federal government would be conducted when COVID-19 situation gets better.

The Due Diligence Reports of Higher Electrical Complex’s (HEC) transaction are being finalised and transaction structure is being developed by the FA Consortium. The minister however, asked the concerned staff to keep up the pace and complete all requisite formalities leading to successful completion of transactions once market conditions are improved and normalcy rebound in the investment landscape.

Wednesday, 13 May, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

StoCkS dowN oN fearS over SeCoNd wave aS loCkdowNS eaSe PARIS

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AGENCIES

eARS of a second wave of coronavirus infections in some parts of the world weighed on equities Tuesday, bringing a dose of hard reality to markets after weeks of rallies fuelled by the easing of lockdown measures and hopes for economic recovery.

As some of the worst-hit countries including Spain, Italy and France take heart from slowing death and infection rates, they are gradually allowing businesses to open up and try to get back to some semblance of normality.

However, after weeks of no new cases, Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the outbreak first emerged, reported six new infections in two days and South Korea announced its biggest spike in new cases for more than a month.

The news jolted confidence on trading floors and weighed on regional markets Tuesday.

Tokyo went into the break 0.2 per cent lower, Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore, Seoul and Taipei fell more than one per cent, while Shanghai eased 0.1 per cent.

Manila and Jakarta also fell, though

Wellington edged up slightly.

“Indications abound that increased mobility will lead to re-occurrences of the virus, which will change the slope of the recovery,” said AxiCorp’s Stephen Innes, noting that news reports had generally emphasised the negative elements of reopening.

“While markets may eventually desensitise to mini-cluster outbreaks, provided

death statistics remain static… at this stage, it does not lessen fears of a significant secondary spreader, which will undoubtedly weigh on consumer sentiment and hurt the rebound.”

He added that investors would have to expect such uncertainty until a vaccine is available.

HOW LONG TO RECOVER? The losses come after a healthy rally

CMYK

across equity markets from troughs reached in March as the disease began to take hold around the world and forced nations to lock down, effectively closing the global economy and pushing it into an expected recession.

And, while there are forecasts that growth will bounce back, there is discussion over how quickly that will happen.

“It’s well and good to say ‘OK, we’ve contained the disease’, but how long does the recession last?” Chris Rands, at Nikko Asset Management, said.

“Typically when you look at unemployment spikes they take years to fix, they don’t fix themselves in three months.”

Oil prices edged up, taking some joy from news that Saudi Arabia would slash an extra million barrels per day from its June output, leaving it with just short of 7.5 million, which ANZ said would be the lowest since 2002. Kuwait and the United Arab emirates also announced cuts to go with Riyadh’s reduction.

Top crude producers agreed last month to slash output by 10 million barrels a day from May 1 after prices crashed to below zero as lockdowns to contain the coronavirus pandemic sapped global demand and supplies swelled.

UN Security Council to discuss violence, coronavirus in Myanmar YANGON AGENCIES

The UN Security Council will hold a videoconference to discuss the escalation of violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state and the effect of the coronavirus pandemic in the country, diplomatic sources said Monday.

The closed-door meeting, planned for Thursday, was requested by the UK. The UN envoy for Myanmar, Switzerland’s Christine Schraner Burgener, is scheduled to give comments. At the end of April, a Myanmar government health worker was injured and his driver — who worked for the World Health Organization (WHO) — was killed when their United Nations-marked vehicle was ambushed as they carried COVID-19 test samples in conflict-ridden Rakhine state. The country’s northwest has been embroiled in an increasingly brutal civil war between Myanmar’s military and Arakan Army rebels demanding more autonomy for the state’s ethnic Rakhine population. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack. He called for “a full and transparent investigation” and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice, his spokesman said in a statement. The attack came amid increasing calls for a global ceasefire and protection for civilians displaced by the pandemic.

Wednesday, 13 May, 2020

PCB, ECB to disCuss futurE of England tour amid Coronavirus Crisis LAHORE

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AGENCIES

AkISTAN Cricket Board’s (PCB) Chief Executive Wasim khan has said that they will not rush into a decision about their upcoming tour of England during the coronavirus pandemic. England are scheduled to host the South Asian side for three tests from July 30, followed by three Twenty20 internationals, but with the Uk struggling to contain COVID-19 Wasim said they would wait a few more weeks before confirming a decision. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has already said that the sport will not resume until July, though it is likely to be in stadiums without fans.

“Health and safety is paramount for our players and officials and we are not going to compromise on it,” Wasim told reporters on Monday. “The situation in England is poor right now, and we will ask them about their plans. We are not making any decisions, but we will assess and decide in next three to four weeks.

“This isn’t an easy situation, and it isn’t

an easy decision to make, because things are changing every day in England. “There are so many things to be considered - flights, hotels and they are talking about bio-security stadiums ... so if people ask me, I will tell them to wait and be patient.”

PCB executives, along with coach Misbah-ul-Haq, are scheduled to discuss the

arrangements with their ECB counterparts on Friday via video conference. Test cricket returned to Pakistan after a decade with a twomatch series against Sri Lanka in December.

The series marked Pakistan’s first tests on home soil since a militant attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore in 2009.

The world’s top sides have been reluctant to return to Pakistan, though England are scheduled to tour next year while Australia are due to visit in 2022.

Wasim said the PCB would not make England’s visit a pre-condition of travelling to the United kingdom for the upcoming series. “It’s a tough situation for everyone right now, and I don’t think it’s fair to take advantage of the situation,” khan said, adding he was hopeful England and Australia would come to Pakistan. “The most important thing for us is to revive the game for all countries.

If we don’t, we will be facing a lot of problems going forward.

“The next 12 months will be tough for cricket financially ... thankfully, the PCB is fine for the next 12 months but thereafter, in 18 months’ time, we will also have problems.

Hopefully, by then, cricket will resume.”

CMYK

SPORTS 11 Vettel to leave Ferrari at end of season after contract talks break down ROME AGENCIES

Four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel on Tuesday said he would leave Ferrari at the end of the season, saying there was no “common desire” to work together any more.

No replacement was named for the German, who dominated F1 with Red Bull before switching to the Italian marque in 2015. He said his departure was a “joint decision”. “My relationship with Scuderia Ferrari will finish at the end of 2020,” the 32-year-old said in a statement from Ferrari. “In order to get the best possible results in this sport, it’s vital for all parties to work in perfect harmony.

“The team and I have realised that there is no longer a common desire to stay together beyond the end of this season.”

Vettel, who has won 14 races with Ferrari and 53 overall in his career, said financial considerations played no role in his decision. He said he would “reflect on what really matters when it comes to my future”.

UNDER PRESSURE FROM LECLERC Vettel’s departure will spark intense speculation about his replacement, with reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton among the drivers previously linked with Ferrari. The Briton has indicated however he will be staying at Mercedes. Team principal Mattia Binotto said

Vettel’s departure was “a decision taken jointly by ourselves and Sebastian, one which both parties feel is for the best”.

“It was not an easy decision to reach, given Sebastian’s worth as a driver and as a person,” Binotto added. “There was no specific reason that led to this decision, apart from the common and amicable belief that the time had come to go our separate ways in order to reach our respective objectives.”

Other names tipped to take over from Vettel are McLaren driver Carlos Sainz and Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo while Antonio Giovinazzi would be a popular home choice for the Italian team’s legion of fans. Vettel had been under pressure from the strong performance of Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in the 2019 season. Leclerc said: “It’s been a huge honour for me to be your team mate. We’ve had some tense moments on tracks. “Some very good ones and some others that didn’t end as we both wanted, but there was always respect, even though it wasn’t perceived this way from the outside.”

wednesday, 13 May, 2020

news

37 killed in two AfghAnistAn blAsts INFANTS AMONG 13 DEAD IN KABUL HOSPITAL ATTACK; 24 KILLED IN FUNERAL BOMBING KABUL

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Agencies

UNMEN attacked a hospital in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Tuesday where the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders runs a maternity clinic, killing 13 people, including two newborn babies, officials said.

In a separate attack the same day, a suicide bomber struck the funeral of a police commander, attended by government officials and a member of parliament, in the eastern province of Nangahar, killing at least 24 people and injuring 68.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for either attack. The Taliban, Afghanistan’s main Islamist insurgency group which says it has halted attacks on cities under a US troop withdrawal deal, denied involvement in both.

The Islamic State militant group operates in Nangahar and has carried out a number of high-profile attacks in Kabul in recent months. On Monday security forces arrested its regional leader in the capital.

A spokesman for the Nangahar provincial government said the casualty toll could rise in the attack on the funeral.

The Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani,

in response ordered a resumption of a full offensive against the Taliban and other militant groups, ending a period of reduced military activity ahead of US-brokered peace talks that had been expected to start this year.

The attack targeting the most vulnerable of civilians, including children just hours old and exhausted new mothers, caused a wave of horror and revulsion.

‘PAKISTAN CONDEMNS ATTACK’: Pakistan, in a statement through the Foreign Office, strongly condemned the “inhuman and cowardly terrorist attack on a medical facility in Kabul and suicide attack on a funeral in Nangarhar”.

“These terrorist acts are particularly despicable as they take place in the holy month of Ramazan and at a time when Afghanistan is grappling with Covid-19 pandemic,” the statement said.

“We extend heartfelt sympathies and

condolences to the families of victims and prayers for early recovery for those injured. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the Afghan people in this hour of grief. “Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and will continue to support a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.”

TWIN ATTACKS: In Kabul, the attack began in the morning when at least three gunmen wearing police uniforms entered the Dasht-e-Barchi hospital, throwing grenades and shooting, government officials said. Fifteen people were wounded in the attack, according to the Ministry of Interior. Security forces had killed the attackers by the afternoon. The 100-bed government-run hospital hosted a maternity clinic run by Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French name Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

MSF confirmed in a tweet that the

hospital had been attacked and staff and patients were being evacuated. Just hours before it had tweeted a photo of a newborn infant at the clinic in his mother’s arms after being delivered safely by emergency caesarean section.

Interior and health ministry officials said that mothers, nurses and children were among the dead and wounded.

Photos from the Ministry of Interior showed two young children lying dead inside the hospital. Soldiers ferried infants out of the compound, some wrapped in blood-stained blankets. Officials said 100 people in total were rescued, including three foreign nationals.

The neighbourhood is home to many members of Afghanistan’s Hazara community, a mostly Shia Muslim minority that has been attacked by Sunni militants from Islamic State in the past, including at a Kabul ceremony commemorating the death of one of its leaders in March.

Rights group Amnesty International condemned both attacks.

“The unconscionable war crimes in Afghanistan today, targeting a maternity hospital and a funeral, must awaken the world to the horrors civilians continue to face,” the group said on Twitter. “There must be accountability for these grave crimes.” Last week, security forces killed and arrested several members of an Islamic State cell that authorities said was responsible for several attacks in Kabul including one on a Sikh temple in March.

A roadside blast in the capital on Monday, which wounded four civilians, was claimed by the group.

New virus cases threaten world's moves back to work MOSCOW Agencies

World powers including Russia and India pushed on with easing coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday, despite upsurges in infections in parts of the world and warnings of a second wave epidemic.

Chinese authorities, meanwhile, moved to test the entire 11-million strong population of the city of Wuhan, cradle of the global pandemic, after new cases were reported there. In Russia, the government began to gradually ease lockdown rules, after reporting more than 10,000 new cases of the novel coronavirus every day for over a week.

And in India, the giant railway network ground back to life, in defiance of a recent surge in the number of infections, with 3,600 recorded on Monday, just below Sunday’s record tally.

Various economic and social lockdowns have paralysed much of the global economy, and many areas are now cautiously moving back to work, but world markets were trading cautiously amid fears of a second wave epidemic.

WARNING OF ‘NEEDLESS SUFFERING’: The United States — where at least 80,000 people have died — has the world’s highest case-load, but President Donald Trump is keen to reopen the economy quickly amid soaring job losses.

He faces resistance, however, and Washington’s top epidemiologist Anthony Fauci has warned of “needless suffering and death” if Americans return to work and group leisure activities before the pandemic is under control.

“If we skip over the checkpoints in the guidelines to: ‘Open America Again,’ then we risk the danger of multiple out-

breaks throughout the country,” Fauci told the New York Times in an email.

“This will not only result in needless suffering and death, but would actually set us back on our quest to return to normal,” he warned, ahead of planned testimony to a Senate committee Tuesday.

The United States logged a second consecutive day of fewer than 900 coronavirus deaths on Monday, just as the World Health Organization warned of the need for “extreme vigilance” against a second wave.

TEST AND TRACE: Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a cautious return to work from Tuesday, but the gradual effort was overshadowed by a fire in a Saint Petersburg coronavirus hospital that left five people dead.

Observers were also nervously eyeing Wuhan, where the virus was first reported late year, after the Chinese city registered the first cluster of new COVID-19 infections since it reopened after a 76-day lockdown on April 8.

“Each district should make plans and arrangements to conduct nucleic acid tests on the entire population in its jurisdiction within a 10-day time limit,” according to an official statement.

Cautious optimism in some quarters was also tempered by the increasingly dire economic situation, with Belgium’s Brussels Airlines becoming the latest carrier to warn of massive job losses.

The virus has now killed more than 286,000 people around the world, according to a tally compiled by AFP. The number of infections has surpassed 4.1 million, but seems to be slowing.

“The good news is that there has been a great deal of success in slowing the virus and ultimately saving lives,”

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

But the agency’s emergencies chief Michael Ryan lamented that some governments were choosing to “drive through this blind” by not ramping up capacity to test for and trace the virus.

WHITE HOUSE FEARS: The virus appeared to have gained a foothold in the White House at the weekend, with a second confirmed case.

West Wing staff were told Monday they had to wear masks, and Trump said he might limit contact with his deputy after an aide to Vice President Mike Pence tested positive. Trump, who is desperately seeking to reboot the economy ahead of the November election, said the US was making “tremendous strides” in ramping up testing. “The people want our country open,” he said.

On Tuesday, France reported a 27 per cent plunge in economic activity for April compared with pre-pandemic forecasts.

Japanese auto giant Toyota said it expected a 79.5 per cent drop in annual operating profit this fiscal year, calling the effect of the virus “wide-ranging, significant and serious”.

Industry chiefs say the business landscape could look very different in the future.

“It’s most likely,” Boeing CEO David Calhoun told a reporter when asked if a major US airline could go bust over the coming months.

“You know something will happen in September,” Calhoun said. “Traffic levels will not be back to 100 per cent, they won’t even be back to 25.”

VERY EMOTIONAL: In Europe, where infection rates and death tolls have significantly tailed off, millions of people have begun emerging from lockdown.

Spaniards revelled in being able to visit outdoor terraces and cafes after months under one of the world’s toughest lockdowns, although virus hotspots such as Madrid and Barcelona remain under wraps.

india to start limited trains as it looks to ease lockdown amid spike in cases NEW DELHI Agencies

India is set to reopen some of its colossal rail network on Tuesday and run limited trains as the country, where coronavirus infections are increasing, looks at easing its nearly seven-week lockdown. Special trains will depart from select big cities, including Delhi and Mumbai, and run to full capacity. Passengers will be allowed to enter stations only if they are asymptomatic and clear thermal screening; they must maintain social distancing on board and will be given hand sanitisers on entry and exit. More than 45,000 people had purchased train tickets within hours of sales resuming, according to the Press Trust of India. Indian Railways also mandated that passengers download a government-run contact tracing smartphone app before boarding the trains.

Critics say the Aarogya Setu app endangers civil liberties in how it uses location services and centralises data collection. India’s rail, road and air services were suspended in late March as part of a nationwide lockdown. Its strictness has helped keep confirmed coronavirus infections relatively low for a population of 1.3 billion. But in recent days, as the lockdown has eased and some businesses have resumed, infections and deaths due to Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, have shot up. India has confirmed 70,756 cases of coronavirus including 2,293 deaths, but experts believe its outbreak is far greater. Almost a fifth of India’s confirmed infections are people from densely populated cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Pune and Ahmedabad, which also are major centres of economic activity. The resumption of some train services was announced late on Sunday, and on Monday, hundreds of passengers, many of them migrant workers with luggage bags perched on their heads, lined up for transportation to a train station in Ahmedabad in western Gujarat state. In central Uttar Pradesh state, they had already gathered at the railway platform. The train network often described as India’s lifeline totals 67,000 kilometres and normally carries more than 20 million passengers daily. The lockdown immediately emptied the usually teeming railway stations. It also destroyed the livelihoods of millions of Indians that rely on daily wages for sustenance, left migrant workers stranded in big cities and created a hunger crisis for tens of thousands. Caught off guard by the largescale displacement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is now increasingly looking at easing the lockdown. It recently ordered special trains to take migrant workers, students and others stranded by the lockdown to their home states after mounting pressure from the opposition.

Pakistani nurses: First line of defence in fight against Covid-19 LAHORE Agencies

Although grand celebrations were missing in Pakistan on Tuesday to commemorate International Nurses Day, people have been acknowledging the role of nurses who have gone beyond their call of duty to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

Many nurses who had tested positive and were quarantined have returned to work to handle patients soon after recovering from the respiratory disease. Wearing a protective suit, a face mask, goggles, and gloves, 35year-old Sabra Parveen is tending to patients at the neurology ward of Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital in Karachi.

Holding a chart and wheeling around a device for checking blood pressure, she is walking from one bed to another.

Nothing about her busy schedule gives away the fact that she has rejoined the hospital a couple of days ago after recovering from the coronavirus.

Parveen had tested positive in the second week of April and went into self-isolation at home until she recovered.

“It was like a nightmare. I just kept thinking what would happen if I would test positive again? What would happen to my kids?” Parveen, a mother of three, told Anadolu Agency.

She had asked her sister to take care of her kids while she recovered as her husband

was out of town.

“I was alone at home for 14 days. My brother would bring me food and drop it off at my doorstep. I could not even see him,” she recalled.

But the resilient nurse recovered and returned to work to look after her patients.

Amirullah, 34, also resumed his duties last week after recovering from the virus.

The father of two, who had been assigned to a special ward for coronavirus, had tested positive for the disease on March 30. The nurse remained in self-isolation for over a month at his home that was under construction.

“My family had already moved to my brother’s house due to the construction work.

So my home served as a quarantine centre

for me,” he said.

NURSES AT RISK: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has already declared 2020 to be the “Year of the Nurse and Midwife” in celebration of the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

Thousands of nurses are at the forefront of Pakistan’s battle against the outbreak which has already infected more than 32,000 and killed over 700 people.

More than 440 healthcare workers across the country, including 70 nurses, have tested positive for Covid-19, and eight have died, according to the latest data from authorities.

The sharp rise in new cases among healthcare workers comes amid ongoing protests by the medical community over a

Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

lack of personal protective equipment and the government’s decision to ease lockdown restrictions.

“Initially, let me admit — I was very scared about myself and my kids. But that anxiety eased when I started feeling better,” said Parveen.

“And now I am not at all scared as the worst is already over,” she said. “That’s why I have returned to work.”

Amirullah, however, said he never lost his confidence.

“I had already seen too much during my time at the coronavirus ward. I knew how to handle this disease.

“I am fully ready to resume my duties at the same ward,” he said with a smile.